Opportunity Information: Apply for P14AS00095
Apply for P14AS00095
- The National Park Service in the education natural resources science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Geoscientists in Parks/ Mosaics in Science" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.931 Conservation Activities by Youth Service Organizations.
- This funding opportunity was created on May 8, 2014 and posted on May 8, 2014.
- Applicants must submit their applications by May 22, 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 $660,455.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $660,455.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education.
[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal:
Opportunity Summary:
The Geoscientists in Parks (GIP) / Mosaics in Science (MIS) opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number P14AS00095) is a National Park Service (NPS) notice of intent to award funding through a cooperative agreement, not a call for new applications. In plain terms, the NPS is publicly signaling that it plans to continue funding an existing partnership rather than running an open competition. The recipient named is the Geological Society of America (GSA), with Matthew Dawson listed as the principal investigator/program manager, and the NPS point of contact is June Zastrow (junezastrow@nps.gov, 303-987-6718). The announcement was posted May 8, 2014, with a closing date of May 22, 2014, but that date functions more as an administrative posting window than an application deadline, since the announcement explicitly states it is not requesting proposals.
The purpose of the project is to operate youth-focused internship and volunteer placement programs that put geoscientists and other natural-resource scientists to work on priority needs within NPS-managed lands. Through these placements, participants help parks with inventorying, monitoring, research, and interpretation/education efforts. The intended benefit is twofold: parks receive useful scientific and educational products that support sound resource management, and participants gain hands-on experience while improving public and staff understanding of park natural resources. The funding activity aligns with education and natural resources/science and technology categories, and it is associated with CFDA 15.931 (Conservation Activities by Youth Service Organizations / Youth Conservation Activities).
Structurally, this is a continuation award under an existing set of agreements rather than a brand-new start. The award instrument is a cooperative agreement, which matters because it signals “substantial involvement” by NPS staff in directing and supporting the work (as opposed to a more hands-off grant). The announcement cites statutory authorities that allow NPS to enter these kinds of agreements and share costs/services with partners: 16 U.S.C. 1g (cooperative agreements using appropriated funds for NPS programs), 16 U.S.C. 1f (Challenge Cost Share authority), and 16 U.S.C. 1723(c) (Public Lands Corps authority related to youth and conservation projects). The period of performance is from the date of award through 12/31/2015. The anticipated federal award amount is about $660,454.50 (often rounded to $660,455 in the summary fields), alongside a large partner cost share contribution listed at $1,043,614.00. The notice also references a specific modification: a $63,675.00 modification to Task Agreement P14AC00052 under Cooperative Agreement P13AC00336, also running through 12/31/2015, which reinforces that this is ongoing work being extended or adjusted.
A major administrative point in the notice is the single-source justification. The Department of the Interior requires a written rationale when an award is made without full and open competition, and NPS cites the “Continuation” criterion. The logic is that the work is already underway under existing agreements, and switching to a new competitive award at that stage would disrupt continuity and risk delaying or undermining completion of the program’s objectives. In other words, NPS is treating this as the next increment of an established program where the recipient is already set up to deliver the required infrastructure and administrative functions.
The division of responsibilities is spelled out in a fairly operational way. On the GSA side, the organization agrees to run the program backbone: maintaining and updating the GeoCorps America and MIS websites and the online application system; coordinating with the NPS program manager on which projects will be offered; recruiting applicants; and managing the full administrative flow for recruitment, applications, and selections. GSA is also responsible for the participant paperwork and compliance pieces (participant agreements, nondisclosure agreements, and interagency volunteer agreements), and for handling participant financial administration such as stipends, travel advances/allowances, and required tax forms and documentation. In addition, GSA must communicate directly with each participant about expectations and obligations, and it must collect and pass along required deliverables to NPS, including a set of 5 to 10 digital photos with captions, a written report, a program evaluation, a sponsor thank-you letter, and any project-specific products. GSA also provides NPS with copies of annual reports and publications that result from work completed under the cooperative agreement, and it instructs participants to acknowledge both NPS and GSA in any publications or audiovisual materials developed from the placement.
On the NPS side, the agency’s role is hands-on and operational at the park and program-management levels. NPS staff identify geoscience-related needs within parks and other NPS offices and enter project proposals into GSA’s online system. NPS selects participants for each opportunity from the qualified applicant pool provided by GSA. Once participants are placed, NPS supplies what is needed to actually do the work safely and effectively: tools and equipment (including safety gear), access to facilities, local/site transportation, project specifications, and applicable procedures, rules, and regulations. NPS also provides housing or a housing allowance, and it gives participants an on-arrival orientation covering the park/unit mission, relevant policies and procedures, vehicle/equipment use, housing rules, and a detailed project description. Importantly, NPS commits to providing qualified personnel for mentoring, technical oversight, direction, and final approval of participant work products, plus on-site safety and project training to ensure participants can perform duties competently and safely. NPS also completes post-project evaluations (prepared by the technical coordinator) and must submit those evaluations to GSA before a park/unit can advertise another GeoCorps GIP or MIS project, creating a feedback and accountability loop. At the program level, the NPS GIP/MIS Program Manager monitors and oversees the overall agreement activities, serves as technical coordinator to participants, and maintains program databases and internal/external web content used both for internal communication and public outreach/education.
Taken together, the opportunity is best understood as an administrative notice documenting NPS’s intent to continue funding a specific nonprofit partner to operate and support the GIP/MIS placement pipeline, with NPS retaining substantial on-the-ground involvement in defining projects, selecting candidates, supervising work, ensuring safety, and approving deliverables. It is not an open funding competition; it is a continuation action designed to keep an established internship/volunteer program running through the end of 2015 while producing tangible scientific and interpretive outputs that support park resource management.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1) What is Funding Opportunity Number P14AS00095?
P14AS00095 is a National Park Service (NPS) notice of intent to award funding related to the Geoscientists in Parks (GIP) / Mosaics in Science (MIS) programs. It documents NPS's plan to provide funding through a cooperative agreement as a continuation action under existing agreements.
2) Is P14AS00095 an open grant competition where new applicants can apply?
No. The notice explicitly states it is not requesting proposals. It is a notice of intent to award (a continuation award) rather than a call for new applications.
3) Who is the intended recipient of this award?
The named recipient is the Geological Society of America (GSA).
4) Who is listed as the principal investigator/program manager for the recipient?
Matthew Dawson is listed as the principal investigator/program manager for the Geological Society of America (GSA).
5) Who is the NPS point of contact for this notice?
The NPS point of contact is June Zastrow. Contact details provided in the notice are junezastrow@nps.gov and 303-987-6718.
6) What are the posted dates and do they function like an application deadline?
The announcement was posted May 8, 2014, with a closing date of May 22, 2014. Based on the notice language, the closing date functions as an administrative posting window rather than an application deadline because the notice is not requesting proposals.
7) What is the purpose of the GIP / MIS project described in this notice?
The purpose is to operate youth-focused internship and volunteer placement programs that place geoscientists and other natural-resource scientists on priority projects within NPS-managed lands. Participants support inventorying, monitoring, research, and interpretation/education efforts.
8) What benefits are expected from these placements?
The notice describes two primary benefits: (1) parks receive scientific and educational products that support sound resource management, and (2) participants gain hands-on experience while improving public and staff understanding of park natural resources.
9) What type of funding instrument is being used?
The instrument is a cooperative agreement.
10) Why does it matter that this is a cooperative agreement?
The notice explains that a cooperative agreement signals substantial involvement by NPS staff in directing and supporting the work, rather than a more hands-off relationship.
11) Is this a brand-new project or a continuation of existing work?
It is a continuation award under an existing set of agreements, intended to keep established GIP/MIS operations running rather than starting a new program from scratch.
12) What is the period of performance stated in the notice?
The period of performance is from the date of award through 12/31/2015.
13) What is the anticipated federal award amount?
The anticipated federal award amount is about $660,454.50 (often rounded to $660,455 in summary fields, according to the notice description).
14) Is there a cost share mentioned, and if so, how much?
Yes. The notice lists a partner cost share contribution of $1,043,614.00.
15) Does the notice mention any specific modification or task agreement?
Yes. It references a $63,675.00 modification to Task Agreement P14AC00052 under Cooperative Agreement P13AC00336, with performance running through 12/31/2015.
16) Why is the award being made without full and open competition?
The notice cites a single-source justification under the "Continuation" criterion. The rationale described is that the work is already underway under existing agreements, and switching to a new competitive award could disrupt continuity and delay or undermine completion of program objectives.
17) What program categories does this activity align with?
The notice aligns the activity with education and natural resources/science and technology categories.
18) What CFDA number is associated with this opportunity?
The notice associates the activity with CFDA 15.931 (Conservation Activities by Youth Service Organizations / Youth Conservation Activities).
19) What legal/statutory authorities are cited for entering into this type of agreement?
The notice cites 16 U.S.C. 1g, 16 U.S.C. 1f (Challenge Cost Share authority), and 16 U.S.C. 1723(c) (Public Lands Corps authority related to youth and conservation projects).
20) What responsibilities does GSA have under the cooperative agreement?
GSA is described as operating the program backbone, including maintaining and updating the GeoCorps America and MIS websites and online application system; coordinating with the NPS program manager on which projects will be offered; recruiting applicants; and managing recruitment, applications, and selections. GSA also handles participant paperwork/compliance (including participant agreements, nondisclosure agreements, and interagency volunteer agreements) and participant financial administration such as stipends, travel advances/allowances, and required tax forms/documentation.
21) What communications and participant management duties are assigned to GSA?
GSA must communicate directly with each participant regarding expectations and obligations, and it must collect and provide required deliverables to NPS.
22) What deliverables are participants required to submit (as described in the notice)?
The notice lists required deliverables including 5 to 10 digital photos with captions, a written report, a program evaluation, a sponsor thank-you letter, and any project-specific products.
23) Are there publication/reporting expectations tied to the cooperative agreement?
Yes. GSA provides NPS with copies of annual reports and publications resulting from work completed under the cooperative agreement. Participants are instructed to acknowledge both NPS and GSA in publications or audiovisual materials developed from the placement.
24) What responsibilities does NPS have in defining and advertising projects?
NPS staff identify geoscience-related needs within parks and other NPS offices and enter project proposals into GSA's online system.
25) Who selects participants for each opportunity?
NPS selects participants for each opportunity from the qualified applicant pool provided by GSA.
26) What does NPS provide once a participant is placed?
NPS provides tools and equipment (including safety gear), access to facilities, local/site transportation, project specifications, and applicable procedures, rules, and regulations. NPS also provides housing or a housing allowance and gives an on-arrival orientation covering mission, policies/procedures, vehicle/equipment use, housing rules, and a detailed project description.
27) What mentoring and oversight is NPS expected to provide?
NPS commits to providing qualified personnel for mentoring, technical oversight, direction, and final approval of participant work products, along with on-site safety and project training so participants can perform duties competently and safely.
28) Are post-project evaluations required, and how are they used?
Yes. NPS completes post-project evaluations (prepared by the technical coordinator) and must submit those evaluations to GSA before a park/unit can advertise another GeoCorps GIP or MIS project.
29) What is the role of the NPS GIP/MIS Program Manager in this arrangement?
The NPS GIP/MIS Program Manager monitors and oversees overall agreement activities, serves as technical coordinator to participants, and maintains program databases and internal/external web content used for internal communication and public outreach/education.
30) In plain terms, what does this notice mean for the public?
It is an administrative notice stating that NPS plans to continue funding a specific nonprofit partner (GSA) to operate and support the GIP/MIS placement pipeline through the end of 2015, with NPS remaining substantially involved in project definition, participant selection, supervision, safety, and approval of deliverables. It is not an open request for new proposals.
Browse more opportunities from the same category: Education Natural Resources Science and Technology and other Research and Development
Next opportunity: FY 2014 Community Assistance Program State Support Services Element Region 1
Previous opportunity: Development of Outdoor Eco Learning Centers Dallas, TX
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 P14AS00095
[Watch] how do funding administrators access proposals?
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 "P14AS00095", 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.