Opportunity Information: Apply for P15AS00172
Apply for P15AS00172
- The National Park Service in the community development education employment, labor and training environment natural resources regional development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "PRESERVATION EFFORTS AT MOCCASIN BEND NATIONAL ARCHEOLOGICAL DISTRICT SHERMAN RESERVATION ON MISSIONARY RIDGE BATTLEFILED" 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 Jun 23, 2015 and posted on Jun 23, 2015.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 7, 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 $39,992.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $39,992.00 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 opportunity titled "Preservation Efforts at Moccasin Bend National Archeological District and Sherman Reservation on Missionary Ridge Battlefield" (Funding Opportunity Number P15AS00172) is a National Park Service (NPS) notice of intent to award funding, not an open call for applications. In other words, it was published to inform the public that NPS planned to make a specific award without a competitive application process. The award was structured as a cooperative agreement, meaning NPS expected to stay actively involved in planning, oversight, training, and coordination rather than simply issuing funds and stepping back. The project was tied to Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park, specifically work sites at Moccasin Bend National Archeological District and the Sherman Reservation portion of the Missionary Ridge Battlefield in the Chattanooga, Tennessee area.
The intended recipient was Conservation Legacy (also known as Southeast Conservation Corps), with Brenna Kelly listed as the principal investigator/program manager. The total anticipated federal award amount was $39,992, with a required cost share of $13,359. The announcement describes the award as a continuation action under an existing cooperative agreement (P15AC00024), with a task agreement identified as P15AC001042. The anticipated period of performance ran from the date of award through September 30, 2015. The assistance is connected to youth conservation and service programming under CFDA 15.931 (Youth Conservation Activities). Statutory authority cited includes 54 USC 101702(a) (formerly 16 USC 1g), which allows NPS to enter cooperative agreements with nonprofit organizations to carry out NPS programs, alongside references to Public Land Corps authorities (16 USC 1721-1729).
At its core, the project blended cultural resource preservation with youth workforce development. The objective was to provide structured work, education, and training opportunities for youth ages 16 to 18 through the NPS Urban Archeology Program (often described here as the Urban Archeology Corps, or UAC). The program emphasis was hands-on learning in archeology and cultural resource stewardship, with participants gaining practical experience outside of the classroom while also building broader job skills and a stewardship ethic. The announcement also highlights a public-facing component: materials or "products" created through the program were expected to be shared through community events and social media to build public awareness and support for protecting archeological resources and cultural heritage, especially in urban community contexts.
On-the-ground work described in the announcement focused on preservation-related field tasks that were largely non-invasive from an archeological standpoint, paired with trail improvement to protect resources and improve visitor access. Youth crew members and NPS staff were expected to work together on trail clearing and restoration, basic archeological survey techniques that avoid disturbing sites, and supporting tasks like archeological compliance techniques, data entry, and field surveys under NPS direction. The project supported a nine-person team made up of two crew leaders and seven crew members drawn from around Chattanooga, creating a local youth employment and training pipeline tied directly to nearby national park resources.
Conservation Legacy's responsibilities were framed around staffing and field execution. They were to recruit, hire, and employ the youth participants and leaders for the Urban Archeology Corps work. They also committed to using public and private funds to improve trails at Moccasin Bend, with special attention to the Blue Blazes Trail. About four weeks of crew time was planned for that trail work, with the explicit goal of making the route safer for visitors while also exposing youth participants to the archeological context of Moccasin Bend, including visits to archeological sites located along or near the trail corridor. In addition, the crew was tasked with improving the entrance trail at Sherman Reservation on Missionary Ridge, including clearing vegetation to reconnect two overgrown trail segments to improve the visitor experience. Operationally, Conservation Legacy was to provide its own transportation to the job site, supply its own personal protective equipment and tools sized for an eight-person crew including supervisors, and help develop a job hazard analysis covering trail improvement and related activities.
NPS, in turn, was expected to have "substantial involvement," which is typical for cooperative agreements. Beyond providing the financial assistance, NPS would help select projects, orient the crews to park resources, oversee and guide assignments, and teach new skills. NPS also committed to jointly defining goals and scope with the partner, providing any additional tools or equipment needed, offering special programming support as crews worked toward project goals, and maintaining an active liaison role between the park and Conservation Legacy leadership. Another key element was career exposure: NPS planned to provide educational experiences about different career paths within the agency, and a national program coordinator would serve as a liaison for the work under the agreement. Both parties agreed that they would set deadlines and tasks in a project agreement, meet to coordinate progress and resolve issues, and that any changes to funding, schedule, or participant staffing would require a written modification.
The reason NPS did not run a competitive process is stated plainly: the award relied on the single-source justification criterion of "continuation." Under Department of the Interior single-source policy (505 DM 2), an agency can justify a non-competitive award when the activity is a continuation of work already underway and competing it would disrupt continuity or jeopardize completion. Here, the task agreement was positioned as necessary to continue an existing cooperative agreement effort with Conservation Legacy, and the announcement functions as the required public notice for that intended non-competitive continuation award.
Administrative details included that it was posted June 23, 2015, with an original and current closing date of July 7, 2015, and archived July 8, 2015. The expected number of awards was one, the award ceiling matched the estimated total funding at $39,992 (with an award floor listed as $1), and eligible applicants were described generally as 501(c)(3) nonprofits (even though the notice itself was not soliciting applications). The NPS point of contact listed for the announcement was June Zastrow, with phone and email provided for access issues or questions about the notice.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is this an open grant competition?
No. This is a National Park Service (NPS) notice of intent to award funding, not an open call for applications. It was published to inform the public that NPS planned to make a specific award without a competitive application process.
What is the funding opportunity title and number?
The title is "Preservation Efforts at Moccasin Bend National Archeological District and Sherman Reservation on Missionary Ridge Battlefield" and the Funding Opportunity Number is P15AS00172.
Who was the intended recipient of the award?
The intended recipient was Conservation Legacy (also known as Southeast Conservation Corps).
Who is listed as the principal investigator/program manager?
Brenna Kelly is listed as the principal investigator/program manager.
Which National Park Service unit is connected to the project?
The project was tied to Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park, with work occurring at Moccasin Bend National Archeological District and the Sherman Reservation portion of the Missionary Ridge Battlefield in the Chattanooga, Tennessee area.
What type of award instrument is described?
The award was structured as a cooperative agreement, meaning NPS expected to remain actively involved in planning, oversight, training, and coordination rather than simply providing funds with minimal involvement.
How much federal funding was anticipated?
The total anticipated federal award amount was $39,992.
Was a cost share required?
Yes. A required cost share of $13,359 is stated in the notice.
How many awards were expected under this notice?
The expected number of awards was one.
What were the award ceiling and award floor?
The award ceiling matched the estimated total funding at $39,992, and the award floor was listed as $1.
What is the reason there was no competitive application process?
The notice states the award relied on a single-source justification criterion of "continuation." Under Department of the Interior single-source policy (505 DM 2), a non-competitive award can be justified when the activity is a continuation of work already underway and competing it would disrupt continuity or jeopardize completion.
Is this award connected to an existing agreement?
Yes. The announcement describes the award as a continuation action under an existing cooperative agreement (P15AC00024), with a task agreement identified as P15AC001042.
What was the anticipated period of performance?
The anticipated period of performance ran from the date of award through September 30, 2015.
What program area or assistance listing is referenced?
The assistance is connected to youth conservation and service programming under CFDA 15.931 (Youth Conservation Activities).
What statutory authorities are cited for this cooperative agreement?
Statutory authority cited includes 54 USC 101702(a) (formerly 16 USC 1g), allowing NPS to enter cooperative agreements with nonprofit organizations to carry out NPS programs, along with references to Public Land Corps authorities (16 USC 1721-1729).
What is the core purpose of the project?
The project blended cultural resource preservation with youth workforce development, providing structured work, education, and training opportunities for youth while supporting preservation and visitor access goals at specific park-related sites.
Who were the intended participants, and what ages were targeted?
The objective focused on youth ages 16 to 18 through the NPS Urban Archeology Program (also described as the Urban Archeology Corps, or UAC).
What kinds of skills and experiences were youth participants expected to gain?
The notice emphasizes hands-on learning in archeology and cultural resource stewardship, practical experience outside the classroom, broader job skills, and development of a stewardship ethic.
What public outreach or communications component was included?
Materials or "products" created through the program were expected to be shared through community events and social media to build public awareness and support for protecting archeological resources and cultural heritage, especially in urban community contexts.
What types of on-the-ground work were described?
The work focused on preservation-related field tasks that were largely non-invasive from an archeological standpoint, paired with trail improvement to protect resources and improve visitor access. Activities included trail clearing and restoration, basic archeological survey techniques that avoid disturbing sites, and supporting tasks such as archeological compliance techniques, data entry, and field surveys under NPS direction.
How large was the planned crew?
The project supported a nine-person team composed of two crew leaders and seven crew members drawn from around Chattanooga.
What were Conservation Legacy's main responsibilities?
Conservation Legacy was responsible for recruiting, hiring, and employing the youth participants and leaders, carrying out field execution for the Urban Archeology Corps work, and supporting operational needs such as transportation, PPE, tools, and safety planning.
What trail work was planned at Moccasin Bend?
Conservation Legacy committed to using public and private funds to improve trails at Moccasin Bend, with special attention to the Blue Blazes Trail. About four weeks of crew time was planned for this work to make the route safer for visitors while exposing youth participants to the archeological context of Moccasin Bend, including visits to archeological sites along or near the trail corridor.
What work was planned at Sherman Reservation on Missionary Ridge?
The crew was tasked with improving the entrance trail at Sherman Reservation, including clearing vegetation to reconnect two overgrown trail segments and improve the visitor experience.
What equipment and logistics was Conservation Legacy expected to provide?
They were expected to provide their own transportation to the job site, supply their own personal protective equipment and tools sized for an eight-person crew including supervisors, and help develop a job hazard analysis covering trail improvement and related activities.
What does "substantial involvement" by NPS mean in this notice?
In this cooperative agreement, NPS involvement included helping select projects, orienting crews to park resources, overseeing and guiding assignments, teaching new skills, jointly defining goals and scope, providing any additional tools or equipment needed, offering special programming support, and maintaining an active liaison role between the park and Conservation Legacy leadership.
Was career exposure within NPS part of the project?
Yes. NPS planned to provide educational experiences about different career paths within the agency, and a national program coordinator would serve as a liaison for the work under the agreement.
How were project goals, deadlines, and changes managed?
The notice states both parties would set deadlines and tasks in a project agreement, meet to coordinate progress and resolve issues, and that any changes to funding, schedule, or participant staffing would require a written modification.
When was the notice posted and when did it close?
It was posted June 23, 2015. The original and current closing date was July 7, 2015, and it was archived July 8, 2015.
Who was listed as the NPS point of contact for questions or access issues?
The NPS point of contact listed was June Zastrow (with phone and email provided in the notice for access issues or questions about the announcement).
Who was described as eligible to apply?
The notice described eligible applicants generally as 501(c)(3) nonprofits, even though the notice itself was not soliciting applications.
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