Funding Opportunity Number: P23AS00132
Agency: U.S. National Park Service (NPS)
Assistance Listing: 15.945 — Cooperative Research and Training Programs – Resources of the National Park System
Funding Instrument: Cooperative Agreement
Funding Type: Discretionary
Category: Environment
Total Program Funding: Not specified (NPS historically obligates between $30 million and $40 million annually in CESU cooperative agreements agency-wide)
Expected Awards: Not specified
Cost Sharing/Matching: No
Posted: December 22, 2022
Application Deadline: December 31, 2027 (applications must be submitted electronically by 5:00 PM ET on the listed due date)
The NPS Cooperative Ecosystems Studies Units (CESU) Master Cooperative Agreements program supports collaboration between the National Park Service and partners within the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Units network. The CESU network is a national consortium of federal agencies, tribes, academic institutions, state and local governments, nongovernmental conservation organizations, and other partners working together to provide science-based support for public trust resource stewardship.
The CESU network includes 390 non-federal partners and 15 federal agencies across 17 CESUs representing biogeographic regions that encompass all 50 states and U.S. territories. CESUs are hosted by universities and structured as collaborative partnerships focused on interdisciplinary, applied research addressing natural and cultural resource issues at multiple scales.
Under its research mandate (54 U.S.C. 100702), the National Park Service is required to ensure that park management is enhanced by the availability and use of the highest quality science and information. Master Cooperative Agreements under this funding opportunity enable NPS to work with approved CESU partners to carry out Cooperative Research and Training Programs supporting National Park System resources.
Master Cooperative Agreements support projects and activities that:
- Provide usable knowledge to support informed decision-making
- Ensure independence and objectivity of research
- Strengthen partnerships between federal agencies and universities
- Leverage university expertise, faculty, and student engagement
- Encourage professional development of current and future scientists, resource managers, and environmental leaders
- Improve effective management of federal natural and cultural resources
Individual project agreements under the CESU framework may last up to five years and support applied, interdisciplinary research and technical assistance aligned with National Park Service priorities.
Eligibility:
Eligible applicants must:
- Be an official partner within the CESU network prior to award consideration
Organizations that are not yet CESU partners must complete the CESU network partnership process before being eligible. Information on joining the CESU network is available at www.cesu.org.
Geographic Requirement:
Master Cooperative Agreements are available to CESU network participants nationwide, including those located within the following CESU regions: North and West Alaska, Californian, Chesapeake Watershed, Colorado Plateau, Desert Southwest, Great Basin, Great Lakes, Northern Forest, Great Plains, Great Rivers, Gulf Coast, Hawaii/Pacific Islands, North Atlantic Coast, Pacific Northwest, Piedmont–South Atlantic Coast, Rocky Mountains, South Florida/Caribbean, and Southern Appalachian.
Additional Notes:
Applications must be submitted electronically via Grants.gov. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis and may be submitted at any time prior to the closing date. Detailed instructions are provided in the official Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO).
Grantor Contact:
Melissa Jacobi
melissa_a_jacobi@nps.gov
