Opportunity Information: Apply for P15AS00079
Apply for P15AS00079
- The National Park Service in the arts (see cultural affairs in cfda) community development education employment, labor and training environment natural resources regional development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Ancestral lands Program" 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 Apr 1, 2015 and posted on Apr 1, 2015.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Apr 13, 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 $535,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $535,000.00 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 "Ancestral Lands Programs" opportunity (Funding Announcement P15AS00079) is a National Park Service (NPS) notice of intent to award a continuation cooperative agreement, not an open call for applications. In other words, the NPS is publicly announcing that it plans to fund a specific set of project activities with a specific partner without holding a competitive process. The intended recipient is Conservation Legacy, with Chas Robles listed as the principal investigator/program manager, and June Zastrow (303-987-6718, JuneZastrow@nps.gov) identified as the NPS point of contact.
Funding is anticipated at $535,000 in federal support, with a cost share of $282,720, reflecting a matching or contributed-resources requirement. The award is a continuation under an existing cooperative agreement (P15AC00024) through a task agreement (P15AC00387). The anticipated period of performance runs from the date of final signature through 4/30/2016. The assistance listing is tied to CFDA 15.931, "Youth Conservation Activities" (also referenced as "Conservation Activities by Youth Service Organizations"), and the award mechanism is explicitly a cooperative agreement, meaning the NPS expects to have substantial involvement in implementation rather than simply issuing a grant and stepping back.
Programmatically, the Ancestral Lands model is described as a network of locally grounded tribal and community-supported programs, backed by Conservation Legacy operational support. At the time of the notice, there are 17 Ancestral Lands programs operating nationally and locally. The stated purpose is to strengthen Native American community self-empowerment by developing Ancestral Lands Conservation Corps (ALCC) programs across Indian Country. The core goals are to provide paid jobs and hands-on experience for local Native American youth, reconnect participants with heritage and cultural values, complete conservation and interpretation work for NPS units and Native communities, and expose youth to potential career pathways in public land management agencies.
A key deliverable highlighted in the announcement is youth hiring and engagement, totaling 73 youth hires. The breakdown includes 10 individual placements across five communities plus a coordinator, a 36-participant day crew structure (30 members and six crew leaders) across multiple communities plus a coordinator, and an additional 24-participant day crew structure (18 members and six crew leaders) across multiple communities plus a coordinator. The notice frames these crews and placements as the workforce that will carry out conservation and interpretation projects while building participant skills and career awareness.
Conservation Legacy is expected to expand existing Native American Corps programming in the Southwest, establish an ALCC NPS Career Institute, and support participation in broader leadership development opportunities. One specific activity listed is sending one adult chaperone and at least four Native American high school students to the 1st Annual Inter Tribal Youth Climate Leadership Congress (June 28 to July 3, 2015) hosted at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service National Conservation Training Center in Shepherdstown, West Virginia. This component signals that the program is not only focused on field projects, but also on professional development, leadership training, and exposure to intertribal climate and conservation conversations.
Because this is a cooperative agreement, the NPS role is described in detail. The NPS will provide orientation and education on the agency mission and park/site operations, collaborate with Conservation Legacy to identify park sites for the ALCC NPS Career Institute, assist with identifying and recruiting prospective interns for the institute, and provide administrative and technical support to define projects and coordinate with the ALCC to complete them. The NPS also commits to providing financial assistance as laid out in the agreement terms.
The notice also explains why the award is being made without full and open competition. Under Department of the Interior single-source policy (505 DM 2), the agency must justify noncompetitive awards using specific criteria. Here, the NPS cites the "Continuation" justification, meaning the activities are necessary to complete or continue work already underway, and competing the effort would significantly disrupt continuity or successful completion. Finally, the statutory authority cited includes 54 USC 101702(a) (formerly 16 USC 1g), which supports NPS cooperative agreements for public purposes that carry out NPS programs, and 16 USC 1723(c) (Public Land Corps), which authorizes agreements with qualified youth or conservation corps to perform conservation projects.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Ancestral Lands Programs (Funding Announcement P15AS00079)
1) Is this a competitive grant opportunity that my organization can apply for?
No. This notice is a National Park Service (NPS) notice of intent to award a continuation cooperative agreement, not an open call for applications. It publicly announces that NPS plans to fund a specific partner for specific activities without holding a competitive process.
2) Who is the intended recipient of this award?
The intended recipient is Conservation Legacy.
3) Who is listed as the principal investigator/program manager?
Chas Robles is listed as the principal investigator/program manager.
4) Who is the NPS point of contact for this funding announcement?
June Zastrow is identified as the NPS point of contact. Phone: 303-987-6718. Email: JuneZastrow@nps.gov.
5) What is the funding announcement number for this opportunity?
The funding announcement is P15AS00079.
6) What is the anticipated amount of federal funding?
Federal support is anticipated at $535,000.
7) Is there a required match or cost share?
Yes. The notice anticipates a cost share of $282,720, reflecting a matching or contributed-resources requirement.
8) What type of award is being used: grant or cooperative agreement?
The award mechanism is a cooperative agreement. The notice states that NPS expects to have substantial involvement in implementation rather than issuing a grant and stepping back.
9) Is this a new award or a continuation of an existing agreement?
This is a continuation under an existing cooperative agreement (P15AC00024) through a task agreement (P15AC00387).
10) What is the anticipated period of performance?
The anticipated period of performance runs from the date of final signature through 4/30/2016.
11) What assistance listing (CFDA) is associated with this opportunity?
The notice ties the opportunity to CFDA 15.931, "Youth Conservation Activities" (also referenced as "Conservation Activities by Youth Service Organizations").
12) What is the overall program model described in the notice?
The Ancestral Lands model is described as a network of locally grounded tribal and community-supported programs, backed by Conservation Legacy operational support.
13) How many Ancestral Lands programs are operating at the time of the notice?
The notice states that there are 17 Ancestral Lands programs operating nationally and locally.
14) What is the stated purpose of the Ancestral Lands Programs effort?
The stated purpose is to strengthen Native American community self-empowerment by developing Ancestral Lands Conservation Corps (ALCC) programs across Indian Country.
15) What are the main goals of the program activities described?
The notice describes goals that include providing paid jobs and hands-on experience for local Native American youth, reconnecting participants with heritage and cultural values, completing conservation and interpretation work for NPS units and Native communities, and exposing youth to potential career pathways in public land management agencies.
16) How many youth hires and engagements are highlighted as a key deliverable?
The notice highlights youth hiring and engagement totaling 73 youth hires.
17) How is the 73-youth deliverable broken down in the announcement?
The notice provides the following breakdown: (a) 10 individual placements across five communities plus a coordinator; (b) a 36-participant day crew structure (30 members and six crew leaders) across multiple communities plus a coordinator; and (c) an additional 24-participant day crew structure (18 members and six crew leaders) across multiple communities plus a coordinator.
18) What kinds of work will the youth crews and placements perform?
The notice frames the crews and placements as the workforce that will carry out conservation and interpretation projects while building participant skills and career awareness.
19) What expansion or new components are Conservation Legacy expected to support?
Conservation Legacy is expected to expand existing Native American Corps programming in the Southwest, establish an ALCC NPS Career Institute, and support participation in broader leadership development opportunities.
20) Does the notice include a specific leadership or training event for participants?
Yes. One specific activity listed is sending one adult chaperone and at least four Native American high school students to the 1st Annual Inter Tribal Youth Climate Leadership Congress (June 28 to July 3, 2015) hosted at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service National Conservation Training Center in Shepherdstown, West Virginia.
21) What does the inclusion of the Climate Leadership Congress suggest about program activities?
Based on the notice description, it signals that the program is not only focused on field projects, but also on professional development, leadership training, and exposure to intertribal climate and conservation conversations.
22) What specific roles will NPS play under this cooperative agreement?
The notice describes NPS involvement that includes providing orientation and education on the agency mission and park/site operations, collaborating to identify park sites for the ALCC NPS Career Institute, assisting with identifying and recruiting prospective interns for the institute, and providing administrative and technical support to define projects and coordinate with the ALCC to complete them. NPS also commits to providing financial assistance as laid out in the agreement terms.
23) Why is NPS making this award without full and open competition?
The notice states the award is being made without full and open competition under Department of the Interior single-source policy (505 DM 2) using the "Continuation" justification. It indicates the activities are necessary to complete or continue work already underway, and that competing the effort would significantly disrupt continuity or successful completion.
24) What statutory authorities are cited for making this cooperative agreement?
The notice cites 54 USC 101702(a) (formerly 16 USC 1g), which supports NPS cooperative agreements for public purposes that carry out NPS programs, and 16 USC 1723(c) (Public Land Corps), which authorizes agreements with qualified youth or conservation corps to perform conservation projects.
25) What is the relationship between NPS units and Native communities in the described work?
The notice states that the program will complete conservation and interpretation work for NPS units and Native communities, while also supporting cultural reconnection and career pathway exposure for participating youth.
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