Opportunity Information: Apply for P13AS00101
Apply for P13AS00101
- The National Park Service in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Cooperative Development of a Freshwater Contaminants Monitoring Protocol" 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 25, 2013 and posted on Jun 25, 2013.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Single Source Continuation of an agreement currently being funded.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $40,008.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $40,008.00 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 "Cooperative Development of a Freshwater Contaminants Monitoring Protocol" is a National Park Service (NPS) notice of intent to make a single award to the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF) through a Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) partnership. Rather than being an open, competitive funding call, it is a continuation action under an existing cooperative agreement (P11AT30885/P11AC90462). The intended award amount is $40,008, with no cost sharing or matching required. The opportunity is listed as a discretionary cooperative agreement in the natural resources category, with an estimated total funding and ceiling of $40,008 and a minimum award floor of $1,000, and it anticipates one award.
At its core, the project is about building a long-term, standardized monitoring protocol for freshwater contaminants across the Southeast Alaska Network (SEAN), which includes three NPS park units: Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve (GLBA), Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park (KLGO), and Sitka National Historical Park (SITK). SEAN has identified twelve "vital signs" it plans to monitor as part of its Inventory and Monitoring efforts, and freshwater contaminants is one of those priority indicators. This funding supports technical assistance and applied research work needed to turn earlier assessments and pilot studies into a formal, repeatable monitoring protocol that NPS can use to track contaminant status and trends over time.
The work described in this follow-on task agreement covers the later stage of a multi-year effort, specifically the third through fifth (final) years of the existing project. Earlier tasks (including Year 1 objectives) were completed to SEAN's satisfaction, and this phase builds on several foundations: a baseline freshwater contaminants assessment (referenced as Nagorski et al. 2011), scoping and planning already completed under prior tasking, a detailed literature review, and a formal research proposal. Pilot field work conducted in the summers of 2013 and 2014 is positioned as the practical testing ground that will inform the final protocol design. SEAN anticipated that the protocol would be fully drafted by summer 2015, using these pilot results to refine what to sample, where to sample, and how to interpret and manage the data.
A key scientific focus of the pilot work is measuring contaminant concentrations in juvenile resident freshwater fish, which are used as the primary "target biota" for assessing contaminant exposure in freshwater systems. The project is designed to compare contaminant levels across contrasting environmental settings that matter in Southeast Alaska, especially differences between anadromous versus non-anadromous water bodies (systems connected to migratory fish movements versus those that are not), and glacially influenced versus non-glacially influenced waters. Those comparisons help determine whether contaminant patterns differ based on connectivity to the marine environment and on glacial inputs, both of which can affect sediment, water chemistry, and potential contaminant transport.
The Year 3 task objectives are spelled out in operational terms. First, UAF and partners are to complete field work in SITK and KLGO during summer 2013 specifically to support protocol development. Second, they are to complete laboratory contaminant analyses for samples collected in summer 2013. Third, using the 2013 field experience and results, they are to develop a field sampling plan for Glacier Bay (GLBA) for summer 2014. Alongside these deliverables, the agreement emphasizes continued collaboration between UAF and SEAN staff to shape the long-term monitoring protocol, with the overall protocol deliverable targeted for completion in summer 2015. In other words, the funded work is not just data collection; it is structured as applied methods development that results in a formal NPS monitoring protocol informed by real field and lab performance.
Because the funding instrument is a cooperative agreement, the NPS is expected to be substantially involved rather than acting as a distant funder. The announcement outlines specific areas of NPS involvement: communicating required protocol components and the expected level of detail and organization; reviewing and approving scope, approach, and schedules; participating in meetings related to protocol development (including involvement by the NPS ecologist and program manager); and providing logistics support for field work and sampling. That logistics support can include field crew assistance during park visits, data management support for data collection and archiving (and potentially web delivery for interim products), and boat and captain support for accessing Glacier Bay sampling sites if needed. The notice also notes practical operational support like helping orient UAF staff to park operations and the NPS mission, assisting with research permits if required, and providing an on-site NPS technical representative when needed to help with project specifics.
The opportunity cites statutory authority under 16 U.S.C. 1a-2(j), which authorizes the Secretary to enter into cooperative agreements with educational institutions and other partners to develop coordinated research and training programs related to National Park System resources, including providing staff support, financial assistance, supplies and equipment, facilities, and administrative services as appropriate. The award is justified as a single-source action under Department of the Interior policy (505 DM 2) on the basis of continuity: the NPS argues that full and open competition is not practicable because the work is a continuation of an activity already being funded, and competing it would risk disrupting continuity or completion of the ongoing effort.
Administratively, the funding opportunity number is P13AS00101, the CFDA program is 15.945 (Cooperative Research and Training Programs - Resources of the National Park System), and the posting date and creation date are both June 25, 2013, with an archive date of August 30, 2013. The listed eligible applicants category is public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, which aligns with the intended recipient (UAF). The closing date is effectively "single source" because it is not a competitive solicitation. For points of contact, the technical contact is Sara Wesser (sarawesser@nps.gov, 907-644-3699), and the agreements officer contact for access issues is Tina Spengler (TinaSpengler@nps.gov, 907-644-3303) in the NPS Alaska Region Office.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the title of this grant opportunity?
The opportunity is titled Cooperative Development of a Freshwater Contaminants Monitoring Protocol.
Which agency is offering this opportunity?
The opportunity is issued by the National Park Service (NPS).
Is this an open, competitive funding opportunity?
No. This is a notice of intent to make a single award and is described as a single-source continuation action under an existing cooperative agreement, rather than an open competitive call.
Who is the intended recipient of the award?
The intended recipient is the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF), through a Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) partnership.
What is the opportunity number?
The funding opportunity number is P13AS00101.
What CFDA program is associated with this award?
The CFDA program is 15.945, titled Cooperative Research and Training Programs - Resources of the National Park System.
What type of funding instrument will be used?
The listing describes the instrument as a discretionary cooperative agreement.
Why is this being issued as a single-source award?
NPS states the award is justified on the basis of continuity under Department of the Interior policy (referenced as 505 DM 2). The rationale provided is that full and open competition is not practicable because the work continues an activity already being funded, and competing it could disrupt continuity or completion of the ongoing effort.
What is the statutory authority cited for this cooperative agreement?
The opportunity cites authority under 16 U.S.C. 1a-2(j), which authorizes cooperative agreements with educational institutions and other partners to develop coordinated research and training programs related to National Park System resources.
How much funding is expected to be awarded?
The intended award amount is $40,008.
What is the estimated total funding and the ceiling for this opportunity?
The estimated total funding is $40,008, and the ceiling is also listed as $40,008.
Is there a minimum award amount listed?
Yes. The minimum award floor is listed as $1,000.
How many awards does NPS anticipate making?
The opportunity anticipates one award.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. The opportunity states that no cost sharing or matching is required.
What is the project trying to accomplish?
The project is intended to develop a long-term, standardized monitoring protocol for freshwater contaminants across the Southeast Alaska Network (SEAN) so NPS can track contaminant status and trends over time.
Which parks are included in the Southeast Alaska Network (SEAN) for this project?
SEAN includes three NPS park units for this work: Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve (GLBA), Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park (KLGO), and Sitka National Historical Park (SITK).
How does this project fit into SEAN's broader monitoring efforts?
SEAN identified twelve "vital signs" for Inventory and Monitoring efforts, and freshwater contaminants is one of those priority indicators. This project supports the applied technical work needed to turn earlier assessments and pilot studies into a formal monitoring protocol.
Is this a new project or a continuation of previous work?
It is a follow-on effort and continuation under an existing cooperative agreement (P11AT30885/P11AC90462). The described work covers the third through fifth (final) years of the existing multi-year effort.
What prior work does this phase build on?
This phase builds on earlier completed work, including a baseline freshwater contaminants assessment (referenced as Nagorski et al. 2011), prior scoping and planning, a detailed literature review, and a formal research proposal, plus pilot field work conducted in summers 2013 and 2014.
What role does pilot field work play in developing the protocol?
The pilot field work in 2013 and 2014 is described as the practical testing ground used to refine what to sample, where to sample, and how to interpret and manage the data so the final monitoring protocol is repeatable and workable.
When was the protocol expected to be fully drafted?
SEAN anticipated the protocol would be fully drafted by summer 2015.
What is the key scientific focus for contaminant measurement?
A primary focus is measuring contaminant concentrations in juvenile resident freshwater fish, which are identified as the main target biota for assessing contaminant exposure in freshwater systems.
What environmental comparisons are central to the study design?
The design compares contaminant levels across:
- Anadromous vs. non-anadromous water bodies (systems connected to migratory fish movements versus those that are not)
- Glacially influenced vs. non-glacially influenced waters
These comparisons are intended to evaluate whether contaminant patterns differ based on marine connectivity and glacial inputs that can affect sediment, water chemistry, and contaminant transport.
What are the Year 3 objectives described in the opportunity?
The Year 3 task objectives are described as:
- Complete field work in SITK and KLGO during summer 2013 to support protocol development
- Complete laboratory contaminant analyses for samples collected in summer 2013
- Use 2013 field experience and results to develop a field sampling plan for GLBA for summer 2014
Is this funding primarily for data collection or for protocol development?
It is structured as applied methods development. While it includes field sampling and lab analyses, the stated purpose is to produce a formal NPS monitoring protocol informed by real-world field and lab performance.
What does it mean that this is a cooperative agreement?
The opportunity states that, because the instrument is a cooperative agreement, NPS is expected to be substantially involved in the work rather than serving only as a distant funder.
What types of involvement will NPS have in the project?
The notice lists NPS involvement such as:
- Communicating required protocol components and expected detail, organization, and formatting
- Reviewing and approving scope, approach, and schedules
- Participating in meetings related to protocol development (including the NPS ecologist and program manager)
- Providing logistics support for field work and sampling
What kinds of logistics support may NPS provide?
The opportunity notes logistics support may include:
- Field crew assistance during park visits
- Data management support for data collection and archiving (and potentially web delivery for interim products)
- Boat and captain support for accessing Glacier Bay sampling sites if needed
- Orientation to park operations and the NPS mission
- Assistance with research permits if required
- An on-site NPS technical representative when needed
What category is this opportunity listed under?
The opportunity is listed in the natural resources category.
Who is eligible to apply, based on the listing?
The listed eligible applicants category is public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, which aligns with the intended recipient, UAF.
What is the posting date, creation date, and archive date?
The posting date and creation date are both June 25, 2013. The archive date is August 30, 2013.
Is there a closing date for applications?
The opportunity is described as effectively "single source" and not a competitive solicitation, so the closing date functions in that context rather than as an open application deadline.
Who is the technical contact for questions about the project?
The technical contact is Sara Wesser at sarawesser@nps.gov or 907-644-3699.
Who is the agreements officer contact?
The agreements officer contact (for access issues) is Tina Spengler at TinaSpengler@nps.gov or 907-644-3303, NPS Alaska Region Office.
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