THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR APPLICATION-Youth Summer Conservation Crew for Habitat Restoration at CUVA- THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR APPLICATIONS | NPS NOIP17AC00178

Opportunity Information: Apply for NPS NOIP17AC00178

This notice describes a National Park Service (NPS) cooperative agreement task under an existing master cooperative agreement (P15AC00015) between the Department of the Interior/NPS and American Conservation Experience. The key point in the title is literal: it is not a request for applications. Instead, it documents a specific task agreement (P15AC00178) meant to support youth employment, training, and hands-on conservation work at Cuyahoga Valley National Park (CUVA) while also contributing to local economic activity by hiring local high-school-aged participants.

The project’s core objective is to create structured summer work and learning opportunities for youth through practical conservation assignments focused on invasive plant management, habitat restoration, and related park operations. The planned field team is small and targeted: one paid crew leader and four high-school crew members serving for a six-week term. Their day-to-day work is described as a mix of vegetation management and restoration tasks. On the invasive species side, the crew will address infestations of non-native invasive plants across different park settings, including high-visibility visitor areas, more sensitive natural areas, and cultural landscapes. The methods include both mechanical approaches (for example, cutting or pulling) and chemical treatments (herbicide application), indicating the work may require adherence to safety protocols, proper training, and close supervision.

Beyond invasive plant control, the crew will support broader habitat restoration work such as propagating native plants, preparing restoration sites, and planting or establishing native vegetation. The agreement also allows for additional, park-supporting tasks when appropriate, such as trail repair and construction, soil testing, and other activities that contribute to park operations while expanding participant skills. A notable element is the educational component: crew members are expected to meet with park staff across different divisions for informational and learning opportunities, and the park may include interpretive activities tied to the park’s natural and cultural history.

Responsibilities are split between the recipient organization and the NPS in a way that reflects the cooperative agreement model, where the federal agency remains actively involved rather than simply issuing funds and stepping back. The recipient is responsible for helping recruit and select the crew leader and the four high-school crew members for the six-week service period, and for providing transportation for the crew to and from Cuyahoga Valley National Park during the tour of duty. This places logistical and staffing duties primarily on the partner organization, ensuring the crew is assembled and can reliably reach the work sites.

The NPS role is described as “substantially involved,” which is an important compliance and management detail for cooperative agreements. NPS will collaborate directly with the recipient, provide an on-site technical representative to assist as needed, and review work in stages, approving progress before moving on to subsequent phases. NPS also retains strong operational control measures, including helping select the crew leader and members, directing or redirecting work to fit with other park priorities, and stopping work immediately if performance specifications are not met. The park will additionally help coordinate the educational side of the experience by arranging meetings with park staff and interpretive opportunities connected to the park’s resources and mission.

From the opportunity metadata, this is categorized as a discretionary cooperative agreement under CFDA 15.931, associated with education, employment/training, and natural resources. It lists eligibility as 501(c)(3) nonprofits (excluding institutions of higher education), but because the posting explicitly states it is not a request for applications, the practical implication is that this action was intended for a specific partner under the existing master agreement rather than an open competition. The posting shows an award ceiling of $26,500, with one expected award, created March 9, 2017, and an original closing date of March 19, 2017, which function more as administrative timeline markers than an invitation for new applicants in this case.

• The Department of the Interior, National Park Service in the education, employment, labor and training, environment, natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR APPLICATION-Youth Summer Conservation Crew for Habitat Restoration at CUVA- THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR APPLICATIONS" 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 Mar 09, 2017.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Mar 19, 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 $26,500.00 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.

Apply for NPS NOIP17AC00178

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