Opportunity Information: Apply for P15AS00212
Apply for P15AS00212
- The National Park Service in the community development education environment health natural resources regional development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Accessibility Review Training Pilots" 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 15, 2015 and posted on Jul 14, 2015.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 28, 2015. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $195,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $195,000.00 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:
The Accessibility Review Training Pilots opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number P15AS00212) is a National Park Service (NPS) notice of intent to award funding through a cooperative agreement, not an open call for applications. In other words, it is published to inform the public that NPS plans to issue a single award without full and open competition. The anticipated award total is $195,000 with no cost share requirement, and it is structured as a continuation of an existing cooperative agreement (P14AC00027) via a task agreement (P15AC01177). The expected period of performance runs from the date of award through September 30, 2017. Statutory authority is cited as 54 USC 101702(a), and the CFDA listing is 15.954 (National Park Service Conservation, Protection, Outreach, and Education). The single-source rationale is based on the “Continuation” criterion, meaning NPS determined that competing the work would disrupt or negatively affect the continuity and completion of activities already underway.
The intended recipient is Indiana University’s National Center on Accessibility (NCA), with Sherril York listed as the principal investigator/program manager. The overall purpose is to strengthen how accessibility reviews are carried out across the NPS system by piloting newly developed standard operating procedures (SOPs), evaluating how well those SOPs work in real settings, and building the training and support structure needed to implement them consistently across parks. A major theme of the project is capacity building: NPS is not only trying to standardize its internal approach to accessibility reviews, but also to create an “industry standard” model that can be adopted or adapted by state, local, and private entities such as parks, museums, and other public-facing facilities that also conduct accessibility assessments.
A key driver behind the project is that many NPS units and outside partners already rely on external organizations (including ADA centers and other contractors) to conduct accessibility reviews, but those reviewers may not have consistent guidelines to follow. By developing and testing NPS-wide SOPs and then pairing them with practical training, the agency aims to make accessibility assessments more uniform, easier to execute, and more comparable across sites. The announcement also emphasizes that the disability community outside of NPS will be involved in the process, both to improve the quality of the work and because the people most affected by accessibility barriers directly benefit from participating in shaping how reviews are conducted and implemented.
Under the award, NCA’s responsibilities center on field-testing and training. NCA will conduct one or more pilots of the accessibility review SOPs (originally developed under a separate task agreement, TA Number P14AC01604), with the number and locations decided jointly with NPS. After piloting, NCA will evaluate the effectiveness of SOP implementation and recommend adjustments as needed. NCA will also develop and deliver trainings on how to implement the SOPs, and separately develop and deliver trainings focused on “programmatic accessibility,” meaning accessibility in services, programs, and experiences, not just physical facilities. Beyond pilots and formal trainings, NCA will continue providing ongoing technical assistance through phone and email consultation to NPS units and to other public entities requesting help. The scope also includes creating online technical assistance materials such as guides, videos, and/or blog content distributed through the NCA website and social platforms like Facebook and LinkedIn.
NPS’s role is described as “substantial involvement,” which is typical for a cooperative agreement where the federal agency actively participates rather than simply issuing a pass-through grant. NPS will collaborate with NCA and other stakeholders to identify parks for the pilots and coordinate with those parks to prepare for the pilot activities. NPS will similarly help identify and coordinate participants for the trainings, provide timely information and document review support, and take into account NCA’s overall workload when setting schedules. NPS also commits to broader evaluative and program-development work alongside the University, including assessing the current status of accessibility in NPS programs, facilities, and services; evaluating existing training and technical assistance efforts; and contributing expertise from the National Accessibility Branch to help develop and implement a national training and education program. The announcement makes clear that the partnership is meant to be iterative: NPS and the University will evaluate the effectiveness of the collaboration and make program modifications based on what they learn.
From a practical standpoint, the project is trying to bridge the gap between having written procedures and actually making them work across a large, diverse system. It pairs (1) pilots that test SOPs in real parks, (2) evaluation and refinement of the SOPs based on pilot results, and (3) a training and technical assistance pipeline that can scale implementation across NPS and inform partners and other levels of government. It also explicitly considers the ripple effects on concessioners and partners who operate services in parks, since their training needs are expected to be included in the broader training plan. The listed NPS point of contact for the announcement is June Zastrow (junezastrow@nps.gov, 303-987-6718).
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - Accessibility Review Training Pilots (P15AS00212)
What is the Accessibility Review Training Pilots opportunity (P15AS00212)?
Accessibility Review Training Pilots (Funding Opportunity Number P15AS00212) is a National Park Service (NPS) notice of intent to award funding through a cooperative agreement. It is published to inform the public that NPS plans to issue a single award without full and open competition.
Is this an open grant solicitation where organizations can apply?
No. This notice is not an open call for applications. It is a notice of intent to make a single award (single-source) through a cooperative agreement, rather than a competitive funding opportunity.
Why is NPS making a single-source award instead of holding a competition?
The single-source rationale is based on the "Continuation" criterion. NPS determined that competing the work would disrupt or negatively affect the continuity and completion of activities already underway.
What type of award will be used?
The funding will be issued through a cooperative agreement, which is a type of federal assistance award that involves substantial involvement by the federal agency (NPS) during performance.
What is the anticipated award amount?
The anticipated total award is $195,000.
Is a cost share or match required?
No. The notice states there is no cost share requirement.
What is the expected period of performance?
The expected period of performance runs from the date of award through September 30, 2017.
What is the statutory authority for this award?
The statutory authority cited is 54 USC 101702(a).
What CFDA program is associated with this funding?
The CFDA listing is 15.954, titled "National Park Service Conservation, Protection, Outreach, and Education."
Is this award connected to earlier agreements or prior work?
Yes. The award is structured as a continuation of an existing cooperative agreement (P14AC00027) via a task agreement (P15AC01177). The SOPs being piloted were developed under a separate task agreement (TA Number P14AC01604).
Who is the intended recipient of the award?
The intended recipient is Indiana Universitys National Center on Accessibility (NCA).
Who is the principal investigator or program manager for the recipient?
Sherril York is listed as the principal investigator/program manager.
What is the main purpose of the project?
The project aims to strengthen how accessibility reviews are carried out across the NPS system by piloting newly developed standard operating procedures (SOPs), evaluating how well those SOPs work in real settings, and building training and support structures so the SOPs can be implemented consistently across parks.
What are the standard operating procedures (SOPs) mentioned in the notice?
The SOPs are newly developed NPS-wide procedures intended to guide accessibility reviews. The pilots will test how these SOPs function in real park settings, and the results will be used to refine them.
Why is NPS focusing on standardizing accessibility reviews?
The notice explains that many NPS units and outside partners already rely on external organizations (including ADA centers and contractors) to conduct accessibility reviews, but reviewers may not have consistent guidelines. Standardized SOPs paired with practical training are intended to make accessibility assessments more uniform, easier to execute, and more comparable across sites.
What does "capacity building" mean in this project?
Capacity building refers to creating the tools, training, and technical assistance needed so that accessibility reviews can be carried out reliably and consistently across the NPS system. The notice also describes a goal of developing an "industry standard" model that could be adopted or adapted by state, local, and private entities.
Is the project meant to be used outside the National Park Service?
Yes. While the focus is strengthening NPS accessibility reviews, the notice describes an additional goal of creating an "industry standard" approach that could be adopted or adapted by state and local governments and private entities such as parks, museums, and other public-facing facilities that conduct accessibility assessments.
How will the pilots be conducted, and where will they take place?
NCA will conduct one or more pilots of the accessibility review SOPs. The number of pilots and their locations will be decided jointly with NPS, and NPS will collaborate to identify parks and coordinate with those parks to prepare for pilot activities.
What happens after the pilot testing is completed?
After piloting, NCA will evaluate the effectiveness of SOP implementation and recommend adjustments as needed. The project is intended to be iterative, with refinements based on lessons learned.
What training activities are included in the scope of work?
NCA will develop and deliver trainings on how to implement the accessibility review SOPs. In addition, NCA will develop and deliver trainings focused on programmatic accessibility, meaning accessibility in services, programs, and experiences, not just physical facilities.
What is meant by "programmatic accessibility" in this notice?
Programmatic accessibility refers to accessibility in services, programs, and experiences (how people participate and engage), rather than focusing only on physical facilities.
Will technical assistance be available beyond the pilots and trainings?
Yes. NCA will continue providing ongoing technical assistance through phone and email consultation to NPS units and to other public entities requesting help.
Will any online resources be created as part of the project?
Yes. The scope includes creating online technical assistance materials such as guides, videos, and/or blog content distributed through the NCA website and social platforms including Facebook and LinkedIn.
What role will NPS play during the project?
NPS will have substantial involvement. NPS will collaborate with NCA and stakeholders to identify pilot parks, coordinate with those parks, identify and coordinate training participants, provide timely information and document review support, and consider NCA workload when setting schedules. NPS will also contribute expertise from the National Accessibility Branch and participate in assessment and evaluation activities described in the notice.
What does "substantial involvement" mean in the context of this award?
It means NPS will actively participate in the project rather than only providing funding. The notice describes NPS collaboration on pilot site selection and coordination, training participant coordination, document support, evaluation, and broader program development work.
Will the disability community be involved?
Yes. The notice emphasizes involvement of the disability community outside of NPS to improve the quality of the work and because the people most affected by accessibility barriers benefit from participating in shaping how reviews are conducted and implemented.
Does the project consider concessioners and partners who operate services in parks?
Yes. The notice explicitly considers ripple effects on concessioners and partners who operate services in parks, and it states their training needs are expected to be included in the broader training plan.
Who is the NPS point of contact for this notice?
The listed NPS point of contact is June Zastrow. Email: junezastrow@nps.gov. Phone: 303-987-6718.
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