Opportunity Information: Apply for P17AS00262
The grant opportunity titled "Monitoring, inventory, public outreach and trace fossil research for paleontological resources" (Funding Opportunity Number P17AS00262) is a National Park Service cooperative agreement focused on strengthening how paleontological resources are tracked, evaluated, protected, and interpreted for the public. It is designed to support hands-on, career-building experience for an early-career scientist while directly helping the park meet core stewardship needs such as resource monitoring, inventory work, research support, preservation planning, and public outreach tied to fossils and trace fossils.
The project centers on building and improving a field-based monitoring program for paleontology resources, using standardized tools and repeatable methods so observations can be compared over time. Work would rely on existing monitoring forms and locality forms, along with systematic photography, mapping, and data entry into the GRCA paleontology database (GRCA refers to Grand Canyon National Park). A key feature of the project is applying a quantifiable vulnerability assessment method that was developed at GRCA and is being adopted by other National Park Service sites. That vulnerability approach is meant to help staff prioritize which fossil localities or exposures need the most frequent attention based on measurable risk factors, rather than relying only on subjective judgment. In addition to using the existing system, the project specifically calls for developing a new monitoring form tailored to paleontological resources, with the goal of improving consistency in field observations and strengthening the quality of analyses drawn from the data.
Beyond creating the updated monitoring form, the project involves field testing the approach through direct data collection and then refining the method based on real-world results. The intent is for the final workflow to be useful not only at GRCA but also across other NPS units that manage paleontological resources, noting that more than 200 park units have paleontological resource concerns. The scope also includes collaboration with the NPS Washington Support Office (WASO) Chief Paleontologist, emphasizing that the work is intended to inform broader programmatic paleontological studies and support compliance needs, which typically means ensuring fossil-related activities and management decisions align with required policies and review processes.
Fieldwork is a major component. Assessments are planned along at least two major trail systems connecting areas between the North Rim and South Rim, and the work also includes off-trail evaluations of fossil-bearing (fossiliferous) sources. This implies a mix of high-visitor-use corridors where exposure and disturbance risks may be higher, plus less-trafficked areas that may hold important scientific resources but have different monitoring challenges. Overall, the opportunity blends applied science, resource management, and public-facing stewardship: building a stronger monitoring framework, expanding or improving inventories, supporting trace fossil research, and feeding results into outreach and interpretation so the public can better understand and value the park's fossil resources.
Administratively, this is a discretionary funding opportunity offered by the U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, under the Natural Resources activity category (CFDA 15.945). The funding instrument is a cooperative agreement, which generally indicates substantial involvement by the agency during the project, such as technical coordination, shared planning, or direct collaboration. Eligibility is limited to public and state-controlled institutions of higher education. The posting was created May 15, 2017, with an original closing date of May 24, 2017. The anticipated award is a single award (Expected Awards: 1) with an award ceiling of $44,413.Apply for P17AS00262
- The Department of the Interior, National Park Service in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Monitoring, inventory, public outreach and trace fossil research for paleontological resources." 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 May 15, 2017.
- Applicants must submit their applications by May 24, 2017. (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 $44,413.00 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.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the title of this grant opportunity?
The opportunity is titled "Monitoring, inventory, public outreach and trace fossil research for paleontological resources."
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON)?
The Funding Opportunity Number is P17AS00262.
Which agency is offering this funding?
This is a U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service (NPS) discretionary funding opportunity.
What type of funding instrument is used?
The funding instrument is a cooperative agreement. This typically means the National Park Service expects substantial involvement during the project, such as technical coordination, shared planning, and direct collaboration.
What is the activity category and CFDA number?
The activity category is Natural Resources, and the CFDA number listed is 15.945.
What is the overall purpose of the project?
The project is focused on strengthening how paleontological resources are tracked, evaluated, protected, and interpreted for the public. It is designed to support applied stewardship needs (monitoring, inventory, research support, preservation planning, and outreach) tied to fossils and trace fossils.
Which park is referenced in the project description?
The work references GRCA, which stands for Grand Canyon National Park.
What kinds of paleontological resources are included?
The opportunity addresses paleontological resources broadly, including fossils and trace fossils, and includes trace fossil research as part of the scope.
What is meant by a "field-based monitoring program" in this project?
The project centers on building and improving a monitoring program that is conducted in the field and uses standardized tools and repeatable methods so observations can be compared over time.
What existing tools or documentation will the project rely on?
The work would rely on existing monitoring forms and locality forms, along with systematic photography, mapping, and data entry into the GRCA paleontology database.
Is the project expected to create any new monitoring tools?
Yes. A specific deliverable described is the development of a new monitoring form tailored to paleontological resources, intended to improve consistency of field observations and strengthen the quality of analyses drawn from the data.
How will the new monitoring approach be validated or improved?
The project includes field testing through direct data collection, followed by refining the method based on real-world results.
What is the vulnerability assessment method mentioned in the opportunity?
The project calls for applying a quantifiable vulnerability assessment method developed at GRCA. The description emphasizes that it is being adopted by other NPS sites and is designed to help prioritize which fossil localities or exposures need more frequent attention based on measurable risk factors rather than only subjective judgment.
Why is quantifying vulnerability important for monitoring fossil localities?
Based on the opportunity description, quantifying vulnerability is intended to support defensible prioritization by using measurable risk factors. This helps determine where limited monitoring effort should be focused most often.
What kind of fieldwork is anticipated?
Fieldwork is a major component. Assessments are planned along at least two major trail systems connecting areas between the North Rim and South Rim, and the scope also includes off-trail evaluations of fossil-bearing (fossiliferous) sources.
Why does the project include both trail-system and off-trail evaluations?
The description indicates a mix of high-visitor-use corridors (where exposure and disturbance risks may be higher) and less-trafficked areas (which may contain important scientific resources but present different monitoring challenges).
What role does data management play in this project?
Data management is part of the core workflow described, including systematic photography, mapping, and entering monitoring and locality information into the GRCA paleontology database so observations can be tracked and compared over time.
Does this project include public outreach and interpretation?
Yes. The opportunity explicitly includes public outreach, and it notes that results are intended to feed into outreach and interpretation so the public can better understand and value the park's fossil resources.
How does the project support park stewardship needs?
The description ties the work directly to stewardship needs such as resource monitoring, inventory work, research support, preservation planning, and public outreach related to paleontological resources.
Is the project intended to support early-career development?
Yes. The opportunity is described as supporting hands-on, career-building experience for an early-career scientist while also meeting core park stewardship needs.
Who will the project collaborate with at the National Park Service?
The project scope includes collaboration with the NPS Washington Support Office (WASO) Chief Paleontologist.
Is the work intended to be useful beyond Grand Canyon National Park?
Yes. The intent is for the final workflow to be useful at GRCA and across other NPS units managing paleontological resources. The description notes that more than 200 park units have paleontological resource concerns.
How does this opportunity relate to compliance needs?
The description states that collaboration with the WASO Chief Paleontologist is intended to inform broader programmatic paleontological studies and support compliance needs, meaning fossil-related activities and management decisions should align with required policies and review processes.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is limited to public and state-controlled institutions of higher education.
How many awards are expected?
The opportunity lists Expected Awards: 1, indicating a single anticipated award.
What is the maximum funding available (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling is $44,413.
When was the posting created and when did it close?
The posting was created on May 15, 2017, and the original closing date was May 24, 2017.
What does "discretionary funding opportunity" mean in this context?
The opportunity is described as discretionary, meaning it is offered at the agency's discretion under the listed program and activity category, rather than being automatically provided by formula.
What kinds of outputs are implied by the scope of work?
Based on the description, implied outputs include an improved field-based monitoring workflow, a newly developed monitoring form tailored to paleontological resources, field-collected monitoring and locality data (including photos and maps), vulnerability assessment results to support prioritization, updates entered into the GRCA paleontology database, and materials or information that can support public outreach and interpretation.
Does the project emphasize standardized and repeatable methods?
Yes. A central goal is to use standardized tools and repeatable methods so that observations can be compared consistently over time.
What is the practical management benefit of comparing observations over time?
The project description frames repeatable monitoring as a way to strengthen tracking and evaluation of paleontological resources, allowing staff to see change through time and make better-informed decisions about protection and prioritization.
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