Opportunity Information: Apply for P16AC00265
Apply for P16AC00265
- The DOI-NPS in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "National Park Service- Bridging the Watershed Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.944.
- This funding opportunity was created on Mar 02, 2016 and posted on Mar 02, 2016.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Mar 30, 2016. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- 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 National Park Service (NPS), within the Department of the Interior, issued this posting as a Notice of Intent to Award for a project called the "National Park Service - Bridging the Watershed Program" (funding opportunity number P16AC00265). In practical terms, this was not an open grant competition and not a request for applications. It was a public transparency notice that NPS planned to fund a specific set of project activities through a continuation task award under an existing umbrella cooperative agreement, rather than soliciting proposals from multiple organizations.
The anticipated award totaled $267,000, with no cost share required from the recipient. The award instrument was a Cooperative Agreement (task award), meaning NPS expected to have substantial involvement in carrying out the work rather than simply providing funds with minimal agency participation. The planned period of performance ran through September 30, 2016, aligning both the anticipated length of the agreement and the performance end date with the end of the federal fiscal year. The statutory authority cited for the award was 54 U.S.C. 101702(a) and 54 U.S.C. 101702(b), and the CFDA listing associated with the activity was 15.944 (Natural Resources). The posting indicated an expectation of one award.
The named recipient was the Alice Ferguson Foundation, Inc., a nonprofit organization eligible under the general eligibility category of 501(c)(3) nonprofits (other than institutions of higher education). This award was structured as a continuation task under Master Cooperative Agreement P15AC00001, which already governed the broader partnership between NPS and the foundation. The NPS point of contact listed for the notice was Tina Holland.
Programmatically, the Bridging the Watershed (BTW) Program is framed as an education and outreach effort tied to stewardship of the Chesapeake Bay watershed. The core goal is to increase environmental stewardship by equipping educators, school systems, nonprofit partners, and community groups with tools to use national parks as living classrooms. The notice emphasizes hands-on, curriculum-based outdoor studies hosted in national parks and other public lands, aiming to strengthen student academic achievement, build personal connections to the natural world, encourage lifelong civic engagement, and promote environmental stewardship. In addition to serving educational partners, the program is presented as directly supporting the NPS mission by giving students meaningful experiences rooted in the natural and cultural resources of participating park sites. The broader public purpose language highlights mutual benefit to both parties and long-term benefits to the public through enjoyment and protection of national park system resources for future generations.
A key element of the announcement is why the award was made without full and open competition. Under Department of the Interior single-source policy requirements (505 DM 2), NPS documented that competition was not considered practicable based on the criterion of "Unique Qualifications" (criterion #4). The justification states that the Alice Ferguson Foundation is uniquely qualified to perform these activities due to demonstrable factors such as specialized technical expertise and established capacity to deliver the Bridging the Watershed programming. It also notes that BTW is an existing outreach program operated by the foundation in partnership with NPS and area schools under the master cooperative agreement, and that this master agreement enables the foundation to take on specific tasks efficiently while producing effective outcomes for both NPS and the Bridging the Watershed projects.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is this government funding posting?
This posting is a Notice of Intent to Award issued by the National Park Service (NPS), Department of the Interior, for the project titled "National Park Service - Bridging the Watershed Program" under funding opportunity number P16AC00265.
Is this an open grant competition or a request for applications?
No. The notice explains that this was not an open grant competition and it was not a request for applications. It served as a public transparency notice that NPS planned to make a specific continuation task award under an existing cooperative agreement rather than solicit proposals from multiple organizations.
What project or program is being funded?
The funded effort is the National Park Service - Bridging the Watershed (BTW) Program, described as an education and outreach initiative connected to stewardship of the Chesapeake Bay watershed.
What is the main goal of the Bridging the Watershed (BTW) Program?
The stated goal is to increase environmental stewardship by equipping educators, school systems, nonprofit partners, and community groups with tools to use national parks as living classrooms.
What kinds of activities does the BTW Program focus on?
The notice emphasizes hands-on, curriculum-based outdoor studies hosted in national parks and other public lands. These activities are intended to strengthen student academic achievement, build personal connections to the natural world, encourage lifelong civic engagement, and promote environmental stewardship.
How does this program support the National Park Service mission?
The program is presented as directly supporting the NPS mission by providing students with meaningful experiences rooted in the natural and cultural resources of participating park sites, and by contributing to long-term public benefits through enjoyment and protection of National Park System resources for future generations.
Who is the intended recipient of this award?
The named recipient is the Alice Ferguson Foundation, Inc.
What type of organization is the recipient?
The recipient is described as a nonprofit organization eligible under the general eligibility category of 501(c)(3) nonprofits (other than institutions of higher education).
How much funding was anticipated?
The anticipated total award amount was $267,000.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. The notice states that no cost share was required from the recipient.
How many awards did NPS expect to make under this notice?
The posting indicated an expectation of one award.
What is the funding instrument or award type?
The award instrument was a Cooperative Agreement (task award).
What does it mean that the award is a Cooperative Agreement?
Based on the notice language, it means NPS expected to have substantial involvement in carrying out the work rather than simply providing funds with minimal agency participation.
What does "continuation task award" mean in this context?
In this notice, it means NPS planned to fund a defined set of project activities as a continuation under an existing umbrella cooperative agreement, rather than starting a new open competition.
What existing agreement does this continuation task award fall under?
The award was structured as a continuation task under Master Cooperative Agreement P15AC00001, which governs the broader partnership between NPS and the Alice Ferguson Foundation.
What was the planned period of performance?
The planned period of performance ran through September 30, 2016.
Why does the period of performance end on September 30, 2016?
The notice indicates the performance end date aligned with the end of the federal fiscal year, and both the anticipated length of the agreement and the performance end date were aligned to that date.
What legal authority was cited for this award?
The statutory authority cited was 54 U.S.C. 101702(a) and 54 U.S.C. 101702(b).
What CFDA program listing is associated with this activity?
The CFDA listing associated with the activity was 15.944 (Natural Resources).
Why was this award not competed?
The notice states that NPS made the decision under Department of the Interior single-source policy requirements (505 DM 2) and documented that competition was not considered practicable under the "Unique Qualifications" criterion (criterion #4).
What was the single-source justification given for the recipient?
The notice explains that the Alice Ferguson Foundation was considered uniquely qualified due to demonstrable factors such as specialized technical expertise and established capacity to deliver the Bridging the Watershed programming, and because BTW is an existing outreach program operated by the foundation in partnership with NPS and area schools under the master cooperative agreement.
Who was the NPS point of contact listed for the notice?
The NPS point of contact listed was Tina Holland.
Does this notice imply that other organizations could apply for funding under P16AC00265?
No. The notice explicitly characterizes the posting as not being a request for applications and indicates NPS planned to fund a specific set of activities via a continuation task award under an existing cooperative agreement.
What audiences or partners does the BTW Program aim to serve?
According to the notice, the program aims to equip educators, school systems, nonprofit partners, and community groups, and it also references partnerships with area schools.
Where are the program activities intended to take place?
The notice describes activities as being hosted in national parks and other public lands, using national parks as "living classrooms."
How is the public benefit described in the notice?
The notice highlights mutual benefit to both parties and long-term benefits to the public through enjoyment and protection of National Park System resources for future generations.
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