Southwest Border Resource Protection Program | P22AS00073

Opportunity Information: Apply for P22AS00073

The Southwest Border Resource Protection Program (SWBRPP) is a National Park Service funding opportunity that supports projects aimed at protecting and restoring natural and cultural resources in and around National Park Service units near the US-Mexico border. The program is designed to strengthen on-the-ground resource stewardship, encourage international and binational cooperation where appropriate, improve public interpretation and understanding, and expand scientific research and monitoring that helps managers respond to real impacts occurring across the desert Southwest and border-region parks.

The program is rooted in documented damage tied to illegal cross-border activity and related traffic through sensitive parklands. The opportunity description highlights widespread issues such as the creation of thousands of miles of unauthorized roads and trails, disruption of ecological processes and wildlife migration patterns, vandalism to important historic sites, and looting of archeological resources. In response, SWBRPP funding is intended for practical, targeted work that helps parks assess damage, understand ongoing threats, and carry out conservation and preservation actions that reduce long-term harm.

Funded activities generally fall into several major categories. One category is research and documentation focused on cultural resources, including identifying, researching, and evaluating archeological and historic sites, as well as supporting formal designations such as National Register of Historic Places nominations and National Historic Landmark nominations. Another category is research on natural resource issues, which can include wildlife habitat management, inventory and monitoring of invasive plants and animals, studying climate change impacts on endangered species, and assessing how border-related activities affect threatened and endangered species. A third category is direct protection and preservation work. For cultural resources, this can involve stabilization, rehabilitation, and restoration of historic structures, archeological sites, trails, and cultural landscapes, along with conservation of museum or archival collections. For natural resources, this can include reestablishing natural processes and ecological systems, monitoring and addressing damage associated with human development, protecting threatened and endangered species, developing integrated pest management plans, and restoring native vegetation and wildlife habitat, including removal of non-native or exotic species. The program also supports education, interpretation, and information sharing, such as professional training and exchange programs (including student internships), workshops and symposia, binational conferences, informational network gatherings, and the development of interpretive materials and public-facing programs.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to coordinate closely with at least one of ten named NPS units near the international border when shaping a proposal. These parks and sites are Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, Big Bend National Park, Amistad National Recreation Area, Palo Alto National Historic Site, Padre Island National Seashore, Saguaro National Park, Tumacacori National Historical Park, Chamizal National Memorial, Coronado National Memorial, and Chiricahua National Monument. Projects are implemented through cooperative agreements, and each selected project or activity is authorized through its own separate award with a distinct work plan and budget developed collaboratively between the NPS and the partnering organization.

Eligibility is limited by statute (54 USC 101702(a), 101702(b), and 101703) to educational institutions, nonprofit organizations, state and local governments, and tribal governments. The eligible applicant types listed include state, county, city or township, and special district governments; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized tribal governments; and nonprofits both with and without 501(c)(3) status. For-profit organizations, foreign organizations, and governments outside the United States and its territories are not eligible to apply.

From the posted opportunity data, SWBRPP is a discretionary program administered by the National Park Service under CFDA 15.963, using the cooperative agreement funding instrument. The specific opportunity number provided is P22AS00073, with an award ceiling of $55,000 and an original closing date of December 17, 2021 (noting that this date reflects the posting provided and may not represent current availability).

• The National Park Service in the environment sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Southwest Border Resource Protection Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.963.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2021-11-08.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2021-12-17. (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 $55,000.00 in funding.
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, Others.

Apply for P22AS00073

[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal: