Opportunity Information: Apply for P15AS00066
Apply for P15AS00066
- The National Park Service in the community development education environment natural resources regional development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "NPS Academy SCA Interns Spring Break Orientation" 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 Mar 23, 2015 and posted on Mar 23, 2015.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Apr 3, 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 $342,411.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $342,411.00 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 NPS Academy SCA Interns Spring Break Orientation opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number P15AS00066) is a National Park Service (NPS) notice of intent to award, meaning it is not open for applications and is published only to notify the public that NPS plans to fund a specific set of activities without full and open competition. The planned award is structured as a cooperative agreement and is a continuation action tied to an existing umbrella cooperative agreement between NPS and the Student Conservation Association (SCA), specifically Cooperative Agreement P15AC00031, implemented through a related task agreement (noted as P15AC00314). The anticipated period of performance runs from the award date through March 31, 2016. The agency contact listed for this action is June Zastrow (303-987-6718, JuneZastrow@nps.gov).
At its core, the project supports the Department of the Interior's 21st Century Youth Conservation Corps initiative by using short, intensive Spring Break orientation academies to build a pathway into NPS careers for young adults, with an emphasis on diversifying the future NPS workforce. The program targets college-aged participants (generally ages 18 to 25) and is designed to give them a structured introduction to the National Park Service, expose them to multiple types of NPS work (including natural and cultural resource conservation and preservation), and provide training, career development, and education that can help them move from interest to actual employment. A key intended outcome is to position participating students to secure relevant summer employment placements in parks across the NPS system, effectively creating an entry ramp into longer-term seasonal work and, ultimately, conservation-related careers.
Program delivery is organized around week-long Spring Break Orientation Academies held in four NPS regions, each anchored by a host park: Grand Teton National Park (Intermountain Region), Great Smoky Mountains National Park (Southeast Region), National Parks of New York Harbor (Northeast Region), and Kenai Fjords National Park (Alaska). The Washington Office, Youth Programs Division provides overall coordination, and Washington Office Youth Programs funds the orientation week activities. Recruitment is planned at roughly 10 to 24 college-aged students per regional academy, which translates to a relatively small cohort model intended to support hands-on exposure, mentoring, and practical career guidance.
Funding details in the notice indicate an estimated project funding level of about $342,411 (also referenced elsewhere as a total anticipated award amount of $345,766, with cost share listed at $14,407). The opportunity is categorized under CFDA 15.931, Youth Conservation Activities (also described as Conservation Activities by Youth Service Organizations), and includes a cost-sharing component. The expected number of awards is one, reflecting that the NPS intends to continue working with SCA under the existing cooperative relationship rather than running a competitive selection process for this specific effort.
Roles are split between SCA and NPS in a way typical of cooperative agreements, where substantial federal involvement is expected. SCA's responsibilities include promoting public-purpose outcomes such as education, job training, responsible citizenship, community involvement, and stewardship through youth engagement in public resource care and enhancement; continuing efforts aligned with youth employment and minority youth development; recruiting and hiring participants from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds; and handling the administrative management required to run the program. NPS responsibilities include providing the financial assistance outlined in the agreement, delivering general orientation on NPS mission and park operations to participants, and supplying NPS technical representatives on site at each academy location to support project needs and ensure the orientations align with NPS standards and objectives.
The justification for not using full and open competition is explicitly identified as "Continuation" under Department of the Interior single-source policy (505 DM 2). NPS states that the activity is a continuation of work already underway and that competing it would risk disrupting continuity or successful completion of the ongoing initiative. The statutory authority cited supports NPS use of cooperative agreements for public-purpose programming and youth conservation work, including 54 USC 101702(a) (formerly 16 USC 1g) and 16 USC 1723(c), which authorizes cooperative agreements with qualified youth or conservation corps for appropriate conservation projects. In practical terms, the notice is documenting that NPS is extending and funding an established partnership mechanism with SCA to deliver a defined set of Spring Break orientation academies that feed into broader youth conservation career pathways.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): NPS Academy SCA Interns Spring Break Orientation (P15AS00066)
What is the NPS Academy SCA Interns Spring Break Orientation opportunity (P15AS00066)?
It is a National Park Service (NPS) notice of intent to award a cooperative agreement to support short, intensive Spring Break Orientation Academies that introduce college-aged participants to NPS careers and prepare them for potential summer placements in parks.
Is this opportunity open for applications?
No. This is a notice of intent to award, which means it is not open for applications and is published to inform the public that NPS plans to fund a specific activity without full and open competition.
Why is it not being competed (not open to full and open competition)?
NPS states the justification is "Continuation" under Department of the Interior single-source policy (505 DM 2). The work is described as a continuation of an ongoing initiative, and competing it is presented as a risk to continuity or successful completion.
Who is the intended recipient/partner for this award?
The intended partner is the Student Conservation Association (SCA), under an existing cooperative relationship with NPS.
What type of award is planned?
The planned award is structured as a cooperative agreement, which indicates substantial federal involvement by NPS in carrying out the activities.
How is this action connected to existing agreements?
This is described as a continuation action tied to an existing umbrella cooperative agreement between NPS and SCA (Cooperative Agreement P15AC00031) and implemented through a related task agreement (noted as P15AC00314).
What is the purpose of the Spring Break Orientation Academies?
The academies are designed to build a pathway into NPS careers for young adults by providing a structured introduction to NPS, exposing participants to multiple types of NPS work (including natural and cultural resource conservation and preservation), and offering training, career development, and education to help participants move toward employment.
What broader initiative does this project support?
The project supports the Department of the Interior's 21st Century Youth Conservation Corps initiative, with an emphasis on creating career pathways and diversifying the future NPS workforce.
Who is the target participant group?
The program targets college-aged participants, generally ages 18 to 25.
How many participants are expected per academy?
Recruitment is planned at roughly 10 to 24 college-aged students per regional academy, using a small cohort model intended to support hands-on exposure, mentoring, and practical career guidance.
How many academies are planned, and where are they hosted?
Week-long Spring Break Orientation Academies are planned in four NPS regions, each anchored by a host park: Grand Teton National Park (Intermountain Region), Great Smoky Mountains National Park (Southeast Region), National Parks of New York Harbor (Northeast Region), and Kenai Fjords National Park (Alaska).
Who coordinates the program overall?
The Washington Office, Youth Programs Division provides overall coordination, and Washington Office Youth Programs funds the orientation week activities.
What is the anticipated period of performance?
The anticipated period of performance runs from the award date through March 31, 2016.
What is the estimated funding amount for this project?
The notice references an estimated project funding level of about $342,411 and also references a total anticipated award amount of $345,766.
Is there a cost share requirement?
Yes. The notice includes a cost-sharing component and lists cost share at $14,407.
How many awards does NPS expect to make under this opportunity?
The expected number of awards is one, reflecting NPS intent to continue working with SCA under the existing cooperative relationship rather than running a competitive selection process for this effort.
What CFDA number is associated with this opportunity?
This opportunity is categorized under CFDA 15.931, Youth Conservation Activities (also described as Conservation Activities by Youth Service Organizations).
What are SCA's main responsibilities under this cooperative agreement?
SCA responsibilities include promoting public-purpose outcomes such as education, job training, responsible citizenship, community involvement, and stewardship; continuing efforts aligned with youth employment and minority youth development; recruiting and hiring participants from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds; and handling the administrative management required to run the program.
What are NPS's main responsibilities under this cooperative agreement?
NPS responsibilities include providing the financial assistance outlined in the agreement, delivering general orientation on NPS mission and park operations to participants, and supplying NPS technical representatives on site at each academy location to support project needs and ensure the orientations align with NPS standards and objectives.
What is an intended outcome for participating students?
A key intended outcome is to position participating students to secure relevant summer employment placements in parks across the NPS system, creating an entry ramp into longer-term seasonal work and, ultimately, conservation-related careers.
What legal/statutory authorities are cited for this cooperative agreement approach?
The notice cites 54 USC 101702(a) (formerly 16 USC 1g) and 16 USC 1723(c), which authorizes cooperative agreements with qualified youth or conservation corps for appropriate conservation projects.
Who is the agency contact for this notice of intent?
The agency contact listed is June Zastrow. Phone: 303-987-6718. Email: JuneZastrow@nps.gov.
What does "substantial federal involvement" mean in this context?
Because the planned instrument is a cooperative agreement, NPS anticipates active participation in the project, including providing orientation content and technical representatives at each academy location.
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Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (P15AS00066) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| American Society of Landscape Architects Base Cooperative Agreement Apply for P15AS00083 Funding Number: P15AS00083 Agency: National Park Service Category: Community Development Education Environment Natural Resources Regional Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| JELA Classification NATR Accuraccy Assessment Apply for P15AS00097 Funding Number: P15AS00097 Agency: National Park Service Category: Community Development Education Environment Natural Resources Regional Development Funding Amount: $194,126 |
| Knowledge Exchange US/ICOMOS NPS Collaboration for FY 15 Apply for P15AS00110 Funding Number: P15AS00110 Agency: National Park Service Category: Community Development Education Environment Natural Resources Regional Development Funding Amount: $73,500 |
| Task 1 Year 2, Meetings Apply for P15AS00146 Funding Number: P15AS00146 Agency: National Park Service Category: Community Development Education Environment Natural Resources Regional Development Funding Amount: $60,000 |
| National Public Lands Day Apply for P15AS00177 Funding Number: P15AS00177 Agency: National Park Service Category: Community Development Education Environment Natural Resources Regional Development Funding Amount: $45,000 |
| Groundwork Indianapolis (GW INDY) Launch and Capacity Building Apply for P15AS00207 Funding Number: P15AS00207 Agency: National Park Service Category: Community Development Education Environment Natural Resources Regional Development Funding Amount: $87,998 |
| Develop and Build Capacity Groundwork Network Apply for P15AS00208 Funding Number: P15AS00208 Agency: National Park Service Category: Community Development Education Environment Natural Resources Regional Development Funding Amount: $99,992 |
| NOTICE OF INTENT TO AWARD Prepare National Register Multiple Property Submission for CAJO Apply for P15AS00314 Funding Number: P15AS00314 Agency: National Park Service Category: Community Development Education Environment Natural Resources Regional Development Funding Amount: $95,000 |
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