Opportunity Information: Apply for FWS 08 RO 649 001
Apply for FWS 08 RO 649 001
- The Region 3 in the employment, labor and training natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "FWS Midwest Conservation Internship Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.649 Service Training and Technical Assistance (Generic Training).
- This funding opportunity was created on Dec 27, 2007 and posted on Nov 30, 2007.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Feb 15, 2008. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $125,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $7,500.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 2 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education For profit organizations other than small businesses Small businesses Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Private institutions of higher education Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) State governments.
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Opportunity Summary:
The FWS Midwest Conservation Internship Program (CIP) is a discretionary federal funding opportunity from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), Region 3, designed to support a summer internship pipeline for culturally diverse college students into natural resource careers. The program is run through the National Wildlife Refuge System across eight Midwest states: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, and Wisconsin. Its core purpose is workforce development and career exposure: placing students alongside USFWS natural resource professionals for hands-on conservation work and structured training, with an emphasis on expanding participation among students from traditionally disadvantaged and otherwise diverse ethnic backgrounds and helping build the next generation of conservationists and ecologists.
Rather than funding the internships directly through USFWS hiring, this opportunity seeks one or more partner organizations (the award recipient/cooperator) that can administer the internship pipeline on the government’s behalf. USFWS anticipates issuing one or more five-year “blanket†cooperative agreements, and then using task orders each year to request recruitment and placement of interns for specific refuge/station assignments. The partner organization is expected to handle the operational backbone of the program, including identifying and recruiting eligible students, screening candidates, coordinating transportation to and from the assigned USFWS stations, and providing payroll services for interns. USFWS station staff will collaborate in interviewing and selection, but USFWS retains final authority to select and retain interns.
Internships are typically 12 weeks long and occur during the summer window (generally between May 15 and September 30), with interns expected to be on site by about May 31 in the assignment year. Interns gain real-world experience in activities such as invasive species management, habitat restoration, wildlife management, and public education/interpretation, supplemented by informal and formal training sessions led by USFWS personnel. Although interns work at USFWS sites, they are treated as volunteers rather than USFWS employees for purposes of payroll, liability insurance, and benefits administration. The announcement notes that some interns may later be offered USFWS Student Career Experience Program (SCEP) appointments or other employment opportunities, but nothing is guaranteed simply by completing the internship.
On funding and cost structure, the Midwest Region caps the federally reimbursable amount at $7,500 per intern per year. That cap is intended to cover the partner’s costs for recruiting, placing, and compensating interns, including transportation to and from the duty station. Within that limit, each student must be paid a stipend of at least $4,800, calculated at $10 per hour for the 12-week period, and paid no less frequently than bi-weekly. If an intern does not complete the full term, the stipend can be reduced only in proportion to unfulfilled hours (no more than $10 per missed hour). Beyond the $7,500 cap, USFWS separately provides housing support by either offering no-cost on-site housing when available or providing a housing stipend of up to $1,000 per student for the 12-week period. Medical insurance, workers’ compensation, food, and incidental expenses are not covered under the federal reimbursement cap and are expected to be addressed by the recipient and/or the students, with proposals required to clearly state how these costs will be handled. Because this is a cost-shared arrangement, applicants are also expected to explain, preferably with itemized detail, what additional cash or in-kind resources they can contribute to cover reasonable and necessary program costs beyond federal limits.
The student eligibility and recruitment focus are specific. The partner must recruit from a pool of culturally diverse U.S. citizen college students who are typically juniors or seniors in undergraduate programs related to conservation, ecology, biology, or education at federally accredited U.S. colleges or universities. Preference is to be given to students who are qualified and intend to pursue an advanced degree (Masters or PhD). USFWS estimates it will need roughly 5 to 15 interns each year, placed across about 5 to 15 participating USFWS stations, meaning the selected partner must have enough reach and administrative capacity to reliably generate a qualified candidate pool and place students across the region.
Proposals are evaluated using several broad criteria without a stated ranking: how well the application responds to program requirements; the applicant’s responsibility and demonstrated ability to run targeted college recruitment efforts; financial capacity to conduct the program and willingness/ability to subsidize costs beyond the $7,500 reimbursement cap; existing relationships with colleges and universities; the academic quality and quantity of students available; any geographic limitations on placing interns across the Midwest region; and the specific methods the applicant will use to recruit interns and manage the internship process. Importantly, USFWS will only make payments upon successful completion of task orders, defined as USFWS acceptance of eligible candidates referred by the recipient into the CIP program; referrals that are not accepted do not generate payment. Entities or individuals listed on the federal Excluded Parties List System (EPLS) are not eligible to participate.
Administratively, this opportunity was posted under Funding Opportunity Number FWS 08 RO 649 001, CFDA 15.649 (Service Training and Technical Assistance), with an expected total funding level listed as $125,000 and an expectation of about two awards. The funding instrument is a cooperative agreement and the opportunity includes a cost-sharing/matching requirement. Eligible applicants include a wide range of organizations such as public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status, for-profit organizations (including small businesses and other than small businesses), federally recognized tribal governments, and state governments. Applications were required to be submitted by an authorized organizational official using SF-424, SF-424A, and SF-424D, along with a narrative describing the applicant’s capacity and approach to running a diversity-focused student placement and internship administration program. The application deadline stated in the announcement was close of business on February 15, 2008, with submissions directed to Dan Sobieck, Regional SCEP Coordinator, USFWS, at 1 Federal Drive, Fort Snelling, MN 55111 or via email at DanSobieck@fws.gov, and a listed phone contact of 612-713-5426.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - FWS Midwest Conservation Internship Program (CIP)
1) What is the FWS Midwest Conservation Internship Program (CIP)?
The FWS Midwest Conservation Internship Program (CIP) is a discretionary federal funding opportunity from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), Region 3. It is designed to build a summer internship pipeline that helps culturally diverse college students gain hands-on conservation experience and exposure to natural resource careers.
2) What is the main goal of this opportunity?
The core purpose is workforce development and career exposure. The program places students with USFWS natural resource professionals for hands-on conservation work and structured training, with an emphasis on expanding participation among students from traditionally disadvantaged and otherwise diverse ethnic backgrounds.
3) Where does the program take place?
The program is run through the National Wildlife Refuge System across eight Midwest states: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, and Wisconsin.
4) Is this grant funding for students or for organizations?
This opportunity is designed to fund one or more partner organizations (the award recipient/cooperator) that can administer the internship pipeline on behalf of USFWS, rather than USFWS directly hiring and paying interns through standard federal hiring.
5) What type of federal award is anticipated?
USFWS anticipates issuing one or more five-year "blanket" cooperative agreements, and then issuing task orders each year to request recruitment and placement of interns for specific refuge/station assignments.
6) How many awards and how much total funding are expected?
The announcement lists an expected total funding level of $125,000 and an expectation of about two awards.
7) What is the Funding Opportunity Number and CFDA number?
The opportunity is posted under Funding Opportunity Number FWS 08 RO 649 001 and CFDA 15.649 (Service Training and Technical Assistance).
8) What are the key responsibilities of the partner organization?
The partner organization is expected to provide the operational backbone of the program, including identifying and recruiting eligible students, screening candidates, coordinating transportation to and from assigned USFWS stations, and providing payroll services for interns.
9) Who makes the final decision on intern selection?
USFWS station staff will collaborate in interviewing and selection, but USFWS retains final authority to select and retain interns.
10) How long are internships, and when do they occur?
Internships are typically 12 weeks long and occur during the summer window, generally between May 15 and September 30. Interns are expected to be on site by about May 31 in the assignment year.
11) What kind of work will interns do?
Interns gain experience through hands-on conservation work such as invasive species management, habitat restoration, wildlife management, and public education/interpretation. The work is supplemented by informal and formal training sessions led by USFWS personnel.
12) Are interns considered federal employees?
No. Although interns work at USFWS sites, they are treated as volunteers rather than USFWS employees for purposes of payroll, liability insurance, and benefits administration.
13) Does completing the internship guarantee a job with USFWS?
No. The announcement notes that some interns may later be offered USFWS Student Career Experience Program (SCEP) appointments or other employment opportunities, but nothing is guaranteed simply by completing the internship.
14) How many interns does USFWS expect each year?
USFWS estimates it will need roughly 5 to 15 interns each year, placed across about 5 to 15 participating USFWS stations.
15) Who is eligible to be recruited as an intern under this program?
The partner must recruit from a pool of culturally diverse U.S. citizen college students who are typically juniors or seniors in undergraduate programs related to conservation, ecology, biology, or education at federally accredited U.S. colleges or universities.
16) Is there any preference in selecting students?
Preference is to be given to students who are qualified and intend to pursue an advanced degree (Masters or PhD).
17) How much federal reimbursement is available per intern?
The Midwest Region caps the federally reimbursable amount at $7,500 per intern per year. This cap is intended to cover the partner's costs for recruiting, placing, and compensating interns, including transportation to and from the duty station.
18) What is the minimum stipend each student must receive?
Each student must be paid a stipend of at least $4,800, calculated at $10 per hour for the 12-week period. Interns must be paid no less frequently than bi-weekly.
19) What happens if an intern does not complete the full 12-week term?
If an intern does not complete the full term, the stipend can be reduced only in proportion to unfulfilled hours, and no more than $10 per missed hour.
20) Is housing covered?
Yes, housing support is provided separately by USFWS, either through no-cost on-site housing when available or through a housing stipend of up to $1,000 per student for the 12-week period.
21) Are medical insurance, workers' compensation, food, and incidental expenses covered?
No. Medical insurance, workers' compensation, food, and incidental expenses are not covered under the federal reimbursement cap. Proposals must clearly state how these costs will be handled by the recipient and/or the students.
22) Is cost sharing or matching required?
Yes. The opportunity includes a cost-sharing/matching requirement. Applicants are expected to explain, preferably with itemized detail, what additional cash or in-kind resources they can contribute to cover reasonable and necessary program costs beyond federal limits.
23) How will USFWS pay the award recipient?
USFWS will only make payments upon successful completion of task orders, defined as USFWS acceptance of eligible candidates referred by the recipient into the CIP program. Referrals that are not accepted do not generate payment.
24) What evaluation criteria are mentioned for proposals?
The announcement describes several broad evaluation criteria (without a stated ranking), including: responsiveness to program requirements; demonstrated ability to run targeted college recruitment; financial capacity and willingness/ability to subsidize costs beyond the $7,500 cap; relationships with colleges and universities; academic quality and quantity of students available; geographic limitations affecting intern placement across the Midwest; and the specific recruitment and internship management methods proposed.
25) Who can apply (eligible applicant types)?
Eligible applicants include public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status, for-profit organizations (including small businesses and other than small businesses), federally recognized tribal governments, and state governments.
26) Are any entities explicitly ineligible?
Yes. Entities or individuals listed on the federal Excluded Parties List System (EPLS) are not eligible to participate.
27) What forms and application components are required?
Applications were required to be submitted by an authorized organizational official using SF-424, SF-424A, and SF-424D, along with a narrative describing the applicant's capacity and approach to running a diversity-focused student placement and internship administration program.
28) What was the application deadline stated in the announcement?
The application deadline stated in the announcement was close of business on February 15, 2008.
29) Where were applications submitted, and who was the contact?
Submissions were directed to Dan Sobieck, Regional SCEP Coordinator, USFWS, at 1 Federal Drive, Fort Snelling, MN 55111, or via email at DanSobieck@fws.gov. The listed phone contact was 612-713-5426.
30) What should an applicant demonstrate in the narrative?
Based on the announcement, the narrative should describe the applicant's capacity and approach to running a diversity-focused internship placement and administration program, including recruitment methods, screening and management processes, ability to place interns across the eight-state region, and how costs not covered by federal reimbursement will be addressed.
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