Opportunity Information: Apply for F16AS00397
Apply for F16AS00397
- The Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service in the community development, education, environment, natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Cooperative Agreement with PNTS to Provide Services Benefitting Management of America's 30 National Scenic and Historic Trails" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.654.
- This funding opportunity was created on Aug 10, 2016.
- Applicants must submit their applications by The recipient has been selected.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $60,000.00 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 grant opportunity "Cooperative Agreement with PNTS to Provide Services Benefitting Management of America's 30 National Scenic and Historic Trails" (Funding Opportunity Number F16AS00397) is a discretionary cooperative agreement offered by the U.S. Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service (CFDA 15.654). It supports the Partnership for the National Trails System (PNTS) in delivering communications, training, and capacity-building services to the broader National Trails System community during fiscal years 2016 and 2017. The overall purpose is to strengthen coordination between federal trail administrators and nonprofit trail organizations so they can better develop, preserve, interpret, and sustain the 30 congressionally authorized National Scenic and Historic Trails. A key Fish and Wildlife Service interest is that portions of these trails pass through roughly 70 National Wildlife Refuges, creating opportunities for the public to access and appreciate refuge landscapes and the conservation of fish, wildlife, plants, and habitats.
The opportunity is structured around a set of practical services that emphasize information sharing, professional development, and on-the-ground conservation support. One major component is PNTS communications and outreach through its flagship publication and digital channels. PNTS proposes producing four quarterly issues of "PATHWAYS Across America" in both 2016 and 2017, with the winter issue expanded to include a year-end accomplishments report for each trail. The newsletter is distributed to about 2,400 recipients across federal and state agencies and nonprofit trail leadership, and it is also posted online at pnts.org. In parallel, PNTS would keep its website current, publish a monthly electronic newsletter to more than 600 trail leaders and staff, and run social media efforts designed to connect younger audiences with the national trails. The intended outcome is a better-informed trails community with more consistent communication across agencies and partner organizations, and more effective public engagement.
Training and peer learning are another central focus, primarily through National Scenic and Historic Trails workshops. During 2016, PNTS plans to partner with trail organizations such as the Oregon-California Trails Association (for historic trails) and the Florida Trail Association and Pacific Crest Trail Association (for scenic trails) to host workshops for nonprofit leaders, volunteers, and federal trail managers. A notable element is the inclusion of young "Trail Apprentices," who would attend and be encouraged to present on their trail-related work, using support from the Fish and Wildlife Service and other federal agencies. Workshop topics are geared toward practical management needs: protecting trail lands, improving diversity and inclusion by engaging minority youth, strengthening community partnerships along trail corridors (including urban historic retracement projects), and using newer technical tools like GIS mapping and digital interpretation methods. PNTS also indicates it will begin planning in fall 2016 for the 16th Conference on National Scenic and Historic Trails to be held in 2018; while the Fish and Wildlife Service would not be asked to sponsor that conference, it would be invited to participate in planning and attendance.
The project also aligns with the broader "Decade for National Trails" framework, with specific attention to three goals. Under Goal 1, PNTS supports preparation for the 50th anniversary of the National Trails System in 2018. Planning begins in 2016 and continues into 2017, with some events and programs starting in 2017 and extending through 2018. The emphasis is on increasing awareness and use of national trails by all Americans, with deliberate outreach to minority communities and community-based activities. PNTS also plans to participate in the International Trails Symposium in May 2017 to help educate the wider trails field about the anniversary and encourage increased resources and commitment to trail stewardship.
Under Goal 2, PNTS provides technical and coordination assistance for protecting trail lands and resources, particularly through land acquisition planning and budgeting processes. PNTS would continue helping staff from the Fish and Wildlife Service, National Park Service, U.S. Forest Service, and Bureau of Land Management, along with trail organization leaders, to develop land acquisition proposals for inclusion in the President's FY 2018 and FY 2019 budget requests. This work builds on prior interagency efforts through the Collaborative Landscape Planning initiative, and the description highlights prior results, including significant Land and Water Conservation Fund appropriations in FY 2015 and FY 2016 to acquire lands along multiple national scenic and historic trails, including projects located within National Wildlife Refuges crossed by national trails. The intent is to improve the pipeline and quality of acquisition proposals so critical trail segments and related resources can be protected more effectively.
Under Goal 3, the agreement invests in long-term organizational capacity for both nonprofit trail groups and federal partners. PNTS would bring experienced practitioners to workshops to present on effective fundraising, nonprofit governance and board development, strategies to map and protect trail corridors, and approaches to engage young people, particularly minorities, in trail use and stewardship. In addition to in-person training, PNTS plans to develop a webinar series beginning in fall 2016 to reach a wider audience of trail staff and leaders. Expected webinar topics include best practices in trail land protection, nonprofit fundraising, volunteer recruitment and management, youth engagement strategies, and updates on federal policies affecting trail work (one example cited is the U.S. Forest Service saw use policy). PNTS would survey nonprofit and federal participants to select the most relevant training topics, reinforcing that the program is meant to respond to real operational needs across the trails community.
From an administrative standpoint, eligibility is limited to nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education). The opportunity anticipated a single award with an award ceiling of $60,000, and the posting notes that the recipient had already been selected by the original closing date. The work is backed by a range of authorizing statutes tied to wildlife conservation, refuge administration and recreation, youth programs, cultural and archaeological resource protection, volunteer and community partnerships, and certain federal transportation authorities. Taken together, the agreement is essentially a targeted support package: it funds PNTS to serve as a coordinating backbone organization for the National Trails System, improving communication, training, youth involvement, diversity outreach, and land protection planning in ways that directly benefit the management and sustainability of all 30 National Scenic and Historic Trails, including those that intersect National Wildlife Refuges.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the name of this grant opportunity?
The opportunity is titled "Cooperative Agreement with PNTS to Provide Services Benefitting Management of America's 30 National Scenic and Historic Trails."
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON)?
The Funding Opportunity Number is F16AS00397.
Which federal agency is offering this opportunity?
This is a discretionary cooperative agreement offered by the U.S. Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service.
What CFDA number is associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is listed under CFDA 15.654.
What type of funding instrument is this?
It is a discretionary cooperative agreement.
What is the overall purpose of the cooperative agreement?
The purpose is to strengthen coordination between federal trail administrators and nonprofit trail organizations so they can better develop, preserve, interpret, and sustain the 30 congressionally authorized National Scenic and Historic Trails.
Who is intended to be supported by this agreement?
The agreement supports the Partnership for the National Trails System (PNTS) in delivering communications, training, and capacity-building services to the broader National Trails System community.
Which fiscal years does this project cover?
The described work supports activities during fiscal years 2016 and 2017.
How does this opportunity relate to National Wildlife Refuges?
A key Fish and Wildlife Service interest is that portions of national scenic and historic trails pass through roughly 70 National Wildlife Refuges, which creates opportunities for the public to access and appreciate refuge landscapes and the conservation of fish, wildlife, plants, and habitats.
How many trails are covered by the National Scenic and Historic Trails focus described here?
The agreement is framed around all 30 congressionally authorized National Scenic and Historic Trails.
What are the main categories of activities funded under this agreement?
The opportunity emphasizes practical services in three broad areas: communications and outreach, training and peer learning, and on-the-ground conservation support (especially land protection planning and coordination), along with longer-term organizational capacity-building.
What communications and outreach products are proposed?
PNTS proposes producing four quarterly issues of its flagship publication, "PATHWAYS Across America," in both 2016 and 2017, maintaining current website content, issuing a monthly electronic newsletter, and running social media efforts to connect younger audiences with national trails.
How often is "PATHWAYS Across America" published under this plan?
Four quarterly issues are proposed in 2016 and four quarterly issues are proposed in 2017.
What is special about the winter issue of "PATHWAYS Across America" in this plan?
The winter issue is proposed to be expanded to include a year-end accomplishments report for each trail.
Who receives the "PATHWAYS Across America" newsletter?
It is distributed to about 2,400 recipients across federal and state agencies and nonprofit trail leadership, and it is also posted online at pnts.org.
How large is the audience for the monthly electronic newsletter?
The monthly electronic newsletter is intended for more than 600 trail leaders and staff.
What is the intended communications outcome of this project?
The stated intent is a better-informed trails community, more consistent communication across agencies and partner organizations, and more effective public engagement.
What training activities are included in the opportunity?
Training and peer learning are centered on National Scenic and Historic Trails workshops hosted in partnership with trail organizations and intended for nonprofit leaders, volunteers, and federal trail managers.
Which trail organizations are mentioned as workshop partners?
The description notes planned partnerships with the Oregon-California Trails Association (historic trails) and the Florida Trail Association and Pacific Crest Trail Association (scenic trails) for hosting workshops during 2016.
Who are the workshops designed to serve?
The workshops are described as being for nonprofit leaders, volunteers, and federal trail managers.
What role do "Trail Apprentices" play in the workshops?
Young "Trail Apprentices" would attend workshops and be encouraged to present on their trail-related work, using support from the Fish and Wildlife Service and other federal agencies.
What kinds of workshop topics are included?
Topics are geared toward practical management needs, including protecting trail lands, improving diversity and inclusion by engaging minority youth, strengthening community partnerships along trail corridors (including urban historic retracement projects), and using technical tools like GIS mapping and digital interpretation methods.
Does the opportunity include planning for a national conference?
Yes. PNTS indicates it will begin planning in fall 2016 for the 16th Conference on National Scenic and Historic Trails to be held in 2018.
Is the Fish and Wildlife Service expected to sponsor the 2018 conference?
No. The description specifically notes that the Fish and Wildlife Service would not be asked to sponsor the conference, but it would be invited to participate in planning and attendance.
How does this project connect to the "Decade for National Trails" framework?
The project aligns with the "Decade for National Trails" framework and highlights work under three goals: (1) preparation for the National Trails System 50th anniversary in 2018, (2) technical and coordination assistance for protecting trail lands and resources, and (3) building long-term organizational capacity for nonprofit and federal partners.
What does Goal 1 focus on?
Goal 1 focuses on preparing for the 50th anniversary of the National Trails System in 2018, with planning beginning in 2016 and continuing into 2017, and with some events and programs starting in 2017 and extending through 2018.
What outreach priorities are emphasized for the 50th anniversary preparations?
The emphasis is on increasing awareness and use of national trails by all Americans, including deliberate outreach to minority communities and community-based activities.
Is participation in the International Trails Symposium part of the work?
Yes. PNTS plans to participate in the International Trails Symposium in May 2017 to help educate the wider trails field about the anniversary and encourage increased resources and commitment to trail stewardship.
What does Goal 2 focus on?
Goal 2 focuses on technical and coordination assistance for protecting trail lands and resources, particularly through land acquisition planning and budgeting processes.
What specific land protection support is described under Goal 2?
PNTS would continue helping staff from the Fish and Wildlife Service, National Park Service, U.S. Forest Service, and Bureau of Land Management, along with trail organization leaders, to develop land acquisition proposals for inclusion in the President's FY 2018 and FY 2019 budget requests.
What prior effort does this land acquisition work build on?
The description says this work builds on prior interagency efforts through the Collaborative Landscape Planning initiative.
What results are cited as evidence of prior land acquisition success?
The description highlights significant Land and Water Conservation Fund appropriations in FY 2015 and FY 2016 to acquire lands along multiple national scenic and historic trails, including projects located within National Wildlife Refuges crossed by national trails.
What is the intended outcome of the land acquisition planning support?
The intent is to improve the pipeline and quality of acquisition proposals so critical trail segments and related resources can be protected more effectively.
What does Goal 3 focus on?
Goal 3 invests in long-term organizational capacity for both nonprofit trail groups and federal partners through training, knowledge sharing, and broader access to expertise.
What capacity-building topics are specifically mentioned?
Topics include effective fundraising, nonprofit governance and board development, strategies to map and protect trail corridors, and approaches to engage young people (particularly minorities) in trail use and stewardship.
Is there a webinar component to this project?
Yes. PNTS plans to develop a webinar series beginning in fall 2016 to reach a wider audience of trail staff and leaders.
What webinar topics are expected?
Expected topics include best practices in trail land protection, nonprofit fundraising, volunteer recruitment and management, youth engagement strategies, and updates on federal policies affecting trail work (with the U.S. Forest Service saw use policy cited as an example).
How will PNTS decide which training topics to deliver?
PNTS would survey nonprofit and federal participants to select the most relevant training topics, with the aim of responding to real operational needs across the trails community.
Who is eligible to apply for this opportunity?
Eligibility is limited to nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status, excluding institutions of higher education.
How many awards were anticipated?
The opportunity anticipated a single award.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling is $60,000.
Was a recipient already selected?
Yes. The posting notes that the recipient had already been selected by the original closing date.
What kinds of statutory authorities support this cooperative agreement?
The work is described as being backed by multiple authorizing statutes related to wildlife conservation, refuge administration and recreation, youth programs, cultural and archaeological resource protection, volunteer and community partnerships, and certain federal transportation authorities.
In practical terms, what does this agreement fund PNTS to do?
It funds PNTS to serve as a coordinating backbone organization for the National Trails System by improving communication, training, youth involvement, diversity outreach, and land protection planning in ways that benefit management and sustainability of all 30 National Scenic and Historic Trails, including those that intersect National Wildlife Refuges.
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