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FAQs - BLM CO GEOCORP INTERN (Funding Opportunity Number L11AS00170)

What is the BLM CO GEOCORP INTERN opportunity (L11AS00170)?

This was a Bureau of Land Management (BLM) discretionary funding opportunity offered as a cooperative agreement under the Natural Resources funding activity category. Its purpose was to support hands-on educational and professional development experiences in natural resource management and public lands stewardship by placing Geocorps interns in BLM-managed landscapes in Colorado.

What was the main goal of this funding opportunity?

The core objective was to create learning-by-doing internship placements that directly supported real public land management operations. Interns would gain practical, field-relevant skills while contributing to stewardship and public-facing work aligned with BLM unit needs.

What type of award instrument was used (grant vs. cooperative agreement)?

The opportunity was offered as a cooperative agreement. Compared with a standard grant, a cooperative agreement typically implies substantial federal involvement, such as coordination with BLM staff on intern assignments, work planning, deliverables, reporting, and alignment with BLM priorities and safety requirements.

Which funding activity category did this opportunity fall under?

It fell under the Natural Resources funding activity category.

What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity, and what does it indicate?

The opportunity was associated with CFDA 15.236, Environmental Quality and Protection Resource Management. This aligns with projects that protect environmental quality and support stewardship of public resources.

Where in Colorado were the internships intended to take place?

Internship work was intended to take place across several BLM units and surrounding public lands in Colorado, including:

• McInnis Canyons National Conservation Area
• Gunnison Gorge National Conservation Area
• Dominguez-Escalante National Conservation Area
• Canyons of the Ancients National Monument
• Nearby BLM-administered lands

What kinds of internship activities or projects were expected?

The summary emphasizes hands-on education tied to operational needs in public land management, but it does not list specific duties. Based on the described purpose and setting, projects in these areas commonly involve field monitoring, resource protection activities, visitor services, trail or site work, interpretation and education, and other stewardship tasks consistent with BLM management plans. Any actual duties would have been defined through coordination under the cooperative agreement.

How many awards were expected to be made?

The opportunity anticipated a single award (Expected Awards: 1).

What was the estimated total funding amount?

The estimated total funding amount was $90,000.

What was the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?

The award ceiling was $90,000, meaning the federal share was expected to be capped at $90,000.

What was the minimum award amount (award floor)?

The award floor was $22,500, indicating smaller proposals or phased efforts could have been considered at or above that amount.

Was cost sharing or matching required?

No. There was no cost sharing or matching requirement, allowing applicants to request full federal funding without needing to document non-federal match contributions.

Who was eligible to apply?

Eligibility was listed as unrestricted (open to any type of entity), subject to any clarifications in the full announcement. In practical terms, open eligibility can include nonprofits, educational institutions, tribal entities, state or local governments, and other qualified organizations, assuming they can meet cooperative agreement and program expectations for administering internship placements.

What does "unrestricted eligibility" mean in this context?

It means the opportunity was open to any type of entity rather than being limited to a specific applicant category. Any additional constraints would have been described in the full announcement.

What does it mean that this was a BLM discretionary grant?

It indicates the funding was offered at the agency's discretion through a competitive or evaluative process described in the announcement materials, rather than being an entitlement or formula-based award.

When was this opportunity posted?

The posting (and creation) date was July 21, 2011.

What was the application deadline?

The original and current closing date was August 4, 2011.

Is this funding opportunity still open?

No. The opportunity is long closed. It was archived on September 2, 2011, and remains available for records purposes.

Where were the official application instructions and materials provided?

The official instructions and application package were provided through the opportunity's application materials referenced as an "Application Tab" in the source. Applicants would have used those materials to understand submission requirements.

Who was the point of contact for grants management questions or access issues?

The listed point of contact was Yvonne Pier, Grants Management Officer. Email: ypier@blm.gov.

What role would BLM staff likely play during the project?

Because the instrument was a cooperative agreement, BLM staff would typically be involved in coordinating intern placements and assignments, ensuring work aligns with BLM priorities in the identified units, and confirming expectations around planning, reporting, deliverables, and safety protocols.

What landscapes or resource values were highlighted for the internship locations?

The identified units are described as notable for ecological, cultural, recreational, and scenic values. The projects were intended to support stewardship and operations in these kinds of high-value public land settings.