Conservation Activities By Youth Service Organizations (15.931)
Program
15.931 Conservation Activities By Youth Service Organizations
Federal Agency
Agency: Department of the Interior
Office: National Park Service
Authorization
Omnibus Parks and Public Lands Management Act of 1996, Public Law 104-333, 16 U.S.C 1f; Youth Conservation Corps Act, Public Law 103-82, 107 Stat. 850; American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Section 702), Public Law 111-5; Challenge Cost Share Agreement Authority, 110 Stat. 4199; Public Lands Corps Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2005, Public Law 109-154, 119 Stat. 2891, 2893, 16 U.S.C 1701-1706, 1723; Omnibus Consolidated Appropriatons Act of 1997, Public Law 104-208, 110 Stat. 3009 (181,189), 16 U.S.C 1g; Youth Conservation Corps Act of 1970, Public Law 91-378.
Program Number
15.931
Last Known Status
Active
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. Work cooperatively with the NPS on cultural and natural resource related conservation projects such as trail development and maintenance, historic, cultural, forest and timber management, minor construction work, archaeological conservation, and native plant habitat restoration and rehabilitation. Promote and stimulate public purposes such as education, job training, development of responsible citizenship, productive community involvement, and further the understanding and appreciation of natural and cultural resources through the involvement of youth and young adults in care and enhancement of public resources. Continue the longstanding efforts of the NPS to provide opportunities for public service, youth employment, minority youth development and training, and participation of young adults in accomplishing conservation-related work. For Recovery Act funded projects and in addition to the program objectives above, Section 3 of the Act states the following objectives: to preserve and create jobs and promote economic recovery; to assist those most impacted by the recession; to provide investments needed to increase economic efficiency by spurring technological advances in science and health; to invest in transportation, environmental protection, and other infrastructure that will provide long-term economic benefits; and to stabilize State and local government budgets, in order to minimize and avoid reductions in essential services and counterproductive state and local tax increases.
Types of Assistance
Cooperative Agreements
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. 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. For American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) funded projects the requirements will be followed and incorporated, as necessary, within the opportunity announcement and agreement documents.
Eligibility Requirements
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. OMB Circular No. A-87 applies to this program.
Application and Award Process
Preapplication Coordination
Preapplication coordination is required. Environmental impact information is not required for this program. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.
Application Procedure
This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-102. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-110. 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 Applicant's 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
Contact the headquarters or regional office, as appropriate, for application deadlines.
Range of Approval/Disapproval Time
Generally, 30 to 90 days.
Appeals
Not Applicable.
Renewals
Yes. Renewals are available at the end of each term and will be negotiated between the awardee and the National Park Service.
Assistance Considerations
Formula and Matching Requirements
Statutory formulas are not applicable to this program.
Matching Requirements: Projects completed under the Public Land Corp (PLC) Act require a 25 percent nonfederal match for all entities except where an award is provided to a State government and on Indian Lands as defined in the PLC Act. A 20 percent match is required when using the PLC authority and providing assistance to a State government entity. Challenge Cost Share projects are required to follow the National Park Service's Challenge Cost Share Program Guidelines.
MOE requirements are not applicable to this program.
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. Method of awarding/releasing assistance: lump sum.
Post Assistance Requirements
Reports
Program reports are not applicable. Cash reports are not applicable. 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. For ARRA funds, recipients and agencies must comply with the regulations promulgated in 2 CFR Part 176 - Award Terms For Assistance Agreements that Include Funds Under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, Public Law 111-5. These reports will be made publicly available. 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. Performance monitoring is not applicable.
Audits
In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 27, 2003), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $500,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $500,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133. 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. For ARRA funds, the provisions of 2 CFR, Part 176 apply.
Program Accomplishments
Fiscal Year 2008: 187 completed Public Land Corps projects for FY 08. Fiscal Year 2009: No Current Data Available Fiscal Year 2010: No Current Data Available
Financial Information
Account Identification
14-1035-1-1-303 - ARRA TAFS 14-1035 2009/2010; 14-1042-0-1-303.
Obligations
(Cooperative Agreements) FY 08 $10,400,000; FY 09 est $11,000,000; FY 10 est $11,000,000 - Estimated $10.4 million for FY 08. This amount includes a specific appropriation, and other fund sources identified at individual operating units of the NPS. NPS had one national cooperative agreement with a youth service corp provider, the Student Conservation Association and approximately $7.1 million was provided in financial assistance. NPS has numerous regional and park-based cooperative agreements with other youth corp service providers.
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
In FY 2008 the NPS spent $4.1 million on 187 completed Public Lands Corp projects with an average dollar amount of $25,000.
Regulations, Guidelines and Literature
NPS Youth Programs at http://www.nps.gov/youthprograms/index.htm.
Related Programs
Not Applicable.
Information Contacts
Regional or Local Office
See Regional Agency Offices. 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 National Park Service, 1201 I Street, N.W., Washington, District of Columbia 20005 Email: george_mcdonald@nps.gov Phone: (202)513-7146 Fax: (202) 371-2263
Web Site Address
http://www.nps.gov/youthprograms/index.html.
Examples of Funded Projects
Fiscal Year 2008: (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. Fiscal Year 2009: No Current Data Available Fiscal Year 2010: No Current Data Available
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; (4) Organizations ability to reach undeserved and disadvantaged population groups; (5) Offering meaningful, full-time, productive work for individuals between the ages of 15 and 25 in a natural or cultural resource setting; (6) Giving participants a mix of work experience, basic and life skills, education, training, and support service; and (7) Providing participants with the opportunity to develop citizenship values and skills through service to their community and the United States.
