Collaborative Oceanographic Monitoring in Southeast Alaska Parks | P19AS00458

Opportunity Information: Apply for P19AS00458

The grant opportunity titled "Collaborative Oceanographic Monitoring in Southeast Alaska Parks" (Funding Opportunity Number P19AS00458) is a National Park Service (NPS) initiative under the U.S. Department of the Interior that supports expanded oceanographic monitoring in Southeast Alaska. It is structured as a discretionary cooperative agreement, meaning the work is expected to be carried out in close coordination with the federal partner rather than as a simple pass-through funding award. The activity area is listed under environment as well as information and statistics, which fits the project focus on collecting, analyzing, and applying environmental data to park management.

The core purpose of the project is to build on an existing monitoring partnership between the NPS and the University of Alaska by extending oceanographic monitoring coverage to the outer coasts of two major park units: Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve and Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve. In practical terms, this reflects an expansion from whatever monitoring footprint already existed (likely in more accessible or previously prioritized marine areas) to include more exposed coastal environments along the Gulf of Alaska side. These outer coast areas are often harder to monitor due to weather, remoteness, and logistical constraints, yet they are critical for understanding marine and coastal ecosystem dynamics and how those dynamics affect park resources.

The expected outcome is a set of monitoring results that can serve as a foundation for understanding the current status and condition of marine and coastal resources within these park areas. That foundation generally implies baseline and trend information that resource managers can use to answer questions such as: what the present-day ocean conditions look like, how they vary seasonally and from year to year, whether there are detectable changes over time, and what those changes may mean for habitats and species that depend on coastal and marine environments. Oceanographic monitoring commonly includes measurements relevant to physical and biological conditions, such as temperature, salinity, currents, water column structure, and other indicators that help explain ecosystem health and change, though the specific parameters are not detailed in the notice.

Eligibility for the funding is limited to public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, and the notice explicitly states this is a notice of intent to award to the University of Alaska Fairbanks. Because it is a directed intent-to-award, applications from any other entity are not accepted. The opportunity lists a single expected award, with an award ceiling of $415,000. The posting was created on July 31, 2019, with an original closing date of August 9, 2019, reflecting that this was primarily an administrative public notice for a planned cooperative agreement rather than an open competitive solicitation.

In short, this opportunity funds a specific, partner-driven expansion of oceanographic monitoring in Southeast Alaska national parks, aimed at producing actionable information that improves understanding and stewardship of marine and coastal resources along the outer coasts of Glacier Bay and Wrangell-St. Elias.

• The Department of the Interior, National Park Service in the environment, information and statistics sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Collaborative Oceanographic Monitoring in Southeast Alaska Parks" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.945.
• This funding opportunity was created on Jul 31, 2019.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 09, 2019 This is a notice of intent to award to the University of Alaska Fairbanks. Applications will not be accepted from any other entity.. (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 $415,000.00 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.

Apply for P19AS00458

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