Opportunity Information: Apply for NPS 17 NERO 0069

The funding opportunity titled "Appalachian Trail: FY17 Trail Boundary Maintenance-Northern" (Funding Opportunity Number NPS 17 NERO 0069) is a National Park Service (NPS) discretionary cooperative agreement under CFDA 15.935. It was published by the Department of the Interior, National Park Service on June 20, 2017, with an original closing date of June 30, 2017. The notice is not a broad competitive solicitation; instead, it serves as public notice of NPS's intent to make a single task agreement award under an already established, previously justified single-source master cooperative agreement. In practical terms, this means the work is expected to be carried out by an existing partner rather than opened up for multiple applicants, with the Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) identified as the organization that will perform the work.

The project focuses on "Maintained Landscape" work along the northern portions of the Appalachian Trail corridor, emphasizing trail boundary maintenance and related landscape management activities. The effort is designed to be collaborative and operational: ATC is expected to work closely with NPS, the U.S. Forest Service, and other partners to identify sites, map and prioritize needs, and turn those priorities into actionable maintenance plans. This planning component is meant to be grounded in real locations and measurable outcomes, not general concepts, so that all partners have a shared understanding of what will be done, where it will be done, and what results are expected.

A core requirement is that ATC must submit an itemized, costed workplan before field work begins. The workplan is to be organized by FMSS (Facility Management Software System) location and by ATC region, using a mutually agreed format. The workplan must include site-specific information, planned dates, the field tasks to be completed, and the measurable results expected from the work. This structure reflects NPS facility-management practices, where projects are tracked by defined assets or locations and evaluated against clear performance outputs.

Implementation responsibilities center on administering maintained landscape maintenance programs and supporting volunteer-based maintenance activities. The on-the-ground work described includes mowing, removal of woody and herbaceous vegetation, hazard tree removal, and other management actions needed to achieve and sustain desired landscape conditions along trail boundaries and associated maintained areas. ATC is not only expected to coordinate volunteers but also to directly administer the program components necessary to make that work happen safely and effectively.

Where volunteer labor or in-house capacity is not sufficient, ATC is also expected to develop and manage contracts or similar instruments to carry out mowing or other vegetation control methods needed to meet landscape objectives. In support of both volunteer and contracted work, ATC must procure materials, supplies, and equipment required to complete project tasks, while following NPS procurement policies. This indicates that even though ATC is a partner organization, the purchasing and contracting approach must align with federal standards and project accountability expectations.

The opportunity also emphasizes integrated pest management (IPM) coordination. ATC is tasked with helping assess pesticide use and genetically modified seed use on NPS agricultural lands where relevant, and with monitoring vegetation and pest conditions to establish action thresholds for management. This reflects an expectation that landscape maintenance will be conducted in a way that is consistent with environmentally responsible management practices, supported by monitoring and decision triggers rather than purely reactive treatment.

To ensure field work and reporting meet NPS technical requirements, ATC must maintain adequate computer hardware and software capacity for GPS, GIS, and database functions, and ensure those technologies meet NPS specifications. This requirement ties directly to the mapping, boundary documentation, and site tracking components of the work, and it suggests that accurate spatial data collection and management are integral deliverables rather than optional enhancements.

Communication and accountability are built into the administration of the agreement. ATC must participate in a larger facility management meeting structure and provide monthly updates, keeping NPS and partners informed of progress, issues, and upcoming work. At the end of project activities, ATC must provide itemized completion reports by region, again in a mutually agreed format, including site details, tasks performed with corresponding dates, and measurable results. These reporting requirements mirror the initial workplanning structure, creating a clear line from planned outputs to documented outcomes.

The anticipated award amount is capped at $49,176 (award ceiling), with one expected award. Overall, the opportunity is best understood as a targeted, task-based cooperative agreement action intended to carry out specific, trackable maintained landscape and boundary maintenance work in the northern Appalachian Trail area through an established partner relationship, with strong emphasis on coordination, measurable deliverables, compliance with NPS procedures, and consistent reporting.

  • The Department of the Interior, National Park Service in the other (see text field entitled explanation of other category of funding activity for clarification) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Appalachian Trail: FY17 Trail Boundary Maintenance-Northern" and is now available to receive applicants.
  • Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.935.
  • This funding opportunity was created on Jun 20, 2017.
  • Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 30, 2017 This announcement is to provide public notice of the National Park Services intention to award a task agreement under a previously single source justified master cooperative agreement.. (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 $49,176.00 in funding.
  • The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
  • Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
Apply for NPS 17 NERO 0069

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the official title of this funding opportunity?

The funding opportunity is titled "Appalachian Trail: FY17 Trail Boundary Maintenance-Northern."

What is the Funding Opportunity Number?

The Funding Opportunity Number is NPS 17 NERO 0069.

Which agency is offering this opportunity?

This is offered by the U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service (NPS).

What type of award is this?

It is an NPS discretionary cooperative agreement.

What CFDA number is associated with this opportunity?

The CFDA number listed is 15.935.

When was the opportunity published?

The notice was published on June 20, 2017.

What was the original closing date?

The original closing date was June 30, 2017.

Is this a broad competitive solicitation open to multiple applicants?

No. The notice explicitly states it is not a broad competitive solicitation. It serves as public notice of NPS's intent to make a single task agreement award under an already established, previously justified single-source master cooperative agreement.

Who is expected to carry out the work under this notice?

The Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) is identified as the organization that will perform the work.

How many awards are expected?

One award is expected.

What is the maximum (ceiling) amount anticipated for the award?

The anticipated award amount is capped at $49,176 (award ceiling).

What geographic area does the project focus on?

The project focuses on maintained landscape work along the northern portions of the Appalachian Trail corridor, with emphasis on trail boundary maintenance and related landscape management activities.

What is the primary purpose of the project?

The purpose is to carry out specific, trackable maintained landscape and boundary maintenance work along the northern Appalachian Trail area, using an established partner relationship and emphasizing coordination, measurable deliverables, compliance with NPS procedures, and consistent reporting.

What does "Maintained Landscape" work include in this project?

The on-the-ground work described includes mowing, removal of woody and herbaceous vegetation, hazard tree removal, and other management actions needed to achieve and sustain desired landscape conditions along trail boundaries and associated maintained areas.

What partners are involved in planning and coordination?

ATC is expected to work closely with NPS, the U.S. Forest Service, and other partners to identify sites, map and prioritize needs, and convert those priorities into actionable maintenance plans.

Is there a required workplan before field work begins?

Yes. A core requirement is that ATC must submit an itemized, costed workplan before field work begins.

How must the workplan be organized?

The workplan must be organized by FMSS (Facility Management Software System) location and by ATC region, using a mutually agreed format.

What information must be included in the workplan?

The workplan must include site-specific information, planned dates, the field tasks to be completed, and the measurable results expected from the work.

Why does the notice emphasize FMSS locations and measurable outputs?

The structure reflects NPS facility-management practices, where projects are tracked by defined assets or locations and evaluated against clear performance outputs.

What are ATC's responsibilities for implementation?

Implementation responsibilities center on administering maintained landscape maintenance programs and supporting volunteer-based maintenance activities. ATC is also expected to directly administer the program components necessary to make the work happen safely and effectively.

Does the project involve volunteer-based work?

Yes. The notice emphasizes supporting volunteer-based maintenance activities, with ATC coordinating volunteers as part of implementation.

What happens if volunteer labor or in-house capacity is not sufficient?

Where volunteer labor or in-house capacity is not sufficient, ATC is expected to develop and manage contracts or similar instruments to carry out mowing or other vegetation control methods needed to meet landscape objectives.

Are there procurement requirements for materials and equipment?

Yes. ATC must procure materials, supplies, and equipment required to complete project tasks, while following NPS procurement policies.

Does the opportunity include integrated pest management (IPM) responsibilities?

Yes. The opportunity emphasizes IPM coordination, including helping assess pesticide use and genetically modified seed use on NPS agricultural lands where relevant, and monitoring vegetation and pest conditions to establish action thresholds for management.

What does the notice suggest about how pest and vegetation issues should be managed?

It indicates an expectation for environmentally responsible management supported by monitoring and decision triggers (action thresholds), rather than purely reactive treatment.

Are GPS, GIS, and database capabilities required?

Yes. ATC must maintain adequate computer hardware and software capacity for GPS, GIS, and database functions, and ensure those technologies meet NPS specifications.

Why are GPS/GIS and database functions important for this project?

These capabilities tie directly to mapping, boundary documentation, and site tracking, suggesting that accurate spatial data collection and management are integral deliverables.

What ongoing communication is expected during the project?

ATC must participate in a larger facility management meeting structure and provide monthly updates to keep NPS and partners informed of progress, issues, and upcoming work.

What reporting is required at the end of project activities?

ATC must provide itemized completion reports by region, in a mutually agreed format, including site details, tasks performed with corresponding dates, and measurable results.

How do the reporting requirements relate to the workplan?

The reporting requirements mirror the workplanning structure, creating a clear line from planned outputs to documented outcomes (by region, site/location, dates, tasks, and measurable results).

Is this opportunity best described as a general grant program?

No. Based on the notice, it is best understood as a targeted, task-based cooperative agreement action intended to carry out specific maintained landscape and boundary maintenance work through an established partner relationship.

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