Questions and Answers - Final - P22AS00025.pdf

Final Questions and Answers - 9/24/2021 - P22AS00025 - Scientists in Parks Internship Program

Q: In preparing a proposal for the above referenced NOFOs it appears from the "Contents and Form of Application Submission" guidance on page 19 of both NOFOs that a detailed budget narrative is not required and that the only financial document required for submission is the 424A. Can you please confirm that a detailed budget narrative is not required for submission?

A: A budget narrative is not a required document, but is encouraged in order to help the review panel gain a better overall understanding of the proposal, cost and program elements.

Q: Regarding the above referenced NOFO on page four the NOFO states " The fellows cohort is a relatively small cohort (approximately 20 participants per year)" and then on page five the NOFO states "Administration of 150, 12-week internships to take place in summer of 2022". Can you confirm that if awarded the recipient of funding under this opportunity number would be expected to only field 20, 12-week SIP Fellows per year for two years for a total of 40 Fellows (not 150 per year for a total of 300)?

A: While these numbers are only approximate figures based on past agreements, it is expected the recipient has the capacity to administer interns/locations based on available park projects. Normally, the fellows portion of the agreement however varies in range from 25-40 per year, but may be more depending on park projects.

Q: If considering a subrecipient or subcontractor in the future, do we need to name the organization in the proposal?

A: You are not required to provide the name of any subrecipients or subcontractors you may be considering in your proposal. Be advised, however, that one advantage of identifying the name of subrecipients or subcontractors in the proposal is that the evaluation panel will be able to evaluate the ability and demonstrated experience of those organizations in addition to the primary applicant.

Q: How do we develop a budget narrative that considers the timeline and scale of the transition from SIP’s current agreement recipients to the new Master Cooperative Agreements?

A: You do not need to provide a budget that considers the real-time transition from SIP’s current agreement Recipients to the new Master Cooperative Agreements (CA). Please provide a hypothetical budget scenario according to the specifications provided in the NOFO announcement. This will allow the evaluation panel to consider the proposal’s administrative cost, indirect rate, and other major program elements in a discrete, hypothetical budget. A real budget will not be drawn until after a Master CA is awarded to recipients and task agreements are proposed under that Master CA.

Q: What guidance do you have for responding to the criterion regarding Secretary’s Priority 10:1.a?

A: Please provide a brief statement confirming that the applicant’s organization meets the goals of Secretary’s Priority 10:1.a.