Opportunity Information: Apply for NPS DOIP16AC00705
Apply for NPS DOIP16AC00705
- The Department of the Interior, National Park Service in the environment sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Inventory Climate Sensitive Arthropod Biodiversity at Denali NP&P with Citizen Scientists" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.945.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jun 29, 2016.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 08, 2016. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $400,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 3 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education.
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Opportunity Summary:
This notice describes the National Park Service (NPS) intent to make a non-competitive, single-source cooperative agreement award for a project called "Inventory Climate Sensitive Arthropod Biodiversity at Denali NP and Preserve with Citizen Scientists" (Funding Announcement Number P16AC00705 / NPS DOIP16AC00705). It is explicitly not an open call for applications; instead, it serves as public notification that NPS plans to fund specific work without full and open competition under its Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Units (CESU) authority (54 U.S.C. 100703). The anticipated period of performance runs from July 1, 2016 to July 1, 2019, using a cooperative task agreement/cooperative agreement instrument. The intended recipient is the University of Alaska Museum of the North, led by Principal Investigator Dr. Derek S. Sikes, Curator of Insects and Associate Professor of Entomology. The funding level is projected at $104,904 in year 1, with a total anticipated amount of about $319,179 by year 4 (no cost share is required). The opportunity is categorized under environmental work (CFDA 15.945), and the eligible applicant type listed is public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, though the action described is a directed intent to award rather than a competitive selection.
The core purpose is to address two linked problems: Denali's arthropods are dramatically under-documented, and Alaska is undergoing particularly rapid climate change that can strongly affect cold-adapted and high-elevation species. Arthropods (including insects, spiders, and related groups) make up the majority of animal diversity and biomass in many ecosystems and provide essential services like pollination, making them a practical and ecologically meaningful indicator group for environmental change. The notice notes that only about 80 arthropod species had been documented in Denali at the time, while more than 1,000 species were expected to occur there. To close this gap and to create a foundation for long-term monitoring, the project plans to establish standardized sampling transects along elevational gradients. These transects are intended to generate a baseline inventory, with emphasis on climate-sensitive and functionally important groups such as pollinators, spiders, and beetles, and to create a repeatable design that can be redeployed in roughly a decade to detect shifts in community composition and ecosystem function, especially in alpine and glacial habitats considered most sensitive to warming.
A major feature of the project is its citizen science and education component, aligned with NPS "Call to Action" goals focused on connecting people to parks and strengthening the park education mission. The plan is to educate park staff, visitors, youth, students, and other volunteers by combining hands-on participation with public-facing educational materials. Citizen scientists would be trained and then integrated into routine, bi-weekly backcountry sampling alongside scientists and technicians. Recruitment channels include local primary and secondary schools, University of Alaska Fairbanks undergraduates, and the Murie Science and Learning Center field seminar program. The project also proposes an annual Denali-sponsored field seminar focused on arthropod diversity and an annual mini-bioblitz that targets particular taxa (for example, pollinators, beetles, or spiders) and brings in additional specialists. Beyond field events, researchers would conduct arthropod-related activities during summer youth camps and visit local classrooms during the school year. The educational products envisioned include items like fact sheets, simple print or electronic field guides, and virtual tours highlighting focal arthropods and their ecological roles.
On the scientific and collections side, the project is designed to produce durable, citable outputs rather than just short-term observations. A key deliverable is the creation of a voucher collection of specimens that are fully georeferenced and databased, housed both at the University of Alaska Museum (UAM) and within NPS collections. Species and specimen lists are to be formatted for import into NPSpecies, supporting park resource management and future reporting. The project also commits to publishing results through products such as an annotated checklist and other write-ups of notable findings, which may include range extensions and potentially species new to science given how little systematic work has been done in the region.
Another important workstream is "data mining" and backlog identification. The notice explains that existing Denali arthropod records are scattered across museum holdings and published sources, and that thousands of Denali specimens already at UAM remain only partially identified because of limited local taxonomic expertise. The project would search museum collections and literature to assemble a bibliography and a list of species expected in the park, then prioritize unidentified specimens for improved identifications. The funding would also be used to encourage outside taxonomists to assist with determinations, which is often necessary for difficult insect groups and is critical for producing reliable baseline data.
Roles are split between the recipient and NPS, reflecting the cooperative nature of the agreement and the requirement for substantial federal involvement. The University of Alaska Museum would hire and support a graduate research assistant, provide academic supervision toward an advanced degree, lead study design, implementation, and fieldwork, manage data and specimen curation, and complete analyses and reporting in coordination with NPS. NPS, in turn, would assign staff effort (including a biologist and biological science technician support), provide training such as bear safety, offer local lab space and potentially housing, assist with recruiting and hiring the graduate student, provide mentoring and logistical oversight in the field, and review study design and final products.
Finally, the notice explains why the award is planned as single-source rather than competed. Under Department of the Interior single-source policy, NPS cites the "unique qualifications" criterion. The justification is that Dr. Sikes and the University of Alaska Museum of the North are uniquely positioned for this work because of their extensive experience inventorying Alaska arthropods and pollinators statewide, and because the museum serves as the state’s official arthropod repository. This combination of technical expertise, existing collections infrastructure, and deep familiarity with Alaskan taxa is presented as the reason competition is not considered practicable for achieving the project objectives efficiently and credibly.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is this an open grant competition I can apply to?
No. This notice is explicitly not an open call for applications. It is a public notification that the National Park Service (NPS) intends to make a non-competitive, single-source cooperative agreement award for a specific project.
What is the project being funded?
The project is titled "Inventory Climate Sensitive Arthropod Biodiversity at Denali NP and Preserve with Citizen Scientists." It focuses on building a baseline inventory of Denali National Park and Preserve arthropods and creating a repeatable monitoring design that can be used in the future to detect climate-related changes.
What are the funding announcement numbers for this notice?
The notice references Funding Announcement Number P16AC00705 / NPS DOIP16AC00705.
Who is the intended recipient of the award?
The intended recipient is the University of Alaska Museum of the North. The Principal Investigator is Dr. Derek S. Sikes, Curator of Insects and Associate Professor of Entomology.
What type of agreement is NPS planning to use?
NPS plans to use a cooperative task agreement/cooperative agreement instrument under its Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Units (CESU) authority (54 U.S.C. 100703). The cooperative agreement structure reflects substantial federal involvement in the work.
What is the anticipated period of performance?
The anticipated period of performance runs from July 1, 2016 to July 1, 2019.
How much funding is expected for this project?
The projected funding level is $104,904 in year 1, with a total anticipated amount of about $319,179 by year 4.
Is a cost share or match required?
No. The notice states that no cost share is required.
What is the CFDA number and general program category?
The opportunity is categorized under environmental work and lists CFDA 15.945.
What applicant type is listed as eligible in the notice?
The eligible applicant type listed is public and state-controlled institutions of higher education. However, the notice describes a directed intent to award rather than a competitive selection process.
Why is NPS making a single-source (non-competitive) award?
NPS cites the "unique qualifications" criterion under Department of the Interior single-source policy. The justification given is that Dr. Sikes and the University of Alaska Museum of the North have extensive experience inventorying Alaska arthropods and pollinators statewide, and the museum serves as Alaska's official arthropod repository. This combination of expertise and collections infrastructure is presented as making competition impracticable for meeting the project goals efficiently and credibly.
What problem is the project trying to solve?
The project targets two linked issues: (1) Denali's arthropods are dramatically under-documented, and (2) Alaska is experiencing rapid climate change that can strongly affect cold-adapted and high-elevation species. The project is intended to close major information gaps and establish a foundation for long-term monitoring.
Why focus on arthropods (insects, spiders, and related groups)?
The notice describes arthropods as comprising the majority of animal diversity and biomass in many ecosystems and providing essential services such as pollination. Because of their ecological importance and sensitivity to environmental change, they are presented as a practical indicator group for detecting climate-driven shifts.
How well documented were Denali arthropods at the time of the notice?
The notice states that only about 80 arthropod species had been documented in Denali at the time, while more than 1,000 species were expected to occur there.
What kinds of field sampling will be done?
The project plans to establish standardized sampling transects along elevational gradients. This design is intended to generate a baseline inventory and to be repeatable so it can be redeployed in roughly a decade to detect changes in community composition and ecosystem function.
Which habitats or conditions are highlighted as especially climate sensitive?
The notice emphasizes alpine and glacial habitats as among the most sensitive to warming and therefore important areas for detecting climate-related biological change.
Which arthropod groups are emphasized?
The notice highlights climate-sensitive and functionally important groups, including pollinators, spiders, and beetles.
How does citizen science fit into the project?
Citizen science and education are major components. Citizen scientists would be trained and integrated into routine, bi-weekly backcountry sampling alongside scientists and technicians.
Who are the planned citizen science participants?
Planned participant groups include park staff, visitors, youth, students, and other volunteers. Recruitment channels mentioned include local primary and secondary schools, University of Alaska Fairbanks undergraduates, and the Murie Science and Learning Center field seminar program.
What outreach or educational events are planned?
The notice proposes an annual Denali-sponsored field seminar focused on arthropod diversity and an annual mini-bioblitz targeting specific taxa (for example, pollinators, beetles, or spiders) with additional specialists involved. It also mentions arthropod-related activities during summer youth camps and classroom visits during the school year.
What educational products are expected from the project?
Envisioned products include fact sheets, simple print or electronic field guides, and virtual tours highlighting focal arthropods and their ecological roles.
What scientific and collections deliverables are planned?
A key deliverable is a voucher collection of specimens that are fully georeferenced and databased, housed both at the University of Alaska Museum (UAM) and within NPS collections. The project also plans to produce species and specimen lists formatted for import into NPSpecies to support park resource management and reporting.
Will the project produce publications or citable outputs?
Yes. The notice indicates an intent to publish results through products such as an annotated checklist and other write-ups of notable findings, which may include range extensions and potentially species new to science.
What is meant by "data mining" and backlog identification in this project?
The notice explains that existing Denali arthropod records are scattered across museum holdings and published sources, and that thousands of Denali specimens at UAM remain only partially identified due to limited taxonomic expertise. The project would search museum collections and literature to assemble a bibliography and a list of species expected in the park, then prioritize unidentified specimens for improved identifications.
How will difficult identifications be handled?
The notice states that funding would be used to encourage outside taxonomists to assist with determinations, which is often necessary for difficult insect groups and important for producing reliable baseline data.
What are the University of Alaska Museum's primary responsibilities?
The University of Alaska Museum would hire and support a graduate research assistant, provide academic supervision toward an advanced degree, lead study design and field implementation, manage data and specimen curation, and complete analyses and reporting in coordination with NPS.
What are NPS's primary responsibilities under the cooperative agreement?
NPS would assign staff effort (including a biologist and biological science technician support), provide training such as bear safety, offer local lab space and potentially housing, assist with recruiting and hiring the graduate student, provide mentoring and logistical oversight in the field, and review study design and final products.
What does "substantial federal involvement" mean in this context?
Based on the notice, it means NPS is not only providing funding but also actively participating through staffing, training, logistical support, oversight, and review of study design and deliverables as part of the cooperative agreement structure.
How does this project align with NPS education goals?
The notice ties the citizen science and education approach to NPS "Call to Action" goals aimed at connecting people to parks and strengthening the park education mission through hands-on participation and public-facing materials.
Where will specimen vouchers and data be housed and managed?
The notice states that voucher specimens will be housed both at the University of Alaska Museum (UAM) and within NPS collections, and that specimen data will be georeferenced and databased with lists formatted for import into NPSpecies.
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