Opportunity Information: Apply for P14AS00145
Apply for P14AS00145
- The National Park Service in the community development education environment natural resources regional development science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Assistance for Visibility Data Analysis and Image Display Techniques" 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 Jun 19, 2014 and posted on Jun 19, 2014.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 1, 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 $903,269.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $903,269.00 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:
This opportunity, titled "Assistance for Visibility Data Analysis and Image Display Techniques" (Funding Announcement P14AS00145), is a National Park Service (NPS) notice of intent to award, not an open call for applications. In plain terms, it is published to publicly document that NPS plans to issue a non-competitive (single-source) continuation award for an existing, ongoing body of work rather than solicit new proposals. The award is structured as a cooperative agreement under CFDA 15.945 (Cooperative Research and Training Programs: Resources of the National Park System, CESU), with an estimated total funding amount of $903,269 and no cost share requirement.
The intended recipient is Colorado State University in Fort Collins, with Jenny Hand listed as the principal investigator/program manager. The award is described as a continuation and is implemented as a task agreement (P14AC00982) under a broader cooperative agreement (P14AC00728). The anticipated period of performance runs from the date of award through June 30, 2015, and it is processed through the Rocky Mountains Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) using a negotiated overhead rate of 17.5 percent. NPS identifies June Zastrow as the point of contact.
Programmatically, the work supports air quality and ecosystem protection by producing scientifically defensible visibility and atmospheric deposition data and analyses that are used in real-world regulatory and management decisions. A central purpose is to inform implementation of the Clean Air Act, with specific emphasis on providing visibility-related products that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and state and local air quality agencies rely on when developing, evaluating, and enforcing air quality regulations. The project also contributes to understanding atmospheric deposition, including how both regulated and non-regulated pollutants are deposited onto landscapes and how that deposition can affect ecosystems, particularly in and around national parks and protected areas.
The scope described for the university partner includes aerosol research, investigation of nitrogen deposition, evaluation of air quality impacts tied to oil and gas development in the Bakken shale region, and broader data analysis, dissemination, and regional air quality modeling. Another emphasized deliverable area is translation of technical results into public-facing products, especially image display and interpretation tools that help non-specialists understand visibility conditions and air quality trends. The announcement also highlights education and outreach components, including participation by Colorado State University (noted through CIRA collaborations) and NPS scientists in K-12 outreach to encourage student engagement in science projects related to air quality and environmental monitoring.
Because this is a cooperative agreement rather than a standard grant, the NPS expects substantial federal involvement in the work. The NPS role includes active participation throughout project phases such as contributing to data analysis and modeling, participating in report writing, and coauthoring peer-reviewed publications. NPS will also provide practical support by granting access to air quality monitoring locations, equipment shelters, and specialized monitoring equipment as applicable, which is often essential for continuity of long-term datasets and consistent monitoring operations.
The non-competitive nature of the award is justified under the Department of the Interior single-source policy (505 DM 2) using the "continuation" criterion. NPS states that competing the work would risk disrupting continuity or completion of activities already underway, which matters in long-term monitoring and trend analysis where consistent methods and uninterrupted datasets are especially important. The legal authorities cited for using a cooperative agreement approach include 16 U.S.C. 1(g), 16 U.S.C. 1a-2(j), and 16 U.S.C. 5933, which collectively authorize NPS to enter into cooperative agreements with universities and other entities to conduct coordinated research, develop integrated information products, and support NPS mission needs.
Key practical takeaway: this posting does not offer an application opportunity for the general public. It is a formal transparency notice that NPS intends to continue funding an established CSU-led research and outreach effort that produces visibility, deposition, modeling, and communication products used by regulators, land managers, NGOs, and industry stakeholders, with NPS deeply involved in both the science and the delivery of results to decision-makers and the public.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1) Is this an open grant competition that my organization can apply for?
No. This posting is a National Park Service (NPS) notice of intent to award, not an open call for applications. It is published to document that NPS plans to issue a non-competitive (single-source) continuation award for ongoing work rather than solicit new proposals.
2) What is the title and funding announcement number for this opportunity?
The opportunity is titled "Assistance for Visibility Data Analysis and Image Display Techniques" and the Funding Announcement number is P14AS00145.
3) What type of award is being used (grant vs. cooperative agreement)?
The award is structured as a cooperative agreement, not a standard grant. NPS indicates that this structure is used because the agency expects substantial federal involvement in the project.
4) What does "substantial federal involvement" mean in this announcement?
In this cooperative agreement, NPS anticipates active participation throughout the work. The announcement describes NPS involvement in activities such as contributing to data analysis and modeling, participating in report writing, and coauthoring peer-reviewed publications. NPS may also provide access to monitoring locations, equipment shelters, and specialized monitoring equipment as applicable.
5) Who is the intended recipient of the award?
The intended recipient is Colorado State University (CSU) in Fort Collins, Colorado.
6) Who is listed as the principal investigator/program manager?
Jenny Hand is listed as the principal investigator/program manager.
7) Who is the NPS point of contact for this notice?
June Zastrow is identified as the NPS point of contact.
8) How much funding is associated with this continuation award?
The estimated total funding amount is $903,269.
9) Is there a cost share or matching requirement?
No. The notice states there is no cost share requirement.
10) What CFDA program is referenced?
The cooperative agreement is under CFDA 15.945, described as "Cooperative Research and Training Programs: Resources of the National Park System, CESU."
11) What is the period of performance stated in the notice?
The anticipated period of performance runs from the date of award through June 30, 2015.
12) What does it mean that this is a "continuation" award?
The notice describes this as a continuation of an existing, ongoing body of work. The intent is to continue activities already underway rather than start a new, competed project.
13) Why is the award non-competitive (single-source)?
NPS justifies the non-competitive approach under the Department of the Interior single-source policy (505 DM 2) using the "continuation" criterion. The notice states that competing the work could disrupt continuity or completion of ongoing activities, which is especially important for long-term monitoring and trend analysis that depend on consistent methods and uninterrupted datasets.
14) How is this continuation implemented administratively?
The continuation is implemented as a task agreement (P14AC00982) under a broader cooperative agreement (P14AC00728).
15) What unit or mechanism is used to process the agreement?
The notice states it is processed through the Rocky Mountains Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU).
16) Is an overhead/indirect cost rate mentioned?
Yes. The notice references a negotiated overhead rate of 17.5 percent.
17) What is the overall purpose of the work being supported?
The work supports air quality and ecosystem protection by producing scientifically defensible visibility and atmospheric deposition data and analyses used in real-world regulatory and management decisions.
18) How does this project relate to the Clean Air Act?
A central purpose described in the notice is to inform implementation of the Clean Air Act. The project provides visibility-related products that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and state and local air quality agencies use when developing, evaluating, and enforcing air quality regulations.
19) What kinds of scientific topics and activities are included in the described scope?
The notice describes work that includes aerosol research, investigation of nitrogen deposition, evaluation of air quality impacts tied to oil and gas development in the Bakken shale region, and broader data analysis, dissemination, and regional air quality modeling.
20) What is meant by "atmospheric deposition" in the context of this notice?
The notice highlights understanding atmospheric deposition, including how both regulated and non-regulated pollutants are deposited onto landscapes and how that deposition can affect ecosystems, particularly in and around national parks and protected areas.
21) What deliverables are emphasized for public communication and visualization?
The notice emphasizes translating technical results into public-facing products, especially image display and interpretation tools intended to help non-specialists understand visibility conditions and air quality trends.
22) Are education and outreach activities included?
Yes. The notice highlights education and outreach components, including participation by Colorado State University (noted through CIRA collaborations) and NPS scientists in K-12 outreach to encourage student engagement in science projects related to air quality and environmental monitoring.
23) Who uses the products and analyses generated by this work?
According to the notice, the work produces products used by regulators and land managers, and it also notes that the effort produces products used by regulators, land managers, NGOs, and industry stakeholders.
24) Does the notice cite legal authorities for using a cooperative agreement?
Yes. The notice cites 16 U.S.C. 1(g), 16 U.S.C. 1a-2(j), and 16 U.S.C. 5933 as authorities that support NPS entering into cooperative agreements with universities and other entities to conduct coordinated research, develop integrated information products, and support NPS mission needs.
25) What is the key practical takeaway for prospective applicants reading this notice?
The key takeaway is that this posting does not offer an application opportunity for the general public. It is a transparency notice that NPS intends to continue funding an established CSU-led research and outreach effort, with NPS deeply involved in both the science and the delivery of results.
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