Opportunity Information: Apply for P14AS00125
Apply for P14AS00125
- The National Park Service in the education employment, labor and training environment natural resources regional development science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Long Term Monitoring of Southern Colorado Plateau Network" 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 9, 2014 and posted on Jun 9, 2014.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 23, 2014. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $195,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $195,000.00 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.
[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal:
Opportunity Summary:
The "Long Term Monitoring of Southern Colorado Plateau Network" opportunity (Funding Announcement P14AS00125) is a National Park Service (NPS) notice of intent to award, meaning it is not an open call for proposals and is not requesting applications. Instead, it serves as public notice that NPS plans to make a single award without full and open competition. The anticipated funding amount is $195,000 with no cost share required, and the award will be issued as a cooperative agreement under the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Units (CESU) framework, specifically through the Colorado Plateau CESU at a negotiated indirect cost rate of 17.5 percent. The listed recipient is Northern Arizona University (NAU), with Dr. James Allen named as the principal investigator/program manager. The project is a continuation of an existing cooperative agreement (H2370094001), cited as the main reason competition is not being used, because switching performers mid-stream would disrupt long-term monitoring continuity.
At its core, the project supports the Southern Colorado Plateau Network (SCPN) Vital Signs monitoring program, which is designed to build and maintain long-term datasets on the condition of key park resources. The overall goal is to improve scientific understanding of status and trends across a targeted set of ecological indicators, helping NPS describe regional resource conditions and ecological integrity. Because many national park ecosystems function as relatively less disturbed reference sites, the monitoring results are intended to help contextualize and evaluate conditions on surrounding public lands that may experience more intensive human impacts. The program also emphasizes communication of findings beyond internal technical audiences, with planned public access to results through the SCPN website and the Learning Center of the American Southwest (LCAS) website.
NAU's role is framed as providing field ecology, technical capacity, data management support, and science communication products needed to keep the long-term monitoring effort running consistently across SCPN parks. The scope includes implementing water resource monitoring on selected streams and springs, with specific attention to riparian ecosystems, aquatic macroinvertebrates, water quality, and spring ecosystems. NAU is also responsible for upland vegetation and soils monitoring within selected upland ecological sites, producing the field data and collaborating with SCPN staff toward completed protocols and formal monitoring reports. A major component is implementing the SCPN Data Management Plan, including building and maintaining data management and GIS capabilities so that monitoring results are organized, documented, and usable over time.
A substantial part of the work is focused on turning monitoring into accessible products. NAU will collaborate with SCPN staff on technical writing, editing, and report preparation, including publications in the Natural Resource Technical Report Series and other web-based or printed materials, with NAU also providing printing support for final reports distributed to parks, cooperators, and the public. In addition, NAU will help develop science communication materials that explain SCPN natural resources and related management or science issues, sometimes involving a School of Communication intern. NAU will also support the LCAS website in coordination with SCPN and other NPS inventory and monitoring networks (the Chihuahuan, Sonoran, and Southern Plains Networks). Another specialized deliverable runs through NAU's Deaver Herbarium, which will work to resolve NPS herbarium collection record issues to improve tracking of NPS collections and strengthen understanding of regional plant distributions across the Colorado Plateau. Finally, NAU will provide overall project oversight and administration, with the principal investigator supervising staff and providing senior scientific review, guidance, and coordination with SCPN.
NPS is not simply providing funds; it is expected to be substantially involved, which is a defining characteristic of a cooperative agreement rather than a more hands-off grant. SCPN staff will work jointly with NAU to complete monitoring protocols, select monitoring systems and sites, and provide training and oversight for monitoring work. NPS will also contribute technical infrastructure through sampling design and GPS support from the SCPN GIS specialist, and through database format and metadata standards development from SCPN data managers. NPS and NAU will jointly communicate results to park managers and the public, while NPS will ensure that inventory and monitoring (I&M) data standards are met and will provide substantive review of data products and reports.
The award is justified as a single-source continuation under Department of the Interior policy (505 DM 2), with the announcement explicitly citing the "Continuation" criterion. The logic is that the work is necessary to complete or continue an activity already underway, and introducing competition at this stage would significantly harm continuity, which is especially important for long-term ecological monitoring where methods, staffing, site history, and consistent protocols directly affect data comparability over time. The stated statutory authorities include provisions allowing NPS to enter into cooperative agreements and cooperative research and training programs with universities and other partners (including 16 U.S.C. 1g, 16 U.S.C. 1a-2(j), and 16 U.S.C. 5933). The CFDA listing is 15.945, tied to Cooperative Research and Training Programs for NPS resources under CESU.
Administratively, the opportunity lists one expected award, identifies eligible applicants generally as public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, and provides an NPS point of contact (June Zastrow) for access and questions. Even though a closing date appears in the posting (June 23, 2014), the text makes clear the posting is informational and tied to NPS intent to fund NAU through the ongoing agreement structure, rather than a competitive solicitation.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the "Long Term Monitoring of Southern Colorado Plateau Network" opportunity (P14AS00125)?
It is a National Park Service (NPS) notice of intent to award funding for long-term monitoring work supporting the Southern Colorado Plateau Network (SCPN) Vital Signs monitoring program. The notice explains that NPS plans to make a single award without full and open competition.
Is this an open call for proposals?
No. The announcement is not an open solicitation and is not requesting applications. It is presented as public notice that NPS intends to make a single award.
Why is NPS not using full and open competition for this award?
The notice cites a continuation of an existing cooperative agreement (H2370094001) as the primary reason. It states that switching performers mid-stream would disrupt long-term monitoring continuity, which is critical for maintaining consistent methods, staffing, site history, protocols, and data comparability over time.
Who is the intended recipient of the award?
The listed recipient is Northern Arizona University (NAU).
Who is the principal investigator or program manager for the project?
Dr. James Allen is named as the principal investigator/program manager.
How much funding is anticipated?
The anticipated funding amount is $195,000.
Is a cost share or match required?
No. The notice states that no cost share is required.
What type of award will be used?
The award will be issued as a cooperative agreement. The announcement emphasizes substantial NPS involvement, which is a defining feature of a cooperative agreement compared with a more hands-off grant.
Is this award connected to the CESU program?
Yes. The cooperative agreement will be made under the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Units (CESU) framework, specifically through the Colorado Plateau CESU.
What indirect cost rate is referenced in the announcement?
The opportunity notes a negotiated indirect cost rate of 17.5 percent.
What is the core purpose of the project?
The project supports the SCPN Vital Signs monitoring program, which is designed to build and maintain long-term datasets on the condition of key park resources. The stated goal is to improve scientific understanding of status and trends across a targeted set of ecological indicators and help NPS describe regional resource conditions and ecological integrity.
How are national parks described in relation to this monitoring effort?
The announcement explains that many national park ecosystems function as relatively less disturbed reference sites. Monitoring results are intended to help contextualize and evaluate conditions on surrounding public lands that may experience more intensive human impacts.
Will monitoring results be shared with the public?
Yes. The program emphasizes communication beyond internal technical audiences, with planned public access to results through the SCPN website and the Learning Center of the American Southwest (LCAS) website.
What role does NAU play in the project?
NAU is described as providing field ecology support, technical capacity, data management support, and science communication products to keep long-term monitoring consistent across SCPN parks.
What water resource monitoring activities are included?
The scope includes implementing water resource monitoring on selected streams and springs, with specific attention to riparian ecosystems, aquatic macroinvertebrates, water quality, and spring ecosystems.
What upland monitoring activities are included?
NAU is responsible for upland vegetation and soils monitoring within selected upland ecological sites, producing field data and collaborating with SCPN staff toward completed protocols and formal monitoring reports.
What data management work is part of the project?
A major component is implementing the SCPN Data Management Plan, including building and maintaining data management and GIS capabilities so monitoring results remain organized, documented, and usable over time.
What types of reports and publications are expected?
NAU will collaborate with SCPN staff on technical writing, editing, and report preparation. The announcement references publications in the Natural Resource Technical Report Series as well as other web-based or printed materials.
Does NAU provide printing or distribution support for final reports?
Yes. NAU is expected to provide printing support for final reports distributed to parks, cooperators, and the public.
What science communication products are planned?
NAU will help develop science communication materials that explain SCPN natural resources and related management or science issues. The notice mentions that this work may sometimes involve a School of Communication intern.
What is the Learning Center of the American Southwest (LCAS) in this project?
LCAS is identified as a website where results and communication products will be shared with the public. NAU will also support the LCAS website in coordination with SCPN and other NPS inventory and monitoring networks.
Which other NPS inventory and monitoring networks are referenced for coordination with LCAS?
The announcement references coordination with the Chihuahuan, Sonoran, and Southern Plains Networks.
What is the Deaver Herbarium deliverable mentioned in the announcement?
Through NAU's Deaver Herbarium, the project will work to resolve NPS herbarium collection record issues to improve tracking of NPS collections and strengthen understanding of regional plant distributions across the Colorado Plateau.
What kind of oversight and administration does NAU provide?
NAU will provide overall project oversight and administration, with the principal investigator supervising staff and providing senior scientific review, guidance, and coordination with SCPN.
How will NPS be involved in the work?
NPS is expected to be substantially involved. SCPN staff will work jointly with NAU to complete monitoring protocols, select monitoring systems and sites, and provide training and oversight for monitoring work.
What technical support will NPS contribute?
The notice describes NPS contributions that include sampling design and GPS support from the SCPN GIS specialist, and database format and metadata standards development from SCPN data managers.
Who is responsible for ensuring data standards are met?
NPS will ensure that inventory and monitoring (I&M) data standards are met and will provide substantive review of data products and reports.
What policy basis is cited for the single-source award?
The award is justified as a single-source continuation under Department of the Interior policy (505 DM 2). The announcement explicitly cites the "Continuation" criterion.
What statutory authorities are referenced for this cooperative agreement?
The notice references authorities that allow NPS to enter into cooperative agreements and cooperative research and training programs with universities and other partners, including 16 U.S.C. 1g, 16 U.S.C. 1a-2(j), and 16 U.S.C. 5933.
What CFDA listing is included in the opportunity?
The CFDA listing is 15.945, described as Cooperative Research and Training Programs for NPS resources under CESU.
How many awards does NPS expect to make under this notice?
The opportunity lists one expected award.
Who is listed as eligible to apply?
The opportunity generally identifies eligible applicants as public and state-controlled institutions of higher education. However, the same notice also clarifies it is not requesting applications and is an intent to fund a single recipient.
Why might a closing date appear if this is not competitive?
The posting includes a closing date (June 23, 2014), but the text explains the posting is informational and tied to NPS intent to fund NAU through an ongoing agreement structure rather than a competitive solicitation.
Who is the NPS point of contact for this opportunity?
The NPS point of contact listed is June Zastrow.
What should someone do if they have questions or need access-related information?
The announcement indicates that questions and access-related needs should be directed to the NPS point of contact, June Zastrow.
Browse more opportunities from the same category: Education Employment, Labor and Training Environment Natural Resources Regional Development Science and Technology and other Research and Development
Next opportunity: Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR) Rehabilitation Research and Training Centers CFDA Number 84.133B 4
Previous opportunity: Scientific Educational Workshops and Conferences
USGrants.org Applicant Portal:
Are you interested in learning about about how to apply for this government funding opportunity? You can create a free applicant account and receive instant access to our applicant portal that many business owners like you have benefited from.
Apply for P14AS00125
[Watch] how do funding administrators access proposals?
Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (P14AS00125) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| Analysis of Bakken Air Quality Study, Front Range Pollution Photochemistry Experiment Apply for P14AS00176 Funding Number: P14AS00176 Agency: National Park Service Category: Education Employment, Labor and Training Environment Natural Resources Regional Development Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $318,398 |
| Development of an early detection of invasive plants monitoring protocol for the Mojave Desert Network Inventory and Monitoring Program Apply for P15AS00263 Funding Number: P15AS00263 Agency: National Park Service Category: Education Employment, Labor and Training Environment Natural Resources Regional Development Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $137,994 |
Grant application guides and resources
It is always free to apply for government grants. However the process may be very complex depending on the funding opportunity you are applying for. Let us help you!
Apply for Grants
Premium leads for funding administrators, grant writers, and loan issuers
Thousands of people visit our website for their funding needs every day. When a user creates a grant proposal and files for submission, we pass the information on to funding administrators, grant writers, and government loan issuers.
If you manage government grant programs, provide grant writing services, or issue personal or government loans, we can help you reach your audience.
Subscribe to Leads
Request more information:
Would you like to learn more about this funding opportunity, similar opportunities to "P14AS00125", eligibility, application service, and/or application tips? Submit an inquiry below:
Don't forget to subscribe to our grant alerts mailing list to receive weekly alerts on new and updated grant funding opportunities like this one in your email.