Opportunity Information: Apply for P14AS00147
Apply for P14AS00147
- The National Park Service in the education employment, labor and training environment natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Engaging Youth in River Recreation and Conservation on NPS and Related Waterways" 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 20, 2014 and posted on Jun 20, 2014.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 3, 2014. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $25,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $25,000.00 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 titled Engaging Youth in River Recreation and Conservation on NPS and Related Waterways is a National Park Service (NPS) notice of intent to award funding through a cooperative agreement, not an open call for applications. In other words, the agency is publicly announcing that it plans to fund a specific partner for a specific continuation effort without running a full competitive process. The project is listed under Funding Opportunity Number P14AS00147 (also referenced as P14AC00147 in the abstract) and falls under CFDA 15.921, Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance. It was posted June 20, 2014, with a closing date of July 3, 2014, and is categorized under education as well as employment/labor/training, environment, and natural resources.
The intended recipient is Wilderness Inquiry Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, with Greg Lais identified as the principal investigator or program manager. The anticipated award amount is $25,000 with no cost share or matching requirement. The award is described as a continuation, with an anticipated period of performance and agreement length of five years from the date of award. The funding instrument is a cooperative agreement, which signals that NPS expects to be substantially involved in carrying out the work rather than simply providing a pass-through grant with minimal federal participation.
At its core, the project aims to jointly increase outdoor recreation and environmental education opportunities connected to rivers and waterways for people of all abilities and cultural backgrounds, with a strong emphasis on low-income, disadvantaged, urban youth, and youth with special needs. The agreement is framed around reducing barriers to access to public lands and waterways, expanding safe and appropriate recreation, and building public appreciation and stewardship of river resources so they can be enjoyed broadly. It also ties into broader youth priorities described as helping young people "play, learn, serve, and work," including exposure to careers connected to outdoor recreation, conservation, and public lands.
Program activities are meant to take place on and around a range of water-related NPS interests, including urban waters initiatives, national water trails, wild and scenic rivers, and community-based river conservation and recreation projects. Wilderness Inquiry, founded in 1978, is positioned in the announcement as a long-standing organization with the capacity to bring non-traditional recreationists onto the water, including people with disabilities, recent immigrants, and communities with limited access to outdoor recreation.
The recipient, Wilderness Inquiry, is expected to do much of the on-the-ground engagement work. That includes coordinating programs with schools and community partners (such as local agencies, businesses, and nonprofits), motivating youth to learn about and responsibly enjoy public waterways, and providing practical outdoor skill development, particularly paddling skills and safe river recreation practices. The work also includes creating pathways for youth service and employment tied to river recreation and outdoor education, reinforcing safe and environmentally responsible use of public lands and waterways, and collaborating with NPS on outreach and education materials that reflect inclusive access for varied abilities and cultural backgrounds. Wilderness Inquiry is also expected to help seek additional funding for the cooperative program alongside NPS and other partners, which suggests the $25,000 federal amount is intended to support a broader partnership effort rather than cover the full cost of activity.
NPS is described as having substantial involvement, which is a defining feature of cooperative agreements. Its responsibilities include planning and organizational support for the coordinated recreation and education programs, encouraging participation across NPS offices and waterway-related efforts (including urban waters and national water trails), and helping expand programming by coordinating with additional federal and local partners. NPS also commits to sharing information with Wilderness Inquiry about youth engagement, employment, and education initiatives that support building a diverse and skilled federal workforce, and to providing publicly available information relevant to conservation and recreation issues on NPS public lands and waterways.
The announcement explains why the award is being made without full and open competition under Department of the Interior single-source policy (505 DM 2). NPS cites two main justifications: unique qualifications and continuation. Wilderness Inquiry is portrayed as uniquely capable of putting large numbers of people on the water safely across multiple cities, while combining paddling instruction, environmental education, and leadership development, and while effectively reaching urban communities and paddlers with disabilities. The continuation rationale is tied to an existing history of similar cooperative work, including prior collaboration under agreements involving the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area (MNRRA). NPS also notes that in comparable past efforts its in-kind support exceeded $100,000 and included event planning, partnership development, public promotion, and education and skills training, and that Wilderness Inquiry already maintains an MOU with multiple federal agencies, including NPS, which is presented as supporting program continuity and reducing disruption.
Finally, the statutory authorities cited reinforce NPS legal ability to structure this as a cooperative partnership with a nonprofit. The opportunity references authorities including 16 USC 1(g) (cooperative agreements and transfers for public purposes tied to NPS programs), provisions supporting cooperation to encourage public use and benefits from outdoor recreation, and the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (16 U.S.C. 1271 et seq.), which authorizes federal cooperation and assistance to protect and manage river resources. The listed NPS point of contact for the award is June Zastrow (303-987-6718, JuneZastrow@nps.gov).
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the "Engaging Youth in River Recreation and Conservation on NPS and Related Waterways" funding opportunity?
It is a National Park Service (NPS) notice of intent to award federal funding through a cooperative agreement for a continuation effort focused on youth river recreation and conservation/education activities connected to NPS and related waterways.
Is this an open grant that anyone can apply for?
No. The notice describes a planned award to a specific partner and is not an open call for applications or a competitive solicitation.
What type of award is being used?
The funding instrument is a cooperative agreement. This indicates NPS expects substantial federal involvement in the project rather than providing funding with minimal federal participation.
Who is the intended recipient of the award?
The intended recipient is Wilderness Inquiry Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
Who is listed as the principal investigator or program manager?
Greg Lais is identified as the principal investigator/program manager.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON) for this notice?
The project is listed under Funding Opportunity Number P14AS00147. The abstract also references P14AC00147.
What CFDA program is associated with this opportunity?
The notice is associated with CFDA 15.921, Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance.
When was the notice posted and what is the closing date?
The notice was posted on June 20, 2014, with a closing date of July 3, 2014.
What is the anticipated award amount?
The anticipated award amount is $25,000.
Is there a required cost share or match?
No. The notice states there is no cost share or matching requirement.
How long is the project expected to run?
The award is described as a continuation, with an anticipated period of performance and agreement length of five years from the date of award.
What are the main goals of the project?
The project aims to increase outdoor recreation and environmental education opportunities tied to rivers and waterways for people of all abilities and cultural backgrounds. A central emphasis is reducing barriers to access to public lands and waterways, expanding safe and appropriate recreation, and building appreciation and stewardship of river resources.
Who is the project trying to serve?
The emphasis is on low-income, disadvantaged, urban youth, and youth with special needs, while also supporting participation across varied abilities and cultural backgrounds.
What kinds of activities are envisioned under the cooperative agreement?
Activities described include coordinating programs with schools and community partners; motivating youth to learn about and responsibly enjoy public waterways; providing practical outdoor skill development (including paddling skills and safe river recreation practices); creating pathways for youth service and employment tied to river recreation and outdoor education; and collaborating on inclusive outreach and education materials.
Where are activities expected to take place?
Programming is intended to occur on and around water-related NPS interests, including urban waters initiatives, national water trails, wild and scenic rivers, and community-based river conservation and recreation projects.
Why did NPS choose a cooperative agreement instead of a more hands-off grant?
The notice states that NPS will have substantial involvement. NPS responsibilities include planning and organizational support; encouraging participation across NPS offices and waterway-related efforts; coordinating with additional federal and local partners to expand programming; sharing information related to youth engagement, employment, and education initiatives; and providing publicly available information relevant to conservation and recreation issues.
What is Wilderness Inquiry expected to do under this partnership?
Wilderness Inquiry is expected to conduct much of the on-the-ground engagement work, including coordination with schools and community partners, delivery of paddling and safe recreation skills, youth motivation and education, development of service and employment pathways connected to river recreation and outdoor education, and collaboration with NPS on inclusive outreach and education materials.
Does the notice mention anything about additional fundraising beyond the federal award?
Yes. The notice states Wilderness Inquiry is expected to help seek additional funding for the cooperative program alongside NPS and other partners, suggesting the federal amount supports a broader partnership effort.
What subject areas or categories does this opportunity fall under?
The opportunity is categorized under education, employment/labor/training, environment, and natural resources.
Why is this award being made without full and open competition?
The notice cites Department of the Interior single-source policy (505 DM 2) and provides two main justifications: (1) unique qualifications and (2) continuation. Wilderness Inquiry is described as uniquely capable of safely putting large numbers of people on the water across multiple cities while combining paddling instruction, environmental education, and leadership development, including effectively reaching urban communities and paddlers with disabilities. The continuation rationale references an existing history of similar cooperative work, including prior collaboration involving the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area (MNRRA).
What prior support or history is mentioned to justify continuation?
The notice references prior collaboration under earlier agreements, including work involving the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area (MNRRA). It also notes that in comparable past efforts NPS in-kind support exceeded $100,000 and included event planning, partnership development, public promotion, and education and skills training.
Does the notice mention any existing agreements that support continuity?
Yes. It states Wilderness Inquiry maintains a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with multiple federal agencies, including NPS, which is presented as supporting continuity and reducing disruption.
What legal authorities are cited to support this cooperative partnership?
The notice references statutory authorities supporting NPS use of cooperative agreements and cooperation for public purposes tied to NPS programs, as well as the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (16 U.S.C. 1271 et seq.), which authorizes federal cooperation and assistance to protect and manage river resources. It also cites 16 USC 1(g) related to cooperative agreements and transfers for public purposes.
Who is the NPS point of contact for this award?
The listed NPS point of contact is June Zastrow at 303-987-6718 or JuneZastrow@nps.gov.
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