Opportunity Information: Apply for P15AS00092
Apply for P15AS00092
- The National Park Service in the community development education environment natural resources regional development science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Intermountain West Data Warehouse" 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 Apr 7, 2015 and posted on Apr 7, 2015.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Apr 21, 2015. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $236,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $236,000.00 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:
The Intermountain West Data Warehouse opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number P15AS00092) is a National Park Service (NPS) notice of intent to award a cooperative agreement, not an open call for applications. In other words, it is public notice that NPS plans to fund a specific continuation project without full and open competition. The anticipated total federal funding is $236,000 with no cost share requirement, and it is structured as a continuation of an existing cooperative agreement (P14AC00728). The expected number of awards is one, and the identified recipient is Colorado State University (CSU), specifically the Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere (CIRA), with Shawn McClure listed as the principal investigator/program manager. The anticipated period of performance runs from the date of final signature through 11/15/2016. The opportunity is tied to CFDA 15.945, Cooperative Research and Training Programs, Resources of the National Park System (CESU), and is processed through the CESU framework (Rocky Mountains CESU) at a negotiated overhead rate noted as 17.5.
At the core of the project is the ongoing operation, maintenance, and enhancement of the Intermountain West Data Warehouse, a system initially developed by CSU CIRA to support air quality planning by making environmental and air quality-related data consistent, comprehensive, up to date, and documented for quality. The data warehouse is intended to improve how agencies and the public access and use large datasets that feed air quality models and analyses, with a strong emphasis on planning under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). A major driver highlighted in the announcement is regional NEPA planning associated with oil and gas development across the Intermountain West. By centralizing and quality-assuring data and making it easier to retrieve and analyze, the project aims to make NEPA reviews more consistent across projects and agencies, more efficient in terms of staff time and process, and more cost effective, while also improving transparency and public access to better information.
The announcement describes a broad interagency and intergovernmental collaboration surrounding the warehouse. Partners referenced include state environmental and health agencies in Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, and New Mexico; Bureau of Land Management state offices in those same states; U.S. Forest Service Regions 2, 3, and 4; and the Environmental Protection Agency Region 8. This collaborative structure is reinforced through an interagency Oversight Committee that sets operational criteria for the warehouse, and through coordination support provided by WESTAR. The project is also expected to be leveraged with a related NPS effort, the Federal Land Manager Environmental Database (FED), to avoid duplication and improve interoperability and usefulness across federal land management needs.
The stated technical and programmatic objectives focus on strengthening the scientific and planning value of the system. NPS and CSU CIRA plan to combine their respective capabilities to improve understanding of how air pollution emissions, meteorology, and atmospheric pollutant concentrations interact, including processes such as transport, chemical conversion, and deposition. Practically, that means keeping the data warehouse running and current, adding or improving tools that support analysis and quality assurance of the data stored within it, and making it easier to access large modeling inputs and related datasets for NEPA and other planning activities. Beyond the technical deliverables, the agreement is also meant to enhance coordination and collaboration between NPS and CSU CIRA and to improve access to well-documented data of known quality for agencies and stakeholders.
Roles and responsibilities are spelled out for both sides, reflecting that this is a cooperative agreement where substantial NPS involvement is expected. CSU CIRA is responsible for maintaining and operating the warehouse (including keeping software and hardware up to date), meeting Oversight Committee operational criteria in coordination with NPS, collaborating with WESTAR, aligning work with the FED database, and producing routine progress reporting. CSU CIRA must also provide at least annual status updates to the Oversight Committee, offer training and user support as needed, and document the warehouse structure to support continuity, openness, and long-term usability. On the NPS side, responsibilities include active participation throughout implementation, supplying data and products (including air quality modeling outputs) with appropriate documentation for inclusion in the warehouse, providing feedback on deliverables, and funding CSU CIRA for the agreed work. NPS also notes it will work interactively with CSU CIRA as the warehouse is operated and as new tools are added over time, and it will assign an Agreement Technical Representative to manage technical coordination.
Finally, the notice explains why the award is being made as a single-source action rather than competed. The justification cited is the Department of the Interior single-source criterion for continuation: the work is a necessary continuation of an already-funded activity, and competing it would significantly disrupt continuity or completion. The statutory authority referenced for NPS to enter into and fund this type of cooperative agreement includes 54 USC 101702(a) and 54 USC 100703, which support NPS use of cooperative agreements and partnerships with universities (including through cooperative ecosystem studies units) to conduct multidisciplinary research and produce integrated information products relevant to National Park System resources. Contact for the action is June Zastrow at NPS (phone 303-987-6718, email junezastrow@nps.gov).
Intermountain West Data Warehouse (Funding Opportunity Number P15AS00092) - FAQs
What is Funding Opportunity Number P15AS00092?
P15AS00092 is a National Park Service (NPS) notice of intent to award a cooperative agreement for the Intermountain West Data Warehouse. It is public notice that NPS plans to fund a specific continuation project.
Is P15AS00092 an open grant competition?
No. The notice is not an open call for applications. It is a notice of intent to make a single award without full and open competition as a continuation of an existing cooperative agreement.
Why is this being issued as a notice of intent rather than a competitive opportunity?
The stated justification is the Department of the Interior single-source criterion for continuation: the work is a necessary continuation of an already-funded activity, and competing it would significantly disrupt continuity or completion of the work.
How much federal funding is anticipated under this opportunity?
The anticipated total federal funding amount is $236,000.
Is there a cost share or matching requirement?
No. The notice specifies there is no cost share requirement.
How many awards does NPS expect to make?
The expected number of awards is one.
Who is the identified recipient for this award?
The identified recipient is Colorado State University (CSU), specifically the Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere (CIRA).
Who is listed as the principal investigator/program manager?
Shawn McClure is listed as the principal investigator/program manager.
What is the relationship of this award to prior funding?
This award is structured as a continuation of an existing cooperative agreement, referenced as P14AC00728.
What is the anticipated period of performance?
The anticipated period of performance runs from the date of final signature through 11/15/2016.
What CFDA program is associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is tied to CFDA 15.945, Cooperative Research and Training Programs, Resources of the National Park System (CESU).
What framework is used to process this cooperative agreement?
The agreement is processed through the CESU framework, specifically the Rocky Mountains CESU.
Is an overhead rate mentioned for this award?
Yes. A negotiated overhead rate is noted as 17.5.
What is the Intermountain West Data Warehouse?
It is a system initially developed by CSU CIRA to support air quality planning by making environmental and air quality-related data consistent, comprehensive, up to date, and documented for quality. It is intended to improve how agencies and the public access and use large datasets that feed air quality models and analyses.
What is the main purpose of funding this project?
At the core, the project supports the ongoing operation, maintenance, and enhancement of the Intermountain West Data Warehouse, including keeping it current and improving tools for data analysis and quality assurance. A central goal is improving access to large modeling inputs and related datasets used for NEPA and other planning activities.
How does the project relate to NEPA planning?
The data warehouse is described as supporting planning under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) by centralizing and quality-assuring data and making retrieval and analysis easier. This is intended to make NEPA reviews more consistent across projects and agencies, more efficient in staff time and process, more cost effective, and more transparent with improved public access to better information.
What regional issue is highlighted as a major driver for the work?
The notice highlights regional NEPA planning associated with oil and gas development across the Intermountain West as a major driver.
Which agencies and organizations are referenced as partners or collaborators?
Partners referenced include state environmental and health agencies in Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, and New Mexico; Bureau of Land Management state offices in those same states; U.S. Forest Service Regions 2, 3, and 4; and the Environmental Protection Agency Region 8.
How is interagency coordination organized for the warehouse?
The notice describes an interagency Oversight Committee that sets operational criteria for the warehouse, along with coordination support provided by WESTAR.
How does the warehouse work relate to the NPS Federal Land Manager Environmental Database (FED)?
The project is expected to be leveraged with the NPS Federal Land Manager Environmental Database (FED) to avoid duplication and improve interoperability and usefulness across federal land management needs.
What scientific or technical objectives are described?
NPS and CSU CIRA plan to combine capabilities to improve understanding of how air pollution emissions, meteorology, and atmospheric pollutant concentrations interact, including transport, chemical conversion, deposition, and related processes.
What kinds of deliverables or work products are implied?
The notice emphasizes keeping the data warehouse running and current, adding or improving tools that support analysis and quality assurance, improving access to large modeling inputs and related datasets, and producing routine progress reporting and status updates.
Why is this described as a cooperative agreement rather than a standard grant?
The notice characterizes it as a cooperative agreement with substantial NPS involvement, including active participation throughout implementation and interactive work with CSU CIRA as the warehouse is operated and tools are added over time.
What are CSU CIRA's responsibilities under the cooperative agreement?
CSU CIRA is responsible for maintaining and operating the warehouse (including keeping software and hardware up to date), meeting Oversight Committee operational criteria in coordination with NPS, collaborating with WESTAR, aligning work with the FED database, producing routine progress reporting, providing at least annual status updates to the Oversight Committee, offering training and user support as needed, and documenting the warehouse structure for continuity, openness, and long-term usability.
What are NPS responsibilities under the cooperative agreement?
NPS responsibilities include active participation throughout implementation, supplying data and products (including air quality modeling outputs) with appropriate documentation for inclusion in the warehouse, providing feedback on deliverables, funding CSU CIRA for the agreed work, working interactively as the warehouse is operated and tools are added, and assigning an Agreement Technical Representative to manage technical coordination.
What legal authorities are cited for NPS to enter into and fund this cooperative agreement?
The notice references 54 USC 101702(a) and 54 USC 100703 as statutory authority supporting NPS use of cooperative agreements and partnerships with universities (including through CESUs) to conduct multidisciplinary research and produce integrated information products relevant to National Park System resources.
Who is the contact person for this action?
The contact listed is June Zastrow at NPS (phone 303-987-6718, email junezastrow@nps.gov).
What should an interested party do if they want more information?
Based on the notice, the appropriate next step is to contact the listed NPS point of contact, June Zastrow, using the phone number or email provided.
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