Opportunity Information: Apply for P14AS00130
Apply for P14AS00130
- The National Park Service in the energy environment natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Advancing Adoption of Fully Sustainable Outdoor Lighting Promoting Stargazing Recreation" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.944 Natural Resource Stewardship.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jun 19, 2014 and posted on Jun 19, 2014.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 30, 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 $100,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $100,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education.
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Opportunity Summary:
This government grant notice (Funding Opportunity Number P14AS00130) is a National Park Service (NPS) "Notice of Intent to Award," meaning it is not an open call for applications. Instead, it serves as public notice that NPS plans to make a single award, without full and open competition, to the International Dark Sky Association (IDA). The effort is titled "Advancing Adoption of Fully Sustainable Outdoor Lighting and Promoting Stargazing Recreation" and is structured as a cooperative agreement, reflecting that NPS expects to play an active, ongoing role in carrying out the work rather than simply providing pass-through funding.
The planned award totals $100,000 with no cost-share requirement. It is described as a new award with an anticipated five-year agreement length and five-year period of performance starting from the date of award. The assistance listing is tied to CFDA 15.944 (Natural Resource Stewardship), and the statutory authority cited is 16 USC 1(g), which allows NPS to enter into cooperative agreements with nonprofit organizations using appropriated funds to carry out NPS program purposes (pursuant to 31 U.S.C. 6305). The identified principal investigator/program manager for the recipient is John Barentine, and the NPS point of contact is June Zastrow (junezastrow@nps.gov; 303-987-6718). The notice was posted June 19, 2014, with an associated closing date of June 30, 2014, consistent with its function as a notice rather than a competitive solicitation.
At its core, the project aims to protect and enhance night sky resources by accelerating adoption of fully sustainable outdoor lighting practices, especially in environmentally sensitive settings like national parks and other protected lands. NPS frames dark, naturally functioning nighttime environments as both an ecological and visitor-experience resource. The NPS Night Skies Program (established in 1999 and housed within the Natural Sounds and Night Skies Division) brings expertise in characterizing night sky conditions, understanding light pollution sources and impacts, and helping parks protect dark sky resources while maintaining public safety and operational needs. IDA, founded in 1988, is presented as a leading nonprofit authority on light pollution, responsible lighting, public education, and the development of widely used guidance and certification programs that recognize communities and protected areas that meet strong dark-sky standards. The partnership is positioned as mutually reinforcing: NPS contributes technical and field-based park experience, while IDA contributes national visibility, public-facing programs, and specialized leadership in sustainable lighting and dark-sky stewardship.
The work plan is organized around several collaborative themes: improving and implementing IDA's Dark Sky Places Program (which includes certifications such as International Dark Sky Communities, Reserves, and Parks); conducting outreach and public education to build awareness and motivate action to prevent light pollution; convening and supporting conferences and professional meetings to spread best practices; and advancing practical lighting solutions tailored for the most sensitive lighting contexts (notably Lighting Zones 0 and 1). A major emphasis is developing, testing, and sharing best management practices that reduce light pollution while improving energy efficiency and maintaining safety and functionality. The notice also highlights the broader public benefits expected from this work, including preserving opportunities for stargazing and nighttime recreation, supporting tourism and local economic development tied to dark-sky destinations, and helping communities near protected lands reduce their lighting impacts as rural and urban boundaries continue to tighten.
IDA's responsibilities include collaborating with NPS to strengthen the Dark Sky Places framework and its future rollout, partnering on public education campaigns like Dark Sky Week and related press and outreach tied to NPS lands, and maintaining an advisory role in the Colorado Plateau Dark Sky Cooperative. IDA is also expected to coordinate or co-sponsor conferences and professional meetings, help expand the technical knowledge base for sustainable lighting in sensitive environments by exploring assessment methods and market-ready solutions, and keep NPS informed about advances in lighting technology. In addition, IDA is tasked with producing educational materials (web content, webinars, videos) aimed at both technical and general audiences, covering lighting assessments, appropriate solutions, and environmental and economic benefits, and providing a final report. Operationally, IDA will assign a staff member to track the work and serve as a liaison, and coordinate NPS-related activities through the NPS National Night Skies Program in Fort Collins, Colorado.
NPS, in turn, commits to substantial involvement typical of a cooperative agreement. Its roles include providing input on IDA's ongoing development and implementation of the Dark Sky Places Program, and offering technical assistance to individual NPS units pursuing International Dark Sky Park or Reserve certification. NPS will also assist, when formally requested, communities working to reduce lighting impacts on parks and other sensitive environments, and it will co-develop outreach efforts such as stargazing festivals and related communications. On the technical side, NPS will share expertise in light pollution measurement and assessment, contribute to investigations of lighting solutions for sensitive zones, and share mitigation results and effectiveness evaluations to improve best practices over time. NPS will designate a staff member within the Natural Sounds and Night Skies Division to monitor progress and serve as liaison, and will coordinate IDA-related activities through IDA's office in Tucson, Arizona.
The notice explains why the award is single-source rather than competitive. The cited justification is that the project originated as an unsolicited proposal from IDA, developed through discussions in early 2014, and was then jointly shaped into a scope of work and cooperative agreement. Under Department of the Interior single source policy (505 DM 2), an unsolicited proposal can justify a noncompetitive award when it offers a unique or innovative approach advantageous to program goals and not duplicative of existing or planned awards. NPS also emphasizes IDA's unique qualifications and established leadership in dark-sky certification, outreach, and sustainable lighting guidance as key reasons this collaboration is practical and beneficial for achieving NPS objectives.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is Funding Opportunity Number P14AS00130?
P14AS00130 is a National Park Service (NPS) funding notice titled "Advancing Adoption of Fully Sustainable Outdoor Lighting and Promoting Stargazing Recreation." It is published as a public notice that NPS intends to make a specific award.
Is this an open grant application opportunity?
No. This notice is a "Notice of Intent to Award," which means it is not an open call for applications and is not soliciting competing proposals.
Who is the intended recipient of the award?
NPS states it intends to make a single award, without full and open competition, to the International Dark Sky Association (IDA).
What type of funding instrument will be used?
The planned award is structured as a cooperative agreement, which indicates that NPS expects to have active, ongoing involvement in carrying out the project work.
How much funding is planned for this award?
The planned award amount is $100,000.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No cost-share requirement is listed for this planned award.
Is this described as a new award or a continuation?
The notice describes it as a new award.
What is the anticipated period of performance?
The notice describes an anticipated five-year agreement length and a five-year period of performance beginning on the date of award.
What is the Assistance Listing / CFDA number for this opportunity?
The assistance listing is tied to CFDA 15.944 (Natural Resource Stewardship).
What statutory authority is cited for this cooperative agreement?
The notice cites 16 USC 1(g) as the authority, describing NPS's ability to enter into cooperative agreements with nonprofit organizations using appropriated funds to carry out NPS program purposes (pursuant to 31 U.S.C. 6305).
When was the notice posted and what is the closing date?
The notice was posted on June 19, 2014, and lists a closing date of June 30, 2014, consistent with its role as a notice rather than a competitive solicitation.
What is the overall purpose of the project?
The project aims to protect and enhance night sky resources by accelerating adoption of fully sustainable outdoor lighting practices, particularly in environmentally sensitive settings such as national parks and other protected lands.
How does NPS describe the value of dark night skies?
NPS frames dark, naturally functioning nighttime environments as both an ecological resource and a visitor-experience resource, including support for stargazing and nighttime recreation.
What NPS program is connected to this work?
The notice references the NPS Night Skies Program, established in 1999 and housed within the Natural Sounds and Night Skies Division.
What expertise does the NPS Night Skies Program contribute?
NPS describes expertise in characterizing night sky conditions, understanding light pollution sources and impacts, and helping parks protect dark sky resources while maintaining public safety and operational needs.
What is the International Dark Sky Association (IDA) and why is it involved?
IDA is described as a leading nonprofit authority on light pollution and responsible lighting, founded in 1988. The notice highlights IDA's guidance and certification programs that recognize communities and protected areas meeting strong dark-sky standards.
Why is this a single-source (noncompetitive) award?
NPS explains that the project originated as an unsolicited proposal from IDA, developed through discussions in early 2014, and was jointly shaped into a scope of work and cooperative agreement. The notice cites Department of the Interior single source policy (505 DM 2) and emphasizes IDA's unique qualifications and established leadership in dark-sky certification, outreach, and sustainable lighting guidance.
What are the main work areas described in the work plan?
The notice organizes the effort around collaborative themes including: improving and implementing IDA's Dark Sky Places Program; outreach and public education to prevent light pollution; convening and supporting conferences and professional meetings to spread best practices; and advancing practical lighting solutions tailored for sensitive lighting contexts (notably Lighting Zones 0 and 1).
What is the Dark Sky Places Program referenced in the notice?
It is an IDA program referenced as including certifications such as International Dark Sky Communities, Reserves, and Parks, and the project includes work to improve and implement this program and its future rollout.
What lighting contexts are specifically emphasized as most sensitive?
The notice calls out "Lighting Zones 0 and 1" as especially sensitive contexts where tailored, practical lighting solutions are a major emphasis.
What kinds of technical outcomes are expected?
The notice emphasizes developing, testing, and sharing best management practices that reduce light pollution while improving energy efficiency and maintaining safety and functionality, including assessment methods and market-ready solutions for sustainable lighting in sensitive environments.
What public benefits does NPS expect from the project?
The notice highlights preserving opportunities for stargazing and nighttime recreation, supporting tourism and local economic development tied to dark-sky destinations, and helping communities near protected lands reduce lighting impacts as rural and urban boundaries tighten.
What are IDA's key responsibilities under the cooperative agreement?
IDA is expected to collaborate with NPS to strengthen the Dark Sky Places framework and rollout; partner on public education efforts such as Dark Sky Week and related outreach tied to NPS lands; maintain an advisory role in the Colorado Plateau Dark Sky Cooperative; coordinate or co-sponsor conferences and professional meetings; expand the technical knowledge base for sustainable lighting in sensitive environments (including assessment methods and market-ready solutions); keep NPS informed about advances in lighting technology; produce educational materials (web content, webinars, videos) for technical and general audiences; and provide a final report.
What outreach and educational materials are mentioned?
The notice specifically mentions web content, webinars, and videos addressing lighting assessments, appropriate solutions, and environmental and economic benefits, for both technical and general audiences.
What are NPS's key responsibilities under the cooperative agreement?
NPS commits to active involvement, including providing input on IDA's Dark Sky Places Program development and implementation; offering technical assistance to NPS units pursuing International Dark Sky Park or Reserve certification; assisting communities (when formally requested) to reduce lighting impacts on parks and other sensitive environments; co-developing outreach efforts such as stargazing festivals and related communications; sharing expertise in light pollution measurement and assessment; contributing to investigations of lighting solutions for sensitive zones; and sharing mitigation results and effectiveness evaluations to improve best practices over time.
How will coordination and liaison roles be handled?
Operationally, IDA will assign a staff member to track the work and serve as a liaison, and coordinate NPS-related activities through the NPS National Night Skies Program in Fort Collins, Colorado. NPS will designate a staff member within the Natural Sounds and Night Skies Division to monitor progress and serve as liaison, and will coordinate IDA-related activities through IDA's office in Tucson, Arizona.
Who is the principal investigator/program manager for the recipient?
The notice identifies John Barentine as the principal investigator/program manager for the recipient.
Who is the NPS point of contact for this notice?
The notice lists June Zastrow as the NPS point of contact, with email junezastrow@nps.gov and phone 303-987-6718.
Does the notice describe NPS as a pass-through funder?
No. By using a cooperative agreement, the notice indicates NPS expects to play an active, ongoing role in carrying out the work rather than simply providing pass-through funding.
What is the Colorado Plateau Dark Sky Cooperative in this notice?
The notice mentions it as a body in which IDA is expected to maintain an advisory role, as part of the broader partnership and coordination described.
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