Opportunity Information: Apply for NPS DOIP17AC00153
The grant opportunity titled "SCA Academy Orientation Week - NPS Alaska Region" (Funding Opportunity Number NPS-DOIP17AC00153) is essentially a public notice from the Department of the Interior, National Park Service (NPS), explaining its intent to fund a specific project without competition. It is explicitly not a request for applications. Instead, it announces that the Student Conservation Association (SCA) will be the recipient through a task agreement issued under an already-existing cooperative agreement (P15AC00031) that had been competed previously. The activity falls under the education category and is associated with CFDA 15.931, with statutory authority cited as 16 USC 1723(c)(1). The point of contact listed for the announcement is James Cato.
The project itself is a short, intensive orientation week designed to support education, training, and early career exposure for young adults, particularly college students from diverse backgrounds, by introducing them to the National Park Service and the range of career paths available within the agency. The orientation is positioned as the first step in a longer pathway: it serves as the foundation for subsequent summer internships intended to provide hands-on work experience, job skills development, and a deeper immersion into NPS mission-driven work. The orientation also aims to help build the next generation of conservation stewards by connecting participants to real-world conservation and public lands management environments.
The planned period of performance is one week, running from March 12, 2017 through March 18, 2017, with the same dates shown for the anticipated length of agreement. The total anticipated award amount is $39,324.16, and the announcement also references a cost share of $36,690.32 (noted as WASO), indicating substantial shared investment connected to the project. The award instrument is described as a task agreement under the broader cooperative agreement framework. The expected number of awards is one, and the posted award ceiling is $40,000, reflecting that the funding is tailored to this single, identified activity.
Operationally, the orientation is hosted in Seward, Alaska, with Kenai Fjords National Park serving as the host park, while also exposing students to information about parks across the NPS system. The content includes an introduction to NPS history and mission, experiential learning that highlights multiple NPS career fields, leadership development, mentoring concepts, a service component, and recreational opportunities that complement the place-based learning. A notable feature is that participants will interact directly with park staff not only from the host park but also from other participating parks, which broadens networking and career awareness beyond a single site.
Responsibilities are split between SCA and NPS in a collaborative structure. SCA is responsible for coordinating with NPS on recruiting and selecting up to 18 academy orientation students, helping develop the orientation curriculum and overseeing program development and progress, and handling key participant support logistics. Those logistics include transportation to and from participating parks, living allowance and/or subsistence or per diem during the program, housing for participants as well as SCA staff and guest speakers, and operational support such as a 24/7 staffed hotline, site visits, and performance evaluations. SCA also commits to facilitating placement of participants at their internship sites after the orientation week, reinforcing that this event is meant to feed directly into longer internship assignments.
NPS, in turn, agrees to work jointly with SCA on planning and coordination, support recruitment efforts for student participants, and host the orientation week in Seward with Kenai Fjords as the central venue. NPS also takes a lead role in the educational substance of the program by developing the summer mentorship program, helping shape the orientation curriculum, and delivering presentations on NPS history, mission, and career opportunities. Taken together, the structure reflects a partnership model where SCA manages recruitment, participant care, and program operations, while NPS provides the setting, staff engagement, mentorship design, and direct agency perspective on career pathways.
Finally, the announcement explains why the award is being made without full and open competition. While it lists the Department of the Interior single-source policy criteria generally (such as continuation, unique qualifications, and others), the specific rationale here is straightforward: the funding is being issued as a task agreement under an existing cooperative agreement (P15AC00031) with SCA that was previously competed. In other words, NPS is not opening a new competition because the work is executed through an established, already-competed partnership mechanism, and this notice is meant to document that intent publicly rather than solicit new applicants.Apply for NPS DOIP17AC00153
- The Department of the Interior, National Park Service in the education sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "SCA Academy Orientation Week- NPS Alaska Region" 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 Feb 03, 2017.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Feb 10, 2017. (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 $40,000.00 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.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the "SCA Academy Orientation Week - NPS Alaska Region" opportunity?
It is a public notice from the Department of the Interior, National Park Service (NPS), stating its intent to fund a specific, short orientation-week project in Alaska. The project focuses on education, training, and early career exposure for young adults by introducing participants to the NPS mission and career paths.
Is this a grant solicitation or a request for applications?
No. The notice explicitly states it is not a request for applications. It announces an intent to make an award without competition to a named recipient.
Who is the intended recipient of the award?
The intended recipient is the Student Conservation Association (SCA).
Why is the award being made without full and open competition?
The notice explains the award will be issued as a task agreement under an already-existing cooperative agreement with SCA (P15AC00031) that was competed previously. Because the work is being executed through that established, previously competed mechanism, NPS is not opening a new competition.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this notice?
The Funding Opportunity Number is NPS-DOIP17AC00153.
What type of award instrument will be used?
The award instrument is described as a task agreement issued under a broader cooperative agreement framework.
What is the cooperative agreement referenced in the notice?
The notice references cooperative agreement P15AC00031 as the already-existing agreement under which the task agreement will be issued.
What is the CFDA number and program category associated with this activity?
The activity is associated with CFDA 15.931 and falls under the education category.
What statutory authority is cited for this opportunity?
The notice cites statutory authority as 16 USC 1723(c)(1).
Who is the point of contact for the announcement?
The point of contact listed is James Cato.
What is the purpose of the orientation week?
The orientation week is designed to support education, training, and early career exposure by introducing participants to the National Park Service, its history and mission, and a range of career fields. It is positioned as a first step in a longer pathway leading into summer internships intended to provide hands-on work experience and job skills development.
Who is the orientation week intended to serve?
The notice describes the program as aimed at young adults, particularly college students from diverse backgrounds.
How does the orientation week connect to internships?
The orientation is described as the foundation for subsequent summer internships. The notice states SCA will facilitate placement of participants at their internship sites after the orientation week.
When is the planned period of performance?
The planned period of performance is one week, from March 12, 2017 through March 18, 2017. The same dates are shown for the anticipated length of agreement.
How long is the project?
The project is planned as a one-week, short, intensive orientation program.
Where will the orientation be hosted?
The orientation is hosted in Seward, Alaska, with Kenai Fjords National Park serving as the host park.
Will participants learn only about Kenai Fjords National Park?
No. While Kenai Fjords National Park is the host park, the orientation also exposes students to information about parks across the NPS system and includes interaction with staff from other participating parks.
What topics and activities are included in the orientation curriculum?
The notice describes content that includes an introduction to NPS history and mission, experiential learning across multiple NPS career fields, leadership development, mentoring concepts, a service component, and recreational opportunities that complement place-based learning.
How many participants may be selected for the orientation?
SCA will coordinate with NPS on recruiting and selecting up to 18 academy orientation students.
How many awards does NPS expect to make under this notice?
The expected number of awards is one.
What is the total anticipated award amount?
The total anticipated award amount is $39,324.16.
Is there an award ceiling listed?
Yes. The posted award ceiling is $40,000.
Is cost sharing mentioned in the notice?
Yes. The notice references a cost share of $36,690.32 (noted as WASO), indicating substantial shared investment connected to the project.
What is SCA responsible for under the project?
SCA responsibilities include coordinating with NPS on recruiting and selecting participants (up to 18), helping develop the orientation curriculum, overseeing program development and progress, and providing participant support logistics. Logistics described include transportation to and from participating parks, living allowance and/or subsistence or per diem during the program, housing for participants as well as SCA staff and guest speakers, and operational support such as a 24/7 staffed hotline, site visits, and performance evaluations. SCA also commits to facilitating placement of participants at internship sites after the orientation.
What is NPS responsible for under the project?
NPS responsibilities include joint planning and coordination with SCA, supporting recruitment efforts, hosting the orientation week in Seward with Kenai Fjords as the central venue, developing the summer mentorship program, helping shape the orientation curriculum, and delivering presentations on NPS history, mission, and career opportunities.
How does the partnership between SCA and NPS work in practice?
Based on the notice, SCA manages recruitment coordination, participant logistics and support, and overall program operations, while NPS provides the setting, staff engagement, mentorship design, and direct agency content about NPS mission and careers. The structure is described as a collaborative partnership model.
Does the notice indicate recreational activities are part of the program?
Yes. Recreational opportunities are listed as part of the orientation experience, intended to complement the place-based learning.
Does the program include mentoring and leadership development?
Yes. The orientation content includes leadership development and mentoring concepts, and NPS is described as developing the summer mentorship program.
Does the orientation include a service component?
Yes. A service component is explicitly included in the described orientation content.
What is the broader goal of this program beyond the orientation week?
The notice frames the orientation as part of a longer pathway to internships and as an effort to help build the next generation of conservation stewards by connecting participants to real-world conservation and public lands management environments.
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