Opportunity Information: Apply for F18AS00139
The "Albuquerque Community Connections - Friends of Valle de Oro" funding opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number F18AS00139) is a discretionary cooperative agreement offered by the U.S. Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service. It was created on May 15, 2018, with an original closing date of May 21, 2018, indicating a very short application window. The opportunity is framed as a Notice of Intent to Single Source, meaning the agency signaled in advance that it intended to make the award to a specific organization rather than run a fully open competition. In this case, the intended recipient is the Friends of Valle de Oro National Wildlife Refuge, a nonprofit partner group associated with Valle de Oro NWR in the Albuquerque area.
Funding is capped at an award ceiling of $49,500, with one expected award. The assistance listing is tied to CFDA number 15.676, which corresponds to activities commonly associated with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service programs supporting refuges, conservation, and related community engagement work. The listed eligible applicants are limited to nonprofits with IRS 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education). Although the eligibility category is broad on paper, the single-source nature of the notice makes clear that the practical intent was to fund the named partner group for a defined set of activities.
The program purpose is described in broad functional terms through its activity categories: arts/cultural affairs, community development, education, environment, natural resources, and transportation. Taken together, those categories suggest the project was designed to connect the local community with the refuge through environmental education and stewardship, community-based programming, and potentially activities that support access and participation (for example, transportation-related coordination that helps community members reach refuge programs). Because this is a cooperative agreement rather than a simple grant, the Fish and Wildlife Service would typically anticipate substantial involvement in project planning, coordination, or oversight during implementation, often working closely with the nonprofit partner to deliver agreed-upon outcomes.
The legal authorities cited establish the statutory basis for the Service to support conservation, refuge administration, volunteer engagement, and youth or conservation corps involvement. These include the Fish and Wildlife Act and Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act (broad authority for fish and wildlife conservation and coordination), the National Fish Hatchery System Volunteer Act (supporting volunteer participation in Service-related work), the National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act (authorities for managing and supporting the Refuge System), and the Public Lands Corps Act and Youth Conservation Corps provisions (supporting conservation-related service opportunities, including for youth). Collectively, these statutes signal that the funded work is expected to advance refuge purposes and conservation outcomes while emphasizing public participation, education, volunteerism, and potentially structured service or stewardship opportunities.
Finally, the notice specifies that applications must address all activities and stipulations laid out in Section I (Description of Funding Opportunity) and follow the Application Checklist included in the formal Notice of Funding Opportunity. In practice, that means the applicant would need to align its proposal tightly to the refuge-focused community connections work described by the agency, demonstrate capacity as a nonprofit partner, and present a clear plan and budget consistent with the cooperative agreement structure and the $49,500 ceiling.Apply for F18AS00139
- The Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service in the arts (see cultural affairs in cfda), community development, education, environment, natural resources, transportation sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Albuquerque Community Connections- Friends of Valle de Oro" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.676.
- This funding opportunity was created on May 15, 2018.
- Applicants must submit their applications by May 21, 2018 This is a Notice of Intent to Single Source to the Friends of Valle de Oro NWR. Applications must address all activities amp stipulations in Section I, Description of Funding Opportunity amp the Application Checklist (via Notice of Funding Opportunity).. (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 $49,500.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education.
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FAQs: Albuquerque Community Connections - Friends of Valle de Oro (F18AS00139)
What is the name of this funding opportunity?
The opportunity is titled "Albuquerque Community Connections - Friends of Valle de Oro."
What is the Funding Opportunity Number?
The Funding Opportunity Number is F18AS00139.
Which federal agency is offering this opportunity?
This is a U.S. Department of the Interior opportunity offered through the Fish and Wildlife Service.
What type of funding instrument is this?
It is a discretionary cooperative agreement.
What does it mean that this is a cooperative agreement (not a standard grant)?
A cooperative agreement typically indicates the Fish and Wildlife Service expects substantial involvement during the project, such as participation in planning, coordination, and/or oversight while the work is carried out.
Is this an open competitive opportunity?
No. It is framed as a Notice of Intent to Single Source, meaning the agency signaled it intended to make the award to a specific organization rather than run a fully open competition.
Who is the intended recipient named in the notice?
The intended recipient is Friends of Valle de Oro National Wildlife Refuge, a nonprofit partner group associated with Valle de Oro NWR in the Albuquerque area.
How much funding is available?
The award ceiling is $49,500.
How many awards are expected?
One award is expected.
When was this opportunity created (posted)?
It was created on May 15, 2018.
What was the original closing date?
The original closing date was May 21, 2018.
How long was the application window?
Based on the posted dates, the window ran from May 15, 2018 to May 21, 2018, indicating a very short application period.
What assistance listing (CFDA) is associated with this opportunity?
The assistance listing is tied to CFDA 15.676.
What kinds of activities does CFDA 15.676 generally relate to in this notice?
In this notice, CFDA 15.676 is described in a way that aligns with Fish and Wildlife Service efforts supporting refuges, conservation, and community engagement connected to refuge-related work.
Who is eligible to apply, based on the eligibility category listed?
The listed eligible applicants are nonprofits with IRS 501(c)(3) status, excluding institutions of higher education.
If eligibility is listed as 501(c)(3) nonprofits, can any nonprofit realistically apply?
While the eligibility category is broad on paper, the single-source nature of the notice indicates the practical intent was to fund the named organization for a defined set of activities.
What is the overall purpose of the project described?
The purpose is described through activity categories that, taken together, suggest connecting the local community with Valle de Oro National Wildlife Refuge through community-based programming, environmental education, stewardship, and participation support.
What activity categories are included in the notice?
The activity categories listed are arts/cultural affairs, community development, education, environment, natural resources, and transportation.
Why is "transportation" listed as an activity category?
The notice suggests transportation could relate to coordination or support that helps community members access and participate in refuge programs (for example, helping people reach refuge activities).
What does the opportunity suggest about community involvement?
The categories and described intent point toward community connections work, which can include public participation, education, volunteerism, and stewardship activities linked to the refuge.
Which legal authorities are cited as the basis for the award?
The cited authorities include the Fish and Wildlife Act, the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act, the National Fish Hatchery System Volunteer Act, the National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act, and provisions related to the Public Lands Corps Act and the Youth Conservation Corps.
What do the cited authorities imply about the types of outcomes expected?
Collectively, they signal the work is expected to advance refuge purposes and conservation outcomes, while emphasizing public participation, education, volunteer engagement, and potentially structured service opportunities, including youth or conservation corps involvement.
Does the notice describe specific proposal requirements?
Yes. It specifies that applications must address all activities and stipulations laid out in Section I (Description of Funding Opportunity) and must follow the Application Checklist included in the formal Notice of Funding Opportunity.
What does "address all activities and stipulations in Section I" mean for an applicant?
It means the proposal would need to align tightly with the refuge-focused community connections work described by the agency and respond to the requirements the agency laid out in that section.
What does the Application Checklist requirement imply?
It implies the applicant was expected to submit a complete package in the format and with the components required by the Notice of Funding Opportunity, following the checklist items.
What budget constraints apply to this opportunity?
The award is capped at $49,500, so the proposed budget would need to be consistent with that ceiling and with the cooperative agreement structure.
What would the agency likely look for in the applicant organization, based on the notice?
Based on the notice, the applicant would need to demonstrate capacity as a nonprofit partner and present a clear plan and budget aligned to the refuge-focused community connections activities described by the Fish and Wildlife Service.
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Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (F18AS00139) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| Youth Engagement, Education, and Employment Apply for F18AS00146 Funding Number: F18AS00146 Agency: Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service Category: Arts (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA), Community Development, Education, Environment, Natural Resources, Transportation Funding Amount: $49,500 |
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