American Trails Strategic Planning and Outreach | F18AS00159

Opportunity Information: Apply for F18AS00159

The American Trails Strategic Planning and Outreach opportunity is a Department of the Interior, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) National Wildlife Refuge System (NWRS) funding action that was issued as a Notification of Intent to make a single-source cooperative agreement with American Trails. In practical terms, this was not an open competition; the agency publicly posted the notice to document its intent to fund one already-selected partner for a specific project. The award supports DOI priorities for financial assistance and aligns with NWRS goals to strengthen how public lands and waters managed by FWS are planned for, maintained, and shared with the public, with a strong emphasis on trails and recreation-related information.

The core purpose of the project is strategic planning and outreach focused on Service-managed trails and related recreation opportunities across the National Wildlife Refuge System. The work is framed around improving public access and the visitor experience by ensuring that trail and recreation information is current, reliable, and easy to find. By partnering with American Trails, NWRS intends to bolster the systems and communication channels that help people understand where trails are located, what types of recreation are available, and how to engage with refuge lands appropriately. At the same time, the project reinforces sustainable trail development and maintenance practices, aiming for trails that are cost-effective over the long term, environmentally responsible, and more accessible to a wider range of visitors.

From a stewardship standpoint, the opportunity ties trail planning and outreach to broader conservation infrastructure goals. The notice describes the effort as supporting the identification, conservation, management, and enhancement of both physical infrastructure (such as trail networks and related facilities) and ecological infrastructure (protecting habitats and minimizing impacts from recreation). The overall message is that better trail information, better planning, and better outreach can increase public enjoyment of refuges while helping the Service manage use in ways that protect wildlife and natural resources.

Administratively, the opportunity is listed as discretionary funding using a cooperative agreement instrument, which typically indicates substantial involvement by the federal agency during the period of performance (for example, coordination, shared planning, review of deliverables, and ongoing collaboration). The funding activity category is natural resources, and the CFDA number associated with the program is 15.654. Eligible applicant types are described broadly as nonprofits (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3), excluding institutions of higher education), but the notice is explicit that this particular action is single source to American Trails.

Key dates and funding details indicate the notice was created June 1, 2018, with an original closing date of June 7, 2018, reflecting the short window typical of a posting meant to announce a noncompetitive intent rather than solicit proposals. The expected number of awards was one, with an award ceiling of $60,000.

The legal authority cited for the award draws from a wide set of statutes that collectively underpin wildlife conservation, refuge administration, recreation management, volunteer and youth engagement, resource protection, and public lands and trails-related activities. These include the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act of 1934; the Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956; the Refuge Recreation Act of 1962; the National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966; the Youth Conservation Corps Act of 1972; the Archaeological Resources Protection Act of 1979; the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997; the National Wildlife Refuge System Volunteer and Community Partnership Act of 2004; the Public Lands Corps Act of 1993 (as amended); the National Park Service Centennial Act; and certain Federal Aid for Highways provisions relevant to public lands access and trails. Together, these authorities reflect the project’s dual focus: enabling compatible recreation and access while safeguarding natural and cultural resources on refuge lands.

• The Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "American Trails Strategic Planning and Outreach" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.654.
• This funding opportunity was created on Jun 01, 2018.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 07, 2018 This is a Notification of Intent to award a single source cooperative agreement to American Trails. The recipient has already been selected.. (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 $60,000.00 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, Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education.

Apply for F18AS00159

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