Opportunity Information: Apply for P14AS00204
Apply for P14AS00204
- The National Park Service in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Population Dynamics of Forest Carnivores in Denali" 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 Jul 27, 2014 and posted on Jul 27, 2014.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Department of the Interior Policy (505 DM 2) requires a written justification which explains why competition is not practicable for each single source award.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $26,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $26,000.00 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:
The National Park Service (NPS) posted this funding notice to announce its intent to make a single cooperative agreement award to the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF) through the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) network. The project, titled "Population Dynamics of Forest Carnivores in Denali," falls under the Natural Resources activity area and is supported by statutory authority that allows NPS to partner with educational institutions for coordinated research and training on National Park System resources (16 U.S.C. 1a-2(j)). The intended 2014 award amount is $26,000, with an award ceiling and floor both set at $26,000, and there is no cost sharing or matching requirement. Only one award was expected, and the eligible applicant category is public and state-controlled institutions of higher education.
The main purpose of the project is to track where forest carnivores occur in and around Denali, how abundant they are, and how they partition habitat (in other words, how different carnivore species use the landscape relative to one another). The study relies on field and lab methods previously developed by the principal investigator, emphasizing approaches that work in remote, subarctic conditions. A core piece of the work is winter track surveys: researchers will travel established routes and record carnivore tracks found in snow to help infer distribution and relative abundance. To complement track data with more direct population measures, the project also uses fecal DNA methods to estimate coyote and fox abundance from scats collected along those same survey routes, and it includes diet and genetic analyses from fecal samples.
To interpret carnivore dynamics in context, the project also measures prey availability. That includes ongoing surveys of hare pellets and monitoring vole abundance on established plots, allowing the research team to connect predator patterns to food resources. In addition, the project includes more detailed work on coyotes by capturing and radio-collaring individuals to study movement patterns and survival rates over time. Together, these components are designed to produce a clearer picture of predator populations and their ecological relationships in Denali, including how mid-sized carnivores may respond to prey fluctuations and other predators.
The agreement is structured around close collaboration between UAF and NPS, with substantial NPS involvement in planning, field operations, and interpretation of results. A key management feature is that an NPS biologist, specifically the Biological Resources Program Manager, will serve on the graduate student advisory committee and help shape objectives, methods, field planning, and analysis. Because much of the fieldwork will take place inside designated Wilderness within Denali National Park and Preserve, the work requires careful coordination to meet Wilderness management and compliance requirements. NPS support is also practical and operational: the park will provide housing for winter work, logistical assistance (including snowmachines and/or dog teams), safety and field equipment such as GPS units, radios, emergency locator beacons, and tools for sample collection. NPS will also recruit, train, and support one winter field technician, either as paid staff or through the Volunteers in the Parks program, and will collaborate on data analysis and publication. NPS will further contribute relevant wolf information, including population size, distribution, and detailed wolf movement data from ongoing telemetry studies, which can help interpret interactions among carnivores.
UAF, as the partner, is expected to anchor the effort within a graduate research program leading to a Ph.D. degree. Responsibilities include designing and conducting the field research (setting up and running survey routes, counting tracks, collecting fecal samples, and completing diet and genetic analyses), and managing personnel by recruiting and supervising a graduate student and a primary field technician. UAF will also guide the student through dissertation completion and subsequent technical publications. Beyond research outputs, the project includes a public-facing requirement: at least one interpretive or outreach program per year presented in Denali National Park and Preserve, helping translate findings for visitors and the broader public.
This opportunity was issued as a single-source award rather than an open competition, with justification grounded in Department of the Interior policy (505 DM 2) requiring an explanation for why competition is not practicable. NPS cited unique qualifications of the UAF principal investigator, including extensive Alaska carnivore field experience, a peer-reviewed publication record, and development of innovative approaches for estimating carnivore abundance, distribution, and diet in remote subarctic environments, much of it tied directly to Denali. NPS also noted UAFs specialized genetic analysis capabilities, which are central to the fecal DNA components. Another reason for single-source selection is continuity: the proposed work builds on a recently completed graduate study using the same field sites and protocols, allowing prior-year data to strengthen trend analyses. Familiarity with Denalis operating environment and regulatory landscape (state, NPS, and Wilderness requirements), established working relationships, local geographic knowledge, and the proximity of the UAF campus were also presented as practical factors that support project success.
Administrative details list the funding opportunity number as P14AS00204, with CFDA 15.945 (Cooperative Research and Training Programs, Resources of the National Park System). The notice was posted July 27, 2014, and archived August 31, 2014. The technical contact named for the project is David Schirokauer (DaveSchirokauer@nps.gov, 907-683-9605) with the National Park Service, Alaska Region. For access or assistance with the announcement, the NPS agreements contact listed is Tina Spengler (TinaSpengler@nps.gov, 907-644-3303) at the Alaska Regional Office.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is this funding opportunity?
This is a National Park Service (NPS) funding notice announcing its intent to make a single cooperative agreement award through the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) network for a project titled "Population Dynamics of Forest Carnivores in Denali."
What is the project title?
The project is titled "Population Dynamics of Forest Carnivores in Denali."
Which federal agency is offering the award?
The award is offered by the National Park Service (NPS), Alaska Region.
What is the statutory authority for this cooperative agreement?
The notice cites statutory authority at 16 U.S.C. 1a-2(j), which allows NPS to partner with educational institutions for coordinated research and training on National Park System resources.
What is the activity area for this project?
The project falls under the Natural Resources activity area.
What is the funding opportunity number?
The funding opportunity number is P14AS00204.
What is the CFDA number and program name?
The CFDA is 15.945, Cooperative Research and Training Programs, Resources of the National Park System.
How much funding is intended for this award?
The intended 2014 award amount is $26,000.
What are the award ceiling and floor?
Both the award ceiling and the award floor are $26,000.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. The notice states there is no cost sharing or matching requirement.
How many awards will be made?
Only one award was expected.
Is this an open competitive opportunity?
No. This opportunity was issued as a single-source award rather than an open competition.
Why is it single-source (non-competitive)?
NPS stated that competition was not practicable under Department of the Interior policy (505 DM 2). The justification included the principal investigator's unique qualifications and experience in Alaska carnivore research, specialized genetic analysis capabilities at the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF), and continuity with a recently completed graduate study using the same field sites and protocols.
Who is the intended recipient of the cooperative agreement?
NPS announced its intent to make a single cooperative agreement award to the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF) through the CESU network.
Who is eligible to apply, based on the notice?
The eligible applicant category listed is public and state-controlled institutions of higher education.
What is the main purpose of the project?
The purpose is to track where forest carnivores occur in and around Denali, how abundant they are, and how they partition habitat (how different carnivore species use the landscape relative to one another).
What kinds of field conditions is the study designed for?
The work emphasizes approaches developed to function in remote, subarctic conditions.
What are winter track surveys and how are they used in this project?
Researchers will travel established routes in winter and record carnivore tracks found in snow. These track observations are used to help infer carnivore distribution and relative abundance.
How does the project estimate coyote and fox abundance more directly?
The project uses fecal DNA methods to estimate coyote and fox abundance from scats collected along the same winter track survey routes.
What laboratory analyses are included?
The notice describes diet and genetic analyses from fecal samples as part of the work.
Does the project measure prey availability? If so, how?
Yes. Prey availability is measured through ongoing surveys of hare pellets and monitoring vole abundance on established plots. These data help connect predator patterns to food resources.
Is there a coyote-specific research component?
Yes. The project includes capturing and radio-collaring coyotes to study movement patterns and survival rates over time.
Where will the fieldwork take place?
The work will take place in and around Denali, including areas inside Denali National Park and Preserve. The notice also states that much of the fieldwork will occur inside designated Wilderness within the park and preserve.
Are there special compliance or coordination needs because the work occurs in Wilderness?
Yes. Because fieldwork will take place inside designated Wilderness, the work requires careful coordination to meet Wilderness management and compliance requirements.
What does "substantial NPS involvement" mean in this cooperative agreement?
The notice describes substantial NPS involvement in planning, field operations, and interpretation of results, including participation in shaping objectives, methods, field planning, and analysis.
Who from NPS will be closely involved in the research effort?
An NPS biologist, identified as the Biological Resources Program Manager, will serve on the graduate student advisory committee and help shape objectives, methods, field planning, and analysis.
What logistical and operational support will NPS provide?
NPS will provide housing for winter work and logistical assistance, including snowmachines and/or dog teams. NPS will also provide safety and field equipment such as GPS units, radios, emergency locator beacons, and tools for sample collection.
Will NPS provide field staffing support?
Yes. NPS will recruit, train, and support one winter field technician, either as paid staff or through the Volunteers in the Parks program.
Will NPS contribute data to support the research?
Yes. NPS will contribute relevant wolf information, including wolf population size, distribution, and detailed wolf movement data from ongoing telemetry studies, to help interpret interactions among carnivores.
What are UAF's primary responsibilities under the agreement?
UAF is expected to anchor the effort within a graduate research program leading to a Ph.D. degree. UAF responsibilities include designing and conducting field research (running survey routes, counting tracks, collecting fecal samples), completing diet and genetic analyses, recruiting and supervising a graduate student and a primary field technician, and guiding dissertation completion and subsequent technical publications.
Is there an education or outreach requirement?
Yes. The project requires at least one interpretive or outreach program per year presented in Denali National Park and Preserve to help communicate findings to visitors and the broader public.
What reasons were given for selecting UAF and the identified principal investigator?
NPS cited extensive Alaska carnivore field experience, a peer-reviewed publication record, and development of innovative methods for estimating abundance, distribution, and diet in remote subarctic environments, including work tied directly to Denali. NPS also cited UAF's specialized genetic analysis capabilities and the value of continuity with existing Denali field sites, protocols, and prior-year data.
When was this notice posted and when was it archived?
The notice was posted July 27, 2014, and archived August 31, 2014.
Who is the technical contact for the project?
The technical contact is David Schirokauer (DaveSchirokauer@nps.gov, 907-683-9605), National Park Service, Alaska Region.
Who is the agreements contact for access or assistance with the announcement?
The NPS agreements contact listed is Tina Spengler (TinaSpengler@nps.gov, 907-644-3303), Alaska Regional Office.
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