Opportunity Information: Apply for P13AS00106
Apply for P13AS00106
- The National Park Service in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Optical Sensing to Study the Effect of Anthropogenic Light and Noise on Flying Insects" 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 27, 2013 and posted on Jun 27, 2013.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 8, 2013. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $67,827.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $67,827.00 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:
The National Park Service (NPS) notice for "Optical Sensing to Study the Effect of Anthropogenic Light and Noise on Flying Insects" describes a planned, non-competitive cooperative agreement intended to support a specific research partnership with Montana State University (MSU). It is explicitly not a call for proposals and not an open solicitation; instead, it serves as public notice that NPS intends to fund one award to carry out defined project activities. The main motivation is that dark, naturally lit night skies are a valued part of the visitor experience in many park units, and new energy development across the Great Plains and Intermountain West is introducing bright artificial lighting (and associated noise) into areas that were historically free of these disturbances. Because flying insects play central roles in nocturnal ecosystems and food webs, the concern is that nearby development could alter insect movement, behavior, abundance, and ultimately the species that depend on them within parks.
At the core of the project is the use of a specialized optical remote-sensing tool to measure flying insects at night without capturing them. MSU will deploy a custom wing-beat modulation light detection and ranging (lidar) instrument originally developed to count foraging honey bees in flight. Unlike conventional lidar that mainly records how much light is scattered back as a function of distance, this system applies real-time Fourier transform processing so it can also detect oscillation frequencies caused by insect wing beats. That added frequency dimension is intended to help the researchers not only estimate where insects are in the airspace (spatial distribution) but also potentially infer something about the types of insects present based on wing-beat signatures and reflected light intensity, offering a pathway toward coarse identification or grouping of targets.
The stated research and development goals cover both instrument capability and ecological application. First, the project will test whether wing-beat modulation lidar can rapidly map the spatial distribution of insects in the atmosphere under real field conditions. Second, it will evaluate whether measurements like reflected intensity and wing-beat modulation can provide clues about insect identity, which matters for moving beyond simple counts to questions about community composition. Third, the tool will be applied to compare flying insect abundance and species composition across natural gradients (habitat type, time of night, and weather) and human-driven gradients (artificial light, noise, and broader regional development). Beyond data collection, the project also emphasizes public-facing and academic outcomes: education and outreach on the ecological effects of light pollution, cross-disciplinary student training opportunities, and the production of peer-reviewed papers and conference presentations.
The cooperative agreement structure is important because NPS anticipates substantial involvement rather than simply issuing a grant and stepping back. MSU, as the recipient, is expected to collaborate closely with the NPS Agreement Technical Representative (ATR) to define tasks and schedules, hold quarterly teleconferences to review progress and plan next steps, present results at scientific conferences when appropriate, and oversee the translation of results into peer-reviewed manuscripts. NPS, in turn, will actively participate by co-developing tasks and timelines, joining regular teleconferences, participating in data analysis as appropriate, contributing to manuscript drafting where relevant, and providing scientific review of draft publications. In other words, it is framed as a joint research effort with shared execution and shared scientific outputs.
NPS justifies the decision not to use full and open competition based on unique qualifications and single-source reasoning. The notice states that MSU (specifically the Shaw lab) has published the only scientific papers demonstrating the ability to distinguish insect wing-beat frequencies using lidar in a way that can spatially map detected insects in the field. The agency reports that literature searches (Google Scholar and Web of Science) found five pertinent papers from the Shaw lab and only two other papers related to similar concepts, but those other systems were described as laboratory instruments tested on captive animals and not suitable for free-ranging insects outdoors. Because the project depends on a field-ready instrument and demonstrated expertise with this specific method, NPS argues MSU is uniquely positioned to perform the work.
Administratively, the opportunity is listed under Funding Opportunity Number P13AS00106 and categorized as a discretionary award using a cooperative agreement instrument type, with an activity focus in natural resources. The expected number of awards is one, with no cost sharing or matching requirement. The estimated total funding and the ceiling are both listed as $67,827 (with an award floor of $1). Eligible applicants are public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, consistent with the intended university-based partnership. The posting date is June 27, 2013, with an original and current closing date of July 8, 2013, and an archive date of July 9, 2013. The notice cites statutory authorities that allow NPS to enter into cooperative research and training agreements with educational institutions, including provisions under 16 U.S.C. 1a-2(j) and 16 U.S.C. 5933 supporting cooperative study units and multidisciplinary research tied to National Park System resources and surrounding regions. Contact information is provided for Alicia Broner, Contract Specialist (Contractor), at 303-987-6734 and aliciabroner@contractor.nps.gov for access issues related to the announcement.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is this an open funding opportunity or a call for proposals?
No. The notice is explicitly not a call for proposals and not an open solicitation. It is a public notice that the National Park Service (NPS) intends to make one planned, non-competitive cooperative agreement award to support a specific research partnership.
What is the project called?
The project is titled "Optical Sensing to Study the Effect of Anthropogenic Light and Noise on Flying Insects."
Which agency is issuing the notice?
The notice is issued by the National Park Service (NPS).
Who is the intended recipient of the award?
The planned, single award is intended for Montana State University (MSU), specifically referencing the Shaw lab as having unique qualifications for the work described.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON)?
The Funding Opportunity Number is P13AS00106.
How many awards does NPS expect to make?
The expected number of awards is one (1).
What type of award instrument will be used?
The instrument type is a cooperative agreement. This is emphasized as a collaboration where NPS anticipates substantial involvement in the project rather than providing funding with minimal engagement.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. The notice states there is no cost sharing or matching requirement.
What is the total estimated funding amount and the maximum (ceiling) amount?
The estimated total funding is $67,827, and the funding ceiling is also listed as $67,827.
Is there a minimum (floor) award amount listed?
Yes. The award floor is listed as $1.
What is the main purpose of the project?
The project aims to study how anthropogenic (human-caused) light and noise may affect flying insects at night, using a specialized optical remote-sensing tool that can measure insects in flight without capturing them.
Why is NPS concerned about artificial light and noise in and near parks?
The notice explains that dark, naturally lit night skies are a valued part of the visitor experience in many park units. It also notes that new energy development across the Great Plains and Intermountain West is introducing bright artificial lighting (and associated noise) into areas that historically did not experience these disturbances.
Why focus on flying insects?
The notice states that flying insects play central roles in nocturnal ecosystems and food webs. NPS is concerned that nearby development could alter insect movement, behavior, and abundance, and ultimately affect species in parks that depend on insects.
What technology will be used to measure insects?
MSU will use a custom wing-beat modulation light detection and ranging (lidar) instrument. It is described as a specialized optical remote-sensing tool designed to measure flying insects at night without capturing them.
How is this lidar different from conventional lidar?
Conventional lidar mainly measures how much light is scattered back as a function of distance. The system described here applies real-time Fourier transform processing so it can also detect oscillation frequencies caused by insect wing beats, adding a frequency dimension to the measurement.
Does the instrument capture or collect insects?
No. The notice describes measuring insects in flight at night without capturing them.
What is the instrument expected to measure in the airspace?
The notice indicates the system is intended to rapidly map the spatial distribution of insects in the atmosphere under real field conditions, using lidar returns and wing-beat modulation signals.
Can the lidar help identify insects, or does it only count them?
The notice suggests the project will evaluate whether reflected intensity and wing-beat modulation can provide clues about insect identity. The goal is to move beyond simple counts toward coarse identification or grouping based on wing-beat signatures and reflected light intensity.
What are the stated research and development goals?
The notice lists goals that include: (1) testing whether wing-beat modulation lidar can rapidly map insect spatial distribution under field conditions; (2) evaluating whether reflected intensity and wing-beat modulation provide clues about insect identity; and (3) applying the tool to compare insect abundance and species composition across natural gradients (habitat type, time of night, weather) and human-driven gradients (artificial light, noise, and broader regional development).
What kinds of gradients or conditions will be compared in the study?
Natural gradients mentioned include habitat type, time of night, and weather. Human-driven gradients mentioned include artificial light, noise, and broader regional development.
What kinds of outputs or deliverables are expected from the project?
The notice emphasizes public-facing and academic outcomes, including education and outreach on ecological effects of light pollution, cross-disciplinary student training opportunities, and production of peer-reviewed papers and conference presentations.
What does "substantial involvement" mean for this cooperative agreement?
The notice describes substantial involvement as active collaboration between MSU and NPS. MSU is expected to collaborate closely with the NPS Agreement Technical Representative (ATR) to define tasks and schedules, hold quarterly teleconferences, present results at conferences when appropriate, and oversee translation of results into peer-reviewed manuscripts. NPS will co-develop tasks and timelines, join teleconferences, participate in data analysis as appropriate, contribute to manuscript drafting where relevant, and provide scientific review of draft publications.
How often are project check-ins expected to occur?
The notice specifies quarterly teleconferences to review progress and plan next steps.
Why is this award not being competed?
NPS justifies not using full and open competition based on unique qualifications and single-source reasoning. The notice states MSU (the Shaw lab) has published the only scientific papers demonstrating the ability to distinguish insect wing-beat frequencies using lidar in a way that can spatially map detected insects in the field. It also states that other related systems described in the literature were laboratory instruments tested on captive animals and were not suitable for free-ranging insects outdoors.
What evidence does NPS cite to support MSU's unique qualifications?
The notice states that literature searches (Google Scholar and Web of Science) found five pertinent papers from the Shaw lab and only two other papers related to similar concepts, with those other systems described as lab-based and not field-suitable for free-ranging insects.
What is the activity focus area for this award?
The notice categorizes the activity focus in natural resources.
Who is eligible to apply, according to the eligibility category?
The eligible applicant category listed is public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, consistent with the intended university-based partnership described in the notice.
What are the key dates (posting, closing, archive)?
The posting date is June 27, 2013. The original and current closing date is July 8, 2013. The archive date is July 9, 2013.
What legal authorities are cited for this cooperative agreement?
The notice cites statutory authorities that allow NPS to enter into cooperative research and training agreements with educational institutions, including 16 U.S.C. 1a-2(j) and 16 U.S.C. 5933, referencing cooperative study units and multidisciplinary research tied to National Park System resources and surrounding regions.
Who should be contacted for access issues related to the announcement?
The notice provides contact information for Alicia Broner, Contract Specialist (Contractor). Phone: 303-987-6734. Email: aliciabroner@contractor.nps.gov.
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