Natural Resource Management (NRM) Education and Training of Eugene, OR, Area Youth

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Portland District seeks applications for a cooperative agreement to provide natural resource management education and training to at-risk youth from the Eugene, Oregon area while delivering land stewardship and restoration services on USACE property in the Willamette Valley. Eligible applicants include non-Federal public agencies, 501(c)(3) nonprofits, qualified youth service organizations, conservation corps, and school districts that can demonstrate organizational commitment to youth education in conservation-oriented environments and provide evidence of past performance in resource management, conservation, recreation management, and visitor services. The recipient must establish a work crew of four to twelve participants plus one to two supervisors to engage in native prairie restoration, invasive vegetation removal, native plant seed collection and propagation, and greenhouse operations, with students committing a minimum of eight hours per week of staff time and two weeks of summer crew work plus two hours weekly during the school year. Merit review will evaluate proposals based on program goals alignment with announcement objectives, program management capability, and past performance documentation. Applications must be submitted via Grants.gov by May 20, 2026, with the anticipated award date of May 20, 2026.

The cooperative agreement offers $250,000 in total estimated federal funding comprised of a one-year base period of $50,000 (May 2026 through April 2027) and four optional one-year periods of $50,000 each, extending through April 2031, with no cost-sharing required. Work will be performed at Fern Ridge Lake and other Willamette Valley Project locations in the Eugene area, with USACE providing all materials, tools, equipment, technical assistance, and coordination of work schedules. Recipients must submit quarterly SF 425 Federal Financial Reports and a final performance report within 120 days of agreement expiration and comply with 2 CFR 200 regarding uniform administrative requirements, cost principles, and audit requirements.