Opportunity Information: Apply for P13AS00004
Apply for P13AS00004
- The National Park Service in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Development and Deployment of Strategic Sciences Group" 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 Jan 24, 2013 and posted on Jan 24, 2013.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jan 25, 2013. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $59,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $59,000.00 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 "Development and Deployment of Strategic Sciences Group" (Funding Opportunity Number P13AS00004) is a National Park Service (NPS) notice stating the agency's intent to make a single, non-competitive cooperative agreement award to the University of Idaho. It is explicitly not a request for applications and was posted mainly to provide public transparency that the NPS plans to fund specific work without opening a competitive solicitation. The activity falls under the Natural Resources category and is associated with CFDA 15.945 (Cooperative Research and Training Programs - Resources of the National Park System). The anticipated funding level is modest, with an estimated total of $59,000, an award ceiling of $59,000, an award floor of $1, and no cost sharing or matching requirement.
At the center of the project is the creation and operational deployment of a public, interagency "Crisis Science Team" within the Department of the Interior (DOI) Strategic Sciences Group framework. The overall goal is to strengthen DOI's ability to rapidly assess impacts to DOI-managed resources after major environmental disruptions and to translate those assessments into practical decision support for leadership. The concept is to assemble an interdisciplinary bench of scientists drawn from federal and other government agencies, universities, non-governmental organizations, and the private sector, then use structured scenario-building and planning exercises to anticipate consequences, evaluate response options, and support informed decisions during future crises. Beyond protecting DOI lands and assets, the project also emphasizes safeguarding the economic interests of communities and private-sector stakeholders that depend on DOI resources, recognizing that environmental disasters often have cascading effects that extend far beyond park or land boundaries.
The University of Idaho's role is hands-on and deliverable-focused. The university is expected to work closely with the NPS and other agencies and partners to identify, select, and train interdisciplinary scientific teams suited for rapid deployment. A major component of the work is to convene and run multi-day scenario-building sessions tied to real or plausible environmental crises where the Crisis Science Team is activated, with the Hurricane Sandy Rebuilding Task Force cited as an example of the kind of interagency effort this team may support. The university must also provide briefings to DOI leadership and other audiences as requested, maintain routine accountability through quarterly progress reports, and produce a peer-reviewed technical report within three months after each scenario session. Where appropriate, the work should also be translated into scientific articles, and the university must complete a final completion report intended for posting on the Rocky Mountain Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (RM CESU) website. The agreement also anticipates that additional tasks may be assigned by the Secretary of the Interior or a designee as part of the Strategic Sciences Group operational plan, indicating the project is designed to be flexible and responsive to emerging events.
Because this is structured as a cooperative agreement, the NPS is not simply providing funds; it is committing to substantial participation. Specifically, the NPS will collaborate on selecting and training scientists, actively participate in the multi-day scenario workshops, help shape session agendas, and provide substantive input into resulting products. The NPS will also review and attend briefings delivered to DOI leadership, and it will review the university's quarterly progress reports and the peer-reviewed technical reports produced after each scenario-building effort, as well as any related scientific publications. The announcement also notes that the NPS may assist with additional tasks as requested by DOI leadership tied to the Strategic Sciences Group mission.
The rationale for awarding without full and open competition is the "unique qualifications" justification. The NPS states that the University of Idaho is uniquely positioned to carry out this work due to specialized expertise held by the principal investigator and students, developed through experience creating and deploying a similar strategic science working group during the Gulf of Mexico oil spill response. The announcement argues that the rapid timeline typical of crisis deployments makes it especially important to use a team with proven, immediately applicable capabilities rather than spending time building capacity from scratch through a competitive process.
Key administrative details reinforce that this posting was time-bound and informational rather than an open solicitation: it was posted on January 24, 2013, with an original and current closing date of January 25, 2013, and archived on January 28, 2013. Eligible applicants are listed as public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, but in practice the notice is tied to a single expected award (Expected Awards: 1) for the University of Idaho. The NPS contact listed for access issues is Alicia Broner, Contract Specialist (Contractor), reachable at 303-987-6734 and aliciabroner@contractor.nps.gov, and an additional information link points to Grants.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the title of this grant opportunity?
The opportunity is titled "Development and Deployment of Strategic Sciences Group."
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON)?
The Funding Opportunity Number is P13AS00004.
Which agency is posting this notice?
The notice is posted by the National Park Service (NPS).
Is this a request for applications (RFA) or an open competition?
No. It is explicitly not a request for applications. The notice states it is being posted for public transparency and is tied to a single, non-competitive cooperative agreement award.
Who is the intended recipient of the award?
The NPS states its intent to make a single, non-competitive cooperative agreement award to the University of Idaho.
How many awards are expected?
The notice indicates Expected Awards: 1.
Why is the award non-competitive?
The stated justification is "unique qualifications." The NPS explains that the University of Idaho is uniquely positioned due to specialized expertise from the principal investigator and students, based on prior experience creating and deploying a similar strategic science working group during the Gulf of Mexico oil spill response. The notice also emphasizes that crisis-response timelines require proven, immediately applicable capabilities.
What type of funding instrument will be used?
The award is structured as a cooperative agreement.
What does it mean that this is a cooperative agreement?
In this notice, a cooperative agreement means NPS will have substantial involvement in the work, not just provide funding. NPS will collaborate on selecting and training scientists, participate in scenario workshops, help shape agendas, and review briefings and written products such as progress reports and technical reports.
What program category and assistance listing is associated with this opportunity?
The activity is listed under the Natural Resources category and is associated with CFDA 15.945 (Cooperative Research and Training Programs - Resources of the National Park System).
What is the purpose of the project described in the notice?
The project centers on creating and operationally deploying a public, interagency "Crisis Science Team" within the Department of the Interior (DOI) Strategic Sciences Group framework. The overall goal is to strengthen DOI's ability to rapidly assess impacts to DOI-managed resources after major environmental disruptions and translate those assessments into decision support for leadership.
What is the "Crisis Science Team" supposed to do?
The notice describes the team as an interdisciplinary bench of scientists who can be rapidly deployed. The team uses structured scenario-building and planning exercises to anticipate consequences, evaluate response options, and support informed decisions during future crises.
Who may be included in the interdisciplinary scientific bench?
The notice describes drawing scientists from federal and other government agencies, universities, non-governmental organizations, and the private sector.
How does the project relate to communities and the private sector?
Beyond protecting DOI lands and assets, the notice emphasizes safeguarding the economic interests of communities and private-sector stakeholders that depend on DOI resources, recognizing that environmental disasters can create cascading effects beyond park or land boundaries.
What work is the University of Idaho expected to perform?
The University of Idaho is expected to work closely with NPS and other agencies and partners to identify, select, and train interdisciplinary teams for rapid deployment, convene and run multi-day scenario-building sessions tied to real or plausible environmental crises, provide briefings to DOI leadership and other audiences as requested, submit quarterly progress reports, produce a peer-reviewed technical report within three months after each scenario session, translate work into scientific articles where appropriate, and complete a final completion report intended for posting on the RM CESU website.
What are the scenario-building sessions?
The notice describes multi-day scenario-building sessions where the Crisis Science Team is activated in connection with real or plausible environmental crises. These sessions are designed to support interagency planning and decision-making.
Does the notice give an example of the kind of crisis effort this team could support?
Yes. The Hurricane Sandy Rebuilding Task Force is cited as an example of the type of interagency effort the team may support.
What reporting is required during the project?
The notice calls for quarterly progress reports as part of routine accountability.
What deliverable is due after each scenario-building session?
A peer-reviewed technical report is required within three months after each scenario session.
Are any publications expected beyond technical reports?
Where appropriate, the notice indicates the work should be translated into scientific articles.
Is there a final report requirement?
Yes. The university must complete a final completion report intended for posting on the Rocky Mountain Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (RM CESU) website.
Can additional tasks be added during the period of performance?
Yes. The notice states additional tasks may be assigned by the Secretary of the Interior or a designee as part of the Strategic Sciences Group operational plan, indicating the project is intended to be flexible and responsive to emerging events.
What is the NPS role in the work?
The notice describes substantial NPS participation, including collaborating on selecting and training scientists, actively participating in multi-day scenario workshops, helping shape session agendas, and providing substantive input into resulting products. NPS will also review and attend DOI leadership briefings and review quarterly progress reports, peer-reviewed technical reports, and related scientific publications.
What is the estimated total funding amount?
The estimated total funding is $59,000.
What is the award ceiling?
The award ceiling is $59,000.
What is the award floor?
The award floor is $1.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. The notice indicates there is no cost sharing or matching requirement.
When was this notice posted and what were the closing details?
The notice was posted on January 24, 2013. The original and current closing date listed is January 25, 2013. The notice was archived on January 28, 2013.
Who is listed as eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants are listed as public and state-controlled institutions of higher education. However, the notice states the intent to make a single, non-competitive award to the University of Idaho and is not a request for applications.
Where can applicants or the public find additional information?
The notice includes an additional information link pointing to Grants.gov.
Who should be contacted for access issues related to this notice?
The NPS contact listed for access issues is Alicia Broner, Contract Specialist (Contractor). Phone: 303-987-6734. Email: aliciabroner@contractor.nps.gov.
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