Opportunity Information: Apply for P14AS00093
Apply for P14AS00093
- The National Park Service in the community development education environment natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Development of Outdoor Eco Learning Centers Dallas, TX" 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 May 7, 2014 and posted on May 7, 2014.
- Applicants must submit their applications by May 21, 2014 This is a Notice of Intent to Award not a request for proposals. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $54,651.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $54,651.00 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 of Outdoor Eco Learning Centers Dallas, TX opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number P14AS00093) is a National Park Service (NPS) Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance (CFDA 15.921) cooperative agreement action totaling $54,651.30, with no cost share required. It is published as a Notice of Intent to Award, meaning it is not a competitive solicitation and not a request for applications. Instead, it serves as public notice that NPS plans to fund Groundwork Dallas through a continuation modification of an existing task agreement (P12AC13101) under a broader cooperative agreement (P09AC00389). The posted date is May 7, 2014, with a notice closing date of May 21, 2014, and an anticipated period of performance running from the award date through March 30, 2015. The stated single-source justification is "Continuation," because the work is considered necessary to complete or maintain continuity of activities already underway, and competition would undermine that continuity.
The core purpose of the award is to continue and expand an Eco Learning Environmental Education program that had already been piloted in one Dallas school, and to replicate and scale that work to additional schools. The project centers on hands-on outdoor learning experiences, student-led "Green Team" programming, and the development and use of outdoor eco-classroom settings tied to real conservation and stewardship work in the Elm Fork of the Trinity River area. Groundwork Dallas is expected to deliver this work in partnership with the City of Dallas, the Dallas Independent School District (DISD), and other public, private, and nonprofit partners, following the Groundwork model for community-based environmental improvement and youth engagement.
A key emphasis is building formal partnerships and clear operating permissions for both school-based programming and field-based activities. Groundwork Dallas is tasked with securing a written agreement with the Dallas Environmental Science Academy (DESA), a DISD middle school, to replicate the Green Team model and integrate outdoor learning into both the school day and extracurricular time. The agreement was targeted for completion by summer 2014, with Green Team meetings beginning in the fall 2014 semester. In parallel, Groundwork Dallas must also secure necessary written agreements with the City of Dallas covering use and improvement of the Elm Fork region for outdoor classroom enhancements, programming schedules, and stewardship responsibilities.
The scope of work blends education, evaluation, and on-the-ground environmental action. On the education and program quality side, Groundwork Dallas must design and implement written and oral assessments of school-based Green Teams, gathering feedback through surveys and other methods from roughly 15 to 20 students, teachers, and facilitators. They are also expected to assess and document educational activities, research, and site improvements generated through the outdoor eco-classroom program, and then use those findings as a model to guide implementation at DESA and other sites.
On the conservation and restoration side, the project includes recurring field activities in the Elm Fork of the Trinity River. Required tasks include monthly water quality monitoring, monthly cleanup events at the adopted outdoor classroom site, and training students and volunteers in citizen forestry practices such as reforestation and basic forestry education, coordinated with the City of Dallas Citizen Forester Program. Another technical component involves invasive species work: in cooperation with Southern Methodist University (SMU) and the Botanical Research Institute of Texas (BRIT), students are trained to identify invasive flora and document it for removal. Overall, these tasks are intended to connect classroom learning to measurable stewardship outcomes and build long-term capacity for caring for local natural resources.
The award also supports expansion of the Green Team model into a more explicit career and education track built around environmental service learning, with an emphasis on engaging youth from diverse backgrounds. Groundwork Dallas is expected to recruit and train 10 to 15 Green Team leaders from local colleges and universities and prepare them to serve as crew supervisors. The organization must also develop 3 to 5 partnerships with environmental professionals, universities, and college students who can act as mentors, trainers, technical experts, and career role models, and then produce documentation of the trainings and activities completed so outcomes can be tracked and assessed.
A significant deliverable category is communications and knowledge transfer so the work can be shared locally and across the broader Groundwork network. Groundwork Dallas must develop and produce an educational documentary video that tracks ongoing and completed activities in the Elm Fork, as well as an edited condensed version for outreach, recruiting, and replication by other implementation sites. Youth are expected to help drive outreach through the Groundwork Dallas website, social media, and newsletters, including testimonials, reflections, and photo documentation, with youth-generated updates appearing at least twice per calendar quarter. The organization must also maintain a running list and photographic record of accomplishments, including at least five annotated photos per Green Team event or activity, and publish these through the Groundwork Dallas website and blog. Finally, Groundwork Dallas must produce a document describing outreach and information-sharing strategies and include analytics on audiences reached.
From an accountability and grants management perspective, Groundwork Dallas is required to document leveraged resources, including other funding, in-kind services, volunteer hours, materials, and equipment used to complete the work, and to actively leverage additional resources to support program growth. The reporting cadence includes quarterly narrative progress reports to NPS describing work completed against the tasks, along with required financial reporting in line with NPS requirements. A notable restriction is that the NPS funds under this agreement cannot be used for construction documents, construction of specific projects, or fundraising activities; the funding is oriented toward planning, program development, training, monitoring, stewardship activities, evaluation, and outreach.
Because this is a cooperative agreement, NPS anticipates substantial involvement rather than a hands-off grant relationship. NPS will provide funding support and, through its Rivers and Trails Program staff, ongoing technical assistance and direction, especially for activities connected to conservation of natural resources and the development and care of parks, recreation areas, nature reserves, trails, and other green space amenities. The statutory authority cited for making the award includes 16 USC 1(g) and 16 USC 460.1-1(d), which support NPS entering cooperative agreements and transferring appropriated funds to public entities and nonprofits to carry out NPS program purposes. The NPS point of contact listed for the notice is June Zastrow (303-987-6718, junezastrow@nps.gov).
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1) What is the official name of this funding opportunity?
The opportunity is titled "The Development of Outdoor Eco Learning Centers Dallas, TX".
2) What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON)?
The Funding Opportunity Number is P14AS00093.
3) Which federal agency is offering this award?
The award is being made by the National Park Service (NPS), through its Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance program.
4) What CFDA program is associated with this award?
The notice references CFDA 15.921 (Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance).
5) What type of award is this?
This action is described as a cooperative agreement, which typically means NPS anticipates substantial involvement in the project (not a hands-off grant).
6) How much funding is included in the award?
The total amount listed is $54,651.30.
7) Is there a cost share or matching requirement?
No. The notice states no cost share is required.
8) Is this a competitive grant solicitation?
No. It is published as a Notice of Intent to Award. The notice explicitly states it is not a competitive solicitation and not a request for applications.
9) If it is not competitive, what is the notice for?
The notice serves as public notice that NPS plans to fund Groundwork Dallas through a continuation modification of an existing task agreement, rather than seeking new applicants.
10) Who is the intended recipient of the funding?
NPS plans to fund Groundwork Dallas.
11) What is the single-source justification for making this award?
The stated single-source justification is "Continuation", meaning the work is considered necessary to complete or maintain continuity of activities already underway, and competition would undermine that continuity.
12) What existing agreements does this continuation relate to?
The continuation is described as a modification of an existing task agreement P12AC13101 under a broader cooperative agreement P09AC00389.
13) When was the notice posted, and when does it close?
The posted date is May 7, 2014. The notice closing date is May 21, 2014.
14) What is the anticipated period of performance?
The anticipated period of performance runs from the award date through March 30, 2015.
15) What is the main purpose of the project?
The core purpose is to continue and expand an Eco Learning Environmental Education program that was piloted in one Dallas school, and to replicate and scale it to additional schools.
16) What kinds of student experiences are central to the program?
The program emphasizes hands-on outdoor learning, student-led "Green Team" programming, and the use of outdoor eco-classroom settings connected to real conservation and stewardship work.
17) Where will the outdoor stewardship and field activities take place?
Field activities are centered in the Elm Fork of the Trinity River area, including an adopted outdoor classroom site in that region.
18) Which partners are expected to be involved?
Groundwork Dallas is expected to deliver the work in partnership with the City of Dallas, the Dallas Independent School District (DISD), and other public, private, and nonprofit partners.
19) What is the Groundwork model referenced in the notice?
The notice describes it as a model focused on community-based environmental improvement and youth engagement.
20) What school is specifically mentioned for replication of the Green Team model?
The project calls for replication at the Dallas Environmental Science Academy (DESA), described as a DISD middle school.
21) Are written partnership agreements required?
Yes. A key emphasis is building formal partnerships and clear operating permissions. Groundwork Dallas is tasked with securing written agreements, including with DESA and with the City of Dallas.
22) What was the target timeline for the DESA agreement and Green Team start?
The written agreement with DESA was targeted for completion by summer 2014, with Green Team meetings beginning in the fall 2014 semester.
23) What do the City of Dallas agreements need to cover?
The notice indicates agreements with the City of Dallas should cover use and improvement of the Elm Fork region for outdoor classroom enhancements, programming schedules, and stewardship responsibilities.
24) What evaluation or assessment activities are required?
Groundwork Dallas must design and implement written and oral assessments of school-based Green Teams, using surveys and other methods, and gather feedback from roughly 15 to 20 students, teachers, and facilitators.
25) What documentation is expected from the educational program?
The project includes assessing and documenting educational activities, research, and site improvements generated through the outdoor eco-classroom program, and using findings as a model to guide implementation at DESA and other sites.
26) What recurring conservation activities are included in the scope of work?
The notice calls for recurring field activities including monthly water quality monitoring and monthly cleanup events at the adopted outdoor classroom site.
27) What forestry-related training is included?
Students and volunteers are to be trained in citizen forestry practices such as reforestation and basic forestry education, coordinated with the City of Dallas Citizen Forester Program.
28) Does the project include invasive species work?
Yes. In cooperation with Southern Methodist University (SMU) and the Botanical Research Institute of Texas (BRIT), students are trained to identify invasive flora and document it for removal.
29) How does the project connect classroom learning to outcomes?
The tasks are intended to connect classroom learning to measurable stewardship outcomes and build long-term capacity for caring for local natural resources.
30) Does the project include a career or service-learning pathway?
Yes. The award supports expansion of the Green Team model into a more explicit career and education track built around environmental service learning, with emphasis on engaging youth from diverse backgrounds.
31) How many Green Team leaders are expected to be recruited and trained?
Groundwork Dallas is expected to recruit and train 10 to 15 Green Team leaders from local colleges and universities and prepare them to serve as crew supervisors.
32) Are mentorship partnerships required, and how many?
Yes. Groundwork Dallas must develop 3 to 5 partnerships with environmental professionals, universities, and college students to act as mentors, trainers, technical experts, and career role models.
33) What communications deliverables are required?
Groundwork Dallas must develop and produce an educational documentary video tracking activities in the Elm Fork, plus an edited condensed version for outreach, recruiting, and replication by other sites.
34) What role do youth play in outreach?
Youth are expected to help drive outreach through the Groundwork Dallas website, social media, and newsletters, including testimonials, reflections, and photo documentation.
35) How often should youth-generated updates appear?
Youth-generated updates should appear at least twice per calendar quarter.
36) What photo documentation is required for activities?
The organization must maintain a running list and photographic record of accomplishments, including at least five annotated photos per Green Team event or activity, and publish these through the Groundwork Dallas website and blog.
37) Is any analytics or audience reporting required for outreach?
Yes. Groundwork Dallas must produce a document describing outreach and information-sharing strategies and include analytics on audiences reached.
38) What reporting is required to NPS?
The reporting cadence includes quarterly narrative progress reports describing work completed against the tasks, along with financial reporting in line with NPS requirements.
39) Are leveraged resources required to be tracked?
Yes. Groundwork Dallas is required to document leveraged resources, including other funding, in-kind services, volunteer hours, materials, and equipment used to complete the work, and to actively leverage additional resources to support program growth.
40) What spending restrictions apply to the NPS funds under this agreement?
The notice states NPS funds cannot be used for construction documents, construction of specific projects, or fundraising activities. Funding is oriented toward planning, program development, training, monitoring, stewardship activities, evaluation, and outreach.
41) What does "cooperative agreement" mean for NPS involvement?
NPS anticipates substantial involvement and will provide funding support and ongoing technical assistance and direction, especially for activities connected to conservation of natural resources and the development and care of parks, recreation areas, nature reserves, trails, and other green space amenities.
42) What legal/statutory authority is cited for making the award?
The notice cites 16 USC 1(g) and 16 USC 460.1-1(d) as authority supporting NPS entering cooperative agreements and transferring appropriated funds to public entities and nonprofits to carry out NPS program purposes.
43) Who is the NPS point of contact for this notice?
The listed NPS point of contact is June Zastrow, phone 303-987-6718, email junezastrow@nps.gov.
44) What is the geographic focus of this opportunity?
The project is focused on Dallas, Texas, including school-based programming within DISD and field-based stewardship activities in the Elm Fork of the Trinity River area.
45) Does this notice invite other organizations to apply?
No. Based on the notice language, it is not a request for applications and instead announces NPS intent to fund a specific organization (Groundwork Dallas) as a continuation action.
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Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (P14AS00093) also looked into and applied for these:
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| FY 2015 Challenge Cost Share Program Apply for P15AS00022 Funding Number: P15AS00022 Agency: National Park Service Category: Community Development Education Environment Natural Resources Funding Amount: $75,000 |
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