Opportunity Information: Apply for P14AS00036
Apply for P14AS00036
- The National Park Service in the community development education environment natural resources regional development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Appalachian Trail Accuracy Assessment" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.921 Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance.
- This funding opportunity was created on Mar 7, 2014 and posted on Mar 7, 2014.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Mar 21, 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 $285,485.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $285,485.00 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:
The Appalachian Trail Accuracy Assessment (Funding Opportunity Number P14AS00036) is a National Park Service (NPS) notice of intent to award a cooperative agreement to NatureServe for work supporting vegetation mapping along the Appalachian National Scenic Trail (often referenced in the notice as APPA). This posting is not an open call for proposals and is explicitly not a request for applications. Instead, it serves as public notice that NPS plans to make a single award without full and open competition as a continuation of an existing relationship and body of work. The anticipated award amount is $285,485 with no cost share requirement, structured as a continuation action under an existing cooperative agreement (P11AC26468) through a task agreement (P14AC00169). The period of performance runs from the date of award through April 30, 2015, and it is associated with CFDA 15.921, Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance.
At its core, the project is about verifying and finalizing the accuracy of a vegetation map product for the Appalachian Trail corridor as part of the NPS Vegetation Inventory Program (NPSVIP). NatureServe is being funded to assist the Resource Mapping and Spatial Analysis Team (RMSAT), which is based at the Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center (UMESC), with three tightly connected needs: conducting an accuracy assessment of the vegetation mapping, completing final product development, and participating in a closeout or wrap-up meeting to finalize deliverables. The notice highlights that NatureServe has been deeply involved since 2006, having compiled the standardized vegetation classification for the trail using the U.S. National Vegetation Classification (USNVC) system and having provided ongoing technical support for classification and map development. The continuation funding is meant to carry that work forward in an efficient and cost-effective way, including support that spans FY14 through FY16 planning needs even though this specific task period ends in April 2015.
NatureServe's role is described in practical, field-and-data terms. Their responsibilities include hiring and training field contractors and seasonal interns to carry out accuracy assessment fieldwork; advising field teams on vegetation classification and how to conduct the accuracy assessment; providing technical review of field data forms; updating the vegetation classification and vegetation keys when new information or field findings require refinement; offering ongoing technical support to UMESC on classification and assessment issues; and compiling the final deliverables and attending the project wrap-up meeting. The emphasis is on maintaining technical consistency with the established classification framework and ensuring the final map products are supported by credible, well-documented field validation.
The cooperative agreement structure also signals that NPS expects to be substantially involved rather than simply issuing funds and stepping back. NPS commits to providing guidance and consultation, sharing timely updates on access, boundaries, and land ownership issues that affect field operations, and supplying relevant existing information such as maps, reports, imagery, and biodiversity-related databases for the Appalachian Trail area. Both parties commit to frequent coordination and active collaboration on project planning, methods, data standards, oversight, data collection and analysis, and the development of products, reports, and presentations. That shared involvement is one of the defining features of a cooperative agreement as opposed to a more hands-off grant.
Competition is not being used because the award is justified as a single-source continuation. The notice cites Department of the Interior single-source policy (505 DM 2) and selects the "Continuation" criterion, arguing that switching performers midstream would risk disrupting continuity and could adversely affect completion of the existing vegetation mapping effort. In other words, NatureServe is positioned as the logical recipient because they developed and maintained the underlying vegetation classification and have years of project-specific knowledge, tools, and context that directly affect the integrity of the final accuracy assessment and map products.
Administrative details included in the notice identify the principal investigator/program manager as Ery Largay at NatureServe and list the NPS point of contact as June Zastrow (303-987-6718, junezastrow@nps.gov). The statutory authorities cited (16 USC 1g and 16 USC 460l-1(f)(1-3)) are used to support NPS entering into cooperative agreements and sponsoring or assisting research and studies related to outdoor recreation, including assembling and disseminating information and cooperating with external entities to advance public benefits. The posting date is March 7, 2014, with an original and current closing date of March 21, 2014, reflecting its nature as a notice rather than a competitive application window.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - Appalachian Trail Accuracy Assessment (P14AS00036)
1) What is the Appalachian Trail Accuracy Assessment funding opportunity (P14AS00036)?
This is a National Park Service (NPS) notice of intent to award a cooperative agreement to NatureServe to support vegetation mapping work along the Appalachian National Scenic Trail (referred to in the notice as APPA). The work focuses on verifying and finalizing the accuracy of a vegetation map product created under the NPS Vegetation Inventory Program (NPSVIP).
2) Is this an open grant competition or a request for applications?
No. The posting is explicitly not an open call for proposals and not a request for applications. It is a public notice that NPS plans to make a single award without full and open competition.
3) Who is the intended recipient of this award?
The intended recipient is NatureServe.
4) Why is NPS making a single-source (non-competitive) award?
The notice states the award is justified as a single-source continuation action under Department of the Interior single-source policy (505 DM 2) using the "Continuation" criterion. The rationale is that changing performers midstream could disrupt continuity and adversely affect completion of the existing vegetation mapping effort, especially because NatureServe developed and maintained the underlying vegetation classification and has long-term project knowledge dating back to 2006.
5) What is the anticipated award amount?
The anticipated award amount is $285,485.
6) Is there a cost share or match requirement?
No. The notice states there is no cost share requirement.
7) What type of agreement will be used for this award?
The funding is structured as a cooperative agreement continuation action under an existing cooperative agreement (P11AC26468) through a task agreement (P14AC00169).
8) What is the period of performance?
The period of performance runs from the date of award through April 30, 2015.
9) What program or CFDA is associated with this award?
The notice associates the award with CFDA 15.921, Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance.
10) What is the main purpose of the project?
The project is focused on verifying and finalizing the accuracy of a vegetation map product for the Appalachian Trail corridor. This includes conducting an accuracy assessment, completing final product development, and participating in a closeout (wrap-up) meeting to finalize deliverables.
11) What larger NPS effort is this work part of?
The work is part of the NPS Vegetation Inventory Program (NPSVIP), which produces vegetation classification and mapping products for national park units and related areas.
12) What does "accuracy assessment" mean in the context of this notice?
Based on the notice, the accuracy assessment involves field-and-data work to validate the vegetation mapping results and ensure the final map products are supported by credible, well-documented field verification.
13) What tasks will NatureServe perform under this cooperative agreement?
The notice describes NatureServe's responsibilities as including:
- Hiring and training field contractors and seasonal interns to complete accuracy assessment fieldwork
- Advising field teams on vegetation classification and how to conduct the accuracy assessment
- Providing technical review of field data forms
- Updating the vegetation classification and vegetation keys when field findings or new information require refinement
- Providing ongoing technical support to UMESC on classification and assessment issues
- Compiling final deliverables and attending the project wrap-up meeting
14) What is the role of the Resource Mapping and Spatial Analysis Team (RMSAT)?
RMSAT is the NPS team being supported through this work. The notice states RMSAT is based at the Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center (UMESC) and is involved in the vegetation mapping effort that NatureServe is assisting.
15) What involvement will NPS have during the project?
The notice emphasizes that this is a cooperative agreement, meaning NPS expects substantial involvement rather than simply issuing funding. NPS commits to guidance and consultation, timely updates on access/boundaries/land ownership issues affecting field operations, and providing relevant existing information (maps, reports, imagery, and biodiversity-related databases). Both parties are expected to coordinate frequently on planning, methods, data standards, oversight, data collection and analysis, and development of products, reports, and presentations.
16) Why is a cooperative agreement used instead of a more hands-off grant?
As described in the notice, a defining feature of the cooperative agreement here is the expectation of substantial NPS involvement and active collaboration with the recipient across technical methods, standards, oversight, and product development.
17) How long has NatureServe been involved with the Appalachian Trail vegetation classification work?
The notice states NatureServe has been deeply involved since 2006, including compiling the standardized vegetation classification for the trail using the U.S. National Vegetation Classification (USNVC) system and providing ongoing technical support for classification and map development.
18) What classification system is referenced for the vegetation work?
The notice references the U.S. National Vegetation Classification (USNVC) system as the framework used for the standardized vegetation classification.
19) What does the notice say about planning needs beyond the task end date?
The notice indicates the continuation funding is meant to efficiently carry work forward and includes support that spans FY14 through FY16 planning needs, even though the specific task period ends in April 2015.
20) What are the key administrative identifiers for this action?
The notice identifies:
- Funding Opportunity Number (FON): P14AS00036
- Existing cooperative agreement: P11AC26468
- Task agreement: P14AC00169
- Associated CFDA: 15.921
21) Who is listed as the principal investigator/program manager for NatureServe?
The notice lists Ery Largay as the principal investigator/program manager at NatureServe.
22) Who is the NPS point of contact for this notice?
The notice lists June Zastrow as the NPS point of contact. The phone number provided is 303-987-6718 and the email provided is junezastrow@nps.gov.
23) What are the posting date and closing date shown in the notice?
The posting date is March 7, 2014. The original and current closing date shown is March 21, 2014. The notice indicates this reflects its nature as a notice of intent rather than a competitive application window.
24) What statutory authorities are cited to support the cooperative agreement and research assistance?
The notice cites 16 USC 1g and 16 USC 460l-1(f)(1-3) as authorities supporting NPS entering into cooperative agreements and sponsoring or assisting research and studies related to outdoor recreation, including assembling and disseminating information and cooperating with external entities for public benefit.
25) Does the notice provide instructions for submitting an application?
No. The notice states it is not a request for applications and is not an open call for proposals. It serves as public notice of NPS's intent to make a single, non-competitive award to NatureServe.
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