Opportunity Information: Apply for P15AS00178
Apply for P15AS00178
- The National Park Service in the community development education employment, labor and training environment natural resources regional development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Campus Outdoor Ambasador Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.954 National Park Service Conservation, Protection, Outreach, and Education.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jun 26, 2015 and posted on Jun 24, 2015.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 7, 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 $100,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $100,000.00 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 Campus Outdoor Ambassador Program notice is a National Park Service (NPS) public announcement of its intent to make a non-competitive (single-source) cooperative agreement award to The Outdoor Foundation. It is explicitly not a solicitation and not a request for applications. The NPS is continuing an existing partnership under Cooperative Agreement P15AC00369 through a related task agreement (P15AC01052) to keep an ongoing campus-based program moving forward without disruption. The single-source rationale cited is "Continuation," meaning the work is considered necessary to complete or maintain activities already underway and competing it would significantly harm continuity.
The project is designed to increase participation in outdoor recreation and stewardship, with a strong emphasis on youth and young adults, and to strengthen connections between college communities and national parks. It brings together the NPS Youth Programs Office, the NPS Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance program, and The Outdoor Foundation to build a college-focused effort that makes national parks more relevant to younger generations. The underlying public-purpose goals include expanding healthy recreation opportunities, improving park-community connections, reaching diverse and underserved audiences (including minorities, underserved communities, and priority urban areas), and creating career exposure and temporary employment opportunities that help develop the next generation of park supporters and potential NPS workforce candidates.
Funding for the continuation is listed as a total anticipated federal award of $100,000, with a cost share of $110,000, indicating a matching or leveraging requirement and a substantial non-federal contribution. The award instrument is a cooperative agreement, which signals that NPS expects to be substantially involved in shaping and supporting the work rather than simply issuing a grant with minimal federal engagement. The anticipated period of performance runs from the date of award through September 30, 2016. The opportunity is associated with CFDA 15.954, titled "Conservation, Protection, Outreach and Education," and the eligible applicant category shown on the record is 501(c)(3) nonprofits (other than institutions of higher education), consistent with The Outdoor Foundation serving as the recipient organization.
The Outdoor Foundation's responsibilities center on building and running the student Ambassador network. That includes creating a recruitment strategy in consultation with NPS, designing and managing the ambassador application process, coordinating selection with NPS input, communicating selections to students and schools, and providing practical training for ambassadors (social media, public speaking, and media engagement). The Foundation also administers the program day-to-day by maintaining communications, providing student stipends, ensuring accountability, and producing required reporting. A key operational expectation is leveraging private and philanthropic partners to match NPS funding on a 1:1 basis. Deliverables include a final video and report documenting impact and on-the-ground results, such as the number of participants who took outings, the number of outings conducted, and examples of media and social media reach generated by the ambassadors.
NPS is expected to play an active role throughout, which is why this is structured as a cooperative agreement. NPS will help shape the program framework and recruitment approach, especially to ensure the ambassador cohort and campus outreach effectively engage new and diverse audiences. NPS will advise on candidate review and on the training and activity menu, help connect ambassadors with national park sites, support the Outdoor Foundation staff coordinating the network, and provide feedback for improvements based on interim and final reporting. The NPS point of contact listed for the notice is June Zastrow (303-987-6718, junezastrow@nps.gov), and the program manager on the recipient side is identified as Christine Fanning.
The legal and policy basis for the award is grounded in standard federal assistance authorities and specific NPS-related statutes. These include 54 USC 101702(a) regarding cooperative agreements and transfer of appropriated funds (previously 16 USC 1g), along with additional authorities referenced such as the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, provisions of the Outdoor Recreation Organic Act authorizing cooperation and technical assistance with states and nonprofit partners, and Public Land Corps authority allowing cooperative agreements for conservation-related projects. Overall, the notice documents an intended continuation award to sustain and expand a college ambassador model that promotes outdoor participation, national park awareness, and youth engagement while producing measurable outreach and participation results.
Campus Outdoor Ambassador Program (NPS) - FAQs
Is this a grant solicitation or an open request for applications?
No. The notice is explicitly not a solicitation and not a request for applications. It is a public announcement of the National Park Service's (NPS) intent to make a non-competitive (single-source) cooperative agreement award.
Who is NPS intending to fund under this announcement?
NPS states its intent to make a single-source cooperative agreement award to The Outdoor Foundation.
Why is the award non-competitive (single-source)?
The stated single-source rationale is "Continuation". NPS indicates this action continues an existing partnership and that competing the work would significantly harm continuity and disrupt an ongoing campus-based program.
What existing agreement is being continued?
The announcement references continuation of an existing partnership under Cooperative Agreement P15AC00369 through a related task agreement P15AC01052.
What type of funding instrument is planned?
The planned award instrument is a cooperative agreement, which indicates NPS expects to be substantially involved in shaping and supporting the work (rather than providing minimal federal engagement as in some grant structures).
What is the purpose of the Campus Outdoor Ambassador Program?
The project is designed to increase participation in outdoor recreation and stewardship (with a strong emphasis on youth and young adults) and to strengthen connections between college communities and national parks.
Which NPS offices or programs are involved in the effort?
The initiative brings together the NPS Youth Programs Office, the NPS Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance program, and The Outdoor Foundation to build a college-focused effort.
What public-purpose goals does the project emphasize?
The notice highlights goals that include expanding healthy recreation opportunities, improving park-community connections, reaching diverse and underserved audiences (including minorities, underserved communities, and priority urban areas), and creating career exposure and temporary employment opportunities to help develop future park supporters and potential NPS workforce candidates.
What is the anticipated federal funding amount?
The total anticipated federal award amount is $100,000.
Is there a required match or cost share?
Yes. The notice lists a cost share of $110,000 and also describes an operational expectation to match NPS funding on a 1:1 basis by leveraging private and philanthropic partners.
What is the period of performance for the anticipated award?
The anticipated period of performance runs from the date of award through September 30, 2016.
What CFDA program is associated with this opportunity?
The announcement is associated with CFDA 15.954, titled "Conservation, Protection, Outreach and Education."
Who is shown as an eligible applicant category on the record?
The eligible applicant category shown is 501(c)(3) nonprofits (other than institutions of higher education), consistent with The Outdoor Foundation as the intended recipient.
What are The Outdoor Foundation's main responsibilities under the program?
The Outdoor Foundation is responsible for building and running the student Ambassador network, including: creating a recruitment strategy with NPS; designing and managing the ambassador application process; coordinating selection with NPS input; communicating selections to students and schools; providing practical training (social media, public speaking, and media engagement); maintaining ongoing communications; providing student stipends; ensuring accountability; and producing required reporting.
What training topics are specifically mentioned for ambassadors?
The notice specifically mentions training in social media, public speaking, and media engagement.
What deliverables are described in the notice?
Deliverables include a final video and a final report documenting impact and on-the-ground results. Examples of results to be documented include the number of participants who took outings, the number of outings conducted, and examples of media and social media reach generated by ambassadors.
How is NPS expected to be involved during the project?
NPS is expected to play an active role, including shaping the program framework and recruitment approach; advising on candidate review; advising on the training and activity menu; helping connect ambassadors with national park sites; supporting the Outdoor Foundation staff coordinating the network; and providing feedback for improvements based on interim and final reporting.
Who is the NPS point of contact listed for the notice?
The NPS point of contact listed is June Zastrow at 303-987-6718 and junezastrow@nps.gov.
Who is identified as the program manager on the recipient side?
The program manager on the recipient side is identified as Christine Fanning.
What legal or policy authorities are cited as the basis for the award?
The notice references federal assistance authorities including 54 USC 101702(a) (previously 16 USC 1g) regarding cooperative agreements and transfer of appropriated funds, as well as additional authorities such as the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, provisions of the Outdoor Recreation Organic Act authorizing cooperation and technical assistance with states and nonprofit partners, and Public Land Corps authority allowing cooperative agreements for conservation-related projects.
What is the overall intent of the notice?
The notice documents an intended continuation award to sustain and expand a college ambassador model that promotes outdoor participation, national park awareness, and youth engagement while producing measurable outreach and participation results.
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