Training and Education at Dworshak Project | W912EF 2 RFP 0002

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Training and Education at Dworshak Project (W912EF 2 RFP 0002)

1) What is the "Training and Education at Dworshak Project" opportunity?

This opportunity was a discretionary federal funding announcement from the Department of Defense, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Walla Walla District. It supported a program that combines public-land stewardship work at the Dworshak Project with structured outdoor education and job-training for young adults.

2) What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this announcement?

The Funding Opportunity Number was W912EF 2 RFP 0002.

3) Which agency issued the announcement?

The announcement was issued by the Department of Defense, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Walla Walla District.

4) Was this a standard grant or something else?

It was structured as a cooperative agreement rather than a standard grant or a procurement contract. That structure indicates the government anticipated being actively involved with the recipient during project performance.

5) What does "cooperative agreement" imply for the recipient?

Based on the announcement description, USACE expected to be an active partner during implementation. In practical terms, this usually means coordination, oversight, and collaboration with USACE during the period of performance, rather than the recipient operating fully independently.

6) What was the funding activity category?

The funding activity category was Natural Resources.

7) What CFDA program was this listed under?

The program was listed under CFDA 12.010.

8) When was the opportunity originally posted?

The announcement was originally posted on March 27, 2017.

9) What was the original closing date?

The original closing date was April 28, 2017.

10) What was the main purpose of this funding opportunity?

The main purpose was to pair on-the-ground stewardship and maintenance work on public lands associated with the Dworshak Project with a structured outdoor education and job-training program for young adults. The description emphasizes youth development through real-world work and building employable skills.

11) Who was the intended participant group for the program?

The opportunity focused on young adults participating in outdoor education and job-training while completing stewardship work.

12) What outcomes was USACE looking for in the participant experience?

The announcement emphasizes practical workforce skills, teamwork, and helping participants develop habits and experience needed for long-term success. It also suggests an interest in participant pathways or support related to formal post-high-school education.

13) Did the announcement mention education support beyond job training?

Yes. The description notes a desire for programs that can offer some form of support or pathway related to formal post-high-school education, indicating an emphasis on continuing education or education assistance as part of participant outcomes.

14) What types of stewardship or land-management work were included?

The work centered on maintenance and resource management activities on public lands associated with the project. Examples listed include park maintenance, vegetation management, prescribed burns, landscaping, and similar services.

15) Does the scope include both recreation-area upkeep and environmental management?

Yes. The examples provided point to a mix of recreation-area maintenance (such as general park upkeep and landscaping) and natural resource management (such as vegetation management and prescribed burns).

16) Were prescribed burns specifically mentioned?

Yes. Prescribed burns were specifically listed as an example of the work that could be included.

17) What does the mention of prescribed burns suggest about program requirements?

The announcement indicates prescribed burns may be part of the work. That implies an applicant would likely need to demonstrate appropriate safety practices, supervision, and an ability to coordinate with USACE requirements and applicable fire and land-management protocols (federal, state, or local), as applicable.

18) How much funding was available?

The award ceiling was $24,000.

19) How many awards did USACE anticipate making?

USACE anticipated making one award.

20) What was the award ceiling, and what does that mean?

The award ceiling was $24,000. The ceiling is the maximum amount the agency indicated it expected to award under this announcement.

21) Who was eligible to apply?

Eligibility was broadly identified as "Others," with a note directing applicants to an "Additional Information on Eligibility" section for clarification. This typically indicates the opportunity may have been aimed at a specific subset of organizations suited to deliver both training and stewardship outcomes.

22) What kinds of organizations might "Others" refer to in this context?

Based on the description, it may have been aimed at mission-aligned entities capable of delivering hands-on outdoor education and public-land stewardship work, such as nonprofits, educational organizations, youth corps or conservation corps programs, tribal entities, or similar organizations. (The announcement itself directs applicants to an additional eligibility section for the definitive criteria.)

23) What is the statutory authority for this opportunity?

The stated statutory authority was the Water Resources Development Act of 2000, Title 33, Part 2339, Section 213(a), Public Law 106-106-541 (114 Stat. 2593), codified at 33 U.S.C. 2339.

24) How does that statutory authority relate to the purpose of the program?

The cited authority supports USACE partnering with organizations to carry out public-lands or water-resources-related activities while providing training and educational benefits. That aligns with the dual-purpose design described: accomplishing maintenance and natural resource tasks while delivering workforce development for young adults.

25) What is distinctive about this opportunity compared to a typical conservation project?

The description emphasizes a dual outcome: completing stewardship and maintenance work on public lands while running a structured education and job-training program for young adults, with a focus on employable skills, teamwork, and longer-term success.

26) What kinds of skills were participants expected to develop?

The announcement highlights practical workforce skills gained through challenging, hands-on work. While it does not list specific certifications, the work examples suggest exposure to conservation and land-management tasks such as vegetation management, park maintenance, landscaping, and potentially prescribed-burn related preparation under controlled conditions.

27) Was this opportunity connected to the Dworshak Project specifically?

Yes. The stewardship activities were tied to public lands associated with the Dworshak Project.

28) Does the announcement indicate where the work would take place?

It indicates the work would occur on public lands associated with the Dworshak Project. No additional location details are provided in the information above.

29) Is this opportunity still open?

The information provided states the original posting date was March 27, 2017, and the original closing date was April 28, 2017. Based on those dates, the original application window has passed.

30) What type of relationship did USACE expect with the awardee during performance?

Because this was a cooperative agreement, USACE expected active involvement during project performance, which suggests ongoing coordination between the awardee and USACE as the work and training components were delivered.