Opportunity Information: Apply for S20AS00326
The OSMRE Semester Internship Program is a discretionary grant opportunity from the U.S. Department of the Interior, Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE), focused on creating and administering paid, semester-based internships hosted in OSMRE offices across the country. Rather than funding individual students directly, OSMRE is looking to partner with a qualified nonprofit organization that can run the program end to end. The ideal applicant is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit with strong administrative capacity and, importantly, access to AmeriCorps State and National positions through a relationship with AmeriCorps (formerly the Corporation for National and Community Service) or an intermediary organization. The intent is to build an operational partnership that places students and recent graduates into meaningful project roles that advance OSMRE priorities while also giving participants substantial professional development.
Internship work is tied closely to OSMRE mission needs in natural resources and related applied fields. Projects may involve community and environmental reclamation, community environmental stewardship, research support, data analysis, geographic information systems (GIS), mapping, and similar technical or programmatic assignments. Interns serve in OSMRE Headquarters as well as Regional and Field Offices, and the program is structured around three standard terms each year: a Fall semester (about August through December, 15 weeks), a Spring semester (about January through May, 15 weeks), and a Summer term (about May through August, 10 weeks). Eligibility on the participant side is geared to current students or recent graduates from an accredited institution of higher education, positioning the internships as a bridge between academic training and early career public service work.
A key feature of the program is that internships can be set up under two categories depending on whether the specific assignment meets AmeriCorps rules. When a project aligns with AmeriCorps requirements, the participant serves as an AmeriCorps Member and can receive the typical AmeriCorps package such as a living allowance and applicable benefits, with the potential to earn a Segal AmeriCorps Education Award upon successful completion of service. Projects that do not fit AmeriCorps definitions are treated as general intern positions, and those participants are paid at least the minimum wage for the state where they are serving. This dual-track approach lets OSMRE support a broader range of office needs while still leveraging national service pathways where appropriate.
The funding instrument is a Cooperative Agreement, which generally indicates a more hands-on partnership between the federal agency and the awardee than a standard grant. OSMRE anticipates making one award under this opportunity. Source listing details include an award ceiling of $75,000, while the narrative description also references a maximum of $100,000 to administer a two-year program; applicants should reconcile this during application preparation by relying on the official ceiling stated in the notice and any subsequent clarifications. The project period is up to two years from the date of award, with the option for the recipient to request a non-funded time extension of up to one additional year if needed to finish the work. Over the two-year period, the program is expected to support at least up to six general intern positions and up to ten AmeriCorps intern positions. Start timing depends on OSMRE funding schedules and appropriations, meaning exact onboarding windows may shift even though the internship terms are defined.
Administrative eligibility is limited to nonprofits with IRS 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education as the applicant entity). The opportunity is categorized under Natural Resources with CFDA number 15.254, and it was posted July 20, 2022 with an original closing date of September 20, 2022 under Funding Opportunity Number S20AS00326. Overall, the opportunity is best understood as a workforce development and mission-support partnership: OSMRE supplies financial assistance through a cooperative agreement, and the selected nonprofit designs and manages recruitment, placement, and program administration to deliver a steady pipeline of interns working on reclamation, stewardship, and data-driven projects in OSMRE offices nationwide.Apply for S20AS00326
- The Department of the Interior, Office of Surface Mining in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "OSMRE Semester Internship 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 Jul 20, 2022.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Sep 20, 2022. (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 $75,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 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 Semester Internship Program (S20AS00326) - FAQs
1) What is the OSMRE Semester Internship Program grant opportunity?
It is a discretionary funding opportunity from the U.S. Department of the Interior, Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE) to create and administer paid, semester-based internships hosted in OSMRE offices across the United States. The selected recipient is expected to run the internship program end to end as an operational partner to OSMRE.
2) Who is the intended applicant for this funding?
The opportunity is intended for a qualified nonprofit organization with IRS 501(c)(3) status. The ideal applicant has strong administrative capacity and access to AmeriCorps State and National positions through a relationship with AmeriCorps (formerly the Corporation for National and Community Service) or an intermediary organization.
3) Does this grant fund individual students directly?
No. The funding is not designed to pay individual students directly. Instead, OSMRE seeks to fund a nonprofit partner that administers the internship program and places interns into OSMRE offices.
4) What type of federal funding instrument is used?
The instrument is a Cooperative Agreement. This generally indicates a more involved, collaborative relationship between OSMRE and the recipient than a standard grant.
5) How many awards does OSMRE expect to make?
OSMRE anticipates making one award under this opportunity.
6) What is the maximum amount of funding available?
The source listing includes an award ceiling of $75,000. The narrative description also references a maximum of $100,000 to administer a two-year program. Applicants are expected to reconcile this during application preparation by relying on the official ceiling in the notice and any subsequent clarifications.
7) What is the project period for the award?
The project period is up to two years from the date of award.
8) Is a time extension allowed?
Yes. The recipient may request a non-funded time extension of up to one additional year if additional time is needed to complete the work.
9) What is the overall purpose of the internship program?
The program is designed as a workforce development and mission-support partnership. It places students and recent graduates into meaningful project roles that advance OSMRE priorities while providing substantial professional development for participants.
10) Where are internships hosted?
Interns serve in OSMRE Headquarters as well as OSMRE Regional and Field Offices across the country.
11) What internship terms are expected each year?
The program is structured around three standard terms per year:
- Fall semester: about August through December (15 weeks)
- Spring semester: about January through May (15 weeks)
- Summer term: about May through August (10 weeks)
12) Can the exact start timing change?
Yes. While the internship terms are defined, onboarding windows may shift due to OSMRE funding schedules and appropriations.
13) What kinds of projects might interns work on?
Internship assignments are tied to OSMRE mission needs in natural resources and related applied fields. Example project areas mentioned include community and environmental reclamation, community environmental stewardship, research support, data analysis, geographic information systems (GIS), mapping, and similar technical or programmatic work.
14) Who is eligible to participate as an intern?
Participant eligibility is geared toward current students or recent graduates from an accredited institution of higher education. The internships are positioned as a bridge between academic training and early career public service work.
15) How are internships categorized under this program?
Internships can be set up under two categories depending on whether the assignment meets AmeriCorps rules: (1) AmeriCorps Member positions, or (2) general intern positions that do not fall under AmeriCorps definitions.
16) What happens when an internship assignment meets AmeriCorps requirements?
If the project aligns with AmeriCorps requirements, the participant serves as an AmeriCorps Member and may receive the typical AmeriCorps package, such as a living allowance and applicable benefits, with the potential to earn a Segal AmeriCorps Education Award upon successful completion of service.
17) What happens when an internship assignment does not meet AmeriCorps requirements?
If the project does not fit AmeriCorps definitions, the participant is treated as a general intern and must be paid at least the minimum wage for the state where they are serving.
18) Why does the program use a dual-track (AmeriCorps and non-AmeriCorps) approach?
The dual-track structure allows OSMRE to support a broader range of office needs while still leveraging AmeriCorps national service pathways where appropriate.
19) How many intern positions is the program expected to support over two years?
Over the two-year period, the program is expected to support at least up to six general intern positions and up to ten AmeriCorps intern positions.
20) What administrative entities are eligible to apply?
Eligibility is limited to nonprofits with IRS 501(c)(3) status. Institutions of higher education are excluded as the applicant entity.
21) What federal category and identifier information is associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is categorized under Natural Resources and includes CFDA number 15.254.
22) What is the Funding Opportunity Number?
The Funding Opportunity Number is S20AS00326.
23) When was the opportunity posted and what was the original closing date?
It was posted on July 20, 2022, with an original closing date of September 20, 2022.
24) What is OSMRE looking for from the nonprofit partner?
OSMRE is looking for a nonprofit partner that can design and manage recruitment, placement, and program administration to deliver a steady pipeline of interns supporting reclamation, stewardship, and data-driven projects across OSMRE offices nationwide.
25) How important is AmeriCorps access or affiliation for applicants?
It is highlighted as an important feature of the ideal applicant. OSMRE emphasizes access to AmeriCorps State and National positions through AmeriCorps or an intermediary relationship as a way to structure some internships as AmeriCorps Member positions where rules allow.
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