Recreation Sites and Visitor Services: Creating Quality Recreation Experiences | USDA FS R13 2024 24 24 REC 01

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1) What is "Recreation Sites and Visitor Services: Creating Quality Recreation Experiences (USDA FS R13 2024 24 24 REC 01)"?

This opportunity is a USDA Forest Service Outreach of Interest (OOI) focused on identifying and developing potential partnerships that can strengthen recreation services and recreation infrastructure on National Forest System lands. It is designed to gather project ideas and connect interested organizations with the Forest Service for follow-up discussions.

2) Is this a traditional grant competition?

No. The posting is described as an Outreach of Interest (OOI), not a traditional grant competition. It is primarily a relationship-building and project-idea solicitation tool rather than a standard grant program with a defined award structure.

3) What is the main purpose of submitting a response to this OOI?

Submitting a response signals your organization's interest in working with the Forest Service. It helps initiate follow-up conversations about feasible project concepts, partnership agreement options available under the agency's legal authorities, and possible federal funding pathways that could support the work.

4) What is the central goal of the OOI?

The central goal is to build a shared commitment to high-quality recreation experiences for the public, particularly as outdoor recreation demand continues to grow. The Forest Service emphasizes partnerships as a key way to expand capacity for maintaining and improving recreation opportunities and facilities.

5) What types of lands or locations does this opportunity focus on?

The focus is on National Forest System lands, including developed recreation sites (such as campgrounds, day-use areas, and trailheads) and dispersed recreation settings (such as backcountry areas and undeveloped sites).

6) Why is the Forest Service seeking partners for recreation and visitor services?

The Forest Service cites increasing demand and heavy visitation, along with persistent challenges such as maintenance backlogs, visitor services needs, safety needs, and infrastructure strain. The agency also points to the scale of its recreation footprint (including extensive trails, developed sites, and acreage) as a reason partnerships are critical for meeting needs.

7) What kinds of project concepts are encouraged?

The OOI encourages project concepts that repair, maintain, or modernize recreation infrastructure; expand or enhance visitor services; and improve the overall quality, safety, and accessibility of recreation opportunities.

8) Are both developed and dispersed recreation areas in scope?

Yes. The notice explicitly references both developed recreation sites (for example, campgrounds, day-use areas, and trailheads) and dispersed recreation settings (for example, backcountry areas and undeveloped sites).

9) Does the OOI mention resilience or climate-related improvements?

Yes. The notice implies interest in concepts that increase infrastructure resiliency to weather and climate impacts as part of improving recreation infrastructure and experiences.

10) Are projects tied to specific outdoor activities?

The notice implies that project concepts may include improving access for activities such as hunting, fishing, wildlife viewing, and other outdoor uses, especially where improved access and services contribute to safer, higher-quality recreation experiences.

11) Does the OOI encourage increasing recreation capacity in high-use areas?

Yes. The notice suggests interest in increasing recreation capacity in places where use levels are growing and where expanded capacity could help address strain on infrastructure and visitor services.

12) What community benefits does the Forest Service associate with these partnerships?

The notice highlights community benefits such as engaging local residents, fostering long-term stewardship and shared ownership of outcomes, and creating opportunities for job training, conservation service, personal development, and building the next generation of natural resource stewards and recreation professionals.

13) Who is eligible to respond?

Eligibility is broad. The notice lists for-profit entities, nonprofit organizations, institutions of higher education, federal/state/local governments, Native American tribal governments, and special purpose districts (including public utility districts, fire districts, conservation districts, school districts, and ports).

14) Are for-profit organizations eligible?

Yes. For-profit entities are explicitly included in the eligibility list.

15) Are tribal governments eligible?

Yes. Native American tribal governments are explicitly included in the eligibility list.

16) Are local governments and special purpose districts eligible?

Yes. Federal/state/local governments are eligible, and the notice also includes special purpose districts such as public utility districts, fire districts, conservation districts, school districts, and ports.

17) What is the program or activity area listed for this opportunity?

The posting lists the activity area as Natural Resources and references CFDA 10.699.

18) What is the opportunity category and funding instrument type?

The opportunity category is listed as "Other" and the funding instrument type is also listed as "Other," reinforcing that this is not presented as a standard grant program with a typical award structure.

19) Is there an award ceiling or expected award amount?

No award ceiling is specified in the notice, and expected awards are not stated.

20) Does submitting a response guarantee federal funding?

The notice describes the OOI as a way to begin discussions about feasible projects, partnership agreement options, and possible federal funding pathways. It does not describe a defined award structure or guarantee funding.

21) What happens after an organization submits a response?

Submitting a response opens the door to follow-up conversations with the Forest Service. These discussions may cover project feasibility, partnership agreement options under the agency's legal authorities, and potential funding pathways that could support the work.

22) How do applicants know how to format or submit their response?

Application guidance is provided through an attached document titled "Outreach of Interest Template Instructions." Applicants are directed to use that template and instructions to structure and submit their response.

23) What are the key dates for this opportunity?

The opportunity was created on 2024-10-07, and the listed closing date is 2025-02-07.

24) What kinds of challenges is this OOI trying to address?

The notice points to challenges tied to growing recreation demand, including maintenance backlogs, visitor services needs, safety needs, and infrastructure strain across a very large and heavily visited recreation footprint.

25) What scale of recreation resources does the Forest Service reference in the notice?

The notice references roughly 160,000 miles of trails, about 10,000 developed recreation sites, and nearly 196 million acres of national forests and grasslands. It also cites public visitation exceeding 200 million visits between 2017 and 2021.