Opportunity Information: Apply for P18AS00120
The IMR NPS ProRanger Program (Funding Opportunity Number P18AS00120) is a discretionary federal grant offered by the Department of the Interior, National Park Service (NPS), specifically tied to the Intermountain Region. It is structured as a cooperative agreement, meaning the NPS expects to be actively involved in shaping and supporting the work rather than simply issuing funds and stepping back. The opportunity falls under the Natural Resources funding activity category (CFDA 15.945) and is designed to be carried out by a public or state-controlled institution of higher education, with the program planned to be hosted at Texas AandM University (TAMU).
At its core, the grant supports the creation of a formal partnership between TAMU and the NPS Intermountain Region to host and operate the ProRanger Program within TAMU's Department of Recreation, Park, and Tourism Sciences. The program is built to teach university students about visitor and resource protection in the National Park Service environment. This includes the real-world responsibilities associated with protecting natural and cultural resources, managing visitor safety, and understanding the professional standards and operational expectations that come with working in national parks.
The ProRanger model blends classroom instruction with hands-on field experience. Students are expected to learn foundational concepts through academic coursework and then apply and strengthen those skills through seasonal work opportunities in national parks. The field component is a major feature because it gives participants practical exposure to the daily realities of park operations, visitor contact, and resource protection challenges. By combining academic learning with seasonal employment experiences, the program aims to help students develop job-ready competencies rather than only theoretical knowledge.
A major stated purpose of the program is workforce development for NPS law enforcement (LE) careers. The program is meant to prepare students to become strong candidates for federal employment pathways connected to NPS law enforcement and related visitor and resource protection roles. In addition to preparing individuals, the program is designed to build a broader pipeline of potential federal employees for the NPS, helping the agency recruit and develop future staff who already understand the mission and operational culture of the Service.
Another central goal is increasing diversity within the NPS workforce. The opportunity emphasizes creating a diverse pool of candidates, with the expectation that a workforce that better reflects the demographics of the United States can improve the visitor experience in national parks. The idea is that representation and broader cultural competence within park staff can support more inclusive public service, strengthen trust and communication with diverse visitor communities, and improve how parks engage with the full range of people they serve.
The opportunity also outlines clear benefits for Texas AandM University. Hosting ProRanger would allow TAMU to establish and grow a new professional and academic program, while also strengthening recruitment of diverse students to the institution. In turn, this is framed as enhancing the overall classroom experience by bringing in a wider range of perspectives and backgrounds, which can improve learning outcomes for students across the program.
Financially, the funding opportunity lists an award ceiling of $479,036 with an expectation of a single award. The opportunity was created on April 6, 2018, with an original closing date of April 15, 2018. Overall, the grant is positioned as a targeted investment in training university students, strengthening long-term stewardship capacity for public lands, and supporting the sustained protection of park resources for current and future generations through a structured education-to-employment pathway.Apply for P18AS00120
- The Department of the Interior, National Park Service in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "IMR NPS ProRanger Program" 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 Apr 06, 2018.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Apr 15, 2018. (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 $479,036.00 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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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): IMR NPS ProRanger Program (P18AS00120)
What is the IMR NPS ProRanger Program grant opportunity?
The IMR NPS ProRanger Program (Funding Opportunity Number P18AS00120) is a discretionary federal funding opportunity offered by the U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service (NPS). It is tied specifically to the NPS Intermountain Region and supports operating the ProRanger Program through a formal partnership hosted at a university.
Which agency is offering this funding?
The funding is offered by the Department of the Interior, National Park Service (NPS), and is specifically associated with the NPS Intermountain Region.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON) for this grant?
The Funding Opportunity Number is P18AS00120.
What type of grant award is this?
This opportunity is structured as a cooperative agreement. That means the NPS expects to be actively involved in shaping and supporting the work, rather than providing funding with minimal agency participation.
What does it mean that this is a cooperative agreement?
A cooperative agreement indicates substantial involvement by the NPS during the project. Based on the opportunity description, the NPS will play an active role in supporting and guiding the ProRanger Program partnership and operations, rather than acting only as a funder.
What funding activity category and CFDA number apply to this program?
The opportunity is in the Natural Resources funding activity category and is listed under CFDA 15.945.
Who is the intended applicant/recipient for this opportunity?
The opportunity is designed to be carried out by a public or state-controlled institution of higher education. The program is planned to be hosted at Texas AandM University (TAMU).
Where is the ProRanger Program expected to be hosted?
The program is planned to be hosted at Texas AandM University (TAMU), within TAMU's Department of Recreation, Park, and Tourism Sciences.
What is the core purpose of the ProRanger Program under this grant?
The grant supports creating and operating a formal partnership between TAMU and the NPS Intermountain Region to teach university students about visitor and resource protection within the National Park Service environment, combining academic learning with practical field experience.
What topics and responsibilities does the program teach students?
The program focuses on visitor and resource protection in national parks, including real-world responsibilities tied to protecting natural and cultural resources, managing visitor safety, and understanding professional standards and operational expectations for working in the NPS environment.
How is the ProRanger model structured?
The model blends classroom instruction with hands-on field experience. Students learn foundational concepts through academic coursework and then apply those skills through seasonal work opportunities in national parks.
Is hands-on field experience a required or major part of the program?
Yes. The opportunity describes the field component as a major feature because it provides practical exposure to daily park operations, visitor contact, and resource protection challenges.
What kind of work experience does the field component provide?
The field experience is described as seasonal work opportunities in national parks. It is intended to expose students to operational realities such as visitor contact, park operations, and resource protection issues faced in the field.
What workforce needs is this program intended to support?
A major stated purpose is workforce development for National Park Service law enforcement (LE) careers and related visitor and resource protection roles. The program aims to prepare students as strong candidates for federal employment pathways connected to those functions.
Does the program aim to create a pipeline into NPS employment?
Yes. Beyond preparing individual participants, the program is designed to build a broader pipeline of potential federal employees for the NPS by developing candidates who already understand the agency mission and operational culture.
What is the role of diversity in this funding opportunity?
Increasing diversity within the NPS workforce is identified as a central goal. The opportunity emphasizes creating a diverse pool of candidates and links workforce representation to improved visitor experience, inclusive public service, and stronger engagement with diverse visitor communities.
Why does the opportunity connect diversity to the visitor experience?
The opportunity explains that a workforce reflecting the demographics of the United States can improve the visitor experience through broader cultural competence, more inclusive public service, better trust and communication with diverse visitor groups, and improved engagement across communities.
How does hosting ProRanger benefit Texas AandM University?
Hosting the program is described as allowing TAMU to establish and grow a new professional and academic program, strengthen recruitment of diverse students, and enhance the classroom experience by bringing a wider range of perspectives and backgrounds that can improve learning outcomes.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling) for this opportunity?
The award ceiling listed is $479,036.
How many awards are expected to be made?
The opportunity indicates an expectation of a single award.
When was this funding opportunity created?
The opportunity was created on April 6, 2018.
What was the original closing date for applications?
The original closing date was April 15, 2018.
What long-term outcomes does the grant position itself to support?
The opportunity is framed as a targeted investment in training students, strengthening long-term stewardship capacity for public lands, and supporting the sustained protection of park resources for current and future generations through a structured education-to-employment pathway.
Which NPS region is specifically associated with this ProRanger opportunity?
This opportunity is specifically tied to the NPS Intermountain Region (IMR).
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