BLMAZ_Intern Master Agreement Annoucement.docx

Office: BLM Arizona Office – Master Intern Cooperative Agreement Notice of Funding Opportunity Number: L24xxxx Project Submission Dates and Times

Project Title: BLM Arizona Statewide Master Internship Cooperative Agreement to Provide Conservation of Natural Cultural, and Recreation Resource Project(s) This opportunity is to award 1-3 recipients under this Master Agreement for internship opportunities statewide. Once awarded, program officers will submit intern task agreements in accordance with the terms and conditions of this master agreement.

BLM encourages Indian tribes and tribal organizations that qualify as an eligible youth or conservation corps under the Indian Youth Service Corp 16 USC 1727b to apply (refer to Department of the Interior Indian Youth Serve Corps Guidelines, 2022).

This master agreement will have a period of performance of five-years. The BLM Arizona has an estimate of $200,000 in FY24 to distribute between the master agreements via task agreements. Incremental funding for future years is subject to availability.

This master agreement will fund 5 to 12 interns annually up to 30 interns over a five-year period to be assigned to offices throughout the BLM Arizona. The interns will be of varying disciplines depending upon office needs. Disciplines and projects are including but not limited to the following:

· Enhancement of recreation opportunities through trail building, sign installation, maintenance and restoration, graffiti removal, and other improvements to visitor and recreation facilities (e.g., kiosks, campgrounds, signage etc.).

· Conduct various monitoring activities that can include riparian area vegetation and hydrological functions, wild horses and burros, collecting soil and stream data, timber stand improvement projects for wildlife habitat, invasive plant species, vegetation monitoring and mapping, water quality monitoring, and rangeland monitoring.

· Restoration of contaminated sites, disturbed land, and resources to build long-term adaptive capacity climate mitigation and resilience.

· Habitat restoration and wildlife protection, including reduction of invasive species, tree planting, fence removal/installation, riparian area restoration, etc.

· Development and implementation of natural and cultural resource stewardship plans or educational and informational materials for visitors.

· Development and assistance of interpretive programs at the National Monument Interpretive Centers and BLM recreational sites.

· Preservation of cultural resources, including historic structures, collections, and sites.

· Development of land management practices using indigenous cultural practices, languages, and traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) to advance the conservation of natural and cultural resources on Federal public lands and Tribal lands. Activities can include research projects, oral histories, habitat surveys, climate mitigation, trail restoration, invasive species removal, fire fuels reduction, watershed restoration, recreational expansion, and the development of educational, informational or communication materials for the public.

· Seed collection for restoration of lands affected by natural disasters such as catastrophic wildfires and landslides; as well as protection, conservation, and restoration of threatened, endangered, and special status species with the goal of preventing or de-listing of species.

· Reduction of wildfire risk to communities, watersheds, and other public land ecosystems.

· Production of interpretation of materials and programs on natural, cultural, and/or paleontological resources, communication, education, recreation, wildland fire, wild horse and burro, renewable energy, mining, and other natural resource areas.

· Performance of studies such as resource inventories, historic or archival research, archaeological excavation or stabilization, oral histories, historic preservation, habitat surveys, etc. Advance the conservation of natural and cultural resources on Federal public lands and Tribal lands through maintenance.

· Performance of in-house projects, such as science, education, geographic information systems (GIS), database maintenance, policy, or program internships, with a clear benefit for natural or cultural resources. In-house projects to include a field component of at least 120 hours.

· Promote responsible development of renewable and nonrenewable resources through the communication, dissemination, and sharing of public land data and information with internal and external parties.

· Monitor environmental and public safety issues from resource extraction and use activities. Inspect operations for compliance and proper reclamation both on- and off-lease. Review public land use proposals for compliance with laws and regulations.

· Assist BLM with proper records management including databases and digital file collaboration. Increase business efficiency by collecting data, creating educational materials, and public outreach.

· Conduct engineering, geological, GIS, wild horse and burro, rangeland, and biological research and/or studies, including perform analyses of mineral resources and deliver written reports and maps.

· Conduct field inventories in accordance with section 201 of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act.

Award Objectives: BLM Arizona offices have multiple opportunities to introduce interns to careers in the BLM under the various natural and cultural resource programs. These opportunities provide work experience to youth for their careers and educational benefits. This will be accomplished by providing youth with opportunities to gain experience, learn about public lands, and further their understanding and appreciation of natural resources. From this they will gain an increased appreciation and understanding of our public lands and of the value of public service and are likely to become life-long advocates for those values. The projects will be especially appropriate for students studying natural and cultural resources and will provide opportunities to enhance basic career skills such as time management, interpersonal skills, written communication, research, customer service, organization, in addition to field skills.

BLM’s Involvement for both Master Agreement and Task Agreements: The BLM will not supervise interns; however, will have substantive programmatic involvement. BLM professionals will work daily, side by side, with interns and provide project orientation and hands-on training. If situations arise, the BLM has the right to intervene and modify the project management plans. In addition, BLM and interns will meet weekly to discuss progress and track project outcomes; review any training needs; and then decide what direction to take in finalizing projects or move to the next phase.

Proposal Submission: Refer to Attachment A as a suggested format to this NOFO. Proposals should address a master agreement with clear outcomes over a five-year period.

Budget Detail and Narrative: Refer to Attachment B as suggested format to this NOFO.

Submit an overall estimated five-year budget based on an estimate of $1,100,000 and placement of an estimate of 5 to 12 interns annually. The budget must include all direct and indirect youth corps costs to operate over five years with an estimate of inflation each year to include: pay scales for interns, either wage or stipend (weekly rate), as well as including standard project expenses, based on location, as applicable.

Helpful Information when Submitting your Proposal and Budget.

· Work Schedule: Most interns will work 40 hours per week, internships of between 4–18 months with flexible start/end dates.

· Wage: Eligible Conservations corps must provide the corps members with a living allowance, stipend, or wages.

· Housing: BLM will not provide housing but may be able to assist in locating appropriate housing/camping locations and facilities. A monthly housing allowance is not required but suggested due to the high housing costs in Arizona.

· Vehicle: A government vehicle may be available for field work and stored at the applicable office.

NOTE: A personal vehicle is NOT required for the position but is strongly encouraged as it makes the applicant's days off much more enjoyable. BLM will not reimburse for personal vehicle use.

· Supplies: BLM will provide most of the tools and equipment required to complete projects such as computer, laptops, GPS units, cell phones, hand tools, and tents and camping supplies, as applicable.

· Public Land Corps Program orientation and records management: In accordance with BLM and DOI policy, recipients are responsible for providing interns with information concerning the Public Land Corps hiring status, how to track their hours, and how to obtain the hiring status once all project and program requirements are met. Recipients are also responsible for maintaining public land corps hiring status documentation for up to 2 years after the intern has received their certification.

· Training Requirements: BLM may provide project-specific training including training to obtain access to BLM networks, equipment, and facilities.

Award Expected Outcomes:

· Place interns throughout BLM Arizona annually.

· Plan and implement projects promptly.

· Recruit economically, physically, or educationally disadvantaged youth or individuals from underserved communities.

· Outreach and coordination with Native American Indian tribal nations, organizations, tribal universities, and colleges to recruit Native American youth and veterans for internship opportunities.

· Provide non-competitive hiring status to Interns when completing accumulatively 640 hours of which 120-hours must be on public lands.

BLM Youth Program Lead Contact:

Name: Brooke Wheeler Phone Number: 602-417-9564 Email: bwheeler@blm.gov Applicants are encouraged to refer to the full program announcement number L24xxxx posted on Grants.gov for all program requirements and applicable terms and conditions. Recipients selected for awards will be required to adhere to those requirements should an award be made.