Opportunity Information: Apply for P18AS00546
This funding opportunity is a National Park Service (NPS) discretionary grant action under the U.S. Department of the Interior focused on natural resource science in Big Bend National Park. The project title makes the core purpose clear: to understand how changes in water quality and groundwater contributions affect ecosystem structure, ecosystem function, and overall ecological health in the park. In practical terms, the work would center on springs, seeps, stream reaches, riparian corridors, and other water-dependent habitats where groundwater plays a major role, with the goal of connecting hydrologic conditions and water chemistry to biological communities and ecosystem processes.
The opportunity is listed as a Cooperative Agreement, which generally indicates substantial involvement by the federal agency during the project rather than a hands-off grant. That typically means NPS staff may help refine study questions, coordinate access to park sites, provide existing datasets and monitoring history, align methods with park management needs, and collaborate on interpretation and application of results. The activity category is Natural Resources and the CFDA number is 15.945, a National Park Service assistance listing used for projects that support conservation, research, and resource stewardship.
This is not an open competition and not a request for applications. The notice indicates an intent to award to Utah State University under an existing master agreement (P17AC01073), meaning the recipient and award pathway were pre-identified. Because of that, the "Eligible Applicants" field points to "Others" with additional eligibility details, but the key takeaway is that this particular action is effectively a directed award rather than a broadly competed funding call.
Funding is capped at an award ceiling of $48,203, with one expected award. The opportunity was created on August 17, 2018. The listing’s closing date language reinforces that there is no application deadline in the usual sense because it is a notice of intent to award rather than a solicitation.
Substantively, the project’s theme suggests an integrated ecohydrology and water-quality assessment. "Increasing water quality and groundwater inputs" implies the park is seeing changing conditions in either groundwater contribution (quantity, timing, or connectivity) and/or water chemistry (such as salinity, nutrients, dissolved oxygen, temperature, major ions, metals, or other indicators). The research would likely evaluate how those changes influence ecosystem structure (for example, which species are present and how communities are assembled), function (such as nutrient cycling, primary productivity, decomposition, and food-web dynamics), and health (metrics like habitat condition, stress indicators in key species, biodiversity measures, or presence of invasive or nuisance organisms). In a desert park like Big Bend, even small shifts in groundwater-fed systems can have outsized effects on riparian vegetation, aquatic invertebrates, amphibians, fish, and the wildlife that relies on persistent water sources.
From a management standpoint, the anticipated value of a project like this is decision-ready science. Results can help park managers identify which water sources and habitats are most sensitive to changes in groundwater inputs, distinguish natural variability from concerning trends, and prioritize monitoring or protective actions. It can also inform how the park evaluates potential external pressures on groundwater and water quality, such as regional water use, drought, land-use change in surrounding areas, or episodic contamination events, even when those pressures originate outside park boundaries.
In summary, this is a single-recipient, cooperative, research-oriented NPS funding action designed to improve understanding of how water quality and groundwater contributions shape ecological condition in Big Bend National Park, with a modest budget (up to $48,203) and a directed intent to award to Utah State University rather than an open call for proposals.Apply for P18AS00546
- The Department of the Interior, National Park Service in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Understanding the role of increasing water quality and groundwater inputs on ecosystem structure, function, and health in Big Bend National Park" 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 Aug 17, 2018.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Notice of Intent to Award to Utah State University under Master Agreement P17AC01073 Not a request for applications. (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 $48,203.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is this funding opportunity?
This is a National Park Service (NPS) discretionary grant action under the U.S. Department of the Interior focused on natural resource science in Big Bend National Park. It is structured as a Cooperative Agreement rather than a standard, hands-off grant.
What is the main purpose of the project?
The purpose is to understand how changes in water quality and groundwater contributions affect ecosystem structure, ecosystem function, and overall ecological health in Big Bend National Park. The project aims to connect hydrologic conditions and water chemistry with biological communities and ecosystem processes.
Where will the work take place?
The work is centered in Big Bend National Park, with a practical focus on groundwater-influenced and water-dependent habitats such as springs, seeps, stream reaches, riparian corridors, and related ecosystems where groundwater plays a major role.
What types of habitats and water features are included?
The opportunity specifically points to springs, seeps, stream reaches, riparian corridors, and other water-dependent habitats. These are the types of sites where groundwater inputs can strongly shape water availability, water chemistry, and ecological conditions.
What kinds of scientific questions does the project address?
The project is framed as an integrated ecohydrology and water-quality assessment. It focuses on how shifting groundwater inputs (quantity, timing, or connectivity) and/or changes in water chemistry relate to changes in biological communities and ecosystem processes, ultimately affecting ecological health.
What does "ecosystem structure" mean in the context of this project?
In this context, ecosystem structure refers to which species are present and how ecological communities are assembled in groundwater-dependent habitats. Examples mentioned or implied include shifts in riparian vegetation, aquatic invertebrates, amphibians, fish, and other wildlife associated with persistent water sources.
What does "ecosystem function" mean in the context of this project?
Ecosystem function refers to how the ecosystem operates, including processes such as nutrient cycling, primary productivity, decomposition, and food-web dynamics. The project’s intent is to relate these processes to hydrologic conditions and water chemistry.
What does "ecological health" refer to here?
Ecological health is described in terms of metrics such as habitat condition, stress indicators in key species, biodiversity measures, and the presence of invasive or nuisance organisms, with an emphasis on how these may respond to changes in groundwater contributions and water quality.
What water quality or chemistry factors might be evaluated?
The description indicates that water chemistry changes could involve parameters such as salinity, nutrients, dissolved oxygen, temperature, major ions, metals, or other indicators. The project is broadly aimed at linking water-quality conditions to ecological outcomes.
Why is groundwater especially important in Big Bend National Park?
Big Bend is a desert park where small shifts in groundwater-fed systems can produce outsized ecological effects. Groundwater-supported waters and riparian areas can be critical for riparian vegetation, aquatic organisms, and wildlife that depend on reliable water sources.
What is the assistance type for this opportunity?
The assistance type is a Cooperative Agreement. This generally indicates substantial involvement by the federal agency during the project, rather than a purely recipient-led effort.
What does substantial NPS involvement typically look like in a Cooperative Agreement?
Based on the description provided, NPS involvement may include refining study questions, coordinating access to park sites, providing existing datasets and monitoring history, aligning methods with park management needs, and collaborating on interpretation and application of results.
What is the activity category?
The activity category is Natural Resources.
What is the CFDA number for this opportunity?
The CFDA (assistance listing) number is 15.945, which is associated with National Park Service assistance used for projects supporting conservation, research, and resource stewardship.
Is this an open competition or a request for applications?
No. The notice states this is not an open competition and not a request for applications. It is a notice of intent to award rather than a solicitation.
Who is the intended recipient?
The notice indicates an intent to award to Utah State University under an existing master agreement (P17AC01073). The recipient and award pathway were pre-identified.
Who is eligible to apply?
The listing shows "Eligible Applicants" as "Others" with additional eligibility details, but the key takeaway is that this specific action is a directed intent to award to a pre-identified recipient rather than a broadly competed opportunity.
How many awards are expected?
One award is expected.
What is the maximum funding amount available?
The award ceiling is $48,203.
Is there an application deadline?
No typical application deadline applies. The closing date language indicates there is no application deadline in the usual sense because this is a notice of intent to award rather than an open solicitation.
When was the opportunity created?
The opportunity was created on August 17, 2018.
What management value is expected from the research?
The anticipated value is decision-ready science for park management. Results can help identify which water sources and habitats are most sensitive to groundwater changes, distinguish natural variability from concerning trends, and prioritize monitoring or protective actions.
Can the findings inform evaluation of pressures outside park boundaries?
Yes. The description notes that results can help the park evaluate potential external pressures on groundwater and water quality, including regional water use, drought, land-use change in surrounding areas, and episodic contamination events, even when those pressures originate outside the park.
What is the overall summary of this opportunity?
This is a single-recipient, cooperative, research-oriented NPS funding action for Big Bend National Park. It is designed to improve understanding of how water quality and groundwater contributions shape ecological condition, with a budget up to $48,203 and an intent to award to Utah State University rather than running an open call for proposals.
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