Opportunity Information: Apply for S19AS00004
The OSMRE/AmeriCorps Program is a discretionary federal grant opportunity offered by the U.S. Department of the Interior, Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE), and funded through a cooperative agreement. It is built on multiple statutory authorities, including the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (as amended), the Public Lands Corps and Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2005 (as amended by the National Park Service Centennial Act), and direct-hire related authorities for certain resource assistant and internship style programs. In practical terms, these authorities allow OSMRE to partner with an outside organization to place service members in roles that support OSMRE's mission and public service priorities.
The program is designed specifically to partner with nonprofit organizations that have IRS 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education) and that can access AmeriCorps State and National positions. That access can be direct, through a relationship with the Corporation for National and Community Service (the federal entity historically associated with AmeriCorps), or through an intermediary organization that manages AmeriCorps placements. The selected nonprofit essentially serves as the administrative and operational partner that helps run the OSMRE/AmeriCorps Program, coordinating the AmeriCorps member positions and ensuring the placements align with AmeriCorps rules and OSMRE needs.
At its core, the program aims to expand OSMRE's engagement with early-career talent, particularly young professionals who recently earned college, university, or vocational degrees. Through the partnership, recent graduates are placed as AmeriCorps Members in OSMRE Headquarters, Regional, and Field Offices for service terms of up to two years. The idea is to give participants real, hands-on experience working inside a federal agency environment while contributing to mission-focused projects that benefit communities and public lands.
The work areas supported by these placements are broad but clearly tied to OSMRE's reclamation and community support responsibilities. Examples explicitly highlighted include community and environmental reclamation, community environmental stewardship, economic improvement initiatives, educational opportunities, research, geographic information systems (GIS), mapping, and related technical or community-facing activities. This framing suggests the program supports both field-oriented and office-based work, ranging from data and mapping support to applied research and community project assistance.
AmeriCorps Members in this program are defined as individuals carrying out national service through activities approved under AmeriCorps (either directly or via an intermediary). During their service, members receive a living allowance and other benefits. A key participant benefit is the ability to earn the Segal AmeriCorps Education Award upon successful completion of the term. That award can be used for qualified higher education expenses or applied toward eligible student loans, which is often a major incentive for recent graduates entering public service.
For this specific funding opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number S19AS00004; CFDA 15.254), the agency anticipated making about five awards, with an award ceiling of $625,000. The posting indicates it was created on June 14, 2019, with an original closing date of July 23, 2019. Overall, the opportunity is structured to fund a nonprofit partner that can recruit, place, and support AmeriCorps members embedded within OSMRE offices, while OSMRE provides the federal setting, project needs, and collaborative oversight typical of a cooperative agreement.Apply for S19AS00004
- The Department of the Interior, Office of Surface Mining in the recovery act sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "OSMRE/AmeriCorps Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.254.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jun 14, 2019.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 23, 2019. (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 $625,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 5 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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OSMRE/AmeriCorps Program Grant (FON S19AS00004) - FAQs
What is the OSMRE/AmeriCorps Program grant?
It is a discretionary federal grant opportunity offered by the U.S. Department of the Interior, Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE). It is funded through a cooperative agreement and is designed to support a partnership that places AmeriCorps Members in service roles that advance OSMRE's mission and public service priorities.
Which federal agency is offering this opportunity?
The opportunity is offered by the U.S. Department of the Interior, Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE).
What type of federal funding instrument is used?
The opportunity is funded through a cooperative agreement, meaning OSMRE expects collaborative involvement and oversight typical of cooperative agreements while the partner helps administer and operate the program.
What is the purpose of partnering with a nonprofit organization?
The program is structured so that an outside nonprofit organization serves as the administrative and operational partner. The nonprofit coordinates AmeriCorps member positions, manages placements, and helps ensure the placements align with AmeriCorps rules and OSMRE's needs.
Who is eligible to apply for this grant opportunity?
The program is designed specifically to partner with nonprofit organizations that have IRS 501(c)(3) status, excluding institutions of higher education, and that can access AmeriCorps State and National positions.
Are institutions of higher education eligible?
No. The eligibility description explicitly excludes institutions of higher education, even if they otherwise have nonprofit status.
What AmeriCorps capability must an applicant have?
The nonprofit partner must be able to access AmeriCorps State and National positions. This access can be direct (through a relationship with the federal entity historically associated with AmeriCorps, the Corporation for National and Community Service) or through an intermediary organization that manages AmeriCorps placements.
Can an organization apply if it uses an AmeriCorps intermediary?
Yes. The information provided states access to AmeriCorps positions can be obtained through an intermediary organization that manages AmeriCorps placements.
What does the selected nonprofit partner actually do?
The selected nonprofit serves as the administrative and operational partner for the OSMRE/AmeriCorps Program. In practical terms, it recruits, places, coordinates, and supports AmeriCorps members placed within OSMRE offices and ensures the placements align with AmeriCorps requirements and OSMRE project needs.
Who are the participants being placed through this program?
Participants are AmeriCorps Members, with a focus on early-career talent, particularly young professionals who recently earned college, university, or vocational degrees.
Where do AmeriCorps Members serve within OSMRE?
Members may be placed in OSMRE Headquarters, Regional, and Field Offices.
How long are the service terms for placements under this program?
Service terms can be up to two years.
What kinds of projects or work areas are supported by these placements?
The opportunity highlights a range of mission-aligned work areas, including community and environmental reclamation, community environmental stewardship, economic improvement initiatives, educational opportunities, research, geographic information systems (GIS), mapping, and related technical or community-facing activities.
Is the work more field-based or office-based?
Based on the examples provided, the program can support both field-oriented and office-based work. The described work ranges from GIS, mapping, and research to community-facing stewardship and reclamation support activities.
How are AmeriCorps Members defined in this program?
AmeriCorps Members are defined as individuals carrying out national service through activities approved under AmeriCorps, either directly or via an intermediary.
What benefits do AmeriCorps Members receive during service?
Members receive a living allowance and other benefits. Upon successful completion of the term, they may earn the Segal AmeriCorps Education Award.
What is the Segal AmeriCorps Education Award and what can it be used for?
The Segal AmeriCorps Education Award is a participant benefit that can be earned upon successful completion of a service term. It can be used for qualified higher education expenses or applied toward eligible student loans.
What is the overall goal of the program for participants?
The program is intended to expand OSMRE's engagement with early-career talent by giving recent graduates hands-on experience in a federal agency environment while contributing to mission-focused projects that benefit communities and public lands.
How many awards did OSMRE anticipate making under this funding opportunity?
The agency anticipated making about five awards.
What is the maximum funding amount (award ceiling) for this opportunity?
The award ceiling is $625,000.
What are the identifying numbers for this funding opportunity?
The Funding Opportunity Number is S19AS00004 and the CFDA number is 15.254.
When was this opportunity posted and what was the original closing date?
The posting indicates it was created on June 14, 2019, with an original closing date of July 23, 2019.
What statutory authorities are referenced as the basis for the program?
The program is described as built on multiple statutory authorities, including the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (as amended), the Public Lands Corps and Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2005 (as amended by the National Park Service Centennial Act), and direct-hire related authorities for certain resource assistant and internship style programs.
Why are multiple authorities mentioned?
The information provided explains that these authorities allow OSMRE to partner with an outside organization to place service members in roles that support OSMRE's mission and public service priorities, including certain internship-style or resource assistant type programs.
What makes this opportunity distinct from a typical staffing program?
This program uses AmeriCorps national service placements. The nonprofit partner coordinates AmeriCorps Member positions under AmeriCorps rules, while members serve inside OSMRE offices on mission-focused work, receive a living allowance and benefits, and can earn the Segal AmeriCorps Education Award upon completion.
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