U. S. Forest Service Resource Assistants Program National and Regional Level Cooperator Organizations Information (RFI) | USDA FS 2020 FSRAP

Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA FS 2020 FSRAP

The U.S. Forest Service Resource Assistants Program (RAP) National and Regional Level Cooperator Organizations Information (RFI) is a federal request inviting organizations to express interest in serving as approved cooperating partners for the Resource Assistants Program. RAP, created in 2016, is designed as a rigorous, immersive, paid professional experience for individuals pursuing careers related to conservation and stewardship, including natural and cultural resources, environmental management, research and development, and related career paths. Rather than focusing on funding a single project, this opportunity is centered on identifying capable organizations that can help the Forest Service operate and scale the program by recruiting, supporting, and administering placements for emerging professionals.

At the core of the request is the Forest Service's need for national or regional "cooperator organizations" that can run the day-to-day operational backbone of RAP participation. Proposals must show that an organization can conduct strong recruitment and outreach efforts to attract high-quality candidates and intentionally build a diverse cohort. The Forest Service is looking for partners that can do more than post opportunities; they need organizations with systems and experience to reach broad audiences, connect with communities historically underrepresented in conservation careers, and reliably produce qualified applicant pools for placements.

In addition to recruitment, the RFI emphasizes administrative capacity. Interested organizations are expected to provide administrative oversight for participants, including tracking and reporting. That implies an ability to manage participant records, monitor placement progress, ensure required documentation and compliance tasks are handled, and deliver program reporting in an organized, timely way. The Forest Service is signaling that it wants cooperators with mature internal processes, staff capacity, and accountability structures suitable for managing a federal workforce-development style program at scale.

Another major expectation is training and participant support delivered through a RAP Community of Practice (CoP). Cooperators are expected to implement training and support elements while collaborating with other cooperators, partners, resource assistants, and Forest Service staff. This Community of Practice model suggests a coordinated network where partners share resources, align on standards, troubleshoot challenges, and continuously improve participant experience and program outcomes. In practical terms, the Forest Service is seeking organizations that are comfortable working in a collaborative, cross-organizational environment and can contribute to shared learning, mentorship structures, and consistent program quality across regions.

Eligibility is broad and includes state, county, and local governments; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; other tribal organizations; and nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status (excluding higher education institutions in that specific nonprofit category). The description also encourages responses from other entities that engage emerging professionals in workforce development, reflecting the program's emphasis on career pathways and talent development rather than one-time service events. The listed CFDA number for this opportunity is 10.699, and the sponsoring agency is the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service.

Administrative details in the source data identify this as Funding Opportunity Number USDA FS 2020 FSRAP, categorized as "Other" for both opportunity category and funding instrument type, indicating it may not follow a standard grant format and may function more like a partner selection or cooperative arrangement process. The original closing date is listed as December 12, 2019, with a creation date of November 5, 2019. The award ceiling and expected number of awards are not specified in the provided data, reinforcing that the primary goal is to solicit proposals demonstrating capability and readiness to serve as a cooperator rather than to advertise a traditional fixed grant amount.

Overall, this RFI is best understood as the Forest Service building a vetted bench of national and regional partners that can recruit diverse emerging professionals, manage administrative responsibilities, track and report program activity, and provide training and support in coordination with a broader Community of Practice. Organizations that already run conservation corps programs, fellowship programs, internship pipelines, or similar workforce development initiatives are the types of entities that would typically be well-positioned to respond, especially if they can demonstrate strong operational controls, participant support experience, and measurable recruitment reach.

• The Forest Service in the other sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "U. S. Forest Service Resource Assistants Program National and Regional Level Cooperator Organizations Information (RFI)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.699.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2019-11-05.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2019-12-12. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), 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.

Apply for USDA FS 2020 FSRAP

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