Opportunity Information: Apply for P15AS00054
Apply for P15AS00054
- The National Park Service in the community development education employment, labor and training environment natural resources regional development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "70 Centennial Volunteer Ambassador Interns" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.931 Conservation Activities by Youth Service Organizations.
- This funding opportunity was created on Feb 25, 2015 and posted on Feb 25, 2015.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Mar 11, 2015. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $1,800,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $1,800,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education.
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Opportunity Summary:
The "70 Centennial Volunteer Ambassador Interns" opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number P15AS00054) is a National Park Service notice of intent to award funding, not an open solicitation for new applications. In other words, it is published mainly to inform the public that NPS plans to make a specific, non-competitive award. The anticipated award is a cooperative agreement in the amount of $1,800,000, structured as a continuation action under an existing cooperative agreement (continuation of P15AC00031, implemented through Task Agreement P15AC00247). The expected period of performance runs from the date of award through October 1, 2016. The recipient identified by NPS is the Student Conservation Association (SCA), with Diane Lischer Goodband listed as the principal investigator/program manager. A significant cost share is also described, totaling $2,519,545.90, indicating that the partner and/or participating sites are expected to contribute substantial non-federal support alongside the federal funds.
At its core, the award supports the National Park Service Centennial Volunteer Ambassador Program, which is framed as a servicewide effort to expand service-learning, volunteering, and community engagement in national park units while reaching new audiences and communities. NPS ties the program to multiple agency-wide priorities, including the NPS "Call to Action" goals and the Department of the Interior's 21st Century Youth Conservation Corps initiative, which emphasizes scaling volunteer engagement on public lands (notably the goal of engaging 1 million volunteers annually). The program is also positioned as workforce development: it is intended to help cultivate the next generation of conservation stewards and strengthen a skilled, diverse pipeline into conservation and public service careers. The target participant group is young adults and veterans, generally ages 21 to 35, with an emphasis on recruiting from diverse backgrounds and providing exposure to a range of NPS career paths and leadership development opportunities.
The work funded through this continuation award is essentially the recruitment, placement, and support of 70 Centennial Volunteer Ambassadors who will serve in national park units. SCA is expected to handle the operational backbone of hosting these interns, including recruiting and appointing qualified candidates acceptable to NPS, enrolling them as SCA Conservation Interns, and placing them at identified NPS sites. SCA also takes on the administrative responsibilities that typically make large multi-site internship programs function smoothly: managing participant records, timekeeping, benefits and allowances (including weekly living allowances and travel grants), insurance coverage (including workers compensation), background checks, risk management support, and providing uniforms/gear. For eligible participants, SCA will also provide access to an AmeriCorps Education Award through its partnership with the Corporation for National and Community Service, which is described as an additional participant benefit and a tool for making service more accessible and attractive.
Training and program quality control are central parts of the project design. SCA and NPS plan to jointly conduct two one-week orientation and training sessions, treated as part of the interns overall service-learning experience, with SCA expected to lead and administer expenses for these sessions in coordination with the agency. Beyond onboarding, SCA is also expected to collaborate with NPS on ongoing monitoring, professional development, team building, and evaluation. Reporting is explicitly required: SCA must provide a comprehensive annual report capturing project activities, performance metrics and achievements, plus participant demographic information and related program data. Housing is addressed as a practical need across park sites; if a park cannot provide furnished housing, SCA is responsible for coordinating alternatives and administering a monthly housing allowance to the intern, using additional funding obligated to SCA by the respective park unit.
Because this is a cooperative agreement rather than a simple grant, NPS anticipates "substantial involvement" in the project. NPS responsibilities include providing financial assistance per the agreement terms, delivering general orientation to the agency and the park sites (including mission, operations, and the Ambassador role), and providing technical representatives to support project specifics as needed. This structure reflects a partnership model where NPS is not just writing a check, but actively shaping and supporting the program as it runs across multiple locations.
The announcement also explains why NPS is not using full and open competition. Under Department of the Interior single-source policy (505 DM 2), agencies must justify non-competitive awards using defined criteria. Here, NPS cites the "Continuation" criterion, meaning the work is necessary to complete or continue an ongoing effort already being funded, and competing it would disrupt continuity or completion. The notice emphasizes that the award is a continuation action under an existing cooperative agreement, which is the basis for the single-source approach.
Administratively, the opportunity is categorized on Grants.gov as a discretionary cooperative agreement tied to CFDA 15.931 (Youth Conservation Activities / Conservation Activities by Youth Service Organizations). The eligible applicant type listed is nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education), although the announcement itself clearly identifies SCA as the intended recipient. The posting date is February 25, 2015, with an original and current closing date of March 11, 2015, and an archive date of March 15, 2015, consistent with a notice period rather than a competitive application window. The NPS point of contact is June Zastrow (phone 303-987-6718, email junezastrow@nps.gov), who is listed for questions or access issues related to the full announcement.
Finally, the legal authorities cited support NPS use of cooperative agreements and partnerships to carry out public-purpose programs, including challenge cost-share authority and other statutes that allow NPS to work with nonprofits and youth conservation corps on education, recreation-related research and information, trails, and conservation projects. In practice, the statutory citations reinforce that NPS has authority to fund and jointly administer a program like this with a nonprofit partner, especially when NPS is substantially involved and when cost sharing and service outcomes are integral to the project design.
FAQs: 70 Centennial Volunteer Ambassador Interns (Funding Opportunity Number P15AS00054)
What is the "70 Centennial Volunteer Ambassador Interns" opportunity (P15AS00054)?
It is a National Park Service (NPS) notice of intent to award funding for the Centennial Volunteer Ambassador Program. It is published to inform the public that NPS plans to make a specific award rather than to solicit new proposals.
Is P15AS00054 open for new applications?
No. This notice is not an open solicitation for new applications. It describes an anticipated non-competitive (single-source) award.
Who is the intended recipient of the award?
NPS identifies the Student Conservation Association (SCA) as the recipient.
Who is listed as the principal investigator/program manager?
Diane Lischer Goodband is listed as the principal investigator/program manager for the recipient organization.
What type of federal award is anticipated?
The anticipated award is a cooperative agreement, which is a form of federal financial assistance that includes substantial involvement by NPS during implementation.
How much federal funding is anticipated?
The anticipated federal amount is $1,800,000.
Is cost share mentioned, and how much is it?
Yes. A significant cost share is described totaling $2,519,545.90, indicating substantial non-federal support is expected alongside the federal funds.
What does "continuation action" mean in this notice?
The notice states the award is structured as a continuation action under an existing cooperative agreement, meaning it continues ongoing work already funded rather than starting a brand-new, competed project.
What prior agreements are referenced as the basis for continuation?
The continuation is described as a continuation of cooperative agreement P15AC00031, implemented through Task Agreement P15AC00247.
What is the expected period of performance?
The expected period of performance is from the date of award through October 1, 2016.
What program does this funding support?
The award supports the National Park Service Centennial Volunteer Ambassador Program, described as a servicewide effort to expand service-learning, volunteering, and community engagement in national park units while reaching new audiences and communities.
How does NPS position the purpose of the program?
NPS frames the program as supporting service-learning and volunteer expansion, community engagement, outreach to new audiences, and workforce development to cultivate the next generation of conservation stewards and strengthen a skilled, diverse pipeline into conservation and public service careers.
Which NPS/DOI priorities are referenced in connection with this program?
The notice ties the program to the NPS "Call to Action" goals and the Department of the Interior's 21st Century Youth Conservation Corps initiative, including the emphasis on scaling volunteer engagement on public lands (including the goal of engaging 1 million volunteers annually).
Who are the target participants for the Ambassador internships?
The target participant group is young adults and veterans, generally ages 21 to 35, with an emphasis on recruiting from diverse backgrounds and providing exposure to a range of NPS career paths and leadership development opportunities.
How many interns/participants are supported under this continuation award?
The project supports the recruitment, placement, and support of 70 Centennial Volunteer Ambassadors who will serve in national park units.
What are SCA's main responsibilities under this award?
SCA is expected to provide the operational backbone of the multi-site internship program, including recruiting and appointing candidates acceptable to NPS, enrolling participants as SCA Conservation Interns, and placing them at identified NPS sites.
What administrative support does SCA provide to interns?
The notice states SCA will manage participant records, timekeeping, benefits and allowances (including weekly living allowances and travel grants), insurance coverage (including workers compensation), background checks, risk management support, and uniforms/gear.
Are there education benefits associated with participation?
For eligible participants, SCA will provide access to an AmeriCorps Education Award through its partnership with the Corporation for National and Community Service, described as an additional participant benefit and a tool to make service more accessible and attractive.
What training is included for the interns?
SCA and NPS plan to jointly conduct two one-week orientation and training sessions. These sessions are treated as part of the interns' overall service-learning experience, with SCA expected to lead and administer expenses in coordination with NPS.
How are monitoring and program quality control handled?
The notice describes ongoing collaboration between SCA and NPS on monitoring, professional development, team building, and evaluation.
Are reports required from the recipient?
Yes. SCA must provide a comprehensive annual report capturing project activities, performance metrics and achievements, and participant demographic information and related program data.
How is housing handled for interns placed at park sites?
If a park cannot provide furnished housing, SCA is responsible for coordinating alternatives and administering a monthly housing allowance to the intern, using additional funding obligated to SCA by the respective park unit.
What does "substantial involvement" mean in the context of this cooperative agreement?
The notice indicates NPS will be actively involved during implementation, reflecting a partnership model rather than a hands-off grant.
What responsibilities does NPS have under this cooperative agreement?
NPS responsibilities include providing financial assistance according to the agreement terms, delivering general orientation to the agency and park sites (including mission, operations, and the Ambassador role), and providing technical representatives to support project specifics as needed.
Why is NPS not using full and open competition for this award?
NPS cites the Department of the Interior single-source policy (505 DM 2) and uses the "Continuation" criterion. The notice states the work is necessary to complete or continue an ongoing effort already being funded, and competing it would disrupt continuity or completion.
What is the CFDA listing associated with this opportunity?
The notice lists CFDA 15.931 (Youth Conservation Activities / Conservation Activities by Youth Service Organizations).
How is the opportunity categorized on Grants.gov?
It is categorized as a discretionary cooperative agreement.
What eligible applicant type is listed?
The eligible applicant type listed is nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education), although the notice itself identifies SCA as the intended recipient.
What are the key dates shown in the posting?
The posting date is February 25, 2015. The original and current closing date is March 11, 2015. The archive date is March 15, 2015. These dates are consistent with a notice period rather than a competitive application window.
Who is the NPS point of contact for this notice?
The NPS point of contact listed is June Zastrow (phone 303-987-6718, email junezastrow@nps.gov), for questions or access issues related to the full announcement.
What legal authorities are referenced to support this cooperative agreement approach?
The notice references legal authorities that support NPS use of cooperative agreements and partnerships to carry out public-purpose programs, including challenge cost-share authority and statutes that allow NPS to work with nonprofits and youth conservation corps on education, recreation-related research and information, trails, and conservation projects.
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