Southwest Border Resource Protection Program
Supports cooperative-agreement projects that conduct research, monitoring, conservation, interpretation, and preservation for NPS units along the U.S.-Mexico border, benefiting an eligible U.S. partner and a protected area in Mexico.
⚑ Foreign entities may not receive funds directly, though they may be subcontractors or otherwise funded indirectly. · Projects must work with and benefit an NPS unit in the Intermountain Region along the U.S.-Mexico border and a protected area in Mexico. · Cooperative agreement with separately authorized projects/work plans and budgets; award ceiling is $50,000.
Unit fits — one characterization, each unit's own rules
| Physical Sciences & Engineering (demo) | 70 strong | technical depth: substantial; funds applied research |
| IPPRA | 58 good | portfolio topic: environment (primary); signature methods: community engaged, policy analysis; social/behavioral work is minor; funds applied research |
| Tom Love Innovation Hub | 25 weak | funds applied research; deep-tech content |
Description
The Southwest Border Resource Protection Program (SWBRPP) provides financial assistance to National Park Service (NPS) units, as well as educational institutions, nonprofit organizations, tribes, and local and state agencies to improve resource stewardship, achieve international cooperation, provide meaningful interpretation and conduct scientific research, which will lead to increased appreciation and understanding of our shared natural and cultural heritage along our international border with Mexico. Several National Parks located along the U.S. border with Mexico have recently experienced serious resource damage due to illegal cross border activities including drug traffickers and undocumented persons traversing the parks. Other national park units within the desert southwest have also experienced impacts to their natural and cultural resources. Thousands of miles of unauthorized roads and trails have been created, major ecological processes and the migration patterns of wildlife have been disrupted, important historic sites have been vandalized, and archaeological sites have been looted. Program funding is available for conducting scientific research and monitoring of species, as well as conservation, interpretation and preservation projects designed to help protect and preserve natural and cultural resources located near or along our international border. Applicants must work with and benefit an NPS unit in the Intermountain Region along the U.S. – Mexico border as well as a protected area in Mexico by addressing cultural or natural resource issues shared by both countries. These parks include 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. Please note that applicants can work with other Intermountain Region parks near the U.S. Mexico Border, or not otherwise listed to support cultural or natural resource issues shared by both countries. The projects and activities will be individually authorized by separate awards, with each project or activity having a separate work plan and budget developed cooperatively between the NPS and the cooperator. Project categories include: Research & MonitoringCultural Resource examples:Identification, research, and evaluation of archeological and historic sitesNational Register of Historic Places nominationsNational Historic Landmark nominationsNatural Resource examples:Wildlife habitat managementInventory and monitoring of invasive plants and animalsImpacts from climate change to endangered speciesAssessments of the effects of border activities on threatened and endangered speciesConservation & PreservationCultural Resource examples:Stabilization, rehabilitation, and restoration of historic structures, archeological sites, trails and landsc
Eligibility
This program does not provide funding to foreign entities Recipients, however, are not prohibited from subcontracting or otherwise providing funding to such organizations or entities.
Apply
View on Grants.gov → CONTACT: National Park Service <Katie_Gaertner@ios.doi.gov>
Proposal brief SEE AN EXAMPLE →
A one-page internal memo: fit assessment, submission requirements, document scaffold, and next steps dated back from the deadline — tailored to your project idea if you add one.
Proposal shell · Federal (generic) conventions SEE A FEDERAL EXAMPLE →
Funder-faithful document skeletons — Federal (generic)'s document set with section headings, page limits, reviewer guidance, and writing prompts; add a project idea to get [DRAFT] starter bullets. Download as .md for Word or Overleaf.