P18AS00106 | P18AS00106

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the grant opportunity P18AS00106?

P18AS00106 is a National Park Service (NPS) discretionary financial assistance opportunity issued by the U.S. Department of the Interior. It focuses on improving how monitoring results are communicated so they better support collaborative natural resource management and day-to-day decision making.

What is the official title of this opportunity?

The opportunity is titled "Communicating Monitoring Results to Facilitate Collaborative Resource Management and Decision Making."

What is the main purpose of the project theme?

The theme centers on taking information gathered through monitoring efforts and translating it into clear, usable communications. The goal is to help multiple partners understand what monitoring data mean and how to act on them together in collaborative resource management and routine decision making.

What kinds of monitoring results does this opportunity refer to?

It references monitoring efforts such as ecological monitoring, cultural monitoring, or broader resource condition monitoring. In general, it is about turning monitoring findings into communications that are practical for managers and partners to use.

What does "communicating monitoring results" mean in practical terms?

In practical terms, it means translating monitoring information into clear, accessible materials that support understanding and action. This can include communication products, outreach approaches, or decision-support materials that help partners interpret results and make management choices.

Which agency is offering this opportunity?

The opportunity is issued by the National Park Service (NPS), which is part of the U.S. Department of the Interior.

What is the funding activity area and CFDA number?

The opportunity sits in the Education, Science and Technology, and other Research and Development funding activity area. The CFDA number listed is 15.945.

What type of funding instrument is used?

The funding instrument is a cooperative agreement.

What is a cooperative agreement in this context?

A cooperative agreement generally indicates that NPS expects to have substantial involvement in the project rather than simply issuing a standalone grant. This often includes close coordination with NPS staff, alignment with NPS monitoring priorities, and collaborative development or review of deliverables related to communication and decision support.

How many awards are expected under this opportunity?

The opportunity anticipates a single award.

What is the maximum funding amount available?

The award ceiling is $45,000.

What does the $45,000 ceiling suggest about the size of the project?

It suggests a small, targeted project intended to produce concrete outputs, rather than a large multi-year research program.

Who is eligible to receive this award?

Eligibility is limited to nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status, excluding institutions of higher education.

Are universities or colleges eligible to apply?

No. Institutions of higher education are explicitly excluded from eligibility, even if they have nonprofit status.

What kinds of organizations might be a good fit, based on the eligibility description?

The eligibility description points to partner organizations such as conservation nonprofits, friends groups, or other mission-driven entities that can work closely with NPS to package and share monitoring findings in ways that are accessible to resource managers, stakeholders, and potentially the broader public.

Is this an open competitive funding opportunity?

No. The notice indicates it is not a traditional open competition.

If it is not competitive, what is the purpose of the announcement?

The closing date text explains that the announcement is meant to provide public notice of NPS's intention to award financial assistance without competition. It functions as a noncompetitive award announcement rather than an invitation for multiple applicants to submit proposals.

What does "without competition" mean for potential applicants?

Based on the notice language, it means the agency intends to make the award noncompetitively, typically to a specific partner, and the posting is not structured as an open call for multiple proposals.

Why would NPS use a noncompetitive award approach?

The description notes this approach is often used when an agency plans to fund a specific partner based on statutory authority, unique qualifications, an existing relationship, or a clear programmatic rationale.

What kinds of project outputs are implied by the announcement?

The announcement implies outputs such as communication products, outreach approaches, and/or decision-support materials that improve how monitoring results are shared and used in collaborative management settings.

Who are the intended users of the improved communications?

The intended users include resource managers and collaborative partners involved in natural resource management and decision making. The description also suggests communications may be made accessible to stakeholders and potentially the broader public.

What is the intended outcome of improving communication of monitoring results?

The intended outcome is to strengthen the link between monitoring data and real-world management decisions, enabling partners to better understand results and take coordinated actions.

When was this opportunity posted?

The posting (creation) date is April 2, 2018.

Is this opportunity connected to NPS monitoring priorities?

Yes. Because it is a cooperative agreement with expected substantial NPS involvement, the description indicates alignment with NPS monitoring priorities and coordination with NPS staff are typical expectations.

Does the announcement indicate the project is research-focused or implementation-focused?

The description emphasizes producing practical, concrete communication outputs that help translate monitoring information into usable guidance for collaborative management and day-to-day decisions, rather than describing a large research program.