New Mexico Youth Conservation Corps Commission: Youth Conservation Corps Commission Projects

The New Mexico Youth Conservation Corps Commission (YCC) will support public projects that employ youth between the ages of 14 to 25 (Corps members) while conserving New Mexico’s natural resources and providing community benefits of lasting value. A YCC Project must be completed in six months or less, and must result in a specific identifiable product or service that otherwise would not be accomplished with existing funds and must provide a balanced work and learning program in which Corps members learn environmental awareness and work skills primarily through meaningful work activities on public lands or facilities.

All proposed projects must:

• Preserve, maintain, and enhance natural resources by protecting air, fish, forest land, water, and wildlife
• Rehabilitate and improve cultural, historic sites, libraries, museums, parks, parkways, refuges, trails, zoos, and other recreational and natural areas
• Benefit recreational areas and parks by improving their use and access
• Assist with emergency operations, including fires, floods, and rescue of lost or injured persons
• Beautify, improve, and restore urban areas
• Renovate community facilities, including those for the elderly or indigent
• Reinforce the “Keep New Mexico Beautiful” campaign
• Provide disaster relief, increase energy conservation and recycling, improve fire prevention, beautify New Mexico highways, upgrade public lands and facilities, revitalize urban areas, or further goals of community renewal or protection and enhancement of natural resources

Additionally, applicants must provide educational opportunities that enhance Corps members’ educational abilities and attitudes, including but not limited to basic education, literacy, and high school or equivalency diplomas as aligned to the New Mexico Benchmarks. Applicants must describe if they will:

• Provide training and reference materials to Corps members
• Coordinate with educational institutions for the awarding of academic credit of competencies developed of Corps members
• Encourage Corps members to improve educational competencies during non-working hours through basic skills enhancement, high school equivalency preparation, participation in skill training programs, or enrolling in accredited institutions of higher education
• Seek collaboration from schools, colleges, and all other agencies and institutions of higher learning in New Mexico for Corps members
• Encourage, when applicable and appropriate, the integration of the New Mexico Public Education Department content standards for Corps members

Applicants may undertake projects on:

• Public lands, waters, or structures located within the state of New Mexico under the applicant’s jurisdiction or in accordance with a written agreement between the applicant and the agency that has jurisdiction over the public lands, waters, or structures.
• Lands, waters, or structures owned or administered by a nonprofit entity or Native American tribe (the applicant), provided that the facilities are located within the state, are open to the general public on a reasonable basis and there is a public value or benefit to the project.
• Lands, waters, or structures owned or administered by a nonprofit organization or Native American tribe in accordance with a written agreement between the applicant and the nonprofit entity or Native American tribe, provided that these facilities are open to the general public on a reasonable basis, there is a public value or benefit to the project, and the facilities are located within the state.

Amount: Not specified. Multiple contracts may be awarded.

Eligibility: Local units of government; state agencies; federal agencies; federally-recognized Native American tribes; and nonprofit organizations that are duly registered with the Office of the Attorney General may apply.
Funds for projects will be distributed in two categories: 1) Projects located in urban Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs), which include Bernalillo, Sandoval, Valencia, Dona Anã, Los Alamos, Santa Fe, Torrance, and San Juan counties (urban counties); and 2) Projects located in all other counties (rural counties). If money in either category is left over after the YCC evaluates the proposals and awards contracts in that category, the YCC may use the remaining amount for contracts in the other category.

Link: http://www.generalservices.state.nm.us/statepurchasing/ITBs__RFPs_and_Bid_Tabulation.aspx

Note: Recommended pre-proposal conferences will be held on the following times and locations:

• Hobbs: February 27, 2018 at 1:00 pm at the Hobbs Public Library, 509 N. Shipp, Hobbs, NM 88240
• Santa Fe: March 1, 2018 at 9:00 am at the YCC Office, 811 St. Michaels Drive Suite 206, Santa Fe, NM 87505
• Aztec: March 7, 2018 at 9:00 am at the Council Chamber, City of Aztec, 201 W. Chaco St., Aztec, NM 87410
• Clovis: March 20, 2018 at 10:00 at the Clovis Carver Public Library, 701 N. Main St., Clovis, NM 88101
• Las Cruces: March 28, 2018 at 1:00 pm at Ashley Home Furniture, 3299 Del Rey Blvd., Las Cruces, NM 88012

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