Opportunity Information: Apply for NPS 10WASO 00002
Apply for NPS 10WASO 00002
- The National Park Service in the education sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "The Business Plan Internship Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- This funding opportunity was created on Aug 12, 2010 and posted on Aug 5, 2010.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Sep 7, 2010. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $150,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $300,000.00 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.
[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal:
Opportunity Summary:
The Business Plan Internship Program is a National Park Service (NPS) cooperative agreement opportunity intended to strengthen the long-term financial and operational health of national parks by expanding student training beyond traditional maintenance-focused youth programs. Instead of concentrating on facilities or natural resource upkeep, this program centers on building practical financial planning and management capacity at the park unit or program-office level. The NPS is seeking a single nonprofit partner to help create and run structured undergraduate and graduate educational and job training experiences, with the main model being the Business Plan Internship (BPI) program, where graduate students complete multi-week, on-site analytical projects that address real operational needs identified by parks or NPS program offices.
At the core of the program are small teams of BPI interns, typically two to three graduate students, who are placed at participating parks or offices to conduct operational analyses and develop recommendations that help parks meet mission goals more efficiently and effectively. Oversight and technical direction come from the Washington Office of the Comptroller, specifically the Business Management Group (BMG), which serves as the NPS expert resource for the financial and business management tools used across the agency. NPS involvement is central because it provides the financial expertise, guidance on planning methods, and quality control needed to produce credible management analysis documents and other project deliverables that can actually be used by park leadership.
The broader project goals blend workforce development with public stewardship. The internship experience is designed to give students hands-on exposure to park and program operations, provide substantive training in NPS financial and operational practices, and culminate in analyses that support better decision-making. A major emphasis is also placed on recruitment and career pipeline development: the program aims to spark interest in NPS-related public service careers among students in fields like MBA and MPP programs, particularly disciplines that are often underrepresented in public-sector work. It also seeks to cultivate a long-term stewardship mindset among students from leading universities by connecting them directly to the operational realities of managing public lands.
Responsibilities are split between the NPS and the nonprofit partner in a way that reflects the cooperative agreement structure. The NPS commits to selecting participating parks and program offices, defining meaningful summer intern assignments, and matching interns to projects. The agency also sets intern eligibility requirements and selection criteria, participates in interviews, and makes final intern selections. Throughout the internship cycle, NPS provides training, ongoing project management, and quality assurance for deliverables. On the practical side, NPS supplies necessary equipment and local work-site transportation, and may provide housing if it is available.
The partner nonprofit is expected to handle the administrative backbone of the program, which is described as essential for timely and successful project completion. Key duties include designing and executing a national marketing and outreach strategy targeting top graduate programs, with a stated priority on outreach to minority and underserved groups. The partner manages internship postings, collects and organizes application materials, and forwards qualified applications to NPS. It also coordinates applicant communications, organizes information sessions and interviews at selected schools, and manages the hiring process logistics such as paperwork, payroll, travel arrangements, stipend payments, and insurance coverage for interns. In addition, the partner organizes internship training logistics and wrap-up events, then conducts post-project evaluations and provides feedback to NPS to improve future program cycles.
Collaboration expectations are explicit: both parties are expected to coordinate closely, review progress in stages, and obtain approvals step-by-step before moving to subsequent phases of work. This staged review approach is meant to keep deliverables aligned with NPS standards and ensure the internship projects remain useful to park and program leadership.
From the funding announcement details, this is a discretionary opportunity issued by the National Park Service under Funding Opportunity Number NPS 10WASO 00002, using a cooperative agreement instrument, and categorized under Education. The opportunity anticipated one award, with an estimated total funding level of $150,000, an award ceiling of $300,000, and an award floor of $1. Cost sharing or matching is required. Eligibility is limited to nonprofits with IRS 501(c)(3) status, excluding institutions of higher education. The opportunity was posted August 5, 2010, with a closing date of September 7, 2010, and an archive date of October 7, 2010. A listed contact for access issues was Heidi Sage, Contract Specialist (Contractor), at 303-969-2378, with an NPS email referenced in the notice.
Business Plan Internship Program (NPS) - FAQs
What is the Business Plan Internship Program?
The Business Plan Internship Program is a National Park Service (NPS) cooperative agreement opportunity focused on strengthening the long-term financial and operational health of national parks. It does this by expanding student training beyond traditional maintenance-focused youth programs and instead emphasizing practical financial planning, management capacity, and operational analysis at the park unit or NPS program-office level.
What is the main internship model supported by this opportunity?
The primary model is the Business Plan Internship (BPI) program. In this model, graduate students complete multi-week, on-site analytical projects for participating parks or NPS program offices. These projects address real operational needs identified by parks or offices and are intended to produce usable recommendations and management analysis deliverables.
What kinds of student experiences does the program create?
The program is intended to create structured undergraduate and graduate educational and job training experiences. The core emphasis described is on graduate student Business Plan Internship teams completing on-site analytical work that supports park and program operations.
Who is NPS looking for as a partner?
NPS is seeking a single nonprofit partner to help create and run the internship program and to provide the administrative backbone needed for timely, successful project completion.
How are interns typically organized for projects?
Interns are typically organized into small teams of two to three graduate students (BPI interns). These teams are placed at participating parks or program offices to conduct operational analyses and develop recommendations to help parks meet mission goals more efficiently and effectively.
Which NPS office provides oversight and technical direction?
Oversight and technical direction come from the Washington Office of the Comptroller, specifically the Business Management Group (BMG). BMG is described as the NPS expert resource for financial and business management tools used across the agency.
Why is NPS involvement described as central to the program?
NPS involvement is central because it provides financial expertise, guidance on planning methods, and quality control. This support is intended to ensure the resulting management analysis documents and other deliverables are credible and can be used by park leadership.
What are the program goals beyond completing internship projects?
The stated goals blend workforce development with public stewardship. The internship experience is designed to provide hands-on exposure to park and program operations, training in NPS financial and operational practices, and analyses that support better decision-making. The program also emphasizes recruitment and career pipeline development, aiming to spark interest in NPS-related public service careers among students in fields such as MBA and MPP programs, including disciplines often underrepresented in public-sector work.
What types of student backgrounds are mentioned as being relevant?
The opportunity specifically mentions students in fields like MBA and MPP programs, and highlights a desire to reach disciplines that are often underrepresented in public-sector work.
What does NPS do under the cooperative agreement?
NPS responsibilities include selecting participating parks and program offices, defining meaningful summer intern assignments, and matching interns to projects. NPS sets intern eligibility requirements and selection criteria, participates in interviews, and makes final intern selections. NPS also provides training, ongoing project management, and quality assurance for deliverables.
What practical support may NPS provide to interns at the work site?
NPS supplies necessary equipment and local work-site transportation. NPS may also provide housing if it is available.
What does the nonprofit partner do under the cooperative agreement?
The partner nonprofit is expected to manage the administrative backbone of the program. Key duties include designing and executing a national marketing and outreach strategy targeting top graduate programs (with a priority on minority and underserved groups), managing internship postings, collecting and organizing application materials, and forwarding qualified applications to NPS. The partner also coordinates applicant communications, information sessions and interviews at selected schools, and manages hiring logistics such as paperwork, payroll, travel arrangements, stipend payments, and insurance coverage for interns.
Is the partner responsible for internship training and closeout activities?
Yes. The partner organizes internship training logistics and wrap-up events, then conducts post-project evaluations and provides feedback to NPS to improve future program cycles.
How do NPS and the partner coordinate work and approvals?
Collaboration expectations are explicit. Both parties are expected to coordinate closely, review progress in stages, and obtain approvals step-by-step before moving to subsequent phases. This staged review approach is intended to keep deliverables aligned with NPS standards and useful to park and program leadership.
What type of funding opportunity is this?
This is a discretionary opportunity issued by the National Park Service using a cooperative agreement instrument.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number?
The Funding Opportunity Number is NPS 10WASO 00002.
How is this opportunity categorized?
The opportunity is categorized under Education.
How many awards are anticipated?
The announcement anticipates one award.
How much funding is expected and what are the ceiling and floor?
The estimated total funding level is $150,000. The award ceiling is $300,000, and the award floor is $1.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
Yes. The announcement states that cost sharing or matching is required.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is limited to nonprofits with IRS 501(c)(3) status. Institutions of higher education are excluded.
When was the opportunity posted and when did it close?
The opportunity was posted on August 5, 2010, and the closing date was September 7, 2010.
When was the opportunity archived?
The archive date listed is October 7, 2010.
Who is the listed contact for access issues?
The notice lists Heidi Sage, Contract Specialist (Contractor), at 303-969-2378, with an NPS email referenced in the notice, for access issues.
Does NPS or the nonprofit partner make final intern selections?
NPS participates in interviews and makes final intern selections, based on NPS-set intern eligibility requirements and selection criteria.
What is the purpose of the marketing and outreach strategy the partner must run?
The outreach strategy is intended to recruit applicants nationally from top graduate programs, with a stated priority on outreach to minority and underserved groups.
What kind of deliverables are expected from internship projects?
The projects are described as producing operational analyses and recommendations, including credible management analysis documents and other project deliverables that park leadership can use to support decision-making and improve effectiveness and efficiency.
Browse more opportunities from the same agency: National Park Service
Browse more opportunities from the same category: Education
Next opportunity: Office of Vocational and Adult Education (OVAE) Promoting Rigorous Career and Technical Education Programs of Study CFDA Number 84.051C
Previous opportunity: U.S. Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation Iraqi
USGrants.org Applicant Portal:
Are you interested in learning about about how to apply for this government funding opportunity? You can create a free applicant account and receive instant access to our applicant portal that many business owners like you have benefited from.
Apply for NPS 10WASO 00002
[Watch] how do funding administrators access proposals?
Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (NPS 10WASO 00002) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| Office of Vocational and Adult Education (OVAE) Promoting Rigorous Career and Technical Education Programs of Study CFDA Number 84.051C Apply for ED GRANTS 080610 001 Funding Number: ED GRANTS 080610 001 Agency: Department of Education Category: Education Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Model Demonstration Projects To Improve Outcomes for Individuals Receiving Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) Served by State Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Agencies CFDA Number 84.235L Apply for ED GRANTS 080910 001 Funding Number: ED GRANTS 080910 001 Agency: Department of Education Category: Education Funding Amount: $1,530,700 |
| Provide Internship Opportunities in Historical Interpretation for High School Students Apply for NPS NOIKLSE100063 Funding Number: NPS NOIKLSE100063 Agency: National Park Service Category: Education Funding Amount: $55,649 |
| Trails Forever Initiative Lands End Phase II Apply for NPS NOI J8142100507 Funding Number: NPS NOI J8142100507 Agency: National Park Service Category: Education Funding Amount: $1,500,000 |
| Technology and Media Services for Individuals With Disabilities Video Description Research and Development Center CFDA Number 84.327J Apply for ED GRANTS 081210 001 Funding Number: ED GRANTS 081210 001 Agency: Department of Education Category: Education Funding Amount: $1,000,000 |
| Archiving the Creole Language Apply for NPS NOI CARI H5720100002 Funding Number: NPS NOI CARI H5720100002 Agency: National Park Service Category: Education Funding Amount: $70,200 |
| Jacob K. Javits Fellowship Program CFDA Number 84.170A Apply for ED GRANTS 081310 001 Funding Number: ED GRANTS 081310 001 Agency: Department of Education Category: Education Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Youth Engagement Program Apply for NPSNOIGRTE100012 Funding Number: NPSNOIGRTE100012 Agency: National Park Service Category: Education Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Increased Access to Quality Lower Secondary Education in Mali Apply for 688 10 025 00 Funding Number: 688 10 025 00 Agency: Mali USAID Bamako Category: Education Funding Amount: $22,000,000 |
| Hire Youth of Environmental Education Apply for L10AS00294 Funding Number: L10AS00294 Agency: Bureau of Land Management Category: Education Funding Amount: $30,000 |
| Improve Accessibility for Park Audiovisual Programs Apply for NPS NOI J8147100132 Funding Number: NPS NOI J8147100132 Agency: National Park Service Category: Education Funding Amount: $10,000 |
| Executive Forum for the Study of Terrorism (Forum) Apply for DSATA 10 CA 002 WHA 080310 Funding Number: DSATA 10 CA 002 WHA 080310 Agency: Diplomatic Security Category: Education Funding Amount: $500,000 |
| San Francisco Conservation Corps Apply for NPS NOI H8142100510 Funding Number: NPS NOI H8142100510 Agency: National Park Service Category: Education Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| The Educational Component of the National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program Apply for 11HQPA0006 Funding Number: 11HQPA0006 Agency: Geological Survey Category: Education Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Excellence in Higher Education for Liberian Development Apply for 669 10 019 Funding Number: 669 10 019 Agency: Liberia USAID Monrovia Category: Education Funding Amount: $18,500,000 |
| BLM CA SAN JOAQUIN RIVER GORGE PROJECT ARCHAEOLOGY PROGRAM Apply for L10AS00345 Funding Number: L10AS00345 Agency: Bureau of Land Management Category: Education Funding Amount: $150,000 |
| Elwha Restoration Film Apply for H9500100075 Funding Number: H9500100075 Agency: National Park Service Category: Education Funding Amount: $15,000 |
| U of Mass, Tsongas Center Educational Program Apply for NPS 10 NERO 0039 Funding Number: NPS 10 NERO 0039 Agency: National Park Service Category: Education Funding Amount: $35,000 |
| Executive Leadership Seminar Apply for NPS NOI WASO 2400100006 Funding Number: NPS NOI WASO 2400100006 Agency: National Park Service Category: Education Funding Amount: $2,000,000 |
| Special History of World War II Activities in Pacific Island Park Units Apply for NPS NOIPWR100016 Funding Number: NPS NOIPWR100016 Agency: National Park Service Category: Education Funding Amount: $41,250 |
Grant application guides and resources
It is always free to apply for government grants. However the process may be very complex depending on the funding opportunity you are applying for. Let us help you!
Apply for Grants
Premium leads for funding administrators, grant writers, and loan issuers
Thousands of people visit our website for their funding needs every day. When a user creates a grant proposal and files for submission, we pass the information on to funding administrators, grant writers, and government loan issuers.
If you manage government grant programs, provide grant writing services, or issue personal or government loans, we can help you reach your audience.
Subscribe to Leads
Request more information:
Would you like to learn more about this funding opportunity, similar opportunities to "NPS 10WASO 00002", eligibility, application service, and/or application tips? Submit an inquiry below:
Don't forget to subscribe to our grant alerts mailing list to receive weekly alerts on new and updated grant funding opportunities like this one in your email.