Opportunity Information: Apply for NPS NOIP15AC00426
Apply for NPS NOIP15AC00426
- The National Park Service in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "National Park Service NOVELTY IN A PREDATOR PREY SYSTEM FACILITATED BY HUMANS AND CLIMATE POLAR BEARS, GRIZZLY BEARS AND MUSKOXEN" 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 Apr 7, 2015 and posted on Apr 7, 2015.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Apr 17, 2015. (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 $41,196.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- SINGLE SOURCE JUSTIFICATION DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR SINGLE SOURCE POLICY REQUIREMENTS Department of the Interior Policy (505 DM 2) requires a written justification which explains why competition is not practicable for each single source award. The justification must address one or more of the following criteria as well as discussion of the program legislative history, unique capabilities of the proposed recipient, and cost sharing contribution offered by the proposed recipient, as applicable. NPS did not solicit full and open competition for this award based on the following criteria (1) Unsolicited Proposal The proposed award is the result of an unsolicited assistance application which represents a unique or innovative idea, method, or approach which is not the subject of a current or planned contract or assistance award, but which is deemed advantageous to the program objectives (2) Continuation The activity to be funded is necessary to the satisfactory completion of, or is a continuation of an activity presently being funded, and for which competition would have a significant adverse effect on the continuity or completion of the activity (3) Legislative intent The language in the applicable authorizing legislation or legislative history clearly indicates Congress intent to restrict the award to a particular recipient of purpose (4) Unique Qualifications The applicant is uniquely qualified to perform the activity based upon a variety of demonstrable factors such as location, property ownership, voluntary support capacity, cost sharing ability if applicable, technical expertise, or other such unique qualifications (5) Emergencies Program/award where there is insufficient time available (due to a compelling and unusual urgency, or substantial danger to health or safety) for adequate competitive procedures to be followed. The National Park Service awarded this task to the University of Montana based on the following exception. The University of Montana is a member of the NPS CESU network. (4) Unique Qualifications The cooperator is a member of an established Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) network, and was awarded a Cooperative Agreement (P14AC00749) allowing the University of Montana to participate in specific tasks, and can provide the specific research and investigative support to conduct this particular task while providing an effective outcome for the National Park Service and the research project. As such, the applicant is uniquely qualified to perform the activity based on their participation as a University Partner in the Cooperative Ecosystems Study Unit (CESU) their capacity to provide appropriate researchers, and their ability to broadly utilize research results as teaching tool.
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Opportunity Summary:
The National Park Service funding opportunity titled "Novelty in a Predator Prey System Facilitated by Humans and Climate: Polar Bears, Grizzly Bears and Muskoxen" is a discretionary National Park Service award intended to support natural resource research tied to the National Park System. The project focus, based on the title and program context, is on understanding emerging or changing predator-prey dynamics involving polar bears, grizzly bears, and muskoxen, with particular attention to how human activity and climate change are creating new ecological interactions. The award is structured as a Cooperative Agreement, which typically means NPS expects substantial involvement in the work (such as collaboration on study design, data needs, or applying findings to park management), rather than simply issuing a standard grant with minimal agency participation.
A key feature of this announcement is that it is a single-source award, meaning the National Park Service did not open the work up to full and open competition. The announcement is primarily a justification document explaining why competition was not considered practicable under Department of the Interior policy (505 DM 2). DOI policy requires a written explanation whenever an award is made to only one recipient, and the justification must be tied to one or more allowable exceptions. The notice lists the standard exceptions that can justify a single-source award: an unsolicited proposal offering a unique or innovative approach; continuation of an existing project where competition would disrupt progress; legislative intent directing funds to a particular recipient or purpose; unique qualifications of the applicant; and emergency situations where time constraints or safety risks prevent competitive procedures.
For this specific opportunity, NPS cites the "Unique Qualifications" exception as the basis for selecting the University of Montana. The University of Montana is described as a member of the NPS Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) network and is operating under an existing cooperative agreement (P14AC00749) that authorizes participation in specific tasks. CESUs are established partnerships designed to connect federal land management agencies with universities and other partners to deliver research, technical assistance, and education tied to resource stewardship. In the justification, NPS argues that the University of Montana is uniquely positioned to provide the specialized research and investigative support needed for this task, can supply appropriate researchers, and can extend the value of the work by broadly using results as a teaching tool. In other words, the rationale is not simply that the university is capable, but that its formal CESU role and established agreement framework make it especially suitable for this particular work and allow NPS to achieve the desired outcome efficiently.
Administratively, the opportunity is identified by Funding Opportunity Number NPS-NOIP15AC00426 and falls under CFDA 15.945, which covers Cooperative Research and Training Programs related to resources of the National Park System. The award amount is fixed: the ceiling and floor are both listed as $41,196, indicating NPS anticipated a single award at that exact funding level rather than a range of possible awards. There is no cost sharing or matching requirement. The opportunity was posted on April 7, 2015, with an original and current closing date of April 17, 2015, and it was archived on May 17, 2015. Eligibility is effectively constrained by the single-source approach described in the justification, even though the listing uses a broad category ("Others") with clarification provided in the text.
For practical reference, the listed agency is the National Park Service, and the point of contact for access issues is Katie Gaertner, Grants Management Specialist, at 303-969-2909. Overall, the announcement functions less like a typical open call for proposals and more like a formal public record explaining why NPS directed a specific, modest-sized cooperative agreement to a CESU partner (the University of Montana) to conduct targeted research on climate- and human-influenced predator-prey novelty involving polar bears, grizzly bears, and muskoxen.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the title of this National Park Service funding opportunity?
The opportunity is titled "Novelty in a Predator Prey System Facilitated by Humans and Climate: Polar Bears, Grizzly Bears and Muskoxen."
What is the purpose of this award?
It is intended to support natural resource research tied to the National Park System, specifically research that helps understand emerging or changing predator-prey dynamics involving polar bears, grizzly bears, and muskoxen, with attention to the role of human activity and climate change in creating new ecological interactions.
What type of funding mechanism is being used?
The award is structured as a Cooperative Agreement.
What does it mean that the award is a Cooperative Agreement?
A Cooperative Agreement typically means the National Park Service (NPS) expects substantial involvement in the work. That involvement can include collaboration on study design, identifying data needs, and applying findings to park management, rather than providing funds with minimal agency participation.
Is this an open, competitive grant opportunity?
No. This announcement is described as a single-source award, meaning it was not opened for full and open competition.
What does "single-source award" mean in this context?
Single-source means NPS directed the award to one recipient rather than soliciting proposals from multiple applicants. The announcement functions primarily as a justification explaining why competitive procedures were not used.
Why did NPS decide that competition was not practicable?
The notice explains that Department of the Interior (DOI) policy requires a written justification when making an award to only one recipient. In this case, NPS relies on an allowable exception under DOI policy (505 DM 2) to justify the single-source approach.
Which exception did NPS use to justify the single-source award for this opportunity?
NPS cites the "Unique Qualifications" exception as the basis for selecting the University of Montana.
Who is the intended/selected recipient for this single-source award?
The University of Montana is identified as the recipient selected under the "Unique Qualifications" justification.
How does NPS describe the University of Montana's unique qualifications?
According to the justification, the University of Montana is a member of the NPS Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) network and operates under an existing cooperative agreement framework that authorizes participation in specific tasks. NPS states the university can provide specialized research and investigative support, supply appropriate researchers, and extend the value of the work by broadly using results as a teaching tool.
What is a CESU, as referenced in the justification?
CESUs (Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Units) are partnership networks designed to connect federal land management agencies with universities and other partners to deliver research, technical assistance, and education tied to resource stewardship.
Is there an existing agreement referenced for the University of Montana?
Yes. The justification references an existing cooperative agreement (P14AC00749) that authorizes participation in specific tasks.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this announcement?
The Funding Opportunity Number is NPS-NOIP15AC00426.
What CFDA program does this opportunity fall under?
It falls under CFDA 15.945, described as Cooperative Research and Training Programs related to resources of the National Park System.
How much funding is available under this opportunity?
The award amount is fixed at $41,196. The ceiling and floor are both listed as $41,196, indicating NPS anticipated a single award at that exact funding level.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. The announcement states there is no cost sharing or matching requirement.
When was this opportunity posted?
It was posted on April 7, 2015.
What were the closing dates for this opportunity?
The original closing date and the current closing date are both listed as April 17, 2015.
When was the opportunity archived?
The listing was archived on May 17, 2015.
Who is the funding agency for this opportunity?
The listed agency is the National Park Service (NPS).
Does the eligibility section indicate a broad applicant pool?
The listing uses a broad category ("Others"), but eligibility is effectively constrained by the single-source approach described in the justification.
What kind of document is this announcement, based on the description provided?
It is described as functioning less like a typical open call for proposals and more like a formal public record explaining why NPS directed a specific cooperative agreement to a CESU partner for targeted research.
Who is the point of contact for access issues, and how can they be reached?
The point of contact for access issues is Katie Gaertner, Grants Management Specialist, at 303-969-2909.
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