Opportunity Information: Apply for P15AS00797
Apply for P15AS00797
- The National Park Service in the education sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Changing Tides Bivalve Bioassay and Analysis Component" 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 16, 2015 and posted on Jun 16, 2015.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 25, 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 $130,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $200,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- This is a notice of intent to award to the SeaLife Center in Seward, AK. Please see the attachment for more details.
[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal:
Opportunity Summary:
The "Changing Tides - Bivalve Bioassay and Analysis Component" notice is a National Park Service (NPS) notice of intent to award, not an open call for proposals. In other words, it is published mainly to inform the public that NPS plans to fund a specific recipient without full and open competition. The anticipated award is $130,000 with no cost share requirement, issued as a task agreement/cooperative-style instrument under statutory authority 54 USC 101702(a) and listed under CFDA 15.945 (Cooperative Research and Training Programs - Resources of the National Park System). The anticipated period of performance runs from July 20, 2015 through September 30, 2018, and the opportunity posting indicates an expected single award.
This component sits inside a larger research effort called "Changing Tides," which is focused on understanding how human activity and changing environmental conditions can ripple through coastal ecosystems. The bigger project aims to identify cause-and-effect relationships connecting marine intertidal invertebrate health (things like clams, mussels, and other shoreline invertebrates), visitor use patterns, and brown bear physiology. The idea is that if intertidal prey resources shift in quality or availability due to stressors, those changes can affect bears and broader food-web dynamics, which matters for wildlife management and long-term population persistence in and around coastal national parks.
The specific work funded here concentrates on bioassays and analytical lab work for selected bivalve species. The project is designed to refine and apply a monitoring tool that uses bioassays to directly link ocean and nearshore conditions to biological responses that matter in the food web. Practically, that means testing how clams and mussels respond to environmental perturbations such as temperature shifts, changes in pH (relevant to ocean acidification), and contaminant exposure. The resulting measurements are intended to support site-to-site comparisons of bivalve health, clarify sensitivity to different stressors, and evaluate energetic value as prey, including for bears that rely on intertidal resources.
A central public-purpose element of the agreement is support for a University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF) postdoctoral fellow stationed at the Alaska SeaLife Center (ASLC). That postdoc role is framed around assessing whether clams, mussels, and other marine invertebrates can serve as reliable indicators of ecological condition. The notice emphasizes alignment with UAF's research mission as a Land, Sea, and Space Grant institution and with ASLC's mission to generate scientific knowledge that supports stewardship of Alaska's marine ecosystems. The work is also positioned as relevant because bivalves are a key part of the nearshore food web, connecting primary production (kelps and algae) to higher trophic level animals such as bears, sea otters, sea ducks, shorebirds, and other wildlife.
The project is described as collaborative, involving ASLC, NPS, USGS, and Washington State University, and it is also tied to GulfWatch Alaska, a long-term, multi-agency monitoring program connected to resources affected by the Exxon Valdez oil spill. Expected deliverables include a final report and multiple publications, including peer-reviewed journal articles and an Alaska Park Science article. Beyond basic science, the products are intended to inform practical management recommendations, including guidance on how intertidal invertebrates should be monitored and recommendations related to timing and distribution of bear viewing and clam harvesting activities, reflecting the overlap between ecosystem health, visitor use, and subsistence or recreational collection pressures.
Roles are split between the recipient and NPS in a way that signals substantial federal involvement (typical of cooperative agreements). ASLC is expected to provide specialized expertise in bioassay analysis and aquaculture methods, perform lab analyses and interpret results, participate in field collections for both specimens and documentation of species distribution/composition, and assign the postdoctoral researcher to support sample collection, processing, data analysis, and interpretation. NPS is expected to stay actively involved by coordinating with ASLC on all marine intertidal invertebrate aspects of the project and by funding equipment and supplies needed for field sampling and lab work, as well as funding completion of sample analyses.
Competition is not being used because NPS cites the Department of the Interior single-source policy criterion of "Unique Qualifications." The justification is that ASLC developed the specific bioassay techniques being used, that the approach is new and not yet fully published, and that continuity of the same personnel is important for credible and consistent analysis and interpretation. A practical constraint reinforces the single-source rationale: bivalve specimens for bioassays must arrive alive, and ASLC's location and accessibility (specimens can be transported by road within a few hours from Homer to Seward) reduces transport risk compared with more distant institutions, where mortality in transit could compromise testing and data quality. For questions about the notice, the listed NPS point of contact is Erica Cordeiro (Contract Specialist), with a phone number provided in the announcement.
FAQs: Changing Tides - Bivalve Bioassay and Analysis Component (NPS Notice of Intent)
1) Is this an open grant opportunity where anyone can apply?
No. This notice is a National Park Service (NPS) notice of intent to award, meaning it is published to inform the public that NPS plans to fund a specific recipient without full and open competition. It is not described as an open call for proposals.
2) What is the official title of the notice?
The notice is titled "Changing Tides - Bivalve Bioassay and Analysis Component."
3) What agency is issuing the award?
The issuing agency is the National Park Service (NPS).
4) What is the anticipated funding amount?
The anticipated award amount is $130,000.
5) Is there a cost share or match requirement?
No. The notice states there is no cost share requirement.
6) What type of award instrument is planned?
The award is described as a task agreement/cooperative-style instrument. The roles described also indicate substantial federal involvement, which is typical of cooperative agreements.
7) What statutory authority is cited for this award?
The notice cites statutory authority 54 USC 101702(a).
8) What CFDA number is associated with this project?
The notice lists CFDA 15.945, Cooperative Research and Training Programs - Resources of the National Park System.
9) What is the anticipated period of performance?
The anticipated period of performance runs from July 20, 2015 through September 30, 2018.
10) How many awards does the posting expect to make?
The opportunity posting indicates an expected single award.
11) What larger project is this component part of?
This work is part of a broader research effort called "Changing Tides," focused on understanding how human activity and changing environmental conditions can affect coastal ecosystems.
12) What is the overall purpose of the broader "Changing Tides" effort?
The broader project aims to identify cause-and-effect relationships linking marine intertidal invertebrate health (such as clams and mussels), visitor use patterns, and brown bear physiology, with implications for wildlife management and long-term population persistence in and around coastal national parks.
13) What is the focus of the "Bivalve Bioassay and Analysis Component" specifically?
This component focuses on bioassays and analytical laboratory work for selected bivalve species, refining and applying a monitoring tool that links ocean and nearshore conditions to biological responses relevant to the food web.
14) What kinds of environmental stressors will the bioassays test?
The notice describes testing bivalve responses to environmental perturbations including temperature shifts, changes in pH (relevant to ocean acidification), and contaminant exposure.
15) Why are bivalves (like clams and mussels) central to this research?
Bivalves are described as a key part of the nearshore food web, connecting primary production (kelps and algae) to higher trophic level animals including bears, sea otters, sea ducks, shorebirds, and other wildlife. The project also evaluates bivalves as prey resources, including their energetic value for bears that rely on intertidal resources.
16) What kinds of outcomes are the measurements intended to support?
The resulting measurements are intended to support site-to-site comparisons of bivalve health, clarify sensitivity to different stressors, and evaluate energetic value as prey in the coastal food web.
17) Is there a training or workforce development element?
Yes. A central public-purpose element is support for a University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF) postdoctoral fellow stationed at the Alaska SeaLife Center (ASLC), focused on assessing whether clams, mussels, and other marine invertebrates can serve as reliable indicators of ecological condition.
18) Which organizations are named as collaborators in the project?
The project is described as collaborative, involving the Alaska SeaLife Center (ASLC), National Park Service (NPS), U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), and Washington State University.
19) How does this work connect to GulfWatch Alaska?
The notice states the project is tied to GulfWatch Alaska, described as a long-term, multi-agency monitoring program connected to resources affected by the Exxon Valdez oil spill.
20) What deliverables are expected from this work?
Expected deliverables include a final report and multiple publications, including peer-reviewed journal articles and an Alaska Park Science article.
21) How are the results expected to be used for management?
Beyond basic science, products are intended to inform practical management recommendations, including guidance on how intertidal invertebrates should be monitored and recommendations related to the timing and distribution of bear viewing and clam harvesting activities.
22) What responsibilities are expected of ASLC (the recipient)?
ASLC is expected to provide specialized expertise in bioassay analysis and aquaculture methods, perform laboratory analyses and interpret results, participate in field collections for specimens and documentation of species distribution/composition, and assign the postdoctoral researcher to support sample collection, processing, data analysis, and interpretation.
23) What responsibilities are expected of NPS during the project?
NPS is expected to remain actively involved by coordinating with ASLC on marine intertidal invertebrate aspects of the project and by funding equipment and supplies needed for field sampling and lab work, as well as funding completion of sample analyses.
24) Why is NPS not using competition for this award?
The notice states that competition is not being used under the Department of the Interior single-source policy criterion of "Unique Qualifications."
25) What "unique qualifications" are cited to justify a single-source award?
The justification given is that ASLC developed the specific bioassay techniques being used, the approach is new and not yet fully published, and continuity of the same personnel is important for credible and consistent analysis and interpretation.
26) Is there a logistical reason mentioned for selecting ASLC?
Yes. The notice explains that bivalve specimens for bioassays must arrive alive, and ASLC's location and accessibility reduce transport risk because specimens can be transported by road within a few hours from Homer to Seward. Longer-distance transport could increase mortality and compromise testing and data quality.
27) What does the notice say about keeping specimens alive?
It states that bivalve specimens must arrive alive for the bioassays, and specimen mortality in transit could compromise testing and data quality.
28) What is the point of contact for questions about the notice?
The listed NPS point of contact is Erica Cordeiro, Contract Specialist. The notice also indicates a phone number is provided in the announcement.
Browse more opportunities from the same category: Education
Next opportunity: Review of Vegetation Distributions in Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park from Historic Aerial Imagery
Previous opportunity: Ethnographic Overview and Assessment
USGrants.org Applicant Portal:
Are you interested in learning about about how to apply for this government funding opportunity? You can create a free applicant account and receive instant access to our applicant portal that many business owners like you have benefited from.
Apply for P15AS00797
[Watch] how do funding administrators access proposals?
Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (P15AS00797) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| Review of Vegetation Distributions in Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park from Historic Aerial Imagery Apply for P15AS00998 Funding Number: P15AS00998 Agency: National Park Service Category: Education Funding Amount: $50,000 |
| Sitka Youth Expedition to Glacier Bay (Find your Parks) Apply for P15AS11111 Funding Number: P15AS11111 Agency: National Park Service Category: Education Funding Amount: $60,000 |
| Assessing the Impacts of Ocean Acidification on Plankton Populations in Glacier Bay Apply for P15AS01037 Funding Number: P15AS01037 Agency: National Park Service Category: Education Funding Amount: $300,000 |
| Conduct Geophysical Sub surface Resource Survey at Brooks River, Katmai National Park Apply for P15AS01041 Funding Number: P15AS01041 Agency: National Park Service Category: Education Funding Amount: $50,000 |
| Subtidal and Intertidal Habitats and Invertebrate Biota in Lower Cook Inlet, Alaska Apply for P15AS01028 Funding Number: P15AS01028 Agency: National Park Service Category: Education Funding Amount: $20,000 |
| Large Fires in Wrangell St. Elias National Park Apply for P15AS01029 Funding Number: P15AS01029 Agency: National Park Service Category: Education Funding Amount: $20,000 |
| Mapping Lichen Cover and Biomass in the Western Caribou Arctic Herd Home Range Apply for P15AS01022 Funding Number: P15AS01022 Agency: National Park Service Category: Education Funding Amount: $50,000 |
| Population Dynamics of Forest Carnivores in Denali Apply for P15AS01013 Funding Number: P15AS01013 Agency: National Park Service Category: Education Funding Amount: $50,000 |
| SUPPORTING THE ALASKA NATIVE SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING PROGRAM (ANSEP) Apply for P15AS01023 Funding Number: P15AS01023 Agency: National Park Service Category: Education Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Effects of Infanticide Risk on Brown Bear Resource Selection in Lake Clark National Park and Preserve, Alaska Apply for P15AS01024 Funding Number: P15AS01024 Agency: National Park Service Category: Education Funding Amount: $10,000 |
| Identify Vulnerable Populations of Dall s Sheep in Alaska s National Parks Using Climate Models Apply for P15AS01026 Funding Number: P15AS01026 Agency: National Park Service Category: Education Funding Amount: $150,000 |
| Dinosaurs of the Cantwell Formation, Denali National Park and Preserve insights into a Late Cretaceous, high latitude ecosystem in a Greenhouse World. Apply for P15AS01027 Funding Number: P15AS01027 Agency: National Park Service Category: Education Funding Amount: $40,000 |
| High resolution hydrologic modeling of Glacier Bay National Park Apply for P15AS01065 Funding Number: P15AS01065 Agency: National Park Service Category: Education Funding Amount: $100,000 |
| Transition to Teaching Grant Program Local Projects CFDA 84.350A Apply for ED GRANTS 111308 002 Funding Number: ED GRANTS 111308 002 Agency: Department of Education Category: Education Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Transition to Teaching Grant Program Statewide Projects CFDA 84.350B Apply for ED GRANTS 111308 003 Funding Number: ED GRANTS 111308 003 Agency: Department of Education Category: Education Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Transition to Teaching Grant Program National/Regional Projects CFDA 84.350C Apply for ED GRANTS 111308 004 Funding Number: ED GRANTS 111308 004 Agency: Department of Education Category: Education Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Teaching American History Grant Program CFDA 84.215X Apply for ED GRANTS 122308 002 Funding Number: ED GRANTS 122308 002 Agency: Department of Education Category: Education Funding Amount: $2,000,000 |
| Research and Technical Assistance Center on Vocational Rehabilitation Program Management CFDA 84.133A 3 Apply for ED GRANTS 122408 001 Funding Number: ED GRANTS 122408 001 Agency: Department of Education Category: Education Funding Amount: $1,500,000 |
| Center on the Effective Delivery of Rehabilitation Technology by State Vocational Rehabilitation Agencies to Improve Employment Outcomes CFDA 84.133A 4 Apply for ED GRANTS 122408 002 Funding Number: ED GRANTS 122408 002 Agency: Department of Education Category: Education Funding Amount: $500,000 |
| Higher Education Disaster Relief CFDA 84.938 Apply for ED GRANTS 011609 002 Funding Number: ED GRANTS 011609 002 Agency: Department of Education Category: Education Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
Grant application guides and resources
It is always free to apply for government grants. However the process may be very complex depending on the funding opportunity you are applying for. Let us help you!
Apply for Grants
Premium leads for funding administrators, grant writers, and loan issuers
Thousands of people visit our website for their funding needs every day. When a user creates a grant proposal and files for submission, we pass the information on to funding administrators, grant writers, and government loan issuers.
If you manage government grant programs, provide grant writing services, or issue personal or government loans, we can help you reach your audience.
Subscribe to Leads
Request more information:
Would you like to learn more about this funding opportunity, similar opportunities to "P15AS00797", eligibility, application service, and/or application tips? Submit an inquiry below:
Don't forget to subscribe to our grant alerts mailing list to receive weekly alerts on new and updated grant funding opportunities like this one in your email.