Opportunity Information: Apply for P15AS00300
Apply for P15AS00300
- The National Park Service in the education employment, labor and training environment natural resources science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Interns for Bureau of Land Management" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.915 Technical Preservation Services.
- This funding opportunity was created on Aug 11, 2015 and posted on Aug 11, 2015.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 21, 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 $46,956.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $46,956.00 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 "Interns for Bureau of Land Management" opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number P15AS00300) is a National Park Service (NPS) notice of intent to award, meaning it is not an open call for applications. Instead, it serves as public notice that NPS plans to make a non-competitive cooperative agreement award to the National Council for Preservation Education (NCPE), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, to support a set of internship and training activities connected to historic preservation and federal cultural resources work. The anticipated federal funding amount is $46,956, with no cost share required. The award is made under statutory authority 54 USC 101702(a) and is tied to CFDA 15.915, Technical Preservation Services. The listed point of contact is June Zastrow (303-987-6718, junezastrow@nps.gov).
At its core, the project is about expanding hands-on training opportunities for qualified undergraduate and graduate students studying historic preservation or closely related fields. Through short-term, structured assignments, interns are placed alongside federal professionals working in historic preservation and allied disciplines such as archeology, history, museum management, and landscape architecture. The work is practical and career-oriented, and it supports federal efforts to preserve, manage, and protect cultural and historic resources. Typical intern tasks described in the announcement include field and desk-based cultural resource work such as archeological, architectural, or landscape surveys; historical research and documentation; technical writing and publication support; cataloging and conservation of artifacts and records; managing and improving databases and web content; and conducting condition assessments or assisting with repairs to historic structures.
The planned work is organized around six intern positions under the Interior Museum Program with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), with placements spread across several museums and BLM offices. The first position is based with the BLM Nevada State Office in coordination with the Las Vegas Museum of Natural History, where an intern will focus on reducing a backlog by cataloging archeological collections and associated documentation, improving storage practices, entering data into the museum collections management system, supporting curatorial work for exhibits and researcher access, and participating in the museum’s Integrated Pest Management program; this placement is listed at 1,000 hours. The second placement supports BLM paleontology work at the University of Washington Burke Museum and centers on vertebrate fossil curation, combining hands-on specimen sorting, identification, imaging, and cataloging with archival and digital catalog updates; this position is listed at 400 hours. The third is also paleontology-focused at the New Jersey State Museum, where the intern will process and document newly acquired fossils, clean and curate specimens into the museum’s collections, and potentially engage in museum education activities; this placement is listed at 800 hours.
The remaining three positions emphasize archeological collections management and compliance-related museum work in Utah and Colorado. One placement supports the BLM Utah Monticello and Moab Field Offices in partnership with Edge of the Cedars State Park and Museum. The intern’s main duties include cataloging BLM-administered archeological objects using the museum’s Rediscovery ICMS catalog program to improve accessibility for collections management, research, and public interpretation, while also helping assess basic curatorial standards such as environmental conditions, pest management, and security. This placement may also include support for Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) documentation and correspondence related to repatriation, facilitating access for consultation and repatriation activities, and entering data into the Department of the Interior’s Integrated Collections Management System; this position is listed at 480 hours. Another placement is with the BLM Colorado Grand Junction Field Office at the Museum of Western Colorado, where the intern will help consolidate and inventory objects in the BLM depository, cross-reference and enhance catalog records, photograph key items for digitization, and develop finding aids to support public and government research, with explicit attention to Department of the Interior requirements and NAGPRA compliance; this position is also listed at 480 hours. The final placement supports the BLM Utah State Office and focuses on maintaining collections to preventative conservation standards (environmental controls, pest management, security), preparing collections for permanent curation, facilitating access for consultation and repatriation when needed, and entering information into the Interior ICMS; depending on the intern’s interests, this role may also involve assessing research and educational potential of collections or contributing to public education efforts aimed at reducing looting of archeological sites on public lands; this position is listed at 480 hours.
The management approach reflects a shared-responsibility model typical of cooperative agreements. NCPE is responsible for recruiting and selecting trainees using an established program format (or in limited cases extending existing projects), with an emphasis on matching intern qualifications to federal needs, and for handling the financial and logistical arrangements needed for interns to work in Washington, DC and other locations as required. NPS, in turn, supports selection in coordination with NCPE, provides mentors and necessary materials and training, assigns and supervises work aligned to each trainee’s skills and interests, and reviews intern work products to ensure they meet internship and program goals. This structure is meant to ensure both educational value for interns and tangible cultural resources outcomes for the partner offices and museums.
Finally, the notice explains why the award is being made without competition. Under Department of the Interior single-source policy (505 DM 2), non-competitive awards must be justified under specific criteria. NPS cites the "Continuation" criterion, stating that the funded activity is necessary to complete or continue work already underway under an existing cooperative agreement (Cooperative Agreement P15AC30140) and that competing the award would adversely affect continuity. The announcement references the task agreement structure (Task Agreement P15AC01484) under that broader cooperative framework. While parts of the notice list a shorter anticipated period of performance ending 9/30/2016, it also states the task agreement period of performance runs from date of award through 12/31/2018, indicating the effort is part of a longer-running internship pipeline administered through the existing NPS-NCPE partnership.
FAQs: Interns for Bureau of Land Management (Funding Opportunity Number P15AS00300)
Is this an open grant competition?
No. This is a National Park Service (NPS) notice of intent to award, not an open call for applications. It serves as public notice that NPS plans to make a non-competitive cooperative agreement award.
Who is the intended award recipient?
The intended recipient is the National Council for Preservation Education (NCPE), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
What is the purpose of this award?
The project is intended to expand hands-on training opportunities for qualified undergraduate and graduate students in historic preservation or closely related fields by placing interns in short-term, structured assignments alongside federal cultural resources professionals.
Which federal agency is issuing the notice?
The notice is issued by the National Park Service (NPS).
How is the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) connected to this project?
The planned work includes six intern positions under the Interior Museum Program with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), with placements across several museums and BLM offices.
What type of award is planned?
A non-competitive cooperative agreement is planned.
Why is the award being made without competition?
NPS cites the Department of the Interior single-source policy (505 DM 2) and specifically the "Continuation" criterion. The notice states the activity is necessary to complete or continue work already underway under an existing cooperative agreement (P15AC30140), and that competing the award would adversely affect continuity.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON)?
The Funding Opportunity Number is P15AS00300.
How much federal funding is anticipated?
The anticipated federal funding amount is $46,956.
Is cost sharing required?
No cost share is required.
What is the CFDA/program association listed for this opportunity?
The notice is tied to CFDA 15.915, Technical Preservation Services.
What statutory authority is cited for the award?
The notice cites statutory authority 54 USC 101702(a).
Who is the listed point of contact?
The listed point of contact is June Zastrow. Phone: 303-987-6718. Email: junezastrow@nps.gov.
What kinds of students are targeted for the internships?
The notice emphasizes qualified undergraduate and graduate students studying historic preservation or closely related fields.
What disciplines are involved in the intern work?
The notice mentions historic preservation and allied disciplines such as archeology, history, museum management, and landscape architecture.
What are examples of typical intern tasks described in the notice?
Examples include archeological, architectural, or landscape surveys; historical research and documentation; technical writing and publication support; cataloging and conservation of artifacts and records; managing and improving databases and web content; and conducting condition assessments or assisting with repairs to historic structures.
How many intern positions are planned under this project?
Six intern positions are described under the Interior Museum Program with BLM.
Where are the intern placements located?
Placements are described with BLM offices and partner museums in Nevada (Las Vegas area), Washington (University of Washington), New Jersey (New Jersey State Museum), Utah (Monticello, Moab, and Utah State Office-related work), and Colorado (Grand Junction).
What is the Nevada placement and what does it involve?
The first position is based with the BLM Nevada State Office in coordination with the Las Vegas Museum of Natural History. Duties include reducing a backlog by cataloging archeological collections and documentation, improving storage practices, entering data into the museum collections management system, supporting curatorial work for exhibits and researcher access, and participating in the museum Integrated Pest Management program. The placement is listed at 1,000 hours.
What is the University of Washington Burke Museum placement and what does it involve?
This placement supports BLM paleontology work at the University of Washington Burke Museum. It focuses on vertebrate fossil curation, including specimen sorting, identification, imaging, and cataloging, plus archival and digital catalog updates. The placement is listed at 400 hours.
What is the New Jersey State Museum placement and what does it involve?
This placement is paleontology-focused at the New Jersey State Museum. The intern will process and document newly acquired fossils, clean and curate specimens into the museum collections, and may engage in museum education activities. The placement is listed at 800 hours.
What is the Utah (Monticello/Moab) placement and what does it involve?
This placement supports the BLM Utah Monticello and Moab Field Offices in partnership with Edge of the Cedars State Park and Museum. Duties include cataloging archeological objects using the Rediscovery ICMS catalog program; assessing curatorial standards such as environmental conditions, pest management, and security; and potentially supporting NAGPRA documentation and correspondence, facilitating access for consultation and repatriation activities, and entering data into the Department of the Interior Integrated Collections Management System. The placement is listed at 480 hours.
What is the Colorado (Grand Junction) placement and what does it involve?
This placement is with the BLM Colorado Grand Junction Field Office at the Museum of Western Colorado. Duties include consolidating and inventorying objects in the BLM depository, cross-referencing and enhancing catalog records, photographing key items for digitization, and developing finding aids to support public and government research, with explicit attention to Department of the Interior requirements and NAGPRA compliance. The placement is listed at 480 hours.
What is the final Utah State Office placement and what does it involve?
This placement supports the BLM Utah State Office and focuses on maintaining collections to preventative conservation standards (environmental controls, pest management, security), preparing collections for permanent curation, facilitating access for consultation and repatriation when needed, and entering information into the Interior ICMS. Depending on intern interests, it may also involve assessing research and educational potential of collections or contributing to public education aimed at reducing looting of archeological sites on public lands. The placement is listed at 480 hours.
What is meant by a "shared-responsibility model" in this cooperative agreement?
The notice describes cooperative agreement management where responsibilities are divided between NCPE and NPS. NCPE recruits and selects trainees and handles financial and logistical arrangements. NPS supports selection in coordination with NCPE, provides mentors and materials/training, assigns and supervises work aligned to trainee skills and interests, and reviews work products to ensure they meet internship and program goals.
What responsibilities does NCPE have under the agreement?
NCPE is responsible for recruiting and selecting trainees using an established program format (or in limited cases extending existing projects), matching intern qualifications to federal needs, and handling financial and logistical arrangements needed for interns to work in Washington, DC and other locations as required.
What responsibilities does NPS have under the agreement?
NPS supports selection in coordination with NCPE, provides mentors and necessary materials and training, assigns and supervises work aligned to each trainee's skills and interests, and reviews intern work products for alignment with internship and program goals.
Does the notice mention Washington, DC as a possible work location?
Yes. The management description states that NCPE handles arrangements needed for interns to work in Washington, DC and other locations as required.
Does the project include work related to NAGPRA?
Yes. Several placements explicitly mention NAGPRA-related documentation, correspondence, consultation access, repatriation facilitation, and compliance.
What collections systems are mentioned for cataloging and data entry?
The notice references the museum collections management system (for the Las Vegas Museum of Natural History placement), the Rediscovery ICMS catalog program (for the Utah Edge of the Cedars-related work), and the Department of the Interior Integrated Collections Management System (Interior ICMS) for data entry.
What is Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and how is it relevant here?
The notice states that the Nevada placement includes participation in the museum Integrated Pest Management program as part of improving storage practices and collections care.
What is the period of performance described in the notice?
The notice contains two time references: parts of it list an anticipated period of performance ending 9/30/2016, while it also states the task agreement period of performance runs from date of award through 12/31/2018. The notice suggests the effort is part of a longer-running internship pipeline under the existing NPS-NCPE partnership.
How does this notice relate to other agreements?
The notice references an existing cooperative agreement (P15AC30140) and a task agreement structure (Task Agreement P15AC01484) under that broader framework.
What outcomes is the project intended to support?
The notice describes dual outcomes: educational value and career-oriented training for interns, and tangible cultural resources outcomes for partner offices and museums (such as improved cataloging, curation, compliance documentation, conservation standards, digitization support, and improved access for research and interpretation).
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