Opportunity Information: Apply for P14AS00197
Apply for P14AS00197
- The National Park Service in the community development natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Improve Parks Through Community Engagement" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.954 National Park Service Conservation, Protection, Outreach, and Education.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jul 23, 2014 and posted on Jul 23, 2014.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 6, 2014 NOTICE OF INTENT TO AWARD. This is not a request for applications. This funding announcement is to provide public notice that the National Park Service will fund the following project under an existing Cooperative Management with MRT. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $35,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $35,000.00 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.
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Opportunity Summary:
Improve Parks Through Community Engagement (Funding Opportunity Number P14AS00197) is a National Park Service cooperative agreement focused on reducing harmful neighbor-related impacts on open space lands in the Santa Monica Mountains and nearby areas, while also strengthening the kinds of community behaviors that protect and improve these lands. The core idea is to take a clear look at how surrounding communities interact with parks and open space, identify where those interactions are causing problems or creating benefits, and then use well-targeted communication, outreach, and programming to shift behavior toward better stewardship. Rather than being a purely research-driven effort, the project is designed to move from understanding impacts to testing a real-world outreach campaign and measuring whether it works.
The project has four main goals. First, it aims to build a stronger understanding of community impacts on open space, including both negative actions (for example, activities that degrade habitat, increase fire risk, create illegal access, dumping, off-trail use, or other resource damage) and positive actions (like volunteering, reporting issues, compliance with rules, and neighborhood-led stewardship). Second, it seeks to pinpoint the places and issues where behavior change is realistically achievable through better communication and outreach, meaning the work should identify audiences and locations that are especially "ripe" for intervention. Third, it requires an outline of an approach to address the priority problem areas, which implies selecting tactics, messages, channels, and partnerships that match the local context. Fourth, it calls for piloting at least one communication campaign and building in metrics so the National Park Service and the partner can judge success or failure based on evidence rather than assumptions.
Deliverables are structured to match that progression from diagnosis to action to evaluation. The recipient is expected to produce a short report of roughly 5 to 15 pages describing the impact areas that were identified, followed by a brief strategy document explaining how behavior change will be pursued through communication and outreach. After planning, the recipient will help design and implement a pilot communication campaign in a target area, then evaluate the pilot using defined metrics, and finally submit a final report that pulls together findings, results, and lessons learned. The deliverables emphasize practical outputs, such as a tested campaign and an evaluation, not just recommendations.
A key feature of this opportunity is that it is a cooperative project, meaning the recipient and NPS staff work closely together throughout planning and implementation. The recipient is expected to be involved in all aspects of the effort, including identifying impact areas on the recipient's own lands and assisting in identifying impact areas on NPS lands. The recipient will also draft the required reports and collaborate with NPS staff to design and carry out the pilot project. This structure suggests substantial coordination with park staff and an applied, on-the-ground approach rather than an arm's-length grant where the awardee works independently.
Administratively, the opportunity was posted July 23, 2014, with an original and current closing date of August 6, 2014, and an archive date of August 23, 2014. The estimated total funding is $35,000, with an award ceiling of $35,000 and an award floor of $1, and there is no cost sharing or matching requirement. The funding instrument is a cooperative agreement under a discretionary opportunity category, and the activity category is listed as Community Development and Natural Resources. The CFDA listing associated with the program is 15.954, National Park Service Conservation, Protection, Outreach, and Education.
This announcement is explicitly labeled as a "Notice of Intent to Award" and states it is not a request for applications. In other words, it is a public notice that NPS intended to fund this work under an existing cooperative management arrangement (referenced as being with MRT), rather than an open competition. Eligibility, as listed, is limited to nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education), but in practice the notice indicates the award was tied to an existing partnership rather than open submission. For reference and access issues, the announcement points to Grants.gov and provides a contact: Kristina Bliss, Agreements Specialist, at 805-370-2321 and kristinabliss@nps.gov.
FAQs: Improve Parks Through Community Engagement (Funding Opportunity Number P14AS00197)
What is "Improve Parks Through Community Engagement" (P14AS00197)?
It is a National Park Service (NPS) cooperative agreement focused on reducing harmful neighbor-related impacts on open space lands in the Santa Monica Mountains and nearby areas, while strengthening community behaviors that protect and improve those lands.
What problem is this project trying to solve?
The project targets how nearby communities affect parks and open space. This includes reducing negative actions (such as habitat degradation, increased fire risk, illegal access, dumping, off-trail use, and other resource damage) and increasing positive actions (such as volunteering, reporting issues, complying with rules, and neighborhood-led stewardship).
What is the core approach of the project?
The approach is to (1) understand where and how community interactions are causing harm or providing benefits, (2) identify locations and audiences where behavior change is realistic through communication and outreach, (3) outline a communication/outreach strategy tailored to local conditions, and (4) pilot at least one communication campaign with metrics to measure results.
Is this opportunity research-focused or action-focused?
It is designed to move from understanding impacts to testing a real-world outreach campaign and measuring whether it works. The deliverables emphasize practical outputs (a tested pilot campaign and evaluation), not just research or recommendations.
What are the four main goals described in the announcement?
- Build stronger understanding of community impacts on open space (negative and positive actions).
- Pinpoint places and issues where behavior change is achievable through communication and outreach.
- Outline an approach to address priority problem areas using appropriate tactics, messages, channels, and partnerships.
- Pilot at least one communication campaign and evaluate it using defined metrics.
What kinds of negative impacts are specifically mentioned?
The notice mentions impacts such as activities that degrade habitat, increase fire risk, create illegal access, dumping, off-trail use, and other resource damage.
What kinds of positive community behaviors are specifically mentioned?
Examples include volunteering, reporting issues, compliance with rules, and neighborhood-led stewardship.
What deliverables are expected from the recipient?
The deliverables follow a progression from diagnosis to action to evaluation, including:
- A short report (roughly 5 to 15 pages) describing identified impact areas.
- A brief strategy document describing how behavior change will be pursued via communication and outreach.
- Design and implementation support for a pilot communication campaign in a target area.
- An evaluation of the pilot using defined metrics.
- A final report compiling findings, results, and lessons learned.
How long is the initial impact-area report expected to be?
The notice describes a short report of roughly 5 to 15 pages covering the impact areas that were identified.
What does the strategy document need to cover?
Based on the notice, the strategy document should explain how behavior change will be pursued through communication and outreach, implying choices around tactics, messages, channels, and partnerships that fit the local context and priority problem areas.
Is a pilot project required, or can the recipient only provide recommendations?
A pilot is required. The recipient is expected to help design and implement at least one pilot communication campaign and evaluate it using defined metrics.
How will success be measured?
The notice calls for building in metrics so NPS and the partner can judge success or failure based on evidence rather than assumptions. Specific metrics are not listed in the description provided, but the requirement to define and use metrics is explicit.
What does it mean that this is a "cooperative agreement"?
It means NPS staff and the recipient work closely together throughout planning and implementation. The recipient is expected to collaborate with NPS staff to design and carry out the pilot project and to draft the required reports.
How involved is the recipient expected to be in on-the-ground work?
The notice describes an applied, on-the-ground approach. The recipient is expected to be involved in identifying impact areas (including on the recipient's own lands and assisting with identification on NPS lands), collaborating on planning, and supporting implementation and evaluation of the pilot campaign.
What geographic area does this effort focus on?
The focus is on open space lands in the Santa Monica Mountains and nearby areas.
What is the estimated total funding amount?
The estimated total funding is $35,000.
What are the award ceiling and award floor?
The award ceiling is $35,000 and the award floor is $1.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. The notice states there is no cost sharing or matching requirement.
What is the funding instrument and opportunity type?
The funding instrument is a cooperative agreement. The opportunity category is listed as discretionary.
What activity categories are associated with this opportunity?
The activity category is listed as Community Development and Natural Resources.
What is the CFDA listing for this program?
The CFDA listing associated with the program is 15.954, National Park Service Conservation, Protection, Outreach, and Education.
When was the opportunity posted, and what were the closing and archive dates?
The notice was posted on July 23, 2014. The original and current closing date is August 6, 2014. The archive date is August 23, 2014.
Is this a competitive opportunity open for applications?
No. The announcement is explicitly labeled as a "Notice of Intent to Award" and states it is not a request for applications. It is described as a public notice that NPS intended to fund the work under an existing cooperative management arrangement (referenced as being with MRT), rather than an open competition.
Who is listed as eligible in the announcement?
Eligibility is listed as nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education). However, the notice also indicates the award was tied to an existing partnership rather than open submission.
Where does the notice point for reference and access information?
The announcement points to Grants.gov for reference and access issues.
Who is the contact person for this notice?
The contact listed is Kristina Bliss, Agreements Specialist, at 805-370-2321 and kristinabliss@nps.gov.
What is the expected emphasis of the final outputs?
The deliverables emphasize practical, test-and-measure outputs: an implemented pilot communication campaign, an evaluation using defined metrics, and a final report capturing findings, results, and lessons learned.
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