Opportunity Information: Apply for P15AS00364
Apply for P15AS00364
- The National Park Service in the education employment, labor and training environment natural resources science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "NOTICE OF INTENT TO AWARD Design and assess communication efforts for natural sounds, night skies and biological topics, management activities, and issues" 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 Aug 31, 2015 and posted on Aug 31, 2015.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Sep 9, 2015. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $186,559.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $186,559.00 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.
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Opportunity Summary:
This notice is a public announcement from the National Park Service (NPS) stating its intent to make a non-competitive award to Colorado State University (CSU) for a communications-focused project centered on natural sounds (soundscapes), night skies, and related biological and natural resource topics. It is explicitly not a call for proposals or an open application opportunity. Instead, it functions as transparency documentation that NPS plans to fund a specific continuation project under an existing cooperative framework, with a total anticipated award of $186,559 and no cost-sharing requirement.
The project itself is designed to strengthen how the NPS Natural Sounds and Night Skies Division (NSNSD) explains its work to the public and key stakeholders. NSNSD deals with resource issues that are often not obvious to visitors until they are interpreted clearly, such as how aircraft, roadway noise, industrial activity, or distant urban lighting can degrade park experiences and ecosystems. Because many sources of noise and light pollution originate outside park boundaries, the program also depends heavily on outreach and relationship-building with communities, partners, and other decision-makers. In that context, the central purpose of this award is to design, implement, and evaluate communication and education efforts that improve public understanding and encourage stewardship of soundscape and night sky resources.
A major emphasis is taking technical or scientific information that can be dense and hard to access, then distilling, refining, and repackaging it into formats that are easier for non-specialists to find, understand, and use. The notice anticipates a variety of outreach products and channels, including web content, print materials, social media, publications, and partner-based distribution. It also highlights a workforce and educational component: students will participate in developing communication materials, gaining hands-on experience while learning about the value of protecting soundscapes and dark skies in national parks.
The work is organized around four main objectives. First, CSU will review and assess NSNSD's existing communication plan and help identify which products and efforts should be treated as priorities. Second, CSU will help create and roll out initial communication products, which could include items like web improvements, a stronger social media presence, and youth-oriented initiatives. Third, CSU will evaluate how effective those initial products are, using current research-based recommendations for science communication and audience engagement. Fourth, based on what is learned, CSU will provide recommendations on the staffing and funding levels needed for NSNSD to maintain a sustainable and effective communication program over time, rather than relying on one-off outreach pushes.
The cooperative agreement structure reflects shared responsibilities and substantial involvement from both parties. CSU's role includes collaborating with NPS to prioritize tactics from the communication plan, bringing communications expertise and technical support to develop products, coordinating with CSU Communication and Creative Services to produce video projects, and assessing and potentially revising the broader communications strategy based on findings. NPS, in turn, will collaborate on product development, integrate finished materials into official NPS communication channels, participate in regular project review meetings, and provide oversight to ensure all products align with NPS mission requirements, policies, brand and standards, and scientific accuracy.
From an administrative standpoint, the award is planned as a cooperative agreement under CFDA 15.945 (Cooperative Research and Training Programs, Resources of the National Park System) and is authorized under 54 USC 101702(a) and (b), and 54 USC 100703. The anticipated period of performance runs from the date of final signature through December 31, 2017. The notice also documents why the award is being made without competition: NPS cites the "Continuation" single-source justification criterion, meaning the work is considered necessary to complete or continue ongoing activities and that competing it would risk disrupting continuity. The notice specifies that this is a Task Agreement (P15AC01698) under an existing Cooperative Agreement (P14AC00728) and is routed through the Rocky Mountains Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) at a negotiated 17.5% overhead rate, justified as consistent with CESU mission and the requirement for substantial federal involvement and public purpose.
Key identifiers included in the posting are the funding opportunity number P15AS00364, posting date August 31, 2015, and an archival date of September 10, 2015, with an expected single award. The listed point of contact is June Zastrow (303-987-6718, junezastrow@nps.gov) for access or questions about the announcement.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is this notice an open grant competition where we can submit an application?
No. The notice is explicitly not a call for proposals and not an open application opportunity. It is a public transparency notice stating that the National Park Service (NPS) intends to make a non-competitive award to a specific recipient: Colorado State University (CSU).
Who is the intended recipient of the award?
The intended recipient is Colorado State University (CSU).
Is the award competitive or non-competitive?
It is non-competitive (single-source). NPS states it is being made without competition under a continuation justification.
Why is the award being made without competition?
NPS cites the "Continuation" single-source justification criterion. The notice explains the work is considered necessary to complete or continue ongoing activities, and that competing the work could disrupt continuity.
What is the main purpose of this project?
The central purpose is to design, implement, and evaluate communication and education efforts that improve public understanding of NPS work on natural sounds (soundscapes), night skies, and related biological and natural resource topics, with the goal of encouraging stewardship of these resources.
Which NPS program or division is the project supporting?
The project supports the NPS Natural Sounds and Night Skies Division (NSNSD).
What topics will the communications focus on?
The communications focus on natural sounds (soundscapes), night skies (dark skies), and related biological and natural resource issues, including how noise and light pollution can degrade park experiences and ecosystems.
Why is communication and outreach emphasized in this project?
The notice explains that many soundscape and night sky resource issues are not obvious to visitors unless interpreted clearly. It also notes that major sources of noise and light pollution often originate outside park boundaries, making outreach and relationship-building with communities, partners, and decision-makers especially important.
What kinds of outreach products or channels are anticipated?
The notice anticipates a range of products and channels, including web content, print materials, social media, publications, and partner-based distribution.
What does the project say about translating technical information for the public?
A major emphasis is taking dense technical or scientific information and distilling, refining, and repackaging it into formats that are easier for non-specialists to find, understand, and use.
Will students be involved in the work?
Yes. The notice includes a workforce and educational component where students participate in developing communication materials, gaining hands-on experience while learning about the value of protecting soundscapes and dark skies in national parks.
What are the main objectives of the project?
The work is organized around four objectives: (1) review and assess NSNSD's existing communication plan and identify priorities; (2) create and roll out initial communication products (examples listed include web improvements, stronger social media presence, and youth-oriented initiatives); (3) evaluate the effectiveness of the initial products using research-based recommendations for science communication and audience engagement; and (4) recommend staffing and funding levels needed for NSNSD to sustain an effective communication program over time.
What is meant by "initial communication products" in the notice?
The notice suggests examples such as web improvements, a stronger social media presence, and youth-oriented initiatives, along with other communication and education materials that help make NSNSD information accessible to broader audiences.
How will the effectiveness of the communication products be evaluated?
The notice states CSU will evaluate effectiveness using current research-based recommendations for science communication and audience engagement.
What long-term outcome is the project trying to support for NSNSD?
Beyond producing one-off outreach materials, the project aims to help NSNSD build a sustainable, effective communications program, including recommendations for the staffing and funding required to maintain it over time.
What type of funding instrument is planned?
The planned instrument is a cooperative agreement, reflecting shared responsibilities and substantial involvement from both NPS and CSU.
What does "substantial federal involvement" mean in this context?
Based on the notice, substantial federal involvement includes NPS collaborating on product development, integrating completed materials into official NPS communication channels, participating in regular review meetings, and providing oversight to ensure alignment with NPS mission requirements, policies, brand and standards, and scientific accuracy.
What are CSU's roles and responsibilities under the cooperative agreement?
CSU will collaborate with NPS to prioritize communication tactics, provide communications expertise and technical support to develop products, coordinate with CSU Communication and Creative Services for video projects, and assess and potentially revise the broader communications strategy based on findings.
What are NPS's roles and responsibilities under the cooperative agreement?
NPS will collaborate on product development, integrate finished materials into official NPS channels, participate in regular project review meetings, and provide oversight to ensure products align with NPS mission requirements, policies, brand and standards, and scientific accuracy.
What is the anticipated total funding amount?
The total anticipated award amount is $186,559.
Is there a cost-sharing or matching requirement?
No. The notice specifies there is no cost-sharing requirement.
What is the anticipated period of performance?
The anticipated period of performance runs from the date of final signature through December 31, 2017.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number listed in the notice?
The funding opportunity number is P15AS00364.
What is the task agreement and the related cooperative agreement referenced?
The notice specifies this is a Task Agreement (P15AC01698) under an existing Cooperative Agreement (P14AC00728).
Which program listing (CFDA) is associated with this award?
The notice lists CFDA 15.945: Cooperative Research and Training Programs, Resources of the National Park System.
What legal authorities are cited for this award?
The notice cites 54 USC 101702(a) and (b), and 54 USC 100703.
What overhead rate is mentioned, and through what structure is it routed?
The notice states the agreement is routed through the Rocky Mountains Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) at a negotiated 17.5% overhead rate.
How many awards does the notice expect to make?
The notice indicates an expected single award.
When was the notice posted, and when was it archived?
The posting date is August 31, 2015, and the archival date is September 10, 2015.
Who is the point of contact for questions about this announcement?
The listed point of contact is June Zastrow at 303-987-6718 or junezastrow@nps.gov.
What should someone do if they want access to or have questions about the announcement?
The notice directs people to contact the listed point of contact, June Zastrow (303-987-6718, junezastrow@nps.gov), for access or questions related to the announcement.
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