Opportunity Information: Apply for NOIP16AC00251
Apply for NOIP16AC00251
- The DOI-NPS in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR APPLICATIONS - Spill Response Plan for the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.944.
- This funding opportunity was created on Feb 26, 2016 and posted on Feb 26, 2016.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Mar 07, 2016. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $100,000.00 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.
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Opportunity Summary:
This notice is a public announcement from the Department of the Interior, National Park Service (NPS) explaining its intent to fund a specific project without competition, using single-source justification. In other words, it is not an open call for proposals and it is not asking organizations to apply. Instead, NPS is signaling that it plans to make one cooperative agreement award (anticipated ceiling of $100,000) to the Upper Mississippi River Basin Association (UMRBA), a qualified 501(c)(3) nonprofit, for spill response planning work focused on the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway. The opportunity was posted February 26, 2016, with a listed closing date of March 7, 2016, mainly to satisfy public notice requirements rather than to solicit applications.
The purpose of the project is to create updated, practical spill response planning tools that help responders act quickly and effectively during hazardous material or oil spill incidents on the Riverway. The St. Croix is highlighted as an area with high-value natural resources and significant recreational use, which makes spill preparedness especially important. The planning effort is meant to strengthen on-the-ground response by identifying what resources are most sensitive, where spills are most likely or most damaging, what response assets exist nearby, and what strategies should be used in specific river segments.
UMRBA is positioned as the logical single-source partner because of its long-running role in regional spill planning and coordination. Since 1989, it has provided staff support to the Upper Mississippi River Hazardous Spills Coordination Group, an interagency forum that brings together state and federal responders and planners. One of that group’s major products is the Upper Mississippi River Spill Response Plan and Resource Manual, which has been adopted by participating agencies and is designed to complement larger regional and national contingency plans by focusing on river-specific realities like navigation, access points, local assets, and sensitive habitats. The St. Croix project builds on that experience and approach, adapting it to the needs and geography of the Riverway.
The work plan described in the notice lays out a likely sequence of tasks, while emphasizing that the final scope and direction will be shaped collaboratively with NPS throughout the project. First, UMRBA would conduct a resource inventory and hazard analysis, reviewing existing maps, datasets, and other information to identify high-value natural resources, potential spill sources, and the places where those overlap to create elevated relative risk. GIS tools may be used to support this analysis. The initial “desktop” findings would be shared with NPS and regional partners for feedback and refinement, and the results would be used to select priority areas for more detailed planning.
Second, UMRBA would compile Riverway-wide reference information that is useful across the entire corridor, not just in targeted high-risk segments. Examples listed include county-by-county descriptions of response capacity, maps of sensitive resources, contact lists and phone numbers, highway crossings, outfalls, and other operationally relevant details identified by NPS and partners. This component is meant to make sure responders have the baseline information they need regardless of where an incident occurs.
Third, for the specific river segments identified as priorities, UMRBA would facilitate development of detailed Geographic Response Plans (GRPs). The notice describes a tested regional process: convening resource managers to confirm what is at risk, convening response professionals to validate likely spill sources and develop response strategy recommendations, and then holding a field day to test proposed strategies in real conditions. The project also anticipates leveraging and updating past work where strategies already exist, specifically mentioning segments between Taylors Falls and Marine on St. Croix, and between Afton State Park and Prescott, with the intent to modernize and incorporate those pre-existing strategies rather than starting from scratch.
Fourth, for each targeted area covered by the GRP process, UMRBA would create a template Incident Action Plan (IAP) for the first operational period and integrate it into the GRP materials. This is aimed at making the plan immediately usable during the earliest, most time-sensitive phase of a response, when responders need a clear starting structure for objectives, tactics, assignments, and coordination.
Fifth, UMRBA would assemble the full set of draft materials for review by NPS and other partners and then revise them based on feedback, leading to final deliverables. The primary deliverable is described as a spill response plan for the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway, delivered on digital media (DVD). Contents are expected to include detailed maps of sensitive resources across the Riverway; county-level descriptions of local response capacity; a list of key contacts along with a recommended notification protocol; lists of important physical features such as highway crossings and outfalls; GRPs in target areas that include specific response strategies and integrated IAPs; and other existing spill response tools such as an inland tactics manual and habitat-specific fact sheets. The project also includes exploring options for secure online sharing of the plan, recognizing that responders often need rapid access and that some information may be sensitive.
The award instrument is a cooperative agreement, and the notice makes it clear that NPS will have substantial involvement rather than simply issuing funds and stepping back. NPS plans to collaborate jointly with UMRBA, provide a technical representative, and require stage-by-stage review and approval before subsequent phases proceed. NPS also retains authority to review and approve proposed modifications or subawards, redirect work to align with related projects, and halt activities if performance specifications are not being met. Overall, the structure is designed to produce a response plan that is both technically sound and operationally realistic, while ensuring NPS maintains close oversight and integration with broader Riverway management and emergency preparedness efforts.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is this an open grant opportunity that organizations can apply for?
No. The notice describes a non-competitive, single-source intent to fund a specific project partner. It is a public announcement of the National Park Service (NPS) plan to make one cooperative agreement award, not a solicitation for applications or proposals.
Why does the notice list a posting date and a closing date if it is not competitive?
The posting date (February 26, 2016) and closing date (March 7, 2016) are included primarily to satisfy public notice requirements. The notice is not asking organizations to submit applications during that window.
Which agency is issuing the notice?
The notice is from the U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service (NPS).
What type of award does NPS intend to make?
NPS intends to make a cooperative agreement, which is an assistance instrument that includes substantial involvement by NPS in the project.
Who is the intended recipient of the cooperative agreement?
The intended recipient is the Upper Mississippi River Basin Association (UMRBA), identified as a qualified 501(c)(3) nonprofit.
What is the anticipated funding amount?
The notice describes an anticipated ceiling of $100,000 for the cooperative agreement award.
What project is NPS intending to fund?
The project focuses on spill response planning for the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway. The purpose is to create updated, practical spill response planning tools that help responders act quickly and effectively during hazardous material or oil spill incidents.
Why is spill preparedness emphasized for the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway?
The notice highlights the St. Croix as having high-value natural resources and significant recreational use, making spill preparedness especially important.
What is the overall goal of the planning effort?
The planning effort is intended to strengthen on-the-ground response by identifying sensitive resources, likely or high-impact spill locations, nearby response assets, and recommended response strategies for specific river segments.
Why is this being done as a single-source (non-competitive) award?
The notice presents UMRBA as the logical single-source partner based on its long-running role in regional spill planning and coordination, including staff support since 1989 for the Upper Mississippi River Hazardous Spills Coordination Group and development of the Upper Mississippi River Spill Response Plan and Resource Manual.
How does UMRBA's previous work relate to the St. Croix project?
The St. Croix project is described as building on UMRBA's established regional spill planning approach, adapting that experience to the needs and geography of the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway.
What are the major tasks described in the work plan?
The notice outlines a likely sequence of tasks: (1) resource inventory and hazard analysis, (2) compilation of Riverway-wide reference information, (3) development of detailed Geographic Response Plans (GRPs) for priority segments, (4) creation of a template Incident Action Plan (IAP) for the first operational period integrated into GRPs, and (5) drafting, partner review, revision, and finalization of deliverables.
Will the project scope be fixed from the start?
No. The notice states that the final scope and direction will be shaped collaboratively with NPS throughout the project.
What happens during the resource inventory and hazard analysis phase?
UMRBA would review existing maps, datasets, and other information to identify high-value natural resources, potential spill sources, and where those overlap to create elevated relative risk. The notice indicates GIS tools may be used. Initial desktop findings would be shared with NPS and regional partners for feedback, and the results would be used to select priority areas for more detailed planning.
What is meant by "Riverway-wide reference information"?
This refers to baseline information useful across the entire St. Croix National Scenic Riverway corridor, not just in the highest-risk segments. Examples include county-by-county descriptions of response capacity, maps of sensitive resources, contact lists and phone numbers, highway crossings, outfalls, and other operational details identified by NPS and partners.
What are Geographic Response Plans (GRPs) in this context?
GRPs are detailed, location-specific plans for priority river segments that capture what resources are at risk and outline recommended response strategies tailored to real river conditions and operational constraints.
How will GRPs be developed according to the notice?
The notice describes a process that includes convening resource managers to confirm what is at risk, convening response professionals to validate likely spill sources and develop response strategy recommendations, and conducting a field day to test proposed strategies under real conditions.
Does the project plan to reuse any existing spill response strategies?
Yes. The notice anticipates leveraging and updating past work where strategies already exist, specifically referencing segments between Taylors Falls and Marine on St. Croix, and between Afton State Park and Prescott, with an intent to modernize and incorporate those strategies rather than starting from scratch.
What is an Incident Action Plan (IAP) and how is it used here?
The notice states that for each targeted area covered by the GRP process, UMRBA would create a template IAP for the first operational period and integrate it into the GRP materials. The intent is to make the plan immediately usable during the earliest, most time-sensitive phase of a response by providing an initial structure for objectives, tactics, assignments, and coordination.
What is the primary deliverable?
The primary deliverable is a spill response plan for the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway, delivered on digital media (DVD).
What content is expected to be included in the spill response plan?
Expected contents include detailed maps of sensitive resources across the Riverway; county-level descriptions of local response capacity; a list of key contacts and a recommended notification protocol; lists of important physical features such as highway crossings and outfalls; GRPs for target areas with specific response strategies and integrated IAPs; and other spill response tools such as an inland tactics manual and habitat-specific fact sheets.
Will there be an option to access the plan online?
The notice says the project includes exploring options for secure online sharing of the plan, noting that responders often need rapid access and that some information may be sensitive.
How will NPS be involved during the project?
NPS expects substantial involvement, including joint collaboration with UMRBA, designation of a technical representative, and stage-by-stage review and approval before subsequent phases proceed.
Does NPS retain oversight authority during implementation?
Yes. The notice states NPS may review and approve proposed modifications or subawards, redirect work to align with related projects, and halt activities if performance specifications are not being met.
What is the intended outcome of using a cooperative agreement structure?
The notice frames the structure as a way to produce a response plan that is technically sound and operationally realistic, while ensuring close NPS oversight and integration with broader Riverway management and emergency preparedness efforts.
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