Opportunity Information: Apply for P15AS00169
Apply for P15AS00169
- 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 "Development and Building Capacity at Groundworks Buffalo" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.921 Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jun 22, 2015 and posted on Jun 22, 2015.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 6, 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 $52,145.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $52,145.00 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 Development and Building Capacity at Groundworks Buffalo opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number P15AS00169) 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 stating that it plans to provide funding to an existing partner without running a competitive grant process. The anticipated award is $52,144.44, with no cost share required, and it is structured as a cooperative agreement under the Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance program (CFDA 15.921). The project is framed as a continuation of prior work under an existing cooperative agreement relationship between NPS and Groundwork USA, with a period of performance running from the award date through September 30, 2016. The NPS point of contact listed is June Zastrow.
At a high level, the purpose is to strengthen Groundwork Buffalo (working through Groundwork USA, the national network office) by expanding partnerships, identifying and launching community-benefit projects, and improving organizational capacity. The work centers on reusing brownfields and other vacant or derelict urban lands for outcomes like parks, recreation, conserved natural resources, and broader community benefits. The announcement defines brownfields as sites that are contaminated or perceived to be contaminated due to previous uses, which often makes them difficult to redevelop without coordinated planning and environmental strategies. Alongside land reuse, the project also emphasizes urban water quality, particularly exploring innovative approaches to improve water quality in Buffalo-area urban water bodies.
The specific objectives break into three main tracks. First, Groundwork Buffalo is expected to deepen collaboration with local and regional partners to create more coordinated, "holistic" solutions for environmental restoration and land reuse. That includes identifying potential partners and current collaborations, researching best management practices related to stormwater management, environmental justice, and widespread urban vacancy, and examining whether clusters of small green infrastructure installations can produce meaningful ecological, economic, and social benefits in impacted neighborhoods. The results of that research are meant to be documented as findings and recommendations, not just kept internal.
Second, the award supports Groundwork Buffalo in moving from planning into action by using its existing brownfields and vacant-lot mapping to identify concrete, partner-driven project opportunities. The opportunity explicitly mentions likely collaborators such as the Buffalo Sewer Authority, Buffalo Niagara RIVERKEEPER, Grassroots Gardens, PUSH Buffalo, and the City of Buffalo. A key expectation is selection and completion of a demonstration project, meaning a real on-the-ground example that partners can point to and potentially replicate or scale. At the same time, the notice is clear that these federal funds cannot be used for construction documents or the construction of specific projects, so the emphasis is on partnership-building, planning, coordination, pilot design, and programmatic groundwork rather than capital construction.
Third, a major portion of the work is capacity building through youth engagement and organizational development. For youth programming, Groundwork Buffalo is expected to expand environmental service-learning opportunities through its Green Team by convening meetings with city and community partners, developing an activity overview and a practical schedule/calendar, updating outreach materials, and aligning curriculum materials with local school needs. The program is expected to culminate in implementing one or more service-learning projects with youth partners and documenting the work through photos and videos, which serves both accountability and future fundraising or replication.
The water-quality component runs in parallel with the land-reuse and youth tracks, focusing on partnership development and identifying innovative methods for assessing and improving water quality. The notice cites examples such as Buffalo State College's Great Lakes Center as the kind of institution that could contribute expertise. Groundwork Buffalo and its partners are expected to research approaches, identify pilot locations where these approaches could be tested, and produce written documentation of findings and recommendations for future pilot projects.
Operationally, the grant is also designed to strengthen Groundwork Buffalo as an organization. Groundwork USA will lead an operations review that includes organizing discussions, documenting findings and recommendations, and facilitating peer learning through site visits and training with another Groundwork Trust (specifically referenced is Groundwork Hudson Valley). Using the operations review results, Groundwork Buffalo is expected to produce an updated two-year strategic plan approved by its Board of Directors. The plan is intended to be practical and capacity-focused, addressing areas such as staffing, programs, projects, finances, governance, board recruitment, and long-term sustainability. Groundwork USA reviews and approves the strategic plan and then communicates the outcome to the NPS.
Because this is a cooperative agreement, the NPS anticipates substantial involvement rather than acting as a hands-off funder. NPS responsibilities include supporting Groundwork Buffalo through funding, connecting Groundwork Buffalo to other Groundwork Trusts for peer assistance, and participating particularly in the assessment and strategic planning work that builds organizational capacity. On the reporting and accountability side, Groundwork Buffalo is expected to track leveraged resources (funding, in-kind support, volunteer hours, materials, and equipment), maintain a photographic record and list of accomplishments, and submit quarterly narrative progress reports along with required financial reports following NPS requirements.
Finally, the notice explains why the award is being made without full and open competition. The single-source justification cited is "Continuation," meaning the funded activities are necessary to complete or continue work already underway, and running a competition would disrupt continuity or completion. The legal authority cited for the cooperative agreement structure is 54 U.S.C. 101702(a), which allows the NPS to enter into cooperative agreements and transfer appropriated funds to eligible public and nonprofit entities to carry out NPS program purposes. In practical terms, this announcement is best read as a formal public notice that the NPS is extending and supporting an ongoing partnership with Groundwork USA to help Groundwork Buffalo advance brownfield reuse planning, green infrastructure and water-quality innovation, youth service learning, and internal capacity-building through structured review and strategic planning.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is this an open grant opportunity that anyone can apply for?
No. This is a National Park Service (NPS) notice of intent to award a continuation cooperative agreement, not an open call for applications. It announces NPS plans to fund an existing partner without a competitive application process.
What is the funding opportunity number for this notice?
The Funding Opportunity Number is P15AS00169.
What is the name of the opportunity?
The opportunity is titled Development and Building Capacity at Groundworks Buffalo.
Which federal agency is issuing the notice?
The notice is issued by the National Park Service (NPS).
What kind of award is being made?
The anticipated award is structured as a cooperative agreement, which typically involves substantial involvement by the federal agency in carrying out the project.
Which NPS program is this associated with?
It is under the Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance program (CFDA 15.921).
How much funding is anticipated?
The anticipated award amount is $52,144.44.
Is a cost share or match required?
No cost share is required for this anticipated award.
Who is expected to receive the funding?
The notice describes a continuation award within an existing cooperative agreement relationship between NPS and Groundwork USA, supporting Groundwork Buffalo through the national network office (Groundwork USA).
Why is the award being made without full and open competition?
The single-source justification cited is "Continuation," meaning the activities are necessary to complete or continue work already underway, and a competition could disrupt continuity or completion.
What is the legal authority cited for using a cooperative agreement?
The notice cites 54 U.S.C. 101702(a) as authority for NPS to enter into cooperative agreements and transfer appropriated funds to eligible public and nonprofit entities to carry out NPS program purposes.
What is the period of performance?
The period of performance runs from the award date through September 30, 2016.
Who is the NPS point of contact?
The NPS point of contact listed in the notice is June Zastrow.
What is the overall purpose of this project?
The purpose is to strengthen Groundwork Buffalo (working through Groundwork USA) by expanding partnerships, identifying and launching community-benefit projects, and improving organizational capacity, with emphasis on reusing brownfields and vacant/derelict urban lands and exploring innovative urban water-quality approaches.
What outcomes does the project aim to support through land reuse?
The notice describes outcomes such as parks, recreation, conserved natural resources, and broader community benefits tied to reuse of brownfields and other vacant or derelict urban lands.
How does the notice define "brownfields" in this context?
Brownfields are described as sites that are contaminated or perceived to be contaminated due to previous uses, which can make redevelopment difficult without coordinated planning and environmental strategies.
What are the main tracks or components of work described?
The notice describes three main tracks: (1) deeper partner collaboration and research leading to documented findings and recommendations, (2) moving from planning into action by identifying partner-driven projects and completing a demonstration project (without using federal funds for construction documents or construction), and (3) capacity building through youth engagement and organizational development. A water-quality component runs in parallel with these tracks.
What does the collaboration and research track include?
It includes identifying potential partners and current collaborations; researching best management practices related to stormwater management, environmental justice, and widespread urban vacancy; examining whether clusters of small green infrastructure installations can create meaningful ecological, economic, and social benefits; and documenting findings and recommendations.
What does "moving from planning into action" mean in this notice?
It refers to using existing brownfields and vacant-lot mapping to identify concrete, partner-driven project opportunities and selecting and completing a demonstration project that serves as an on-the-ground example that partners can point to and potentially replicate or scale.
Are there examples of likely collaborators mentioned in the notice?
Yes. The notice explicitly mentions likely collaborators such as the Buffalo Sewer Authority, Buffalo Niagara RIVERKEEPER, Grassroots Gardens, PUSH Buffalo, and the City of Buffalo.
Can these federal funds be used for construction or construction documents?
No. The notice states that the federal funds cannot be used for construction documents or for the construction of specific projects.
If construction is not allowed, what kinds of project activities are emphasized?
The notice emphasizes partnership-building, planning, coordination, pilot design, and programmatic groundwork rather than capital construction.
What is meant by a "demonstration project" in this context?
A demonstration project is described as a real, on-the-ground example selected and completed with partners that can be pointed to as a model and potentially replicated or scaled.
What youth engagement work is included?
The notice includes expanding environmental service-learning opportunities through Groundwork Buffalo's Green Team by convening meetings with city and community partners, developing an activity overview and practical schedule/calendar, updating outreach materials, aligning curriculum materials with local school needs, implementing one or more service-learning projects, and documenting work through photos and videos.
What kind of documentation is expected for the youth service-learning work?
The notice states the program is expected to document work through photos and videos, supporting accountability and future fundraising or replication.
What is the water-quality component focused on?
It focuses on partnership development and identifying innovative methods for assessing and improving water quality in Buffalo-area urban water bodies, including researching approaches, identifying pilot locations, and producing written findings and recommendations for future pilot projects.
Does the notice provide an example of a potential technical partner for water quality?
Yes. The notice cites Buffalo State College's Great Lakes Center as an example of the kind of institution that could contribute expertise.
What organizational capacity-building activities are included?
The notice includes an operations review led by Groundwork USA, involving organizing discussions, documenting findings and recommendations, and facilitating peer learning through site visits and training with another Groundwork Trust (specifically Groundwork Hudson Valley).
Is a strategic plan required as part of this work?
Yes. Using the operations review results, Groundwork Buffalo is expected to produce an updated two-year strategic plan approved by its Board of Directors.
What topics should the two-year strategic plan address?
The notice describes a practical, capacity-focused plan addressing staffing, programs, projects, finances, governance, board recruitment, and long-term sustainability.
Who reviews or approves the strategic plan?
The notice states Groundwork USA reviews and approves the strategic plan and then communicates the outcome to the NPS.
What does "substantial involvement" by NPS mean here?
Because it is a cooperative agreement, NPS anticipates substantial involvement, including supporting Groundwork Buffalo through funding, connecting Groundwork Buffalo to other Groundwork Trusts for peer assistance, and participating particularly in assessment and strategic planning work to build organizational capacity.
What reporting and tracking are expected from the recipient?
The notice expects tracking leveraged resources (funding, in-kind support, volunteer hours, materials, and equipment), maintaining a photographic record and list of accomplishments, and submitting quarterly narrative progress reports along with required financial reports following NPS requirements.
What does "leveraged resources" include in this notice?
Leveraged resources are described as funding, in-kind support, volunteer hours, materials, and equipment.
What is the practical takeaway for readers of this notice?
The notice functions as a formal public statement that NPS is extending and supporting an ongoing partnership with Groundwork USA to help Groundwork Buffalo advance brownfield reuse planning, green infrastructure and water-quality innovation, youth service learning, and internal capacity-building through structured review and strategic planning.
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