Experienced Services Program
Active
- Assistance listing
- 15.011
- Agency
-
National Park Service
Department of the Interior
- Grant awards
- 287 $55,286,931 in federal obligations
Program facts
- Also known as
- ESP
- Assistance types
-
- Cooperative Agreement
- Project Grant
- Treasury account
-
- 14-1036-0-1-303
Program details come from SAM.gov Assistance Listings. Updated . Grant award figures come from USAspending.gov.
About this program
The National Park Service (NPS), Department of the Interior, provides funding through the Experienced Services Program (CFDA 15.011) to nonprofit organizations designated by the Secretary of Labor under Title V of the Older Americans Act to recruit workers age 55 and older for time-limited, project-based assignments supporting park operations; the most recent grant award was made on April 1, 2026.
The program funds temporary placements of experienced workers on discrete NPS initiatives where staffing gaps or technical skill shortages exist. Recent awards demonstrate broad operational scope: facility maintenance and custodial operations (snow removal equipment operators at Mount Rainier, facilities operations at Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts), natural and cultural resource conservation (restoration ecologists conducting wetland work at Golden Gate National Park, archaeologists conducting surveys and excavations in the Intermountain Region), historic preservation (structural assessment and treatment recommendations, museum collections cataloging and conservation), project management (capital improvement projects at Great Basin National Park, disaster recovery coordination across Gulf Coast regions), administrative support (budget management, compliance documentation, information technology infrastructure), visitor services and interpretation, planning and design expertise, and specialized technical roles including aviation program management and GIS support. Awards also fund staff training, mentoring, and capacity building at regional offices.
The program is exclusively Cooperative Agreements (286 of 287 awards). The NPS National Office dominates funding with 120 awards totaling $40.4 million in federal dollars; the Pacific West Region, Northeast Region, Intermountain Region, and Southeast Region contribute 46, 45, 41, and 16 awards respectively, accounting for the top five funders covering 93 percent of awards. Total federal dollars obligated across 287 awards reached $55.3 million.
Award volume has declined from 57–68 awards annually in 2022–2024 to 37 in 2025 and 8 in the partial 2026 year to date. Recent awards range from under $15,000 to $1.6 million; representative mid-range awards include $227,566 for historic building material assessment at an unspecified site, $186,960 for Mount Rainier equipment operators, and $165,288 for Great Basin project management. A notable mega-award of $1.6 million funded Land and Water Conservation Fund stateside program modernization and technical assistance to state offices.
Applicants must be 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations designated by the Secretary of Labor under Title V of the Older Americans Act. The most recent posted opportunity (Solicitation P24AS00368, due July 22, 2024) has closed. No current open solicitation appears in the source; proposals are reviewed on a merit-basis competitive process with project duration generally 30 to 120 days as specified in individual funding announcements posted on grants.gov.
Objective and description
- Objective
The Experienced Services Program (ESP) provides support to the National Park Service (NPS) on natural and cultural resource conservation projects that enable the agency to carry out its mission. Special emphasis will be placed on projects that improv
- Description
The Experienced Services Program (ESP) brings in highly experienced individuals-age 55 or older-to help the National Park Service carry out important work that benefits parks, public lands, and the public. Through time‑limited, project‑based assignments, participants provide specialized skills that support natural and cultural resource protection, facility maintenance, visitor services, planning, emergency preparedness, and other critical functions. Their expertise strengthens the agency's ability to maintain safe, well‑cared‑for parks while expanding capacity where staffing or technical skill gaps exist.
Eligibility
- Applicant eligibility
This program is limited to qualified non-profit organizations subject to 26 USC 501 c(3) of the tax code, and must be designated by the Secretary of Labor under Title V of the Older Americans Act of 1965. Proof of establishment must be submitted with the application.
- Beneficiary eligibility
Private non-profit organizations that support career advancement and placement for individuals 55 years of age and older. Individuals 55 years of age and older.
- Uses of assistance
This program will provide opportunities to qualified individuals 55 years of age and older who have specific technical skills and abilities not available or underrepresented at current NPS staffing levels. The ESP participants will not replace or displace current NPS employees.
- Length and time phasing of assistance
Agreements with successful applicants will be entered into between 90-120 from notification of potential award.
How to apply
- Preapplication coordination
Consultation and assistance is available from the program office and financial assistance officer in advance of the application submission. No pre-application coordination is required.
- Criteria for selecting proposals
Specific evaluation criteria will be included in the funding announcements posted on www.grants.gov.
- Award procedure
Proposals received in response to announcements on grants.gov are reviewed on the basis of a competitive, merit based review process, and are rated in accordance with the evaluation criteria stated in the announcement. Awards may be made to the highest rated proposals based on the amount of funding available each year.
- Time to approval or disapproval
Varies depending on the type and complexity of the project. Further information will be available for each specific project at the time the funding opportunity announcement is posted on www.grants.gov and may be obtained by contacting the Program Manager listed as the point of contact. Generally 30 - 120 days.
- Renewals
If renewals or extensions are applicable to the project, this information will be included in the funding opportunity announcement. When renewals or extensions are applicable, continuation of funding for these activities are at the discretion of Congress and will be subject to availability of appropriated funds.
- Appeals
None. Final award decisions are not subject to appeal; however the National Park Service will provide applicants with information on why their proposals were not selected for award, upon request.
Grant opportunities
| Opportunity | Status | Posted | Applications due |
|---|---|---|---|
| Experienced Services Program | Closed |
Grant awards
Latest 10 of 287 listed here. See the rest on GovTribe.
Top recipients by federal obligations
| Rank | Recipient | Federal obligations | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | National Experienced Workforce Solutions, Inc. | $52,576,196 | 95% |
| 2 | CWI Works, Inc. | $2,710,735 | 5% |
Federal obligations by fiscal year
| Fiscal year | Federal obligations |
|---|---|
| FY2026 | $4,035,572 |
| FY2025 | $12,351,661 |
| FY2024 | $10,042,907 |
| FY2023 | $9,576,197 |
| FY2022 | $7,539,098 |
| FY2021 | $7,548,309 |
| FY2020 | $4,193,187 |
Quick answers
What is Assistance Listing 15.011?
Assistance Listing 15.011 is Experienced Services Program, a federal grant program run by National Park Service (Department of the Interior).
What is the CFDA number for Experienced Services Program?
Its CFDA number is 15.011: Assistance Listing numbers were called CFDA numbers before 2018.
How much funding has Assistance Listing 15.011 awarded?
287 grant awards under 15.011 have obligated $55,286,931 in federal funds to 2 recipients.
Who receives the most funding from 15.011?
The recipients obligated the most under Experienced Services Program are National Experienced Workforce Solutions, Inc. ($52,576,196) and CWI Works, Inc. ($2,710,735).
How much did 15.011 obligate in fiscal year 2025?
Grants under 15.011 obligated $12,351,661 in federal funds in fiscal year 2025.
Are there open grant opportunities under 15.011?
No opportunity listed under 15.011 is open now. The latest, Experienced Services Program, was posted on May 21, 2024.
On GovTribe
See this program's full record
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