Opportunity Information: Apply for P14AS00208
Apply for P14AS00208
- The National Park Service in the education environment natural resources regional development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Developing the Foundation for Management Assessment Points" 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 28, 2014 and posted on Jul 28, 2014.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 11, 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 $31,824.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $31,824.00 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.
[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal:
Opportunity Summary:
The grant opportunity titled Developing the Foundation for Management Assessment Points (Funding Opportunity Number P14AS00208) is a National Park Service (NPS) notice of intent to award funding, not a request for applications. In other words, the NPS is publicly documenting that it plans to fund a specific project with a specific recipient without running a competitive application process. The award is structured as a cooperative agreement, meaning the NPS expects to be substantially involved in the work rather than simply providing funds and stepping back. The anticipated total award amount is $31,824, with no cost share or matching requirement, and it is listed as a continuation of an existing cooperative agreement (H2370114000). The anticipated period of performance runs from the date of award through October 31, 2016.
The intended recipient is the University of Arizona, working through the Desert Southwest Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) network, with Dr. Steven Archer serving as the principal investigator and program manager. The CESU framework is important here because it is designed to support collaborative research and technical assistance between federal agencies and universities, and it also allows the project to use a negotiated indirect cost/overhead rate (noted as 17.5%). The opportunity is categorized under discretionary funding and aligns with education, environment, natural resources, and regional development activities. While the eligible applicant category is broadly described as public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, this particular announcement is not open for competition.
The project itself is focused on building a stronger foundation for “Management Assessment Points” (MAPs) within NPS resource stewardship. The main deliverables are clearly defined: first, a detailed synthesis report that pulls together results from a literature search, evaluates existing conceptual models and existing MAPs, and identifies the most important management information needs that the research community could help address. Second, the project will produce an organized node within the NPS IRMA system (Integrated Resource Management Applications), essentially a curated citation database that contains all relevant references gathered and used for the project. The practical aim is to make the knowledge base both publishable and operational, so that park managers and researchers have a shared, traceable set of sources and a clearer understanding of where monitoring and assessment tools are strong, where they are weak, and what gaps remain.
Responsibilities are split between the University of Arizona and the National Park Service in a way that reflects the cooperative nature of the agreement. The University of Arizona is expected to lead the synthesis of the research literature, assess existing MAPs and related models, and identify potential new MAPs. The university lead will also drive the development of a formal NPS Natural Resources Technical Report (NRTR) series publication and, where appropriate, additional manuscripts the team agrees are worth pursuing. On the NPS side, staff will assist with the literature synthesis and MAP assessments, take the lead on estimating sampling precision for existing monitoring protocols (a technical step that helps determine how reliable monitoring results are and what level of change can realistically be detected), populate the IRMA citation database with the relevant references, and provide editorial support to move the results into the NPS publication series. The stated NPS point of contact for the award is June Zastrow (303-987-6718, junezastrow@nps.gov).
A key administrative feature of this announcement is that it justifies a single-source award, meaning the NPS is not seeking full and open competition. The Department of the Interior’s single-source policy (505 DM 2) requires a written explanation of why competition is not practical, and the rationale cited here is “continuation.” The NPS argues the funded activity is necessary to complete or continue work already underway, and opening it to competition would risk disrupting continuity or timely completion. The announcement also ties the award to statutory authorities that allow NPS to enter cooperative agreements and fund cooperative research and training programs, specifically citing 16 U.S.C. 1(g), 16 U.S.C. 1a-2(j), and 16 U.S.C. 5933. The program is associated with CFDA number 15.945, described as Cooperative Research and Training Programs - Resources of the National Park System (CESU).
In summary, this is a relatively small, targeted continuation award designed to strengthen how the National Park Service identifies, evaluates, and documents management-relevant assessment points and supporting models. The output is meant to be both a publishable synthesis (to standardize and communicate what is known) and a practical, searchable citation resource inside NPS’s IRMA system (to preserve institutional knowledge and make the foundation usable for future monitoring, research planning, and decision-making).
FAQs: Developing the Foundation for Management Assessment Points (Funding Opportunity Number P14AS00208)
What is this grant opportunity?
This is a National Park Service (NPS) notice of intent to award funding for a project titled "Developing the Foundation for Management Assessment Points" under Funding Opportunity Number P14AS00208.
Is this a competitive funding opportunity where applicants can apply?
No. This announcement is not a request for applications. It is a notice that the NPS plans to fund a specific project with a specific recipient and is not running a competitive application process.
What type of award is being used?
The award is structured as a cooperative agreement. This means the NPS expects to be substantially involved in the work rather than simply providing funds without ongoing participation.
What is the anticipated award amount?
The anticipated total award amount is $31,824.
Is there any cost share or matching requirement?
No. The announcement states there is no cost share or matching requirement.
Is this a new award or a continuation?
It is listed as a continuation of an existing cooperative agreement, referenced as H2370114000.
What is the anticipated period of performance?
The anticipated period of performance runs from the date of award through October 31, 2016.
Who is the intended recipient of the award?
The intended recipient is the University of Arizona, working through the Desert Southwest Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) network.
Who is the principal investigator/program manager for the project?
Dr. Steven Archer is identified as the principal investigator and program manager.
What is the role of the CESU network in this award?
The project is being carried out through the CESU framework, which supports collaborative research and technical assistance between federal agencies and universities and allows use of a negotiated indirect cost/overhead rate.
What indirect cost (overhead) rate is noted for this opportunity?
The announcement notes an indirect cost/overhead rate of 17.5%.
What funding category does this opportunity fall under?
The opportunity is categorized under discretionary funding.
What general activity areas does the opportunity align with?
It aligns with education, environment, natural resources, and regional development activities.
Who is listed as eligible to apply in general, and does that mean applications are being accepted?
The eligible applicant category is broadly described as public and state-controlled institutions of higher education. However, this particular announcement is not open for competition, so that eligibility description does not translate into an open application process here.
What are Management Assessment Points (MAPs) in the context of this project?
Based on the announcement, MAPs are part of NPS resource stewardship and relate to how the NPS identifies and evaluates management-relevant assessment points and the models and information that support monitoring and assessment.
What is the overall purpose of the project?
The project is intended to build a stronger foundation for MAPs within NPS resource stewardship by synthesizing what is known, evaluating conceptual models and existing MAPs, identifying key management information needs, and organizing supporting references in an accessible NPS system.
What are the main deliverables for the project?
The announcement identifies two main deliverables: (1) a detailed synthesis report that includes results from a literature search, evaluation of existing conceptual models and existing MAPs, and identification of the most important management information needs the research community could help address; and (2) an organized node within the NPS IRMA system, described as a curated citation database containing the relevant references gathered and used for the project.
What is the synthesis report expected to include?
The synthesis report is expected to pull together results from a literature search, evaluate existing conceptual models and existing MAPs, and identify the most important management information needs that researchers could help address.
What is IRMA and what will be produced there?
IRMA refers to the NPS Integrated Resource Management Applications system. The project will produce an organized node within IRMA that functions as a curated citation database containing the references gathered and used for the work.
Why is the IRMA citation database considered a practical output?
The intent is to preserve and organize the project’s supporting sources in a searchable, traceable format so park managers and researchers can share a common, documented knowledge base for future monitoring, research planning, and decision-making.
What does the announcement mean by making the knowledge base "publishable and operational"?
As described, the project aims to produce a publishable synthesis (to standardize and communicate what is known) and an operational resource (the IRMA citation node) that can be used directly by NPS staff and collaborators.
How are responsibilities divided between the University of Arizona and the NPS?
The University of Arizona is expected to lead the research literature synthesis, assess existing MAPs and related models, and identify potential new MAPs. The NPS will assist with the literature synthesis and MAP assessments, take the lead on estimating sampling precision for existing monitoring protocols, populate the IRMA citation database with relevant references, and provide editorial support to move results into the NPS publication series.
What does it mean that NPS will estimate sampling precision for existing monitoring protocols?
The announcement describes this as a technical step that helps determine how reliable monitoring results are and what level of change can realistically be detected using existing monitoring protocols.
Will the results be published?
Yes. The University of Arizona lead will drive development of a formal NPS Natural Resources Technical Report (NRTR) series publication, and the team may pursue additional manuscripts where appropriate and mutually agreed.
What is the NRTR series mentioned in the announcement?
The NRTR refers to the NPS Natural Resources Technical Report series, which is the publication series specifically identified for the formal project report.
Why is this being awarded as a single-source (non-competitive) action?
The announcement justifies a single-source award under the Department of the Interior single-source policy (505 DM 2) using the rationale of "continuation." The stated reasoning is that the funded activity is necessary to complete or continue work already underway, and competition could disrupt continuity or timely completion.
What legal or statutory authorities are cited for making this cooperative agreement?
The announcement cites statutory authorities that allow NPS to enter cooperative agreements and fund cooperative research and training programs, including 16 U.S.C. 1(g), 16 U.S.C. 1a-2(j), and 16 U.S.C. 5933.
What CFDA number is associated with this program?
The program is associated with CFDA number 15.945, described as "Cooperative Research and Training Programs - Resources of the National Park System (CESU)."
Who is the NPS point of contact for this award?
The stated NPS point of contact is June Zastrow. The announcement lists the phone number as 303-987-6718 and the email as junezastrow@nps.gov.
What should someone do if they are looking for an opportunity to apply for NPS funding?
Based on this announcement alone, there is no application pathway because it is not open for competition. Any questions specific to this award are directed to the listed NPS point of contact.
Browse more opportunities from the same category: Education Environment Natural Resources Regional Development
Next opportunity: Parntership for the National Trails System
Previous opportunity: OSERS NIDRR Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects and Centers Program Rehabilitation Research and Training Centers Vocational Rehabilitation Practices for Youth and Young Adults CFDA Number 84.133B 1
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 P14AS00208
[Watch] how do funding administrators access proposals?
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 "P14AS00208", 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.