Opportunity Information: Apply for NPS DOIP15AC01036
Apply for NPS DOIP15AC01036
- The National Park Service in the environment sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Assess atmospheric transport trajectories and variation in the wet deposition of mercury across Alaska Analyze Alaskan NADP MDN data" 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 Sep 2, 2015 and posted on Sep 2, 2015.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Oct 1, 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 $30,000.00 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: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education.
- This Agreement is to be awarded to the CESU partner Desert Research Institute.
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Opportunity Summary:
This grant opportunity, offered by the National Park Service (NPS), focuses on understanding why mercury, a highly toxic pollutant that builds up in food webs, shows up at surprisingly high levels in remote parts of Alaska that are far from obvious industrial sources. The central problem the project tackles is that Alaska-wide patterns of mercury wet deposition (mercury delivered to the ground by rain and snow) and the atmospheric pathways that carry mercury into the state are not well characterized. Because mercury contamination can affect aquatic and wetland ecosystems and ultimately fish that people rely on for subsistence and recreation, the work is framed as a statewide resource-management concern that crosses park boundaries and agency jurisdictions.
The project is built around an existing but underused dataset: for several years, mercury wet deposition samples and laboratory analyte results have been collected at five Alaska monitoring locations through the National Atmospheric Deposition Program Mercury Deposition Network (NADP MDN). Even though these samples have been gathered consistently, the opportunity exists because the data have not yet been fully analyzed, mined for patterns, interpreted for decision-making, or communicated to the public and agencies responsible for aquatic resource management. In practical terms, the grant is meant to convert raw monitoring data into usable findings about when, where, and under what atmospheric conditions mercury is being deposited across Alaska.
The technical approach combines data analysis with atmospheric back-trajectory modeling. A joint team from NPS and the Desert Research Institute (DRI) will analyze the wet deposition record and identify a set of the highest mercury deposition events, essentially the storms or precipitation periods that delivered unusually large mercury loads. For those major events, the team will generate backcast (backward) air-mass trajectories using NOAA's HYSPLIT atmospheric transport model. This is intended to reconstruct where the air parcels associated with those deposition episodes likely traveled from, helping infer potential source regions and the meteorological setups that favor high deposition. To provide a contrast, the project also plans to examine a smaller number of the lowest deposition events to describe the atmospheric patterns that correspond to relatively clean conditions. Taken together, the high-event and low-event comparisons are meant to sharpen understanding of variability, not just averages, which is often what matters for ecological exposure and management planning.
A key deliverable emphasis is communication and usability of results, not just internal analysis. The project will produce story maps that explain the "story" behind notable mercury deposition events in an accessible, visually guided format, making it easier for managers and the public to understand what happened during key episodes and why. In addition, the effort will produce a formal NPS Natural Resources Report and a co-authored peer-reviewed journal manuscript by NPS and DRI, signaling that the work is expected to meet both management and scientific standards. The project is also conducted in partnership with the State of Alaska Department of Conservation, which is contributing some of the NADP mercury data, reinforcing the statewide scope and multi-agency relevance.
From an administrative standpoint, this is a discretionary funding opportunity using a Cooperative Agreement as the funding instrument, reflecting the collaborative nature of the work rather than a simple procurement. The activity category is environment, and the listing is under CFDA 15.945 (Cooperative Research and Training Programs - Resources of the National Park System). The announcement indicates a single expected award, with an estimated total funding amount of $30,000, an award ceiling of $100,000, and no cost-sharing or matching requirement. Eligibility is limited to public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, and the notice specifies that the agreement is intended to be awarded to the CESU partner Desert Research Institute, meaning it is effectively a directed cooperative project within the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Units framework.
The legal authority cited is 54 USC 100703, which authorizes the Secretary to enter cooperative agreements with colleges and universities (including land-grant institutions) in partnership with federal and state agencies to establish cooperative study units and produce integrated information products that support NPS resources and the broader region. In other words, the statutory basis is explicitly about multi-disciplinary research partnerships that translate into practical information products, aligning with the combination of technical modeling, reporting, and story map outputs described in the project.
Key timing details in the original notice include a posted date of September 2, 2015, with an original and current closing date of October 1, 2015, and an archive date of October 31, 2015. The funding opportunity number is NPS-DOIP15AC01036, titled "Assess atmospheric transport trajectories and variation in the wet deposition of mercury across Alaska - Analyze Alaskan NADP MDN data." The listed contact for access issues is James Cato, Contract Specialist, at 907-644-3302.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the main purpose of this National Park Service (NPS) grant opportunity?
The opportunity supports a project to better understand why mercury, a highly toxic pollutant that accumulates in food webs, appears at unexpectedly high levels in remote areas of Alaska that are far from obvious industrial sources. The work focuses on characterizing Alaska-wide patterns of mercury wet deposition (mercury delivered by rain and snow) and identifying the atmospheric transport pathways that bring mercury into the state.
Why is mercury wet deposition in Alaska considered an important issue?
Mercury contamination can affect aquatic and wetland ecosystems and can ultimately influence mercury levels in fish that people rely on for subsistence and recreation. Because these impacts are not confined to a single park unit or jurisdiction, the project is framed as a statewide resource-management concern that crosses park boundaries and agency jurisdictions.
What specific knowledge gap is this project trying to address?
The central gap is that Alaska-wide patterns of mercury wet deposition and the atmospheric pathways that transport mercury into Alaska are not well characterized. Even though monitoring data have been collected for years, the information has not been fully analyzed and interpreted in a way that supports decision-making and public understanding.
What dataset will be analyzed under this project?
The project is built around mercury wet deposition samples and laboratory analyte results collected for several years at five Alaska monitoring locations through the National Atmospheric Deposition Program Mercury Deposition Network (NADP MDN).
Why is this described as an opportunity if data have already been collected?
Although the NADP MDN samples have been gathered consistently, the dataset is described as underused because it has not yet been fully mined for patterns, interpreted for management use, or communicated broadly. The grant is intended to convert raw monitoring results into usable findings about when, where, and under what atmospheric conditions mercury is deposited across Alaska.
What are the main technical methods planned for the project?
The approach combines (1) analysis of the wet deposition record to identify notable events and patterns and (2) atmospheric back-trajectory modeling to reconstruct likely air-mass transport pathways associated with those deposition events.
What is meant by “high mercury deposition events” in this project?
“High deposition events” refer to storms or precipitation periods that delivered unusually large mercury loads. The project team plans to identify a set of the highest deposition episodes in the record for detailed investigation.
Will the project examine low deposition periods too?
Yes. In addition to analyzing high deposition events, the project plans to examine a smaller number of the lowest deposition events. This provides contrast and helps describe atmospheric patterns associated with relatively clean conditions.
Why compare the highest and lowest deposition events instead of focusing only on averages?
The project is designed to improve understanding of variability, not just long-term averages. Event-to-event variability can be especially important for ecological exposure and resource management planning because short periods of high deposition may drive risk more than typical conditions.
What atmospheric model will be used and how will it be applied?
The team will use NOAA’s HYSPLIT (Hybrid Single-Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory) atmospheric transport model to generate backcast (backward) air-mass trajectories for major mercury deposition events. These trajectories help infer where the air parcels associated with those deposition episodes likely traveled from and what meteorological setups favored high deposition.
What organizations are involved in carrying out the work?
The work is described as a joint effort by the National Park Service (NPS) and the Desert Research Institute (DRI). The project is also conducted in partnership with the State of Alaska Department of Conservation, which contributes some of the NADP mercury data.
What are the expected deliverables from this project?
The deliverables emphasize communication and usability of results. Expected products include:
- Story maps that explain the “story” behind notable mercury deposition events in an accessible, visually guided format
- An NPS Natural Resources Report
- A co-authored peer-reviewed journal manuscript by NPS and DRI
What are the story maps intended to do?
The story maps are intended to communicate key mercury deposition events in a clear, accessible way. They are designed to help managers and the public understand what happened during notable deposition episodes and why those episodes occurred.
How does this project support resource management?
By translating raw monitoring data into interpreted findings, the project aims to provide information that agencies responsible for aquatic resource management can use. The statewide scope, cross-boundary framing, and emphasis on usable communication products (story maps and formal reports) are aligned with practical management needs.
What is the funding instrument for this opportunity?
The announcement specifies a Cooperative Agreement as the funding instrument, reflecting that the work is intended to be collaborative rather than a simple procurement.
Is this a discretionary grant opportunity?
Yes. It is described as a discretionary funding opportunity.
What is the activity category for this opportunity?
The activity category is environment.
What is the CFDA listing for this opportunity?
The listing is under CFDA 15.945, titled “Cooperative Research and Training Programs - Resources of the National Park System.”
How many awards does the notice expect to make?
The announcement indicates a single expected award.
What is the estimated total funding amount?
The estimated total program funding amount is $30,000.
What is the award ceiling?
The award ceiling is $100,000.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. The notice states there is no cost-sharing or matching requirement.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is limited to public and state-controlled institutions of higher education.
Is this opportunity effectively directed to a specific partner?
Yes. The notice specifies that the agreement is intended to be awarded to the CESU partner Desert Research Institute (DRI), indicating it is effectively a directed cooperative project within the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Units (CESU) framework.
What legal authority supports this cooperative agreement?
The legal authority cited is 54 USC 100703. This authority allows the Secretary to enter cooperative agreements with colleges and universities (including land-grant institutions), in partnership with federal and state agencies, to establish cooperative study units and produce integrated information products supporting NPS resources and the broader region.
What is the official funding opportunity number and title?
Funding Opportunity Number: NPS-DOIP15AC01036. Title: “Assess atmospheric transport trajectories and variation in the wet deposition of mercury across Alaska - Analyze Alaskan NADP MDN data.”
When was the opportunity posted and when did it close?
The posted date is September 2, 2015. The original and current closing date is October 1, 2015. The archive date is October 31, 2015.
Who is the contact listed for access issues?
The notice lists James Cato, Contract Specialist, as the contact for access issues at 907-644-3302.
What geographic scope does the project address?
The project addresses mercury wet deposition across Alaska, using data from five monitoring locations and focusing on statewide atmospheric transport patterns rather than conditions in a single park or a single region.
What is the practical end goal of the analysis and modeling work?
The practical goal is to determine when and where mercury is deposited across Alaska and under what atmospheric conditions, by linking deposition events to reconstructed air-mass transport pathways and meteorological setups. The intent is to generate information products that are useful for both management decisions and scientific understanding.
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