Opportunity Information: Apply for P14AS00066
Apply for P14AS00066
- The National Park Service in the education science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "A Program of Training, Technical Assistance Research in Accessibility for Citizens with Disabilities in Parks, Recreation Tourism" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.916 Outdoor RecreationAcquisition, Development and Planning.
- This funding opportunity was created on Apr 9, 2014 and posted on Apr 9, 2014.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Apr 23, 2014. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $150,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $150,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education.
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Opportunity Summary:
This notice is a National Park Service (NPS) "Notice of Intent to Award" for a cooperative agreement continuation, not an open call for applications. In other words, it is not asking organizations to apply or compete. Instead, it publicly documents NPS's plan to provide funding to a specific partner, Indiana University through its National Center on Accessibility (NCA), to keep an ongoing accessibility program moving forward without full and open competition.
The opportunity is listed as Funding Opportunity Number P14AS00066 and covers "A Program of Training, Technical Assistance and Research in the Area of Accessibility for Citizens with Disabilities in Parks, Recreation, and Tourism." The anticipated award amount is $150,000 with no cost share or matching requirement. The instrument is a cooperative agreement, meaning NPS expects substantial involvement in the work rather than simply issuing a grant and stepping back. It is a continuation action tied to an existing relationship (Continuation of Cooperative Agreement P14AC00027; the overview also references earlier cooperative agreement number H2420100163), and the period of performance runs from the date of award through 09/30/2015. The statutory authority cited is 16 U.S.C. 1(g), which authorizes NPS to enter cooperative agreements to carry out NPS programs. The CFDA listing is 15.916, Outdoor Recreation Acquisition, Development and Planning. The NPS point of contact for the notice is June Zastrow.
The core purpose of the agreement is to combine NPS resources and the university's expertise to improve accessibility for people with disabilities across parks, recreation, and tourism settings. The program is structured around three connected lines of work: (1) training and education for professionals, (2) technical assistance and consultation to help agencies and organizations comply with applicable accessibility laws, standards, and regulations, and (3) field-based research to identify practical accessibility issues and test or promote strategies that improve access and inclusion in real park and recreation environments. An additional emphasis is placed on evaluation and continuous improvement, so the training products, technical assistance services, and research outputs are assessed for effectiveness and updated over time.
Indiana University's National Center on Accessibility is expected to take a hands-on role in assessing needs and delivering services. Their responsibilities include working with NPS (especially the NPS Accessibility Management Program) and individual parks to evaluate the current state of accessible programs, facilities, and services, then using that information to pinpoint training, technical assistance, and research priorities. They are also tasked with scanning broader trends in the park and recreation field to anticipate emerging accessibility needs. Using university resources, NCA will help develop and deliver a national training and education program for park and recreation professionals across federal, state, local, and private sectors. Alongside training, NCA will coordinate technical assistance, information-sharing, and consultation to help practitioners implement accessibility consistent with applicable rules and standards. They will also collaborate with NPS on a field-based research agenda, identify research questions that matter on the ground, and initiate strategies to promote and conduct that research. Finally, they will evaluate program effectiveness with NPS and share resulting information and products broadly, including through web resources, in-person and web-based training, and hard-copy research materials so the work benefits the wider public and the professional community.
NPS, for its part, is not just a funder in this arrangement. The notice explicitly states that substantial NPS involvement is anticipated, which is characteristic of a cooperative agreement. NPS will jointly assess the current status of accessibility in programs, facilities, and services and help define training, technical assistance, and research needs. NPS will also participate in evaluating the effectiveness of NCA's outputs and recommend revisions or additions. Through the NPS Accessibility Management Program, the Service will provide technical expertise and help implement national training efforts (workshops, seminars, and fieldwork) aimed at increasing professionals' knowledge of how to ensure equal access for people with disabilities. NPS will also leverage the broader National Park System as a resource for technical assistance and for conducting field-based research, and it will work with the university to evaluate and refine the partnership over time.
The document also explains why this award is being made without full and open competition. Under Department of the Interior single-source policy (505 DM 2), agencies must justify when competition is not practicable. NPS cites the "Continuation" justification: the work is necessary to complete or continue activities already being funded, and competing it would significantly disrupt continuity or completion. The notice identifies the action as a task agreement (P14AC00028) under the existing cooperative agreement (P14AC00027), reinforcing that this is part of an ongoing program rather than a new, competed initiative.
Administratively, the opportunity is categorized as discretionary funding using a cooperative agreement, with activity areas spanning education and research and development (science and technology/other R&D). It lists one expected award, an estimated total funding amount of $150,000, an award ceiling of $150,000, and an award floor of $1. While the general eligibility field in the listing mentions public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, this specific posting functions as a public notice for a directed continuation award to Indiana University rather than a competitive solicitation.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is this an open grant competition? Can new organizations apply?
No. This is a National Park Service (NPS) Notice of Intent to Award for a continuation cooperative agreement, not an open call for applications. It documents NPS's plan to fund a specific partner (Indiana University, through its National Center on Accessibility) without full and open competition.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number?
The Funding Opportunity Number is P14AS00066.
Who is the intended recipient of the award?
The notice identifies Indiana University, through its National Center on Accessibility (NCA), as the specific partner for this continuation award.
What is the purpose of this funding?
The purpose is to continue a program that combines NPS resources and university expertise to improve accessibility for people with disabilities across parks, recreation, and tourism settings. The work focuses on training, technical assistance, and field-based research, with ongoing evaluation and updates to improve effectiveness over time.
What is the project/program title or focus area?
The opportunity covers "A Program of Training, Technical Assistance and Research in the Area of Accessibility for Citizens with Disabilities in Parks, Recreation, and Tourism."
How much funding is anticipated?
The anticipated award amount is $150,000. The estimated total funding amount is also listed as $150,000, with an award ceiling of $150,000.
Is there a cost share or matching requirement?
No. The notice states there is no cost share or matching requirement.
What type of award instrument will be used?
The instrument is a cooperative agreement. This means NPS anticipates substantial involvement in the work, rather than providing funds with minimal ongoing participation.
What does "substantial NPS involvement" mean in this notice?
Based on the notice, NPS will take an active role alongside the university partner, including jointly assessing accessibility status and needs, helping define priorities for training/technical assistance/research, participating in evaluation of outputs, recommending revisions, and leveraging the National Park System for training, technical assistance, and field-based research activities.
What is the period of performance?
The period of performance runs from the date of award through 09/30/2015.
Is this a new program or a continuation of existing work?
This is a continuation action tied to an existing relationship. The notice references a continuation of Cooperative Agreement P14AC00027 and also mentions an earlier cooperative agreement number H2420100163. It also describes the action as a task agreement (P14AC00028) under the existing cooperative agreement (P14AC00027).
Why is NPS making this award without full and open competition?
The notice cites a continuation justification under Department of the Interior single-source policy (505 DM 2). NPS states the work is necessary to complete or continue activities already being funded, and competing the effort would significantly disrupt continuity or completion.
What are the main components of the program work?
The program is organized around three connected lines of work: (1) training and education for professionals, (2) technical assistance and consultation to support compliance with applicable accessibility laws, standards, and regulations, and (3) field-based research to identify practical accessibility issues and test or promote strategies that improve access and inclusion in real park and recreation environments. The notice also emphasizes evaluation and continuous improvement across these components.
What kinds of training activities are described?
The notice describes a national training and education program for park and recreation professionals across federal, state, local, and private sectors. Delivery methods mentioned include in-person and web-based training, such as workshops, seminars, and fieldwork.
What kinds of technical assistance activities are described?
The technical assistance described includes information-sharing, consultation, and support intended to help agencies and organizations implement accessibility consistent with applicable laws, standards, and regulations. The work also includes assessing current conditions and using those findings to set priorities for assistance.
What is meant by "field-based research" in this program?
Field-based research is described as research grounded in real park and recreation environments, aimed at identifying practical accessibility issues and testing or promoting strategies that improve access and inclusion. The partner is expected to work with NPS to define a research agenda and initiate strategies to promote and conduct that research.
How will the program be evaluated?
The notice states that evaluation and continuous improvement are a key emphasis. NCA and NPS will evaluate the effectiveness of training products, technical assistance services, and research outputs, and then revise or update them over time based on results.
What specific responsibilities are assigned to Indiana University's National Center on Accessibility (NCA)?
As described, NCA will work with NPS and individual parks to assess needs and the current state of accessible programs, facilities, and services; identify priorities for training, technical assistance, and research; scan broader field trends to anticipate emerging needs; develop and deliver national training for professionals; coordinate technical assistance and consultation; collaborate with NPS on a field-based research agenda; and evaluate and share outputs broadly through web resources, trainings, and hard-copy research materials.
What specific responsibilities are assigned to NPS?
NPS will jointly assess accessibility status and needs, participate in defining priorities, provide technical expertise through the NPS Accessibility Management Program, help implement national training efforts (including workshops, seminars, and fieldwork), leverage the National Park System as a resource for technical assistance and field research, and participate in evaluating and refining the partnership outputs over time.
What statutory authority is cited for this cooperative agreement?
The notice cites 16 U.S.C. 1(g) as the statutory authority, describing NPS authority to enter cooperative agreements to carry out NPS programs.
What is the CFDA listing associated with this opportunity?
The CFDA listing provided is 15.916, Outdoor Recreation Acquisition, Development and Planning.
How many awards does NPS expect to make under this notice?
The notice lists one expected award.
What are the award floor and award ceiling?
The award ceiling is $150,000 and the award floor is listed as $1.
How is the funding categorized in the notice?
The notice categorizes this as discretionary funding using a cooperative agreement. Activity areas include education and research and development (science and technology/other R&D).
Who is the NPS point of contact listed in the notice?
The NPS point of contact identified is June Zastrow.
The eligibility field mentions public and state-controlled institutions of higher education. Does that mean universities can apply?
Not for this posting. While the general eligibility field references public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, the notice itself functions as a public notice for a directed continuation award to Indiana University rather than a competitive solicitation seeking applications.
What is the relationship between the listed task agreement and the cooperative agreement?
The notice identifies the action as a task agreement (P14AC00028) under an existing cooperative agreement (P14AC00027), reinforcing that this is part of an ongoing program being continued rather than a new, competed opportunity.
Who benefits from the program supported by this cooperative agreement?
The intended outcome is improved accessibility for citizens with disabilities across parks, recreation, and tourism settings. The program also targets park and recreation professionals (across federal, state, local, and private sectors) by building knowledge and capacity through training, technical assistance, and shared research outputs.
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