BLM AK Youth Opportunity Soil Scientist EIFO FDO | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - BLM AK Youth Opportunity Soil Scientist EIFO FDO (L15AS00068)

1) What is the BLM AK Youth Opportunity Soil Scientist EIFO FDO grant (L15AS00068)?

This funding opportunity is a Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Alaska cooperative agreement intended to expand paid work and training opportunities for youth and young adults in natural resource management. It supports a partnership between BLM Alaska and an eligible nonprofit organization to recruit and support youth participants working with BLM staff on soil science and resource monitoring projects in Alaska.

2) What is the main goal of this project?

The project is designed to achieve two connected goals: (1) build practical workforce experience for youth and young adults through paid work and training, and (2) produce usable land-management and monitoring data for BLM, specifically for the Eastern Interior Field Office (EIFO) and the Fairbanks District Office (FDO).

3) What kind of award is this (grant vs. cooperative agreement)?

This opportunity is offered as a cooperative agreement. That means BLM expects close collaboration with the recipient organization during the project, rather than a hands-off relationship.

4) Which BLM offices does the work support?

The work is intended to support the Eastern Interior Field Office (EIFO) and the Fairbanks District Office (FDO) in Alaska.

5) Who is eligible to apply?

Eligible applicants are limited to nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status. Institutions of higher education are excluded.

6) Is this opportunity limited to a single award or multiple awards?

The announcement anticipated a single award.

7) How much funding is available?

The estimated total funding amount is $45,000, and the award ceiling is $45,000. The award floor is listed as $500.

8) Is cost sharing or matching required?

Yes. Cost sharing or matching is required for this opportunity.

9) What is the activity category for this funding opportunity?

The opportunity is listed under the Natural Resources activity category.

10) What CFDA program is this associated with?

This opportunity is associated with CFDA 15.236, Environmental Quality and Protection Resource Management.

11) When was the opportunity posted and when did it close?

The opportunity was posted on April 1, 2015, and the closing date was June 10, 2015.

12) What does the funded partnership do in practical terms?

The funded partnership supports an eligible nonprofit organization that can recruit and support youth participants. These participants work alongside BLM staff on field-based and data-focused projects related to soil science, land stewardship, and resource monitoring in Alaska.

13) What kinds of GIS tasks are included in the project?

Youth participants are expected to assist BLM staff with developing a GIS database focused on general travel and transportation information. This type of GIS work supports tracking travel routes, planning access, and understanding how human use intersects with sensitive natural resources.

14) What types of fieldwork are youth participants expected to assist with?

The project emphasizes on-the-ground assessment of soil and water conditions. Youth participants would help with inventorying and monitoring soil erosion and soil compaction along travel corridors, contributing to soil surveys to document soil types and composition, and collecting hydrological data from water courses.

15) What does "travel corridors" mean in the context of this project?

Based on the description, travel corridors refer to areas influenced by travel routes such as roads, trails, and other transportation pathways. The project focuses on monitoring impacts (such as soil erosion and compaction) along these corridors.

16) What is meant by comparing disturbed versus non-disturbed streams?

A key theme in the project is comparing disturbed streams (those affected by travel routes or facility development) to non-disturbed streams (those not affected in the same way). The goal is to better understand how development and travel routes may affect watersheds and soil resources.

17) What technical outcomes is BLM expecting from this project?

BLM expects to strengthen its inventory of soil characteristics, improve its ability to assess impacts from roads, trails, and related development, expand and organize GIS datasets that support planning and decision-making, and gather hydrological information that can inform management of streams and riparian areas.

18) What educational or workforce outcomes are expected for youth participants?

The project is intended to provide structured, hands-on field experience under the guidance of experienced land managers, along with technical, safety, and conservation training. It is also designed to improve participants' future job prospects and clarify potential conservation career paths.

19) Does the opportunity mention mentoring or professional development supports?

Yes. The announcement highlights professional development supports, including assigning a mentor to each intern if needed. The intent is to help participants adapt to remote duty locations, build workplace skills, and gain experience.

20) What Department of the Interior initiative is this opportunity connected to?

The opportunity supports a Department of the Interior goal, announced under then-Secretary Sally Jewell, to create 100,000 youth work and training opportunities through federal bureaus and public-private partnerships.

21) Who is the contact person for access issues or assistance?

The listed contact is Betty Lockard, Grants Specialist at BLM Alaska. Phone: 907-267-1213. Email: blockard@blm.gov.

22) What is the funding opportunity number for this program?

The Funding Opportunity Number is L15AS00068.