Notice of Intent: Monitoring soundscapes to investigate interactions between human activities, Sonoran pronghorn and other wildlife | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is this funding opportunity about?

This Notice of Intent from the U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service (DOI-NPS) supports a project that uses soundscape monitoring to better understand how human activity, as reflected through noise, may be affecting the endangered Sonoran pronghorn and other wildlife in the Sonoran Desert.

Which agency is offering the award?

The award is offered by the U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service (DOI-NPS).

What type of award is expected?

The announcement anticipates a discretionary cooperative agreement, meaning the agency expects to be involved in the project during implementation.

How many awards are expected?

The opportunity anticipates a single award.

What is the maximum federal funding amount?

The expected maximum federal funding (award ceiling) is $46,000.

What is the funding opportunity number?

The funding opportunity number is P16AS00123.

What CFDA program is this associated with?

The opportunity is listed under CFDA 15.945.

What are the key dates for this opportunity?

The posting and creation dates are April 22, 2016, and the closing date is May 2, 2016.

How long is the application window?

Based on the dates provided (April 22, 2016 to May 2, 2016), the application window is short, consistent with a narrowly scoped cooperative agreement.

Where will the work take place?

The work centers on Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument (ORPI) and includes field sites of interest in Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge (CPNWR). These areas are key parts of the Sonoran pronghorn range and offer different management contexts for comparing human-noise exposure.

Why is Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument (ORPI) important to this project?

ORPI is an International Biosphere Reserve of roughly 330,000 acres, with about 95% (over 312,000 acres) designated wilderness. It sits within a broader, largely undeveloped desert landscape that connects to other major conservation and land-management areas, forming important habitat for the Sonoran pronghorn.

Which species is the primary conservation focus?

The primary species highlighted is the Sonoran pronghorn (Antilocapra americana sonorensis), a federally endangered subspecies.

Does the project focus only on the Sonoran pronghorn?

No. While the Sonoran pronghorn is the main conservation concern emphasized, the opportunity also explicitly includes "other wildlife," meaning the soundscape data may support broader ecological understanding and management decisions.

What does "soundscape monitoring" mean in the context of this project?

In this opportunity, soundscape monitoring refers to recording and analyzing the acoustic environment to characterize when and where human-caused noises occur and how those patterns overlap with wildlife presence or activity.

What kind of human disturbance is being studied?

The project is specifically oriented around human disturbance as an acoustic footprint. The announcement indicates the goal is to quantify sound-based human disturbance rather than relying on direct visual observation of people or vehicles.

What types of noise sources could be relevant?

The opportunity notes that information could help land managers understand how recreation, border-area activities, military overflights, vehicle traffic, or other anthropogenic noise sources might intersect with sensitive desert wildlife in ORPI and CPNWR.

What is the main goal of collecting sound data?

The main goal is to document when and where human-caused noises occur and evaluate how those patterns overlap with wildlife presence or activity, strengthening the evidence base for management decisions related to disturbance in pronghorn habitat.

Why include both ORPI and CPNWR?

ORPI and CPNWR are both key components of the Sonoran pronghorn range, but they are managed under different authorities and use patterns. Including both locations makes them relevant for comparing human-noise exposure and potential wildlife responses.

How does the broader landscape context matter for this work?

ORPI connects with a larger network of conservation and land-management lands, including Mexico's Pinacate Biosphere Reserve, Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge, the Barry M. Goldwater Range, Bureau of Land Management lands, and the Tohono Oodham Nation. Together, these lands form important habitat for the Sonoran pronghorn and shape the landscape context for disturbance and conservation.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is open to public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, along with other eligible applicants as clarified in the announcement's additional eligibility text.

What kinds of applicants does this opportunity seem designed for?

Based on the described work, it points to applicants with technical capacity to deploy acoustic monitoring equipment, manage and process audio datasets, and interpret soundscape metrics in a natural resources context (commonly universities and similar organizations).

Is this likely to be a large, multi-year project?

The stated award ceiling of $46,000 suggests a relatively focused effort, such as a pilot study, a short-term monitoring deployment, or targeted analysis, rather than a large multi-year program.

What practical use will the results have?

The opportunity is designed to generate actionable information for land managers by quantifying sound-based human disturbance in pronghorn habitat and supporting decisions about managing human activity and sensitive wildlife in ORPI and CPNWR.

Is this a Notice of Intent rather than a full solicitation?

Yes. The opportunity is described as a Notice of Intent, and it is paired with a narrow closing date window, which can indicate a defined project scope and close coordination with the recipient under a cooperative agreement.