Investigations of Toxic Red Tides and Groundwater Nutrient fluxes in the Nauset March Estuary, Cape Cod National Seashore | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is this funding opportunity about?

This National Park Service (NPS) discretionary funding opportunity supports scientific investigation of toxic "red tide" events and the role of groundwater-delivered nutrients in fueling harmful algal blooms (HABs) in the Nauset Marsh Estuary at Cape Cod National Seashore.

2. What is the main goal of the project?

The core purpose is to better understand how harmful algal blooms develop, persist, and intensify in this estuarine system by integrating field sampling, laboratory analyses, and numerical modeling. A central theme is linking bloom population dynamics to physical drivers such as hydrodynamics and groundwater nutrient inputs.

3. Where will the supported work take place?

The work is focused on the Nauset Marsh Estuary within Cape Cod National Seashore.

4. What types of events or conditions are being studied?

The emphasis is on toxic "red tide" events and harmful algal blooms (HABs), including the factors that contribute to bloom duration, severity, and intensity.

5. What role does groundwater play in this research?

The opportunity specifically highlights groundwater-delivered nutrients as a potential fuel source for HABs. The research is meant to connect groundwater nutrient fluxes with bloom behavior (for example, how long blooms last and how intense they become).

6. What kinds of research activities are expected?

The opportunity describes an integrated approach combining (1) on-the-ground field sampling, (2) laboratory analyses, and (3) numerical modeling, all aimed at building a unified understanding of bloom behavior in the estuary.

7. What might the field sampling and monitoring include?

Field studies would typically include monitoring bloom presence and severity over time, measuring environmental conditions within the estuary, and collecting water samples. The samples are intended to reveal both the abundance of the organisms involved and indicators of their physiological condition.

8. What is the purpose of the laboratory analyses?

Laboratory work is intended to complement field monitoring by analyzing collected samples for nutrient concentrations and other indicators that help explain why blooms may be longer-lasting or more intense in certain periods or locations.

9. What does the modeling component involve?

The opportunity specifies use of an existing physical-biological numerical model. Rather than building a model from scratch, the work will build on an established modeling framework to relate circulation patterns and groundwater nutrient inputs to HAB duration and intensity.

10. Why does the opportunity emphasize an "integrated" approach?

A key feature is linking multiple lines of evidence (field observations, lab results, and model outputs) into a single, integrated understanding of how blooms form, persist, and intensify, and how physical and nutrient drivers interact with algal population dynamics.

11. What physical drivers are mentioned as important to bloom behavior?

The announcement calls out hydrodynamics, including water movement, circulation, flushing, and mixing, as physical drivers to be connected to HAB behavior alongside groundwater nutrient inputs.

12. What is the assistance mechanism for this award?

The award is structured as a Cooperative Agreement, which generally implies substantial involvement or collaboration with the federal agency compared to a standard grant.

13. What Cooperative Agreement identifier is provided?

The agreement identified in the notice is Cooperative Agreement H2380105504.

14. What is the period of performance described for the agreement?

The cooperative agreement is set up on a five-year basis. However, the work is managed through task assignments issued over time rather than a single five-year work plan funded upfront.

15. How will the work be funded and managed over time?

The effort will be managed through task assignments that can be issued as priorities evolve. This structure allows NPS to direct and fund specific pieces of work over the five-year period.

16. How much funding is available under the posted announcement?

The initial task assignment is valued at $243,000, which is also listed as the estimated total funding and the award ceiling for the posted announcement. Based on the notice, the posted funding appears to correspond to the first task assignment rather than the full potential value of all tasks across five years.

17. Is this a competitive opportunity?

No. The announcement is explicitly described as a sole-source action intended for the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution.

18. Who is the intended recipient?

The notice states the action is sole-source and intended for the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution.

19. What eligibility category is listed?

The eligible applicant category is listed broadly as public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, but the announcement also specifies it is a sole-source action intended for a specific institution.

20. What policy is cited to justify the sole-source action?

The notice cites Department of the Interior policy 505 DM 2 as the justification framework for issuing the award on a sole-source basis.

21. How many awards are expected?

Expected awards are listed as one.

22. Is there a cost-sharing or matching requirement?

No. The announcement states there is no cost-sharing or matching requirement.

23. What is the activity category for this opportunity?

The activity category is Natural Resources.

24. What are the key dates listed in the notice?

The opportunity was posted on July 13, 2010. The original and current closing date is July 23, 2010. The archive date is August 22, 2010.

25. Who is the contact for access issues or administrative questions?

The listed contact is Robert Dobson, Contract Specialist, reachable at 303-987-6988.