Opportunity Information: Apply for P15AS01041
Apply for P15AS01041
- The National Park Service in the education sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Conduct Geophysical Sub surface Resource Survey at Brooks River, Katmai National Park" 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 27, 2015 and posted on Jun 27, 2015.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 11, 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 $25,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $50,000.00 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 Cornell University. Please see the attached notice of intent for further details.
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Opportunity Summary:
The National Park Service (NPS) published this notice to inform the public of its intent to make a non-competitive award for a project called "Conduct Geophysical Subsurface Resource Survey at Brooks River, Katmai National Park and Preserve" (Funding Opportunity Number P15AS01041). This announcement is not a request for applications and is not open for competition; instead, it serves as a formal notice that NPS plans to fund Cornell University directly. The anticipated total federal award is $25,000 with no cost share requirement, structured as a CESU task agreement under statutory authority 54 USC 101702(c). The anticipated period of performance is two years (with a two-year agreement length), and the program is listed under CFDA 15.945, Cooperative Research and Training Programs - Resources of the National Park System. The single-source rationale cited is "Unique Qualifications," meaning NPS determined Cornell University is uniquely positioned to carry out the work.
The work is focused on Brooks Camp, which sits within the Brooks River Archaeological District in Katmai National Park, Alaska (National Register listing 78000342). This district contains archaeological sites spanning from roughly 2500 BC through the historic era and has already produced high-value scientific findings, including what is described as the greatest concentration of Arctic Small Tool Tradition dwellings in Alaska. Even so, NPS believes a large portion of the district remains intact and undiscovered; the notice suggests as much as 90 percent of the cultural resources may still be undisturbed. That intact record is increasingly vulnerable due to natural erosion and the practical impacts of maintaining visitor infrastructure at Brooks Camp. Although the park continues routine archaeological monitoring, the notice emphasizes that a more detailed, site-wide assessment is needed to identify and protect buried cultural resources before they are damaged or lost.
The project goals center on using non-destructive and minimally invasive methods to detect cultural features below ground and better understand site stratigraphy across the full depth and depositional history of the area. Cornell and NPS plan to apply multiple geophysical tools to locate and characterize buried features and sediment layers, specifically naming ground-penetrating radar (GPR), twin-coil electromagnetic induction (EM), and magnetic survey techniques. To confirm the accuracy of the geophysical signals, the plan includes limited subsurface testing to "ground truth" results, likely through augering rather than extensive excavation. If the geophysical findings indicate the need, the team will also collect samples for geochemical soil analysis using ICP-MS (inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry), radiocarbon dating (C14), and potentially tree-ring dating. A key expected outcome is not only technical mapping and research data for professional audiences, but also interpretive products that can be shared with park visitors to help explain what lies beneath the surface and why it matters.
Roles are split clearly between Cornell University and NPS. Cornell agrees to supply qualified staff for both field and lab work, complete required NPS safety trainings (including backcountry aviation and bear safety), and carry out the geophysical survey and mapping using the specified instruments, paired with limited invasive testing and sampling where appropriate. Cornell is also expected to coordinate with NPS archaeologists on a brief status report and to participate in broader dissemination of results, such as conference presentations, public talks, reports, or peer-reviewed research articles depending on what is found. In addition, Cornell must follow NPS policies governing scientific and cultural resources work, including standards related to professional conduct, peer review, and information quality, with the Agreement Technical Representative (ATR) serving as the peer review manager. At the end of the project, Cornell is required to provide NPS with the underlying project records and raw documentation, including original field notes, maps, drawings, indexed photographs/images, and other data gathered during the study.
NPS commits to hands-on collaboration and substantial logistical and technical support throughout the project. That includes working closely with the principal investigator on management decisions, helping navigate environmental compliance and permitting, and contributing meaningfully to the design of the field study plan and interpretive components. NPS will provide mapping and GPS expertise and equipment, connect the project to other specialists as needed, and assume lead responsibility for data management, artifact cataloging and curation, and records archiving when applicable. The park will also co-author or review and approve reports and interpretive products to ensure accuracy and consistency with NPS standards, while ensuring proper crediting of creators and acknowledgement of Cornell participants in any resulting materials.
Because Brooks Camp is remote and logistically complex, the notice lays out extensive NPS responsibilities for transportation and field support. NPS will provide transport to and from Brooks Camp for the 2015 field season, coordinate land, aircraft, and boat logistics, and provide local transportation support around King Salmon. The park will also offer storage space for project equipment, share an inventory of available equipment and supplies, and provide two qualified archaeological personnel for the 2015 field effort. Safety and operational support are a major component, including pre-field orientations and training, daily safety check-ins by radio or satellite phone, scheduling assistance for flights, and help with food and equipment resupply. Finally, NPS will help distribute results to local and research communities by providing distribution lists and contacts for interested community members and organizations.
The reason the award is being made without competition is documented under Department of the Interior single-source policy (505 DM 2). While the notice lists the standard categories that can justify a non-competitive assistance award, NPS specifically cites the "Unique Qualifications" basis for this project. In practical terms, the announcement frames Cornell University as having the specialized expertise and capacity needed for an archaeo-geophysical assessment that combines multiple instruments, targeted verification, and scientific sampling while working under the safety and operational constraints of Katmai. The point of contact for the announcement is Erica Cordeiro, Contract Specialist, at 907-644-3315.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1) What is this funding opportunity?
This is a National Park Service (NPS) notice of intent to make a non-competitive (single-source) award for a project titled "Conduct Geophysical Subsurface Resource Survey at Brooks River, Katmai National Park and Preserve" under Funding Opportunity Number P15AS01041.
2) Is this announcement a request for applications (RFA) or proposals?
No. The notice explicitly states it is not a request for applications and is not open for competition. It is a formal public notice that NPS intends to fund a specific recipient directly.
3) Who is the intended recipient of the award?
NPS intends to fund Cornell University directly.
4) What is the anticipated award amount?
The anticipated total federal award amount is $25,000.
5) Is there a cost share or matching requirement?
No. The notice states there is no cost share requirement.
6) What is the expected period of performance?
The anticipated period of performance is two years, with a two-year agreement length.
7) What program or CFDA listing is associated with this project?
The notice lists CFDA 15.945, "Cooperative Research and Training Programs - Resources of the National Park System."
8) Under what authority and agreement mechanism will the award be made?
The award is structured as a CESU task agreement under statutory authority 54 USC 101702(c).
9) Why is the award non-competitive?
The notice documents the decision under Department of the Interior single-source policy (505 DM 2) and cites "Unique Qualifications" as the specific rationale, meaning NPS determined Cornell University is uniquely positioned to carry out the work.
10) Where will the work take place?
The work is focused on Brooks Camp within the Brooks River Archaeological District in Katmai National Park and Preserve, Alaska.
11) What is the Brooks River Archaeological District?
It is a National Register-listed archaeological district (listing 78000342) containing sites spanning from roughly 2500 BC through the historic era, and it has produced high-value scientific findings, including what is described as the greatest concentration of Arctic Small Tool Tradition dwellings in Alaska.
12) Why is this survey needed if archaeological monitoring is already happening?
While the park conducts routine archaeological monitoring, the notice emphasizes the need for a more detailed, site-wide assessment to identify and protect buried cultural resources before they are damaged or lost.
13) What threats to cultural resources are highlighted in the notice?
The notice points to increasing vulnerability from natural erosion and the practical impacts of maintaining visitor infrastructure at Brooks Camp.
14) How much of the district may still be intact and undiscovered?
NPS suggests that as much as 90 percent of the cultural resources may still be undisturbed.
15) What are the main goals of the project?
The goals center on using non-destructive and minimally invasive methods to detect cultural features below ground, and to better understand site stratigraphy across the full depth and depositional history of the area.
16) What geophysical methods will be used?
The notice specifically names ground-penetrating radar (GPR), twin-coil electromagnetic induction (EM), and magnetic survey techniques to locate and characterize buried features and sediment layers.
17) Will the project involve excavation?
The notice describes the approach as non-destructive and minimally invasive, with limited subsurface testing to "ground truth" geophysical results, likely through augering rather than extensive excavation.
18) What does "ground truthing" mean in this project?
Based on the notice, it refers to limited subsurface testing used to confirm that geophysical signals correspond to real subsurface features, likely using augering rather than large-scale excavation.
19) What types of scientific samples or analyses might be conducted?
If geophysical findings indicate the need, the team may collect samples for geochemical soil analysis using ICP-MS (inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry), radiocarbon dating (C14), and potentially tree-ring dating.
20) What kinds of outcomes and deliverables are expected?
Expected outcomes include technical mapping and research data for professional audiences, as well as interpretive products that can be shared with park visitors to help explain what lies beneath the surface and why it matters.
21) What are Cornell University's responsibilities under this project?
Cornell is expected to provide qualified staff for field and lab work, complete required NPS safety trainings (including backcountry aviation and bear safety), conduct the geophysical survey and mapping using the specified instruments, and perform limited invasive testing and sampling where appropriate.
22) Is Cornell expected to coordinate with NPS during the project?
Yes. Cornell is expected to coordinate with NPS archaeologists on a brief status report and participate in broader dissemination of results such as conference presentations, public talks, reports, or peer-reviewed articles depending on findings.
23) What standards and policies must Cornell follow?
Cornell must follow NPS policies governing scientific and cultural resources work, including standards related to professional conduct, peer review, and information quality. The Agreement Technical Representative (ATR) serves as the peer review manager.
24) What data and records must Cornell provide at the end of the project?
Cornell must provide NPS with underlying project records and raw documentation, including original field notes, maps, drawings, indexed photographs/images, and other data gathered during the study.
25) What are NPS's responsibilities for collaboration and technical support?
NPS will collaborate closely with the principal investigator on management decisions, help navigate environmental compliance and permitting, contribute to the field study plan and interpretive components, provide mapping and GPS expertise and equipment, and connect the project to other specialists as needed.
26) Who is responsible for data management, curation, and archiving?
NPS assumes lead responsibility for data management, artifact cataloging and curation, and records archiving when applicable.
27) Will NPS be involved in reviewing or approving products from the project?
Yes. The park will co-author or review and approve reports and interpretive products to ensure accuracy and consistency with NPS standards, while ensuring proper crediting and acknowledgement of Cornell participants.
28) What logistical support will NPS provide given the remote location?
NPS will provide transport to and from Brooks Camp for the 2015 field season, coordinate land, aircraft, and boat logistics, provide local transportation support around King Salmon, and provide storage space for project equipment. NPS will also share an inventory of available equipment and supplies.
29) Will NPS provide staffing support in the field?
Yes. The notice states NPS will provide two qualified archaeological personnel for the 2015 field effort.
30) What safety and operational support is described?
NPS will provide pre-field orientations and training, daily safety check-ins by radio or satellite phone, scheduling assistance for flights, and help with food and equipment resupply.
31) Will the results be shared beyond the park?
Yes. Cornell is expected to participate in dissemination of results (such as presentations, talks, reports, or articles), and NPS will help distribute results to local and research communities by providing distribution lists and contacts for interested community members and organizations.
32) Who is the point of contact for this notice?
The point of contact is Erica Cordeiro, Contract Specialist. Phone: 907-644-3315.
33) Can other organizations apply to receive this funding?
No. The notice states it is not open for competition and is not a request for applications; it serves only as a formal notice of NPS intent to fund Cornell University directly.
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