Opportunity Information: Apply for P15AS00356
Apply for P15AS00356
- The National Park Service in the natural resources science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Population Genetics and Viability Analyses for NPS and FWS Bison Herds" 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 28, 2015 and posted on Aug 28, 2015.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Notice of Intent to Award. No applications will be accepted.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $178,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $178,000.00 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 Private institutions of higher education Public and State controlled institutions of higher education.
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Opportunity Summary:
The grant opportunity titled "Population Genetics and Viability Analyses for NPS and FWS Bison Herds" (Funding Opportunity Number P15AS00356) was a National Park Service (NPS) cooperative agreement intended to support scientific work on American bison genetics and population viability. The core purpose was to strengthen the shared, science-based foundation needed for long-term conservation and management of bison herds overseen by the NPS and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS). Rather than being a broad, open competition, it was tied to a specific internal NPS project and funding stream and was published as a notice of intent to award, meaning no applications were accepted through Grants.gov.
This award was connected to a larger multi-year effort called "NPS 21st Century Bison Conservation Management" (PMIS 192433). NPS authorized funding for fiscal years 2015 through 2017 through its internally competitive NPS SCC Natural Resource Funding Source. The FY15 portion of that funding was being used under this task agreement to carry out targeted work items that advance recognized federal and international conservation priorities. In particular, the announcement highlights alignment with three key guiding efforts: the 2008 Department of the Interior (DOI) Bison Conservation Initiative, the 2010 IUCN American Bison Conservation Assessment, and the 2011 NPS Call to Action. The intent was that deliverables supported by FY15 funds would feed directly into additional bison conservation activities planned for FY16 and FY17 under the same overarching PMIS project.
From a funding and administrative standpoint, this was categorized as a discretionary opportunity using a cooperative agreement as the funding instrument, signaling that NPS expected substantial involvement or collaboration during the project rather than simply issuing a hands-off grant. The activity category was Natural Resources Science and Technology and other Research and Development, reflecting that the emphasis was on applied conservation science. The announcement anticipated a single award, with an estimated total funding amount of $178,000, which also served as the award ceiling, and an award floor listed as $1. Cost sharing or matching was not required.
Eligibility, as stated in the posting, covered a range of research-capable organizations, including 501(c)(3) nonprofits (other than institutions of higher education), private institutions of higher education, and public or state-controlled institutions of higher education. Even though these categories were listed, the notice of intent to award format indicates the recipient selection was effectively predetermined or handled outside an open solicitation process for that posting.
Key dates and status details reinforce that this was not an open call. The opportunity was posted and created on August 28, 2015, carried an original and current closing status of "Notice of Intent to Award. No applications will be accepted," and was archived on September 7, 2015. For anyone needing access to the full announcement at the time, the listing referenced Grants.gov and provided an NPS contact: Steve Livingston (303-969-2690, SteveLivingston@nps.gov).
In practical terms, the project focus implied by the title and description is on using population genetics and viability analysis tools to inform bison conservation decisions. Genetics work typically supports understanding of genetic diversity, relatedness, and potential risks such as inbreeding or loss of diversity over time, while viability analyses are commonly used to estimate population persistence under different management scenarios and threats. By explicitly positioning the work as a collaborative effort to develop the "state of knowledge" for 21st-century bison conservation, the NPS framed this award as foundational science meant to guide coordinated stewardship across agencies and partners, not a standalone study with limited management relevance.
FAQs: Population Genetics and Viability Analyses for NPS and FWS Bison Herds (P15AS00356)
What is the title of this grant opportunity?
The opportunity is titled "Population Genetics and Viability Analyses for NPS and FWS Bison Herds."
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON)?
The Funding Opportunity Number is P15AS00356.
Which agency offered this opportunity?
This was a National Park Service (NPS) opportunity issued as a cooperative agreement and tied to NPS project work supporting bison conservation and management.
What was the main purpose of the award?
The purpose was to support scientific work on American bison population genetics and population viability analyses to strengthen the shared, science-based foundation used for long-term conservation and management of bison herds overseen by NPS and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS).
Was this an open, competitive grant that accepted applications?
No. It was published as a notice of intent to award, and the posting stated that no applications would be accepted through Grants.gov.
Why were no applications accepted?
Based on the posting, this funding was tied to a specific internal NPS project and funding stream and was presented as a notice of intent to award rather than a broad, open competition.
What larger project was this award connected to?
This award was connected to a multi-year effort titled "NPS 21st Century Bison Conservation Management" (PMIS 192433).
What fiscal years were associated with the broader multi-year effort?
NPS authorized funding for fiscal years 2015 through 2017 for the broader PMIS 192433 effort, and the FY15 portion was used under this task agreement for targeted work items.
What funding source was used for this work?
The posting states that NPS authorized funding through its internally competitive NPS SCC Natural Resource Funding Source.
What type of funding instrument was planned?
The funding instrument was a cooperative agreement.
What does it mean that this was a cooperative agreement?
As described in the posting, using a cooperative agreement signaled that NPS expected substantial involvement or collaboration during the project rather than issuing a hands-off award.
How was the opportunity categorized (activity type)?
The activity category was Natural Resources Science and Technology and other Research and Development, indicating an applied conservation science focus.
How many awards were anticipated?
The announcement anticipated a single award.
What was the estimated total funding amount?
The estimated total funding amount was $178,000.
What was the award ceiling?
The award ceiling was listed as $178,000.
What was the award floor?
The award floor was listed as $1.
Was cost sharing or matching required?
No. The posting stated that cost sharing or matching was not required.
Who was eligible according to the posting?
Eligibility listed in the posting included 501(c)(3) nonprofits (other than institutions of higher education), private institutions of higher education, and public or state-controlled institutions of higher education.
If eligibility categories were listed, could any eligible organization apply?
No. Even though categories of eligible organizations were listed, the notice of intent to award format and the stated status ("No applications will be accepted") indicate the recipient selection was effectively predetermined or handled outside an open solicitation process for that posting.
What were the key conservation priorities or frameworks referenced?
The announcement highlighted alignment with the 2008 Department of the Interior (DOI) Bison Conservation Initiative, the 2010 IUCN American Bison Conservation Assessment, and the 2011 NPS Call to Action.
How was the FY15 work expected to relate to later years of the project?
The posting indicated that deliverables supported by FY15 funds were intended to feed directly into additional bison conservation activities planned for FY16 and FY17 under the same overarching PMIS project.
What is the practical scientific focus implied by the opportunity?
The work focus implied by the title and description was to use population genetics and population viability analysis tools to inform bison conservation decisions for NPS and FWS herds.
In general terms, what does "population genetics" contribute to bison conservation work in this context?
In the context described, genetics work supports understanding genetic diversity, relatedness, and potential risks such as inbreeding or loss of diversity over time so that conservation and management decisions are based on the best available science.
In general terms, what does a "viability analysis" contribute in this context?
As described, viability analyses are commonly used to estimate population persistence under different management scenarios and threats, helping inform long-term conservation planning and coordinated stewardship.
What did the posting say about the intended use of results?
NPS framed the work as foundational science meant to guide coordinated stewardship across agencies and partners and to develop the "state of knowledge" for 21st-century bison conservation, rather than as a standalone study with limited management relevance.
When was the opportunity posted and created?
The opportunity was posted and created on August 28, 2015.
What was the closing status of the opportunity?
The original and current closing status was listed as "Notice of Intent to Award. No applications will be accepted."
When was the opportunity archived?
The opportunity was archived on September 7, 2015.
Where was the full announcement referenced?
The listing referenced Grants.gov for access to the full announcement at the time.
Who was the NPS contact listed for this opportunity?
The contact listed was Steve Livingston, phone 303-969-2690, email SteveLivingston@nps.gov.
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