Opportunity Information: Apply for S22AS00326
Apply for S22AS00326
- The Office of Surface Mining in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "OSMRE Semester Internship Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.254.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2022-07-20.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2022-09-20. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $75,000.00 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 OSMRE Semester Internship Program is a federal discretionary funding opportunity from the U.S. Department of the Interior's Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE) that supports a national internship partnership between OSMRE and an eligible nonprofit administrator. The central idea is that OSMRE funds one qualified 501(c)(3) organization to run and manage a structured semester-based internship program that places current college students and recent graduates into meaningful, professionally focused projects in OSMRE offices across the country. These internships are meant to directly advance OSMRE's mission while giving participants real work experience tied to natural resources, environmental work, and public service.
The grant is designed specifically for nonprofit organizations with strong administrative capacity and, importantly, established access to AmeriCorps State and National positions through a formal partnership with the Corporation for National and Community Service (AmeriCorps) or another intermediary organization. OSMRE is looking for an organization that can handle the full operational workload of a national internship program, including recruiting and onboarding interns, coordinating placements with OSMRE offices, managing documentation and administrative records, and providing oversight for interns distributed across multiple locations. Federal, state, and local government entities are not eligible to receive this funding directly. Minority Serving Institutions are encouraged to apply, though eligibility listed for applicants is nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status other than institutions of higher education.
Interns supported under the program work on projects that contribute to both agency priorities and the interns' career development. The opportunity highlights project areas such as community and environmental reclamation, community environmental stewardship, research, data analysis, geographic information systems (GIS), mapping, and related work. Intern placements can occur in OSMRE Headquarters as well as in OSMRE Regional and Field Offices nationwide, which implies a broad geographic footprint and a need for the recipient organization to manage participants across different sites and potentially different local requirements.
The internship structure is organized around three academic-style terms: Fall (approximately August through December, 15 weeks), Spring (approximately January through May, 15 weeks), and Summer (approximately May through August, 10 weeks). While internships can run in all three terms, the notice states that most internships are expected to occur during the summer. Fall and spring projects depend more on host-office demand, meaning OSMRE offices will request interns for those semesters as needed.
A key feature of the program is that some internship projects may qualify as AmeriCorps positions. When an intern serves as an AmeriCorps Member, they receive a living allowance and other benefits associated with national service, and they may earn a Segal AmeriCorps Education Award upon successful completion, which can be used for qualified higher-education costs or to pay down eligible student loans. Not every internship will meet AmeriCorps requirements, so the program also allows for "general intern" roles that are not AmeriCorps-aligned; in those cases, participants are paid at least minimum wage based on the locality where they are serving.
Funding is provided through a Cooperative Agreement, which typically means OSMRE expects substantial involvement and coordination during the project rather than a hands-off pass-through grant. The award ceiling is $75,000 total to administer a two-year program, with one expected award. Over that two-year period, the funded program must support at least ten intern positions in total, which can be a mix of AmeriCorps internships and general internship positions. The project period cannot exceed two years from the date of award, but the recipient may request a non-funded extension of up to one additional year if more time is needed to complete the project, and applicants are encouraged to explain why an extension might be necessary.
In practical terms, OSMRE is seeking a nonprofit partner that already has the systems and experience to run a multi-site national service or internship program, can document and manage compliance requirements, and can demonstrate a track record overseeing national teams or programs. The opportunity sits within the natural resources funding activity category (CFDA 15.254). The Funding Opportunity Number is S22AS00326, it was created on July 20, 2022, and the original application closing date listed is September 20, 2022.
OSMRE Semester Internship Program (Funding Opportunity Number: S22AS00326) - FAQs
1) What is the OSMRE Semester Internship Program grant?
It is a federal discretionary funding opportunity from the U.S. Department of the Interior's Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE). The funding supports a national internship partnership where OSMRE funds one qualified nonprofit administrator to run and manage a structured, semester-based internship program placing interns into projects in OSMRE offices nationwide.
2) What is the main purpose of this grant?
The purpose is to fund a single eligible nonprofit organization to administer a national internship program that (1) advances OSMRE's mission through meaningful work projects and (2) provides current college students and recent graduates with professionally focused, real-world experience connected to natural resources, environmental work, and public service.
3) Who is offering this funding opportunity?
The funding opportunity is offered by the U.S. Department of the Interior, Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE).
4) What type of award is being used for this opportunity?
The funding is provided through a Cooperative Agreement, which generally indicates substantial involvement and coordination by OSMRE during the project period (rather than a purely hands-off grant).
5) What is the award amount and project duration?
The award ceiling is $75,000 total to administer a two-year program. The project period cannot exceed two years from the date of award.
6) How many awards does OSMRE expect to make?
OSMRE expects to make one award.
7) What is the minimum number of internships the funded program must support?
Over the two-year period, the funded program must support at least ten intern positions total. These positions can be a mix of AmeriCorps internships and general internship positions.
8) Who is eligible to apply for this grant?
The opportunity is designed for nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education) that have strong administrative capacity and established access to AmeriCorps State and National positions through a formal partnership with the Corporation for National and Community Service (AmeriCorps) or another intermediary organization.
9) Are colleges and universities eligible applicants?
Eligibility listed for applicants is nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status other than institutions of higher education. Minority Serving Institutions are encouraged to apply, but the eligibility statement provided emphasizes nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations and excludes institutions of higher education as applicant types.
10) Are federal, state, or local government entities eligible to apply?
No. Federal, state, and local government entities are not eligible to receive this funding directly.
11) What does "eligible nonprofit administrator" mean in this program?
It refers to the single nonprofit organization selected by OSMRE to run the national internship program end-to-end. This includes recruiting and onboarding interns, coordinating placements with OSMRE offices, managing records and documentation, and overseeing interns working in multiple locations.
12) What kinds of responsibilities is the nonprofit administrator expected to handle?
The selected organization is expected to manage the full operational workload of a national program, including recruiting, onboarding, coordinating placements with OSMRE host offices, maintaining documentation and administrative records, and providing ongoing oversight for interns distributed across the country.
13) Where will interns be placed?
Intern placements can occur in OSMRE Headquarters as well as OSMRE Regional and Field Offices nationwide, indicating a broad geographic footprint and multi-site management needs.
14) What kinds of projects will interns work on?
Intern projects are meant to advance OSMRE priorities and support intern career development. The opportunity highlights project areas such as community and environmental reclamation, community environmental stewardship, research, data analysis, geographic information systems (GIS), mapping, and related work.
15) Who can participate as an intern under this program?
The program places current college students and recent graduates into internships.
16) How is the internship schedule organized?
The program is structured around three academic-style terms: Fall (approximately August through December, 15 weeks), Spring (approximately January through May, 15 weeks), and Summer (approximately May through August, 10 weeks).
17) Which term is expected to have the most internships?
Most internships are expected to occur during the summer term.
18) Are fall and spring internships guaranteed each year?
No. Fall and spring projects depend more on host-office demand, meaning OSMRE offices will request interns for those semesters as needed.
19) What is the connection between this internship program and AmeriCorps?
Some internship projects may qualify as AmeriCorps positions. The grant is designed for organizations that already have access to AmeriCorps State and National positions through a formal partnership with AmeriCorps (the Corporation for National and Community Service) or another intermediary organization.
20) Do all interns have to serve as AmeriCorps Members?
No. Not every internship will meet AmeriCorps requirements. The program allows for both AmeriCorps-aligned internships and "general intern" roles that are not AmeriCorps positions.
21) What compensation or benefits are available to interns in AmeriCorps positions?
When an intern serves as an AmeriCorps Member, they receive a living allowance and other benefits associated with national service, and they may earn a Segal AmeriCorps Education Award upon successful completion.
22) What is the Segal AmeriCorps Education Award and how can it be used?
It is an education award that eligible AmeriCorps Members may earn upon successful completion. The opportunity states it can be used for qualified higher-education costs or to pay down eligible student loans.
23) How are interns paid if their role is not AmeriCorps-aligned?
For "general intern" roles that are not AmeriCorps-aligned, participants are paid at least minimum wage based on the locality where they are serving.
24) Can the project be extended beyond the two-year period?
The project period cannot exceed two years from the date of award. However, the recipient may request a non-funded extension of up to one additional year if more time is needed to complete the project. Applicants are also encouraged to explain why an extension might be necessary.
25) What experience or capacity is OSMRE looking for in an applicant?
OSMRE is seeking a nonprofit partner that already has systems and experience to run a multi-site national service or internship program, can document and manage compliance requirements, and can demonstrate a track record overseeing national teams or programs.
26) What is the CFDA number and funding activity category?
The opportunity sits within the natural resources funding activity category and is identified as CFDA 15.254.
27) What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this grant?
The Funding Opportunity Number is S22AS00326.
28) When was this funding opportunity created and what is the closing date listed?
It was created on July 20, 2022, and the original application closing date listed is September 20, 2022.
29) What makes this a "national" internship program?
Interns may be placed in OSMRE Headquarters as well as OSMRE Regional and Field Offices across the country, requiring coordination across multiple sites and potentially different local requirements.
30) Why does the grant emphasize AmeriCorps access and partnerships?
The program includes internship projects that may qualify as AmeriCorps positions, and OSMRE specifically wants an administrator that already has established access to AmeriCorps State and National positions through a formal partnership with AmeriCorps or another intermediary organization.
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