Opportunity Information: Apply for P15AS00184
Apply for P15AS00184
- The National Park Service in the community development disaster prevention and relief education environment humanities (see cultural affairs in cfda) natural resources regional development science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Base Cooperataive Agreement Indiana University National Accessibility Center" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.954 National Park Service Conservation, Protection, Outreach, and Education.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jun 29, 2015 and posted on Jun 29, 2015.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 13, 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 $1,034,535.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $1,034,535.00 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 is a National Park Service (NPS) Notice of Intent to Award for a cooperative agreement titled "Base Cooperative Agreement - Indiana University National Accessibility Center" (Funding Opportunity Number P15AS00184). It is not an open call for proposals and not a request for applications. Instead, it serves as public notice that NPS plans to make a single-source award to Indiana University, acting through its National Center on Accessibility (NCA), with Dr. Sherril York listed as the principal investigator/program manager. The anticipated period of performance is five years from the date of award, with an expected total expenditure of about $1,034,535 over that timeframe. There is no cost share required. The award is issued under statutory authority 54 USC 101702(a), is associated with CFDA 15.954 (National Park Service Conservation, Protection, Outreach, and Education), and is expected to result in one award.
The purpose of the cooperative agreement is to strengthen nationwide capacity to make parks and recreation environments accessible to people with disabilities. The announcement emphasizes that federal, state, and local park and recreation agencies are required to ensure visitors with disabilities can access facilities and receive the same benefits as visitors without disabilities. While NPS has improved accessibility over time, the agency identifies an ongoing, continuing need for specialized accessibility training, technical assistance (TA), and applied research. This partnership is framed as a long-running and proven model: NPS and Indiana University have collaborated under similar cooperative agreements since 1992, and the work is carried out jointly through the NPS National Accessibility Branch (AXS Branch) in the Park Facility Management Division and Indiana Universitys National Center on Accessibility.
Programmatically, the agreement is designed around a coordinated set of national services that blend education, consultation, research, and outreach. Core activities include developing and delivering a national training and education program for NPS staff and other park and recreation professionals across federal, state, local, and private organizations, with the goal of increasing awareness and practical know-how for providing equal access. Alongside training, the partners will provide a national technical assistance, information, and consultation function to help agencies evaluate and improve accessibility in their facilities, programs, and opportunities in line with applicable laws, standards, and regulations. The agreement also calls for field-based research that identifies priority accessibility issues in outdoor recreation settings and advances strategies to promote and conduct that research. Another major component is outreach, both to park and recreation agencies and professionals and to organizations representing individuals with disabilities, to ensure NCA services stay responsive to real-world needs and that best practices related to accessibility and universal design are identified and shared broadly. Finally, the partners will develop and implement an evaluation strategy to assess how effective the training, TA, and research efforts are, and then revise programs and products based on those findings.
A key feature of the award is that it is a cooperative agreement, meaning NPS anticipates substantial federal involvement rather than a hands-off grant. Responsibilities are described as collaborative and largely mirrored on both sides. Indiana University (through NCA) will work with NPS to assess current conditions and needs, deliver training, provide technical assistance and consultation, conduct field-based research, and evaluate and improve the work based on evidence. NPS (primarily through the AXS Branch, and with specific parks or other NPS units as needed) will actively participate in those same functions, including jointly evaluating accessibility needs, shaping training and TA priorities, supporting research direction, and participating in evaluation and iterative improvement. In other words, the structure is intended to produce shared planning and shared execution rather than a simple vendor-style relationship.
The announcement also explains why the award is being made without full and open competition. Under Department of the Interior single-source policy (505 DM 2), NPS cites the "Unique Qualifications" justification category. The stated rationale is that Indiana University NCA is uniquely qualified because its work focuses specifically on accessibility in outdoor and recreation environments under Architectural Barriers Act (ABA) standards, which are particularly relevant to federal entities and outdoor recreational areas managed by NPS. The notice contrasts this with other accessibility organizations that may focus more on Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards and on different settings such as employment, housing, or education, which NPS argues do not match its specialized operational needs in federal outdoor recreation contexts.
Administrative details included in the notice list June Zastrow as the NPS point of contact (303-987-6718, junezastrow@nps.gov). The opportunity was posted June 29, 2015, with an original and current closing date of July 13, 2015, and archived July 14, 2015. Eligible applicants are described broadly as public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, but the notice makes clear that NPS intends to fund Indiana University specifically under a single-source approach based on unique qualifications, rather than run a competitive selection process.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is this an open funding opportunity that my organization can apply for?
No. This Notice of Intent to Award is not an open call for proposals and not a request for applications. It serves as public notice that the National Park Service (NPS) plans to make a single-source cooperative agreement award.
Who is the intended recipient of the award?
The intended recipient is Indiana University, acting through its National Center on Accessibility (NCA), also described as the Indiana University National Accessibility Center in the title.
What is the funding opportunity number and title?
The funding opportunity is titled "Base Cooperative Agreement - Indiana University National Accessibility Center" and the Funding Opportunity Number is P15AS00184.
What type of funding instrument is this?
This is a cooperative agreement. The notice emphasizes that NPS anticipates substantial federal involvement, meaning the work is planned and carried out collaboratively rather than as a hands-off grant.
How many awards does NPS expect to make under this notice?
The notice indicates the opportunity is expected to result in one award.
What is the expected period of performance?
The anticipated period of performance is five years from the date of award.
What is the estimated total funding amount?
The expected total expenditure is about $1,034,535 over the five-year timeframe.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. The notice states there is no cost share required.
What is the purpose of the cooperative agreement?
The purpose is to strengthen nationwide capacity to make parks and recreation environments accessible to people with disabilities. The work focuses on improving access to facilities, programs, and opportunities so visitors with disabilities can receive the same benefits as visitors without disabilities.
What needs or gaps is NPS trying to address through this agreement?
NPS describes an ongoing need for specialized accessibility training, technical assistance (TA), and applied research related to accessibility in park and recreation environments, even as the agency has improved accessibility over time.
What main activities will be supported under the agreement?
The notice describes a coordinated set of national services including: a national training and education program, a national technical assistance and consultation function, field-based research on priority accessibility issues in outdoor recreation, outreach to agencies and disability organizations, and an evaluation strategy to measure effectiveness and drive improvements.
Who is the principal investigator/program manager named in the notice?
Dr. Sherril York is listed as the principal investigator/program manager.
Which NPS office is identified as a key partner on the federal side?
The work is carried out jointly through the NPS National Accessibility Branch (AXS Branch) in the Park Facility Management Division, along with Indiana Universitys National Center on Accessibility.
What does "substantial federal involvement" mean in this context?
Based on the notice, it means NPS will actively participate with Indiana University/NCA in assessing needs, shaping training and TA priorities, supporting research direction, and participating in evaluation and iterative improvements, rather than simply providing funding with minimal engagement.
What training and education services are described?
The partners will develop and deliver a national training and education program for NPS staff and other park and recreation professionals across federal, state, local, and private organizations, aimed at increasing awareness and practical know-how for providing equal access.
What technical assistance (TA) and consultation services are included?
The agreement includes a national technical assistance, information, and consultation function to help agencies evaluate and improve accessibility in facilities, programs, and opportunities in line with applicable laws, standards, and regulations.
What kind of research will be conducted?
The notice calls for field-based research to identify priority accessibility issues in outdoor recreation settings and to advance strategies that promote and support conducting that research.
What outreach activities are planned?
Outreach is aimed both at park and recreation agencies/professionals and at organizations representing individuals with disabilities, to keep NCA services responsive to real-world needs and to broadly share best practices related to accessibility and universal design.
How will program effectiveness be evaluated?
The partners will develop and implement an evaluation strategy to assess the effectiveness of training, technical assistance, and research, and then revise programs and products based on evaluation findings.
Why is NPS making a single-source award instead of holding a competition?
NPS cites the Department of the Interior single-source policy (505 DM 2) and uses the "Unique Qualifications" justification category. The notice states Indiana University NCA is uniquely qualified because it focuses specifically on accessibility in outdoor and recreation environments under Architectural Barriers Act (ABA) standards, which NPS identifies as particularly relevant to federal entities and outdoor recreational areas.
How does the notice distinguish Indiana University NCA from other accessibility organizations?
The notice contrasts NCA with other accessibility organizations that may focus more on Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards and on different settings such as employment, housing, or education, which NPS argues do not match its specialized operational needs in federal outdoor recreation contexts.
How long have NPS and Indiana University collaborated on similar work?
The notice describes the partnership as long-running, stating NPS and Indiana University have collaborated under similar cooperative agreements since 1992.
What statutory authority is referenced for this award?
The notice states the award is issued under statutory authority 54 USC 101702(a).
What CFDA program is associated with this opportunity?
The notice associates the opportunity with CFDA 15.954, National Park Service Conservation, Protection, Outreach, and Education.
Who is the point of contact for the notice, and how can they be reached?
The NPS point of contact listed is June Zastrow. Phone: 303-987-6718. Email: junezastrow@nps.gov.
What are the posted and closing dates shown in the notice?
The notice was posted June 29, 2015. The original and current closing date is July 13, 2015. The notice was archived July 14, 2015.
Who is listed as eligible to apply, and does eligibility mean proposals will be accepted?
Eligible applicants are described broadly as public and state-controlled institutions of higher education. However, the notice also makes clear that NPS intends to fund Indiana University specifically under a single-source approach, rather than conduct a competitive selection process.
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