Opportunity Information: Apply for P15AS00263
Apply for P15AS00263
- The National Park Service in the education employment, labor and training environment natural resources regional development science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Development of an early detection of invasive plants monitoring protocol for the Mojave Desert Network Inventory and Monitoring Program" 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 Aug 3, 2015 and posted on Aug 3, 2015.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 13, 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 $137,994.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $137,994.00 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:
This notice describes the National Park Service (NPS) intent to make a single, non-competitive cooperative agreement award to the University of Montana to develop an early detection monitoring protocol for invasive plants for the Mojave Desert Network (MOJN) Inventory and Monitoring (IM) Program. It is explicitly a "Notice of Intent to Award," meaning it is not open for applications and is published mainly to provide transparency about the planned award. The total anticipated federal funding is $137,994 with no cost share requirement, and the agreement and period of performance run from the award date through August 31, 2017. The award instrument is a cooperative agreement under statutory authority 54 USC 101702(a) and 54 USC 101702(b), and it falls under CFDA 15.945 (Cooperative Research and Training Programs - Resources of the National Park System). The public point of contact listed is June Zastrow (303-987-6718, junezastrow@nps.gov).
The purpose of the project is to strengthen the parks ability to find new or small (incipient) invasive plant populations early, when eradication or containment is still realistic and relatively cost-effective. Early detection was ranked as a top priority within the MOJN vital signs selection process because invasive plants can drive major ecological change, including losses of threatened and endangered species, altered community structure and composition (terrestrial and aquatic), and reduced overall biodiversity. While other MOJN protocols already track longer-term ecosystem change (for example, integrated upland vegetation and soils monitoring), this effort targets the earlier stage of invasion when rapid response is still possible. The early detection approach described in the announcement has three practical components: first, updating or creating park-specific early detection species lists; second, opportunistic surveillance that relies heavily on training and awareness so that field crews, partners, volunteers, and resource managers can recognize and report priority invaders; and third, building and maintaining a consistent framework for reporting, tracking, and sharing information about suspected or emerging infestations. Together, these elements are intended to help park staff evaluate risk species-by-species and direct limited management capacity toward the highest-priority threats.
The work is organized as a three-phase development process. Phase 1 focuses on a literature review and synthesis of the current state of invasive species science relevant to early detection monitoring. Phase 2 produces a draft monitoring protocol and associated Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) following NPS Inventory and Monitoring guidance. Phase 3 field-tests the SOPs, incorporates lessons learned, and finalizes the protocol package for NPS publication. In addition to the technical sampling and surveillance design, a major emphasis is placed on data stewardship: the protocol is expected to integrate data management consistent with network and IM Program standards, including data dictionaries, relational databases as needed, metadata for documents and datasets, spatial data products (GPS data and GIS layers/shapefiles), and evidence records that support verification and repeatability.
Because this is a cooperative agreement, the announcement outlines substantial involvement by both parties. The University of Montana is responsible for staffing, developing the detailed work plan, producing and revising protocol documents, organizing and documenting working group meetings, conducting field tests, delivering required reports, and turning over complete project datasets and supporting materials (spatial and tabular data, imagery, field sheets, maps, notes, and vouchers) in the required formats. The University also may provide training to MOJN or park staff on technical aspects of implementing the protocol. The NPS role includes providing funding; collaborating on work plans and technical products; supplying workspace, computers (with any required background checks), and limited statistical help; supporting access to needed information such as spatial layers and pilot data; providing equipment and logistical support for field testing; and ensuring regulatory compliance (including NEPA and NHPA, plus permits) before field-based testing occurs. NPS also commits to timely review and approval of deliverables and to managing peer review and final submission of the protocol to the Pacific West Regional Inventory and Monitoring Program Manager. Both parties agree to acknowledge each other in publications or formal presentations derived from the work, and both participate in a 60-day wrap-up period after the final product due date.
Finally, the notice explains why the award is not competed. Under Department of the Interior single-source policy (505 DM 2), NPS cites the "Continuation" justification: the activity is positioned as necessary to complete or continue work already underway, and competing it would risk disrupting continuity. The project is implemented as a task agreement (P15AC01409) under an existing cooperative agreement (P14AC00728) through the Rocky Mountains Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Units (CESU) network, using a negotiated overhead rate of 17.5 percent. The Grants.gov listing indicates the posting date (Aug 3, 2015), original and current closing date (Aug 13, 2015), and archive date (Aug 14, 2015), but those dates function more as public notice milestones than an application window, since the announcement is not a solicitation.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is this grant opportunity open for applications?
No. This is a "Notice of Intent to Award," which means it is published for transparency about a planned award and is not a solicitation or open competition.
Who is the planned recipient of the award?
The National Park Service (NPS) intends to make a single, non-competitive cooperative agreement award to the University of Montana.
What is the project being funded?
The project is to develop an early detection monitoring protocol for invasive plants for the Mojave Desert Network (MOJN) Inventory and Monitoring (IM) Program.
What is the main purpose of the project?
The purpose is to strengthen parks' ability to find new or small (incipient) invasive plant populations early, when eradication or containment is still realistic and relatively cost-effective.
Why is early detection considered important in this notice?
The notice describes early detection as a top MOJN priority because invasive plants can drive major ecological change, including losses of threatened and endangered species, altered community structure and composition (terrestrial and aquatic), and reduced overall biodiversity.
How does this early detection work differ from other MOJN monitoring protocols?
The notice explains that other MOJN protocols track longer-term ecosystem change (for example, integrated upland vegetation and soils monitoring), while this effort focuses on the earlier stage of invasion when rapid response is still possible.
What are the practical components of the early detection approach described?
The notice describes three components: (1) updating or creating park-specific early detection species lists, (2) opportunistic surveillance supported by training and awareness so observers can recognize and report priority invaders, and (3) a consistent framework for reporting, tracking, and sharing information about suspected or emerging infestations.
Who is expected to participate in opportunistic surveillance?
The notice says opportunistic surveillance relies heavily on training and awareness so that field crews, partners, volunteers, and resource managers can recognize and report priority invaders.
How is the project structured?
The work is organized as a three-phase development process: Phase 1 is a literature review and synthesis; Phase 2 produces a draft monitoring protocol and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) following NPS Inventory and Monitoring guidance; Phase 3 field-tests the SOPs, incorporates lessons learned, and finalizes the protocol package for NPS publication.
What happens in Phase 1?
Phase 1 focuses on a literature review and synthesis of the current state of invasive species science relevant to early detection monitoring.
What happens in Phase 2?
Phase 2 produces a draft monitoring protocol and associated SOPs following NPS Inventory and Monitoring guidance.
What happens in Phase 3?
Phase 3 field-tests the SOPs, incorporates lessons learned, and finalizes the protocol package for NPS publication.
What is the anticipated federal funding amount?
The total anticipated federal funding is $137,994.
Is there a cost share or match requirement?
No. The notice states there is no cost share requirement.
What is the award instrument?
The instrument is a cooperative agreement, and the notice describes substantial involvement by both NPS and the University of Montana.
What are the dates for the period of performance?
The agreement and period of performance run from the award date through August 31, 2017.
What CFDA number is associated with this award?
The notice lists CFDA 15.945: Cooperative Research and Training Programs - Resources of the National Park System.
What statutory authority is cited for the cooperative agreement?
The notice cites 54 USC 101702(a) and 54 USC 101702(b).
What kinds of data management and stewardship are expected?
The notice emphasizes data stewardship consistent with network and IM Program standards, including data dictionaries, relational databases as needed, metadata for documents and datasets, spatial data products (GPS data and GIS layers/shapefiles), and evidence records that support verification and repeatability.
What types of data and supporting materials must be turned over to NPS?
The University of Montana is expected to turn over complete project datasets and supporting materials in required formats, including spatial and tabular data, imagery, field sheets, maps, notes, and vouchers.
What are the University of Montana's main responsibilities under the cooperative agreement?
The notice states the University is responsible for staffing; developing the detailed work plan; producing and revising protocol documents; organizing and documenting working group meetings; conducting field tests; delivering required reports; and delivering final datasets and supporting materials in required formats. The University may also provide training to MOJN or park staff on technical aspects of implementing the protocol.
What are NPS's main responsibilities under the cooperative agreement?
The notice describes NPS responsibilities as providing funding; collaborating on work plans and technical products; supplying workspace and computers (with any required background checks) and limited statistical help; supporting access to needed information such as spatial layers and pilot data; providing equipment and logistical support for field testing; ensuring regulatory compliance (including NEPA and NHPA plus permits) before field-based testing occurs; reviewing and approving deliverables; managing peer review; and submitting the final protocol to the Pacific West Regional Inventory and Monitoring Program Manager.
Are there regulatory compliance requirements before field testing?
Yes. The notice states NPS will ensure regulatory compliance, including NEPA and NHPA and permits, before field-based testing occurs.
Will the protocol be peer reviewed and formally published?
The notice indicates NPS will manage peer review and the final submission of the protocol to the Pacific West Regional Inventory and Monitoring Program Manager, and the protocol package is intended for NPS publication after finalization.
Is there a wrap-up period after the final product due date?
Yes. Both parties participate in a 60-day wrap-up period after the final product due date.
Will the parties acknowledge each other in publications or presentations?
Yes. The notice states both parties agree to acknowledge each other in publications or formal presentations derived from the work.
Why is the award non-competitive (single-source)?
The notice explains the award is not competed under the Department of the Interior single-source policy (505 DM 2) using a "Continuation" justification, stating the activity is necessary to complete or continue work already underway and competition could disrupt continuity.
How is this project being implemented administratively?
The notice states the project is implemented as a task agreement (P15AC01409) under an existing cooperative agreement (P14AC00728) through the Rocky Mountains Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Units (CESU) network.
Is there an overhead rate mentioned?
Yes. The notice mentions a negotiated overhead rate of 17.5 percent.
The Grants.gov posting shows closing dates. Do those dates indicate an application deadline?
No. The notice explains the Grants.gov dates (posting date Aug 3, 2015; closing date Aug 13, 2015; archive date Aug 14, 2015) function as public notice milestones rather than an application window because the announcement is not a solicitation.
Who is the public point of contact for this notice?
The public point of contact listed is June Zastrow at 303-987-6718 or junezastrow@nps.gov.
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