Opportunity Information: Apply for P15AS00097
Apply for P15AS00097
- The National Park Service in the community development education environment natural resources regional development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "JELA Classification NATR Accuraccy Assessment" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.921 Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance.
- This funding opportunity was created on Apr 9, 2015 and posted on Apr 9, 2015.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Apr 23, 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 $294,126.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $194,126.00 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:
The opportunity titled "JELA Classification and NATR Accuracy Assessment" (Funding Opportunity Number P15AS00097) is a National Park Service (NPS) notice of intent to award funding to NatureServe under a cooperative agreement, and it is explicitly not an open call for applications. In practical terms, the announcement serves as a public transparency notice that NPS plans to make a single award without full and open competition because the work is a continuation of an ongoing effort and switching recipients midstream could disrupt progress, methods, data continuity, and deliverables. The total anticipated award amount is $294,126 with no cost share required, structured as a continuation task agreement (P15AC00383) under an existing cooperative agreement (P15AC00400), with a performance period running from the award date through April 30, 2016.
The project itself focuses on vegetation science and mapping for two Gulf Coast Network park units: Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve (JELA) and the Natchez Trace Parkway (NATR). The core goal is to improve public understanding and educational value by producing reliable vegetation classifications and by testing how accurate the resulting vegetation maps are on the ground. The work is designed as an integrated effort alongside the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), with NatureServe providing project management coordination and specialized technical support that aligns with USGS planning for the Gulf Coast Inventory and Monitoring Network. In other words, USGS is producing key mapping components, while NatureServe helps organize, refine, verify, and validate the classification and assessment work so the final products are defensible and useful for park management and interpretation.
NatureServe's planned responsibilities are split across the two park efforts and tied to defined task numbers. For JELA, NatureServe supports orientation and classification meetings and the development of preliminary map classifications, conducts field reconnaissance and ground-truthing to verify vegetation types, and helps develop the final map classification, including working through a subcontract with the Louisiana Natural Heritage Program as a local collaborator. NatureServe also contributes to imagery preparation, processing, and interpretation, which is typically where aerial or satellite imagery is translated into mapped vegetation units and cross-walked to the agreed classification system. For NATR, NatureServe steps in after earlier tasks were already completed, supporting GIS project preparation coordination, leading or supporting the formal accuracy assessment (including hiring and training field contractors, seasonal staff, or interns, and subcontracting with the Alabama and Tennessee Natural Heritage Programs to staff field crews), and then helping produce end products such as a geodatabase and a final report. NatureServe is also expected to participate in the closeout meeting and present the final vegetation classification and explain how it relates to mapping units used in the final map products.
Because the award is a cooperative agreement, NPS anticipates substantial involvement rather than a hands-off pass-through of funds. NPS commits to providing guidance and consultation throughout the project, keeping the cooperator informed about changes that affect field access or mapping assumptions (such as boundary adjustments, ownership changes, or access restrictions), and sharing relevant park data resources like existing maps, reports, photographs, and biodiversity databases for JELA and NATR. This kind of involvement is typical when the agency needs close coordination to ensure fieldwork is feasible, products match park needs, and sensitive or restricted areas are handled appropriately.
The justification for making a single-source award is based on the Department of the Interior single-source policy criteria for "Continuation." The announcement argues that the work being funded is necessary to complete or continue activities already underway, and that running a new competition would likely create significant adverse effects on continuity, including delays and possible incompatibilities with existing methods, data structures, or prior deliverables. The legal authority cited for the agreement includes 54 USC 101702(a), which authorizes NPS to enter into cooperative agreements to carry out NPS programs using appropriated funds, and 54 USC 200103(g)(1), which authorizes NPS to sponsor and assist research relating to outdoor recreation through contracts or cooperative agreements.
Administratively, the opportunity is categorized as discretionary and lists CFDA 15.921 (Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance). It was posted April 9, 2015, with an original and current closing date of April 23, 2015, and an archive date of April 24, 2015, reflecting that the public notice window closed quickly because it was never intended to solicit competing applications. The expected number of awards is one, eligible applicants are described as 501(c)(3) nonprofits (which matches NatureServe), and the primary NPS point of contact is June Zastrow (303-987-6718, junezastrow@nps.gov).
FAQs: JELA Classification and NATR Accuracy Assessment (Funding Opportunity Number P15AS00097)
What is the "JELA Classification and NATR Accuracy Assessment" opportunity?
It is a National Park Service (NPS) notice of intent to award funding under a cooperative agreement for work focused on vegetation classification and vegetation map accuracy assessment for two Gulf Coast Network park units: Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve (JELA) and the Natchez Trace Parkway (NATR).
Is this an open call for applications?
No. The announcement is explicitly not an open call for applications. It is a transparency notice stating NPS plans to make a single award without full and open competition.
Who is NPS planning to fund under this notice?
NPS intends to award the funding to NatureServe under a cooperative agreement.
Why is NPS making a single-source award instead of running a competition?
The notice states the work is a continuation of an ongoing effort, and switching recipients midstream could disrupt progress, methods, data continuity, and deliverables. The justification is based on the Department of the Interior single-source policy criteria for "Continuation."
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON) for this notice?
The Funding Opportunity Number is P15AS00097.
How much funding is anticipated?
The total anticipated award amount is $294,126.
Is a cost share or match required?
No cost share is required.
What is the expected number of awards?
The expected number of awards is one.
What type of agreement will be used?
The funding is planned as a cooperative agreement, with the work structured as a continuation task agreement (P15AC00383) under an existing cooperative agreement (P15AC00400).
What is the performance period for the project?
The performance period runs from the award date through April 30, 2016.
Which park units are covered by this project?
The project covers Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve (JELA) and the Natchez Trace Parkway (NATR).
What is the main goal of the project?
The core goal is to improve public understanding and educational value by producing reliable vegetation classifications and by testing how accurate the resulting vegetation maps are on the ground.
How does the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) fit into this work?
The work is described as an integrated effort alongside USGS. USGS is producing key mapping components, while NatureServe provides project management coordination and specialized technical support so the classification and accuracy assessment work is organized, verified, validated, and usable for park management and interpretation.
What are NatureServe's responsibilities for the JELA portion of the project?
For JELA, NatureServe supports orientation and classification meetings and development of preliminary map classifications; conducts field reconnaissance and ground-truthing to verify vegetation types; helps develop the final map classification; works through a subcontract with the Louisiana Natural Heritage Program as a local collaborator; and contributes to imagery preparation, processing, and interpretation to translate imagery into mapped vegetation units aligned to the agreed classification system.
What are NatureServe's responsibilities for the NATR portion of the project?
For NATR, NatureServe supports coordination after earlier tasks were completed, including GIS project preparation coordination; leads or supports the formal accuracy assessment (including hiring and training field contractors, seasonal staff, or interns); subcontracts with the Alabama and Tennessee Natural Heritage Programs to staff field crews; and helps produce end products such as a geodatabase and a final report. NatureServe is also expected to participate in the closeout meeting and present the final vegetation classification and how it relates to mapping units used in the final map products.
What does "accuracy assessment" mean in this context?
Based on the notice, the accuracy assessment refers to testing how accurate the vegetation maps are on the ground, using field-based verification and assessment activities (including field crews and related coordination) so the final products are defensible and useful.
Will NatureServe use subcontractors or local partners?
Yes. The notice describes a subcontract with the Louisiana Natural Heritage Program for JELA, and subcontracting with the Alabama and Tennessee Natural Heritage Programs to staff field crews for NATR.
What kind of deliverables are mentioned?
The notice references end products including a geodatabase and a final report, along with a final vegetation classification and explanations of how that classification relates to mapping units used in the final map products.
What does it mean that this is a cooperative agreement rather than a standard grant?
The notice indicates NPS anticipates substantial involvement. NPS commits to providing guidance and consultation, informing the cooperator about changes that affect field access or mapping assumptions (such as boundary adjustments, ownership changes, or access restrictions), and sharing relevant park data resources like maps, reports, photographs, and biodiversity databases.
What legal authority does NPS cite for entering into this cooperative agreement?
The notice cites 54 USC 101702(a) (authorizing NPS to enter into cooperative agreements to carry out NPS programs using appropriated funds) and 54 USC 200103(g)(1) (authorizing NPS to sponsor and assist research relating to outdoor recreation through contracts or cooperative agreements).
How is the opportunity categorized administratively?
It is categorized as discretionary and lists CFDA 15.921 (Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance).
Who is described as eligible in the listing?
Eligible applicants are described as 501(c)(3) nonprofits (which aligns with NatureServe), although the notice also makes clear this is not an open solicitation for competing applications.
When was the notice posted and when did it close?
It was posted on April 9, 2015. The original and current closing date is April 23, 2015, and the archive date is April 24, 2015.
Why is there a closing date if applications are not being solicited?
Based on the notice details, the posting and closing dates reflect a short public notice window for transparency purposes, not a competitive application period.
Who is the primary NPS point of contact for this notice?
The primary NPS point of contact is June Zastrow. Phone: 303-987-6718. Email: junezastrow@nps.gov.
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