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Cooperative Agreement Number P15AC0024 was entered into by and between the Department of the Interior, National Park Service (NPS), and Conservation Legacy Arizona Conservation Corps (AZCC) for the purpose of placement of youth and other qualified persons who volunteer their services through AZCC in exchange for training and educational experience in resource management and conservation programs. Unless otherwise specified herein, the terms and conditions as stated in the Cooperative Agreement will apply to this Task Agreement. Youth interns will work along with park staff and volunteers to rehabilitate disturbed land. Disturbed land is defined as unauthorized trail use (social trails), undocumented immigrant unauthorized use of park lands, invasive plants, roadside accidents, etc. Visitor viewshed will be improved by restoring disturbed areas to natural conditions. Youth will be engaged in and complete project work including learning new skills, receiving academic credit or organizational recognition, and receive a formal program about the NPS mission, the park, and their relevance. Other benefits to the youth include increasing their environmental awareness, especially regarding natural area restoration techniques; participating in a healthy lifestyle; and exposure to conservation professionals and pathways for employment as future stewards and NPS leaders.

This is a notice of intent to award a single source grant agreement to SEEDS Youth Conservation Corps without competition under justification 505DM 2.14.B.4. Competition for the award is not practical as SEEDS has been established for the purpose of employment and development of young people and the conservation and enhancement of natural and cultural resources. SEEDS has a robust Youth Conservation Corps program that is nationally recognized. They use a collaborative approach to connect vulnerable youth with the protection and enhancement of our environmental and cultural heritage. In the last five years, SEEDS has employed almost 300 underserved youth who live in northwest lower Michigan.

The FHWA hereby requests applications for assistance to result in the award of a new Cooperative Agreement, entitled, "Youth Service and Conservation Corps Workforce Development." The purpose of this proposed Cooperative Agreement (Agreement) is to assist the Recipient in encouraging States and regional transportation planning agencies to enter into contracts and cooperative agreements with qualified youth service or conservation corps to perform appropriate projects eligible under the Federal-aid highway program, and to expand youth workforce development opportunities while strengthening transportation career pathways. COST SHARING OR MATCHING: For this cooperative agreement, cost sharing or matching will NOT be required as the scope of work furthers the administration of the RTP, but cost sharing or matching is encouraged. If proposed, the Government will evaluate cost share as part of the cost/budget review. The degree of cost share and leveraging of non-Federal funds will be considered beneficial to the extent the cost share is considered feasible and demonstrates a furtherance of the goals of the program.

The U.S. Embassy Vientiane Public Diplomacy Section announces an open competition for organizations to submit project proposals for funding under the U.S. Embassy's 2018 Public Diplomacy Small Grants Program. This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) solicits proposals for projects that further the U.S. Mission's public diplomacy goals of strengthening people-to-people ties between Laos and the United States, expanding educational opportunities for Lao people to better engage with the United States and ASEAN, and building and strengthening local partners through the specific objectives listed below. Proposals for projects must focus on one of the priority areas specified below. Applicants should pay close attention to the Public Diplomacy Section's goals, priority program objectives, and target audiences when developing their proposals. Funding Opportunities include: Public Diplomacy Goals Education Inclusiveness and support issues related to: women, disabled persons, LGBT rights, ethnic minorities, other marginalized and stigmatized groups such as victims of human trafficking, underprivileged youth, or religious minorities. Promoting fundamental American values: promoting freedom of expression, press, association, and religion through public dialogue and events, cultural performances, the arts. Rule of Law Health and wellness Youth Women's empowerment Alumni Volunteering Entrepreneurship Environment Cultural Preservation

The goals of this agreement are to engage approximately 20 youth in a park-based educational/recreational experience to learn and apply science, engineering, and best practices for protecting natural sounds and night skies in national parks, while fostering an awareness and appreciation of recreation opportunities in national parks. The objectives are to advance recreational access for non-traditional/underserved park visitors (e.g., youth who haven¿t visited parks due to socio-economics or perceived barriers based on physical, hearing, or visual impairments); use recreation to develop understanding and appreciation of national parks and public lands; impart knowledge to enhance park resources, values, and visitor experience; and leverage funding through cost-sharing. The outcomes will include: 1) increased recreational access, 2) application of best practices developed to benefit resource conditions and visitor experience, 3) improved natural soundscapes and night skies through noise and light reduction service activities, 4) increased relevancy of national parks.

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION 1. Authority This Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Federal Financial Assistance Funding Opportunity is being announced under the following legislative authority: HAZARDOUS FUELS REDUCTION, Wildland Fire Management, Annual Appropriations (2014 Public Law 113-76), Wildland Fire Management, which states in part: That using the amounts designated under this title of this Act, the Secretary of the Interior may enter into procurement contracts, grants, or cooperative agreements, for hazardous fuels reduction activities, and for training and monitoring associated with such hazardous fuels reduction activities, on Federal land, or on adjacent non-Federal land for activities that benefit resources on Federal land: Provided further, That the costs of implementing any cooperative agreement between the Federal Government and any non-Federal entity may be shared, as mutually agreed on by the affected parties: Provided further, That notwithstanding requirements of the Competition in Contracting Act, the Secretary, for purposes of hazardous fuels reduction activities, may obtain maximum practicable competition among: (1) local private, nonprofit, or cooperative entities; (2) Youth Conservation Corps crews or related partnerships with State, local, or non-profit youth groups" . 2. Description of Program and/or Project a. Background: Phoenix District Office (BLM) Fuels Management Staff has targeted the communities of Wickenburg, Aguila, Morristown, Buckeye, Buckeye Valley, Goodyear, Maricopa, Gila Bend, Tonopah, Palo Verde, and Circle City to help in the effort to promote, teach and create defensible space. In accordance with the National Fire Plan and the Presidents Healthy Forest Initiative the efforts under this assistance agreement are intended to reduce the risk of catastrophic fire to wildland urban interface communities, and promote community assistance. The Maricopa County CWPP technical support group is researching uses for the biomass that is being creat

Selected recipients have a demonstrated interest and the capacity to work cooperatively with the USFWS to develop and administer projects focused on providing employment, educational, and public-service opportunities for U.S. citizens, legal residents, and veterans between 18 and 35 years. Projects are developed based on needs identified by USFWS offices at the national, regional and local levels that will lead to the development of project scopes of work in consultation with the youth-serving organizations selected as program partners under Notice of Funding Opportunity F16AS00108. Funds under this award are to be used to place a Digital Media Ranger Intern and an Urban Wildlife Conservation Program Intern at FWS Headquarters, NWRS Visitor Services. An Urban Wildlife Conservation Program Intern (Intern) will be physically located at FWS Headquarters (40 hours per week for 52 weeks). The Intern will provide research assistance and gather recommendations on potential and existing partnerships. The Intern will travel to one or two urban wildlife refuges to work alongside field staff and partners directly connecting with communities. The Intern will provide technical assistance on websites, webinars and other media. A Digital Media Ranger (DMR Intern) Intern will be physically located at FWS headquarters (40 hours per week for 52 weeks. The DMR Intern will plan, create and deliver social media and youth engagement campaigns on multiple platforms; coordinate with other digital media rangers on collecting, cataloging the media produced on our over 560 wildlife refuges, and the DMR Intern will participate in migrating media to a new digital asset management system. The DMR Intern will travel to one or more national wildlife refuges to work alongside other digital media rangers, or assist with projects.

The Papoose Conservation Wildlife Foundation in Del Mar, California, is unique in that it focuses on both wildlife science and children's experiences in nature and seeks to merge these two missions to see children become the scientists of tomorrow working to preserve wildlife diversity. To advance this mission, the foundation is inviting applications for its Children in Nature and Applied Conservation grants programs. Through the program, grants of up to $5,000 will be awarded in two separate categories: Children in Nature - Programs aimed at providing opportunities for children to explore nature or expand children's appreciation of nature. Programs may include classroom learning but the majority of the program must take place in a natural environment. Preference is given to projects connecting children to lesser-recognized species or habitats. Applied Conservation - Projects focused on the conservation of free-ranging wildlife or plant species in their natural habitat. Work may include the protection of species and/or habitats. Preference is given to projects focused on lesser-recognized species.

Develop and implement two Vermont Youth Conservation Community Corps crews. Crews will consist of six crew members and two crew leaders and will work for four weeks. The crews will address critical resource management projects while offering local young adults opportunities to explore concepts in conservation stewardship, leadership, and work skills.

From rangeland management to protection of cultural resources; fire suppression to energy development; trails and travel management to National Conservation Lands, the BLM values public involvement and a collaborative environment. When we facilitate activities and uses of the public lands, they are designed, permitted, and monitored with the goal of retaining or returning the land to a healthy condition once the use or activity ends. Our objective is to provide opportunities for youth (ages 16-30 years of age) to engage in BLM cultural and natural resource conservation-related projects and to increase public awareness and appreciation of those resources and recreational resource values found on public lands. These projects will provide participants with a mix of work experience, education, training, community involvement and support services, as well as the opportunity to develop citizenship values and skills through service to their community and the United States. As the young men and women gain experience in natural and cultural resource management, they will also develop an appreciation for public lands and learn about conservation-related career fields

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) intends to enter into a nationwide cooperative agreement with a nonprofit organization (Recipient) for training and education services relating to natural resources conservation and outdoor recreation management. Funds are intended to provide young adults and veterans with real life work experiences in stewardship of the environment in all fifty states by offering opportunities for education, leadership and personal development to the Recipient's participants, while providing a high quality public service in natural resources/recreation management and conservation. Recipient must have an extensive history of providing young people and veterans with opportunities to serve within the leading federal land management agencies, providing hands-on career training, internships and other education programs to young adults and veterans. Recipient recruits, selects, trains and places qualified young adults and veterans to serve in support of conservation and recreation management projects and has the capability and expertise to provide a series of conservation/recreation management experiences for youth ranging from high school to post graduate that collectively comprise a continuous opportunity for young adults to enhance their understanding of conservation and prepare for careers in natural resources/recreation management. Recipient has the experience, plant capacity and demonstrated capability to immediately and successfully place interns and conservation crews at over 400 USACE lake and river projects and other sites nationwide to include all fifty states in the United States.

The ASPB Education Foundation seeks proposals from ASPB members to support education and outreach activities that advance knowledge and appreciation of plant biology. The Foundation was established in 1995 with the main goal of enhancing public awareness and understanding of the role of plants in all areas of life. To this end, the Foundation supports education and outreach projects (i.e., NOT science research projects) that enrich and promote youth, student, and general public understanding of the: Importance of plants for the sustainable production of medicine, food, fibers, and fuels; Critical role plants play in sustaining functional ecosystems in changing environments; Latest developments in plant biotechnologies, including genetic modifications that improve the quality and disease- and stress-resistance of crops; Discoveries made in plants that have led to improved human health and wellbeing; and Range of careers related to plant biology or available to plant biologists.

This program will help manage and protect BLM lands by providing trail maintenance,restoration work, educational opportunities,trail ethics information,expertise for travel management and recreation planning. In addition, the program will help with the recruitment and training of youth, volunteers and BLM staff, and coordinating resource protection projects.

This includes developing and managing an outreach, education, and stewardship program that addresses the following: 1) promotes responsible use of the river corridor; 2) educates youth about the river environment; 3) makes contacts with public land visitors along the corridor; 4) assists with effectively managing visitor use; 5) and is responsible for providing infrastructure improvements that enhance visitor access along the Arkansas River. As a result of this funded project, the public will have more access to recreational opportunities available on public lands, including fishing, wildlife watching, whitewater rafting, hiking, and other activities. The objectives of this project align with the U.S. Department of Interior's Strategic Plan 2018-2022 to increase access to recreational opportunities, enhance visitor experience, and improve infrastructure and facilities available on public lands.

Expand wildlife hunting and viewing opportunities and increase access; work with State agencies to meet wildlife population objectives; work with rural communities to enhance economic opportunities related to wildlife; work to enhance habitat for upland game, waterfowl, big game and watchable wildlife; provide employment opportunities for youths and veterans; provide consistent data to streamline energy and grazing permitting, and land use planning; partner with conservation stewardship organizations to increase habitat quality.

This project will pro-actively restore and improve Federally Endangered southwestern willow flycatcher (Empidonax trailii extimus; SWFL) habitat at prioritized sites along the Colorado River Corridor in Grand Canyon National Park (GRCA). The biological control agent northern tamarisk beetle (Diorhabda carinulata) began establishing in the park in 2009, and is successfully defoliating non-native tamarisk, altering what has become important habitat for the SWFL. While tamarisk management is in alignment with NPS policies and plans, the NPS must also protect endangered and sensitive species that have adapted to tamarisk-dominated riparian habitat. This project will focus on selective tamarisk removal during the non-breeding season in order to minimize impacts to avian species and installation of native species to fill its niche. This work is in accordance with the 2002 USFWS Recovery Plan, the 2006 Colorado River Management Plan EIS, and the 2009 Invasive Plant Management Plan EA. The project will focus on assessment, design and vegetative and habitat restoration at Cardenas Camp RM 71.7L, as well as assessment and design components for restoring Grand Canyon Youth Camp (GCY) RM 274L .

The principal purpose of the project is to support the Government’s objective to provide opportunities for youth to learn about the environment as well as relevant job skills by spending time working on projects in National Parks. The Deaf and Hard of Hearing community often struggles to break into the job market, so crew participants in this project will particularly benefit from the professional development and job skills gained during this experience. The NPS receives the indirect benefit of completing conservation projects. The project engages crew participants, partners, and the Deaf/Hard of Hearing communities in shared resource stewardship. This project will align with DOI priorities such as Restoring Trust With Local Communities (in this case, the Deaf/Hard of Hearing community and rural New Mexican communities) and Modernizing Our Infrastructure (projects will address deferred maintenance whenever possible).

This project will perform major restoration and preservation repairs on the historic farm complex (5 structures) at Humpback Rocks in the vicinity of milepost 6 in BLRI. Work will be accomplished by park historic preservationists with assistance from local NPS staff, a youth crew from American Conservation Experience (ACE) â¿¿ one crew leader and four team members for eight weeks â¿¿ and/or volunteers (if available). Initial classroom and hands-on training in the proper methods and techniques of historic preservation and repair will be provided by the NPS Historic Preservation Training Center from Harpers Ferry, WV during the first two weeks of the project

The objective of this Task Agreement is to support and stimulate work and/or education and training opportunities for young adults through collaborative participation in Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve's Division of Maintenance. ARTICLE II - LEGAL AUTHORITY 16 USC 1723 (c), Public Lands Corps, authorizes the Secretary to enter into contracts and cooperative agreements with any qualified youth or conservation corps to perform appropriate conservation projects referred to in subsection (d) of section 1723. The Secretary may also authorize appropriate conservation projects and other appropriate projects to be carried out on Federal, State, Local, or private lands as part of disaster prevention or relief efforts in response to and emergency or major disaster declared by the President under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.). ARTICLE III - STATEMENT OF WORK The project to be carried out is located at Glacier Bay National Park, as outlined here: * Brushing work along boundary line sections chosen by the NPS. Work will be done to clarify the boundary between State, Private, Native Corporation and National Park lands within the Gustavus Forelands District. Job will require working with chainsaws, axes, brush loppers and other clearing tools; plus pulling and scattering cut slash into the adjoining forest. * Routine trail maintenance, campground maintenance and roadside brushing to roads, trails and grounds chosen by the NPS.

For the purpose of conducing project and programs that strengthen and revitalize communities; provide self-esteem, educational enhancements, and employment opportunities through meaningful work experiences for youth and adults; and conserve, develop and enhance natural resources.