Opportunity Information: Apply for P14AS00160
Apply for P14AS00160
- The National Park Service in the education natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Ocean Acidification Teacher Workshop" 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 Jun 30, 2014 and posted on Jun 30, 2014.
- Applicants must submit their applications by This Funding Announcement is not a request for applications. Public notice of the National Park Services intention to fund the following project activities without full and open competition.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $58,334.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $58,334.00 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:
The Ocean Acidification Teacher Workshop grant notice is a National Park Service (NPS) public announcement of its intent to make a single cooperative agreement award, without full and open competition, to the Seward Association for the Advancement of Marine Science, doing business as the Alaska SeaLife Center (ASLC). The planned award amount is $58,334, and it is issued under statutory authority 16 USC 1g, which allows agreements for the transfer of appropriated funds to carry out NPS programs. This is not a request for applications; it is essentially a transparency notice that NPS plans to fund a specific partner for a defined set of activities.
The purpose of the project is education and stewardship building around two major issues affecting Alaska marine ecosystems: climate change and ocean acidification. The central idea is that reaching students effectively happens through teachers, because teachers can integrate accurate, locally relevant science into curriculum in repeated, meaningful ways over time. By strengthening educators understanding of current research and giving them practical ways to teach it, the project aims to help students form local connections to Alaskas marine resources while also understanding how those resources fit into broader, global ocean systems. The workshop is positioned as a way to translate active, cutting-edge research into classroom-ready learning.
Operationally, the project will provide a workshop for 20 teachers who teach grades 4 through 6. It is scheduled to occur in March 2015, and the participating teachers will come from small communities in southeast Alaska. The workshop model is not new; it is based on a format that ASLC and NPS have jointly developed through a decade of prior collaborative workshops. NPS staff will co-lead alongside ASLC staff, with both organizations sharing responsibility for planning, delivering content, and supporting follow-up engagement. Instruction will include lectures and other learning methods, with ASLC and NPS alternating facilitation based on their respective expertise, and with participation from researchers and resource managers working on local impacts of climate change and ocean acidification.
ASLCs main responsibilities focus on coordination and continuity. They will handle on-the-ground logistics, including issuing teacher travel stipends, arranging lodging and meals for teachers and non-government researchers, and securing the workshop facilities. ASLC will also lead post-workshop assessment, which may include travel to participating schools, and will conduct some virtual classroom visits using their distance learning technology. Beyond logistics, ASLC will work jointly with NPS to gather teacher input on prior knowledge and effective teaching methods, recruit and coordinate scientific presenters and local resource experts, and translate specific ongoing climate and ocean acidification research into content and lesson plan materials teachers can use. After the workshop, ASLC will also facilitate an online learning community for participating teachers using Basecamp to support networking and continued learning.
NPS is expected to have substantial involvement, which is why the funding instrument is a cooperative agreement rather than a more hands-off grant. NPS will collaborate closely with ASLC on workshop planning and scheduling, collection of teacher input, identification and engagement of researchers and managers, and development of locally grounded lesson content drawn from active research projects. NPS staff will deliver some of the workshop instruction, participate in the online teacher community, join virtual classroom visits after the workshop, and work with ASLC to review assessment results to evaluate success and improve future workshops.
The notice also explains why the award is being made as a single-source action. Under Department of the Interior policy (505 DM 2), NPS must justify why competition is not practicable. The stated justification is ASLCs unique qualifications in Alaska marine science education and outreach. ASLC is described as a statewide leader that combines marine research capacity with strong informal science education expertise. Since 1998, it has delivered educational programming across ages and has a long track record of continuing education for teachers. Its education staff are identified as certified informal science educators, and ASLC has trained staff at other Alaska institutions in informal education practices. ASLC also provides training aligned with the National Association for Interpretation and has earned multiple Pinnacle Awards (and honorable mentions) from the Center for Interactive Learning and Collaboration for distance learning content, based on teacher evaluations. While a few other Alaska organizations do marine science education, the notice argues that none match ASLCs staffing, statewide reach, and outreach expertise, and that some have relied on ASLC for training.
In the posted opportunity details, the Funding Opportunity Number is P14AS00160, categorized as discretionary funding, with a cooperative agreement as the instrument type and an activity category of Education and Natural Resources. The estimated total funding and ceiling are both $58,334, with an award floor listed as $10,000, and the expectation is one award. There is no cost-sharing or matching requirement. The CFDA number listed is 15.945 (Cooperative Research and Training Programs - Resources of the National Park System). Eligibility is limited to nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status other than institutions of higher education, but again, the posting clarifies that it is not open for applications because it serves as notice of intent to fund ASLC. The contact listed is Tina Spengler, Financial Assistance Agreements Officer at the NPS Alaska Regional Office.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the Ocean Acidification Teacher Workshop grant notice?
It is a National Park Service (NPS) public notice announcing NPS intent to make a single cooperative agreement award for an Ocean Acidification Teacher Workshop project. The notice is primarily about transparency: it explains who NPS plans to fund, for how much, and for what activities.
Is this a request for applications (RFA) or an open funding opportunity?
No. The notice explicitly states it is not a request for applications. It is a notice of intent to fund a specific partner through a single-source (non-competitive) cooperative agreement.
Who is the intended recipient of the award?
NPS intends to make the award to the Seward Association for the Advancement of Marine Science, doing business as the Alaska SeaLife Center (ASLC).
Why is the award being made without full and open competition?
The notice states the award is a single-source action because competition is not considered practicable under Department of the Interior policy (505 DM 2). The justification given is ASLCs unique qualifications in Alaska marine science education and outreach, including its staffing expertise, statewide reach, distance learning capacity, and long track record of teacher professional development.
What is the purpose of the project?
The project focuses on education and stewardship building around climate change and ocean acidification affecting Alaska marine ecosystems. The approach centers on supporting teachers so they can repeatedly and meaningfully integrate accurate, locally relevant marine science into their curricula over time.
Who is the workshop designed for?
The workshop is intended for 20 teachers who teach grades 4 through 6, with participating teachers coming from small communities in southeast Alaska.
When is the workshop scheduled to take place?
The notice describes the workshop as scheduled for March 2015.
How many awards does NPS expect to make under this notice?
The opportunity details indicate an expectation of one award.
What is the planned award amount?
The planned award amount is $58,334. The posted opportunity details list the estimated total funding and the funding ceiling as $58,334.
What are the award floor and ceiling amounts listed in the opportunity details?
The award floor is listed as $10,000, and the award ceiling is listed as $58,334.
What type of funding instrument will be used?
The instrument type is a cooperative agreement, reflecting that NPS is expected to have substantial involvement in the project rather than taking a hands-off role.
Why is a cooperative agreement being used instead of a more traditional grant?
The notice explains that NPS will have substantial involvement in planning, delivering instruction, supporting follow-up activities, participating in the online teacher community, and reviewing assessment results. That level of collaboration aligns with a cooperative agreement structure.
What statutory authority is cited for the award?
The notice cites 16 USC 1g as the statutory authority, which allows agreements for the transfer of appropriated funds to carry out NPS programs.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number?
The Funding Opportunity Number listed is P14AS00160.
What is the CFDA number for this opportunity?
The CFDA number listed is 15.945 (Cooperative Research and Training Programs - Resources of the National Park System).
What is the activity category of the opportunity?
The activity category is listed as Education and Natural Resources.
Is there a cost-sharing or matching requirement?
No. The opportunity details state there is no cost-sharing or matching requirement.
What does the project plan to teach or emphasize?
The workshop is positioned as a way to translate active, cutting-edge research on climate change and ocean acidification into classroom-ready learning. It aims to help teachers strengthen their understanding of current research and apply it through practical classroom materials and lesson plans.
What teaching methods will be used during the workshop?
The notice indicates instruction will include lectures and other learning methods, with ASLC and NPS alternating facilitation based on their respective expertise, and with participation from researchers and resource managers addressing local impacts.
What are ASLCs main responsibilities under the cooperative agreement?
ASLC is responsible for on-the-ground logistics and coordination, including issuing teacher travel stipends, arranging lodging and meals for teachers and non-government researchers, and securing workshop facilities. ASLC also leads post-workshop assessment, may travel to participating schools, conducts some virtual classroom visits using distance learning technology, helps recruit and coordinate scientific presenters and resource experts, translates current research into lesson content, and facilitates an online learning community for participating teachers using Basecamp.
What are the National Park Services responsibilities and level of involvement?
NPS is expected to collaborate closely with ASLC on workshop planning and scheduling, collection of teacher input, identification and engagement of researchers and managers, and development of locally grounded lesson content. NPS staff will deliver some instruction, participate in the online teacher community, join virtual classroom visits after the workshop, and review assessment results with ASLC to evaluate success and improve future workshops.
How will teacher follow-up and ongoing engagement be supported after the workshop?
The notice describes several follow-up elements: ASLC-led post-workshop assessment (including potential travel to schools), virtual classroom visits using ASLC distance learning technology (with NPS participation), and an online learning community for participating teachers hosted on Basecamp to support continued learning and networking.
How does the workshop connect classroom learning to Alaska-specific marine issues?
The project is designed to give teachers locally relevant science tied to Alaska marine resources and local research, while also helping students understand how those resources relate to broader global ocean systems.
What makes ASLC uniquely qualified, according to the notice?
The notice describes ASLC as a statewide leader combining marine research capacity with informal science education expertise. It cites ASLCs education programming history since 1998, its continuing education track record for teachers, staff who are certified informal science educators, training it has provided to staff at other Alaska institutions, training aligned with the National Association for Interpretation, and multiple Pinnacle Awards (and honorable mentions) from the Center for Interactive Learning and Collaboration for distance learning content based on teacher evaluations.
Who is listed as eligible in the opportunity details?
Eligibility is listed as nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status other than institutions of higher education. However, the same notice clarifies that the opportunity is not open for applications because it is a notice of intent to fund ASLC.
Who is the point of contact for this notice?
The contact listed is Tina Spengler, Financial Assistance Agreements Officer, NPS Alaska Regional Office.
What is the overall theme or expected outcome of the project?
Based on the notice, the expected outcome is improved teacher capacity to teach accurate, research-based, locally grounded content on climate change and ocean acidification, leading to stronger student understanding and stewardship connections to Alaska marine ecosystems over time.
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