Conservation Intern Assistance with Invasive Plant Management at Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve | P17AS00002

Opportunity Information: Apply for P17AS00002

The grant opportunity titled "Conservation Intern Assistance with Invasive Plant Management at Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve" (Funding Opportunity Number P17AS00002) is a National Park Service notice of intent to award funding without competition, rather than an open call for applications. In other words, it is public notification that the Department of the Interior, National Park Service plans to fund a specific project with a specific partner, the Student Conservation Association (SCA), under an existing, previously competed master agreement (P15AC00031). The opportunity is categorized as discretionary funding and uses a cooperative agreement structure, with the work falling under natural resource activities and the CFDA program 15.931, "Conservation Activities by Youth Service Organizations." The posted notice was created on October 17, 2016, with an original closing date of October 27, 2016, reflecting the timeframe for the public notice rather than a competitive application window.

At its core, the project supports the NPS Youth Program mission, which is aimed at developing the next generation of conservation leaders by giving young people hands-on experience, outdoor skills, and leadership training through real service projects. This specific task agreement places two youth associates (conservation interns/conservation associates) with the Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve Exotic Plant Management Team (EPMT) in Alaska. The internships are designed to provide direct field and resource-management experience while helping the park meet practical invasive plant management needs.

The work plan emphasizes training and participation in the full cycle of invasive plant management. Interns are expected to assist with surveying for invasive plant populations, monitoring known infestations, and helping carry out control actions. Beyond immediate control and monitoring tasks, the interns will also support broader stewardship activities, including collecting and cultivating native plant seeds and participating in educational or research efforts related to invasive plants. The project is framed not just as labor support, but as an experiential learning opportunity that introduces interns to National Park Service resource management, land stewardship practices, and the natural and cultural heritage context of Wrangell-St. Elias.

The agreement outlines clear roles for both the Student Conservation Association and the National Park Service. SCA is responsible for helping recruit and select the conservation associates and for covering key participant support needs such as transportation to and from the park, subsistence during the assignment, a living allowance, insurance coverage, and AmeriCorps awards when applicable. SCA also agrees to handle in-service commercial travel during the project period and to provide participant support systems, including a 24/7 staffed hotline, site visits, and performance evaluations. On the NPS side, the Park Service provides the project funding, on-site orientation and safety training, technical supervision through an on-site NPS representative, and the necessary equipment and supplies to complete the work. NPS also commits to paying for housing for the conservation associates and producing a written completion evaluation assessing project outcomes and intern performance.

Financially, the total anticipated federal award amount is $30,194.39, with no cost share required (0.00). The anticipated length of the agreement is one year, but the expected period of performance for the work itself is six months, indicating the internship work occurs within a defined season or field window while the administrative agreement spans a longer period. The award instrument is described as a Youth Task Agreement, authorized under 54 USC 101702(a) (transfer of service appropriated funds), reinforcing that this is part of NPS youth engagement and service programming. The award ceiling is listed as $31,000, with the expectation of a single award.

Finally, the notice explains why the award is being made as a single-source action rather than through full and open competition. Under Department of the Interior policy (505 DM 2), noncompetitive awards must be justified under specific criteria. Here, the cited justification is "Previously Competed," meaning the underlying master youth agreement (P15AC00031) was already competed, and this task agreement is an extension or implementation action under that competed vehicle. The public point of contact for the announcement is Erica Cordeiro (EricaCordeiro@nps.gov), who is listed for questions tied to the notice and project administration.

• The Department of the Interior, National Park Service in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Conservation Intern Assistance with Invasive Plant Management at Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve" 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 Oct 17, 2016.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Oct 27, 2016 This is a notice to intent to award to the Student Conservation Association under Cooperative Agreement P15AC00031.. (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 $31,000.00 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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