Opportunity Information: Apply for P14AS00266
Apply for P14AS00266
- The National Park Service in the education environment science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Digital Asset Management, Geographic Information Systems, Remote Sensing, Global Positioning Systems, and Mobile Mapping Research and Development for the NPS RISD 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 27, 2014 and posted on Aug 18, 2014.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Sep 1, 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 $659,210.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $659,210.00 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's intent to make a non-competitive, single-source continuation award to Colorado State University (CSU) for research and development work supporting the NPS RISD program in areas tied to modern geospatial and field-data technologies. The opportunity is not open for applications and is explicitly labeled as a "Notice of Intent to Award," meaning it is published mainly to inform the public that NPS plans to fund a specific partner for a specific set of activities rather than to solicit proposals. The project title reflects the technical scope: digital asset management, geographic information systems (GIS), remote sensing, global positioning systems (GPS), and mobile mapping, with the emphasis on developing and improving methods that help NPS collect, manage, and share resource information.
The planned funding is issued as a cooperative agreement and structured as a task agreement under an existing umbrella cooperative agreement between NPS and CSU (Cooperative Agreement P14AC00728). The specific task agreement referenced is P14AC01476, tied to Funding Announcement P14AC00266. The anticipated federal award amount is $659,210, and the notice also references a cost share contribution of $175,042 from the recipient. The period of performance runs from the date of award through August 31, 2015, and the announcement indicates this is a continuation rather than a brand-new award. Administratively, the work is routed through the Rocky Mountains Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) network at a negotiated indirect cost/overhead rate of 17.5 percent, and it uses CFDA 15.945 (Cooperative Research and Training Programs - Resources of the National Park System).
The core purpose of the work is to research and test improved ways of capturing and transferring "thematic resource data" into enterprise data services that NPS can use across programs and locations. In practical terms, that includes geospatial datasets, tabular data, imagery, documents, and similar information that may originate from multiple sources that are often incompatible, distributed across many offices, or stored in different formats. The intent is to move information more reliably from field and partner collection systems into centralized, enterprise-level services, and then make those same data available through GIS platforms, digital asset and asset management services, and other database and web applications. A major theme throughout the description is interoperability and distribution: capturing data from disparate sources, standardizing or translating it as needed, publishing it to enterprise services, and then sharing the results with partners, NPS staff, university affiliates, and in some cases the public.
Because this is a cooperative agreement, the notice emphasizes "substantial involvement" by NPS rather than a simple pass-through grant. CSU's role is to provide research associates under the supervision of the Principal Investigator/Program Manager, Melinda Laituri, and to participate in joint teams with NPS staff where leadership may shift depending on the specific task. CSU is also expected to maintain close working relationships with outside partners and affiliates, reflecting the CESU model of multi-institution collaboration. Administrative expectations are also stated plainly: CSU will submit monthly invoices and be paid upon receipt, which signals an ongoing, active technical support and R&D effort rather than a single final deliverable at the end of the period.
NPS, in turn, commits concrete support and active participation to ensure the work can be completed. RISD staff and affiliates will collaborate directly with CSU researchers, and NPS will provide office space and material support such as computers, GPS equipment, and travel support as needed. NPS will also supply the data and equipment necessary for the researchers to do the work and to publish resulting products to university affiliates, partners, and the public. Taken together, these responsibilities highlight a shared implementation environment where NPS not only funds the work but also helps run it by providing tools, datasets, and hands-on coordination.
The justification for not using full and open competition is based on the Department of the Interior single-source policy at 505 DM 2, specifically the criterion of "Continuation." NPS states that the funded activity is necessary to satisfactorily complete or continue work already underway, and that competing it would significantly harm continuity or completion. In other words, the reason given is not an emergency or a special congressional directive, but the practical program need to sustain an existing line of work and collaboration already established under the earlier cooperative agreement.
Finally, the notice cites statutory authorities that allow NPS to enter into cooperative agreements with educational institutions and other entities to carry out NPS programs and to build cooperative research and training programs focused on park resources. The authorities listed include 16 USC 1(g), 16 USC 1a-2(j), and 16 USC 5933, all of which support NPS partnering with universities (including land-grant institutions) to conduct multidisciplinary research and develop integrated information products relevant to national park resources and the broader regions surrounding parks. The point of contact for the action is June Zastrow, with phone and email provided, but the overall framing remains the same throughout: this is a public notice of a planned continuation award to CSU to advance NPS geospatial and digital information capabilities through collaborative research, development, and applied technical support.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1) What is this notice about?
This is a National Park Service (NPS) "Notice of Intent to Award" describing NPS plans to issue a non-competitive, single-source continuation award to Colorado State University (CSU). The work supports the NPS RISD program and focuses on modern geospatial and field-data technologies.
2) Is this a grant opportunity I can apply for?
No. The notice explicitly states the opportunity is not open for applications. It is published to inform the public that NPS intends to fund a specific partner (CSU) for a defined set of activities rather than solicit proposals.
3) Who is the intended recipient of the award?
The intended recipient is Colorado State University (CSU).
4) Is this competitive funding?
No. It is described as a non-competitive, single-source continuation award.
5) Why is NPS not using full and open competition?
NPS cites the Department of the Interior single-source policy at 505 DM 2 using the criterion of "Continuation." The justification given is that the activity is needed to complete or continue work already underway, and competing it would significantly harm continuity or completion.
6) What type of funding instrument will be used?
The planned funding is issued as a cooperative agreement. It is structured as a task agreement under an existing umbrella cooperative agreement between NPS and CSU.
7) What cooperative agreement and task agreement are referenced?
The umbrella cooperative agreement is P14AC00728. The specific task agreement referenced is P14AC01476, tied to Funding Announcement P14AC00266.
8) What is the project focused on (technical scope)?
The project title and description indicate work in digital asset management, geographic information systems (GIS), remote sensing, global positioning systems (GPS), and mobile mapping. The emphasis is on developing and improving methods that help NPS collect, manage, and share resource information.
9) What is the main goal of the work?
The core purpose is to research and test improved ways of capturing and transferring "thematic resource data" into enterprise data services that NPS can use across programs and locations.
10) What kinds of data does "thematic resource data" include?
Based on the description, it includes geospatial datasets, tabular data, imagery, documents, and similar information that may come from multiple sources and exist in different formats.
11) What problem is this work trying to solve?
The notice highlights that resource information is often incompatible, distributed across many offices, or stored in different formats. The work aims to improve interoperability and distribution by standardizing or translating disparate sources, publishing them to enterprise services, and making the resulting information easier to share and reuse.
12) How will the data be used and shared?
The intent is to move information more reliably from field and partner collection systems into centralized, enterprise-level services. The same data are then intended to be made available through GIS platforms, digital asset and asset management services, and other database and web applications. The notice also mentions sharing results with partners, NPS staff, university affiliates, and in some cases the public.
13) What does it mean that this is a cooperative agreement?
The notice emphasizes "substantial involvement" by NPS. This indicates NPS is expected to participate actively in the work rather than providing funds with minimal interaction.
14) What is CSU expected to do under this award?
CSU is expected to provide research associates under the supervision of the Principal Investigator/Program Manager, Melinda Laituri, and to participate in joint teams with NPS staff. CSU is also expected to maintain close working relationships with outside partners and affiliates consistent with the CESU collaboration model.
15) Who is identified as the CSU Principal Investigator/Program Manager?
Melinda Laituri is identified as the Principal Investigator/Program Manager for CSU.
16) What is NPS expected to contribute besides funding?
NPS commits to active support and participation. RISD staff and affiliates will collaborate directly with CSU researchers, and NPS will provide office space and material support such as computers, GPS equipment, and travel support as needed. NPS will also supply data and equipment necessary for the researchers to do the work and publish resulting products.
17) Will NPS provide equipment and data for the project?
Yes. The notice states NPS will provide the data and equipment necessary for the researchers to do the work, along with office space and material support (including computers and GPS equipment).
18) How will CSU be paid?
The notice states CSU will submit monthly invoices and will be paid upon receipt.
19) What is the anticipated federal award amount?
The anticipated federal award amount is $659,210.
20) Is there a cost share requirement mentioned?
The notice references a cost share contribution of $175,042 from the recipient.
21) What is the period of performance?
The period of performance runs from the date of award through August 31, 2015.
22) Is this a new award or a continuation?
The notice indicates this is a continuation rather than a brand-new award.
23) What network or partnership model is this routed through?
Administratively, the work is routed through the Rocky Mountains Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) network.
24) What indirect cost/overhead rate is referenced?
The notice references a negotiated indirect cost/overhead rate of 17.5 percent.
25) What CFDA program is associated with this award?
The notice lists CFDA 15.945, described as "Cooperative Research and Training Programs - Resources of the National Park System."
26) What legal authorities are cited for NPS to make this cooperative agreement?
The notice cites 16 USC 1(g), 16 USC 1a-2(j), and 16 USC 5933 as statutory authorities supporting NPS cooperative agreements with educational institutions and cooperative research and training programs focused on park resources.
27) Who is the point of contact?
The point of contact listed for the action is June Zastrow (with phone and email provided in the notice).
28) What is RISD in this context?
The notice describes the work as supporting the NPS RISD program in areas tied to modern geospatial and field-data technologies. (No expanded definition is provided in the text.)
29) Will the outcomes be made public?
The notice indicates that resulting products may be published to university affiliates, partners, and the public, suggesting that at least some outputs could be shared publicly depending on the product and context.
30) Does this notice solicit proposals or describe evaluation criteria?
No. Because this is a Notice of Intent to Award for a single-source continuation, it does not describe an application process, submission requirements, or proposal evaluation criteria.
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