Opportunity Information: Apply for F15AS00224
Apply for F15AS00224
- The Fish and Wildlife Service in the community development environment science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Urban Challenge Program Assistance" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.654 Visitor Facility Enhancements Refuges and Wildlife.
- This funding opportunity was created on May 14, 2015 and posted on May 14, 2015.
- Applicants must submit their applications by May 20, 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 $367,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $367,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility.
- THE RECIPIENT HAS BEEN SELECTED
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Opportunity Summary:
The Urban Challenge Program Assistance opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number F15AS00224) was a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service cooperative agreement tied to the Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge and focused on strengthening nature-based engagement for urban communities across the Portland-Vancouver metropolitan area. The refuge planned to invest about $367,000 in a single award to a local organization that could take the lead in convening and coordinating a broad set of partners. The goal was not simply to run a one-off event, but to build stronger, more connected systems for engaging city residents with nature both on refuge lands and in other community settings throughout the region.
The work was organized around four main focal areas. First, the project would develop and support public engagement strategies that blend modern technology with real-world connections to nature. That included tools such as websites and mobile applications, along with efforts that help residents discover, access, and participate in nature-based experiences. A key part of this area was also creating venues, networks, or platforms where partner organizations could interact and collaborate in metro-wide conservation efforts, making engagement more coordinated and visible across the region rather than fragmented by organization or jurisdiction.
Second, the refuge wanted the funded organization to advance equity and inclusion across the parks, conservation, and outdoor engagement community. This was framed as providing trainings, workshops, and similar forums designed to help organizations become more diverse, more equitable, and more effective in the ways they welcome and serve different communities. The intent was to strengthen the broader field, not just activities happening at the refuge, by improving the shared capacity of partner groups to connect people with nature in ways that are culturally relevant and accessible.
Third, the award emphasized convening cross-sector representatives from health, conservation, and social justice fields to pursue better community health outcomes. This component recognized that outdoor access and nature contact can intersect with public health and social conditions, and it aimed to bring together organizations that do not always plan programs jointly. The focus was on collaboration that links nature-based engagement with community well-being, potentially supporting shared strategies, coordinated initiatives, and improved outcomes that matter to multiple sectors.
Fourth, the program sought to expand and strengthen youth engagement in the outdoors through a range of pathways, including playing, working, serving, and learning. This meant convening organizations that can help young people build meaningful connections to the outdoors through recreation, employment or career exposure, service projects, and educational programs. The emphasis on convening suggests the refuge wanted durable partnerships and pipelines that increase youth participation over time rather than isolated youth events.
This opportunity was explicitly structured as a cooperative agreement, meaning the Fish and Wildlife Service expected to be substantially involved in the funded work. The Service role included coordinating with the recipient to define the specific project scope and program details, participating in planning and implementation, and taking part in meetings, workshops, and forums convened under the award. In other words, the recipient would lead partner coordination and program execution, but the refuge and the Service would remain closely engaged as active collaborators throughout the effort.
Administratively, the opportunity was listed under CFDA 15.654 (Visitor Facility Enhancements: Refuges and Wildlife). The total estimated funding, and the award ceiling, were both $367,000, with an award floor of $100. There was no cost-sharing or matching requirement. While the eligibility field is listed as unrestricted in general terms, the notice also states that the recipient had already been selected, indicating it was effectively not a competitive open solicitation at the time it appeared. The posting date was May 14, 2015, with an original and current closing date of May 20, 2015, and an archive date of May 21, 2015. For access issues, the listed contact was Kim Strassburg, Visitor Services Manager, at 503-625-5944 and kimstrassburg@fws.gov, and the announcement referenced Grants.gov for additional information.
Urban Challenge Program Assistance (F15AS00224) FAQs
What is the Urban Challenge Program Assistance opportunity (F15AS00224)?
The Urban Challenge Program Assistance opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number F15AS00224) was a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) cooperative agreement connected to the Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge. It focused on strengthening nature-based engagement for urban communities across the Portland-Vancouver metropolitan area by convening and coordinating partners and building stronger, connected systems for engagement (not just one-time events).
Which agency offered this funding?
The opportunity was offered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and was tied to the Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge.
What geographic area did the project focus on?
The effort focused on urban communities across the Portland-Vancouver metropolitan area, including engagement on refuge lands and in other community settings throughout the region.
How much funding was available?
The refuge planned to invest about $367,000 in a single award. The total estimated funding and the award ceiling were both $367,000.
Was this expected to be a single award or multiple awards?
It was described as a single award to a local organization that could take the lead in convening and coordinating a broad set of partners.
What was the award floor?
The award floor was listed as $100.
Was cost sharing or matching required?
No. The opportunity explicitly stated there was no cost-sharing or matching requirement.
What type of award was this?
This was structured as a cooperative agreement. That means USFWS expected to be substantially involved in the funded work rather than acting only as a pass-through funder.
What did "cooperative agreement" mean for this project?
USFWS expected substantial involvement, including working with the recipient to define the specific project scope and program details, participating in planning and implementation, and participating in meetings, workshops, and forums convened under the award. The recipient would lead coordination and execution, while the refuge/Service would remain active collaborators.
What was the main purpose of the project?
The purpose was to strengthen nature-based engagement for urban residents by building more connected systems and partnerships across the region. The stated goal was not to run a one-off event, but to create stronger, coordinated approaches that make nature engagement more accessible, visible, and durable over time.
What were the main focal areas of work?
The work was organized around four focal areas: (1) public engagement strategies that blend technology with real-world nature connections; (2) advancing equity and inclusion across the outdoor engagement community; (3) convening cross-sector partners (health, conservation, social justice) to pursue community health outcomes; and (4) expanding and strengthening youth engagement through playing, working, serving, and learning pathways.
What kinds of public engagement strategies were envisioned?
The opportunity described strategies that blend modern technology with real-world nature connections, including tools such as websites and mobile applications, and efforts that help residents discover, access, and participate in nature-based experiences.
Did the opportunity emphasize coordination among partner organizations?
Yes. A key part of the public engagement focal area was creating venues, networks, or platforms where partner organizations could interact and collaborate in metro-wide conservation efforts, making engagement more coordinated and visible across the region rather than fragmented by organization or jurisdiction.
How did the opportunity address equity and inclusion?
The award aimed to advance equity and inclusion across the parks, conservation, and outdoor engagement community by supporting trainings, workshops, and similar forums intended to help organizations become more diverse, more equitable, and more effective in how they welcome and serve different communities.
Was the equity and inclusion component limited to refuge activities?
No. The intent was to strengthen the broader field, not just activities at the refuge, by improving the shared capacity of partner organizations to connect people with nature in culturally relevant and accessible ways.
What did the cross-sector collaboration component involve?
The opportunity emphasized convening cross-sector representatives from health, conservation, and social justice fields to pursue better community health outcomes. It recognized links between outdoor access, nature contact, public health, and social conditions, and it aimed to bring together organizations that do not always plan jointly.
What was the youth engagement focus?
The program sought to expand and strengthen youth engagement in the outdoors through multiple pathways, including playing, working, serving, and learning. It emphasized convening organizations to build durable partnerships and pipelines that increase youth participation over time rather than hosting isolated youth events.
Was the project limited to activities on refuge lands?
No. While tied to the Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge, the described goal included engaging residents with nature both on refuge lands and in other community settings throughout the region.
What CFDA number was associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity was listed under CFDA 15.654 (Visitor Facility Enhancements: Refuges and Wildlife).
When was the opportunity posted and when did it close?
The posting date was May 14, 2015. The original and current closing date was May 20, 2015. The archive date was May 21, 2015.
Was this an open competitive solicitation?
Although the eligibility field was listed as unrestricted, the notice also stated that the recipient had already been selected. Based on the notice, it was effectively not a competitive open solicitation at the time it appeared.
Where was applicants/users directed for additional information?
The announcement referenced Grants.gov for additional information.
Who was the contact for access issues?
The listed contact was Kim Strassburg, Visitor Services Manager. Phone: 503-625-5944. Email: kimstrassburg@fws.gov.
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