Opportunity Information: Apply for F12AS00053
Apply for F12AS00053
- The Fish and Wildlife Service in the education sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Alaska National Wildlife Refuges Science and Culture Camp Cooperative Agreements" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.649 Service Training and Technical Assistance (Generic Training).
- This funding opportunity was created on Jan 31, 2012 and posted on Jan 31, 2012.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Feb 29, 2012 Application must be postmarked, faxed, transmitted through Grants.govAPPLY by 400 p.m. Alaska Time, February 29, 2012. It is the applicants responsibility to confirm receipt of their proposal with the designated Agency Contact.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $250,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $25,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 20 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility.
- Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity). The Alaska National Wildlife Refuge System Science and Culture Camps aims to partner with communities within or adjacent to Alaskas 16 National Wildlife Refuges to conduct collaborative environmental and cultural education programming for local school aged youth.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Alaska National Wildlife Refuges Science and Culture Camp Cooperative Agreements opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number F12AS00053) is a discretionary U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service program designed to jointly sponsor environmental and cultural education programming for school-aged youth in communities within or adjacent to Alaska's 16 National Wildlife Refuges. The core idea is to support camps and related learning experiences that intentionally blend Western science with traditional knowledge, local experience, and cultural practice, so young people can better understand their home landscapes and build a real sense of stewardship. In addition to youth outcomes, the program also emphasizes positive, relationship-building interactions between refuge staff/volunteers and the communities they serve.
The program lays out three main objectives. First, it aims to increase awareness and understanding of Alaska National Wildlife Refuges and the natural and cultural history of each region among participating students and adults. Second, it seeks to strengthen practical skills in children related to scientific inquiry (for example, observation, data collection, and asking testable questions) alongside traditional cultural skills and practices. Third, it prioritizes the overall experience: camps should create positive engagement between participants, the host community, and Fish and Wildlife Service staff and volunteers, reinforcing trust and long-term collaboration rather than one-time events.
Applications are expected to be straightforward and tightly written. The required project proposal is limited to four pages and must demonstrate several specific elements: an established partnership with one or more Alaska National Wildlife Refuges (including local refuge staff contact information and a description of past successful partnerships); a clear statement of community need across physical, economic, social, financial, or institutional conditions; and a description of expected results or benefits once the need is addressed. Proposals must also show that the environmental education offered will be high quality and aligned with refuge management and outreach goals, meaning the learning activities should support measurable behavioral objectives that complement what the refuge is trying to achieve. In addition, applicants are asked to describe partnerships with other Fish and Wildlife Service programs and/or private partners to leverage resources, coordinate staffing, and avoid duplicating efforts in small communities. While cost sharing is not formally required, science camps are encouraged to bring at least a 25 percent nonfederal match to strengthen competitiveness.
A detailed budget narrative is required and must separate and clearly identify: the applicant's contribution (cash and in-kind, and whether funds are federal or nonfederal), contributions from other partners (also cash and in-kind, and whether federal or nonfederal), the amount requested from the Fish and Wildlife Service, and the total project cost. Applicants must also total the nonfederal and federal shares and calculate the nonfederal percentage of the overall budget. Standard contact information is required as well, including name, organization, address, phone, fax, and email.
The deadline for this funding cycle was February 29, 2012, with proposals due by 4:00 p.m. Alaska Time via postmark, fax, or Grants.gov APPLY. The announcement places responsibility on the applicant to confirm receipt with the agency contact, which signals that late or missing submissions could be disqualified and that applicants should not assume delivery is successful without confirmation.
Funding comes with a few clear restrictions and allowances. Projects cannot involve political advocacy or litigation. Reasonable indirect or administrative costs are allowed. The program may permit limited reimbursement of pre-award costs, but those costs are explicitly at the applicant's risk if the proposal is not selected for funding. In practical terms, applicants should be cautious about spending money before an award is finalized unless they can absorb the risk.
Proposals are reviewed by a regional visitor services panel that evaluates how well each project fits program priorities and how strong the partnership and outcomes appear. A key emphasis is that science camp funding is intended to go first to long-standing camps that already have committed partners, measurable behavioral objectives, and demonstrated success. Strong partnerships are repeatedly highlighted as a priority, and the panel also considers the ratio of federal to nonfederal dollars as part of its review, meaning proposals that leverage more nonfederal support may score better. New or expanded camps may be funded as well, but if total requests exceed available dollars, the Service will rank proposals and fund those at the top.
When ranking is necessary, the stated priority factors focus on equity and impact in smaller or less-resourced places. Camps serving communities with populations under 5,000 (using 2010 Census data) receive more consideration, based on the premise that larger communities generally have more opportunities and resources. The panel also looks at how many students will be reached, how clearly the camp benefits or supports the refuge's purpose, and how many partners are involved. Proposals that are not funded from the science camp allocation may still be considered alongside general Comprehensive Conservation Strategy (CCS) projects, but only if they propose a nonfederal match of 50 percent or more.
In terms of funding scale, the opportunity listed an estimated total of $250,000 across an expected 20 awards, with individual awards ranging from $2,500 (floor) to $25,000 (ceiling). The funding instrument is a cooperative agreement, which typically implies closer collaboration and involvement by the federal agency compared to a standard grant. Eligibility is broadly open (unrestricted), meaning any entity type may apply as long as it can meet the partnership and program expectations described in the announcement. The CFDA number associated with the opportunity is 15.649 (Service Training and Technical Assistance - Generic Training). The listed agency contact for access issues was Milagros Cortes, Contract Specialist, at 907-786-3409 and milagroscortes@fws.gov.
FAQs: Alaska National Wildlife Refuges Science and Culture Camp Cooperative Agreements (F12AS00053)
What is this funding opportunity?
This is a discretionary U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) program that uses cooperative agreements to jointly sponsor environmental and cultural education programming for school-aged youth in communities within or adjacent to Alaska's 16 National Wildlife Refuges. It focuses on science and culture camps and related learning experiences.
What is the official funding opportunity number (FON)?
The Funding Opportunity Number is F12AS00053.
What type of award is being offered?
The funding instrument is a cooperative agreement, which typically implies closer collaboration and involvement by the federal agency than a standard grant.
What is the main purpose of the program?
The core purpose is to support camps that intentionally blend Western science with traditional knowledge, local experience, and cultural practice so youth can better understand their home landscapes and develop stewardship. The program also emphasizes relationship-building interactions between refuge staff/volunteers and participating communities.
Who is the program intended to serve?
The program is designed for school-aged youth, and it also aims to increase awareness and understanding among participating adults.
Where must camps or activities take place to be relevant?
Programming is intended for communities within or adjacent to Alaska's 16 National Wildlife Refuges.
What are the program's main objectives?
The opportunity identifies three objectives: (1) increase awareness and understanding of Alaska National Wildlife Refuges and each region's natural and cultural history among participating students and adults; (2) strengthen practical skills related to scientific inquiry alongside traditional cultural skills and practices; and (3) create positive engagement between participants, the host community, and USFWS staff and volunteers to support trust and long-term collaboration.
What does it mean to blend Western science with traditional knowledge?
In this program, camps are expected to teach scientific inquiry skills (such as observation, data collection, and asking testable questions) while also incorporating traditional knowledge, local experience, and cultural practice as part of the learning experience.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is described as broadly open (unrestricted). Any entity type may apply, as long as it can meet the partnership and program expectations described in the announcement.
Is a partnership with an Alaska National Wildlife Refuge required?
Yes. The proposal must demonstrate an established partnership with one or more Alaska National Wildlife Refuges, include local refuge staff contact information, and describe past successful partnerships.
How long can the project proposal be?
The required project proposal is limited to four pages and is expected to be straightforward and tightly written.
What must be included in the proposal narrative?
Based on the announcement, proposals must include: (1) evidence of an established partnership with one or more refuges (including staff contact information and a description of past successful partnerships); (2) a clear statement of community need across physical, economic, social, financial, or institutional conditions; (3) expected results or benefits once the need is addressed; (4) a description showing the environmental education will be high quality and aligned with refuge management and outreach goals; and (5) learning activities that support measurable behavioral objectives that complement what the refuge is trying to achieve.
What does "aligned with refuge management and outreach goals" mean in this opportunity?
It means the environmental education activities should complement refuge priorities and include measurable behavioral objectives that support what the refuge is trying to achieve through management and outreach.
What are "measurable behavioral objectives" in the context of this program?
The announcement indicates the learning activities should support behavioral objectives that can be measured, and those objectives should complement the refuge's goals (for example, objectives tied to stewardship behaviors, learning outcomes, or participant actions connected to refuge priorities).
Does the announcement ask applicants to coordinate with other partners?
Yes. Applicants are asked to describe partnerships with other USFWS programs and/or private partners to leverage resources, coordinate staffing, and avoid duplicating efforts in small communities.
Is cost sharing required?
Cost sharing is not formally required, but science camps are encouraged to bring at least a 25 percent nonfederal match to strengthen competitiveness.
How does the match affect competitiveness?
The review panel considers the ratio of federal to nonfederal dollars. Proposals that leverage more nonfederal support may score better, and match levels can matter in ranking if requests exceed available funding.
What match level is needed to be considered under CCS projects if not funded through the science camp allocation?
The announcement states that proposals not funded from the science camp allocation may still be considered alongside general Comprehensive Conservation Strategy (CCS) projects, but only if they propose a nonfederal match of 50 percent or more.
What budget information is required?
A detailed budget narrative is required and must separate and clearly identify: (1) the applicant's contribution (cash and in-kind, and whether funds are federal or nonfederal); (2) contributions from other partners (cash and in-kind, and whether federal or nonfederal); (3) the amount requested from USFWS; and (4) the total project cost. Applicants must also total the nonfederal and federal shares and calculate the nonfederal percentage of the overall budget.
What contact information is required in the application?
Standard contact information is required, including name, organization, address, phone, fax, and email.
What is the deadline for the cycle described in the announcement?
The deadline for this funding cycle was February 29, 2012, with proposals due by 4:00 p.m. Alaska Time.
How could proposals be submitted for that cycle?
Proposals were due via postmark, fax, or Grants.gov APPLY.
Does the applicant need to confirm receipt of the submission?
Yes. The announcement places responsibility on the applicant to confirm receipt with the agency contact, indicating applicants should not assume delivery is successful without confirmation.
How much funding is available?
The opportunity listed an estimated total of $250,000 across an expected 20 awards.
What is the expected award size?
Individual awards were expected to range from $2,500 (minimum) to $25,000 (maximum).
How are proposals reviewed?
Proposals are reviewed by a regional visitor services panel that evaluates how well each project fits program priorities and the strength of the partnership and outcomes.
Are long-standing camps prioritized?
Yes. The announcement emphasizes that science camp funding is intended to go first to long-standing camps that already have committed partners, measurable behavioral objectives, and demonstrated success.
Can new or expanded camps be funded?
Yes. New or expanded camps may be funded, but if total requests exceed available funding, proposals will be ranked and funding will go to the highest-ranked projects.
What happens if more funding is requested than is available?
The Service will rank proposals and fund those at the top of the ranking when requests exceed available dollars.
What ranking factors are highlighted when prioritization is needed?
When ranking is necessary, the announcement highlights priority factors including: serving communities with populations under 5,000 (using 2010 Census data), the number of students reached, how clearly the camp benefits or supports the refuge's purpose, and the number of partners involved.
Why do communities under 5,000 people receive more consideration?
The announcement explains this preference is based on the premise that larger communities generally have more opportunities and resources, so smaller or less-resourced places are prioritized for equity and impact.
Are there restrictions on what funds can support?
Yes. Projects cannot involve political advocacy or litigation.
Are indirect or administrative costs allowed?
Yes. Reasonable indirect or administrative costs are allowed.
Are pre-award costs reimbursable?
The program may permit limited reimbursement of pre-award costs, but those costs are explicitly at the applicant's risk if the proposal is not selected for funding.
What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The CFDA number listed is 15.649 (Service Training and Technical Assistance - Generic Training).
Who is the listed agency contact for access issues?
The listed contact was Milagros Cortes, Contract Specialist. Phone: 907-786-3409. Email: milagroscortes@fws.gov.
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