Opportunity Information: Apply for P21AS00324
The National Park Service (NPS) offered a discretionary funding opportunity titled "Effects of Outdoor Lighting on Natural Resources and Visitor Enjoyment in National Parks" under Funding Opportunity Number P21AS00324. The award mechanism for this program was a cooperative agreement, which typically signals a partnership-style project where the federal agency expects to have substantial involvement during the period of performance, such as coordination on study design, access to park sites and data, or collaboration on outreach and implementation. The opportunity sits within the environment activity area and is associated with CFDA number 15.945.
The central purpose of the grant was to support work examining how outdoor lighting in or near national parks affects both natural resources and the quality of visitor experiences. In practical terms, this kind of project generally focuses on the ecological and experiential consequences of artificial light at night, such as how lighting may influence wildlife behavior, habitat use, migration, nocturnal activity patterns, and broader ecosystem processes, while also considering how lighting shapes what visitors see and feel in parks at night. That includes issues like night sky visibility, opportunities for stargazing, perceptions of safety, and overall enjoyment of evening and nighttime recreation. The framing of the title indicates an intent to balance resource protection with visitor experience outcomes, rather than focusing exclusively on one side.
Eligibility was restricted by statute (54 U.S.C. section 101702(b), Cooperative and Research Training Programs). Only public or private educational institutions, state governments, and political subdivisions of states could apply. In the source eligibility list, this is reflected as state governments, public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, and private institutions of higher education. This restriction implies the NPS was aiming to fund research and training-oriented partnerships with universities and governmental entities that can carry out rigorous field studies, data analysis, and applied management recommendations relevant to park operations.
Key administrative details include an original application closing date of April 9, 2021, and a creation date for the opportunity notice of February 5, 2021. The maximum potential award amount (award ceiling) was listed as $390,000. The number of expected awards was not specified in the provided data, which often means the agency may have intended to make one award, multiple awards, or adjust the final count depending on proposal quality and available funding.
Overall, this opportunity can be summarized as NPS funding to support applied research and cooperative work on understanding and managing outdoor lighting impacts in national parks, with an emphasis on protecting natural resources while sustaining or improving visitor enjoyment, and with eligibility limited to universities and state or local government entities under the relevant authorizing statute.Apply for P21AS00324
- The National Park Service in the environment sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Effects of Outdoor Lighting on Natural Resources and Visitor Enjoyment in National 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 2021-02-05.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2021-04-09. (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 $390,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: State governments, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education.
[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal:
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the official title of this funding opportunity?
The official title is "Effects of Outdoor Lighting on Natural Resources and Visitor Enjoyment in National Parks."
Which federal agency offered this opportunity?
The opportunity was offered by the National Park Service (NPS).
What is the Funding Opportunity Number?
The Funding Opportunity Number is P21AS00324.
What type of award mechanism was used?
The award mechanism was a cooperative agreement.
What does a cooperative agreement mean for how the project would be carried out?
A cooperative agreement typically indicates a partnership-style project where the federal agency expects to have substantial involvement during the period of performance. Based on the description provided, that involvement may include coordination on study design, facilitating access to park sites and data, and collaborating on outreach and implementation.
What is the main purpose of the grant?
The central purpose was to support work examining how outdoor lighting in or near national parks affects natural resources and the quality of visitor experiences.
What kinds of impacts on natural resources were this grant focused on?
The description points to impacts of artificial light at night on ecological conditions, such as changes in wildlife behavior, habitat use, migration, nocturnal activity patterns, and broader ecosystem processes.
How does the opportunity relate to visitor enjoyment?
The opportunity also focused on how lighting affects what visitors see and feel at night, including night sky visibility, stargazing opportunities, perceptions of safety, and overall enjoyment of evening and nighttime recreation.
Is the opportunity focused only on resource protection, or also on visitor experience?
Based on the framing of the title and purpose, it is intended to balance resource protection goals with visitor experience outcomes rather than focusing exclusively on one or the other.
What activity area is this opportunity associated with?
This opportunity sits within the environment activity area.
What CFDA number is associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is associated with CFDA number 15.945.
Who was eligible to apply?
Eligibility was restricted by statute. Only public or private educational institutions, state governments, and political subdivisions of states could apply.
Which specific applicant categories were listed in the eligibility information?
The source eligibility list reflects state governments, public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, and private institutions of higher education.
Why was eligibility limited to these types of applicants?
The provided description suggests the National Park Service was aiming to fund research and training-oriented partnerships with universities and governmental entities capable of conducting rigorous field studies, data analysis, and producing applied management recommendations relevant to park operations.
What is the statutory authority mentioned for eligibility restrictions?
The eligibility restriction is tied to 54 U.S.C. section 101702(b), Cooperative and Research Training Programs.
What was the application closing date?
The original application closing date was April 9, 2021.
When was the opportunity notice created?
The creation date for the opportunity notice was February 5, 2021.
What was the maximum potential award amount?
The award ceiling (maximum potential award amount) was $390,000.
How many awards were expected to be made?
The number of expected awards was not specified in the provided information.
Does an unspecified number of expected awards indicate anything about how many awards might be made?
When the expected number of awards is not specified, it often means the agency may make one award or multiple awards, or adjust the final count depending on proposal quality and available funding.
What is a practical summary of what this grant aimed to fund?
In practical terms, it aimed to fund applied research and cooperative work to understand and manage the impacts of outdoor lighting on national park natural resources while sustaining or improving visitor enjoyment.
Browse more opportunities from the same category: Environment
Next opportunity: Cooperative Agreement issued with Partner of the Pacific Northwest Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit
Previous opportunity: Mood and Psychosis Symptoms during the Menopause Transition (R21 Clinical Trial Optional)
Applicant Portal:
Are you interested in learning about about how to apply for this government funding opportunity? You can create a free applicant account and receive instant access to our applicant portal that many business owners like you have benefited from.
Apply for P21AS00324
Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (P21AS00324) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| Program to Support Tribal Climate Resilience Grants and Ocean and Coastal Management Planning Grants Apply for TEMP 11663 Funding Number: TEMP 11663 Agency: Bureau of Indian Affairs Category: Environment Funding Amount: $150,000 |
| Central Valley Project Conservation Program for Fiscal Year 2021 and 2022 Apply for R21AS00275 Funding Number: R21AS00275 Agency: Bureau of Reclamation Category: Environment Funding Amount: $1,000,000 |
| Central Valley Project Improvement Act Habitat Restoration Program Grants for Fiscal Years 2021 and 2022 Apply for R21AS00279 Funding Number: R21AS00279 Agency: Bureau of Reclamation Category: Environment Funding Amount: $1,000,000 |
| Decrease Deforestation Through Improved Livelihoods Apply for BAA MEX DDTIL 2021 Funding Number: BAA MEX DDTIL 2021 Agency: Mexico USAID-Mexico City Category: Environment Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| National Climate Adaptation Science Center Program (NCASC) Apply for G21AS00299 Funding Number: G21AS00299 Agency: Geological Survey Category: Environment Funding Amount: $4,500,000 |
| AK-21-03: Resource Areas to Support Oil Spill Risk Analysis (OSRA) and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Needs in the Cook Inlet Region Apply for M21AS00353 Funding Number: M21AS00353 Agency: Bureau of Ocean Energy Management Category: Environment Funding Amount: $500,000 |
| AK-21-01: Winter Ringed Seal Density within Beaufort Sea Oil and Gas Project Areas Apply for M21AS00382 Funding Number: M21AS00382 Agency: Bureau of Ocean Energy Management Category: Environment Funding Amount: $500,000 |
| AK-19-02:Alaska Coastal Marine Institute (CMI) Apply for M21AS00347 Funding Number: M21AS00347 Agency: Bureau of Ocean Energy Management Category: Environment Funding Amount: $250,000 |
| AK-21-02: Synthesis of Contaminants Data for Cook Inlet: Evaluation of Existing Data as “Baseline Conditions” and Recommendations for Further Monitoring Apply for M21AS00345 Funding Number: M21AS00345 Agency: Bureau of Ocean Energy Management Category: Environment Funding Amount: $325,000 |
| Rhinoceros and Tiger Conservation Fund - Africa Apply for F21AS00449 Funding Number: F21AS00449 Agency: Fish and Wildlife Service Category: Environment Funding Amount: $500,000 |
| Implementation of the Quagga and Zebra Mussel Action Plan (QZAP) in the Western United States Apply for F21AS00441 Funding Number: F21AS00441 Agency: Fish and Wildlife Service Category: Environment Funding Amount: $600,000 |
| NT-21-06: Mortality Risk for Whale and Basking Sharks During Energy and Mineral Operations Apply for M21AS00388 Funding Number: M21AS00388 Agency: Bureau of Ocean Energy Management Category: Environment Funding Amount: $400,000 |
| AK-21-04: Bowhead Whale Migration Patterns along the Alaskan Beaufort Shelf During a Period of Rapid Environmental Change Apply for M21AS00387 Funding Number: M21AS00387 Agency: Bureau of Ocean Energy Management Category: Environment Funding Amount: $3,000,000 |
| NAWCA 2022-2 US Standard Grants Apply for F22AS00012 Funding Number: F22AS00012 Agency: Fish and Wildlife Service Category: Environment Funding Amount: $2,000,000 |
| Analysis of a Before-After Control-Impact (BACI) Wildlife Water Development Pilot Study Apply for P21AS00425 Funding Number: P21AS00425 Agency: National Park Service Category: Environment Funding Amount: $30,000 |
| Trinity River Restoration Program Watershed Grant Program Administration Apply for R21AS00232 Funding Number: R21AS00232 Agency: Bureau of Reclamation Category: Environment Funding Amount: $2,675,000 |
| Great Ape Conservation Fund - Africa Apply for F21AS00547 Funding Number: F21AS00547 Agency: Fish and Wildlife Service Category: Environment Funding Amount: $450,000 |
| MM-20-01: New York Bight (NYB) Fish, Fisheries, and Sand Features: In the Field Apply for M21AS00536 Funding Number: M21AS00536 Agency: Bureau of Ocean Energy Management Category: Environment Funding Amount: $825,000 |
| Klamath River Coho Restoration Grant Program (Program) Administration Apply for R21AS00573 Funding Number: R21AS00573 Agency: Bureau of Reclamation Category: Environment Funding Amount: $2,700,000 |
| PC-20-02 The Environmental Status of Artificial Structures Offshore California Apply for M20AS00214 Funding Number: M20AS00214 Agency: Bureau of Ocean Energy Management Category: Environment Funding Amount: $750,000 |
Grant application guides and resources
It is always free to apply for government grants. However the process may be very complex depending on the funding opportunity you are applying for. Let us help you!
Apply for Grants
Inside Our Applicants Portal
Access Applicants Portal
- Grants Repository - Access current and historic funding opportunities with ease. Thousands of funding opportunities are published every week. We can help you sort through the database and find the eligible ones to apply for.
- Applicant Video Guides - The grant application process can be challenging to follow. We can help you with intuitive video guides to speed up the process and eliminate errors in submissions.
- Grant Proposal Wizard - We have developed a network of private funding organizations and investors across the United States. We can reach out and submit your proposal to these contacts to maximize your chances of getting the funding you need.
Premium leads for funding administrators, grant writers, and loan issuers
Thousands of people visit our website for their funding needs every day. When a user creates a grant proposal and files for submission, we pass the information on to funding administrators, grant writers, and government loan issuers.
If you manage government grant programs, provide grant writing services, or issue personal or government loans, we can help you reach your audience.
Learn More
Request more information:
Would you like to learn more about this funding opportunity, similar opportunities to "P21AS00324", eligibility, application service, and/or application tips? Submit an inquiry below:
Don't forget to subscribe to our grant alerts mailing list to receive weekly alerts on new and updated grant funding opportunities like this one in your email.