Opportunity Information: Apply for P15AS00192
Apply for P15AS00192
- The National Park Service in the education environment natural resources science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Partnership with New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology for National Cave and Karst Research Institute" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.944 Natural Resource Stewardship.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jul 7, 2015 and posted on Jul 7, 2015.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 20, 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 $294,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $294,000.00 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 grant notice is a formal Notice of Intent to Award from the National Park Service (NPS) for a continuation cooperative agreement with the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology (NMT) to support the National Cave and Karst Research Institute (NCKRI). It is not an open solicitation and is not requesting applications. Instead, it serves as public notice that NPS intends to provide approximately $294,000 in federal funding, with no cost share required, for work running from the award date through September 30, 2016. The opportunity is listed under CFDA 15.944 (Natural Resources Stewardship) and falls within education, environment, natural resources, and science and technology research and development activities. The principal investigator/program manager named is Richard Cervantes, and the NPS point of contact is June Zastrow (303-987-6718, junezastrow@nps.gov). The funding announcement number is P15AS00192, implemented as Task Agreement P15AC01175 under an existing cooperative agreement framework (P14AC00029).
The legal and program foundation for the award traces back to the National Cave and Karst Research Institute Act of 1998 (Public Law 105-325, 16 U.S.C. 4310 note). Congress created NCKRI to advance speleology and cave and karst science, standardize and centralize related information, encourage interdisciplinary cooperation, expand public education, strengthen national and international cooperation to protect cave and karst environments, and promote environmentally sound, sustainable management of these resources. The Act also specifies that NCKRI is to be jointly administered by the NPS and another public or private institution selected by the Secretary, with NPS serving as the primary lead with ultimate responsibility and indirect control over institute activities. NMT became the primary academic partner through an earlier cooperative agreement executed around February 11, 2005 (H2360030007), and the partnership was continued and updated through a newer cooperative agreement that took effect around January 14, 2014 (P14AC00029). The continuation funding described here supports priorities set in the federally approved portion of NCKRI's budget, as endorsed by its Board of Directors in May 2015 for the period through May 2016.
The work NMT is expected to carry out with this funding is organized around three main objectives that blend outreach, research leadership, and institutional development. First, NMT will strengthen NCKRI's public outreach and communication capacity by continuing upgrades to the institute website, adding current information on NCKRI activities and progress, expanding general and advanced educational content on cave and karst resources and their value, and developing online lessons. This outreach emphasis also includes building a cave and karst educator network and further developing NCKRI headquarters as a hub for education and outreach programming. Second, NMT will help reinforce NCKRI's standing as a leading cave and karst research center by building research partnerships at local, national, and international levels, presenting results at conferences, organizing conferences that elevate the field and the institute's professional visibility, undertaking at least one nationally significant cave and karst research project, and establishing NCKRI as a national clearinghouse for cave and karst information. Third, NMT will support completion and maturation of the institute's headquarters building by researching and approaching potential sponsors to fund unfinished components of the facility, pursuing support for permanent museum exhibits aimed at public education, and conducting contract research intended to generate independent revenue that can supplement operating costs and help finish remaining building needs.
Because the award is a cooperative agreement, the notice emphasizes substantial NPS involvement rather than a hands-off grant relationship. NPS will participate in NCKRI governance and oversight by attending the annual Board meeting and serving as Chair of the Budget Committee, which is one of the primary mechanisms through which NPS maintains its statutory leadership role. NPS will also collaborate with NMT on research and education projects aligned with the Act's purposes, jointly identify additional projects that advance NCKRI's mission, and make NPS staff available to serve on institute committees. This shared administration model is central to how NCKRI is intended to function under its authorizing legislation.
The notice also explains why NPS is not conducting full and open competition for this award. Under Department of the Interior single-source policy (505 DM 2), agencies must justify noncompetitive assistance awards using specific allowable criteria. Here, NPS cites the single-source criterion of legislative intent, stating that the authorizing statute and legislative history indicate Congress intended to restrict the award to a particular recipient or purpose. In practical terms, the document ties that justification to the statutory structure of NCKRI as a jointly administered institute and to the long-running cooperative relationship with NMT as the designated academic partner. The award is therefore positioned as a continuation necessary to fulfill NPS's statutory duties to support NCKRI and to maintain continuity in ongoing operations, outreach, research coordination, and facility development through the end of the stated performance period.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is this an open grant competition where we can apply?
No. This notice is a formal Notice of Intent to Award and is not an open solicitation. It is not requesting applications from the public.
What is the purpose of the notice?
The notice serves as public notice that the National Park Service (NPS) intends to provide continuation funding through a cooperative agreement framework to support the National Cave and Karst Research Institute (NCKRI) via the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology (NMT).
Who is the intended recipient of the award?
The intended recipient is the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology (NMT), in support of the National Cave and Karst Research Institute (NCKRI).
Which federal agency is providing the funding?
The funding is intended to be provided by the National Park Service (NPS).
How much funding does NPS intend to award?
NPS intends to provide approximately $294,000 in federal funding.
Is a cost share or match required?
No. The notice states that no cost share is required.
What is the performance period for the work?
The work is planned to run from the award date through September 30, 2016.
What is the CFDA number for this opportunity?
The opportunity is listed under CFDA 15.944 (Natural Resources Stewardship).
What program areas or activity categories does this funding fall under?
The notice places the work within education, environment, natural resources, and science and technology research and development activities.
What is the funding announcement number?
The funding announcement number is P15AS00192.
Is there a related task agreement number?
Yes. The notice states it is implemented as Task Agreement P15AC01175.
What is the underlying cooperative agreement referenced in the notice?
The task agreement is issued under an existing cooperative agreement framework identified as P14AC00029.
Who is listed as the principal investigator/program manager?
The principal investigator/program manager named in the notice is Richard Cervantes.
Who is the NPS point of contact for this notice?
The NPS point of contact is June Zastrow. The notice lists the phone number as 303-987-6718 and the email address as junezastrow@nps.gov.
What is the legal authority behind the work being funded?
The legal and program foundation traces back to the National Cave and Karst Research Institute Act of 1998 (Public Law 105-325, 16 U.S.C. 4310 note).
What was NCKRI created to do under the Act?
According to the notice, Congress created NCKRI to advance speleology and cave and karst science; standardize and centralize related information; encourage interdisciplinary cooperation; expand public education; strengthen national and international cooperation to protect cave and karst environments; and promote environmentally sound, sustainable management of cave and karst resources.
How is NCKRI supposed to be administered?
The notice explains that the Act specifies NCKRI is to be jointly administered by NPS and another public or private institution selected by the Secretary, with NPS serving as the primary lead with ultimate responsibility and indirect control over institute activities.
Why is NMT involved as the academic partner?
The notice states that NMT became the primary academic partner through an earlier cooperative agreement executed around February 11, 2005 (H2360030007), and that the partnership was continued and updated through a cooperative agreement that took effect around January 14, 2014 (P14AC00029).
What budget or planning process is this continuation funding tied to?
The continuation funding supports priorities set in the federally approved portion of NCKRI's budget, as endorsed by its Board of Directors in May 2015 for the period through May 2016.
What are the main objectives NMT is expected to carry out with these funds?
The notice organizes the work into three objectives: (1) strengthen NCKRI public outreach and communications, (2) reinforce NCKRI research leadership and partnerships, and (3) support completion and maturation of the institute headquarters building and related sustainability efforts.
What outreach and education activities are included?
The notice describes continuing upgrades to the institute website; adding current information on NCKRI activities and progress; expanding general and advanced educational content on cave and karst resources and their value; developing online lessons; building a cave and karst educator network; and further developing NCKRI headquarters as a hub for education and outreach programming.
What research-related activities are included?
The notice describes building research partnerships at local, national, and international levels; presenting results at conferences; organizing conferences to elevate the field and the institute's professional visibility; undertaking at least one nationally significant cave and karst research project; and establishing NCKRI as a national clearinghouse for cave and karst information.
What facility or headquarters-related activities are included?
The notice describes researching and approaching potential sponsors to fund unfinished components of the headquarters facility; pursuing support for permanent museum exhibits aimed at public education; and conducting contract research intended to generate independent revenue that can supplement operating costs and help finish remaining building needs.
Is this funding structured as a grant or a cooperative agreement?
It is structured as a cooperative agreement. The notice emphasizes substantial NPS involvement rather than a hands-off grant relationship.
What does "substantial NPS involvement" mean for this project?
As described in the notice, NPS will participate in governance and oversight by attending the annual Board meeting and serving as Chair of the Budget Committee. NPS will also collaborate with NMT on research and education projects aligned with the Act's purposes, jointly identify additional mission-related projects, and make NPS staff available to serve on institute committees.
Why is NPS not conducting full and open competition for this award?
The notice explains that, under Department of the Interior single-source policy (505 DM 2), noncompetitive assistance awards must be justified using allowable criteria. NPS cites the single-source criterion of legislative intent, stating that the authorizing statute and legislative history indicate Congress intended to restrict the award to a particular recipient or purpose.
How does the notice connect the single-source justification to NCKRI and NMT?
The notice ties the justification to the statutory structure of NCKRI as a jointly administered institute, and to the long-running cooperative relationship with NMT as the designated academic partner, positioning the award as a continuation necessary for ongoing operations, outreach, research coordination, and facility development through the stated period.
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