Opportunity Information: Apply for F13AS00359
Apply for F13AS00359
- The Fish and Wildlife Service in the education employment, labor and training environment natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "USFWS/VISTA Team" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.676 Youth Engagement, Education, and Employment Programs.
- This funding opportunity was created on Sep 10, 2013 and posted on Sep 10, 2013.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Sep 20, 2013. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $30,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $30,000.00 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).
- There is not an application process for USFWS VISTA Team. This is a notice of intent to award a single source grant to the Citizens Conservation Corps of West Virginia under justification 505 DM 2.14(B4).
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Opportunity Summary:
The USFWS/VISTA Team opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number F13AS00359) was a discretionary cooperative agreement announced by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) in September 2013. It centered on supporting the Citizens Conservation Corps of West Virginia (CCCWV) to provide the operational backbone and administrative infrastructure needed to launch the Department of the Interior (DOI) VISTA teams for fiscal year 2013. In practical terms, the grant was meant to help stand up and run the inaugural DOI VISTA team model by ensuring there was an organization ready to coordinate the effort, handle logistics, and manage the day-to-day support systems required for VISTA members to be effective in the field.
The purpose of the work was tied to community capacity-building and conservation-related service, with an emphasis on communities described as "hard hit," particularly those located on or near public lands and tribal lands. The announcement highlights that these projects were seen as a strong fit for the 21st Century Conservation Service Corps (21CSC) concept, largely because each VISTA position could be leveraged to expand local capacity rather than only delivering short-term outputs. In other words, the focus was not just on completing discrete projects, but on strengthening organizations and community networks so they could sustain conservation, education, and employment initiatives over time.
From a program classification standpoint, the opportunity fell under multiple activity categories, including education, employment/labor/training, environment, and natural resources. It was associated with CFDA number 15.676 (Youth Engagement, Education, and Employment Programs), which signals a youth and service-oriented framing alongside the conservation and public lands emphasis. The funding level was relatively small and targeted: the estimated total funding was $30,000, with an award ceiling of $30,000 and no stated minimum award (award floor of $0). Only one award was expected.
Eligibility was effectively limited because this was not a competitive grant opportunity. The notice explicitly states there was no application process and that the announcement functioned as a notice of intent to make a single-source award to the Citizens Conservation Corps of West Virginia. The justification cited was 505 DM 2.14(B4), indicating the agency relied on an internal policy basis for issuing a noncompetitive award to a specific organization. While the listing shows "Others" as eligible applicants, the accompanying eligibility explanation makes clear that the award was intended for CCCWV specifically, rather than being open to the broader public.
In terms of timing, the opportunity was posted and created on September 10, 2013, with an original and current closing date of September 20, 2013, and an archive date of September 23, 2013. Because it was a single-source notice rather than an open competition, these dates primarily reflect the public posting window and administrative timeline rather than a typical period for submitting proposals.
For additional details, the announcement pointed readers to Grants.gov and provided a contact for assistance accessing the full announcement: Tracy McCleaf, Biologist, reachable by phone at 304-876-7781.
FAQs: USFWS/VISTA Team (Funding Opportunity Number F13AS00359)
What is the USFWS/VISTA Team opportunity (F13AS00359)?
It was a discretionary cooperative agreement announced by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) in September 2013. The opportunity was designed to support the Citizens Conservation Corps of West Virginia (CCCWV) in providing the operational and administrative backbone needed to launch Department of the Interior (DOI) VISTA teams for fiscal year 2013.
Which federal agency offered this opportunity?
The opportunity was announced by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS).
What type of funding instrument was used?
This was a discretionary cooperative agreement.
What was the main purpose of the funding?
The grant was meant to help stand up and run the inaugural DOI VISTA team model by ensuring there was an organization prepared to coordinate the effort, handle logistics, and manage day-to-day support systems so VISTA members could be effective in the field.
Who was the intended recipient of the award?
The notice functioned as a notice of intent to make a single-source award to the Citizens Conservation Corps of West Virginia (CCCWV).
Was this a competitive grant with an open application process?
No. The notice explicitly stated there was no application process and that the award was intended as a single-source (noncompetitive) award to CCCWV.
If there was no application process, why was it posted publicly?
Based on the information provided, the posted dates appear to reflect the public posting window and administrative timeline rather than a typical competitive solicitation period for submitting proposals.
What policy basis was cited for making a noncompetitive (single-source) award?
The justification cited was 505 DM 2.14(B4), which was referenced as the internal policy basis used by the agency for issuing a noncompetitive award to a specific organization.
What organization was supported to provide administrative infrastructure?
The Citizens Conservation Corps of West Virginia (CCCWV) was supported to provide operational backbone and administrative infrastructure for the DOI VISTA teams.
What kinds of communities were emphasized in the project purpose?
The work emphasized community capacity-building and conservation-related service, with a focus on communities described as "hard hit," particularly those located on or near public lands and tribal lands.
How did the opportunity relate to the 21st Century Conservation Service Corps (21CSC) concept?
The announcement described these projects as a strong fit for the 21st Century Conservation Service Corps concept because each VISTA position could be leveraged to expand local capacity, not only deliver short-term outputs.
What does "capacity-building" mean in the context of this opportunity?
In this context, it meant strengthening organizations and community networks so they could sustain conservation, education, and employment initiatives over time, rather than focusing only on completing discrete, short-term projects.
What activity categories did this opportunity fall under?
The opportunity was classified under multiple activity categories, including education, employment/labor/training, environment, and natural resources.
What CFDA number was associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity was associated with CFDA number 15.676 (Youth Engagement, Education, and Employment Programs).
What was the estimated total funding amount?
The estimated total funding was $30,000.
What was the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling was $30,000.
Was there a minimum award amount (award floor)?
No minimum was stated; the award floor was listed as $0.
How many awards were expected?
Only one award was expected.
Who was listed as eligible to apply?
The listing shows "Others" as eligible applicants, but the accompanying eligibility explanation made clear the award was intended specifically for the Citizens Conservation Corps of West Virginia rather than being open to the broader public.
When was the opportunity posted and created?
It was posted and created on September 10, 2013.
What were the closing dates for the opportunity?
The original closing date and the current closing date were both September 20, 2013.
When was the opportunity archived?
The archive date was September 23, 2013.
Where were applicants or readers directed to find more details?
The announcement pointed readers to Grants.gov for additional details.
Who was the contact person for assistance with accessing the full announcement?
The contact listed was Tracy McCleaf, Biologist.
What phone number was provided for the contact?
The phone number provided for Tracy McCleaf was 304-876-7781.
What fiscal year did the DOI VISTA team launch relate to?
The funding was intended to support launching the DOI VISTA teams for fiscal year 2013.
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Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (F13AS00359) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| Alaska Peninsula Becharof Youth Ambassador Program Apply for F14AS00229 Funding Number: F14AS00229 Agency: Fish and Wildlife Service Category: Education Employment, Labor and Training Environment Natural Resources Funding Amount: $20,000 |
| Monitor Water Quality at INDU Apply for FY2015 INDU 0002 Funding Number: FY2015 INDU 0002 Agency: National Park Service Category: Education Employment, Labor and Training Environment Natural Resources Funding Amount: $10,000 |
| Youth Engagement at NPS sites in WA Apply for P15AS00048 Funding Number: P15AS00048 Agency: National Park Service Category: Education Employment, Labor and Training Environment Natural Resources Funding Amount: $35,000 |
| GLRI93 Six Month Youth Team Wetland Restoration, NOI Not a Request for Applicants Apply for P15AC00270 Funding Number: P15AC00270 Agency: National Park Service Category: Education Employment, Labor and Training Environment Natural Resources Funding Amount: $125,000 |
| Youth Supervisor Training Apply for FWS NCTC 2011 07 Funding Number: FWS NCTC 2011 07 Agency: Fish and Wildlife Service Category: Education Employment, Labor and Training Environment Natural Resources Funding Amount: $25,000 |
| Engaging Youth in River Recreation and Conservation on NPS and Related Waterways Apply for P14AS00147 Funding Number: P14AS00147 Agency: National Park Service Category: Education Employment, Labor and Training Environment Natural Resources Funding Amount: $25,000 |
| engaging and Teaching Citizens in Stewardship of Night Skies Apply for P14AS00184 Funding Number: P14AS00184 Agency: National Park Service Category: Education Employment, Labor and Training Environment Natural Resources Funding Amount: $38,778 |
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