Opportunity Information: Apply for NPS NOIP18AC00691
The grant opportunity titled "GLNF- CESU: Pilot Study of Acoustic Monitoring Research in Midwest Parks" (Funding Opportunity Number NPS NOIP18AC00691) is a National Park Service discretionary funding opportunity offered through a cooperative agreement under the Department of the Interior. It supports a pilot research effort led by the University of Vermont in Burlington to install and test a newer approach to wildlife acoustic monitoring at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore (often abbreviated as INDU). The project is framed as both a technology demonstration and a management-focused research effort, aiming to modernize how the park tracks wildlife presence and responses to habitat restoration.
At the core of the project is the deployment of acoustic monitoring systems that can record wildlife sounds and pair those recordings with imagery, then transmit the data automatically using cell phone technology. This is described as novel for park operations because it can reduce the need for frequent staff field visits to retrieve data, and it can also lower the time and cost associated with listening to recordings manually. By automating collection and transmission, the project is intended to enable monitoring of more species across more locations without a proportional increase in staffing, which is a common constraint in long-term ecological monitoring programs.
A major purpose of the work is to strengthen adaptive management at Indiana Dunes by linking monitoring directly to decision-making under the park's Resource Stewardship Strategy (RSS). In practical terms, the monitoring data are meant to help park managers evaluate whether on-the-ground actions to restore wetlands and savannas are producing the intended ecological outcomes. Instead of treating restoration as a one-time intervention, the pilot emphasizes tracking, analysis, and iterative learning, so that management actions can be adjusted based on evidence of what is or is not working.
Beyond the immediate management benefits, the opportunity highlights broader impacts. It positions the project as contributing to cutting-edge scientific methods, generating results that can be shared with the public, and supporting education and recreation by improving understanding of park wildlife and habitat conditions. It also emphasizes partnership-building and community engagement, with the monitoring effort serving as a platform for shared environmental stewardship among the park, external partners, and local communities.
Administratively, the opportunity is limited to eligible applicants that are public and state-controlled institutions of higher education. The posted award ceiling is $230,000, with an expectation of one award. The opportunity was created on September 7, 2018, with an original closing date of September 17, 2018, and it is associated with CFDA number 15.945.Apply for NPS NOIP18AC00691
- The Department of the Interior, National Park Service in the education, environment, natural resources, science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "GLNF- CESU: Pilot Study of Acoustic Monitoring Research in Midwest 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 Sep 07, 2018.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Sep 17, 2018. (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 $230,000.00 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.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the title of this grant opportunity?
The opportunity is titled "GLNF- CESU: Pilot Study of Acoustic Monitoring Research in Midwest Parks."
What is the Funding Opportunity Number?
The Funding Opportunity Number is NPS NOIP18AC00691.
Which federal agency is offering this opportunity?
This is a National Park Service (NPS) discretionary funding opportunity offered under the Department of the Interior.
What funding instrument will be used?
The opportunity will be awarded through a cooperative agreement.
What type of project does this opportunity support?
It supports a pilot research effort to install and test a newer approach to wildlife acoustic monitoring in a Midwest park setting, specifically at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore (INDU).
Where will the pilot project take place?
The pilot is intended for Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore (often abbreviated as INDU).
Who is expected to lead the pilot research effort?
The pilot effort is described as being led by the University of Vermont in Burlington.
What is the main technology being demonstrated?
The project centers on deploying acoustic monitoring systems that can record wildlife sounds, pair those recordings with imagery, and transmit data automatically using cell phone technology.
Why is this approach described as novel for park operations?
It is presented as novel because it can reduce the need for frequent staff field visits to retrieve data and can lower the time and cost associated with manually listening to recordings.
What operational problem is this pilot trying to solve?
The pilot aims to help parks monitor more species across more locations without a proportional increase in staffing, which is a common limitation in long-term ecological monitoring programs.
How will the monitoring data be used by park management?
The monitoring is intended to strengthen adaptive management at Indiana Dunes by linking data directly to decision-making under the park's Resource Stewardship Strategy (RSS).
What management actions is this monitoring meant to evaluate?
The data are meant to help managers evaluate whether restoration actions in wetlands and savannas are producing intended ecological outcomes.
What does the opportunity mean by "adaptive management" in this context?
In this pilot, adaptive management is framed as tracking and analyzing outcomes and using that evidence for iterative learning, so management actions can be adjusted based on what is or is not working.
Is this project only about research, or also about park decision-making?
It is framed as both a technology demonstration and a management-focused research effort, with monitoring intended to inform real-world decisions connected to the park's RSS.
What broader impacts are highlighted beyond park operations?
The opportunity highlights contributions to cutting-edge scientific methods, results that can be shared with the public, and support for education and recreation by improving understanding of wildlife and habitat conditions.
Does the opportunity mention partnerships or community involvement?
Yes. It emphasizes partnership-building and community engagement, with the monitoring effort serving as a platform for shared environmental stewardship among the park, external partners, and local communities.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is limited to public and state-controlled institutions of higher education.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The posted award ceiling is $230,000.
How many awards are expected?
The opportunity states an expectation of one award.
What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is associated with CFDA number 15.945.
When was the opportunity created?
The opportunity was created on September 7, 2018.
What was the original closing date?
The original closing date was September 17, 2018.
What does the acronym INDU refer to?
INDU is the abbreviation used for Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore in the opportunity description.
What does RSS refer to in the opportunity?
RSS refers to the park's Resource Stewardship Strategy, which the opportunity links to monitoring-informed decision-making.
What kinds of data are expected to be collected and transmitted?
The project description indicates wildlife sound recordings paired with imagery, with automatic transmission via cell phone technology.
Why pair acoustic recordings with imagery?
The opportunity states that the system pairs recordings with imagery, supporting the pilot's goal of modernizing monitoring and improving how the park tracks wildlife presence and responses to habitat restoration.
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