Opportunity Information: Apply for F14AS00427

  • The Fish and Wildlife Service in the education sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "American Trails" and is now available to receive applicants.
  • Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.654 Visitor Facility Enhancements Refuges and Wildlife.
  • This funding opportunity was created on Sep 5, 2014 and posted on Sep 5, 2014.
  • Applicants must submit their applications by Sep 30, 2014 THIS IS A SINGLE SOURCE AWARD. ALL APPLICANTS HAVE PREVIOUSLY BEEN SELECTED.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
  • The funding agency has allocated a total of $30,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
  • Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $30,000.00 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 Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Small businesses Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments) County governments State governments Individuals Private institutions of higher education Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized).
Apply for F14AS00427

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Opportunity Summary:

The American Trails grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number F14AS00427) is a discretionary cooperative agreement offered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) under CFDA 15.654, Visitor Facility Enhancements - Refuges and Wildlife. The core purpose is to strengthen the capacity of USFWS staff to manage National Recreation Trails programs by supporting training and information-sharing tools that promote environmentally responsible trail management and appropriate public recreation. The opportunity centers on the role of American Trails, described as the only national organization representing all major trail user groups, including both motorized and non-motorized users, which allows it to provide guidance and training in a way that is presented as balanced and broadly credible to the public.

The work to be supported focuses specifically on administering the National Trails Training Partnership Clearinghouse website. In practical terms, this is about maintaining and operating a centralized training and resource platform that USFWS staff can use to build and refresh skills related to trail planning, construction, maintenance, and visitor use management. The intended outcome is twofold: first, to help minimize negative environmental impacts associated with trails (such as erosion, habitat disturbance, and user-created routes), and second, to maximize responsible recreation by improving how trails are managed, signed, maintained, and communicated to visitors. The opportunity is framed as education-oriented, emphasizing training infrastructure and knowledge dissemination rather than construction or direct on-the-ground capital improvements.

Financially, the announcement lists an estimated total funding amount of $30,000, with an award ceiling of $30,000 and an award floor of $0. Only one award was expected. There is no cost sharing or matching requirement, meaning the recipient is not required by the announcement to contribute non-federal funds as a condition of the award. The funding instrument is a cooperative agreement, which generally indicates that the federal agency anticipates substantial involvement during the period of performance, such as collaborating on deliverables, coordinating outreach, reviewing content, or aligning the training clearinghouse with agency program priorities.

In terms of who could apply, the eligibility list is broad on paper and includes various nonprofit organizations (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3), excluding institutions of higher education), small businesses, individuals, county and state governments, private institutions of higher education, and Native American tribal entities (including federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations). However, the announcement explicitly states that this is a single source award and that all applicants had already been selected. That language is important: it means the notice functioned more as a public posting requirement than an open competition, and it effectively limited the award to a pre-identified recipient rather than soliciting new proposals.

The timeline reflects that limited, pre-selected nature. The opportunity was posted and created on September 5, 2014, with an original and current closing date of September 30, 2014, and an archive date of September 30, 2015. Anyone looking at this opportunity now should treat it as a historical posting rather than an active, open grant competition. The listing includes an additional information link to Grants.gov and provides a USFWS contact for access issues: Gerri Watkins, Management Analyst, at 703-358-2101 and GerriWatkins@fws.gov.

Overall, the American Trails opportunity is best understood as a targeted, single-award cooperative agreement aimed at supporting USFWS trail program effectiveness through training resources, specifically the administration of an established national clearinghouse website designed to improve trail stewardship and visitor recreation outcomes across diverse trail uses.

FAQs: American Trails Grant Opportunity (F14AS00427)

What is the American Trails grant opportunity (F14AS00427)?

It is a discretionary cooperative agreement funding opportunity offered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) under CFDA 15.654, Visitor Facility Enhancements - Refuges and Wildlife. The opportunity is described as supporting training and information-sharing tools that strengthen USFWS staff capacity to manage National Recreation Trails programs.

Which federal agency is offering this funding?

The opportunity is offered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS).

What is the CFDA program associated with this opportunity?

The opportunity is listed under CFDA 15.654, Visitor Facility Enhancements - Refuges and Wildlife.

What is the main purpose of the award?

The stated purpose is to strengthen the capacity of USFWS staff to manage National Recreation Trails programs by supporting training infrastructure and information-sharing tools that promote environmentally responsible trail management and appropriate public recreation.

What specific work is being supported?

The supported work focuses specifically on administering the National Trails Training Partnership Clearinghouse website, described as a centralized training and resource platform for USFWS staff to build and refresh skills related to trail planning, construction, maintenance, and visitor use management.

Is this funding meant for building or repairing trails?

No. The opportunity is framed as education-oriented and focused on training infrastructure and knowledge dissemination rather than construction or direct on-the-ground capital improvements.

What outcomes is the grant intended to achieve?

The intended outcomes include (1) minimizing negative environmental impacts associated with trails (such as erosion, habitat disturbance, and user-created routes) and (2) maximizing responsible recreation by improving trail management, signing, maintenance, and visitor communications.

Why is American Trails central to this opportunity?

The opportunity highlights American Trails as the only national organization representing all major trail user groups, including motorized and non-motorized users. This broad representation is presented as enabling balanced, broadly credible guidance and training.

What type of funding instrument is used?

The funding instrument is a cooperative agreement.

What does it mean that this is a cooperative agreement?

As described, a cooperative agreement generally indicates substantial federal involvement during the period of performance, such as collaborating on deliverables, coordinating outreach, reviewing content, or aligning the training clearinghouse with agency program priorities.

How much funding is available?

The estimated total funding amount is $30,000.

What is the award ceiling?

The award ceiling is $30,000.

What is the award floor?

The award floor is $0.

How many awards were expected?

Only one award was expected.

Is cost sharing or matching required?

No. The announcement states there is no cost sharing or matching requirement, meaning the recipient is not required by the announcement to contribute non-federal funds as a condition of the award.

Who is eligible to apply, according to the listing?

The eligibility list is broad and includes nonprofit organizations (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3), excluding institutions of higher education), small businesses, individuals, county and state governments, private institutions of higher education, and Native American tribal entities (including federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations).

Is this opportunity actually open for new applicants?

No. The announcement explicitly states it is a single source award and that all applicants had already been selected. This indicates the notice functioned as a public posting requirement rather than an open competition.

What does "single source award" imply here?

Based on the listing, it means the award was effectively limited to a pre-identified recipient rather than soliciting new proposals through a competitive process.

When was the opportunity posted?

The opportunity was posted and created on September 5, 2014.

What was the closing date?

The original and current closing date was September 30, 2014.

When was the opportunity archived?

The archive date is September 30, 2015.

Should this listing be treated as active today?

No. Based on the dates and the single source language, it should be treated as a historical posting rather than an active, open grant competition.

Where can someone find the official posting or additional details?

The listing includes an additional information link to Grants.gov.

Who is the USFWS contact for access issues?

The contact listed for access issues is Gerri Watkins, Management Analyst, at 703-358-2101 and GerriWatkins@fws.gov.

What program area within USFWS does this support?

It supports USFWS staff capacity to manage National Recreation Trails programs, with the work centered on training and information-sharing via a clearinghouse website.

What kinds of trail topics are included in the training focus?

The clearinghouse is described as supporting skills related to trail planning, construction, maintenance, and visitor use management.

How does the clearinghouse relate to environmental protection?

By improving staff training and resources for trail stewardship, the effort is intended to reduce impacts such as erosion, habitat disturbance, and the creation of informal user routes.

How does the clearinghouse relate to visitor recreation?

The effort is intended to promote responsible recreation by improving how trails are managed, signed, maintained, and communicated to visitors.

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