Opportunity Information: Apply for P14AS00009
Apply for P14AS00009
- The National Park Service in the education environment natural resources science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Furthering Mission and Operation of the National Cave Karst Research Institute" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.944 Natural Resource Stewardship.
- This funding opportunity was created on Dec 5, 2013 and posted on Dec 5, 2013.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Dec 19, 2013. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- 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:
This grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number P14AS00009) is a National Park Service (NPS) notice of intent to award, meaning it is not open for applications and is being published strictly to give the public advance notice that NPS plans to fund a specific project without full and open competition. The planned award is a cooperative agreement, reflecting that NPS expects to have substantial, ongoing involvement in the work rather than simply issuing funds and stepping back. The anticipated total amount is about $1,000,000 spread across five years, contingent on future appropriations and availability of funds, and it does not require any cost share or matching.
The recipient identified for this single-source award is the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology (NMT), with Richard Cervantes listed as the principal investigator/program manager. The agreement is intended to support the mission and ongoing operations of the National Cave and Karst Research Institute, Inc. (NCKRI). In practical terms, the award functions as the mechanism for transferring federal funds from NPS to NMT on behalf of NCKRI so the Institute can continue carrying out the purposes Congress set for it.
The project is rooted in the National Cave and Karst Research Institute Act of 1998 (Public Law 105-325; 16 U.S.C. 4310 note), which established NCKRI and laid out its core purposes. Those purposes include advancing the science of speleology; centralizing and standardizing cave and karst information; encouraging interdisciplinary collaboration across cave and karst research; expanding public education; strengthening national and international cooperation to protect cave and karst environments; and promoting environmentally sound, sustainable management practices. The Institute is required by statute to be located near Carlsbad Caverns National Park in New Mexico (but not inside the park boundaries), aligning its work closely with one of the country’s most significant cave resources while remaining an independent facility.
The notice explains why NPS is not competing this award. The single-source justification relies primarily on two Department of the Interior criteria: continuation and legislative intent. Congress directed that NCKRI be jointly administered by NPS and a public or private partner selected by the Secretary. After a series of formal developments, New Mexico state law (House Bill 436 in 2004) designated the Institute as a division of NMT, and in 2005 NPS selected NMT as its permanent academic partner for administering the Institute. Because NMT’s role was established through this legislative and administrative history, NPS states that competition is no longer applicable for selecting a different partner to perform this specific joint-administration function.
The organizational structure described in the announcement highlights how NCKRI operates and how oversight is maintained. NCKRI became a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in 2006, hired a permanent executive director, and established a board of directors with permanent seats held by NPS, NMT, and the City of Carlsbad. NCKRI established its headquarters building in Carlsbad in 2011. To maintain fiscal controls and alignment with federal interests, the NPS board member chairs the budget committee, and both NPS and NMT retain final approval authority over the budget, with the ability to make changes to their respective budget portions at their discretion.
The cooperative agreement outlines significant responsibilities for NMT. NMT is expected to build and expand partnerships with other universities and academic organizations involved in cave and karst research and education nationwide, creating cooperative arrangements that advance NCKRI’s statutory purposes. NMT will also provide expertise and support for the Institute’s research agenda, assist with K-12, higher education, and public outreach program implementation, and provide access to campus facilities (such as libraries, laboratories, and computing resources) to NPS and NCKRI staff under terms comparable to those available to NMT faculty, consistent with state law. In addition, NMT will provide basic administrative and clerical support when appropriate, offer education and training opportunities to NPS and Institute employees, and serve as a liaison between NCKRI and the State of New Mexico on administrative matters.
NPS’s role is described as substantial, which is why the instrument is a cooperative agreement rather than a more hands-off grant. NPS will provide financial assistance, collaborate closely with NMT to advance the Institute’s objectives as directed by the 1998 Act, and facilitate professional engagement opportunities by allowing NMT staff and students to participate in symposia, conferences, workshops, and similar events co-sponsored by NPS and the Institute at NPS sites. NPS will also provide staff to serve on NCKRI committees and supply administrative and clerical support as appropriate.
Administratively, the opportunity is categorized under CFDA 15.944 (Natural Resource Stewardship) and aligns with education, environment, natural resources, and science and technology/research and development activity areas. Although the listing shows an eligible applicant category of public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, the core point of the announcement is that this particular action is a directed, single-recipient award tied to the long-standing statutory and governance framework for NCKRI’s joint administration. The NPS point of contact for the notice is June Zastrow (junezastrow@nps.gov; 303-987-6718), and the posting indicates dates in December 2013, including a public notice period ending December 19, 2013.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is this funding opportunity open for applications?
No. Funding Opportunity Number P14AS00009 is a National Park Service (NPS) notice of intent to award. It is published only to give the public advance notice that NPS plans to fund a specific project without full and open competition.
What does a "notice of intent to award" mean in this case?
It means NPS is announcing its plan to make a directed (single-source) award to a specific recipient. The notice is informational and is not a competitive solicitation.
Who is the intended recipient of this award?
The identified recipient is the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology (NMT).
Who is listed as the principal investigator/program manager?
Richard Cervantes is listed as the principal investigator/program manager.
What type of federal assistance instrument is planned?
The planned award is a cooperative agreement. This reflects that NPS expects substantial, ongoing involvement in the work rather than providing funds with minimal federal participation.
Why is this a cooperative agreement rather than a more hands-off grant?
The notice states NPS will have substantial involvement, including collaborating closely with NMT to advance the Institute's objectives, facilitating professional engagement opportunities, providing staff to serve on committees, and offering administrative and clerical support as appropriate.
How much funding is anticipated, and over what period?
The anticipated total amount is about $1,000,000 spread across five years.
Is the full five-year amount guaranteed?
No. The notice indicates the funding is contingent on future appropriations and the availability of funds.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. The notice states there is no cost share or matching requirement.
What is the overall purpose of the planned award?
The agreement is intended to support the mission and ongoing operations of the National Cave and Karst Research Institute, Inc. (NCKRI). In practical terms, it functions as the mechanism for transferring federal funds from NPS to NMT on behalf of NCKRI so the Institute can continue carrying out the purposes Congress set for it.
What law establishes the National Cave and Karst Research Institute and its purposes?
The project is rooted in the National Cave and Karst Research Institute Act of 1998 (Public Law 105-325; 16 U.S.C. 4310 note).
What are NCKRI's statutory purposes described in the notice?
The purposes include advancing the science of speleology; centralizing and standardizing cave and karst information; encouraging interdisciplinary collaboration across cave and karst research; expanding public education; strengthening national and international cooperation to protect cave and karst environments; and promoting environmentally sound, sustainable management practices.
Where is NCKRI required to be located?
By statute, the Institute must be located near Carlsbad Caverns National Park in New Mexico, but not inside the park boundaries.
Why is NPS not competing this award?
The notice cites a single-source justification relying primarily on Department of the Interior criteria of continuation and legislative intent. Congress directed that NCKRI be jointly administered by NPS and a public or private partner selected by the Secretary. The notice explains that New Mexico state law later designated the Institute as a division of NMT, and NPS selected NMT in 2005 as its permanent academic partner for administering the Institute. Because of this legislative and administrative history, NPS states competition is no longer applicable for selecting a different partner to perform this specific joint-administration function.
How did NMT become the permanent academic partner for NCKRI?
The notice describes a sequence in which New Mexico state law (House Bill 436 in 2004) designated the Institute as a division of NMT, followed by NPS selecting NMT in 2005 as its permanent academic partner for administering the Institute.
What is NCKRI's organizational status and governance structure?
The notice states NCKRI became a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in 2006, hired a permanent executive director, and established a board of directors with permanent seats held by NPS, NMT, and the City of Carlsbad.
Where is NCKRI headquartered?
NCKRI established its headquarters building in Carlsbad in 2011.
How does the notice describe fiscal controls and budget oversight?
To maintain fiscal controls and alignment with federal interests, the NPS board member chairs the budget committee. The notice also states that both NPS and NMT retain final approval authority over the budget, with the ability to make changes to their respective budget portions at their discretion.
What responsibilities are described for NMT under the cooperative agreement?
The notice describes several responsibilities for NMT, including: building and expanding partnerships with other universities and academic organizations involved in cave and karst research and education nationwide; creating cooperative arrangements that advance NCKRI's statutory purposes; providing expertise and support for the Institute's research agenda; assisting with K-12, higher education, and public outreach program implementation; providing access to campus facilities (libraries, laboratories, and computing resources) to NPS and NCKRI staff under terms comparable to those available to NMT faculty, consistent with state law; providing basic administrative and clerical support when appropriate; offering education and training opportunities to NPS and Institute employees; and serving as a liaison between NCKRI and the State of New Mexico on administrative matters.
What responsibilities are described for NPS under the cooperative agreement?
NPS will provide financial assistance; collaborate closely with NMT to advance the Institute's objectives as directed by the 1998 Act; facilitate professional engagement opportunities by allowing NMT staff and students to participate in symposia, conferences, workshops, and similar events co-sponsored by NPS and the Institute at NPS sites; provide staff to serve on NCKRI committees; and supply administrative and clerical support as appropriate.
What CFDA program is associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is categorized under CFDA 15.944 (Natural Resource Stewardship).
What activity areas does the notice say this opportunity aligns with?
The notice indicates alignment with education, environment, natural resources, and science and technology/research and development activity areas.
Does the eligible applicant category mean other universities can apply?
Although the listing shows an eligible applicant category of public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, the notice emphasizes that this specific action is a directed, single-recipient award tied to the statutory and governance framework for NCKRI's joint administration, and it is not open for applications.
What is the public notice period mentioned in the posting?
The posting indicates dates in December 2013, including a public notice period ending December 19, 2013.
Who is the NPS point of contact for this notice?
The NPS point of contact is June Zastrow. The notice lists the email as junezastrow@nps.gov and the phone number as 303-987-6718.
Browse more opportunities from the same category: Education Environment Natural Resources Science and Technology and other Research and Development
Next opportunity: Business Plan Interns
Previous opportunity: Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects and Centers Program Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects (DRRPs) Employment of Individuals with Disabilities CFDA Number 84.133A 7 (Development)
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 P14AS00009
[Watch] how do funding administrators access proposals?
Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (P14AS00009) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| NMT National Cave and Karst Institute Apply for P14AS00098 Funding Number: P14AS00098 Agency: National Park Service Category: Education Environment Natural Resources Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $294,000 |
| Comprehensive Assessment of Risk of Caves to White Nose Syndrome Apply for P14AS00171 Funding Number: P14AS00171 Agency: National Park Service Category: Education Environment Natural Resources Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $92,000 |
| FY15 16 CRCP State and Territorial Coral Reef Conservation Cooperative Agreements Apply for NOAA NOS OCRM 2015 2004040 Funding Number: NOAA NOS OCRM 2015 2004040 Agency: Department of Commerce Category: Education Environment Natural Resources Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $900,000 |
| Fiscal Year 2015 NOAA New England Bay Watershed Education and Training Program Apply for NOAA NMFS GARFO 2014 2004167 Funding Number: NOAA NMFS GARFO 2014 2004167 Agency: Department of Commerce Category: Education Environment Natural Resources Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $80,000 |
| The Amphibian Reptile Conservancy Apply for P14AS00310 Funding Number: P14AS00310 Agency: National Park Service Category: Education Environment Natural Resources Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $25,000 |
| Partnership with New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology for National Cave and Karst Research Institute Apply for P15AS00192 Funding Number: P15AS00192 Agency: National Park Service Category: Education Environment Natural Resources Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $294,000 |
| Voices of Science Apply for P15AS00240 Funding Number: P15AS00240 Agency: National Park Service Category: Education Environment Natural Resources Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $29,503 |
| PARTNERS IN PRESERVATION Apply for P15AS00286 Funding Number: P15AS00286 Agency: National Park Service Category: Education Environment Natural Resources Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $471,619 |
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 "P14AS00009", 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.