Opportunity Information: Apply for P15AS00240
Apply for P15AS00240
- The National Park Service in the education environment natural resources science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Voices of Science" 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 Jul 27, 2015 and posted on Jul 27, 2015.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 3, 2015. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $29,503.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $29,503.00 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:
Voices of Science is a National Park Service (NPS) funding notice announcing an intent to make a single, non-competitive cooperative agreement award to Montana State University (MSU). It is explicitly not an open call for applications; instead, it serves as public notice that NPS plans to fund a specific set of activities with MSU based on a single-source justification. The total anticipated award is $29,503 with no cost share required, and the work is expected to run from the award date through December 31, 2016. The statutory authority cited is 54 USC 101702(b), and the program is listed under CFDA 15.945 (Cooperative Research and Training Programs - Resources of the National Park System). The NPS point of contact is June Zastrow (junezastrow@nps.gov, 303-987-6718). Although the posting includes “eligible applicants” language typical of grants listings, the substance of the announcement makes clear that this action is intended for MSU only and will not be competed.
The project itself focuses on science communication through audio. NPS, through its Natural Resources Stewardship and Science (NRSS) directorate, aims to produce sound-rich storytelling that helps the public understand how science is conducted in national parks and how that science informs management decisions. The central idea is to create a series of audio productions (described as “audio postcards” and podcast episodes) that bring listeners into the parks through interviews, narrative reporting, and high-quality natural sound. These pieces are intended to be distributed broadly through NPS websites, social media, and radio, with the larger goal of adding perspective, making technical information more accessible, and encouraging informed conversation about conservation and the real-world complexity of managing protected resources.
The announcement lays out three main deliverables. First, the project will produce species and soundscape recordings suitable for long-term archiving, to be added to both NRSS and the MSU Acoustic Atlas digital collections. This includes creating recordings that complement and strengthen existing archives and ensuring the recordings are supported by appropriate metadata so they remain useful for future research, interpretation, and stewardship work. Second, MSU will produce at least six podcast or audio postcard episodes illustrating NPS scientific processes and findings; these are intended to be usable by both MSU and NRSS and to be incorporated into NPS web content alongside other multimedia materials related to resource management topics. Third, the project includes a training workshop for NRSS and other NPS staff covering the practical and editorial side of audio production, including storytelling, writing for radio, voicing, interviewing, recording technique, editing, branding and packaging, ethics, and administrative considerations. Alongside the creative output, MSU will also provide technical assistance by recommending equipment for two audio recording kits and developing training materials so NPS staff can use the kits to produce their own audio stories over time.
The public purpose is framed primarily as outreach and education, but it also includes a stewardship and data preservation component. By translating scientific and management information into engaging audio narratives, NPS expects to increase public understanding of park science and decision-making, and to reach audiences who respond well to digital formats. At the same time, expanding soundscape recordings helps address a recognized gap: natural sound recordings are relatively rare in formal, accessible collections, and many species or habitat sound recordings are hard to find or not available online. The recordings produced under this agreement would strengthen the body of data available to researchers and practitioners while also serving as raw material for public-facing interpretation.
Roles are described as collaborative and interdependent, consistent with a cooperative agreement. MSU’s responsibilities include technical assistance for development and distribution of audio products for radio and online channels (including NPS platforms and the Acoustic Atlas) and guidance to help NPS staff learn to self-produce radio-style stories. NPS agrees to facilitate connections between relevant staff and MSU, provide review and guidance to ensure products align with NPS mission and standards, and review communications content for scientific accuracy. Both parties will jointly determine the timing and type of activities, evaluate progress, provide direction, and collaborate on oversight and feedback for the personnel carrying out the work.
Finally, the reason this award is being made without competition is stated as “Unique Qualifications.” NPS cites MSU Library’s Acoustic Atlas as a distinctive, established repository with more than 2,500 recordings from across the Western United States, supported through volunteers, researchers, and partnerships (including agency collaborations). Because comparable collections are uncommon and because many natural sound recordings are difficult to obtain, NPS argues MSU is uniquely positioned to curate, archive, and expand these soundscape resources while also supporting production of broadcast-quality science communication content. The notice includes the key administrative dates associated with the posting (posted July 27, 2015; original and current closing date August 3, 2015; archive date August 4, 2015), but those dates relate to the public notice record rather than an opportunity for applicants to compete for funding.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - Voices of Science (NPS)
1) What is the "Voices of Science" funding notice?
Voices of Science is a National Park Service (NPS) funding notice announcing NPS's intent to make a single, non-competitive cooperative agreement award to Montana State University (MSU). It functions as a public notice of a planned award supported by a single-source justification.
2) Is this an open grant opportunity that organizations can apply to?
No. The notice is explicitly not an open call for applications. Even though the posting includes typical "eligible applicants" language seen in grant listings, the substance of the announcement states the action is intended for MSU only and will not be competed.
3) Who is the intended award recipient?
The intended recipient is Montana State University (MSU).
4) Why is NPS making this award without competition?
NPS cites "Unique Qualifications" as the basis for a non-competitive award. Specifically, NPS points to the MSU Library's Acoustic Atlas as a distinctive, established repository with more than 2,500 recordings from across the Western United States, supported by volunteers, researchers, and partnerships (including agency collaborations). NPS states comparable collections are uncommon and that many natural sound recordings are difficult to obtain, making MSU uniquely positioned to curate, archive, and expand soundscape resources while supporting broadcast-quality science communication content.
5) What type of award is this?
This is a cooperative agreement. The announcement describes roles as collaborative and interdependent, with both NPS and MSU participating in planning, oversight, review, and coordination.
6) What is the anticipated total funding amount?
The total anticipated award is $29,503.
7) Is cost share or matching funding required?
No cost share is required.
8) What is the expected project period?
The work is expected to run from the award date through December 31, 2016.
9) What is the statutory authority for this award?
The statutory authority cited is 54 USC 101702(b).
10) What CFDA program is associated with this notice?
The program is listed under CFDA 15.945, titled "Cooperative Research and Training Programs - Resources of the National Park System."
11) What is the project trying to accomplish overall?
The project focuses on science communication through audio. NPS, through its Natural Resources Stewardship and Science (NRSS) directorate, aims to produce sound-rich storytelling that helps the public understand how science is conducted in national parks and how that science informs management decisions.
12) What kinds of audio content will be created?
The notice describes "audio postcards" and podcast episodes. These pieces will use interviews, narrative reporting, and high-quality natural sound to bring listeners into the parks and make technical information more accessible.
13) Where will the audio stories be distributed?
The audio productions are intended to be distributed broadly through NPS websites, social media, and radio. The notice also indicates the work will support online channels including NPS platforms and MSU's Acoustic Atlas.
14) What are the main deliverables under this cooperative agreement?
The notice lays out three main deliverables: (1) species and soundscape recordings suitable for long-term archiving with appropriate metadata, to be added to NRSS and the MSU Acoustic Atlas digital collections; (2) at least six podcast or audio postcard episodes illustrating NPS scientific processes and findings; and (3) a training workshop for NRSS and other NPS staff covering practical and editorial audio production topics.
15) What does the archiving deliverable include?
MSU will produce species and soundscape recordings suitable for long-term archiving, complementing and strengthening existing archives. The notice emphasizes that recordings should be supported by appropriate metadata so they remain useful for future research, interpretation, and stewardship work.
16) How many podcast or audio postcard episodes are expected?
The agreement calls for at least six episodes.
17) What topics are the episodes expected to cover?
The episodes are intended to illustrate NPS scientific processes and findings and to support NPS web content related to resource management topics, alongside other multimedia materials.
18) What training is included for NPS staff?
The project includes a training workshop for NRSS and other NPS staff covering storytelling, writing for radio, voicing, interviewing, recording technique, editing, branding and packaging, ethics, and administrative considerations.
19) Does the project include support for audio equipment?
Yes. MSU will provide technical assistance by recommending equipment for two audio recording kits and developing training materials so NPS staff can use the kits to produce their own audio stories over time.
20) What is the public purpose of the project?
The public purpose is framed primarily as outreach and education: translating scientific and management information into engaging audio narratives to increase public understanding of park science and decision-making, and to reach audiences who respond well to digital formats. It also includes stewardship and data preservation by expanding and strengthening accessible soundscape recordings for long-term use.
21) How does this project support stewardship and data preservation?
The notice notes a gap in available natural sound recordings: they are relatively rare in formal, accessible collections, and many species or habitat sound recordings are hard to find or not available online. By expanding archived soundscape recordings with metadata, the project strengthens the body of data available to researchers and practitioners while also providing raw material for public-facing interpretation.
22) What are MSU's responsibilities under the cooperative agreement?
MSU's responsibilities include technical assistance for development and distribution of audio products for radio and online channels (including NPS platforms and the Acoustic Atlas) and guidance to help NPS staff learn to self-produce radio-style stories.
23) What are NPS's responsibilities under the cooperative agreement?
NPS agrees to facilitate connections between relevant staff and MSU, provide review and guidance to ensure products align with NPS mission and standards, and review communications content for scientific accuracy.
24) How will MSU and NPS coordinate during the project?
The notice describes shared coordination typical of cooperative agreements: both parties will jointly determine the timing and type of activities, evaluate progress, provide direction, and collaborate on oversight and feedback for the personnel carrying out the work.
25) Who is the NPS point of contact for this notice?
The NPS point of contact is June Zastrow. Email: junezastrow@nps.gov. Phone: 303-987-6718.
26) What are the key dates listed in the notice, and do they represent an application window?
The notice lists administrative dates for the public record: posted July 27, 2015; original and current closing date August 3, 2015; archive date August 4, 2015. The announcement clarifies these dates relate to the public notice record rather than an opportunity for applicants to compete for funding.
27) What NPS office or directorate is associated with the work?
The project is described as being carried out through NPS Natural Resources Stewardship and Science (NRSS).
28) What is meant by "sound-rich storytelling" in this project?
Based on the notice, it refers to audio pieces built with interviews, narrative reporting, and high-quality natural sound recordings that immerse listeners in park environments while explaining how park science works and how it informs management decisions.
29) Will the audio recordings be usable beyond the finished podcast episodes?
Yes. The notice describes a deliverable of species and soundscape recordings suitable for long-term archiving in NRSS and MSU Acoustic Atlas digital collections, implying the recordings are intended to remain useful beyond the immediate productions.
30) What makes this notice potentially confusing to readers scanning for "eligible applicants"?
The posting includes "eligible applicants" language typical of grants listings, but the narrative and intent of the notice make clear it is a single-source, non-competitive cooperative agreement intended for MSU only, not a competed opportunity.
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| Funding Opportunity |
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| PARTNERS IN PRESERVATION Apply for P15AS00286 Funding Number: P15AS00286 Agency: National Park Service Category: Education Environment Natural Resources Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $471,619 |
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