Caribou Seasonal Behavior and Movements | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Caribou Seasonal Behavior and Movements (NPS, P12AS14945)

What is this funding opportunity?

This is a National Park Service (NPS) discretionary funding opportunity titled "Caribou Seasonal Behavior and Movements" with Funding Opportunity Number P12AS14945. It supports research focused on the Northwest Arctic Caribou Herd in Alaska.

Which federal agency is offering this opportunity?

The opportunity was posted by the National Park Service (NPS).

What is the main purpose of the project?

The project is intended to improve understanding of seasonal behavior and movement patterns of the Northwest Arctic Caribou Herd and to examine how those patterns may be affected by human activity.

What herd is being studied?

The project focuses on the Northwest Arctic Caribou Herd in Alaska.

Is this a competitive grant open to multiple applicants?

No. The announcement served as a notice of intent to make a cooperative agreement award to the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF), rather than a broadly competed grant open to many applicants.

What award mechanism is being used (grant vs. cooperative agreement)?

The award instrument is a cooperative agreement. This means NPS involvement is built into the project, rather than NPS acting only as a pass-through funder.

What program is this award issued under?

The award was issued under the Cooperative Ecosystems Studies Unit (CESU) program, which links federal agencies with partner institutions to provide research, technical assistance, and education.

Who was the intended recipient?

The notice indicated an intent to award to the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF).

Why did NPS not pursue full and open competition?

The notice states the opportunity was issued under the CESU program and justified on the basis of "unique qualifications," meaning the selected institution was considered uniquely suited to carry out the work (for example, regional expertise, technical capability, location, and demonstrated capacity).

Who is eligible to receive this award?

Eligibility was limited to public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, consistent with the CESU partnership framework and the intent to award to UAF.

How much funding is available?

The opportunity anticipated a single award with total funding of $78,000.

Is the budget flexible or fixed?

The award ceiling and floor were both listed at $78,000, indicating a fixed expected budget for this opportunity.

How many awards were expected?

The opportunity anticipated a single award.

Is cost sharing or matching required?

No. The notice specifies there was no cost sharing or matching requirement.

What is the project period (start and end dates)?

The planned project period was July 5, 2012 through September 30, 2014.

What kinds of information is the project trying to document?

A central goal is to document local and traditional knowledge about where and when caribou move, including details such as fall migration routes and common river crossing locations.

Why emphasize local and traditional knowledge?

The work emphasizes gathering information that may not be captured well through standard wildlife datasets alone, particularly fine-scale observations tied to specific places, seasons, and community experiences.

What methods were planned for collecting information?

UAF researchers planned to use semi-structured interviews combined with participatory mapping. The project also anticipated questionnaires and/or additional interviews in other communities.

What is participatory mapping in this project?

Participatory mapping is used alongside interviews to capture spatially explicit information (mapped locations and routes), not just narrative descriptions, such as migration routes and river crossing points.

Which communities were specifically mentioned?

The work was planned to begin with knowledgeable individuals in Noatak. The project also anticipated questionnaires and/or additional interviews in other Northwest Arctic Borough communities, including Kotzebue, Kiana, and Noorvik.

What is a key deliverable for NPS?

A key deliverable is a final report for the NPS that can be integrated into a larger effort investigating user conflicts in northwest Alaska.

How will the interview and mapping results be used beyond documentation?

The project aims to compare and integrate interview-based findings with existing caribou distribution and movement data to identify areas of agreement and potential "hotspots" where important caribou use overlaps with human activities.

What is meant by identifying "hotspots"?

In this context, "hotspots" refers to places where important caribou use (as indicated by local/traditional knowledge and other data) overlaps with human activities, highlighting areas where interactions, pressures, or conflicts may be more likely.

How will NPS be involved during the project?

Because it is a cooperative agreement, NPS planned to contribute technical expertise, especially GIS support for analyzing and synthesizing participatory mapping results. NPS staff would also collaborate on project design, review interview protocols, and provide comments during development to ensure the work fits management needs and appropriate research standards.

Will NPS provide logistical support?

Where feasible, NPS could assist with logistics such as aviation support (if an NPS pilot and aircraft were available) and provide housing in Kotzebue for researchers traveling to and from villages, along with other logistical support when possible.

Who is the administrative contact for questions?

The notice provided an administrative contact: Tina Spengler, Contract Specialist, at 907-644-3303.