Youth Invasive Plant and Trail Projects | Apply Online

Opportunity Summary:

The "Youth Invasive Plant and Trail Projects" opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number P14AS00075) is a National Park Service (NPS) notice of intent to award, not an open call for applications. In other words, it is published to inform the public that NPS plans to fund specific work without full and open competition. The Alaska NPS states its intent to issue 7 to 8 cooperative agreements to the Southeast Alaska Guidance Association (SAGA) under the Public Land Corps Act (16 USC 1723(c)). The overall goal is to support youth crews working in Alaska National Parks on invasive plant management and, in some cases, trail improvement work, while giving young participants hands-on education in natural resource stewardship.

The core project activities revolve around invasive plant control and related field support. SAGA youth crews will travel to participating park units and assist with manual invasive plant removal, which can include pulling, digging, and cutting infestations. Beyond direct removal, crews may also help survey areas for invasive plants, monitor known infestations, collect and cultivate native plant seeds, and participate in educational or research efforts connected to invasive species. A major emphasis is educational: the project is designed to teach youth how invasive species affect Alaska natural resources and what land managers do to protect and manage those resources. The announcement also notes that additional work may include hiking park trails and partnering with NPS trail crews to complete trail improvement projects, consistent with the Public Land Corps authority. The broader intent is to get youth outside in Alaska parks, building skills and a conservation ethic through practical service.

This effort is described as a collaborative, hands-on cooperative agreement where NPS expects to be substantially involved in planning, training, and oversight. SAGA crews are positioned as a complement to the Alaska Exotic Plant Management Team, especially for remote sites where organizing transportation, equipment, and field logistics can be complicated. Because Alaska parks can involve difficult access and varied hazards, the partnership relies on close coordination between NPS staff and SAGA to select project areas, set treatment timing, and ensure crews receive proper training and guidance, particularly from NPS plant management specialists.

Responsibilities are split clearly between SAGA (the recipient) and the National Park Service. SAGA commits to providing a trained youth crew of about five to six members, supported by two experienced leaders responsible for supervision and basic work safety. The crew must be physically able to perform manual labor for an eight-hour workday. SAGA also provides transportation to work sites, camp gear and food, and handles day-to-day camp maintenance and cleaning. The control work is expected to occur at Alaska park units including DENA (Denali National Park and Preserve) and WRST (Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve), with the possibility of additional parks, and SAGA must coordinate schedules with NPS to complete work within the target timeframe.

NPS, in turn, provides orientation and technical direction to ensure the work meets park standards and resource management goals. This includes conducting park orientation focused on safety and the NPS mission, offering educational instruction in natural and cultural resource management, and working alongside crews in the field to orient them to project areas, support plant identification, and perform monitoring and adaptive redirection as needed. NPS also supports operations by providing up to two portable radios for emergency communication, supplying specialized tools and materials, offering project management guidance and oversight, and providing a location for living quarters with sanitation and potable water.

The announcement includes a single-source justification explaining why competition is not considered practicable for these awards, referencing Department of the Interior policy (505 DM 2). NPS cites SAGA's unique qualifications as an Alaska-based nonprofit that has operated since 1985 with a service-learning mission focused on improving lives, lands, and communities in Alaska. The justification emphasizes SAGA's established role in NPS youth initiatives, its experience operating in remote Alaskan conditions, and its demonstrated flexibility handling specialized logistics such as transportation and equipment across different parks.

From a funding standpoint, this is categorized as a discretionary cooperative agreement within the Natural Resources activity area and is tied to CFDA 15.931 (Conservation Activities by Youth Service Organizations). The estimated total funding listed is $150,000, with individual awards ranging from a floor of $9,000 to a ceiling of $24,000, and an expected total of 8 awards. There is no cost-sharing or matching requirement stated. The posting date is June 2, 2014, and the archive date is July 2, 2014. Because this is not an application-based solicitation, the "closing date" language reiterates that it is only a public notice of intent to award.

Key contacts listed include Tina Spengler (Agreements Officer) at the National Park Service Alaska Regional Office (907-644-3303, TinaSpengler@nps.gov). A technical representative is also named: Chris Overbaugh, liaison for the Exotic Plant Management Team (907-644-3452).

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