Opportunity Information: Apply for NPS NOIP14AC00850
Apply for NPS NOIP14AC00850
- The DOI-NPS in the agriculture, education, environment, natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR APPLICATIONS- White Nose Syndrome Repsonse-THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR APPLICATIONS" 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 19, 2016 and posted on Feb 19, 2016.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Feb 29, 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 $96,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Opportunity Summary:
This notice describes a National Park Service (NPS), Department of the Interior grant action that is explicitly not an open call for applications. It is a discretionary cooperative agreement intended to continue an ongoing partnership focused on responding to White Nose Syndrome (WNS) and improving cave and karst resource management at Buffalo National River (BNR) in the Ozarks. The opportunity was posted February 19, 2016, with a closing date of February 29, 2016, and anticipates a single award with a funding ceiling of $96,000 under CFDA 15.944. The funding instrument is a cooperative agreement, meaning NPS expects substantial involvement in planning, oversight, and daily coordination of the work rather than simply issuing a grant and stepping back.
The underlying problem driving the project is the severe impact of WNS on cave-roosting bat populations. BNR contains more than 400 documented cave and karst features, many of which serve as roosting habitat for bat species that are already protected under the Endangered Species Act, including three endangered species and one threatened species. Beyond those, the park supports four additional cave-roosting bat species, and the notice signals that three of these may become candidate or formally listed species within roughly five years. Because WNS is changing bat survival and behavior, and because protections for listed species require informed management decisions, BNR emphasizes that it needs a stronger, more complete understanding of its cave and karst inventory and the specific ways bats are using those sites for roosting.
The agreement’s scope centers on practical field and data work that directly supports management. The partner, the Cave Research Foundation (CRF), is tasked with locating, documenting, and mapping caves; building and maintaining a database of cave and karst features; maintaining a database of biological observations tied to those caves; and conducting bat surveys inside caves. The project also includes public-facing WNS outreach, such as developing educational information for visitors and schools, and installing signage on caves used by bats to help reduce disturbance and communicate resource protection needs. In addition, CRF will help monitor conditions at key roosts by deploying electronic dataloggers to track temperature and relative humidity, which are important variables for understanding bat roost suitability and potentially disease dynamics.
NPS outlines an active role in implementation and deliverables. The agency will provide equipment, supplies, and housing, and it will direct day-to-day work, approve all products, and collaborate with CRF to plan annual activities. The notice also points to joint work on publications and presentations, reinforcing that this is a sustained, coordinated effort rather than a short-term, hands-off award.
Finally, the notice explains why CRF is being selected through this non-competitive continuation rather than an open solicitation. CRF is described as having more than 50 years of experience assisting NPS with cave and karst documentation and management, and as having specialized personnel such as cave mappers, cartographers, database managers, and biologists, along with volunteers willing to contribute significant time and resources. The park states that no other organization in the area offers comparable capacity or breadth of expertise, and that because this effort continues an existing project, BNR considers it justified to issue the assistance award directly to CRF.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is this an open grant opportunity that anyone can apply for?
No. The notice explicitly states this is not an open call for applications. It is a discretionary, non-competitive cooperative agreement intended to continue an existing partnership.
Who is the intended recipient of this cooperative agreement?
The notice indicates the continuation award is intended for the Cave Research Foundation (CRF) as the partner organization for this work at Buffalo National River (BNR).
Why is this being awarded without competition?
The notice explains that this is a continuation of ongoing work and that CRF is being selected due to its long history (more than 50 years) supporting NPS cave and karst efforts, its specialized staff (mappers, cartographers, database managers, biologists), and access to experienced volunteers. The park also states it is not aware of another organization in the area with comparable capacity and breadth of expertise for this specific effort.
What is the funding instrument for this action?
The funding instrument is a cooperative agreement.
What does it mean that this is a cooperative agreement rather than a typical grant?
According to the notice, NPS expects substantial involvement in the project, including planning, oversight, and daily coordination, rather than simply providing funds and stepping back.
What agency is issuing the award?
The award is a National Park Service (NPS), U.S. Department of the Interior grant action.
What park unit and geographic area does the project focus on?
The work focuses on Buffalo National River (BNR) in the Ozarks.
What is the main problem or management need driving this project?
The project is driven by the severe impacts of White Nose Syndrome (WNS) on cave-roosting bat populations and the resulting need for stronger cave/karst inventory information and clearer understanding of how bats use specific sites for roosting.
What is White Nose Syndrome (WNS) in the context of this notice?
In this notice, WNS is described as a disease issue causing severe impacts on cave-roosting bats, changing bat survival and behavior and increasing the urgency for informed cave and bat management decisions.
How extensive are cave and karst resources at Buffalo National River?
The notice states BNR contains more than 400 documented cave and karst features.
Why are bats at BNR a particular conservation concern?
The notice states that many caves serve as roosting habitat for bat species protected under the Endangered Species Act, including three endangered species and one threatened species. It also notes BNR supports four additional cave-roosting bat species, and suggests three of those may become candidate or listed species within roughly five years.
What are the primary tasks CRF is expected to perform under the agreement?
The scope described in the notice includes locating, documenting, and mapping caves; building and maintaining a cave and karst feature database; maintaining a database of biological observations tied to caves; and conducting bat surveys inside caves.
What kinds of data management work are included?
The notice includes development and maintenance of (1) a database of cave and karst features and (2) a database of biological observations associated with those features.
Will the project include bat surveys?
Yes. The notice specifically includes conducting bat surveys inside caves.
Will the project monitor cave conditions like temperature and humidity?
Yes. The notice includes deploying electronic dataloggers at key roosts to monitor temperature and relative humidity.
Why are temperature and relative humidity being monitored?
The notice describes these variables as important for understanding roost suitability and potentially disease dynamics.
Does the project include education or public outreach components?
Yes. The notice includes WNS outreach such as developing educational information for visitors and schools.
Will there be signage installed at caves?
Yes. The notice states signage will be installed on caves used by bats to reduce disturbance and communicate resource protection needs.
What role will the National Park Service play during the project?
The notice describes an active NPS role, including directing day-to-day work, approving all products, collaborating on annual work planning, and participating in publications and presentations.
What kinds of support will NPS provide to the partner?
The notice states NPS will provide equipment, supplies, and housing.
How many awards are anticipated?
The notice anticipates a single award.
What is the maximum funding amount mentioned?
The notice lists a funding ceiling of $96,000.
What CFDA number is associated with this opportunity?
The notice references CFDA 15.944.
When was the opportunity posted and what was the closing date?
The notice states it was posted on February 19, 2016, with a closing date of February 29, 2016.
Is this effort described as a new project or a continuation of existing work?
It is described as a continuation of an ongoing partnership and an existing effort, not a new standalone initiative.
Does the notice indicate collaboration on publications or presentations?
Yes. The notice points to joint work on publications and presentations as part of the coordinated effort.
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