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| 15.931 CONSERVATION ACTIVITIES BY YOUTH SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS |
| FEDERAL AGENCY |
| NATIONAL PARK SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR |
| AUTHORIZATION |
| Omnibus Consolidated Appropriations Act, 1997, Public Law 104-208, 16 U.S.C. 1g, Cooperative Agreements, 110 Stat. 3009181, 3009189, Omnibus Parks and Public Lands Management Act of 1996, Public Law 104-333, 16 U.S.C. 1f, Challenge-Cost Share Agreement Authority, 110 Stat. 4199, Youth Conservation Corps Act of 1970, as amended, Public Law 91-378, Public Law 10-382, 107 Stat. 850, Public Lands Corps Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2005, Public Law 109-154, 16 U.S.C. 1701-1706, 1723, and 119 Stat. 2891, 2893. |
| OBJECTIVES |
| To utilize qualified youth or conservation corps to carry out appropriate conservation projects which the Secretary is authorized to carry out under other authority of law on public lands. |
| TYPES OF ASSISTANCE |
| Project Grants. |
| USES AND USE RESTRICTIONS |
| Funding is to be used by organizations to support youth career training and development in the areas of resource management, conservation and cultural resources while working with the NPS to accomplish particular projects. The availability of discretionary funding is determined by various units of the NPS each fiscal year. |
| Applicant Eligibility |
| Private nonprofit institutions and organizations, state and local government agencies and quasi-public nonprofit institutions and organizations that support youth career training and development in the areas of resource management, conservation and cultural resources. |
| Beneficiary Eligibility |
| Private nonprofit institutions and organizations, state and local government agencies and quasi-public nonprofit institutions and organizations that support youth career training and development in the areas of resource management, conservation and cultural resources; Individuals/Families; Graduate Students; youth or corps located in a specific area that have a substantial portion of members who are economically physically, or educationally disadvantaged (Public Land Corps Act of 1993); General Public, specifically, young people, minority groups, social and economically disadvantaged individuals will benefit from the education and skill development in the area of conservation as well as instilling a conservation ethics. |
| Credentials/Documentation |
| Documentation demonstrating that an organizations purpose is strongly related or solely for the purpose of youth/student education in a conservation oriented environment. Documentation supporting affiliation with The Corps Network, formerly The National Associate of Service and Conservation Corps, and Proof of past performance in the areas of resource management, conservation and cultural resources and assistance to youth. If applying as a nonprofit organization, proof of nonprofit status will be required. Additional information on awards made under Challenge Cost Share, is available at the NPS web site Challenge Cost Share Program Guidelines. Each organization submitting an application will be required to follow the Grants.gov registration requirements in advance of submitting an application. The procedures are provided at http://www.Grants.gov/applicants/get_registered.jsp. |
| Preapplication Coordination |
| Consultation or assistance from the agency with this application may be available from the NPS. There are no pre-application requirements. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372. |
| Application Procedure |
| Eligible applicants will be required to submit an Application, SF-424, and a written proposal through the http://www.Grants.gov website following the procedures outlined in the announcement, and will include a title, geographic area(s) of requested assistance, objectives, and a budget proposal to reflect a typical project. |
| Award Procedure |
| Application packages will be posted for an Eligible Applicants response utilizing the http://www.Grants.gov website. Upon receipt of timely submissions, applications will be reviewed by the NPS and may be circulated for others to review. Notification of Awards will be provided to applicants by issuance of a Cooperative Agreement by the Awarding Official within the time specified on the announcement. Additional information on awards made under Challenge Cost Share, is available at the NPS web site Challenge Cost Share Program Guidelines. |
| Deadlines |
| Application deadlines will be announced with the announcement of the specific opportunity. |
| Range of Approval/Disapproval Time |
| Generally, 30 to 90 days. |
| Appeals |
| None. |
| Renewals |
| Yes. Renewals are available at the end of each term and will be negotiated between the awardee and the National Park Service. |
| Formula and Matching Requirements |
| With the exception of Challenge Cost Share, this program has no statutory formula. Additional information on awards made under Challenge Cost Share, is available at the NPS web site, Challenge Cost Share Program Guidelines. |
| Length and Time Phasing of Assistance |
| Assistance is provided on a Project basis. Most projects are two to three months in duration depending on complexity and other factors. |
| Reports |
| Specific projects or activities for which funds are advanced shall be tracked and reported by submittal of, Standard Form 270 Request for Advance or Reimbursement, Standard Form 272 Federal Cash Transaction Report, and a quarterly submittal of Standard Form 269 the Financial Status Report as outlined in 2 CFR 215.52. Additionally all organizations will be required to submit a yearly narrative summary accomplishments reports to the National Park Service WASO Youth Programs Office at the end of each Fiscal Year. All projects and activities are monitored for progress and compliance with agreed upon scope of work. |
| Audits |
| In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 27, 2003), Audits of States, Local Governments, and nonprofit organizations, nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance ($500,000 for fiscal years ending after December 1, 2003) or more a year in Federal awards will have a single or a program specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than ($500,000 for fiscal years ending after December 1, 2003 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133. |
| Records |
| Recipients will maintain records in accordance with the provisions of 43 CFR Part 12, Subpart C, "Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and Cooperative Agreements to State and Local Governments" and 43 CFR Part 12, Subpart F, "Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and Agreements With Institutions of Higher Education, Hospitals, and Other Nonprofit Organizations. The Cooperator must maintain a complete detailed accounting system to report expenditures of Cooperative Agreement funds and accomplishments achieved under the award. Records, accounts and supporting documents must be retained for 3 years after submission for final request for reimbursement. |
| Account Identification |
| 14-1042-0-1-303. |
| Obligations |
| (Grants) FY 07 $12,000,000; FY 08 est $11,000,000; and FY 09 est $11,000,000. |
| Range and Average of Financial Assistance |
| In FY 2006 there were 227 completed Public Land Corp projects for a total of $5.6 million with a average dollar amount of $25,000. |
| PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS |
| In FY 2006 there were 227 completed Public Land Corp projects. There were more than 78 programs for high school age students in FY 06 and more than 200 Park sites had conservation projects. |
| REGULATIONS, GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE |
| NPS Youth Programs at http://www.nps.gov/youthprograms/index.htm. |
| Regional or Local Office |
| Alaska Region, Clara Wooden, 2525 Gambell Street, Room 107, Anchorage, AK 99503; Telephone: (907) 644-3416. Northeast Region, Frank Middleton, 14 Beacon Street, Room 503, Boston, MA 02108; Telephone: (617) 227-6537. Midwest Region, Nora Lehmer, 601 Riverfront Drive, Omaha, NE 68102; Telephone: (402) 661-1672; National Capital Region Cynthia, Salter-Stith, 110 Ohio Drive S.W., Washington, DC 20242; (202) 619-7055, Intermountain Region, Carol J. Bennetts, 12795 West Alameda Parkway, Denver, CO 80225-0287; Telephone: (303) 969-2030, Southeast Region, Priscilla Nalls, Atlanta Federal Center, 100 Alabama Street S.W., Atlanta, GA 30303; Telephone: (404) 562-3103 Ext. 652, Pacific West Region, Sonya Capek, Seattle System Support Office, 909 First Avenue, Seattle, WA 98104; Telephone: (206) 220-4271. |
| Headquarters Office |
| George McDonald, Management Analyst-Acting WASO Youth Programs Coordinator, National Park Service, 1201 I Street N.W., Washington DC 20005; Telephone: (202) 513-7146, Fax: (202) 371-2263; E-mail: george_mcdonald@nps.gov. |
| Web Site Address |
| http://www.nps.gov/youthprograms/index.html |
| RELATED PROGRAMS |
| None. |
| EXAMPLES OF FUNDED PROJECTS |
| (1) Wilderness Restoration Program Removal and ecological restoration of inappropriate campsites, the removal of invasive non-native plants, and the obstruction and ecological restoration of multiple trail ruts. Work tasks include: hand pulling of invasive plants, placement of obstructions in trail ruts, fire-ring and charcoal dispersal, obstruction of the site through the placement of logs and rocks, decomposition of the soil and the placement of locally generated organic material. The goal of this project is to facilitate the return of natural processes in areas affected by humans. 2-month duration (2) Ranger Assistance Provide hiking and Leave No Trace camping information to visitors in the field and at the park visitor center; issue backcountry permits; assist backcountry rangers on a variety of projects; patrol backcountry on foot; assist with search and rescue and/or supervise groups of volunteers on short work projects in the backcountry. 3-month duration (3) Restoration and Conservation Project Take the lead in the reclamation of an abandoned mine; prepare the site with erosion control textile and assist in the development of methods to mitigate acidity levels in the soil; conduct site preparation and eventual revegetation. 3-month duration (4) Cultural Resource Project Conduct research, participate in meeting and develop a narrative history of a Historic Site. 2-month duration (5) Resource Management Assist park conservation staff in historic building structural rehabilitation; maintain the historic appearance of the structure; assist with sheep habitat restoration, 6-month duration. |
| CRITERIA FOR SELECTING PROPOSALS |
| (1) Qualifications of the organization or institution; (2) The Secretary may give preference to qualified youth or conservation corps located in a specific area that have a substantial portion of members who are economically, physically, or educationally disadvantaged to carry out projects within the area. The Secretary may give preference to qualified youth or conservation corps located in a specific geographic area that have a substantial portion of members who are economically, physically, or educationally disadvantaged to carry out projects within the area; (3) Past performance in the area of youth conservation corps activities; and (4) Organizations ability to reach underserved and disadvantaged population groups. |
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General Services Administration Office of Chief Acquisition Officer Regulatory and Federal Assistance Division (VIR) |
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