Opportunity Information: Apply for P15AS00015
Apply for P15AS00015
- The National Park Service in the community development education environment information and statistics natural resources science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Answering Ecological Management Quesitons" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.945 Cooperative Research and Training Programs Resources of the National Park System.
- This funding opportunity was created on Dec 8, 2014 and posted on Dec 8, 2014.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Dec 19, 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 $511,183.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $511,183.00 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 grant opportunity titled "Answering Ecological Management Questions" (Funding Opportunity Number P15AS00015) is a National Park Service (NPS) notice stating its intent to make a non-competitive award. It is not an open call and does not seek applications; instead, it serves as a public notification that NPS plans to continue funding an existing line of work. The project is structured as a cooperative agreement, meaning NPS expects substantial involvement in planning, execution, and delivery of the work rather than simply providing funds and stepping back.
The project focuses on helping national parks answer practical ecological management questions about aquatic resources, especially in ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes settings, by using GIS and remote sensing tools. The goal is to discover, map, analyze, and support protection of water-related resources and associated habitats, aligning with NPS efforts such as the Ocean Park Stewardship Action Plan. In plain terms, the work is meant to translate large, complex environmental data into usable maps, datasets, analyses, and guidance that park managers can rely on when making decisions about water quality, water quantity, habitat conditions, and related natural and cultural resource concerns. The announcement emphasizes landscape-level analyses and the integration of biological and physical resource knowledge with digital cartography and database development, so the outputs are not just one-off maps but a broader information foundation that can support ongoing management.
Colorado State University (CSU) is the intended recipient, with Dr. Brian Bledsoe listed as the principal investigator/program manager. The total anticipated funding amount shown for the opportunity is $511,183, with no cost share or matching requirement. This award is described as a continuation of an existing cooperative agreement (P14AC00728) within the Rocky Mountains Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (RM-CESU) network, and it is expected to run through 12/21/2019 (from the award date to that end date). The listing also references a task agreement (P15AC00066) for $93,837 under the broader cooperative agreement framework, reflecting how the work may be executed in defined task increments under the umbrella agreement. The negotiated indirect cost/overhead rate cited for the CESU mechanism is 17.5%, and the CFDA program identified is 15.945, titled "Cooperative Research and Training Programs - Resources of the National Park System (CESU)."
On CSU's side, the university is expected to work collaboratively with NPS staff and, as appropriate, other federal, state, and local agencies, affiliates, academic partners, and the public. The university team is to handle data acquisition and analysis and produce concrete deliverables such as reports and recommendations, project plans, mapping products, and both user-facing and technical documentation. The work will primarily be carried out by one or more CSU research associates, with student assistance used when needed for upcoming efforts. The announcement also notes practical field and coordination needs such as possible travel and the ability for CSU personnel to ride in NPS vehicles when required to participate in or complete project work.
On the NPS side, the agency describes significant, hands-on participation as essential to success. NPS will define and coordinate aquatic project needs across parks, regions, and the Washington Support Office, and will collaborate directly with CSU research associates and students under the principal investigators. NPS also plans to provide office space, material support, and access to the data and equipment necessary for the university team to do the work and publish products for park staff, partners, university affiliates, and the public. The relationship is framed as cooperative team-based work that could be led by either party depending on the task, with an expectation of close coordination across multiple programs and external partners.
A major administrative point in the notice is the justification for why this is being awarded without full and open competition. The Department of the Interior requires a written single-source justification when competition is not practicable, and NPS cites the "Continuation" criterion. In other words, NPS argues that the work is necessary to satisfactorily complete, or continue, activities already underway, and that competing the award would risk disrupting continuity or completion. The statutory authorities listed support NPS using cooperative agreements with educational institutions and other public entities to carry out NPS programs and cooperative research and training, including authorities at 16 USC 1(g), 16 USC 1a-2(j), and 16 USC 5933.
Finally, the opportunity metadata clarifies that it is categorized as a discretionary opportunity using a cooperative agreement instrument, with an expectation of one award, an estimated total funding level matching the ceiling ($511,183), and eligible applicants described broadly as public and state-controlled institutions of higher education. Despite that eligibility language, the substance of the announcement makes clear this particular posting is informational only and is tied to a named recipient and an existing cooperative agreement relationship rather than a competitive process. The NPS point of contact for questions is June Zastrow (phone 303-987-6718, email junezastrow@nps.gov), and the original posting dates indicate it was posted December 8, 2014, with a closing date of December 19, 2014, functioning mainly as a formal notice period rather than an application window.
FAQs: Answering Ecological Management Questions (Funding Opportunity Number P15AS00015)
1) Is this an open grant solicitation that accepts applications?
No. The notice states it is not an open call and does not seek applications. It is a public notification that the National Park Service (NPS) intends to make a non-competitive award to continue an existing line of work.
2) Why does the posting show a closing date if applications are not being accepted?
The posting dates (posted December 8, 2014; closing date December 19, 2014) function as a formal notice period rather than an application window, since the announcement is informational and tied to a continuation award.
3) What type of funding instrument is being used?
The project is structured as a cooperative agreement (a discretionary award instrument). This indicates NPS expects substantial involvement in planning, execution, and delivery of the work.
4) What does "substantial involvement" mean in this context?
Based on the notice, NPS will actively define and coordinate aquatic project needs, collaborate directly with CSU staff and students, provide office space and material support, and supply access to data and equipment. The relationship is described as cooperative, team-based work with close coordination across programs and partners.
5) Who is the intended recipient of this award?
Colorado State University (CSU) is the intended recipient. Dr. Brian Bledsoe is listed as the principal investigator/program manager.
6) How much funding is anticipated?
The total anticipated funding amount shown is $511,183. The notice also references a task agreement (P15AC00066) for $93,837 under the broader cooperative agreement framework.
7) Is there a cost share or matching requirement?
No. The notice specifies there is no cost share or matching requirement.
8) Is this award competitive? If not, why?
No. The notice explains that NPS is making a non-competitive award and provides a single-source justification under the Department of the Interior "Continuation" criterion. NPS states the work is needed to continue activities already underway and that competing the award would risk disrupting continuity or completion.
9) What is the purpose of the project?
The project supports national parks in answering practical ecological management questions about aquatic resources, especially in ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes settings. It uses GIS and remote sensing tools to discover, map, analyze, and support protection of water-related resources and associated habitats, aligning with NPS efforts such as the Ocean Park Stewardship Action Plan.
10) What kinds of management questions or decisions is the work meant to support?
The notice describes outputs intended to help park managers make decisions related to water quality, water quantity, habitat conditions, and related natural and cultural resource concerns by translating large, complex environmental data into usable products.
11) What types of deliverables are expected from CSU?
The announcement lists deliverables such as reports and recommendations, project plans, mapping products, and both user-facing and technical documentation. The work also emphasizes GIS/database development and landscape-level analyses that build a broader information foundation rather than only producing one-off maps.
12) What technical approaches or tools are emphasized?
GIS and remote sensing are specifically emphasized, along with digital cartography and database development. The project also stresses integrating biological and physical resource knowledge and producing landscape-level analyses.
13) Who will do the work on the CSU side?
The work will primarily be carried out by one or more CSU research associates, with student assistance used when needed for upcoming efforts, under the principal investigator/program manager.
14) Will CSU work with other partners besides NPS?
Yes. CSU is expected to work collaboratively with NPS staff and, as appropriate, other federal, state, and local agencies, affiliates, academic partners, and the public.
15) What support will NPS provide to help complete the work?
NPS indicates it will provide office space, material support, and access to data and equipment necessary for the university team to perform the work and publish products for park staff, partners, university affiliates, and the public.
16) Are travel or field coordination activities anticipated?
Yes. The notice mentions possible travel and indicates CSU personnel may ride in NPS vehicles when required to participate in or complete project work.
17) What is RM-CESU and how does it relate to this opportunity?
The award is described as a continuation of an existing cooperative agreement (P14AC00728) within the Rocky Mountains Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (RM-CESU) network. The notice also references that work may be executed in defined task increments under the umbrella agreement framework.
18) What indirect cost/overhead rate is referenced?
The notice cites a negotiated indirect cost/overhead rate of 17.5% for the CESU mechanism.
19) What is the CFDA program associated with this notice?
The CFDA program identified is 15.945, titled "Cooperative Research and Training Programs - Resources of the National Park System (CESU)."
20) How many awards does NPS expect to make under this posting?
The opportunity metadata indicates an expectation of one award, with an estimated total funding level matching the ceiling of $511,183.
21) What is the period of performance mentioned in the notice?
The continuation award is expected to run through 12/21/2019 (from the award date to that end date).
22) The metadata mentions eligible applicants. Does that mean others can apply?
The eligibility language is broad (public and state-controlled institutions of higher education), but the substance of the notice makes clear this specific posting is informational only, tied to a named recipient (CSU) and an existing cooperative agreement relationship rather than a competitive process.
23) What legal authorities are cited for using cooperative agreements in this way?
The notice lists statutory authorities including 16 USC 1(g), 16 USC 1a-2(j), and 16 USC 5933 to support NPS use of cooperative agreements with educational institutions and other public entities for NPS programs and cooperative research and training.
24) Who is the NPS point of contact for questions about this notice?
The NPS point of contact is June Zastrow, phone 303-987-6718, email junezastrow@nps.gov.
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