Notice of Intent: California Waterfowl Association Biological and Public Service Intern Program | F17AS00418

Opportunity Information: Apply for F17AS00418

The Notice of Intent titled "California Waterfowl Association Biological and Public Service Intern Program" (Funding Opportunity Number F17AS00418) is a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service discretionary funding action that will be issued as a cooperative agreement under CFDA 15.676 (Natural Resources). The purpose of the award is to support on-the-ground work at the Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge Complex (HBNWRC) by funding an intern-focused program that helps carry out core refuge functions. In practical terms, the project is meant to provide staffing capacity for three interconnected areas: biological monitoring, visitor services, and environmental education. Those activities directly support the Service's mission and the specific operational and public-facing goals of the Humboldt Bay refuge complex.

The biological monitoring component generally refers to field-based and data-driven work that helps the refuge track the condition of habitats and wildlife, understand trends, and inform management decisions. In refuge settings like Humboldt Bay, that can include monitoring species presence and abundance, collecting observations that feed into adaptive management, supporting survey efforts, and assisting refuge biologists with routine data collection and reporting needs. By funding interns to assist with this work, the refuge gains consistent support for recurring monitoring tasks that can be difficult to maintain with limited permanent staff time.

The visitor services and environmental education components are aimed at improving the public's experience and understanding of refuge resources. Visitor services typically include helping staff support and guide public use, assisting with informational contact stations or outreach events, maintaining interpretive materials, and ensuring visitors have access to accurate guidance on refuge rules and recreation opportunities. Environmental education focuses more on structured learning and outreach, such as assisting with school programs, leading or supporting interpretive walks and talks, developing educational materials, and promoting conservation awareness tied to local habitats and species. Together, these public service functions help connect the community to the refuge while encouraging responsible recreation and stewardship.

This posting is explicitly a Notice of Intent to make a single-source award, meaning the agency has already identified the intended recipient and does not plan to run a competitive application process for this particular funding action. The notice also states that applications are not being requested, so interested parties are not expected to submit proposals in response to this announcement. The eligible applicant category is listed as "Others," but because the award is single-source, eligibility language does not function as an open invitation for new applicants in this case.

The opportunity was created on August 22, 2017, with an original closing date listed as August 29, 2017, which in this context primarily serves as the administrative timeframe for posting the notice rather than a deadline for public submissions. The expected number of awards is one, and the award ceiling is $146,564, indicating the maximum anticipated federal funding level for the cooperative agreement. As a cooperative agreement (rather than a standard grant), the structure typically implies substantial involvement by the Fish and Wildlife Service in coordinating or collaborating on project implementation, such as working closely with the recipient on planning, oversight, and integration of intern activities with refuge priorities.

• The Fish and Wildlife Service in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Notice of Intent: California Waterfowl Association Biological and Public Service Intern Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.676.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2017-08-22.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2017-08-29. (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 $146,564.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others.

Apply for F17AS00418

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