Plant Propagation for NPS Southwest Exotic Plant Management Team | P15AS00435

Opportunity Information: Apply for P15AS00435

The Plant Propagation for NPS Southwest Exotic Plant Management Team opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number P15AS00435) is a National Park Service discretionary grant offered as a cooperative agreement under CFDA 15.954, focused on natural resources work in New Mexico and nearby Southwest states. The core purpose is to develop an affordable, reliable supply of native plant material that can be used in pollinator gardens and ecological restoration projects across National Park Service units in the region. Rather than simply purchasing plants on the open market, the program is designed to build practical propagation capacity in New Mexico, producing native species suited to local conditions and conservation needs.

A major emphasis of the project is hands-on engagement and workforce development. The Southwest Exotic Plant Management Team (SW EPMT) specifically wants the propagation effort to create meaningful opportunities for Native tribes, youth participants, and volunteers. The intent is that the awardee will help run a propagation program where participants can learn and contribute through real nursery or greenhouse work, seed collection and handling (where appropriate), growing and hardening plants, and preparing material for outplanting into park restoration sites or pollinator-focused garden installations. This educational and community participation aspect is not incidental; it is built into the project concept and is part of how the NPS hopes to expand stewardship and local involvement in native plant restoration.

Because this is a cooperative agreement, the NPS expects to be actively involved in planning and implementation rather than acting only as a funder. The SW EPMT, other NPS staff, and the selected awardee are expected to work closely together to plan which native plants will be propagated, where propagation will occur (at facilities located in New Mexico), and how plants will be distributed and used for park projects throughout the Southwest. The partners will also coordinate execution of the work described in the Statement of Work, including the practical details that make the program function: organizing and supervising work crews, coordinating volunteer days, managing student interns, developing or delivering educational materials, conducting any necessary applied research to improve propagation success, and handling logistics such as scheduling, transport, and coordination with individual parks that will ultimately receive and plant the material.

Eligibility is broad and includes state, county, and municipal governments; special districts; independent school districts; public and state-controlled higher education institutions; private higher education institutions; federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations; public/Indian housing authorities; and both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations (other than institutions of higher education). The opportunity anticipated a single award with a funding ceiling of $50,000. The original application closing date listed for this competition was October 30, 2015, and it was posted on September 24, 2015, indicating it was a time-limited funding round rather than an open-ended program.

In practical terms, an ideal applicant for this opportunity would be an organization that can operate or partner with a plant propagation facility in New Mexico, has the ability to manage participants safely and effectively (especially volunteers and youth), and can collaborate closely with NPS staff to ensure the plants produced match park restoration and pollinator garden needs. The expected outcome is both tangible (native plants grown and delivered for use in parks) and programmatic (stronger local propagation capacity, training and engagement opportunities, and better coordination among parks, the SW EPMT, and community partners to support restoration across the Southwest).

• The National Park Service in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Plant Propagation for NPS Southwest Exotic Plant Management Team" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.954.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2015-09-24.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2015-10-30. (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 $50,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education.

Apply for P15AS00435

[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal: