Opportunity Information: Apply for P15AS00068

  • The National Park Service in the community development education employment, labor and training environment natural resources regional development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Y USA Play, Learn, Serve, and Work Summer Camp Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
  • Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.931 Conservation Activities by Youth Service Organizations.
  • This funding opportunity was created on Mar 23, 2015 and posted on Mar 23, 2015.
  • Applicants must submit their applications by Apr 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 $439,421.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
  • Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $439,421.00 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.
Apply for P15AS00068

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Opportunity Summary:

The Y USA Play, Learn, Serve, and Work Summer Camp Program (Funding Opportunity Number P15AS00068) is a National Park Service (NPS) notice of intent to award funding to Y USA under a cooperative agreement. It is not an open grant competition and not a request for applications; instead, it serves as public notice that NPS planned to make a single recipient award without full and open competition. The anticipated total award amount is $439,421, with no cost share requirement, issued as a continuation task agreement (Task Agreement P15AC00324) under an existing cooperative agreement (P15AC00002). The period of performance runs from the date of award through 09/30/2017. The statutory authority cited is 54 USC 101702(a) (formerly referenced under 16 U.S.C.), and the program is tied to CFDA 15.931, Youth Conservation Activities (also described as Conservation Activities by Youth Service Organizations).

At a program level, the agreement is aimed at connecting young people and young adults (ages 6 to 35) with national parks and affiliated areas through a mix of recreation, education, service, and workforce experiences. The stated purpose is to build a pipeline of natural and cultural resource stewards by giving participants hands-on exposure to park settings and conservation-related learning. A major emphasis is youth development through YMCA-style camping and programming, with the announcement describing these experiences as supporting social-emotional, cognitive, and physical development. It also highlights a career exploration and leadership development goal for older participants, including young adults and veterans (roughly 21 to 35), by exposing them to potential career paths within NPS and reinforcing training and professional development supports.

The work plan is organized around four themes: Play, Learn, Serve, and Work. Under "Play," the project targets getting 3,600 youth outdoors across nine sites. Under "Learn," the program focuses on outdoor education and historic awareness connected to NPS resources and place-based learning. Under "Serve," it plans leadership training and service learning for 180 teens ages 16 to 18, aligning with the typical YMCA model where teens may participate in counselor-in-training or leadership tracks. Under "Work," the program includes training and employment opportunities for at least 45 young adults ages 18 to 25, reinforcing workforce readiness and practical experience tied to park-related activities.

Y USA is identified as the recipient, with John Duntley listed as the principal investigator/program manager, and YMCA of the Rockies named as the project manager working in conjunction with Y USA. Recipient responsibilities include co-developing media products with NPS to promote camp programs, creating a toolkit to help local Ys integrate NPS-related curriculum into camp experiences, advertising and promoting camp opportunities through local summer program guides, and encouraging collaboration between local YMCAs and NPS/DOI sites. In addition to direct participant programming, the recipient is also responsible for program development and training materials (such as logic models and promotional products), administrative support and reporting, and monitoring and evaluation.

Because this is a cooperative agreement, NPS anticipates substantial involvement rather than a hands-off grant relationship. NPS responsibilities include providing financial assistance, collaborating with Y USA on program focus areas, and supplying educational curriculum resources covering natural, historical, cultural, recreation, and heritage topics on NPS lands. NPS will also assign staff to monitor ongoing work, answer partnership questions, and serve as an on-site liaison. On the communication side, NPS plans to use internal channels to promote the camp programs across park sites, encourage local park units to work with nearby Ys, and host webinars to share information and support local-level collaboration.

The reason the award is noncompetitive is explicitly tied to Department of the Interior single source policy (505 DM 2). NPS cites the "Continuation" justification criterion, meaning the funded work is necessary to complete or continue an activity already being funded, and competing the award would risk disrupting continuity or completion. In short, the announcement documents a planned continuation award to keep an existing NPS-Y USA summer camp and youth conservation partnership moving through the end of the stated performance period, with clear deliverables spanning youth outdoor participation, education, teen service leadership, and young adult employment pathways.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the Y USA Play, Learn, Serve, and Work Summer Camp Program opportunity?

It is a National Park Service (NPS) notice of intent to award funding under the title "Y USA Play, Learn, Serve, and Work Summer Camp Program" with Funding Opportunity Number P15AS00068. The notice explains that NPS planned to issue a single award to Y USA under a cooperative agreement to support summer camp and youth conservation-related programming connected to national parks and affiliated areas.

Is this an open grant competition or a request for applications?

No. The notice is not an open grant competition and it is not a request for applications. It is public notice that NPS planned to make a single-recipient award without full and open competition.

Who is the intended recipient of the award?

Y USA is identified as the recipient in the notice.

Why is this award being made without full and open competition?

The notice states the award is noncompetitive under the Department of the Interior single source policy (505 DM 2). NPS cites the "Continuation" justification criterion, meaning the work is needed to complete or continue activities already being funded and competing the award could disrupt continuity or completion.

What type of funding instrument is planned (grant vs. cooperative agreement)?

The planned award is under a cooperative agreement. The notice also describes it as a continuation task agreement issued under an existing cooperative agreement.

What does "cooperative agreement" imply for how the project will be managed?

The notice indicates NPS anticipates substantial involvement in the project rather than a hands-off relationship. NPS is expected to collaborate on program focus areas, provide curriculum resources, assign staff to monitor work, and support coordination across park sites and local partners.

What is the anticipated total award amount?

The anticipated total award amount is $439,421.

Is a cost share or match required?

No. The notice states there is no cost share requirement.

What is the period of performance?

The period of performance runs from the date of award through 09/30/2017.

Is this award connected to a prior agreement or task agreement?

Yes. The notice describes the funding as a continuation task agreement (Task Agreement P15AC00324) under an existing cooperative agreement (P15AC00002).

What statutory authority is cited for this program?

The notice cites 54 USC 101702(a) (formerly referenced under 16 U.S.C.).

What CFDA program is this tied to?

The program is tied to CFDA 15.931, Youth Conservation Activities (also described as Conservation Activities by Youth Service Organizations).

What is the overall goal or purpose of the program?

The stated purpose is to connect young people and young adults with national parks and affiliated areas through recreation, education, service, and workforce experiences, with the aim of building a pipeline of natural and cultural resource stewards through hands-on exposure to park settings and conservation-related learning.

Who is the target population (age ranges) for participants?

The program is described as serving young people and young adults ages 6 to 35, with different components aimed at different age groups.

How is the work plan organized?

The work plan is organized around four themes: Play, Learn, Serve, and Work.

What does the "Play" component include?

Under "Play," the project targets getting 3,600 youth outdoors across nine sites.

What does the "Learn" component include?

Under "Learn," the program focuses on outdoor education and historic awareness connected to NPS resources and place-based learning.

What does the "Serve" component include?

Under "Serve," the plan includes leadership training and service learning for 180 teens ages 16 to 18, aligning with a YMCA-style model where teens may participate in counselor-in-training or leadership tracks.

What does the "Work" component include?

Under "Work," the program includes training and employment opportunities for at least 45 young adults ages 18 to 25, aimed at workforce readiness and practical experience tied to park-related activities.

Does the program mention career exploration or leadership development for older participants?

Yes. The notice highlights career exploration and leadership development goals for older participants, including young adults and veterans (roughly ages 21 to 35), by exposing them to potential career paths within NPS and reinforcing training and professional development supports.

Who is listed as the principal investigator/program manager?

John Duntley is listed as the principal investigator/program manager.

What organization is named as the project manager working with Y USA?

YMCA of the Rockies is named as the project manager working in conjunction with Y USA.

What responsibilities are assigned to the recipient (Y USA) in the notice?

Recipient responsibilities described in the notice include co-developing media products with NPS to promote camp programs, creating a toolkit to help local Ys integrate NPS-related curriculum into camp experiences, advertising and promoting camp opportunities through local summer program guides, encouraging collaboration between local YMCAs and NPS/DOI sites, developing program and training materials (including logic models and promotional products), providing administrative support and reporting, and conducting monitoring and evaluation.

What responsibilities are assigned to NPS under this cooperative agreement?

NPS responsibilities described in the notice include providing financial assistance, collaborating with Y USA on program focus areas, supplying educational curriculum resources on natural, historical, cultural, recreation, and heritage topics on NPS lands, assigning staff to monitor ongoing work and answer partnership questions, serving as an on-site liaison, promoting camp programs through internal channels, encouraging park units to work with nearby Ys, and hosting webinars to support local-level collaboration.

Are media and promotional deliverables part of the planned work?

Yes. The notice states the recipient will co-develop media products with NPS to promote camp programs and will also advertise and promote camp opportunities through local summer program guides.

Is a curriculum toolkit mentioned, and what is it for?

Yes. The notice states the recipient will create a toolkit to help local Ys integrate NPS-related curriculum into camp experiences.

Does the notice emphasize youth development outcomes?

Yes. The notice emphasizes youth development through YMCA-style camping and programming and describes the experiences as supporting social-emotional, cognitive, and physical development.

How many sites are referenced for the outdoor participation target?

The "Play" component references a target of 3,600 youth outdoors across nine sites.

Does the notice describe evaluation, reporting, or monitoring requirements?

Yes. The recipient responsibilities include administrative support and reporting, as well as monitoring and evaluation. NPS also plans to assign staff to monitor ongoing work.

What is the main takeaway for organizations looking to apply?

Based on the notice, there is no application process for other organizations because it is not an open competition and is instead a planned single-recipient continuation award to Y USA.

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