Opportunity Information: Apply for P14AS00184
Apply for P14AS00184
- The National Park Service in the education employment, labor and training environment natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "engaging and Teaching Citizens in Stewardship of Night Skies" 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 17, 2014 and posted on Jul 17, 2014.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 31, 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 $38,778.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $38,778.00 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 grant notice, titled Engaging and Teaching Citizens in Stewardship of Night Skies (Funding Opportunity Number P14AS00184), is a National Park Service (NPS) notice of intent to award and is not an open call for applications. In other words, the NPS is publicly announcing that it plans to provide funding through a non-competitive process. The award is structured as a cooperative agreement, meaning the NPS expects to be substantially involved in carrying out the work rather than simply issuing funds and stepping back. The anticipated total federal funding is $38,778, with no cost share or matching requirement, and the project is planned to run from the date of award through August 31, 2015. The recipient identified in the notice is Colorado State University (CSU), with Dr. Jenny Hand listed as the principal investigator/program manager, and the NPS point of contact is June Zastrow.
At its core, the project supports and expands the Night Sky Ambassador Program, a citizen-volunteer effort that has been operating successfully for several years. CSU (through its Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere) and the NPS will work together to recruit, train, coordinate, and track volunteers who deliver public-facing astronomy and night-sky education in parks and similar public lands. A major emphasis is public education about light pollution: what it is, how artificial lighting affects human experiences and natural ecosystems, and what practical outdoor lighting solutions can reduce impacts. The notice highlights that demand for stargazing and dark-sky experiences is well documented through park visitor trends and research, and that other land management organizations (such as state parks, Bureau of Land Management sites, and wildlife refuges) have begun offering similar astronomy programming and are looking to the CSU-NPS model to improve their efforts.
A key enhancement in this continuation period is stronger youth engagement. The volunteer training is intended to go beyond preparing ambassadors to speak to general park audiences by also building skills and materials specifically designed to connect with youth. On the CSU side, responsibilities include helping the NPS improve public understanding of the science behind light pollution; managing the logistics of volunteer placement, deployment, and tracking; delivering training that covers science content as well as communication and engagement techniques; and developing youth-oriented communication tools such as outdoor activities, workbooks, and web-based resources. CSU is also expected to coordinate with other informal educators working in air quality, astronomy, and conservation to leverage partnerships and expand outreach.
The NPS role is described as hands-on and substantial, which is one of the reasons this is a cooperative agreement rather than a more hands-off assistance award. The NPS will collaborate with CSU on the content and strategy for public education around light pollution, assist with volunteer recruitment and park coordination by providing liaisons and administrative support for tracking volunteer contributions, and help develop training curricula and supporting materials. The NPS will also contribute strategic input, background information, and graphic design support for educational products aimed at both youth and general audiences. In addition to providing the project funding, the NPS will provide office space and office resources to support CSU staff operations tied to the agreement.
This award is being issued as a single-source (non-competitive) action under the Department of the Interior single-source policy, using the justification category of “Continuation.” The notice argues that competing the work would disrupt continuity because the activities are a continuation of an existing, ongoing program already being funded under a prior cooperative agreement (P14AC00728), implemented through a task agreement identified as P14AC01230. The project is also administered through the Rocky Mountains Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) network, with a negotiated indirect cost rate of 17.5%, and it is tied to CFDA 15.945 (Cooperative Research and Training Programs - Resources of the National Park System). Statutory authorities cited include provisions that allow the NPS to enter into cooperative agreements and develop cooperative research and training programs with educational institutions (including 16 USC 1(g), 16 USC 1a-2(j), and 16 USC 5933).
Overall, the opportunity is best understood as continued targeted support for a proven volunteer-based night-sky education program. The public benefit the NPS is aiming for is broader awareness of light pollution and its consequences, along with greater appreciation of the social, ecological, and economic value of naturally dark night skies. The notice also signals that night-sky preservation is not just a niche interest; it is increasingly important to park visitors and is drawing attention from other public land managers and sectors that care about lighting impacts and dark-sky resources.
FAQs: Engaging and Teaching Citizens in Stewardship of Night Skies (Funding Opportunity Number P14AS00184)
1) What is this grant opportunity?
This is a National Park Service (NPS) notice of intent to award titled "Engaging and Teaching Citizens in Stewardship of Night Skies" (Funding Opportunity Number P14AS00184). It describes the NPS plan to provide funding for a specific project focused on public education and volunteer engagement related to night skies and light pollution.
2) Is this an open call for applications?
No. The notice is not an open call for applications. It is a public announcement that the NPS intends to make an award through a non-competitive (single-source) process.
3) Why is the award non-competitive?
The notice states the action is single-source under the Department of the Interior single-source policy using the justification category "Continuation." The rationale provided is that the work continues an existing, ongoing program already funded under a prior cooperative agreement, and competing the work could disrupt continuity.
4) What type of award will be used?
The award is structured as a cooperative agreement. That means the NPS expects to be substantially involved in carrying out the work (rather than simply providing funds with minimal federal involvement).
5) What is the anticipated federal funding amount?
The anticipated total federal funding amount is $38,778.
6) Is there a cost share or matching requirement?
No. The notice states there is no cost share or matching requirement.
7) What is the project period?
The planned period of performance is from the date of award through August 31, 2015.
8) Who is the intended recipient?
The recipient identified in the notice is Colorado State University (CSU).
9) Who is the principal investigator or program manager?
Dr. Jenny Hand is listed as the principal investigator/program manager.
10) Who is the NPS point of contact?
The NPS point of contact listed in the notice is June Zastrow.
11) What program or effort does this project support?
The project supports and expands the Night Sky Ambassador Program, a citizen-volunteer program that has been operating successfully for several years.
12) What is the main purpose of the Night Sky Ambassador Program described here?
The program recruits, trains, coordinates, and tracks citizen volunteers who deliver public-facing astronomy and night-sky education in parks and other public lands. A major emphasis is educating the public about light pollution and practical lighting solutions that reduce impacts.
13) What topics are emphasized in the public education work?
The notice emphasizes education about light pollution, including what it is, how artificial lighting affects human experiences and natural ecosystems, and what practical outdoor lighting solutions can reduce negative impacts. It also references public-facing astronomy and night-sky education more broadly.
14) Why is this project important to the NPS?
The notice cites documented demand for stargazing and dark-sky experiences based on park visitor trends and research. It also frames the public benefit as broader awareness of light pollution and greater appreciation of the social, ecological, and economic value of naturally dark night skies.
15) Are other public land organizations interested in this model?
Yes. The notice states that other land management organizations (such as state parks, Bureau of Land Management sites, and wildlife refuges) have begun offering similar astronomy programming and are looking to the CSU-NPS model to improve their efforts.
16) What is different or enhanced in this continuation period?
A key enhancement described is stronger youth engagement. Volunteer training is intended to go beyond preparing ambassadors for general park audiences and also build skills and materials designed specifically to connect with youth.
17) What responsibilities does CSU have under the cooperative agreement?
CSU responsibilities described in the notice include: helping improve public understanding of the science behind light pollution; managing logistics for volunteer placement, deployment, and tracking; delivering training that covers science content plus communication and engagement techniques; developing youth-oriented communication tools (outdoor activities, workbooks, and web-based resources); and coordinating with other informal educators in air quality, astronomy, and conservation to leverage partnerships and expand outreach.
18) What responsibilities does the NPS have under the cooperative agreement?
The NPS role is described as hands-on and substantial. Activities include collaborating with CSU on education content and strategy related to light pollution; assisting with volunteer recruitment and park coordination by providing liaisons and administrative support for tracking volunteer contributions; helping develop training curricula and supporting materials; providing strategic input, background information, and graphic design support for educational products; and providing office space and office resources to support CSU staff operations tied to the agreement.
19) What does "substantial involvement" mean in this context?
Based on the notice, substantial involvement includes NPS collaboration on education strategy and content, support for volunteer recruitment and coordination, administrative support for tracking volunteer contributions, help developing curricula and materials, and contributing design and background resources for educational products.
20) What kinds of educational materials are expected to be developed?
The notice specifically mentions youth-oriented communication tools such as outdoor activities, workbooks, and web-based resources, as well as supporting materials for training curricula and educational products aimed at both youth and general audiences.
21) What is the relationship to prior awards or agreements?
The notice describes this as a continuation of an existing program already being funded under a prior cooperative agreement (P14AC00728), implemented through a task agreement identified as P14AC01230.
22) Is this project connected to a broader administrative framework?
Yes. The notice indicates the project is administered through the Rocky Mountains Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) network.
23) What indirect cost rate is referenced?
The notice references a negotiated indirect cost rate of 17.5%.
24) What CFDA program is associated with this award?
The notice ties the project to CFDA 15.945, described as "Cooperative Research and Training Programs - Resources of the National Park System."
25) What legal authorities are cited for this cooperative agreement approach?
The notice cites statutory authorities that allow the NPS to enter into cooperative agreements and develop cooperative research and training programs with educational institutions, including 16 USC 1(g), 16 USC 1a-2(j), and 16 USC 5933.
26) What public outcomes is the NPS aiming for?
The notice describes intended public benefits including broader awareness of light pollution and its consequences, and increased appreciation of the social, ecological, and economic value of naturally dark night skies. It also signals that night-sky preservation is becoming increasingly important to park visitors and other sectors concerned with lighting impacts and dark-sky resources.
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