Opportunity Information: Apply for P15AS01029
Apply for P15AS01029
- The National Park Service in the education sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Large Fires in Wrangell St. Elias National Park" 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 Jun 27, 2015 and posted on Jun 27, 2015.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 11, 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 $11,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $20,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- This is a notice of intent to award to the University of Idaho. See attachment for details.
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Opportunity Summary:
This opportunity, Funding Opportunity Number P15AS01029, is a National Park Service (NPS) notice of intent to make a non-competitive award for a specific, pre-identified project rather than an open solicitation. In other words, it is not asking the public to apply. It serves as public notice that NPS plans to fund a continuation effort through a cooperative agreement (a CESU Task Agreement) with the University of Idaho under statutory authority 54 USC 101702(b) and CFDA 15.945 (Cooperative Research and Training Programs - Resources of the National Park System). The anticipated federal funding is $11,000 with no cost share requirement, for a two-year period of performance and a two-year agreement term. The NPS cites the single-source justification criterion "Continuation," meaning the work is considered necessary to complete or continue an ongoing activity and competing it would disrupt continuity.
The project itself is titled "Large Fires in Wrangell St. Elias National Park and Preserve: Fire history, dendroecology, and climatic controls." Its purpose is to use dendroecology (tree-ring science) to better understand past wildfire occurrence and the conditions that contribute to very large, episodic fires in Wrangell St. Elias National Park and Preserve (WRST), particularly near the remote community of McCarthy, Alaska. The background for the work comes from a 2011 NPS fuels reduction project intended to create defensible space around the community. During that work, NPS observed clear evidence of older fires, including burned trees and logs, and collected 133 tree cross-section samples from a subset of the live trees that were cut. The planned research builds directly on those existing samples and adds additional sampling (estimated at about 60 more cross sections to be collected in 2016) from the same fuels reduction site to strengthen the record.
The core scientific approach is to measure and analyze annual growth rings in both living and dead trees to reconstruct stand development and infer disturbance history, then connect those findings to climate and fire records. The University of Idaho team will measure ring widths, count rings to estimate tree ages, and "crossdate" samples so the ring patterns line up to specific calendar years with annual precision. They will look for growth releases and suppressions that can signal disturbances such as fire and other stand-level events, and they will compile age structure datasets to map post-fire tree establishment patterns. Those tree-ring results will be compared to past climate datasets and fire history information to test whether certain climate conditions correlate with large fire years and whether vegetation or climate (or both) appear to be key drivers of large-fire potential in this part of Alaska. The practical management intent is to give WRST fire managers a clearer picture of what has historically produced large fires so planning and preparedness can better account for future risk under changing climate and fuels conditions.
Roles are split clearly between the recipient and NPS. The University of Idaho will lead the dendrochronological lab work and analysis, appoint Philip Higuera (Assistant Professor) as Principal Investigator, and involve one or more undergraduate students. UI will work with NPS staff to collect additional field samples, conduct on-the-ground field comparisons between current forest conditions and the sample record, and generate the datasets and interpretations described above. There are also specific operational requirements, including a safety and compliance provision stating that UI personnel may ride in government vehicles when authorized for project transportation, but may not operate those vehicles.
NPS responsibilities include providing the financial assistance and active project oversight through an Agreement Technical Representative (ATR), identified as Jennifer Barnes, Regional Fire Ecologist. NPS will supply the previously collected 133 cross sections and existing vegetation data from the site, contribute park-specific fire history information (including records predating the 1940 interagency fire databases), and provide local knowledge to help reconstruct disturbance events beyond what is captured in standard interagency fire reports. NPS will also handle field logistics and safety orientation for park visits, may provide transportation for a student from Glennallen or Fairbanks to McCarthy, and will support safe field operations, including providing staff accompaniment when needed. Both parties are required to follow NPS guidance on conduct, peer review, and information quality for natural and cultural resources work, and both must ensure publications and formal outputs acknowledge the partnership, the Pacific Northwest CESU, and the specific task agreement number.
The expected deliverables are both technical and public-facing. On the technical side, the project will produce a final report and provide age and related data back to NPS for inclusion in NPS databases. On the outreach side, the work will result in interpretive tree-ring cross sections and an educational fact sheet explaining the project for use at WRST visitor centers, helping visitors understand fire history and dendrochronology in the park. Overall, the announcement describes a small, targeted, continuation-funded research collaboration designed to translate tree-ring evidence into better understanding of large-fire drivers and to support both fire management decision-making and public interpretation in Wrangell St. Elias.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is Funding Opportunity Number P15AS01029?
P15AS01029 is a National Park Service (NPS) notice of intent to make a non-competitive award for a specific, pre-identified project. It functions as public notice that NPS plans to fund a continuation effort rather than run an open competition.
Is this an open grant opportunity where the public can apply?
No. This is not an open solicitation and it is not requesting applications from the public. The notice describes NPS intent to make a non-competitive (single-source) award for a specific project and recipient.
Who is the intended recipient of this award?
The intended recipient is the University of Idaho, through a cooperative agreement structured as a CESU Task Agreement.
What type of award is planned?
NPS plans to issue a cooperative agreement (a CESU Task Agreement). A cooperative agreement is a form of federal financial assistance that includes active involvement by the federal agency in the project.
What is the project title?
The project is titled "Large Fires in Wrangell St. Elias National Park and Preserve: Fire history, dendroecology, and climatic controls."
Where will the work take place?
The work focuses on Wrangell St. Elias National Park and Preserve (WRST) in Alaska, particularly near the remote community of McCarthy, Alaska, at or near the site of a prior fuels reduction project.
What is the purpose of the project?
The purpose is to use dendroecology (tree-ring science) to better understand past wildfire occurrence and the conditions associated with very large, episodic fires in WRST. The management goal is to improve understanding of what has historically produced large fires so fire planning and preparedness can better account for future risk under changing climate and fuels conditions.
What is dendroecology in the context of this project?
In this project, dendroecology means measuring and analyzing annual growth rings in living and dead trees to reconstruct stand development, infer disturbance history (including evidence consistent with fire), and connect those findings to climate and fire records.
Why is this award non-competitive (single-source)?
NPS cites the single-source justification criterion "Continuation." The work is considered necessary to complete or continue an ongoing activity, and competing the work is described as potentially disrupting continuity.
What prior work does this continuation build on?
The project builds on a 2011 NPS fuels reduction project intended to create defensible space around the community near McCarthy. During that work, NPS observed evidence of older fires and collected 133 tree cross-section samples from a subset of live trees that were cut.
How many samples already exist, and will new samples be collected?
NPS has already collected 133 tree cross-section samples. The planned research also includes additional sampling, estimated at about 60 more cross sections (planned to be collected in 2016) from the same fuels reduction site to strengthen the record.
What analyses will be done on the tree samples?
The University of Idaho team will measure ring widths, count rings to estimate tree ages, and crossdate samples so ring patterns align to specific calendar years with annual precision. They will also look for growth releases and suppressions that may indicate disturbances and compile age-structure datasets to map post-fire tree establishment patterns.
How will tree-ring results be connected to climate and fire history?
Tree-ring findings will be compared to past climate datasets and fire history information to test whether certain climate conditions correlate with large-fire years and whether vegetation or climate (or both) appear to be key drivers of large-fire potential in this part of Alaska.
Who is the Principal Investigator (PI)?
Philip Higuera (Assistant Professor) at the University of Idaho is identified as the Principal Investigator.
Will students be involved in the project?
Yes. The University of Idaho plans to involve one or more undergraduate students.
What are the University of Idaho's responsibilities?
The University of Idaho will lead the dendrochronological laboratory work and analysis; work with NPS staff to collect additional field samples; conduct on-the-ground field comparisons between current forest conditions and the sample record; and produce the datasets and interpretations described in the notice.
What are the National Park Service's responsibilities?
NPS will provide financial assistance and active project oversight through an Agreement Technical Representative (ATR). NPS will also provide the previously collected 133 cross sections, existing vegetation data from the site, park-specific fire history information (including records predating the 1940 interagency fire databases), and local knowledge to help reconstruct disturbance events beyond standard interagency fire reports. NPS will handle field logistics and safety orientation for park visits and support safe field operations, including staff accompaniment when needed.
Who is the NPS Agreement Technical Representative (ATR)?
The ATR is Jennifer Barnes, Regional Fire Ecologist.
How much federal funding is anticipated?
The anticipated federal funding amount is $11,000.
Is cost share or matching funding required?
No. The notice states there is no cost share requirement.
What is the period of performance and agreement term?
The notice anticipates a two-year period of performance and a two-year agreement term.
Under what authority and program is this work funded?
The notice cites statutory authority 54 USC 101702(b) and CFDA 15.945, Cooperative Research and Training Programs - Resources of the National Park System.
What is the practical management value for WRST?
The intent is to provide WRST fire managers with a clearer picture of what has historically produced large fires, supporting planning and preparedness as climate and fuels conditions change.
What deliverables are expected from this project?
Expected deliverables include a final report, delivery of age and related data back to NPS for inclusion in NPS databases, interpretive tree-ring cross sections for visitor use, and an educational fact sheet explaining the project for WRST visitor centers.
Will there be public-facing products?
Yes. The project includes outreach deliverables such as interpretive tree-ring cross sections and an educational fact sheet for visitor centers to help visitors understand fire history and dendrochronology in the park.
Are there safety and operational requirements for field work?
Yes. The notice includes a safety and compliance provision stating that University of Idaho personnel may ride in government vehicles when authorized for project transportation, but may not operate those vehicles. NPS will also provide field logistics and safety orientation and support safe field operations.
Will NPS provide any transportation support related to fieldwork?
NPS may provide transportation for a student from Glennallen or Fairbanks to McCarthy and will support transportation and logistics as part of field operations described in the notice.
Are there publication or acknowledgment requirements?
Yes. Both parties must follow NPS guidance on conduct, peer review, and information quality for natural and cultural resources work. Publications and formal outputs must acknowledge the partnership, the Pacific Northwest CESU, and the specific task agreement number.
What makes this project a "continuation" effort?
It builds directly on an existing sample collection (133 cross sections) and related observations from a 2011 fuels reduction project, and it adds targeted additional sampling and analysis intended to extend and complete the ongoing research effort without disrupting continuity.
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