Opportunity Information: Apply for P13AC00425
Apply for P13AC00425
- The National Park Service in the education environment natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Asian Carp Study NOI, not a request for proposals" 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 May 21, 2013 and posted on May 21, 2013.
- Applicants must submit their applications by May 29, 2013. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $160,351.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $160,351.00 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.
[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal:
Opportunity Summary:
The National Park Service posted a Notice of Intent (NOI), not a request for proposals, for a cooperative agreement titled "Asian Carp Study." The opportunity focuses on the St. Croix River and the Upper Mississippi River, including the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway and the Mississippi National River and Recreational Area, which are highly valued recreational waters known for strong water quality and high biodiversity. These connected river systems support roughly 40 mussel species and more than 100 fish species, including species listed as threatened or endangered. The central concern is that bighead carp (Hypophthalmichthys nobilis) and silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix), collectively referred to here as Asian carp, appear close to establishing themselves in these waters. Asian carp are already established in the Upper Mississippi River near Keokuk, Iowa, and there have been warning signs locally, including bighead carp captures in the St. Croix River (1996, 2011, and 2012) and environmental DNA results in 2011 suggesting silver carp presence in the park units.
The scientific motivation behind the work is rooted in how Asian carp can reshape river food webs. Zooplankton are highlighted as a crucial link in aquatic ecosystems because they consume algae (helping limit blooms) and provide food that supports higher invertebrates and fish, especially young fish. Both bighead and silver carp are efficient filter feeders that can sharply reduce zooplankton populations. Prior studies in natural and experimental settings have shown that this can contribute to increased algal blooms and create competition or food shortages for native planktivorous fish and fish fry. In other words, the grant is framed less as a simple carp detection effort and more as a food-web baseline and impact forecasting effort that can inform management before a full invasion takes hold.
The project objectives center on building and comparing robust baseline data on "pre-invasion" food web structure so that future control, removal, and remediation actions can be evaluated quantitatively. A key analytical goal is to test a null hypothesis that food web structure does not differ between the St. Croix and Mississippi Rivers, or among habitat types within each river. The study also intends to compare observed food-web patterns to published information on Hypophthalmichthys feeding preferences to identify which habitats have the most favorable structure for carp growth and reproduction. Another management-focused aim is to identify which rivers or habitat types depend most on energy pathways likely to be disrupted if invasive carp become abundant, then combine those findings with known carp habitat preferences to help direct removal and eradication policies. The expected outcome is a clearer prediction of where carp impacts would be strongest and which threatened or endangered species could be most at risk as the food web shifts.
A specific species interaction question is also included: determining whether gizzard shad rely more on plankton-based carbon (through zooplankton) or detrital carbon sources, and whether that reliance changes when Asian carp are present. The part about evaluating this relationship in the presence of abundant Asian carp depends on sampling in the Illinois River, where carp numbers are high, suggesting a comparative or reference-system component designed to understand food-web signatures under invasion conditions.
The announcement notes that zooplankton sampling already occurred in Lake St. Croix and upstream of the dam at St. Croix Falls, Wisconsin, during 2010 and 2011. Analysis of the 2010 samples was completed and described as "intriguing," largely because zooplankton richness and abundance were an order of magnitude higher than expected compared to similar systems. However, the workload to prepare and count samples was far greater than planned, so only the 2010 samples were fully counted. The 2011 samples were collected but not yet processed, with a stated need to count them by the end of 2013 if possible. The urgency comes from preservation limits: crustacean zooplankton tend to preserve well, but smaller organisms such as rotifers do not, and those smaller taxa are important in river systems. If counting is delayed too long, the 2011 samples may lose much of their value for accurately describing the community.
This is structured as a cooperative agreement, which means the National Park Service expects to be actively involved rather than simply issuing funds and receiving a final report. The recipient (described as "the College") is expected to provide a qualified researcher to carry out the work in line with the joint objectives and management plan. In parallel, NPS will participate and collaborate, assign a technical representative, and exercise stepwise review and approval before subsequent stages proceed. NPS also retains authority to review and approve modifications or subawards before they are made, redirect work if it intersects with other projects, and halt activities if performance specifications are not met. The language also emphasizes close monitoring and operational involvement during the task agreement period.
Administratively, the opportunity was posted May 21, 2013, with an original and current closing date of May 29, 2013, and an archive date of June 28, 2013. The agency is the National Park Service, with the funding activity categories listed as education, environment, and natural resources under CFDA 15.944 (Natural Resource Stewardship). It anticipated a single award with total estimated funding of $160,351, with the award floor and ceiling both set at $160,351, and no cost sharing or matching requirement. Eligible applicants were public and state-controlled institutions of higher education. The listed grants management contact was Katie Schroeder, Grants Management Specialist (phone 402-661-1640).
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) - National Park Service Cooperative Agreement: "Asian Carp Study" (Notice of Intent)
What is this opportunity?
This is a National Park Service (NPS) Notice of Intent (NOI) for a cooperative agreement titled "Asian Carp Study." It is not a request for proposals (RFP) as described in the posting.
Is this a request for proposals (RFP) or a Notice of Intent (NOI)?
The posting is a Notice of Intent (NOI). Based on the information provided, it is explicitly described as not a request for proposals.
Which agency is offering the award?
The agency is the National Park Service (NPS).
What type of funding instrument is planned?
The award is planned as a cooperative agreement, meaning NPS expects to be actively involved in the project rather than providing funds with minimal involvement.
What is the project called?
The cooperative agreement is titled "Asian Carp Study."
Where will the study take place?
The opportunity focuses on the St. Croix River and the Upper Mississippi River. It specifically references the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway and the Mississippi National River and Recreational Area.
Are any other rivers mentioned as part of the study design?
Yes. The Illinois River is referenced as a location where Asian carp numbers are high, and it is mentioned in connection with sampling needed to evaluate a species interaction question under invasion conditions.
Why is NPS concerned about Asian carp in these waters?
Bighead carp (Hypophthalmichthys nobilis) and silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix), collectively referred to here as Asian carp, appear close to establishing themselves in the St. Croix and Upper Mississippi River waters. The announcement notes these are highly valued recreational waters with strong water quality and high biodiversity, including threatened or endangered species.
Which Asian carp species are the focus of this study?
The study focuses on bighead carp (Hypophthalmichthys nobilis) and silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix).
What warning signs have been observed locally?
The announcement cites bighead carp captures in the St. Croix River in 1996, 2011, and 2012. It also mentions environmental DNA results in 2011 suggesting silver carp presence in the park units.
Where are Asian carp already established, according to the notice?
Asian carp are described as already established in the Upper Mississippi River near Keokuk, Iowa.
What makes the St. Croix and Upper Mississippi system ecologically important?
The connected river systems are described as supporting roughly 40 mussel species and more than 100 fish species, including species listed as threatened or endangered.
What is the main scientific motivation behind the project?
The project is motivated by concerns that Asian carp can reshape river food webs. The notice emphasizes zooplankton as a crucial link in aquatic ecosystems because they consume algae (helping limit blooms) and support higher invertebrates and fish, especially young fish.
How can Asian carp affect zooplankton and the food web?
The notice describes bighead and silver carp as efficient filter feeders that can sharply reduce zooplankton populations. Prior studies are cited as showing this can contribute to increased algal blooms and create competition or food shortages for native planktivorous fish and fish fry.
Is this project mainly about detecting carp presence?
No. The opportunity is framed less as a simple carp detection effort and more as a food-web baseline and impact forecasting effort intended to inform management before a full invasion takes hold.
What are the project objectives?
The objectives center on building and comparing robust baseline data on "pre-invasion" food web structure so that future control, removal, and remediation actions can be evaluated quantitatively.
What hypothesis will the study test?
A key analytical goal is to test a null hypothesis that food web structure does not differ between the St. Croix and Mississippi Rivers, or among habitat types within each river.
How will the study relate food-web patterns to Asian carp biology?
The study intends to compare observed food-web patterns to published information on Hypophthalmichthys feeding preferences to identify which habitats have the most favorable structure for carp growth and reproduction.
How will the results be used for management decisions?
The notice describes an aim to identify which rivers or habitat types depend most on energy pathways likely to be disrupted if invasive carp become abundant, and then combine those findings with known carp habitat preferences to help direct removal and eradication policies.
What outcomes does NPS expect from the study?
The expected outcome is a clearer prediction of where carp impacts would be strongest and which threatened or endangered species could be most at risk as the food web shifts.
Is there a specific species interaction question included in the notice?
Yes. The study includes a question about whether gizzard shad rely more on plankton-based carbon (through zooplankton) or detrital carbon sources, and whether that reliance changes when Asian carp are present.
Why is the Illinois River mentioned in relation to gizzard shad?
The notice indicates that evaluating the gizzard shad relationship in the presence of abundant Asian carp depends on sampling in the Illinois River, where carp numbers are high.
What sampling has already occurred?
Zooplankton sampling already occurred in Lake St. Croix and upstream of the dam at St. Croix Falls, Wisconsin, during 2010 and 2011.
What is the status of the 2010 zooplankton samples?
The analysis of the 2010 samples was completed and described as "intriguing," with zooplankton richness and abundance reported as an order of magnitude higher than expected compared to similar systems.
What is the status of the 2011 zooplankton samples?
The 2011 samples were collected but not yet processed, and the notice states a need to count them by the end of 2013 if possible.
Why is there urgency to process the 2011 zooplankton samples?
The notice explains that crustacean zooplankton tend to preserve well, but smaller organisms such as rotifers do not. Because smaller taxa are important in river systems, delaying counting too long could cause the 2011 samples to lose value for accurately describing the community.
What role will NPS play under a cooperative agreement?
NPS expects close involvement, including participation and collaboration, assignment of a technical representative, and stepwise review and approval before subsequent stages proceed.
Does NPS have approval authority over changes during the project?
Yes. The notice states NPS retains authority to review and approve modifications or subawards before they are made, may redirect work if it intersects with other projects, and may halt activities if performance specifications are not met.
What is expected from the recipient institution?
The recipient (described as "the College") is expected to provide a qualified researcher to carry out the work in line with joint objectives and a management plan, within the cooperative agreement framework.
What are the funding activity categories listed for this opportunity?
The funding activity categories are listed as education, environment, and natural resources.
What CFDA program is associated with this opportunity?
The CFDA is 15.944, described as Natural Resource Stewardship.
Who was eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants were public and state-controlled institutions of higher education.
How many awards were anticipated?
The notice anticipated a single award.
What was the total estimated funding amount?
The total estimated funding was $160,351.
What were the award floor and ceiling?
Both the award floor and the award ceiling were set at $160,351.
Was cost sharing or matching required?
No cost sharing or matching requirement was listed.
When was the opportunity posted?
The opportunity was posted on May 21, 2013.
What was the closing date?
The original and current closing date was May 29, 2013.
When was the opportunity archived?
The archive date was June 28, 2013.
Who is the grants management contact listed in the notice?
The listed grants management contact was Katie Schroeder, Grants Management Specialist. The phone number provided is 402-661-1640.
Browse more opportunities from the same category: Education Environment Natural Resources
Next opportunity: Construction of a school ship dock and fishing pier at the Refuge Gateway.
Previous opportunity: Children s Hospitals Graduate Medical Education (CHGME) Payment Program
USGrants.org Applicant Portal:
Are you interested in learning about about how to apply for this government funding opportunity? You can create a free applicant account and receive instant access to our applicant portal that many business owners like you have benefited from.
Apply for P13AC00425
[Watch] how do funding administrators access proposals?
Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (P13AC00425) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| Trail Repair Blue Ridge Parkway Apply for P13AS00127 Funding Number: P13AS00127 Agency: National Park Service Category: Education Environment Natural Resources Funding Amount: $90,969 |
| State Wildlife Grant Program Apply for F13AS00252 Funding Number: F13AS00252 Agency: Fish and Wildlife Service Category: Education Environment Natural Resources Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Public Lands Education Project Apply for P13AS00153 Funding Number: P13AS00153 Agency: National Park Service Category: Education Environment Natural Resources Funding Amount: $135,000 |
| Wildlife Without Borders Mexico FY14 Apply for F13AS00222 Funding Number: F13AS00222 Agency: Fish and Wildlife Service Category: Education Environment Natural Resources Funding Amount: $50,000 |
| 2013 Cooperative Agreement for the Co management of Polar Bears Apply for F13AS00277 Funding Number: F13AS00277 Agency: Fish and Wildlife Service Category: Education Environment Natural Resources Funding Amount: $712,000 |
| WWB Eurasia Single Source ANO Ekosentr Zapovedniki Apply for F13AS00294 Funding Number: F13AS00294 Agency: Fish and Wildlife Service Category: Education Environment Natural Resources Funding Amount: $242,000 |
| WWB LAC Single Source Universidad Nacional Autonoma Apply for F13AS00296 Funding Number: F13AS00296 Agency: Fish and Wildlife Service Category: Education Environment Natural Resources Funding Amount: $99,814 |
| WWB LAC Single Source Award Universidad Nacional de Cordoba Apply for F13AS00295 Funding Number: F13AS00295 Agency: Fish and Wildlife Service Category: Education Environment Natural Resources Funding Amount: $100,820 |
| Design, Pilot, Disseminate CE Models to Connect People to Olmsted designed Landscapes Apply for NPS 13 NERO 0110 Funding Number: NPS 13 NERO 0110 Agency: National Park Service Category: Education Environment Natural Resources Funding Amount: $31,100 |
| Cultural Landscape Preservation and Education Apply for NPS 13 NERO 0111 Funding Number: NPS 13 NERO 0111 Agency: National Park Service Category: Education Environment Natural Resources Funding Amount: $29,990 |
| Forest for Every Classroom Professional Development Apply for NPS 13 NERO 0122 Funding Number: NPS 13 NERO 0122 Agency: National Park Service Category: Education Environment Natural Resources Funding Amount: $83,350 |
| Chesapeake Youth Corps Intern Apply for NPS 13 NERO 0127 Funding Number: NPS 13 NERO 0127 Agency: National Park Service Category: Education Environment Natural Resources Funding Amount: $25,000 |
| Americas Great Outdoors Landscape Stewardship Program Apply for F13AS00365 Funding Number: F13AS00365 Agency: Fish and Wildlife Service Category: Education Environment Natural Resources Funding Amount: $155,000 |
| Nature of Learning and Friends Grants Apply for F13AS00361 Funding Number: F13AS00361 Agency: Fish and Wildlife Service Category: Education Environment Natural Resources Funding Amount: $113,000 |
| Asian Elephant Conservation Fund FY14 Apply for F13AS00369 Funding Number: F13AS00369 Agency: Fish and Wildlife Service Category: Education Environment Natural Resources Funding Amount: $50,000 |
| Rhinoceros and Tiger Conservation Fund FY14 Apply for F13AS00367 Funding Number: F13AS00367 Agency: Fish and Wildlife Service Category: Education Environment Natural Resources Funding Amount: $75,000 |
| Cooperative Agreement with American Hiking Society Apply for F13AS00363 Funding Number: F13AS00363 Agency: Fish and Wildlife Service Category: Education Environment Natural Resources Funding Amount: $30,000 |
| Conservation Program to Introduce Youth to Natural Resource Conservation Careers Apply for F14AS00016 Funding Number: F14AS00016 Agency: Fish and Wildlife Service Category: Education Environment Natural Resources Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| R2 Firearm and Bow Hunter Safety and Education Program (Section 10 Hunter Education Program) (TO STATE FISH AND GAME AGENCIES ONLY) Apply for F14AS00028 Funding Number: F14AS00028 Agency: Fish and Wildlife Service Category: Education Environment Natural Resources Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| INDU Campground Interns Request for Information Apply for P14AS00055 Funding Number: P14AS00055 Agency: National Park Service Category: Education Environment Natural Resources Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
Grant application guides and resources
It is always free to apply for government grants. However the process may be very complex depending on the funding opportunity you are applying for. Let us help you!
Apply for Grants
Premium leads for funding administrators, grant writers, and loan issuers
Thousands of people visit our website for their funding needs every day. When a user creates a grant proposal and files for submission, we pass the information on to funding administrators, grant writers, and government loan issuers.
If you manage government grant programs, provide grant writing services, or issue personal or government loans, we can help you reach your audience.
Subscribe to Leads
Request more information:
Would you like to learn more about this funding opportunity, similar opportunities to "P13AC00425", eligibility, application service, and/or application tips? Submit an inquiry below:
Don't forget to subscribe to our grant alerts mailing list to receive weekly alerts on new and updated grant funding opportunities like this one in your email.