Opportunity Information: Apply for P16AS00454
Apply for P16AS00454
- The Department of the Interior, National Park Service in the environment, information and statistics, transportation sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Developing a Standard of Care for Cruise Tourism in the United States Arctic Waterways" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.945.
- This funding opportunity was created on Aug 05, 2016.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 14, 2016 This is a notice of intent to award to the Wildlife Conservation Society. Applications will not be accepted from vendors.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $100,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education.
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Opportunity Summary:
The grant opportunity titled "Developing a Standard of Care for Cruise Tourism in the United States Arctic Waterways" is a National Park Service (NPS) notice of intent to make a single, non-competitive award to the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS). It is not an open solicitation and does not accept applications from other entities. The project is structured as a cooperative agreement (specifically a CESU Task Agreement) under CFDA 15.945, the Cooperative Research and Training Program, with statutory authority cited as 54 USC 101702a and 54 USC 101702b. The anticipated award is $86,446 with no cost share requirement, for a 24-month period of performance running from September 2016 through September 2018. The funding notice lists an award ceiling of $100,000 and indicates that one award is expected. The justification for making the award without competition is "unique qualifications," emphasizing WCS's particular expertise and positioning in Arctic maritime stakeholder processes.
The underlying problem the project addresses is the fast-changing Arctic environment, especially rapid reductions in sea ice extent and thickness, which are opening the region to increased vessel traffic. While Arctic shipping is expected to include various vessel types, the NPS highlights cruise tourism as a major category likely to grow in the coming decades, driven in part by "last-chance tourism" demand. From the NPS perspective, cruise ships raise a distinct set of management concerns because, unlike many commercial vessels that try to minimize interactions with ice and wildlife, cruise itineraries often intentionally seek out the very features that are most ecologically sensitive and culturally significant: sea ice edges, wildlife aggregations, and scenic shorelines. That means planned cruise routes can overlap heavily with habitats used by ice-dependent seals, walrus, polar bears, and large whales, and can also interfere with Alaska Native subsistence activities and local waterway use.
The announcement also frames cruise ships as having outsized environmental footprints relative to their share of the global fleet. It notes that cruise vessels can generate substantial wastewater volumes, air emissions (including sulfur and nitrogen oxides and particulate matter), and risks associated with ballast water exchange that may introduce invasive species. These impacts are particularly concerning in the Arctic, where ecosystems can be highly sensitive and response capacity is limited by remoteness, harsh conditions, and sparse infrastructure. The document points to a near-term catalyst for this work: Crystal Cruise Lines' planned 2016 voyage of the 1,100-passenger M/V Crystal Serenity through the Bering Strait and onward through the Northwest Passage, along with strong market demand and additional Arctic cruise plans in subsequent years, including repeat voyages and more port calls (such as in Nome) with transits through the Bering and Chukchi Seas.
Against that backdrop, the project’s central goal is preventative and standards-based rather than enforcement-based. NPS and WCS aim to convene a wide range of stakeholders early, while Arctic cruise tourism is still developing, to set voluntary expectations that can become normal operating practice. The intent is to reduce the need for later, more costly and time-consuming regulatory approaches by establishing clear, conservation-oriented and culturally sensitive guidance from the outset. The primary deliverable is a voluntary "Standard of Care" (SOC) for Arctic cruise tourism, to be endorsed by the Arctic Waterways Safety Committee (AWSC). This SOC is meant to ensure that NPS values and resources that could be affected by cruise tourism in Arctic Alaska are clearly communicated and incorporated into industry practices as they evolve, while also leveraging the NPS’s long experience managing cruise tourism in other parts of Alaska.
WCS is identified as the logical partner because of its role in developing and supporting the Arctic Waterways Safety Committee and its related work on Arctic maritime issues, including experience developing a Standard of Care for research cruises. In practice, the project is organized around stakeholder engagement and collaborative planning. A key early product is a project scoping document, built with direct input from Alaska Native representatives, local communities, agencies, and industry. The project then centers on organizing and facilitating meetings that bring together local stakeholders, federal and other agency representatives, and the maritime cruise industry. Specific industry and coordinating bodies anticipated to be involved include the Alaska Cruise Association, Crystal Cruise Lines, and AWSC participants, including science and subsistence subcommittees. Written products are also emphasized: meeting summaries and reports are to be drafted, edited, and distributed to participants to keep the process transparent and to build shared understanding as the SOC takes shape.
Roles are divided between the partners in a way that reflects their networks and responsibilities. WCS is tasked with leading outreach to Alaska Native representatives and AWSC for scoping, helping organize and facilitate stakeholder and industry meetings, coordinating participation by key attendees, and serving as lead author for the final document that summarizes meeting outcomes and presents the Cruise Tourism Standard of Care. WCS also helps coordinate distribution of the final SOC document to stakeholders, agencies, and the cruise tourism industry. The NPS, in parallel, takes the lead in engaging the Arctic cruise industry and other federal agencies for the scoping phase, compiling and summarizing existing concerns, conflicts, and best practices based on decades of agency experience, and providing expert input during AWSC meetings. NPS also co-authors the final SOC summary and participates in distributing the final guidance. Both parties are expected to collaborate on writing and editing meeting summaries and reports, and the recipient must ensure the work complies with NPS guidance on conduct, peer review, and information quality for cultural and natural resource disciplines.
In short, this award supports a structured, cooperative process to shape how Arctic cruise tourism develops in U.S. Arctic waterways by creating a voluntary, stakeholder-endorsed Standard of Care. The focus is on early intervention: aligning industry practices with conservation needs and cultural considerations, reducing conflicts with subsistence use, and setting clear expectations for operations in sensitive Arctic environments before cruise traffic grows further and becomes harder to manage. For administrative details and coordination, the listed NPS point of contact is Scott Gende (907-364-2622, ScottGende@nps.gov).
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is this grant opportunity open to the public for applications?
No. This is a National Park Service (NPS) notice of intent to make a single, non-competitive award to the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS). The notice does not accept applications from other entities.
Who is the intended award recipient?
The intended recipient is the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS). The award is planned as a single, non-competitive award based on WCS being identified as uniquely qualified for the work.
How many awards are expected under this notice?
One award is expected.
What is the anticipated award amount?
The anticipated award amount is $86,446.
Is there an award ceiling listed?
Yes. The funding notice lists an award ceiling of $100,000.
Is a cost share or match required?
No. The notice states there is no cost share requirement.
What is the funding instrument for this project?
The project is structured as a cooperative agreement, specifically a CESU Task Agreement.
What CFDA program is associated with this award?
The award is associated with CFDA 15.945, the Cooperative Research and Training Program.
What statutory authority is cited for this project?
The statutory authority cited is 54 USC 101702a and 54 USC 101702b.
What is the period of performance?
The period of performance is 24 months, running from September 2016 through September 2018.
Why is NPS making this award without competition?
The justification provided is "unique qualifications." The notice emphasizes WCS's particular expertise and positioning in Arctic maritime stakeholder processes, including its role related to the Arctic Waterways Safety Committee (AWSC).
What is the main goal of the project?
The central goal is to develop a voluntary "Standard of Care" (SOC) for Arctic cruise tourism in U.S. Arctic waterways, intended to guide industry practices in a conservation-oriented and culturally sensitive way as Arctic cruise tourism expands.
Is the Standard of Care meant to be mandatory or voluntary?
It is intended to be voluntary. The project is framed as preventative and standards-based rather than enforcement-based.
Who is expected to endorse the Standard of Care?
The Standard of Care is intended to be endorsed by the Arctic Waterways Safety Committee (AWSC).
What problem is this project trying to address in the Arctic?
The project responds to a fast-changing Arctic environment, including rapid reductions in sea ice extent and thickness that are opening the region to increased vessel traffic. NPS highlights cruise tourism as a category likely to grow and to create distinctive management concerns in sensitive ecological and cultural areas.
Why does NPS view cruise tourism as a distinct management concern compared to other Arctic shipping?
The notice explains that cruise itineraries often intentionally seek out ecologically sensitive and culturally significant features such as sea ice edges, wildlife aggregations, and scenic shorelines. This can increase overlap with critical wildlife habitat and with Alaska Native subsistence activities and local waterway use.
What wildlife and habitats are specifically mentioned as potentially affected by cruise routes?
The notice references habitats used by ice-dependent seals, walrus, polar bears, and large whales, along with sensitive areas such as sea ice edges and wildlife aggregation zones.
What types of environmental impacts from cruise vessels are highlighted?
The notice points to substantial wastewater volumes, air emissions (including sulfur oxides, nitrogen oxides, and particulate matter), and risks related to ballast water exchange that may introduce invasive species.
Why are these impacts considered especially concerning in the Arctic?
The Arctic is described as highly sensitive, and response capacity is limited due to remoteness, harsh conditions, and sparse infrastructure.
What near-term event helped motivate this work?
The notice points to Crystal Cruise Lines' planned 2016 voyage of the 1,100-passenger M/V Crystal Serenity through the Bering Strait and onward through the Northwest Passage, along with strong market demand and additional planned Arctic cruise activity in subsequent years.
What is the overall strategy NPS and WCS are pursuing through this project?
The strategy is early intervention: convening stakeholders while Arctic cruise tourism is still developing to set voluntary expectations that can become normal practice, with the intent of reducing the need for later, more costly and time-consuming regulatory approaches.
What are the main deliverables mentioned in the notice?
The primary deliverable is the voluntary Cruise Tourism Standard of Care document. The notice also describes a project scoping document, organized and facilitated stakeholder meetings, and written products such as meeting summaries and reports that are drafted, edited, and distributed to participants.
What is the purpose of the project scoping document?
It is an early product meant to define and frame the work with direct input from Alaska Native representatives, local communities, agencies, and industry.
What stakeholder groups are expected to be involved in developing the Standard of Care?
The notice describes involvement from Alaska Native representatives and local communities, relevant agencies, and the maritime cruise industry, coordinated through and alongside the Arctic Waterways Safety Committee (AWSC) and its subcommittees.
Which industry and coordinating organizations are specifically mentioned as anticipated participants?
The notice specifically mentions the Alaska Cruise Association, Crystal Cruise Lines, and AWSC participants, including science and subsistence subcommittees.
What role will WCS play in the project?
WCS is tasked with leading outreach to Alaska Native representatives and AWSC for scoping, helping organize and facilitate stakeholder and industry meetings, coordinating participation by key attendees, serving as lead author for the final summary and Standard of Care document, and helping distribute the final SOC to stakeholders, agencies, and the cruise tourism industry.
What role will NPS play in the project?
NPS is described as leading engagement with the Arctic cruise industry and other federal agencies during scoping, compiling and summarizing existing concerns, conflicts, and best practices based on decades of agency experience, providing expert input during AWSC meetings, co-authoring the final SOC summary, and participating in distribution of the final guidance.
How will transparency and shared understanding be supported during the process?
The notice emphasizes written products, including drafting, editing, and distributing meeting summaries and reports to participants to keep the process transparent and support shared understanding as the SOC is developed.
Are there any quality or compliance expectations for the work products?
Yes. The recipient must ensure the work complies with NPS guidance on conduct, peer review, and information quality for cultural and natural resource disciplines.
What geographic area is the Standard of Care focused on?
The focus is Arctic cruise tourism in U.S. Arctic waterways, with specific references to Arctic Alaska and transits through areas such as the Bering Strait and the Bering and Chukchi Seas.
Who is the NPS point of contact for administrative details and coordination?
The listed NPS point of contact is Scott Gende. Phone: 907-364-2622. Email: ScottGende@nps.gov.
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