The Business Plan Intership Program

The summary for the The Business Plan Intership Program grant is detailed below. This summary states who is eligible for the grant, how much grant money will be awarded, current and past deadlines, Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) numbers, and a sampling of similar government grants. Verify the accuracy of the data FederalGrants.com provides by visiting the webpage noted in the Link to Full Announcement section or by contacting the appropriate person listed as the Grant Announcement Contact. If any section is incomplete, please visit the website for the National Park Service, which is the U.S. government agency offering this grant.

The Business Plan Intership Program: NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
BUSINESS PLAN INTERNSHIP PROGRAM


Section I: Funding Opportunity Description


Federal Agency Name: Department Of The Interior, National Park Service
Funding Opportunity Title: Business Plan Internship Program
Announcement Type: Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA)
Funding Opportunity Number: P15AS00183

Catalog Of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 15.954 Conservation, Protection, Outreach and Education
Dates: Application Due Date:
August 3, 2015, 5:00pm EST

Eligible Applicants: 501(c)(3) Non-Profit Organizations
Legislative Authority: 54 USC 101702(a) [Formerly 16 U.S.C. 1g] authorizes the National Park Service (NPS) to enter into cooperative agreements that involve the transfer of NPS appropriated funds to State, local and tribal governments, other public entities, educational institutions, and private nonprofit organizations for the public purpose of carrying out National Park Service programs pursuant to 31 U.S.C. 6305.

Recipient Cost Share: Not Applicable
Federal Funding Amount: Subject to the availability of funds, estimated annual funding is approximately $300,000.00. The actual level of funding is dependent upon the allocated appropriations for this program, and is capped at $450,000.00 annually.
Estimated Number Of Agreements To Be Awarded: 1
Estimated Amount Of Funding Available For Award: The amount of funding associated with this award will be established in subsequent annual task agreements and determined each year, once final appropriations have been made.



Section II: Funding Opportunity Announcement Objectives and Goals

A. Program Background Information

The NPS is committed to providing educational and job training opportunities to students so that they can gain a better understanding and appreciation of NPS resources. It has been established historically that through agreements between non-profit organizations and the Service that these resources can be maintained in a cost effective and efficient manner. However, this training has historically been geared specifically towards youth and focused solely on facilities and natural resource maintenance.

The principal purpose of this agreement is to identify a non-profit organization that can cooperatively support NPS efforts to create and manage graduate level educational and job training opportunities. These opportunities are designed to promote the long-term health of our national parks by developing and improving financial planning and management tools at the park or program level.

The primary program model for this cooperative agreement is the Business Plan Internship (BPI) program. The BPI program is focused on graduate level students engaged in projects that address specific operational analysis needs of park units and/or program offices. BPI interns are grouped in 2 or 3 person teams and placed on-site, to complete multi-week projects. Project management is provided by the NPS Business Management Group (BMG) in the Office of the Chief Financial Officer.

For the purposes of this agreement, the NPS BMG acts as the on-the-ground expert on all financial and business management tools used within the Service. NPS involvement is necessary to provide the expertise needed to guide the planning process and provide technical assistance on completing management analysis documents. The NPS provides overall program management.

The partner organization provides program design expertise and in-depth administrative and logistical support for the program, particularly around student outreach and recruiting. Partner expertise in managing all administrative functions of the program is essential to the successful and timely completion of projects.

B. Program Objectives

Jointly administer an internship program focused on improving the financial and operational health of our national parks and NPS programs. The internship program should provide students with in-depth NPS financial and operational training, exposure to park and/or program level operations, and the opportunity to conduct substantive analysis and evaluation which lead to recommendations on how best to achieve NPS operational goals.
Promote and stimulate student interest in NPS education and job training programs related to financial and operational analysis and/or management.
Encourage students from professional disciplines underrepresented in the NPS workforce (Master of Business Administration, Master of Public Policy, Master of Environmental Management, and similar degree programs) to explore federal careers with conservation and land management agencies.
Build a lifelong stewardship ethic for public lands in students from top universities.

C. Term of the Agreement

Agreement terms for funded projects are estimated to range between one and five year, depending on the negotiated project scope. Agreements are not effective until fully executed with signature from the NPS Awarding Officer. In most cases an agreement will expire after five years from the effective date, unless terminated earlier in accordance with 2 CFR, Part 200, Sections 200.338 and 200.339.

Prior to the expiration of this agreement, modifications may be proposed by either party and will become effective upon written approval of both parties.

Each activity or project under this agreement will be treated individually, with more detail through project statements, project plans and budgets developed cooperatively between the NPS and the recipient organization.