GRPL CESU: Expand Missouri River Institute Internship Program for MNRR | NPS NOIP20AC00365

Opportunity Information: Apply for NPS NOIP20AC00365

The grant opportunity titled "GRPL CESU: Expand Missouri River Institute Internship Program for MNRR" (Funding Opportunity Number: NPS NOIP20AC00365) is a discretionary funding opportunity from the U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service. It is offered as a cooperative agreement, meaning the project is expected to be carried out in close coordination with the National Park Service rather than as a hands-off award. The opportunity was created on March 23, 2020, with an original closing date of April 2, 2020, and it anticipated making a single award with a maximum funding level (award ceiling) of $88,145.

At its core, the project is designed to continue and expand a shared internship program tied to the Missouri River Institute and the Missouri National Recreational River (MNRR). The intent is to hire natural resource interns who can directly support priority work beginning in fiscal year 2020 and continuing beyond, building a pipeline of student talent into hands-on conservation and resource management work. The internships are positioned as practical, on-the-ground experiences where students do real work that contributes to active projects rather than purely observational learning.

The types of intern work outlined in the opportunity span several key areas that align with National Park Service mission needs and applied research goals. Interns are expected to assist with scientific research activities, support land management projects, participate in inventory and monitoring efforts (such as gathering and managing field data to track natural resource conditions), and contribute to environmental education initiatives. In addition to helping move specific projects forward, the program is framed as a way to increase scientific knowledge, strengthen relationships among cooperative partners, and deliver tangible benefits to local communities connected to the Missouri River corridor.

A major emphasis of the opportunity is workforce development and public service impact. The program aims to give students meaningful professional experience, engage youth in conservation work, and help build a long-term stewardship ethic by connecting participants with the realities of managing public lands and natural resources. The description also makes clear that recruitment and participation should intentionally promote diversity, with the goal of attracting candidates whose backgrounds and perspectives are more reflective of the overall population of the United States. In practical terms, that signals that outreach, selection, and support structures should be designed to broaden access and reduce barriers for underrepresented groups in natural resource fields.

The funded partner is expected to work collaboratively with the National Park Service and the Missouri River Institute to develop and operate what is referred to as the Missouri River Natural Resources Intern Program. That includes jointly planning the program structure and expectations, announcing the internship opportunities through National Park Service channels and University of South Dakota outlets, and then hiring and supervising interns in a shared, coordinated manner. The cooperative nature of the agreement implies that the Park Service will be actively involved in shaping the internship experience, setting work priorities, and ensuring that intern tasks align with agency needs and standards.

Finally, the opportunity includes clear expectations for evaluation and continuous improvement. The partners are expected to collaboratively evaluate the intern program at the end of the first year, looking at what worked well and what should be adjusted. In addition, intern evaluations are to be conducted at the end of each intern’s employment period, with input from the Missouri National Recreational River. This focus on assessment suggests the grant is not only meant to fund intern labor for immediate project support, but also to strengthen the internship model over time so it becomes a sustainable, repeatable program that consistently delivers value to the Park Service, the Missouri River Institute, participating students, and surrounding communities.

Eligibility for this opportunity is limited to public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, and it is associated with CFDA number 15.945. The funding activity categories listed include education, employment and training, environment and natural resources, and science and technology/research and development, which reflects the program’s dual role as both a student workforce initiative and a mechanism for advancing applied natural resource work tied to National Park Service priorities.

• The Department of the Interior, National Park Service in the education, employment, labor and training, environment, natural resources, science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "GRPL CESU: Expand Missouri River Institute Internship Program for MNRR" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.945.
• This funding opportunity was created on Mar 23, 2020.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Apr 02, 2020. (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 $88,145.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education.

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