Opportunity Information: Apply for P14AS00171
Apply for P14AS00171
- The National Park Service in the education environment natural resources science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Comprehensive Assessment of Risk of Caves to White Nose Syndrome" 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 Jul 11, 2014 and posted on Jul 11, 2014.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 25, 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 $92,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $92,000.00 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:
The grant opportunity titled "Comprehensive Assessment of Risk of Caves to White Nose Syndrome" is a National Park Service (NPS) notice of intent to award, meaning it is not open for applications and is issued strictly to inform the public that NPS plans to fund specific work without a competitive process. The project is a continuation award to Northern Arizona University (NAU), led by Principal Investigator Dr. Carol Chambers, with an anticipated total amount of $92,000 and no cost-share requirement. The award is structured as a cooperative agreement, reflecting that NPS expects to be substantially involved in shaping and supporting the work rather than simply providing funding and receiving a final product. The anticipated performance period runs from the award date through September 30, 2015, and the funding is associated with CFDA 15.945, Cooperative Research and Training Programs - Resources of the National Park System, under the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Units (CESU) network (specifically routed through the Colorado Plateau CESU at a negotiated 17.5% overhead rate).
At its core, the project addresses the growing threat of White-nose Syndrome (WNS), a devastating bat disease caused by the fungus Pseudogymnoascus destructans. At the time of the announcement, WNS had been confirmed in 27 states and had spread west to Missouri, raising concerns that western national parks could face major impacts if the pathogen reaches their cave and mine systems. Western subterranean habitats are described as relatively pristine and potentially critical to the long-term persistence of bat species, which makes early assessment and prevention-oriented planning especially important. Because caves and mines can serve as refuge for both bats and the fungus, the project emphasizes the need for a practical way to estimate how vulnerable specific subterranean sites may be. The proposed solution is to develop an index of cave vulnerability based on a combination of cave microclimate conditions and the presence, abundance, and occupancy patterns of bat species, using an approach that intentionally blends ecology and genetics.
The work NAU will carry out includes several connected field and lab components aimed at producing baseline data and management-ready tools. First, the team will inventory bats using live capture methods and acoustic monitoring to document which species are present and how they use cave and mine environments. Second, they will measure the microclimate in bat-used caves and mines within selected NPS units, focusing on conditions that could be suitable for P. destructans, since temperature and humidity strongly influence fungal survival and growth. Third, they will develop and test a non-invasive genetic method to detect bat species from fecal material collected in caves, mines, or other relevant locations, improving the ability to identify bat presence without repeatedly handling animals. Fourth, they will characterize the baseline microbiome of cave-dwelling bats and cave soils in the participating NPS units to understand the microbial community composition before the arrival of P. destructans, which can support future comparisons and may also inform proactive management strategies related to disease resistance or microbial interactions. In addition to producing datasets, the recipients responsibilities include working directly with NPS to refine the scope of work, summarizing results, delivering a report to NPS by May 30, 2015, and sharing findings through professional presentations and collaboration networks.
Because this is a cooperative agreement, NPS is not just a funder but an active partner. The agency is expected to help develop project goals and jointly refine the specific activities and deliverables. NPS will also help ensure the information generated is shared with other federal, state, and tribal land managers and with the private sector to support broader bat conservation efforts across the United States. A practical part of NPS involvement is identifying participating park units with suitable resources and study sites; examples listed include Organ Pipe National Park, Colonial National Historical Park and George Washington Memorial Birthplace, Canyon de Chelly, and Navajo National Monument. This setup highlights that the projects value is tied to its on-the-ground applicability within real park settings, not just to academic outputs.
The notice also explains why the award is being made without full and open competition. Under Department of the Interior single-source policy, NPS must justify noncompetitive awards using specific criteria, and here the cited justification is "Continuation." In other words, the work is considered necessary to complete or continue an existing effort already being funded, and competing it would likely disrupt continuity or undermine completion of the ongoing activity. The notice identifies the award as a task agreement (P14AC01179) under an existing cooperative agreement (P14AC00727), reinforcing that it is part of an established partnership and research trajectory rather than a standalone, newly competed program.
Legally, the award is supported by multiple statutory authorities that allow NPS to enter into cooperative agreements with universities and other entities for research and training that supports national park resources and management needs. These include 16 USC 1(g), which authorizes NPS to transfer appropriated funds through cooperative agreements for public purposes aligned with NPS programs; 16 USC 1a-2(j), which supports cooperative research and training programs related to park system resources; and 16 USC 5933, which addresses cooperative agreements with colleges and universities, including the establishment of cooperative study units conducting multidisciplinary research and producing integrated information products. Taken together, the authorities and the CESU framework explain both the mechanism used and the collaborative nature of the work.
Overall, this opportunity is best understood as a targeted, continuation-funded research and monitoring effort designed to give NPS actionable baseline information and practical assessment tools for WNS preparedness. By combining bat inventories, cave microclimate assessment, non-invasive genetic identification methods, and baseline microbiome characterization, the project aims to help parks evaluate which caves and mines may be most vulnerable to WNS and to support earlier, better-informed conservation decisions before the disease arrives or intensifies in western subterranean ecosystems. Contact for the opportunity is listed as June Zastrow at NPS (303-987-6718; junezastrow@nps.gov), and the original posting indicates it was publicly noticed through Grants.gov under funding opportunity number P14AS00171.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is this funding opportunity open for applications?
No. This is a National Park Service (NPS) notice of intent to award, which is issued to inform the public that NPS plans to fund specific work without a competitive application process.
What is the title of the grant opportunity?
The opportunity is titled "Comprehensive Assessment of Risk of Caves to White Nose Syndrome."
What type of announcement is this (competitive vs. noncompetitive)?
It is noncompetitive. The notice explains the award is being made without full and open competition under a single-source justification.
Why is NPS making a noncompetitive (single-source) award?
The stated justification is "Continuation," meaning the work is needed to continue or complete an existing effort already being funded, and competing it could disrupt continuity or undermine completion of the ongoing activity.
Who is the intended recipient of the award?
Northern Arizona University (NAU) is the intended recipient.
Who is leading the project?
The project is led by Principal Investigator Dr. Carol Chambers.
How much funding is anticipated?
The anticipated total amount is $92,000.
Is cost share or matching required?
No. The notice states there is no cost-share requirement.
What is the award instrument (grant vs. cooperative agreement)?
The award is structured as a cooperative agreement.
What does it mean that this is a cooperative agreement?
It means NPS expects to be substantially involved in shaping and supporting the work, including helping develop project goals and jointly refining activities and deliverables, rather than acting only as a pass-through funder.
What is the anticipated period of performance?
The anticipated performance period runs from the award date through September 30, 2015.
What is the reporting deadline mentioned in the notice?
The recipient is expected to deliver a report to NPS by May 30, 2015.
What program or CFDA is associated with this funding?
The funding is associated with CFDA 15.945, Cooperative Research and Training Programs - Resources of the National Park System.
How is this work connected to the CESU network?
The project is administered under the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Units (CESU) network, specifically routed through the Colorado Plateau CESU.
What overhead rate is referenced for this agreement?
The notice references a negotiated 17.5% overhead rate through the Colorado Plateau CESU.
What is the main conservation issue the project addresses?
The project addresses preparedness for White-nose Syndrome (WNS), a bat disease caused by the fungus Pseudogymnoascus destructans.
Why is White-nose Syndrome a concern for western national parks?
At the time of the announcement, WNS had been confirmed in 27 states and had spread west to Missouri, raising concerns about impacts to western national parks if the pathogen reaches their cave and mine systems. Western subterranean habitats are described as relatively pristine and potentially important to long-term bat persistence.
What is the project trying to produce for NPS managers?
The project aims to develop a practical index of cave vulnerability to WNS based on cave microclimate and bat presence, abundance, and occupancy patterns, using an approach that blends ecology and genetics.
What kinds of field methods will be used to inventory bats?
The work includes bat inventories using live capture methods and acoustic monitoring to document species presence and cave/mine use.
What environmental measurements will be collected in caves and mines?
The team will measure microclimate in bat-used caves and mines within selected NPS units, focusing on conditions that may be suitable for P. destructans, since temperature and humidity influence fungal survival and growth.
Is the project developing any non-invasive methods?
Yes. The project includes developing and testing a non-invasive genetic method to detect bat species from fecal material collected in caves, mines, or other relevant locations.
What is meant by establishing a baseline microbiome in this project?
The work includes characterizing the baseline microbiome of cave-dwelling bats and cave soils in participating NPS units to understand microbial community composition before the arrival of P. destructans, supporting future comparisons and potentially informing proactive management strategies.
Will NPS be involved in selecting participating parks and study sites?
Yes. A stated part of NPS involvement is identifying participating park units with suitable resources and study sites.
Which park units are listed as examples of participating sites?
Examples listed include Organ Pipe National Park, Colonial National Historical Park and George Washington Memorial Birthplace, Canyon de Chelly, and Navajo National Monument.
What deliverables or dissemination activities are mentioned besides the written report?
In addition to summarizing results and delivering the report, the recipient is expected to share findings through professional presentations and collaboration networks.
How will the information be used beyond NPS?
NPS is expected to help ensure the information is shared with other federal, state, and tribal land managers and with the private sector to support broader bat conservation efforts across the United States.
What task/agreement identifiers are referenced?
The notice identifies this as task agreement P14AC01179 under an existing cooperative agreement P14AC00727.
What legal authorities are cited as supporting this cooperative agreement?
The notice cites multiple authorities, including 16 USC 1(g), 16 USC 1a-2(j), and 16 USC 5933, which support NPS use of cooperative agreements for research and training related to national park resources and cooperative study units with colleges and universities.
Where was the opportunity publicly noticed?
The original posting indicates it was publicly noticed through Grants.gov under funding opportunity number P14AS00171.
Who is the contact person for this notice?
The contact listed is June Zastrow at NPS. Phone: 303-987-6718. Email: junezastrow@nps.gov.
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