Opportunity Information: Apply for P15AS00253
Apply for P15AS00253
- The National Park Service in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Accessibility Agreement TAIP" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.954 National Park Service Conservation, Protection, Outreach, and Education.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jul 29, 2015 and posted on Jul 29, 2015.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Notification of Intent to Award. No applications will be accepted.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $253,493.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $253,493.00 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:
The Accessibility Agreement TAIP (Funding Opportunity Number P15AS00253) was a National Park Service (NPS) cooperative agreement opportunity tied to the Targeted Accessibility Improvement Program (TAIP), launched in fiscal year 2015 by the NPS National Accessibility Branch (AXS Branch). The core purpose of TAIP was to help individual national park units begin comprehensive accessibility upgrades at specific, targeted sites within their boundaries. These upgrades were meant to address both physical accessibility (the built environment, routes, facilities, and other tangible barriers) and programmatic accessibility (how services, interpretive programs, visitor experiences, and activities are offered so that people with disabilities can participate meaningfully). The larger intent was not only to improve access at selected sites, but also to create strong, real-world examples that other parks could learn from as models of accessibility across different environments and types of visitor activities.
A key feature of the program was the recognition that many park units would need more than funding alone to do this work well. The announcement emphasizes that extensive review and technical assistance would often be necessary to properly plan and carry out accessibility improvements, especially in complex settings like historic landscapes, rugged terrain, aging infrastructure, or sensitive natural and cultural resources. To meet that need, TAIP planned to support parks through Interdisciplinary Teams (IDTs). These teams would be made up of experts both from within NPS and from outside the agency, bringing specialized knowledge to help parks evaluate existing conditions, identify barriers, develop practical solutions, and implement upgrades that align with accessibility standards while also respecting resource protection and operational realities.
Administratively, this opportunity was categorized as a discretionary award and used a cooperative agreement funding instrument, which typically indicates substantial involvement by the federal agency during the project. It fell under the “Science and Technology and other Research and Development” activity category, and it was associated with CFDA 15.954 (National Park Service Conservation, Protection, Outreach, and Education). The opportunity anticipated a single award, with an estimated total funding amount of $253,493, which was also listed as the award ceiling. The award floor was stated as $1, and there was no cost-sharing or matching requirement.
Eligibility was limited to public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, meaning the intended partner on this agreement was expected to be a state/public university or similar institution rather than a private entity, nonprofit, or local government. The posting date and creation date were both July 29, 2015, and the archive date was August 7, 2015.
Importantly, the listing made clear that this was not an open, competitive application process. The closing date field states “Notification of Intent to Award. No applications will be accepted,” indicating the NPS had already identified an intended recipient and was publishing the notice to document the planned award rather than solicit proposals. For anyone needing access assistance with the full announcement, the listed point of contact was John Bechtold at the National Park Service (303-969-2492, JohnBechtold@nps.gov), and an additional information link was provided via Grants.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the Accessibility Agreement TAIP funding opportunity (P15AS00253)?
The Accessibility Agreement TAIP (Funding Opportunity Number P15AS00253) was a National Park Service (NPS) cooperative agreement opportunity connected to the Targeted Accessibility Improvement Program (TAIP). TAIP was launched in fiscal year 2015 by the NPS National Accessibility Branch (AXS Branch) to help individual national park units begin comprehensive accessibility upgrades at specific, targeted sites within their boundaries.
What was the main purpose of TAIP?
The core purpose was to help parks start meaningful, comprehensive accessibility improvements at selected locations. The intent was to address barriers and improve access at targeted sites, while also creating real-world examples that other parks could use as models across different environments and types of visitor activities.
What kinds of accessibility improvements did TAIP focus on?
TAIP was designed to address both physical accessibility and programmatic accessibility. Physical accessibility includes the built environment (routes, facilities, and other tangible barriers). Programmatic accessibility focuses on how services, interpretive programs, visitor experiences, and activities are offered so people with disabilities can participate meaningfully.
What is meant by "physical accessibility" in this opportunity?
Physical accessibility refers to accessibility of tangible features in the park setting, including routes, facilities, and other built-environment elements where barriers may exist.
What is meant by "programmatic accessibility" in this opportunity?
Programmatic accessibility refers to the way services, interpretive programs, visitor experiences, and activities are delivered, with the goal of enabling meaningful participation by people with disabilities.
Why did TAIP emphasize technical assistance in addition to funding?
The announcement recognized that many parks would need more than funding to plan and complete accessibility work effectively. It highlighted that extensive review and technical assistance could be necessary, especially in complex contexts such as historic landscapes, rugged terrain, aging infrastructure, or sensitive natural and cultural resources.
How did TAIP plan to provide technical assistance to parks?
TAIP planned to support parks through Interdisciplinary Teams (IDTs). These teams were intended to include experts from within NPS and from outside the agency to help evaluate existing conditions, identify barriers, develop practical solutions, and implement upgrades aligned with accessibility standards while respecting resource protection and operational realities.
What are Interdisciplinary Teams (IDTs) in the context of TAIP?
Interdisciplinary Teams (IDTs) were groups of subject matter experts drawn from both NPS and external sources. Their role was to assist parks in assessing conditions, finding accessibility barriers, designing workable improvements, and supporting implementation in ways that meet accessibility requirements and accommodate park constraints.
What type of award instrument was used for this opportunity?
This opportunity used a cooperative agreement as the funding instrument.
What does it mean that this was a cooperative agreement?
A cooperative agreement typically indicates substantial involvement by the federal agency during the project. In this case, it signals that NPS anticipated playing an active role in the work supported by the agreement.
Was this opportunity described as discretionary or mandatory?
It was categorized as a discretionary award.
What activity category was associated with this funding opportunity?
The opportunity was listed under the activity category "Science and Technology and other Research and Development."
What CFDA number was associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity was associated with CFDA 15.954 (National Park Service Conservation, Protection, Outreach, and Education).
How many awards were anticipated under this opportunity?
The opportunity anticipated a single award.
What was the estimated total funding amount for the award?
The estimated total funding amount was $253,493.
What was the award ceiling for this opportunity?
The award ceiling was $253,493.
What was the award floor for this opportunity?
The award floor was stated as $1.
Was cost sharing or matching required?
No. The opportunity stated there was no cost-sharing or matching requirement.
Who was eligible to receive this award?
Eligibility was limited to public and state-controlled institutions of higher education. This means the intended partner was expected to be a state/public university or similar institution, rather than a private entity, nonprofit, or local government.
Was this an open, competitive opportunity?
No. The listing stated "Notification of Intent to Award. No applications will be accepted," indicating it was not an open competitive application process and that NPS had already identified an intended recipient.
Could applicants submit proposals or applications for this opportunity?
No. The closing date field explicitly stated that no applications would be accepted.
Why was the notice posted if no applications were accepted?
Based on the listing language, the notice functioned as a "Notification of Intent to Award," meaning it was published to document the planned award rather than to solicit proposals.
When was this opportunity posted?
The posting date was July 29, 2015.
When was this opportunity created?
The creation date was July 29, 2015.
When was this opportunity archived?
The archive date was August 7, 2015.
Which NPS program office launched TAIP?
TAIP was launched by the NPS National Accessibility Branch (AXS Branch) in fiscal year 2015.
What types of park settings did the announcement describe as potentially complex for accessibility improvements?
The announcement highlighted complex settings such as historic landscapes, rugged terrain, aging infrastructure, and areas with sensitive natural and cultural resources.
Who was the point of contact for access assistance with the full announcement?
The listed point of contact was John Bechtold at the National Park Service.
What contact details were provided for John Bechtold?
The listing provided phone number 303-969-2492 and email JohnBechtold@nps.gov.
Where could someone find additional information about the opportunity?
An additional information link was provided via Grants.gov.
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