Opportunity Information: Apply for P15AS00183
Apply for P15AS00183
- The National Park Service in the business and commerce community development education employment, labor and training environment information and statistics natural resources regional development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "The Business Plan Intership Program" 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 20, 2015 and posted on Jun 29, 2015.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 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 $300,000.00 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.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Business Plan Internship Program is a National Park Service (NPS) funding opportunity run under the Department of the Interior that uses a cooperative agreement to partner with a single qualified nonprofit organization to help the NPS operate and expand a graduate-level internship program. The program sits under CFDA 15.954 (Conservation, Protection, Outreach and Education) and is intended to strengthen the long-term operational and financial health of national parks by improving how parks and NPS program offices plan, analyze, and manage resources. Unlike many traditional NPS training efforts that have historically focused on youth programs and hands-on maintenance work, this initiative is specifically aimed at higher-level financial, operational, and management analysis work that supports decision-making inside the agency.
The model for the work is the NPS Business Plan Internship (BPI) program. Under this approach, graduate students are recruited and placed into small teams of two or three interns who travel to and work on-site at park units and/or NPS program offices for multi-week project assignments. These teams take on defined operational analysis needs, producing substantive evaluations and recommendations tied to real NPS management challenges. The NPS Business Management Group (BMG), housed in the Office of the Chief Financial Officer, provides the technical leadership for the work. BMG serves as the subject-matter expert on the financial and business management tools used across the Service and provides the guidance needed to ensure interns are using appropriate methods and producing usable management analysis documents. In this structure, the NPS retains overall program management and technical oversight, while the partner nonprofit supplies the program design capacity and the day-to-day administrative and logistical support that makes the internship pipeline function smoothly.
The key goals of the opportunity are both operational and workforce-related. Operationally, the program is designed to help parks and programs by developing and improving financial planning and management tools at the unit level, with intern teams delivering analysis that supports NPS operational objectives. From a workforce and education standpoint, the program is meant to build strong interest in NPS careers and training programs focused on financial and operational analysis and management, especially among students in disciplines that have been underrepresented in the NPS workforce. The announcement specifically highlights graduate pathways such as Master of Business Administration, Master of Public Policy, Master of Environmental Management, and similar professional degrees. A broader goal is to cultivate a long-term stewardship ethic for public lands among students from top universities by giving them direct exposure to park operations and mission-driven public service work.
Eligibility is limited to nonprofits that have 501(c)(3) status with the IRS (and the opportunity is explicitly aimed at nonprofits other than institutions of higher education). There is no recipient cost share or matching requirement noted. The opportunity was published as a discretionary Funding Opportunity Announcement with Funding Opportunity Number P15AS00183, with applications due August 3, 2015 at 5:00 pm Eastern. Only one award was expected.
Funding is described as subject to the availability of appropriations. The estimated annual funding level is approximately $300,000, and the program notes that the actual level depends on yearly appropriations, with an annual cap referenced in the narrative as $450,000. The specific dollar amounts tied to the award are expected to be established through subsequent annual task agreements, meaning the initial cooperative agreement sets the partnership framework while the detailed scopes of work, budgets, and deliverables are negotiated and documented later through project statements and task-level agreements.
The agreement term for funded projects is expected to range from one to five years depending on the negotiated scope, and in most cases the cooperative agreement would expire after five years unless ended earlier under applicable federal grant regulations (2 CFR Part 200). The announcement also notes that modifications can be proposed prior to expiration and become effective only with written approval by both parties, reinforcing that this is intended to be a structured, multi-year partnership with the flexibility to adjust as program needs evolve. For additional details and the full announcement, the posting directs applicants to Grants.gov and provides an NPS contact (June Zastrow) for assistance accessing the materials.
Business Plan Internship Program (NPS) - FAQs
1) What is the Business Plan Internship Program funding opportunity?
The Business Plan Internship Program is a National Park Service (NPS) funding opportunity under the Department of the Interior that uses a cooperative agreement to partner with a single qualified nonprofit organization. The partner helps the NPS operate and expand a graduate-level internship program focused on financial, operational, and management analysis that supports agency decision-making.
2) Which agency is offering this opportunity?
The opportunity is offered by the National Park Service (NPS), within the Department of the Interior.
3) What is the CFDA number and program category?
The opportunity is under CFDA 15.954, titled Conservation, Protection, Outreach and Education.
4) What is the main purpose of the program?
The program is intended to strengthen the long-term operational and financial health of national parks by improving how parks and NPS program offices plan, analyze, and manage resources. Intern teams produce evaluations and recommendations tied to real NPS management challenges.
5) How is this different from traditional NPS training or internship efforts?
Unlike many traditional NPS training efforts that have historically emphasized youth programs and hands-on maintenance work, this initiative is specifically aimed at higher-level financial, operational, and management analysis work that supports internal NPS decision-making.
6) What is the model for the work under this opportunity?
The model is the NPS Business Plan Internship (BPI) program, where graduate students are recruited and placed into small teams (typically two or three interns). Teams travel to and work on-site at park units and/or NPS program offices for multi-week project assignments addressing defined operational analysis needs.
7) What do intern teams do during assignments?
Intern teams take on defined operational analysis needs and produce substantive evaluations and recommendations. Their work is tied to real NPS management challenges and is intended to be usable for park and program operations.
8) Where do internships take place?
Intern teams work on-site at national park units and/or NPS program offices. The program description also indicates interns travel to these sites as part of the assignment.
9) Who provides technical leadership and subject-matter expertise?
The NPS Business Management Group (BMG), housed in the Office of the Chief Financial Officer, provides technical leadership. BMG serves as the subject-matter expert on financial and business management tools used across the Service and guides methods and deliverables so intern products are appropriate and usable.
10) What is the nonprofit partner expected to do?
Within the cooperative agreement structure described, the nonprofit partner supplies program design capacity and provides day-to-day administrative and logistical support needed to keep the internship pipeline functioning smoothly, while the NPS retains overall program management and technical oversight.
11) What are the key goals of this opportunity?
The goals are both operational and workforce-related. Operationally, the program helps parks and programs develop and improve financial planning and management tools at the unit level through intern-delivered analysis that supports NPS operational objectives. From a workforce and education standpoint, it is intended to build interest in NPS careers and training in financial/operational analysis and management, especially among students in disciplines underrepresented in the NPS workforce.
12) What types of graduate programs are specifically mentioned as relevant?
The announcement highlights graduate pathways such as Master of Business Administration (MBA), Master of Public Policy (MPP), Master of Environmental Management, and similar professional degrees.
13) Does the program have an education or stewardship goal?
Yes. A broader stated goal is to cultivate a long-term stewardship ethic for public lands among students from top universities by giving them direct exposure to park operations and mission-driven public service work.
14) Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is limited to nonprofit organizations that have 501(c)(3) status with the IRS. The opportunity is explicitly aimed at nonprofits other than institutions of higher education.
15) Are institutions of higher education eligible as applicants?
The opportunity is explicitly aimed at nonprofits other than institutions of higher education, and eligibility is limited to 501(c)(3) nonprofits.
16) Is cost sharing or matching required?
No recipient cost share or matching requirement is noted in the provided description.
17) What type of federal funding instrument will be used?
The partnership is structured as a cooperative agreement, which establishes a framework where the NPS retains overall program management and technical oversight and the nonprofit partner performs program design and administrative/logistical functions.
18) What is the Funding Opportunity Number?
The Funding Opportunity Number is P15AS00183.
19) When was the opportunity due, and what was the deadline time zone?
Applications were due August 3, 2015 at 5:00 pm Eastern.
20) How many awards were expected?
Only one award was expected.
21) How much funding is available?
Estimated annual funding is approximately $300,000, subject to the availability of appropriations. The narrative also references an annual cap of $450,000, and actual funding levels depend on yearly appropriations.
22) Is the funding guaranteed?
No. Funding is described as subject to the availability of appropriations, and the actual level may vary year to year.
23) How will budgets and specific award amounts be determined?
The cooperative agreement sets the partnership framework, and the specific dollar amounts, scopes of work, budgets, and deliverables are expected to be established later through subsequent annual task agreements (project statements and task-level agreements).
24) How long can the agreement last?
The agreement term for funded projects is expected to range from one to five years depending on the negotiated scope. In most cases, the cooperative agreement would expire after five years unless ended earlier under applicable federal grant regulations (2 CFR Part 200).
25) Can the cooperative agreement be modified?
Yes. Modifications can be proposed prior to expiration, but they become effective only with written approval by both parties.
26) What regulations govern the award?
The announcement references applicable federal grant regulations at 2 CFR Part 200.
27) Where can applicants find the full announcement and application materials?
Applicants are directed to Grants.gov for additional details and the full announcement.
28) Who is the NPS contact for assistance accessing materials?
The posting provides an NPS contact for assistance: June Zastrow.
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