Opportunity Information: Apply for P15AS00276
Apply for P15AS00276
- The National Park Service in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Benthic Macroinvertebrate Monitoring" 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 Aug 5, 2015 and posted on Aug 5, 2015.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 15, 2015 This is not a request for applications. This funding opportunity is to provide public notice of the NPSs intention to continue to fund the project activities without full and open competition to George Mason University.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education.
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Opportunity Summary:
The National Park Service (NPS) grant opportunity titled "Benthic Macroinvertebrate Monitoring" (Funding Opportunity Number P15AS00276) is a discretionary funding notice for a cooperative agreement focused on natural resource monitoring within the National Park System. The core purpose of the project is to continue the processing and identification of benthic macroinvertebrates collected from multiple national parks spanning different ecoregions, and to use those findings to provide guidance on ecological trends reflected in the monitoring data. In practical terms, this means supporting ongoing lab and analytical work that turns field samples into reliable species or taxonomic identifications and then interprets what changes in those communities may indicate about aquatic ecosystem condition over time.
This notice is not an open call for new applications. Instead, it serves as a public announcement that NPS intended to continue funding these project activities without full and open competition, specifically to George Mason University. While the opportunity lists eligible applicants broadly as public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, the text makes clear that this particular action was a continuation award/noncompetitive arrangement rather than a competitive solicitation. The posting date and creation date were August 5, 2015, with an original and current closing date of August 15, 2015, and an archive date of September 5, 2015. No cost sharing or matching was required.
From an activities standpoint, the work centers on benthic macroinvertebrates, which are aquatic organisms living on or near the bottom of streams, rivers, lakes, or wetlands and are commonly used as indicators of water quality and ecological health. Because different macroinvertebrate groups vary in their tolerance to pollution, habitat disturbance, temperature shifts, sedimentation, and changes in flow, tracking the makeup of these communities across parks and ecoregions can reveal trends that might not be obvious from chemistry samples alone. The project therefore supports NPS needs for consistent identification and data interpretation that can inform park resource management, long-term monitoring programs, and early detection of ecosystem change.
Administrative details in the listing indicate the funding instrument type as a cooperative agreement, which typically implies that NPS expected to have substantial involvement in the project beyond simply providing funds, such as coordination on methods, deliverables, and how results are applied in management contexts. The opportunity is tied to CFDA 15.945, Cooperative Research and Training Programs - Resources of the National Park System. The listing shows an estimated total funding of 0 and an award ceiling and floor of 0, which commonly reflects that the notice is being used primarily for transparency about an intended continuation/noncompetitive award rather than to announce a competed funding amount.
For reference and official documentation, the opportunity pointed to Grants.gov for additional information. The listed contact for access issues was Rita Mihalik, Financial Assistance Officer, reachable at 301-663-1481 ext. 5 and via email at RitaMihalik@nps.gov (also shown in the notice as ritamihalik@nps.gov).
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): NPS "Benthic Macroinvertebrate Monitoring" (P15AS00276)
What is the title and funding opportunity number for this grant notice?
The notice is titled "Benthic Macroinvertebrate Monitoring" and the Funding Opportunity Number is P15AS00276.
Which federal agency is associated with this opportunity?
This opportunity is issued by the National Park Service (NPS).
What is the main purpose of the project described in this notice?
The project is intended to continue processing and identifying benthic macroinvertebrates collected from multiple national parks across different ecoregions, and to use the monitoring results to provide guidance on ecological trends reflected in the data. In practice, this supports ongoing laboratory and analytical work that converts field samples into reliable taxonomic identifications and interprets what changes in those communities may indicate about aquatic ecosystem condition over time.
What are benthic macroinvertebrates, and why are they being monitored?
Benthic macroinvertebrates are aquatic organisms that live on or near the bottom of streams, rivers, lakes, or wetlands. They are commonly used as indicators of water quality and ecological health because different groups vary in tolerance to pollution, habitat disturbance, temperature shifts, sedimentation, and changes in flow. Tracking community composition over time can reveal ecological trends that may not be obvious from water chemistry samples alone.
Is this an open, competitive funding opportunity?
No. The notice is not an open call for new applications. It is a public announcement that NPS intended to continue funding the described project activities without full and open competition.
Who was the intended recipient of the noncompetitive continuation funding?
The notice indicates NPS intended to continue funding the activities specifically to George Mason University under a continuation/noncompetitive arrangement.
Who is listed as eligible to apply in the opportunity record?
The opportunity lists eligible applicants broadly as public and state-controlled institutions of higher education. However, the notice text also makes clear the particular action described was a continuation award/noncompetitive arrangement rather than a competitive solicitation.
What type of funding instrument is used for this award?
The funding instrument type shown is a cooperative agreement.
What does it mean that this is a cooperative agreement?
Based on the listing, a cooperative agreement typically implies substantial involvement by NPS beyond simply providing funds, such as coordination on methods, deliverables, and how results are applied in management contexts.
What program or CFDA number is associated with this notice?
The notice is tied to CFDA 15.945, "Cooperative Research and Training Programs - Resources of the National Park System."
What activities or work products are emphasized in the description?
The work centers on continuing the processing and identification of benthic macroinvertebrate samples from multiple national parks and interpreting the monitoring data to provide guidance on ecological trends. The description frames this as supporting consistent identification and data interpretation to inform park resource management, long-term monitoring, and early detection of ecosystem change.
What geographic scope does the project cover?
The project involves samples collected from multiple national parks spanning different ecoregions within the National Park System.
How does this project support national park management needs?
The notice describes the work as supporting NPS needs for consistent identification and interpretation of monitoring data, helping inform park resource management, long-term monitoring programs, and early detection of ecosystem change.
Was cost sharing or matching required?
No. The listing states that no cost sharing or matching was required.
What were the key dates (posting, closing, and archive dates) shown in the listing?
The posting date and creation date were August 5, 2015. The original and current closing date was August 15, 2015. The archive date was September 5, 2015.
Why does the listing show estimated total funding, award ceiling, and award floor as 0?
The listing shows an estimated total funding of 0 and an award ceiling and floor of 0. The notice explains this commonly reflects that the posting is being used primarily for transparency about an intended continuation/noncompetitive award rather than to announce a competed funding amount.
Where was the opportunity directing people for official documentation or additional information?
The notice pointed to Grants.gov for additional information and official documentation.
Who is the contact person listed for access issues, and how can they be reached?
The listed contact for access issues is Rita Mihalik, Financial Assistance Officer. The phone number provided is 301-663-1481 ext. 5. The email is shown as RitaMihalik@nps.gov and also as ritamihalik@nps.gov in the notice.
What is the main focus area of the monitoring effort described?
The focus area is natural resource monitoring within the National Park System, specifically aquatic ecosystem condition as reflected through benthic macroinvertebrate community data.
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