Opportunity Information: Apply for P14AS00159
Apply for P14AS00159
- The National Park Service in the education natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Village Marine Science Outreach" 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 Jun 30, 2014 and posted on Jun 30, 2014.
- Applicants must submit their applications by This is a Notice Of Intent to Award. Public notice of the National Park Services intention to fund a 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 $42,997.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $42,991.00 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:
The Village Marine Science Outreach opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number P14AS00159) is a National Park Service (NPS) notice of intent to make a single, non-competitive cooperative agreement award to the Seward Association for the Advancement of Marine Science, doing business as the Alaska SeaLife Center (ASLC). The purpose is to jointly deliver hands-on, inquiry-based marine science and related park resource education to K-12 students in rural and remote Alaska communities, where schools are often small, multi-grade, and limited in staff and specialized science resources. The announcement is not a standard open solicitation; it is a public notice that NPS intends to fund ASLC directly because of the organizations unique statewide capacity and proven experience delivering marine science outreach across Alaska. The statutory authority cited is 16 USC 1g, which allows agreements for the transfer of appropriated funds to carry out NPS programs. The activity category is Education and Natural Resources, with CFDA 15.945 (Cooperative Research and Training Programs - Resources of the National Park System).
The planned award amount is $42,997 in total estimated funding (with an award ceiling listed as $42,991 and a floor of $10,000), and it is structured as a cooperative agreement, meaning NPS expects substantial involvement in carrying out the work rather than simply issuing a grant and stepping back. Cost sharing or matching is not required. The posted and created date is June 30, 2014, and the closing language reflects that it is a notice of intent to award rather than a competitive application deadline; the archive date is July 30, 2014. Eligible applicants are described broadly as 501(c)(3) nonprofits (other than institutions of higher education), though the notice is specifically written to justify awarding to ASLC.
The core objective is to bring marine science education and stewardship messages to students and teachers across Alaska by leveraging the combined expertise of ASLC and NPS (including Kenai Fjords National Park and other Alaska park offices). Program goals emphasize ocean stewardship through understanding local marine ecosystems and coastal communities, increasing student interest in STEM through real-world exposure to science and technology, and delivering high-quality content on marine research and glaciers. The program is positioned as an expansion of a decade-long collaboration between ASLC educators and NPS staff who have been traveling to villages to deliver science programming, with recent increases in teacher participation and outreach frequency suggesting further growth potential.
Work under the agreement is organized around multiple outreach trips between August 2014 and June 2015. The plan includes four week-long village outreach trips targeted to several regions and school districts: Northwest Arctic Borough School District sites (coordinated with the NPS office in Kotzebue) using two educators and aiming to reach 1 to 4 schools and about 750 students; Nome and Bering Strait School District sites (coordinated with the Nome office) using two educators with a goal of 1 to 4 schools and about 500 students; Chatham School District or another priority area in coordination with the Glacier Bay office using one educator and aiming for 1 to 3 sites and about 120 students; and priority communities in the Lake Peninsula School District coordinated with Katmai and Lake Clark offices using one educator and aiming for 1 to 3 sites and about 120 students. In addition, the plan includes two week-long outreach trips specifically to Port Graham and Nanwalek. For those two communities, the approach is designed to be more sustained: during the first visit educators start a dialogue and work with teachers to set up a longer-term school-year project, then maintain contact between visits using distance learning and ASLC aquarium-based resources to reinforce lessons (for example, using observations of marine mammals in tanks to discuss locomotion and adaptation).
Responsibilities are shared but clearly divided. ASLC takes the lead on developing grade-appropriate marine science lessons and delivering them in the villages, drawing on topics such as adaptations of marine birds and mammals, comparative anatomy of marine invertebrates and vertebrates, and inquiry-based investigations using the scientific method (including a walrus-focused investigative science module). ASLC is also responsible for maintaining longer-term engagement with Port Graham and Nanwalek throughout the school year, including remote instruction and resource-sharing from Seward via distance learning technology. A major deliverable is evaluation and assessment: ASLC will collect feedback and evaluation data from teachers and students to measure effectiveness and guide future outreach goals, methods, and lesson design.
NPS is expected to be substantially involved, consistent with a cooperative agreement. NPS staff will jointly select villages and schools with ASLC, contribute content and programming focused on park natural and cultural resources for K-12 audiences, and when possible travel alongside ASLC educators to deliver lessons and programs. A specific NPS contribution is a presentation for students and village youth about jobs and career pathways within the National Park Service, linking science education to real employment and stewardship careers. The notice also clarifies that NPS travel costs are not included in the proposed ASLC agreement budget and would be handled outside the agreement.
The single-source justification centers on ASLCs unique qualifications and statewide reach. NPS argues competition is not practicable because ASLC is the only Alaska-based education institution described as having statewide capacity to reach rural pre-K to 12 schools, especially those far from the Gulf of Alaska. ASLC is presented as a long-standing leader since 1998 in marine science research communication and statewide outreach, staffed by certified informal science educators and recognized for distance learning excellence through multiple Pinnacle Awards from the Center for Interactive Learning and Collaboration (with awards based on teacher evaluations). While other Alaska entities provide marine science outreach (Sitka Sound Science Center, Prince William Sound Science Center, and Kachemak Bay Research Reserve), the notice states these organizations are primarily local or regionally limited and concentrated in southern Alaska, whereas the targeted villages for this project are distributed across the state. On that basis, NPS identifies ASLC as the only organization with the experience, technical capability, and scope to successfully execute the planned itinerary and sustain longer-term distance learning relationships with remote schools.
For reference and administration, the technical contact listed is Benjamin Pister (benjaminpister@nps.gov, 907-422-0501) with the National Park Service Alaska Region, and an additional contact for access issues is Tina Spengler, Financial Assistance Officer (907-644-3303, TinaSpengler@nps.gov) at the NPS Alaska Regional Office.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) - Village Marine Science Outreach (P14AS00159)
What is the Village Marine Science Outreach opportunity (P14AS00159)?
Village Marine Science Outreach (Funding Opportunity Number P14AS00159) is a National Park Service (NPS) notice of intent to make a single, non-competitive cooperative agreement award. The effort supports hands-on, inquiry-based marine science and related park resource education for K-12 students in rural and remote Alaska communities.
Is this an open grant solicitation that organizations can apply to?
No. The announcement is not a standard competitive solicitation. It is a public notice that NPS intends to fund a specific organization directly (the Seward Association for the Advancement of Marine Science, doing business as the Alaska SeaLife Center).
Who does NPS intend to fund under this notice of intent?
NPS intends to make a single award to the Seward Association for the Advancement of Marine Science (SAAMS), doing business as the Alaska SeaLife Center (ASLC).
Why is the award non-competitive (single-source)?
The notice states that competition is not practicable because ASLC is described as the only Alaska-based education institution with statewide capacity to reach rural pre-K to 12 schools across Alaska (including communities far from the Gulf of Alaska), along with proven experience and technical capability for both in-person outreach and sustained distance learning with remote schools.
What is the purpose of the cooperative agreement?
The purpose is to jointly deliver hands-on, inquiry-based marine science education and related park resource education to K-12 students (and their teachers) in rural and remote Alaska communities, where schools are often small, multi-grade, and limited in staff and specialized science resources.
What type of funding instrument will be used?
The planned award is a cooperative agreement. This means NPS expects substantial involvement in carrying out the work (for example, joint planning, contributing content, and sometimes traveling with educators), rather than simply issuing a grant and remaining hands-off.
What statutory authority is cited for this agreement?
The notice cites 16 USC 1g, which authorizes agreements for the transfer of appropriated funds to carry out National Park Service programs.
What is the activity category and program reference for this opportunity?
The activity category is Education and Natural Resources. The CFDA listing provided is 15.945, identified as Cooperative Research and Training Programs - Resources of the National Park System.
How much funding is planned for this award?
The notice describes total estimated funding of $42,997. It also lists an award ceiling of $42,991 and an award floor of $10,000.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. The notice explicitly states that cost sharing or matching is not required.
What is the timeframe for the planned work?
The outreach work under the agreement is organized around trips occurring between August 2014 and June 2015.
When was this opportunity posted, and when was it archived?
The posted/created date is June 30, 2014. The archive date is July 30, 2014.
Is there an application deadline?
The closing language reflects that this is a notice of intent to award rather than a competitive opportunity with a standard application deadline.
Who is described as eligible to apply (in general terms)?
The notice describes eligible applicants broadly as 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations (other than institutions of higher education), even though the notice itself is specifically written to justify a direct award to ASLC.
What are the program goals for students and teachers?
Program goals emphasize ocean stewardship through understanding local marine ecosystems and coastal communities, increasing student interest in STEM by exposing them to real-world science and technology, and delivering high-quality educational content related to marine research and glaciers.
How will the outreach be delivered?
The plan centers on multiple week-long village outreach trips by ASLC educators, coordinated with NPS Alaska park and regional offices. For selected communities (Port Graham and Nanwalek), the plan includes a more sustained approach that combines in-person visits with distance learning and ASLC aquarium-based resources during the school year.
How many outreach trips are planned, and what is the general schedule?
The work plan includes multiple week-long outreach trips between August 2014 and June 2015, including four week-long village outreach trips across several regions and school districts, plus two additional week-long trips specifically to Port Graham and Nanwalek.
Which regions and school districts are targeted for the four main week-long outreach trips?
The four week-long outreach trips are targeted to: (1) Northwest Arctic Borough School District sites coordinated with the NPS office in Kotzebue; (2) Nome and Bering Strait School District sites coordinated with the Nome office; (3) Chatham School District (or another priority area) coordinated with the Glacier Bay office; and (4) priority communities in the Lake Peninsula School District coordinated with Katmai and Lake Clark offices.
How many educators will participate in each of the planned outreach trips?
The plan specifies two educators for the Northwest Arctic Borough School District trip, two educators for the Nome and Bering Strait School District trip, one educator for the Chatham School District (or other priority area) trip, and one educator for the Lake Peninsula School District trip. The Port Graham and Nanwalek trips are also conducted by educators, with the approach designed around sustained engagement across the school year.
How many schools and students does the plan aim to reach?
The plan estimates reaching: 1 to 4 schools and about 750 students in the Northwest Arctic Borough School District region; 1 to 4 schools and about 500 students in the Nome and Bering Strait School District region; 1 to 3 sites and about 120 students in the Chatham School District (or another priority area); and 1 to 3 sites and about 120 students in priority communities within the Lake Peninsula School District.
What is different about the Port Graham and Nanwalek outreach approach?
Port Graham and Nanwalek are addressed through a more sustained model. During the first visit, educators begin a dialogue and work with teachers to set up a longer-term school-year project. Between visits, educators maintain contact using distance learning and ASLC aquarium-based resources to reinforce lessons (for example, using observations of marine mammals in tanks to discuss locomotion and adaptation).
What kinds of lesson topics are included in the outreach program?
The notice describes grade-appropriate marine science lessons that may include adaptations of marine birds and mammals, comparative anatomy of marine invertebrates and vertebrates, and inquiry-based investigations using the scientific method. It also mentions a walrus-focused investigative science module.
What are ASLC's responsibilities under the cooperative agreement?
ASLC is responsible for developing grade-appropriate marine science lessons and delivering them in villages. ASLC also leads sustained engagement for Port Graham and Nanwalek throughout the school year using distance learning and resource-sharing from Seward, and it is responsible for evaluation and assessment (collecting feedback and evaluation data from teachers and students).
What are NPS's responsibilities and level of involvement?
NPS is expected to be substantially involved. NPS staff will jointly select villages and schools with ASLC, contribute content and programming focused on park natural and cultural resources for K-12 audiences, and when possible travel alongside ASLC educators to deliver lessons and programs.
Does NPS provide any specific student-focused programming as part of its involvement?
Yes. The notice highlights an NPS presentation for students and village youth about jobs and career pathways within the National Park Service, connecting science education to stewardship careers and employment opportunities.
Are NPS travel costs included in the ASLC agreement budget?
No. The notice clarifies that NPS travel costs are not included in the proposed ASLC agreement budget and would be handled outside the agreement.
How will the program measure effectiveness?
Evaluation and assessment are identified as major deliverables. ASLC will collect feedback and evaluation data from teachers and students to measure effectiveness and guide future outreach goals, outreach methods, and lesson design.
Why does the notice describe ASLC as uniquely qualified?
NPS describes ASLC as having a long-standing statewide leadership role since 1998 in communicating marine science research and delivering outreach, staffed by certified informal science educators, and recognized for distance learning excellence through multiple Pinnacle Awards from the Center for Interactive Learning and Collaboration (based on teacher evaluations). The notice also contrasts ASLC's statewide reach with other Alaska organizations described as more local or regionally concentrated in southern Alaska.
Which other organizations are mentioned as providing marine science outreach, and how are they characterized?
The notice mentions Sitka Sound Science Center, Prince William Sound Science Center, and Kachemak Bay Research Reserve as entities that provide marine science outreach, but it states they are primarily local or regionally limited and concentrated in southern Alaska relative to the statewide distribution of targeted villages for this project.
Who is the technical contact for this opportunity?
The technical contact listed is Benjamin Pister at the National Park Service Alaska Region: benjaminpister@nps.gov, 907-422-0501.
Who can be contacted for access issues related to the opportunity?
The notice lists Tina Spengler, Financial Assistance Officer, NPS Alaska Regional Office: TinaSpengler@nps.gov, 907-644-3303.
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