Opportunity Information: Apply for P14AS00215
Apply for P14AS00215
- The National Park Service in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Population viability for Mountain Lions at SAMO" 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 29, 2014 and posted on Jul 29, 2014.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 15, 2014 NOTICE OF INTENT TO AWARD. This is not a request for applications. This funding announcement is to provide public notice that the National Park Service will fund the following project under an existing Cooperative Management.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $53,883.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $120,000.00 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 National Park Service funding opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number P14AS00215), titled "Population viability for Mountain Lions at SAMO," supports a collaborative research project to produce a population viability analysis (PVA) for mountain lions in and around Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area. The core goal is to generate a rigorous, long-term outlook on whether the park's mountain lion population can persist under current conditions and under realistic future scenarios. Mountain lions are described as the last remaining large carnivore in the park and a highly visible species that is particularly sensitive to urbanization, largely because they need extensive territories and the ability to disperse across landscapes. The PVA is intended to turn existing monitoring and ecological knowledge into concrete, decision-relevant projections about population stability, extinction risk, and the management actions most likely to improve long-term viability.
The work is organized as a two-year effort led through the La Kretz Center for California Conservation Science at UCLA, which will hire a postdoctoral researcher, Dr. John Benson, to carry out the analysis in close coordination with National Park Service wildlife staff. Funding is described as joint support from UCLA's La Kretz Center and the NPS, with the postdoctoral researcher embedded in a cooperative workflow rather than operating as an independent, disconnected grantee. Over the project period, Dr. Benson and NPS staff will compile all available information relevant to the model, build the PVA specifically for the Santa Monica Mountains mountain lion population, and then run multiple management and development scenarios. These scenarios explicitly include changes in connectivity between remaining natural areas (both increases and decreases) and increased urban development, reflecting the real-world pressures that fragmentation, roads, and expanding human land use can place on a wide-ranging carnivore.
A notable feature of the project is the planned integration of genetics into the population model. Dr. Benson will work with UCLA faculty to explore how genetic data can inform the PVA, which can be important for small or isolated populations where inbreeding and reduced genetic diversity may affect survival and reproduction over time. The project also has an applied conservation science angle beyond mountain lions alone, since it includes exploring how similar modeling approaches could be used to support endangered species conservation efforts elsewhere in California.
The expected outputs are both technical and public-facing. The recipient is expected to produce a formal report detailing the PVA results and to develop publishable articles based on the work. In addition, Dr. Benson will participate in outreach activities with both UCLA's La Kretz Center and the NPS, including presentations to NPS staff and to the public. He will also participate in decision-making meetings and other conservation activities where his modeling expertise can directly support on-the-ground planning and policy discussions, reinforcing that the PVA is meant to be a practical tool for management rather than a purely academic exercise.
Administratively, this opportunity was posted July 29, 2014, with an original and current closing date of August 15, 2014, and it is explicitly labeled as a Notice of Intent to Award. That means it is not an open solicitation and not a request for applications; instead, it serves as public notice that the NPS planned to fund this work under an existing cooperative management arrangement. The award instrument type is a Cooperative Agreement within the Natural Resources activity category, with one expected award. The CFDA listing is 15.944 (Natural Resource Stewardship). The estimated total funding listed is $53,883, cost sharing is not required, and the eligibility category shown is public and state-controlled institutions of higher education. The award ceiling is listed as $120,000 and the award floor as $1, reflecting the broader grants.gov template fields rather than the specific planned total. The agency contact listed for access issues is Kristina Bliss, Agreements Specialist, at 805-370-2321 and kristinabliss@nps.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is this funding opportunity?
This is a National Park Service (NPS) funding opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number P14AS00215) titled "Population viability for Mountain Lions at SAMO." It supports a collaborative research project to produce a population viability analysis (PVA) for mountain lions in and around Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area.
What is the main purpose of the project?
The project is intended to generate a rigorous, long-term outlook on whether the Santa Monica Mountains mountain lion population can persist under current conditions and under realistic future scenarios. The PVA is meant to convert existing monitoring and ecological knowledge into decision-relevant projections about population stability, extinction risk, and which management actions are most likely to improve long-term viability.
What is a population viability analysis (PVA) in the context of this opportunity?
In this opportunity, a PVA is a modeling effort that compiles available information about the mountain lion population and uses it to project outcomes such as long-term population stability and extinction risk. The PVA is also designed to compare different management and development scenarios to understand how those changes could affect persistence over time.
Why are mountain lions a focus for Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area?
The opportunity describes mountain lions as the last remaining large carnivore in the park and a highly visible species. They are also described as particularly sensitive to urbanization because they require extensive territories and the ability to disperse across landscapes, making them vulnerable to fragmentation, roads, and expanding human land use.
Where will the analysis apply geographically?
The analysis is focused on mountain lions in and around Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area (SAMO), with attention to how conditions inside and outside the park influence the population.
How long is the project expected to last?
The work is organized as a two-year effort.
Who is leading and carrying out the work?
The project is led through the La Kretz Center for California Conservation Science at UCLA. UCLA will hire a postdoctoral researcher, Dr. John Benson, to carry out the analysis in close coordination with National Park Service wildlife staff.
Is this project structured as a collaborative effort with NPS staff?
Yes. The postdoctoral researcher is described as being embedded in a cooperative workflow with NPS wildlife staff. The description emphasizes coordination and participation in decision-making meetings and conservation activities so the modeling can directly support planning and policy discussions.
What kinds of scenarios will the PVA examine?
The project will run multiple management and development scenarios. The description explicitly includes scenarios involving changes in connectivity between remaining natural areas (both increases and decreases) and scenarios reflecting increased urban development.
How does the opportunity address habitat connectivity?
Connectivity is explicitly called out as a scenario variable in the modeling. The PVA will evaluate outcomes under both improved connectivity and reduced connectivity between remaining natural areas.
How does the opportunity address urban development pressures?
Increased urban development is explicitly included as part of the future scenarios the PVA will evaluate, reflecting real-world pressures related to fragmentation, roads, and expanding human land use.
Will genetics be incorporated into the analysis?
Yes. A notable feature is the planned integration of genetics into the population model. Dr. Benson will work with UCLA faculty to explore how genetic data can inform the PVA, especially because genetic factors can matter for small or isolated populations.
Why is genetics considered important for this project?
The opportunity notes that for small or isolated populations, inbreeding and reduced genetic diversity may affect survival and reproduction over time. Incorporating genetics is presented as a way to better inform projections about long-term viability.
Are there expected deliverables?
Yes. Expected outputs include a formal report detailing the PVA results and publishable articles based on the work.
Are there any public-facing or outreach expectations?
Yes. Dr. Benson is expected to participate in outreach activities with both UCLA's La Kretz Center and the NPS, including presentations to NPS staff and to the public.
Is the PVA intended for practical management use or primarily academic purposes?
The description emphasizes that the PVA is meant to be a practical tool for management. Dr. Benson is expected to participate in decision-making meetings and conservation activities where modeling expertise can support on-the-ground planning and policy discussions.
Does the opportunity mention benefits beyond mountain lion conservation?
Yes. It includes exploring how similar modeling approaches could be used to support endangered species conservation efforts elsewhere in California, indicating an applied conservation science angle beyond mountain lions alone.
What type of grant or agreement is this?
The award instrument type is a Cooperative Agreement, and it falls under the Natural Resources activity category.
Is this an open solicitation where applicants can apply?
No. It is explicitly labeled as a Notice of Intent to Award. The description states it is not an open solicitation and not a request for applications; it serves as public notice that the NPS planned to fund this work under an existing cooperative management arrangement.
How many awards are expected?
One award is expected.
Who is eligible according to the listing?
The eligibility category shown is public and state-controlled institutions of higher education.
What is the CFDA number for this opportunity?
The CFDA listing is 15.944 (Natural Resource Stewardship).
When was the opportunity posted and when did it close?
The opportunity was posted on July 29, 2014. The original and current closing date listed is August 15, 2014.
What is the estimated total funding amount?
The estimated total funding listed is $53,883.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. The opportunity states that cost sharing is not required.
What are the award ceiling and award floor shown in the listing?
The award ceiling is listed as $120,000 and the award floor as $1. The description notes these reflect broader grants.gov template fields rather than the specific planned total.
Who is listed as the agency contact for access issues?
The agency contact listed for access issues is Kristina Bliss, Agreements Specialist. Phone: 805-370-2321. Email: kristinabliss@nps.gov.
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