Opportunity Information: Apply for P15AS00189
Apply for P15AS00189
- The National Park Service in the community development education employment, labor and training environment information and statistics natural resources regional development science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Geoscientists in the Parks and Mosaics in Science Internships to Support Science based Resource Management" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.931 Conservation Activities by Youth Service Organizations.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jul 2, 2015 and posted on Jul 2, 2015.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 15, 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 $679,053.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $679,053.00 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.
[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal:
Opportunity Summary:
This notice describes the National Park Service (NPS) intent to fund a continuation award, not to solicit new applications. The opportunity is titled "Geoscientists in the Parks and Mosaics in Science Internships to Support Science based Resource Management" (Funding Announcement/Opportunity Number P15AS00189). It is structured as a cooperative agreement task agreement (P15AC01132) under an existing cooperative agreement with the Geological Society of America (GSA) (P13AC00336). The anticipated federal award amount is $679,052.44, with a reported cost share of $288,774.25, and an expected period of performance running from the date of award through June 30, 2017. The CFDA listing is 15.931 (youth conservation-related activities), and the point of contact is June Zastrow at NPS.
At its core, the project funds and administers paid internship placements through two linked programs: Geoscientists in the Parks (GIP) and Mosaics in Science (MIS). These internships place youth, emerging professionals, and in some cases veterans into national park units and related NPS offices to complete hands-on science and resource stewardship work. The work is geared toward practical, science-based resource management needs that parks have identified but often cannot fully address with existing staff capacity. Typical internship duties include natural resource research, geologic and other resource inventorying, monitoring projects, and interpretation/education efforts that help translate scientific information for park visitors and communities.
The stated goals emphasize workforce development and public lands stewardship. The programs are framed as a way to put Americans to work through service, training, and career-building experiences, with special attention to including low-income and disadvantaged youth and advancing broader Department of the Interior (DOI) and NPS youth and diversity initiatives. At the same time, the internships are meant to preserve, protect, and enhance public (and in some cases tribal) lands and waters by completing cost-effective projects that improve resource protection, expand understanding of park resources, and strengthen public access and engagement. A third theme is long-term capacity building: by giving participants meaningful field and professional experience, the programs aim to develop future scientists, skilled workers, and stewards with a lasting connection to public lands.
The public purpose is described in community-minded terms: education, job training, responsible citizenship, and broader appreciation and conservation of natural and cultural resources. A concrete public-facing deliverable is that internship work products and information are intended to be shareable, including making materials available through the NPS Geologic Resources Division website so the public and park staff can learn more about geologic and other natural resource features and processes. Intern outputs referenced in the notice include high-quality photographs with captions, final written reports, evaluations, thank-you letters to sponsors, and any additional project-specific products.
Roles are split between GSA and NPS, with substantial involvement by NPS (a hallmark of cooperative agreements). GSA is responsible for maintaining the GeoCorps America and Mosaics in Science websites and the online application system, keeping program materials current and clearly branded as NPS GIP/MIS efforts in partnership with GSA, recruiting applicants, and handling the end-to-end administrative workflow tied to participant onboarding. That includes managing applications, participant agreements (including non-disclosure and, when relevant, volunteer agreements), and financial administration such as stipends, travel advances/allowances, and required tax documentation. GSA also acts as the communications hub for participant obligations, provides real-time project and participant information through its system to support DOI/NPS reporting requirements, and compiles project closeout materials and annual reporting, including a comprehensive annual report due by September 30 each year.
NPS, in turn, drives the conservation and science mission side of the placements. NPS identifies and defines the internship projects (across parks, regions, networks, and central offices) and enters them into GSA's system, selects participants from the qualified applicant pool, and provides either housing or a housing allowance. NPS also sets the duty station details, provides orientation on the NPS mission and relevant rules and procedures, and supplies the core on-the-ground support: experienced mentors and technical oversight, tools and safety equipment, facilities access, and local transportation needed for fieldwork. NPS commits to providing safety and job training, responding to health and safety issues with corrective action, and completing a written evaluation at the end of each project (a requirement tied to whether that NPS unit can advertise future GIP/MIS projects). NPS also maintains its own internal and public-facing program websites and databases for information sharing and outreach. Both organizations agree to coordinate placements and ensure participants acknowledge both NPS and GSA in any publications or audiovisual products resulting from the work.
Finally, the notice explains why this is being handled as a single-source continuation rather than a competitive grant. DOI policy requires justification when competition is not used, and NPS cites the "Continuation" criterion: the funded activity is a continuation of an ongoing effort and competing it would disrupt continuity or completion. The legal authorities listed support NPS entering cooperative agreements and cost-share arrangements to carry out NPS programs and youth conservation corps-style projects, including authorities at 54 U.S.C. 101702(a), 16 U.S.C. 1723(c) (Public Lands Corps), and 54 U.S.C. 101701(b) (Challenge Cost Share). In practical terms, this announcement is a public notice that NPS plans to keep funding the existing GSA partnership to continue placing interns in parks to meet identified science and resource management needs through structured, mentored, publicly beneficial projects.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1) Is this funding opportunity open for new applications?
No. The notice states that the National Park Service (NPS) intends to fund a continuation award and is not soliciting new applications.
2) What is the official title of the opportunity?
The opportunity is titled "Geoscientists in the Parks and Mosaics in Science Internships to Support Science based Resource Management."
3) What is the Funding Announcement/Opportunity Number?
The Funding Announcement/Opportunity Number is P15AS00189.
4) What type of award instrument is being used?
The notice describes a cooperative agreement task agreement, specifically task agreement P15AC01132, issued under an existing cooperative agreement.
5) Who is the partner organization under the existing cooperative agreement?
The work is being carried out under an existing cooperative agreement with the Geological Society of America (GSA), cooperative agreement number P13AC00336.
6) What is the anticipated federal funding amount?
The anticipated federal award amount is $679,052.44.
7) Is there a cost share requirement mentioned?
A cost share is reported in the notice. The reported cost share amount is $288,774.25.
8) What is the expected period of performance?
The expected period of performance runs from the date of award through June 30, 2017.
9) What CFDA listing is associated with this funding?
The CFDA listing provided is 15.931, described as youth conservation-related activities.
10) Who is the point of contact for this notice?
The point of contact listed is June Zastrow at the National Park Service (NPS).
11) What is the core purpose of the project being funded?
The project funds and administers paid internship placements through two linked programs: Geoscientists in the Parks (GIP) and Mosaics in Science (MIS), placing participants into national park units and related NPS offices to carry out hands-on science and resource stewardship work.
12) Which internship programs are included under this project?
The notice describes two linked programs: Geoscientists in the Parks (GIP) and Mosaics in Science (MIS).
13) Who are the internships intended to serve?
The internships are described as serving youth and emerging professionals, and in some cases veterans.
14) What kinds of work do interns typically do under these programs?
Typical duties mentioned include natural resource research, geologic and other resource inventorying, monitoring projects, and interpretation/education efforts that help translate scientific information for park visitors and communities.
15) How do these internships support NPS operations?
The placements are aimed at practical, science-based resource management needs that parks have identified but often cannot fully address with existing staff capacity.
16) What are the main goals emphasized in the notice?
The stated goals emphasize workforce development and public lands stewardship, including service, training, and career-building experiences, with special attention to including low-income and disadvantaged youth and advancing DOI and NPS youth and diversity initiatives.
17) How does the notice describe the public benefit or public purpose?
The public purpose is described in terms of education, job training, responsible citizenship, and broader appreciation and conservation of natural and cultural resources.
18) Are internship work products intended to be shared publicly?
Yes. The notice states that internship work products and information are intended to be shareable, including making materials available through the NPS Geologic Resources Division website so the public and park staff can learn more about geologic and other natural resource features and processes.
19) What specific deliverables or outputs are mentioned for interns?
Outputs referenced include high-quality photographs with captions, final written reports, evaluations, thank-you letters to sponsors, and any additional project-specific products.
20) What is GSA responsible for under this cooperative agreement arrangement?
GSA responsibilities described include maintaining the GeoCorps America and Mosaics in Science websites and the online application system; keeping program materials current and clearly branded as NPS GIP/MIS efforts in partnership with GSA; recruiting applicants; managing the administrative workflow for onboarding; managing applications; handling participant agreements (including non-disclosure and, when relevant, volunteer agreements); and administering stipends, travel advances/allowances, and required tax documentation.
21) What reporting or closeout responsibilities does GSA have?
GSA is described as providing real-time project and participant information through its system to support DOI/NPS reporting requirements, compiling project closeout materials and annual reporting, and producing a comprehensive annual report due by September 30 each year.
22) What is NPS responsible for in this partnership?
NPS responsibilities described include identifying and defining internship projects and entering them into GSA's system, selecting participants from the qualified applicant pool, and providing either housing or a housing allowance. NPS also provides orientation on the NPS mission and relevant rules and procedures, mentors and technical oversight, tools and safety equipment, facilities access, and local transportation needed for fieldwork.
23) What does NPS commit to regarding safety and training?
NPS commits to providing safety and job training, responding to health and safety issues with corrective action, and supporting interns with appropriate oversight and equipment.
24) Is there an evaluation requirement for NPS at the end of an internship project?
Yes. The notice states that NPS completes a written evaluation at the end of each project, and this evaluation is tied to whether that NPS unit can advertise future GIP/MIS projects.
25) How do NPS and GSA coordinate credit/acknowledgement for products created?
The notice states that both organizations agree to coordinate placements and ensure participants acknowledge both NPS and GSA in any publications or audiovisual products resulting from the work.
26) Why is this being handled as a single-source continuation instead of a competitive process?
The notice explains it is justified under a "Continuation" criterion: the funded activity continues an ongoing effort, and competing it would disrupt continuity or completion.
27) What legal authorities are cited to support this type of cooperative agreement and cost-share approach?
The notice lists legal authorities including 54 U.S.C. 101702(a), 16 U.S.C. 1723(c) (Public Lands Corps), and 54 U.S.C. 101701(b) (Challenge Cost Share).
28) What does "substantial involvement" mean in this context?
The notice characterizes the arrangement as a cooperative agreement, with substantial involvement by NPS. In the description provided, that involvement includes NPS defining projects, selecting participants, providing housing or an allowance, and delivering on-the-ground mentoring, oversight, training, equipment, and support.
29) Where are internships placed under these programs?
Placements are described as being in national park units and related NPS offices, including projects across parks, regions, networks, and central offices.
30) What is the basic takeaway of this notice?
It is a public notice that NPS plans to continue funding the existing partnership with GSA to keep placing interns through GIP and MIS in parks and NPS offices to meet identified science and resource management needs through structured, mentored, publicly beneficial projects.
Browse more opportunities from the same category: Community Development Education Employment, Labor and Training Environment Information and Statistics Natural Resources Regional Development Science and Technology and other Research and Development
Next opportunity: Partnership with New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology for National Cave and Karst Research Institute
Previous opportunity: DoD Peer Reviewed Orthopaedic Clinical Trial Award
USGrants.org Applicant Portal:
Are you interested in learning about about how to apply for this government funding opportunity? You can create a free applicant account and receive instant access to our applicant portal that many business owners like you have benefited from.
Apply for P15AS00189
[Watch] how do funding administrators access proposals?
Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (P15AS00189) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| Collaborative Biological Research and Education Apply for P15AS00214 Funding Number: P15AS00214 Agency: National Park Service Category: Community Development Education Employment, Labor and Training Environment Information and Statistics Natural Resources Regional Development Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $140,000 |
| Centennial Bioblitz Data Management Support Phase One Apply for P15AS00307 Funding Number: P15AS00307 Agency: National Park Service Category: Community Development Education Employment, Labor and Training Environment Information and Statistics Natural Resources Regional Development Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $7,000 |
| NOTICE OF INTENT TO AWARD ENHANCED WETLAND MONITORING RELATIVE TO UNGULATE MANAGEMENT IN GREAT SAND DUNES NATIONAL PARK AND PRESERVE Apply for P15AS00368 Funding Number: P15AS00368 Agency: National Park Service Category: Community Development Education Employment, Labor and Training Environment Information and Statistics Natural Resources Regional Development Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $29,999 |
Grant application guides and resources
It is always free to apply for government grants. However the process may be very complex depending on the funding opportunity you are applying for. Let us help you!
Apply for Grants
Premium leads for funding administrators, grant writers, and loan issuers
Thousands of people visit our website for their funding needs every day. When a user creates a grant proposal and files for submission, we pass the information on to funding administrators, grant writers, and government loan issuers.
If you manage government grant programs, provide grant writing services, or issue personal or government loans, we can help you reach your audience.
Subscribe to Leads
Request more information:
Would you like to learn more about this funding opportunity, similar opportunities to "P15AS00189", eligibility, application service, and/or application tips? Submit an inquiry below:
Don't forget to subscribe to our grant alerts mailing list to receive weekly alerts on new and updated grant funding opportunities like this one in your email.