Opportunity Information: Apply for NPS NOIP16AC00315
Apply for NPS NOIP16AC00315
- The Department of the Interior, National Park Service in the employment, labor and training, environment, natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR APPLICATIONS: Pulbic Lands Crew- WICA- THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR APPLICATIONS" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.931.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jul 08, 2016.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 18, 2016. (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 $67,200.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Opportunity Summary:
This notice is a National Park Service (NPS), Department of the Interior discretionary funding opportunity issued as a cooperative agreement (Opportunity No. NPS NOIP16AC00315; CFDA 15.931). Despite being posted in a grants format, it is explicitly labeled "THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR APPLICATIONS," meaning it is not an open competition. Instead, it is tied to an existing Master Cooperative Agreement (P15AC00015) with American Conservation Experience (ACE). The intent is for ACE, as the identified recipient under that master agreement, to carry out a specific, defined conservation and workforce-development task at Wind Cave National Park.
The core purpose is educational and workforce-focused: to place high school and college-aged participants, generally ages 16 to 25, along with other qualified volunteers, into hands-on training experiences in resource management and conservation. The task is designed to create structured work, education, and training opportunities for young adults while delivering tangible on-the-ground improvements to park infrastructure. In practice, it combines conservation corps-style service with practical skills development, safety training, and exposure to federal land management operations.
The project objective centers on maintaining and improving two major asset systems inside Wind Cave National Park: a trail system of more than 30 miles and/or a boundary fence system of more than 40 miles. The planned staffing model is a single field crew made up of one trail crew leader, one apprentice leader, and five trail crew members (seven people total). The crew is expected to work for about 30 days (roughly four weeks and two days), focusing on trail, drainage, vegetation, and fencing tasks that directly support visitor access, resource protection, and boundary management.
Field duties described in the notice are specific and labor-intensive. Trail work includes installing wooden posts and trail markers along designated routes, repairing trail tread erosion, and installing stone and log water bars to slow runoff and prevent further erosion. The crew will also clear dead and down trees from trails and along the boundary fence line, and trim or cut brush and other vegetation that encroaches on travel corridors or fence alignments. Additional carpentry and structure work may include reconstructing or constructing footpath bridges. Boundary fence work includes removing, replacing, or reconstructing segments of existing fencing, with an emphasis on wildlife-friendly fence design where applicable. The fence scope is described as pulling old wooden posts and woven wire, then rebuilding with new steel posts and woven wire or 12-gauge smooth wire plus 3/8-inch galvanized cable. When weather prevents backcountry work, the crew may be reassigned to noxious weed removal, which supports invasive species management goals.
Logistically, the crew is required to camp during the project period. The park will coordinate with the crew leaders to establish a camping area, with site selection driven by safety considerations. However, the recipient/crew must provide key self-support items, including transportation to and from Wind Cave National Park and all local transportation during the project. The crew is also responsible for meals, camping gear, and a wide range of safety and personal protective equipment such as hearing and eye protection, gloves, hard hats, sunscreen, first aid kits, insect repellent, and poison ivy protection supplies. This framing makes clear that the cooperative agreement supports the work and coordination, while day-to-day field self-sufficiency is a core expectation of the participating organization and crew.
The work environment and schedule are laid out to set expectations for safety and readiness. Typical work hours are Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., though weekend and holiday work may be required depending on project needs. The crew will have daily contact with park staff, who will support operations through coordination, safety training, supplies, and educational engagement, and the crew will have occasional contact with park visitors while projects are underway. The notice emphasizes that the work is physically demanding and performed outdoors in mountainous and high prairie terrain, requiring sustained hiking, standing, and lifting while operating in temperature swings and potentially serious weather events. Crew members must be in good physical condition and able to carry tools, meals, and water over long distances to reach remote work sites.
Safety considerations are a prominent part of the description because of the hazards typical of backcountry and prairie environments. The crew may encounter large wildlife such as bison, mountain lions, elk, and deer, as well as hazards including poison ivy, rattlesnakes, and fleas. Park staff will brief supervisors and crews on backcountry procedures and hazards before field work begins, reinforcing that risk management and situational awareness are integral to the project design, not an afterthought.
From a funding and administrative standpoint, the opportunity lists an award ceiling of $67,200 with one expected award. The notice was created July 8, 2016, with an original closing date of July 18, 2016, reflecting the limited and predetermined nature of the action rather than an open solicitation. Eligible applicants are broadly labeled as "Others," but the narrative makes clear the practical eligibility is constrained to the identified recipient operating under the existing master cooperative agreement, which is consistent with the repeated statement that it is not a request for applications.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is this an open grant competition that new applicants can apply for?
No. The notice explicitly states "THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR APPLICATIONS," which means it is not an open solicitation or competitive opportunity for new applicants.
Who is the intended recipient for this funding action?
The notice ties the work to an existing Master Cooperative Agreement (P15AC00015) with American Conservation Experience (ACE). The intent is for ACE, as the identified recipient under that master agreement, to carry out the defined project at Wind Cave National Park.
What agency and program is associated with this opportunity?
This is a National Park Service (NPS), Department of the Interior discretionary funding opportunity issued as a cooperative agreement (Opportunity No. NPS NOIP16AC00315; CFDA 15.931).
What type of award is being used?
The notice describes the award mechanism as a cooperative agreement, which emphasizes coordinated work between the recipient and the National Park Service for the project described.
What is the main purpose of the project?
The project is educational and workforce-focused: placing high school and college-aged participants (generally ages 16 to 25), along with other qualified volunteers, into hands-on training experiences in conservation and resource management while delivering on-the-ground improvements to park infrastructure.
Where will the work take place?
The work will take place at Wind Cave National Park.
What park assets are being maintained or improved?
The objective focuses on two major asset systems within the park: a trail system of more than 30 miles and/or a boundary fence system of more than 40 miles.
How is the field crew expected to be staffed?
The planned staffing model is one field crew consisting of one trail crew leader, one apprentice leader, and five trail crew members, for a total of seven people.
How long is the work period expected to last?
The crew is expected to work for about 30 days (roughly four weeks and two days).
What kinds of trail work are included in the project scope?
Trail work includes installing wooden posts and trail markers, repairing trail tread erosion, installing stone and log water bars to reduce runoff and erosion, and clearing dead and down trees from trails.
Will vegetation management be part of the work?
Yes. The scope includes trimming or cutting brush and other vegetation that encroaches on travel corridors or fence alignments.
Does the project include carpentry or structure work?
It may. The notice describes additional carpentry and structure work that may include reconstructing or constructing footpath bridges.
What boundary fence work is anticipated?
Fence work includes removing, replacing, or reconstructing segments of existing fencing, with an emphasis on wildlife-friendly fence design where applicable. The description includes pulling old wooden posts and woven wire, then rebuilding with new steel posts and woven wire or 12-gauge smooth wire plus 3/8-inch galvanized cable.
What happens if weather prevents backcountry work?
When weather prevents backcountry work, the crew may be reassigned to noxious weed removal to support invasive species management goals.
Is camping required during the project?
Yes. The crew is required to camp during the project period.
Who determines the camping area?
The park will coordinate with the crew leaders to establish a camping area, and the site selection is driven by safety considerations.
What transportation responsibilities does the recipient/crew have?
The recipient/crew must provide transportation to and from Wind Cave National Park as well as all local transportation during the project.
Who provides meals and camping gear?
The crew is responsible for meals and camping gear.
What safety and personal protective equipment is the crew expected to supply?
The crew must provide a broad range of safety and personal protective equipment, including hearing and eye protection, gloves, hard hats, sunscreen, first aid kits, insect repellent, and poison ivy protection supplies.
What are the typical work hours?
Typical work hours are Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Could the schedule include weekends or holidays?
Yes. Weekend and holiday work may be required depending on project needs.
What level of coordination will there be with park staff?
The notice states the crew will have daily contact with park staff, who will support operations through coordination, safety training, supplies, and educational engagement.
Will the crew interact with visitors?
Yes. The crew will have occasional contact with park visitors while projects are underway.
What is the physical environment like for this work?
The work is physically demanding and performed outdoors in mountainous and high prairie terrain, with sustained hiking, standing, lifting, and travel to remote work sites while carrying tools, meals, and water.
What weather conditions should participants be prepared for?
The notice highlights temperature swings and the possibility of serious weather events, indicating participants should be prepared for changing and potentially severe conditions.
What wildlife and natural hazards are mentioned?
The notice notes potential encounters with large wildlife such as bison, mountain lions, elk, and deer, as well as hazards including poison ivy, rattlesnakes, and fleas.
How are safety procedures addressed?
Park staff will brief supervisors and crews on backcountry procedures and hazards before field work begins, emphasizing that risk management and situational awareness are integral to the project.
What is the maximum funding amount listed for this award?
The opportunity lists an award ceiling of $67,200.
How many awards are expected?
The notice indicates one expected award.
What do the posted dates (creation and closing) indicate about the opportunity?
The notice was created July 8, 2016, with an original closing date of July 18, 2016. In context, these dates align with a limited, predetermined action rather than an open solicitation.
Who is listed as eligible to apply, and what does that mean in practice?
Eligible applicants are broadly labeled as "Others," but the narrative makes clear that practical eligibility is constrained to the identified recipient under the existing master cooperative agreement, consistent with the statement that this is not a request for applications.
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