Opportunity Information: Apply for P15AS00217
Apply for P15AS00217
- The National Park Service in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Genetic analysis of impacts of watershed scale barriers on Brook Trout" 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 16, 2015 and posted on Jul 16, 2015.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 23, 2015. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification) Public and State controlled institutions of higher education.
- The United States Department of the Interior, The National Park Service (NPS), and Great Smoky Mountain National Park are announcing a notice of intent to award this is not a request for applications. This funding opportunity is to provide public notice of NPSs intention to fund the following project activities without full and open competition, under Cooperative Agreement P11AC30805 with the Pennsylvania State University, a partner under the Chesapeake Watershed Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, for a project titled Genetic analysis of impacts of watershed scale barriers on metapopulation dynamics of Brook Trout.
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Opportunity Summary:
The grant opportunity titled "Genetic analysis of impacts of watershed scale barriers on Brook Trout" (Funding Opportunity Number P15AS00217) was issued by the National Park Service (NPS) under the U.S. Department of the Interior. It is framed as a discretionary, natural-resources focused cooperative agreement intended to strengthen NPS capacity to monitor and restore fish populations using modern genetic tools. The work is centered on Brook Trout and is aimed at understanding how barriers across a watershed shape movement, connectivity, and long-term population health, with the broader goal of informing management decisions at watershed and regional scales rather than only at isolated stream reaches.
At the core of the project is the development and implementation of genetic monitoring protocols that NPS can use to evaluate fish population dynamics in a more comprehensive way. The emphasis on watershed-scale barriers signals a focus on how features like road crossings, culverts, dams, and other impediments affect dispersal and migration among stream segments. By examining genetic diversity and patterns of relatedness across the landscape, the project is meant to clarify how Brook Trout populations function as interconnected groups (often described as metapopulations), how individuals move between habitats, and how connectivity supports resilience over time. The expected payoff is actionable science: results that help NPS decide where barrier removal, habitat restoration, or connectivity improvements would most effectively sustain or rebuild healthy Brook Trout populations, while also reducing risks associated with isolation such as inbreeding or loss of adaptive capacity.
Although listed on Grants.gov, the notice makes clear that this is not a request for applications. Instead, it is a public notice of NPS intent to fund specific work without full and open competition. The award was planned under an existing cooperative agreement (P11AC30805) with Pennsylvania State University, which is identified as a partner through the Chesapeake Watershed Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit. In other words, the opportunity functions as a transparency notice rather than a competitive solicitation, and the anticipated recipient relationship is already established through that cooperative framework.
Administrative details in the listing reflect that purpose. The opportunity was posted and created on July 16, 2015, with an original and current closing date of July 23, 2015, and an archive date of August 16, 2015. No cost sharing or matching was required. The listing shows estimated total funding and award ceiling/floor as 0, which commonly occurs in notices of intent or records that are not structured as open competitions with defined funding ranges in the public-facing fields. Eligibility is described broadly (including public and state-controlled institutions of higher education and "others" with clarification in the eligibility text), but the eligibility section reiterates that the intent was to proceed with the named partner rather than solicit proposals from the wider community.
In practical terms, the opportunity supports applied conservation genetics in a national park context, specifically in and around Great Smoky Mountain National Park. The project is designed to generate scientific insight into how Brook Trout populations interact across complex stream networks and how management actions can maintain or improve genetic diversity and connectivity. A key feature is transferability: NPS highlights that the management practices derived from this work should be usable for other species and in other parks, meaning the protocols and decision-support approach are intended to scale beyond one study system.
For additional details or assistance accessing the full announcement, the listed contact is Brian Straka at Great Smoky Mountain National Park, reachable by phone at 865-436-1217 or by email at BrianStraka@nps.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the title of this grant opportunity?
The opportunity is titled "Genetic analysis of impacts of watershed scale barriers on Brook Trout."
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON)?
The Funding Opportunity Number is P15AS00217.
Which agency is offering this opportunity?
The opportunity was issued by the National Park Service (NPS) under the U.S. Department of the Interior.
What type of award is this?
It is described as a discretionary, natural-resources focused cooperative agreement intended to strengthen NPS capacity to monitor and restore fish populations using genetic tools.
Is this a competitive grant where anyone can apply?
No. Although it appeared on Grants.gov, the notice states it is not a request for applications. It is a public notice of NPS intent to fund specific work without full and open competition.
If it is not a request for applications, what is the purpose of the posting?
The posting functions as a transparency notice communicating NPS intent to proceed with a specific project and partner, rather than a solicitation seeking proposals from the general public.
Who is the intended recipient/partner for this work?
The planned award was under an existing cooperative agreement (P11AC30805) with Pennsylvania State University, identified as a partner through the Chesapeake Watershed Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit.
What is the main scientific focus of the project?
The project focuses on Brook Trout and uses modern genetic tools to understand how watershed-scale barriers influence movement, connectivity, and long-term population health.
What are "watershed-scale barriers" in the context of this work?
The notice emphasizes barriers across a watershed, including features like road crossings, culverts, dams, and other impediments that can affect dispersal and migration among stream segments.
What is meant by studying connectivity and movement using genetics?
By examining genetic diversity and patterns of relatedness across the landscape, the work is intended to clarify how individuals move between habitats and how separate stream segments function as interconnected populations (metapopulations).
Why is NPS interested in genetic diversity and relatedness for Brook Trout?
The goal is to generate actionable science that helps inform management decisions, including identifying where actions like barrier removal or connectivity improvements would most effectively support healthy Brook Trout populations and reduce risks tied to isolation (such as inbreeding or loss of adaptive capacity).
What are the expected deliverables or outcomes described in the notice?
The core described outcome is the development and implementation of genetic monitoring protocols that NPS can use to evaluate fish population dynamics at watershed and regional scales.
How is this different from studies that focus on individual stream reaches?
The notice highlights a watershed and regional-scale approach, aiming to inform decisions beyond isolated stream reaches by evaluating how barriers across the broader network shape population connectivity and resilience.
Where is the project intended to take place?
The work is described as being in a national park context, specifically in and around Great Smoky Mountain National Park.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. The listing states that no cost sharing or matching was required.
What do the posted funding amounts (ceiling/floor/estimated total) indicate?
The listing shows the estimated total funding and award ceiling/floor as 0, which the notice explains can occur in records that are not structured as open competitions with defined public-facing funding ranges (such as notices of intent).
What were the key dates for this opportunity?
It was posted and created on July 16, 2015. The original and current closing date was July 23, 2015. The archive date was August 16, 2015.
Who was listed as eligible to apply?
The eligibility section is described broadly (including public and state-controlled institutions of higher education and "others" with clarification in the eligibility text), but it also reiterates that the intent was to proceed with the named partner rather than solicit proposals widely.
Does the notice suggest the work will be useful beyond Brook Trout or one park?
Yes. A stated feature is transferability: NPS indicates that the management practices derived from this work should be usable for other species and in other parks, with protocols and a decision-support approach intended to scale beyond a single study system.
Who can be contacted for more information?
The listed contact is Brian Straka at Great Smoky Mountain National Park. Phone: 865-436-1217. Email: BrianStraka@nps.gov.
What should someone do if they want the full announcement or need help accessing it?
The notice directs interested parties to contact Brian Straka using the phone number or email provided for additional details or assistance accessing the full announcement.
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