Opportunity Information: Apply for P13AS00193
Apply for P13AS00193
- The National Park Service in the education science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Monitoring birds in the NGPN Parks" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.954 National Park Service Conservation, Protection, Outreach, and Education.
- This funding opportunity was created on Aug 9, 2013 and posted on Aug 9, 2013.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 22, 2013. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $33,500.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $33,500.00 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:
This notice describes the National Park Service (NPS) intent to make a non-competitive cooperative agreement award for continued landbird monitoring in selected parks within the Northern Great Plains Inventory and Monitoring Network (NGPN). It is explicitly not a request for applications; instead, it serves as public notice that NPS plans to fund a specific recipient to carry out defined monitoring activities. The opportunity is listed under Funding Opportunity Number P13AS00193, within CFDA 15.954 (National Park Service conservation, protection, outreach, and education / cooperative research and training programs).
The project is titled "Continued monitoring of birds in the selected Northern Great Plains IM Network Parks" and is planned as a task agreement under an existing cooperative agreement (H2370114000). The intended recipient is the Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory (RMBO), with David Hanni identified as the Principal Investigator/Program Manager. The total anticipated federal amount is $33,500, with no cost share or matching requirement. The award instrument is a cooperative agreement, reflecting that NPS expects substantial involvement in project implementation rather than a hands-off grant. The anticipated period of performance runs from the date of award through September 30, 2017.
The underlying purpose is long-term tracking of landbird populations across NGPN parks, which include 13 national park units spread across the Dakotas, eastern Wyoming, and Nebraska. Landbirds are treated as a priority "vital sign" because they are both an important natural resource and a practical indicator of local and regional environmental change. By collecting consistent, repeatable bird and habitat data over time, the network aims to produce information that park managers can use to protect species, detect trends, and respond to landscape or climate-driven changes.
Methodologically, the work uses the Integrated Monitoring in Bird Conservation Regions (IMBCR) sampling design, a multi-scale framework where results can be summarized at multiple geographic levels. Each park functions as its own stratum for estimating species density and occupancy, while also contributing to broader estimates for larger strata such as states and Bird Conservation Regions. The basic sampling unit is a 1 square kilometer grid cell containing 16 evenly spaced point-count locations set 250 meters apart. Parks are categorized by size (described as "large" around 29,000 acres versus "small" around 4,000 acres), and the number of grids sampled depends on available funding: large parks are planned to sample 15 IMBCR grids, while small parks sample roughly 3 to 6 grids. Sampling locations are selected to be spatially balanced using a Generalized Random Tessellation Stratified (GRTS) approach, and the centroid of each grid cell is used as the cell address for tracking and management. After five years of data collection, NPS and RMBO plan a comprehensive program review that will include density and occupancy estimation and an evaluation of whether sample sizes are sufficient to meet objectives; if the design does not perform as needed, it may be adjusted.
The core project objectives are straightforward. First, field staff will conduct landbird surveys at designated sampling points in NGPN park units following the Landbird Monitoring Protocol and Standard Operating Procedures (referenced as Bennetts et al. 2013, including mapped sampling locations). Which specific parks are surveyed in a given season is determined by NPS based on budget constraints. Second, the project includes collecting vegetation data at each bird point-count location using the RMBO vegetation protocol (McLaren 2011), linking bird observations to habitat conditions and improving the ability to interpret population patterns.
Roles are split between RMBO and NPS in a way that matches a cooperative agreement structure. RMBO commits to providing qualified supervision, training, transportation, and field implementation of bird surveys, as well as analysis consistent with NPS data management guidelines and applications. RMBO is also responsible for routine reporting, including an Investigator's Annual Research Report to each park by March 31 following each field season, and a final report to NGPN after data verification and synthesis. They are expected to maintain frequent communication with the NPS agreement technical specialist to keep work aligned with expectations and timelines.
NPS, in turn, is not simply funding the work but participating actively. The agency will set information needs, priorities, and technical and data management requirements, and will share in overall project management with RMBO. NPS will designate staff to monitor progress and answer project questions, help RMBO secure research permits through the NPS online Research Permitting and Reporting System, and assist with short-term housing for field technicians at several sites (Agate Fossil Beds National Monument, Badlands National Park, Mount Rushmore National Memorial, and Wind Cave National Park). NPS also plans to produce annual summary statistics from the collected bird data and publish an annual report (specifically noting the "Landbird Monitoring in the Northern Great Plains Network 2016 Annual Report") in the NPS Natural Resource Technical Report Series.
Competition is not being used for this award under the Department of the Interior single-source policy (505 DM 2). The justification cited is "Continuation," meaning the work is considered necessary to complete or continue an activity already underway, and recompeting it would risk disrupting continuity or successful completion. The notice frames the action as a continuation task agreement (identified in the justification narrative as Task Agreement P13AC01123 under Cooperative Agreement H2370114000) and ties the authority for the cooperative agreement to 16 USC 5933, which authorizes the Secretary to enter into cooperative agreements to support multidisciplinary research and integrated information products for National Park System resources and their broader regions.
Administrative details included in the public listing note one expected award, an estimated total funding amount equal to the award ceiling of $33,500 (with an award floor of $1), and eligibility described broadly as nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status (although in practice this notice is about a pre-identified recipient and is not open for application). The posting date is August 9, 2013, with an original and current closing date of August 22, 2013, reflecting the public notice window rather than a competitive application deadline. The NPS point of contact is June Zastrow (303-987-6718, junezastrow@nps.gov) for questions or issues accessing the announcement materials.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is this a request for applications (RFA) or a competitive grant opportunity?
No. The notice explicitly states it is not a request for applications. It is a public notice of the National Park Service (NPS) intent to make a non-competitive cooperative agreement award to a specific recipient for defined work.
Is this opportunity open to new applicants?
No. Although the public listing mentions eligibility (nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status), the notice describes a single-source, non-competitive action and identifies an intended recipient. It is not an open application opportunity.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON) for this notice?
The Funding Opportunity Number is P13AS00193.
What CFDA program is associated with this award?
The notice lists CFDA 15.954, described as National Park Service conservation, protection, outreach, and education / cooperative research and training programs.
What is the project title?
The project is titled "Continued monitoring of birds in the selected Northern Great Plains IM Network Parks."
What is the purpose of this project?
The purpose is long-term tracking of landbird populations across parks in the Northern Great Plains Inventory and Monitoring Network (NGPN). Landbirds are treated as a priority "vital sign" to help park managers protect species, detect trends, and respond to landscape- or climate-driven change using consistent, repeatable bird and habitat data collected over time.
Which parks or geographic area does the monitoring cover?
The work focuses on selected parks within the Northern Great Plains Inventory and Monitoring Network (NGPN), which includes 13 national park units across the Dakotas, eastern Wyoming, and Nebraska. The notice also states that which specific parks are surveyed in a given season is determined by NPS based on budget constraints.
Who is the intended recipient of the award?
The intended recipient is the Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory (RMBO).
Who is the Principal Investigator/Program Manager named in the notice?
David Hanni is identified as the Principal Investigator/Program Manager.
What is the total anticipated federal funding amount?
The total anticipated federal amount is $33,500.
Is there a cost share or matching requirement?
No. The notice states there is no cost share or matching requirement.
What type of award instrument will be used?
The award instrument is a cooperative agreement, which indicates NPS expects substantial involvement in implementation rather than a hands-off grant arrangement.
What is the anticipated period of performance?
The anticipated period of performance runs from the date of award through September 30, 2017.
Is this award connected to an existing agreement?
Yes. The project is planned as a task agreement under an existing cooperative agreement (H2370114000). The justification narrative also references a continuation task agreement identified as Task Agreement P13AC01123 under that cooperative agreement.
Why is the award non-competitive (single-source)?
The notice states competition is not being used under the Department of the Interior single-source policy (505 DM 2). The justification cited is "Continuation," meaning the work is necessary to continue an activity already underway and recompeting could disrupt continuity or successful completion.
What legal authority is cited for using a cooperative agreement?
The notice cites 16 USC 5933 as authority for cooperative agreements supporting multidisciplinary research and integrated information products for National Park System resources and their broader regions.
What monitoring design or framework is used for bird surveys?
The project uses the Integrated Monitoring in Bird Conservation Regions (IMBCR) sampling design, described as a multi-scale framework that supports summaries at multiple geographic levels. Each park functions as its own stratum for estimating species density and occupancy, while also contributing to broader estimates (for example, states and Bird Conservation Regions).
What is the basic sampling unit used in the IMBCR design?
The basic sampling unit is a 1 square kilometer grid cell that contains 16 evenly spaced point-count locations set 250 meters apart.
How are sampling locations selected?
Sampling locations are selected to be spatially balanced using a Generalized Random Tessellation Stratified (GRTS) approach. The centroid of each grid cell is used as the cell address for tracking and management.
How many IMBCR grids are sampled per park?
The notice explains that the number of grids sampled depends on available funding and park size. Large parks (described as around 29,000 acres) are planned to sample 15 IMBCR grids, while small parks (described as around 4,000 acres) sample roughly 3 to 6 grids.
Will the sampling design be revisited or adjusted over time?
Yes. After five years of data collection, NPS and RMBO plan a comprehensive program review that includes density and occupancy estimation and an evaluation of whether sample sizes are sufficient to meet objectives. If the design does not perform as needed, it may be adjusted.
What are the core project objectives described in the notice?
The notice lists two primary objectives: (1) conduct landbird surveys at designated sampling points in NGPN park units following the Landbird Monitoring Protocol and Standard Operating Procedures (referenced as Bennetts et al. 2013, including mapped sampling locations), and (2) collect vegetation data at each bird point-count location using the RMBO vegetation protocol (McLaren 2011) to link bird observations to habitat conditions.
What protocols are referenced for bird and vegetation monitoring?
For birds, the notice references the Landbird Monitoring Protocol and Standard Operating Procedures (Bennetts et al. 2013). For vegetation, it references the RMBO vegetation protocol (McLaren 2011).
What is RMBO responsible for under this cooperative agreement?
RMBO is responsible for providing qualified supervision, training, transportation, and field implementation of bird surveys. RMBO also commits to analysis consistent with NPS data management guidelines and applications, routine reporting, and frequent communication with the NPS agreement technical specialist to stay aligned with expectations and timelines.
What reporting deliverables are identified?
The notice specifies an Investigator's Annual Research Report to each park by March 31 following each field season, and a final report to NGPN after data verification and synthesis.
What role does NPS play (beyond funding) in this cooperative agreement?
NPS is described as being substantially involved, including setting information needs, priorities, and technical and data management requirements, sharing overall project management, designating staff to monitor progress and answer questions, helping RMBO secure research permits through the NPS online Research Permitting and Reporting System, and assisting with short-term housing for field technicians at several sites.
Which sites may provide short-term housing for field technicians?
The notice lists Agate Fossil Beds National Monument, Badlands National Park, Mount Rushmore National Memorial, and Wind Cave National Park as sites where NPS will assist with short-term housing for field technicians.
Will NPS publish any annual products based on the monitoring data?
Yes. NPS plans to produce annual summary statistics from the collected bird data and publish an annual report in the NPS Natural Resource Technical Report Series. The notice specifically mentions "Landbird Monitoring in the Northern Great Plains Network 2016 Annual Report."
How many awards does the notice anticipate?
The administrative details indicate one expected award.
What are the listed award floor and award ceiling?
The notice lists an award ceiling of $33,500 and an award floor of $1.
What are the posting date and closing date shown in the public listing?
The posting date is August 9, 2013. The original and current closing date is August 22, 2013, described as reflecting the public notice window rather than a competitive application deadline.
Who is the NPS point of contact for questions about the announcement?
The NPS point of contact is June Zastrow, reachable at 303-987-6718 or junezastrow@nps.gov, for questions or issues accessing the announcement materials.
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