Opportunity Information: Apply for NOIP P16AC00679
Apply for NOIP P16AC00679
- The Department of the Interior, National Park Service in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Monitoring Cave and Forest Habitat Use by Bats at Jewel Cave National Monument" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.945.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jun 22, 2016.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 02, 2016. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $200,000.00 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).
[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal:
Opportunity Summary:
The National Park Service (NPS), within the Department of the Interior, issued this notice to inform the public of its intent to fund a specific research task rather than to solicit new proposals. In other words, this is not a competitive grant call or a request for applications. Instead, NPS plans to make one cooperative agreement award (expected awards: 1) by issuing a Task Agreement under an existing Master Cooperative Agreement (P16AC00011). The intended recipient is the University of Wyoming, working through the Wyoming Natural Diversity Database (WYNDD), which is an eligible partner because it is part of the Great Plains Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) network and already holds the relevant master agreement that allows NPS to assign project-specific tasks. The funding opportunity is identified as NOIP P16AC00679, categorized under Natural Resources (CFDA 15.945), with an anticipated award ceiling of $200,000. The notice was created June 22, 2016, with an original closing date of July 2, 2016, reflecting the administrative window for public notice rather than an open application period.
The project itself, titled "Monitoring Cave and Forest Habitat Use by Bats at Jewel Cave National Monument," is focused on answering management-critical questions about how bats use Jewel Cave and the surrounding landscape over time. Jewel Cave National Monument is described as the largest known bat hibernaculum in the Black Hills, supporting roughly 1,200 bats each year across seven species. This makes it a particularly important site for conservation and park management, especially because multiple species using the cave are vulnerable to white-nose syndrome (WNS), a disease that has caused major bat population declines in North America. The notice specifically highlights that at least three hibernating species at Jewel Cave are affected by WNS, including the threatened northern long-eared bat. It also notes the conservation concern around little brown myotis, which has been petitioned for emergency protections under the Endangered Species Act, underscoring the urgency of improving understanding of bat behavior and habitat needs at the Monument.
NPS and its partners have already been conducting some monitoring, such as periodic winter counts of hibernating bats and acoustic monitoring to gauge bat activity during spring and fall. However, the announcement explains that these methods do not resolve several key questions with direct management implications. For example, basic counts and acoustic detections cannot reveal how individual bats move into and out of the cave on a daily basis, how seasonal use changes across the year, how use patterns vary between years, or what specific daytime roosting habitats bats rely on during summer. Without that information, it is difficult for the Monument to confidently plan or evaluate actions that might inadvertently harm bat habitat, such as fuel load reduction or other forest and vegetation management activities that could alter roost availability.
To fill these gaps, the project has two main components. First, researchers will capture bats and fit some individuals with radio transmitters, allowing them to track bats to their summer day-roost sites. Once roosts are located, the team will characterize the roost structures and the surrounding habitat conditions that may influence why bats select certain roosts. This could include documenting the type of structure used (for example, tree roosts or other natural features) and assessing habitat attributes around the roost that might be sensitive to management actions. The intended outcome is practical: provide data that can guide NPS decisions so that forest treatments, fire-related work, or other habitat modifications do not degrade key roosting resources.
Second, the project will individually mark each captured bat to measure movements into and out of Jewel Cave and to quantify patterns of cave use across daily, seasonal, and inter-annual time frames. Individual marking is meant to move beyond general activity trends and toward understanding how specific bats use the cave, when they arrive and depart, and how frequently they transition between cave and surface habitats. The notice also indicates that this approach will support estimating "vital rates," meaning metrics tied to population dynamics such as survival or other demographic parameters, to the extent the study design and recapture data allow. Together, these methods are intended to produce a clearer picture of how Jewel Cave functions as a seasonal resource (including hibernation) and how bats depend on the surrounding forest landscape for day roosting and other needs.
Deliverables extend beyond internal park management. The announcement states that project data and findings will be shared with the broader scientific community and resource managers through peer-reviewed publications and formal reports that summarize results. In addition, the project includes a public communication element: outreach materials will be developed for Monument visitors to explain bats, white-nose syndrome, and how these issues connect to Jewel Cave National Monument. This reflects a dual purpose typical of many NPS research partnerships, pairing applied resource management goals with broader scientific contribution and visitor education.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is this an open grant competition where organizations can apply?
No. The notice explains that this is not a competitive grant call and not a request for applications. It is a public notice of intent to fund a specific research task through a planned cooperative agreement action.
What is the government actually doing under this notice?
The National Park Service (NPS), within the Department of the Interior, is planning to make a single cooperative agreement award by issuing a Task Agreement under an existing Master Cooperative Agreement.
How many awards does NPS expect to make?
The notice indicates expected awards: 1.
Who is the intended recipient of the award?
The intended recipient is the University of Wyoming, working through the Wyoming Natural Diversity Database (WYNDD).
Why is the University of Wyoming/WYNDD eligible for this work?
According to the notice, WYNDD is an eligible partner because it is part of the Great Plains Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) network and already holds the relevant Master Cooperative Agreement that allows NPS to assign project-specific tasks.
What is the Master Cooperative Agreement referenced in the notice?
The notice states that the Task Agreement would be issued under an existing Master Cooperative Agreement identified as P16AC00011.
What is the funding opportunity identifier?
The notice identifies the opportunity as NOIP P16AC00679.
What program or topic area does this fall under?
The notice categorizes it under Natural Resources and lists CFDA 15.945.
What is the maximum funding amount mentioned?
The anticipated award ceiling is $200,000.
When was the notice created and what does the closing date mean here?
The notice was created on June 22, 2016, and lists an original closing date of July 2, 2016. The notice explains that this reflects an administrative window for public notice rather than an open application period.
What is the title of the project?
The project is titled "Monitoring Cave and Forest Habitat Use by Bats at Jewel Cave National Monument."
Where will the work take place?
The work focuses on Jewel Cave National Monument and the surrounding landscape, with an emphasis on how bats use the cave and nearby forest habitats over time.
Why is Jewel Cave National Monument important for bats?
The notice describes Jewel Cave National Monument as the largest known bat hibernaculum in the Black Hills, supporting roughly 1,200 bats each year across seven species.
What conservation issue is driving urgency for this research?
The notice highlights vulnerability to white-nose syndrome (WNS), a disease associated with major bat population declines in North America. It notes that at least three hibernating species at Jewel Cave are affected by WNS, including the threatened northern long-eared bat. It also mentions that little brown myotis has been petitioned for emergency protections under the Endangered Species Act.
What monitoring has already been happening at the Monument?
NPS and partners have been conducting periodic winter counts of hibernating bats and acoustic monitoring to gauge bat activity during spring and fall.
Why are winter counts and acoustic monitoring not enough for management decisions?
The notice states these methods do not answer management-critical questions such as: how individual bats move into and out of the cave on a daily basis, how cave use changes across seasons, how patterns vary between years, or what specific daytime roosting habitats bats rely on during summer.
What management decisions could be affected by the results of this study?
The notice points to forest and vegetation management activities that could change roost availability, including fuel load reduction and other actions that may inadvertently harm bat habitat if key roosting resources are not identified and considered.
What are the two main components of the project?
The project has two main components: (1) capturing bats, fitting some with radio transmitters, tracking them to summer day-roost sites, and characterizing roost structures and surrounding habitat; and (2) individually marking each captured bat to measure movements into and out of Jewel Cave and quantify cave use across daily, seasonal, and inter-annual time frames.
How will researchers identify where bats roost during the summer?
Researchers will capture bats and fit some individuals with radio transmitters, then track them to their summer day-roost sites.
What kind of information will be collected at bat roost sites?
Once roosts are located, the team will characterize the roost structures and the surrounding habitat conditions that may influence roost selection. The notice gives examples such as documenting the type of structure used (for example, tree roosts or other natural features) and assessing habitat attributes around the roost that might be sensitive to management actions.
What does "individually mark" mean in the context of this notice?
The notice states that each captured bat will be individually marked to measure movements into and out of Jewel Cave and to quantify patterns of cave use across daily, seasonal, and inter-annual time frames. The specific marking technique is not described in the notice.
What new insights are expected from individual marking compared to acoustic monitoring?
The notice indicates that individual marking is intended to move beyond general activity trends and toward understanding how specific bats use the cave, when they arrive and depart, how frequently they transition between cave and surface habitats, and how these patterns vary over time.
Will this research estimate population or demographic measures?
The notice says the approach will support estimating "vital rates" (metrics tied to population dynamics such as survival or other demographic parameters), to the extent the study design and recapture data allow.
How will the findings be shared?
The notice states that data and findings will be shared through peer-reviewed publications and formal reports that summarize results.
Is there a public education or outreach component?
Yes. The notice states that outreach materials will be developed for Monument visitors to explain bats, white-nose syndrome, and how these issues connect to Jewel Cave National Monument.
Does this notice provide instructions for submitting an application?
No. The notice explicitly frames this as an intent to fund a specific task under an existing agreement and not as a solicitation of new proposals.
Browse more opportunities from the same category: Natural Resources
Next opportunity: Southern Appalachian Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit
Previous opportunity: BLM OR-WA Native Plants for Pollinators/Restoration, Coos Bay District
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 NOIP P16AC00679
[Watch] how do funding administrators access proposals?
Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (NOIP P16AC00679) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| Notice of Intent: A History of Mammoth Hot Springs Publication Apply for P16AS00287 Funding Number: P16AS00287 Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $29,998 |
| Notice of Intent: Glen Canyon National Recreation Area visitor study Apply for P16AS00285 Funding Number: P16AS00285 Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $60,012 |
| Engaging Visitors in Bird Ecology at Crater Lake National Park Apply for P16AS00243 Funding Number: P16AS00243 Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $149,995 |
| Endangered Species Conservation, Recovery Implementation Funds Apply for F16AS00301 Funding Number: F16AS00301 Agency: Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $117,000 |
| NOTICE OF INTENT: Preservation Maintenance at Lees Ferry and Lonely Dell Ranch Apply for P16AS00286 Funding Number: P16AS00286 Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $42,230 |
| Notice of Intent: Promote Research and Preservation on National Park Service Collections Apply for P16AS00270 Funding Number: P16AS00270 Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $103,307 |
| Youth Crews for Trail Maintenance Apply for NPS NOIGRSA1601004 Funding Number: NPS NOIGRSA1601004 Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Land and Water Conservation Fund Conservation Easement Management Apply for L16AS00212 Funding Number: L16AS00212 Agency: Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $15,000 |
| BLM CA Evaluate/Model Impacts of Roads, Washes, and Fences to Desert Tortoise Population Viability Apply for L16AS00217 Funding Number: L16AS00217 Agency: Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $500,000 |
| BLM CA Evaluate Mohave Ground Squirrel (MGS) Populations and Their Viability Apply for L16AS00219 Funding Number: L16AS00219 Agency: Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $500,000 |
| Migratory Bird Monitoring, Assessment and Conservation Apply for F16AS00303 Funding Number: F16AS00303 Agency: Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $63,500 |
| BLM-Alaska, Recreation Capacity Building Partnership Apply for L16AS00207 Funding Number: L16AS00207 Agency: Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $1,500,000 |
| Miller Creek Trail Improvement Project Apply for NPSNOIYELL1600902 Funding Number: NPSNOIYELL1600902 Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Endangered Species Conservation, Recovery Implementation Funds Apply for F16AS00309 Funding Number: F16AS00309 Agency: Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $150,000 |
| BLM OR-WA Plant Conservation, Vale District Apply for L16AS00146 Funding Number: L16AS00146 Agency: Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $18,000 |
| BLM OR/WA - Cooperative Research, Oregon, Washington and the Intermountain region (between the Rockies and the Cascades) Apply for L16AS00220 Funding Number: L16AS00220 Agency: Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $100,000 |
| Develop Citizen Science Monitoring Program for Local Avifauna Apply for P16AS00284 Funding Number: P16AS00284 Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $28,000 |
| NOTICE OF INTENT: Guadalupe Mountains National Park Trail Rehabilitation Apply for P16AS00275 Funding Number: P16AS00275 Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $154,077 |
| Assessing Big Sagebrush Seedling Inoculation with Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) Apply for L16AS00209 Funding Number: L16AS00209 Agency: Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $25,000 |
| Great Basin Ranger Corp Apply for P16AS00297 Funding Number: P16AS00297 Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $50,000 |
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 "NOIP P16AC00679", 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.