Opportunity Information: Apply for P15AS00246
Apply for P15AS00246
- The National Park Service in the education employment, labor and training environment health information and statistics natural resources science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Promoting One Health and Conservation through Student Internships" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.954 National Park Service Conservation, Protection, Outreach, and Education.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jul 28, 2015 and posted on Jul 28, 2015.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 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 $29,997.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $29,997.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education.
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Opportunity Summary:
The grant opportunity titled "Promoting One Health and Conservation through Student Internships" is a National Park Service (NPS) notice of intent to award funding to Colorado State University (CSU) through a cooperative agreement, and it is explicitly not a competitive call for applications. In other words, the public posting is meant to document that NPS plans to fund a specific partner for a specific set of activities without opening the opportunity to other applicants. The award is structured as a continuation task agreement under an existing cooperative agreement between NPS and CSU, using the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Units (CESU) framework, with statutory authority cited under 54 USC 101702(b) and the CFDA listing associated with NPS cooperative research and training programs (CFDA 15.954). The anticipated total award amount for the continuation work is listed as $92,997, with no cost share required, and the period of performance runs from the date of award through late 2019 (documents reference 12/30/2019 and 12/31/2019).
Programmatically, the project is built around the "One Health" concept, which treats human health, animal health, and environmental health as interconnected and best addressed through interdisciplinary collaboration. NPS already supports veterinary, public health, and environmental health functions that provide both service-wide guidance and park-specific technical assistance, and the internship program is positioned as a way to extend that work while training the next generation of professionals. The core purpose is twofold: first, to provide paid or structured One Health internship opportunities and professional mentoring for college students; and second, to collaborate with CSU faculty, staff, and students to complete practical One Health projects that directly support national parks. The internships are framed not just as educational experiences, but as applied contributions to conservation and public health outcomes in park settings.
The planned work focuses on five operational areas within NPS One Health activities: unified disease surveillance, development of consensus guidance on health-related issues, interdisciplinary response to emerging events (such as outbreaks), integrated internal and public-facing messaging, and a combined research agenda that aligns across disciplines. Intern assignments are intentionally flexible and will be matched to NPS needs and the interns specific skills and interests. Deliverables are expected from each internship in the form of a tangible product or, alternatively, a summary report. Examples of products described in the announcement include factsheets, web content, training materials, database development or population, contributions to research and disease surveillance efforts, and surge support during disease outbreaks or other emergent health events affecting parks, wildlife, visitors, or staff.
The schedule outlined in the project management plan anticipates recruiting and training about two to three student interns per year across 2015 to 2019, with the possibility of increasing intern numbers if additional funding becomes available. Before each internship begins, NPS and CSU will identify and agree on the deliverable the intern will complete, and the final product or report is expected to be wrapped up within about one month after the internship ends. The partnership also includes an educational exchange element: NPS staff are expected to provide guest lectures or similar classroom contributions at CSU roughly one to two times per year, supporting coursework in areas like veterinary medicine, public health, wildlife health, and related fields. The broader framing ties the internships to Department of the Interior youth engagement goals, emphasizing workforce development and cultivating long-term stewardship of public lands.
Roles and responsibilities are shared in a way typical of cooperative agreements, with substantial involvement from NPS. CSU commits to collaborating on the internship project, helping recruit strong student candidates, providing professional and supervisory support to help students finish assigned work, and creating opportunities for NPS personnel to contribute to teaching. NPS, in turn, agrees to jointly select interns with CSU, define the internship products, mentor interns and act as work leaders during the placements, and participate in guest lectures or other educational activities as mutually agreed. The cooperative structure is meant to ensure the work remains directly relevant to park operations while still functioning as a high-quality training experience.
Finally, the posting explains why the award is being made without competition. Under Department of the Interior single-source policy, NPS cites the justification category of "Continuation," meaning the funded activity is needed to continue work already underway under an existing agreement, and competing it would disrupt continuity or completion. The announcement also notes that the project is routed through the Rocky Mountains CESU at a negotiated indirect cost rate (17.5%) and states that it meets CESU tests such as public purpose, consistency with CESU network mission, and meaningful NPS involvement. The listed point of contact for the award is June Zastrow at NPS, and the grants.gov posting dates indicate it was publicly posted in late July 2015 and archived shortly after the stated closing date in August 2015, consistent with a notice-of-intent posting rather than an open solicitation.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the title of this grant opportunity?
The opportunity is titled "Promoting One Health and Conservation through Student Internships."
Is this an open, competitive grant opportunity?
No. This is explicitly not a competitive call for applications. The posting is a National Park Service (NPS) notice of intent to award funding to a specific partner for specific activities, without opening the opportunity to other applicants.
Who is the intended recipient of the award?
The intended recipient is Colorado State University (CSU).
What type of award mechanism is being used?
The award is planned as a cooperative agreement action, structured as a continuation task agreement under an existing cooperative agreement between NPS and CSU, using the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Units (CESU) framework.
Which CESU network is referenced for this work?
The posting indicates the project is routed through the Rocky Mountains CESU.
Why is NPS making this award without competition?
NPS cites the Department of the Interior single-source justification category of "Continuation." The rationale is that the funded activity is needed to continue work already underway under an existing agreement, and competing it would disrupt continuity or completion.
What statutory authority is cited for this award?
The posting cites statutory authority under 54 USC 101702(b).
What CFDA program listing is associated with this funding?
The opportunity references CFDA 15.954, associated with NPS cooperative research and training programs.
What is the anticipated total funding amount for the continuation work?
The anticipated total award amount listed is $92,997.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No cost share is required, according to the posting.
What is the period of performance?
The period of performance runs from the date of award through late 2019. The documents reference end dates of 12/30/2019 and 12/31/2019.
What is the central program concept behind the project?
The project is built around the "One Health" concept, which treats human health, animal health, and environmental health as interconnected and best addressed through interdisciplinary collaboration.
What are the main goals of the internship program described?
The posting describes two core purposes: (1) to provide paid or structured One Health internship opportunities and professional mentoring for college students, and (2) to collaborate with CSU faculty, staff, and students to complete practical One Health projects that directly support national parks.
How are the internships positioned in relation to NPS needs?
The internships are framed as applied contributions that extend NPS One Health-related work while also training future professionals, with tangible outputs meant to support conservation and public health outcomes in park settings.
What operational areas within NPS One Health activities are covered by the planned work?
The posting identifies five operational areas: unified disease surveillance; development of consensus guidance on health-related issues; interdisciplinary response to emerging events (such as outbreaks); integrated internal and public-facing messaging; and a combined research agenda aligned across disciplines.
How are intern assignments determined?
Intern assignments are described as intentionally flexible and matched to NPS needs as well as the interns' specific skills and interests.
What deliverables are expected from each internship?
Each internship is expected to produce a tangible product or, alternatively, a summary report.
What are examples of internship products mentioned in the posting?
Examples include factsheets, web content, training materials, database development or population, contributions to research and disease surveillance efforts, and surge support during disease outbreaks or other emergent health events affecting parks, wildlife, visitors, or staff.
When is the internship deliverable decided?
Before each internship begins, NPS and CSU will identify and agree on the deliverable the intern will complete.
When is the final product or report due after an internship ends?
The final product or report is expected to be completed within about one month after the internship ends.
How many student interns are anticipated under the project plan?
The schedule anticipates recruiting and training about two to three student interns per year across 2015 to 2019.
Can the number of interns increase?
Yes. The plan notes the possibility of increasing the number of interns if additional funding becomes available.
Does the partnership include educational activities beyond the internships?
Yes. The partnership includes an educational exchange element where NPS staff are expected to provide guest lectures or similar classroom contributions at CSU roughly one to two times per year.
What subject areas are connected to the guest lecture activities?
The guest lectures are described as supporting coursework in areas like veterinary medicine, public health, wildlife health, and related fields.
How does this project relate to broader Department of the Interior priorities?
The posting ties the internships to Department of the Interior youth engagement goals, emphasizing workforce development and cultivating long-term stewardship of public lands.
What responsibilities does CSU have under the cooperative agreement?
CSU is described as collaborating on the internship project, helping recruit strong student candidates, providing professional and supervisory support to help students complete assigned work, and creating opportunities for NPS personnel to contribute to teaching.
What responsibilities does NPS have under the cooperative agreement?
NPS is described as jointly selecting interns with CSU, defining the internship products, mentoring interns and acting as work leaders during placements, and participating in guest lectures or other educational activities as mutually agreed.
What does "substantial involvement" mean in this context?
Based on the posting, substantial NPS involvement is reflected in joint intern selection, jointly defined deliverables, active mentoring and work leadership during internships, and participation in CSU educational activities.
Is an indirect cost rate mentioned?
Yes. The announcement notes a negotiated indirect cost rate of 17.5% through the Rocky Mountains CESU.
Who is the listed point of contact?
The listed point of contact is June Zastrow at NPS.
When was this notice posted and archived on grants.gov?
The grants.gov posting dates indicate it was publicly posted in late July 2015 and archived shortly after the stated closing date in August 2015, which the notice describes as consistent with a notice-of-intent posting rather than an open solicitation.
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