Conservation Program to Introduce Youth to Natural Resource Careers | F18AS00081

Opportunity Information: Apply for F18AS00081

The Conservation Program to Introduce Youth to Natural Resource Careers (Funding Opportunity Number F18AS00081) is a discretionary cooperative agreement issued by the U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). The purpose of the award is to fund a multi-year program, for up to five years, that gives young people an entry-level, developmental introduction to careers in natural resources. The program is designed to blend training, hands-on field experience, and structured mentoring so participants can learn what natural resource work looks like in real settings and build early career skills and professional confidence.

A central goal of the opportunity is expanding access for students from culturally, ethnically, and economically diverse backgrounds. In practical terms, the funded activities are meant to create pathways into conservation and resource-management careers for youth who may not otherwise have easy access to these fields. The USFWS describes the experience as educational and career-oriented, emphasizing direct exposure to conservation work rather than classroom-only learning.

The work would take place across a range of USFWS programs and facilities. Examples specifically mentioned include national wildlife refuges, fish hatcheries, and ecological services offices. This means participants could be placed in different operational environments, from refuge-based habitat and wildlife work, to fisheries propagation and management settings, to office-based and field-based ecological services activities that support species conservation and related compliance and planning efforts. The intent is broad exposure to the agency's mission areas, helping youth understand the variety of roles within natural resource careers.

This notice is not a competitive open application. USFWS states there is no application process because it is a Notice of Intent to make a single-source award to the Student Conservation Association (SCA). The agency cites an internal justification (505 DM 2.14(B4)) for making a non-competitive agreement. As a result, while the listing includes general eligibility language, the described action is specifically targeted to SCA as the partner organization for delivering the youth conservation and career-exposure program.

From an administrative standpoint, the instrument type is a cooperative agreement, which typically indicates that the federal agency expects to have substantial involvement in the project during performance (for example, collaboration on placements, oversight, or joint implementation). The award ceiling is listed as $4,000,000. The opportunity is categorized under Employment, Labor and Training as well as Environment, reflecting its dual emphasis on workforce development and conservation. The associated CFDA number is 15.676, and the record creation date is February 15, 2018.

The stated legal authorities supporting the award include Section 7a of the Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956 (16 U.S.C. 742f(a)(4)), as amended, and the Public Lands Corps Act of 1993 (16 U.S.C. 1721-1729), as amended. In summary, this funding supports a structured, mentored, work-based learning pipeline delivered through SCA, intended to introduce diverse youth to real-world conservation careers within USFWS sites and programs over a period of up to five years, with funding up to $4 million.

• The Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service in the employment, labor and training, environment sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Conservation Program to Introduce Youth to Natural Resource Careers" 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 Feb 15, 2018.
• Applicants must submit their applications by There is not an application process for this NOFO. This is our Notice of Intent to award a single source agreement to the Student Conservation Association under justification 505 DM 2.14(B4).. (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 $4,000,000.00 in funding.
• Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

Apply for F18AS00081

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