Opportunity Information: Apply for P14AS00065
Apply for P14AS00065
- The National Park Service in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Seabirds as Indicators of Coastal Ecosystem Condition and Change" 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 Apr 8, 2014 and posted on Apr 8, 2014.
- Applicants must submit their applications by This Funding Announcement is not a request for applications. This announcement is to provide public notice of the National Park Services intention to fund the following project activities without full and open competition.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $75,522.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $75,522.00 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 Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education.
[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal:
Opportunity Summary:
The National Park Service (NPS) notice titled "Seabirds as Indicators of Coastal Ecosystem Condition and Change" describes an intended cooperative agreement award, not an open call for applications. In other words, it is a public notification that NPS plans to fund a specific set of research activities without full and open competition, primarily because the work is a continuation of an ongoing multi-year project where maintaining consistent methods and an unbroken time series is critical for scientific validity.
The project focuses on using seabirds as practical, sensitive indicators of nearshore marine ecosystem conditions in the Resurrection Bay area of Alaska. Seabirds are emphasized because they integrate changes in ocean food webs and environmental conditions and are generally easier to monitor than many other marine organisms. The work has two main scientific components. First, it conducts repeated counts of multiple seabird species using nearshore habitat around Resurrection Bay. Second, it measures breeding productivity at nesting colonies for two focal species with different life histories: Common Murres and Black-legged Kittiwakes. Productivity tracking includes metrics such as eggs laid, hatching success, and chick survival. A key feature of the effort is its monthly sampling approach rather than annual sampling, which produces much finer-resolution data for detecting seasonal patterns and changes.
Field methods include installing and operating automated monitoring equipment at two colony sites, Barwell Island and Cape Resurrection. Automated video systems and DSLR cameras are used to monitor roughly 30 to 60 nests of murres and kittiwakes, with footage collected during the breeding season and analyzed later in a laboratory setting. In parallel, the project runs monthly vessel-based seabird surveys within 200 yards of shore along the Resurrection Bay shoreline to document nearshore seabird abundance and distribution. Environmental context is added using physical data such as temperature, precipitation, and barometric pressure drawn from NOAA online databases, allowing researchers to link seabird responses to broader weather and ocean conditions.
The data are intended to feed directly into GulfWatch Alaska, an interagency program that develops scientific models of the Gulf of Alaska marine ecosystem. These ecosystem models are meant to support both academic research and management decision-making, including understanding and anticipating how seabirds and related marine resources respond to major stressors like oil spills and climate change. The announcement stresses that the monthly schedule and the dual-species breeding monitoring provide more detailed and biologically informative inputs for modeling than many standard seabird monitoring programs.
Project management is described as a joint effort between the Alaska SeaLife Center (ASLC) and NPS inventory and monitoring staff. Methods were developed collaboratively, and the resulting datasets are to be analyzed jointly as well. A specific quality-control element is method calibration to quantify observer error: ASLC and NPS vessels conduct tandem seabird counts at the same time to compare results and ensure consistent data collection. In addition to the research outputs, NPS staff will document fieldwork through video, photos, and interviews, then use that material to create education and outreach products for platforms like Facebook and YouTube, as well as teacher workshops and K-12 events. Those multimedia products will also be shared with ASLC.
Roles are split clearly. ASLC is responsible for most field operations and research execution, including vessel work, colony monitoring, transect surveys, procurement and maintenance of field equipment, and data organization, backups, and database management. ASLC also handles administrative supervision of its staff and students, prepares results for peer-reviewed publications and conference presentations, and collaborates with NPS on analysis and synthesis for ecosystem model development. NPS involvement is described as substantial, including coordinating and participating in calibration surveys, co-leading analyses and integration of seabird data with other datasets for Gulf of Alaska ecological models, and producing outreach and educational media based on the project.
The justification for awarding without competition is based on continuity of an existing five-year effort previously funded under earlier agreements. Long-running datasets already exist for Black-legged Kittiwakes (since 2010) and Common Murres (since 2012), and the nearshore vessel surveys are in year four of a five-year sequence. The notice argues that switching to a new partner would likely break the time series, introduce inconsistent methods and new sources of measurement error, and risk losing the hard-won operational experience needed to run automated cameras at remote colonies. It also notes that graduate student research, including dissertation work and planned peer-reviewed publications, depends on completion of the full dataset, and that meaningful ecosystem modeling requires at least five years of consistent data.
Administratively, the opportunity is listed under Funding Opportunity Number P14AS00065. It is categorized as a discretionary natural resources activity using a cooperative agreement instrument, with an expected single award. The estimated total funding and award ceiling are both listed as $75,522, with no cost-sharing or matching requirement. The CFDA listing provided is 15.944 (Natural Resource Stewardship). Eligible applicants are described broadly as nonprofits (with or without 501(c)(3) status) other than institutions of higher education, although the notice itself makes clear this is not an application solicitation. Key contacts include NPS Agreement Technical Representative Benjamin Pister (benjaminpister@nps.gov) and Agreements Officer Tina Spengler (TinaSpengler@nps.gov; 907-644-3303). The notice was posted April 8, 2014, and archived May 8, 2014.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1) Is this an open grant solicitation where anyone can apply?
No. The notice describes an intended cooperative agreement award and functions as a public notification, not an open call for applications. It states that the National Park Service (NPS) plans to fund a specific continuation of work without full and open competition.
2) Why is NPS planning to award this without full and open competition?
The notice explains that the work is a continuation of an ongoing multi-year project where consistent methods and an unbroken time series are critical for scientific validity. It also notes that changing partners could introduce method differences, measurement error, and operational disruptions that could compromise the dataset and related research outcomes.
3) What is the project called and what is it about?
The project is titled "Seabirds as Indicators of Coastal Ecosystem Condition and Change." It focuses on using seabirds as practical, sensitive indicators of nearshore marine ecosystem conditions in the Resurrection Bay area of Alaska.
4) Where is the study located?
The project is based in Resurrection Bay, Alaska. Field activities include work along the Resurrection Bay shoreline and monitoring at seabird colony sites on Barwell Island and Cape Resurrection.
5) Why use seabirds as indicators of ecosystem change?
According to the notice, seabirds integrate changes in ocean food webs and environmental conditions and are generally easier to monitor than many other marine organisms. That makes them useful indicators of nearshore marine ecosystem conditions and change.
6) What are the main scientific components of the work?
The notice describes two main components: (1) repeated counts of multiple seabird species using nearshore habitat around Resurrection Bay, and (2) breeding productivity monitoring at nesting colonies for two focal species with different life histories.
7) Which seabird species are the focal species for breeding productivity monitoring?
The two focal species named are Common Murres and Black-legged Kittiwakes.
8) What does "breeding productivity" tracking include?
Productivity tracking includes measures such as eggs laid, hatching success, and chick survival for the focal species at nesting colonies.
9) How often are data collected, and why does that matter?
The project uses a monthly sampling approach rather than annual sampling. The notice emphasizes that monthly data provide much finer-resolution information for detecting seasonal patterns and changes, and can offer more detailed and biologically informative inputs for modeling than many standard seabird monitoring programs.
10) What field methods are used at the nesting colonies?
The project installs and operates automated monitoring equipment at two colony sites (Barwell Island and Cape Resurrection). Automated video systems and DSLR cameras are used to monitor approximately 30 to 60 nests of murres and kittiwakes during the breeding season, with footage collected in the field and analyzed later in a laboratory setting.
11) What survey methods are used for nearshore seabird abundance and distribution?
The notice describes monthly vessel-based seabird surveys conducted within 200 yards of shore along the Resurrection Bay shoreline to document nearshore seabird abundance and distribution.
12) What environmental data are used alongside seabird observations?
Environmental context is added using physical data such as temperature, precipitation, and barometric pressure obtained from NOAA online databases, allowing researchers to link seabird responses to broader weather and ocean conditions.
13) What program will use the project data?
The data are intended to feed directly into GulfWatch Alaska, described as an interagency program that develops scientific models of the Gulf of Alaska marine ecosystem.
14) What are the ecosystem models used for?
The notice states that these models are meant to support both academic research and management decision-making, including understanding and anticipating how seabirds and related marine resources respond to major stressors like oil spills and climate change.
15) Who is managing and carrying out the project work?
Project management is described as a joint effort between the Alaska SeaLife Center (ASLC) and NPS inventory and monitoring staff. Methods were developed collaboratively, and the datasets are to be analyzed jointly.
16) What is the quality-control approach mentioned in the notice?
A specific quality-control element is method calibration to quantify observer error. The notice explains that ASLC and NPS vessels conduct tandem seabird counts at the same time to compare results and ensure consistent data collection.
17) What responsibilities does the Alaska SeaLife Center (ASLC) have under this project?
ASLC is responsible for most field operations and research execution, including vessel work, colony monitoring, transect surveys, procurement and maintenance of field equipment, and data organization, backups, and database management. ASLC also supervises its staff and students administratively, prepares results for peer-reviewed publications and conference presentations, and collaborates with NPS on analysis and synthesis for ecosystem model development.
18) What responsibilities does NPS have under this cooperative agreement?
NPS involvement is described as substantial. NPS coordinates and participates in calibration surveys, co-leads analyses and integration of seabird data with other datasets for Gulf of Alaska ecological models, and produces outreach and educational media (video, photos, interviews) based on the project.
19) Are education and outreach products part of the project?
Yes. The notice states that NPS staff will document fieldwork through video, photos, and interviews and use that material to create education and outreach products for platforms like Facebook and YouTube, as well as teacher workshops and K-12 events. Those multimedia products will also be shared with ASLC.
20) How long has this monitoring been going on, according to the notice?
The notice cites long-running datasets for Black-legged Kittiwakes dating to 2010 and Common Murres dating to 2012. It also states that the nearshore vessel surveys are in year four of a five-year sequence, and that meaningful ecosystem modeling requires at least five years of consistent data.
21) What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON) for this notice?
The Funding Opportunity Number listed is P14AS00065.
22) What funding instrument is being used?
The opportunity is described as a cooperative agreement and categorized as a discretionary natural resources activity.
23) How many awards are expected?
The notice lists an expected single award.
24) What is the estimated total funding and award ceiling?
Both the estimated total funding and the award ceiling are listed as $75,522.
25) Is cost sharing or a match required?
No. The notice states there is no cost-sharing or matching requirement.
26) What CFDA program is referenced?
The CFDA listing provided is 15.944 (Natural Resource Stewardship).
27) Who does the notice list as eligible applicants?
Eligible applicants are described broadly as nonprofits (with or without 501(c)(3) status) other than institutions of higher education. However, the notice also makes clear this is not an application solicitation.
28) Who are the listed points of contact?
The notice lists NPS Agreement Technical Representative Benjamin Pister (benjaminpister@nps.gov) and Agreements Officer Tina Spengler (TinaSpengler@nps.gov; 907-644-3303).
29) When was the notice posted and when was it archived?
The notice was posted April 8, 2014, and archived May 8, 2014.
30) What is the core reason continuity is highlighted as essential?
The notice argues that continuity protects the scientific integrity of the time series. It states that switching to a new partner could break the dataset, introduce inconsistent methods and new measurement error, and risk losing operational experience needed for automated camera monitoring at remote colonies. It also notes that graduate student research (including dissertation work) and planned peer-reviewed publications depend on completing the full dataset.
Browse more opportunities from the same category: Natural Resources
Next opportunity: A Program of Training, Technical Assistance Research in Accessibility for Citizens with Disabilities in Parks, Recreation Tourism
Previous opportunity: USAID/West Bank and Gaza Conflict Management and Mitigation (CMM) APS
USGrants.org Applicant Portal:
Are you interested in learning about about how to apply for this government funding opportunity? You can create a free applicant account and receive instant access to our applicant portal that many business owners like you have benefited from.
Apply for P14AS00065
[Watch] how do funding administrators access proposals?
Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (P14AS00065) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| State Conservation Innovation Grant 2014 Apply for USDA NRCS VT 14 0001 Funding Number: USDA NRCS VT 14 0001 Agency: California State Office Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $75,000 |
| Shorebirds Study, Western Arctic Parklands Apply for P14AS00118 Funding Number: P14AS00118 Agency: National Park Service Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $33,926 |
| Conservation Innovation Grant New Hampshire Apply for USDA NRCS NH 14 0002 Funding Number: USDA NRCS NH 14 0002 Agency: California State Office Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $75,000 |
| BLM AZ Gila District Youth Internships and Public Land Corps Opportunities Apply for L14AS00149 Funding Number: L14AS00149 Agency: Bureau of Land Management Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $900,000 |
| Necedah National Wildlife Refuge Whooping Crane Forced Renesting to Prevent Population Extinction Apply for F14AS00321 Funding Number: F14AS00321 Agency: Fish and Wildlife Service Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| BLM AZ Gila District Youth Internships and Public Land Corps Opportunities Apply for L14AS00276 Funding Number: L14AS00276 Agency: Bureau of Land Management Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $900,000 |
| BLM AZ Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail Management Partnership Apply for L14AS00304 Funding Number: L14AS00304 Agency: Bureau of Land Management Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $100,000 |
| Fish Screen Corrective Action and Improvements Apply for R14AN20025 Funding Number: R14AN20025 Agency: Bureau of Reclamation Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $2,100,000 |
| Create Model of Glacier Bays Late Pleistocene Coastline Apply for P14AS00298 Funding Number: P14AS00298 Agency: National Park Service Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $95,561 |
| Conservation Innovation Grant 2015 Apply for USDA NRCS CA 15 0009 Funding Number: USDA NRCS CA 15 0009 Agency: California State Office Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $75,000 |
| South Shore Service Yard California State Parks Apply for 15AN20006 Funding Number: 15AN20006 Agency: Bureau of Reclamation Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $1,383,451 |
| Open Space Management Apply for R15AN20014 Funding Number: R15AN20014 Agency: Bureau of Reclamation Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $49,755 |
| Endangered Species Program Support Upper Klamath Lake (UKL) Apply for R15AN20010 Funding Number: R15AN20010 Agency: Bureau of Reclamation Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $2,651,656 |
| Extending Alaska Region National Hydrography Dataset Editing Protocols and Data Production to Accommodate Wetlands and other Value Added Attributes Apply for NPS DOIP15AC00448 Funding Number: NPS DOIP15AC00448 Agency: National Park Service Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $400,000 |
| Westside Regional Drainage Plan San Joaquin River Salinity Management 2015 Financial Assistance Agreement Apply for R15AN20005 Funding Number: R15AN20005 Agency: Bureau of Reclamation Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $3,750,000 |
| Watershed Rehabilitation and Sediment Control Apply for R15AN20026 Funding Number: R15AN20026 Agency: Bureau of Reclamation Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $1,331,126 |
| Weed Management and Jobs Creation Project, Phase 2 Apply for R15AN20017 Funding Number: R15AN20017 Agency: Bureau of Reclamation Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $1,499,181 |
| WLCI Support of Watershed Management Habitat Enhancement for Triple Creek Forage Reserve Apply for RFA WY08 9012 Funding Number: RFA WY08 9012 Agency: Bureau of Land Management Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $75,000 |
| Georgia Resource Conservation Development Projects Apply for USDA NRCS GA 08 03 Funding Number: USDA NRCS GA 08 03 Agency: Georgia State Office Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $50,000 |
| CESU Quantify Thickness of Harding Icefield Apply for J9845100013 Funding Number: J9845100013 Agency: National Park Service Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
Grant application guides and resources
It is always free to apply for government grants. However the process may be very complex depending on the funding opportunity you are applying for. Let us help you!
Apply for Grants
Premium leads for funding administrators, grant writers, and loan issuers
Thousands of people visit our website for their funding needs every day. When a user creates a grant proposal and files for submission, we pass the information on to funding administrators, grant writers, and government loan issuers.
If you manage government grant programs, provide grant writing services, or issue personal or government loans, we can help you reach your audience.
Subscribe to Leads
Request more information:
Would you like to learn more about this funding opportunity, similar opportunities to "P14AS00065", eligibility, application service, and/or application tips? Submit an inquiry below:
Don't forget to subscribe to our grant alerts mailing list to receive weekly alerts on new and updated grant funding opportunities like this one in your email.