Opportunity Information: Apply for P18AS00684
The National Park Service (NPS), within the U.S. Department of the Interior, announced a discretionary cooperative agreement action titled "Post-WNS Bat Assemblage at Prince William Forest Park: Dormant Season" (Funding Opportunity Number P18AS00684). The effort focuses on understanding how bat communities at Prince William Forest Park are faring after the spread of White-nose Syndrome (WNS), with particular attention to the northern long-eared bat, a federally listed threatened species. The project is framed as dormant-season work (fall through spring conditions), filling a gap left by earlier NPS-sponsored summer research conducted from 2014 to 2018 in National Capital Region (NCR) parks. In practical terms, it aims to extend seasonal coverage so managers can better understand year-round habitat use and survival strategies rather than relying mainly on summer maternity-season observations.
The central scientific and conservation question is whether northern long-eared bats and other WNS-impacted species are persisting in and around Prince William Forest Park by using unusual (aberrant) hibernation sites locally, or by shifting their overwintering behavior through migration to coastal areas or farther southeast into Virginia. If bats are successfully avoiding WNS impacts through these strategies, the implications are described as "immense" because it could indicate that the eastern NCR still supports one of the last active and reproductively viable populations for the species. The announcement also raises the possibility that NCR parks may function as maternity areas for bats that overwinter farther to the southeast, noting anecdotal observations that suggest limited maternity activity in southeastern Virginia and northeastern North Carolina despite evidence of overwintering occurrences there. In other words, bats might be surviving the winter elsewhere but relying on NCR habitats to reproduce, which would make the NCR disproportionately important to regional population persistence.
From a species-status standpoint, the work is positioned as potentially influential to conservation outcomes beyond the park boundary. If findings show that the NCR is critical to the northern long-eared bat's survival and recovery, that information could help prevent the species from being uplisted from threatened to endangered, or potentially support future downlisting or delisting if recovery trends are demonstrated. While listing decisions are not made by NPS, the announcement emphasizes that high-quality ecological evidence about where bats survive and reproduce can affect broader conservation assessments and priorities.
The opportunity also links bat biology to management needs. Even if bats overwinter in traditional caves, in trees, or in other nonstandard sites, they still require periods of intensive foraging in spring to rebuild energy reserves, support migration, and meet the demands of pregnancy. The NCR is described as rapidly urbanizing, which increases the value of remaining protected areas. NPS parks in the region represent a substantial portion of the remaining landscape that can support key bat requirements such as day-roosting sites and foraging habitat. Because WNS has reshaped bat ecology and reduced populations, management strategies that aim to optimize habitat conditions need to consider not only summer maternity habitat but also fall, spring, and potential overwinter habitat needs in the mid-Atlantic. The announcement explicitly notes that these seasonal needs have not been adequately incorporated into management approaches to date.
At the park management level, the anticipated outcome is information that can be translated into practical conservation guidelines. The results are intended to inform decisions about forest and field management, hazard tree removal (which can unintentionally eliminate roost trees), and prescribed fire use (which can both improve habitat and pose risks depending on timing and implementation). By better defining how bats use the landscape during dormant seasons, the park can craft guidance that reduces avoidable impacts while supporting habitat features that WNS-impacted bats may now depend on for survival and recovery.
Administratively, this notice is not a call for new applications. It is a notification that NPS will modify an existing task agreement under an already competed cooperative agreement (Cooperative Agreement Number P17AC01176) with Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. The eligible applicant category listed is 501(c)(3) nonprofits other than institutions of higher education, but in this case the action is a directed modification under an existing partnership rather than an open competition. The funding instrument is a Cooperative Agreement, the activity category is Science and Technology and other Research and Development, and the CFDA number is 15.945. The announcement was created on September 13, 2018, with an original closing date of September 23, 2018, reflecting the administrative window for the notice rather than an open submission period. The expected number of awards is one, with an award ceiling of $49,900.
In summary, the grant action supports targeted dormant-season bat research at Prince William Forest Park to determine how WNS-affected bats, especially northern long-eared bats, may be persisting through altered hibernation or migration strategies. It builds on prior summer research, addresses a critical seasonal knowledge gap, and is designed to produce actionable guidance for habitat and risk management decisions in a region where protected lands may play an outsized role in sustaining remaining bat populations.Apply for P18AS00684
- The Department of the Interior, National Park Service in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Post-WNS Bat Assemblage at Prince William Forest Park: Dormant Season" 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 13, 2018.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Sep 23, 2018 This announcement is not a request for applications. It is notification that NPS will modify a task agreement under already competed Cooperative Agreement Number P17AC01176 with Virginia Polytechnic Institute amp State University.. (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 $49,900.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education.
[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal:
FAQs: Post-WNS Bat Assemblage at Prince William Forest Park: Dormant Season (NPS)
What is the title of this National Park Service grant action?
The action is titled "Post-WNS Bat Assemblage at Prince William Forest Park: Dormant Season."
What is the Funding Opportunity Number?
The Funding Opportunity Number is P18AS00684.
Which federal agency is offering this opportunity?
The opportunity is announced by the National Park Service (NPS) within the U.S. Department of the Interior.
Is this an open call for new applications?
No. This notice is not a call for new applications. It is a notification that NPS will modify an existing task agreement under an already competed cooperative agreement.
What type of funding instrument is being used?
The funding instrument is a Cooperative Agreement.
What existing agreement is being modified?
NPS plans to modify an existing task agreement under Cooperative Agreement Number P17AC01176.
Who is the partner on the existing cooperative agreement mentioned in the notice?
The existing cooperative agreement referenced in the notice is with Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.
How many awards are expected under this action?
The expected number of awards is one.
What is the maximum (ceiling) award amount listed?
The award ceiling is $49,900.
What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The CFDA number listed is 15.945.
What is the activity category for this work?
The activity category is Science and Technology and other Research and Development.
Who is listed as an eligible applicant?
The eligible applicant category listed is 501(c)(3) nonprofits other than institutions of higher education. However, the notice also explains this specific action is a directed modification under an existing partnership rather than an open competition.
When was the announcement created?
The announcement was created on September 13, 2018.
What closing date is shown, and what does it mean in this context?
The original closing date shown is September 23, 2018. In this notice, that date reflects the administrative window for the announcement rather than an open period for submitting new applications.
Where will the research take place?
The work focuses on Prince William Forest Park, within the National Capital Region (NCR) context described in the notice.
What is the main purpose of the project?
The project aims to understand how bat communities at Prince William Forest Park are faring after the spread of White-nose Syndrome (WNS), with particular attention to the northern long-eared bat, which is federally listed as threatened.
What does "dormant season" mean for this project?
In the notice, dormant-season work is framed as fall through spring conditions, extending research beyond the typical summer maternity season.
Why is dormant-season research needed if summer studies already occurred?
The notice explains that earlier NPS-sponsored research in NCR parks occurred in summer from 2014 to 2018. This project fills a seasonal gap by extending coverage into fall, winter, and spring so managers can better understand year-round habitat use and survival strategies rather than relying mainly on summer observations.
What disease is this project responding to?
The project is framed around the impacts of White-nose Syndrome (WNS), a major factor reshaping bat ecology and reducing bat populations.
Which bat species is highlighted as a key concern?
The northern long-eared bat is highlighted, described in the notice as a federally listed threatened species.
What core scientific question is the project trying to answer?
The central question is whether northern long-eared bats and other WNS-impacted species are persisting in and around Prince William Forest Park by using unusual (aberrant) local hibernation sites, or by shifting overwintering behavior through migration to coastal areas or farther southeast into Virginia.
What are "aberrant hibernation sites" in the context of this announcement?
Based on the notice wording, "aberrant" refers to nontraditional or unexpected hibernation locations that may be used locally, as opposed to the better-known overwintering patterns in typical hibernacula.
Why would evidence of persistence be considered especially important?
The notice states the implications would be "immense" if bats are successfully avoiding WNS impacts through altered strategies, because it could indicate the eastern NCR still supports one of the last active and reproductively viable populations of the northern long-eared bat.
Does the announcement suggest bats might overwinter outside the NCR but return to NCR parks to reproduce?
Yes. The notice raises the possibility that NCR parks may function as maternity areas for bats that overwinter farther to the southeast, citing anecdotal observations suggesting limited maternity activity in southeastern Virginia and northeastern North Carolina despite evidence of overwintering occurrences there.
How could the findings influence conservation beyond Prince William Forest Park?
The announcement frames the work as potentially influential beyond the park boundary. If the NCR is shown to be critical to survival and recovery, that ecological evidence could inform broader conservation assessments and priorities related to the species.
Could this research affect whether the northern long-eared bat is listed as threatened or endangered?
The notice suggests that strong evidence about where bats survive and reproduce could help prevent an uplisting from threatened to endangered, or potentially support future downlisting or delisting if recovery trends are demonstrated. It also notes that listing decisions are not made by NPS.
Why does the notice emphasize spring foraging even when the project is dormant-season focused?
The announcement explains that regardless of whether bats overwinter in caves, trees, or other nonstandard sites, they still need periods of intensive foraging in spring to rebuild energy reserves, support migration, and meet pregnancy demands.
What regional management pressures are mentioned?
The NCR is described as rapidly urbanizing, which increases the value of remaining protected areas that can provide day-roosting sites and foraging habitat for bats.
What kinds of management decisions is the project intended to inform?
The results are intended to translate into practical conservation guidelines to inform forest and field management, hazard tree removal (which can inadvertently remove roost trees), and prescribed fire use (which can improve habitat but also pose risks depending on timing and implementation).
Why is hazard tree removal specifically mentioned?
The notice notes that hazard tree removal can unintentionally eliminate roost trees, so improved understanding of bat dormant-season use can help reduce avoidable impacts.
Why is prescribed fire mentioned in the announcement?
The announcement indicates prescribed fire can both improve habitat and pose risks depending on timing and implementation, so guidance informed by seasonal bat use is important for balancing benefits and risks.
What gap in existing bat management approaches does the notice identify?
The notice explicitly states that fall, spring, and potential overwinter habitat needs in the mid-Atlantic have not been adequately incorporated into management approaches to date, with many strategies relying heavily on summer maternity-season understanding.
What is the intended outcome for park managers?
The anticipated outcome is actionable information that helps managers craft guidance to reduce avoidable impacts and support habitat features WNS-impacted bats may now depend on for survival and recovery.
Browse more opportunities from the same category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development
Next opportunity: DoD Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury Resilience and Readiness Optimization/Enhancement Translational Research Award
Previous opportunity: Geotechnical Investigations for Wetland Restoration
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 P18AS00684
Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (P18AS00684) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| Hypersonic Turbulence Models Research Apply for USAFA BAA 2015 CALL 0005 Funding Number: USAFA BAA 2015 CALL 0005 Agency: Department of Defense, Air Force Academy Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $2,400,000 |
| Creating Adaptation Strategies for Parks Using Enduring Features Apply for P18AS00701 Funding Number: P18AS00701 Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $135,000 |
| Landscape Approaches to Resource Stewardship Apply for P18AS00702 Funding Number: P18AS00702 Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $131,340 |
| ARL Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU)/Minority-Serving Institutions (MI) Undergraduate Student Design Competition Apply for W911NF18S0012 Funding Number: W911NF18S0012 Agency: Department of Defense, Dept of the Army -- Materiel Command Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $8,000 |
| Quantifying the Ecological Contributions of Urban Trees Apply for P18AC00703 Funding Number: P18AC00703 Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $29,160 |
| Endangered Species Conservation - Recovery Implementation Funds Apply for F18AS00359 Funding Number: F18AS00359 Agency: Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $481,189 |
| Preservation and Documentation of NPS Museum Collections Apply for P18AS00707 Funding Number: P18AS00707 Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $75,000 |
| Cooperative Ecosystems Studies Units Apply for F18AS00360 Funding Number: F18AS00360 Agency: Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $85,000 |
| STATEMAP - The State Component of the National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program Apply for G19AS00006 Funding Number: G19AS00006 Agency: Department of the Interior, U. S. Geological Survey Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $300,000 |
| DoD Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury Resilience and Readiness Optimization/Enhancement Translational Research Award Apply for W81XWH 18 PHTBIRP R2OE TRA Funding Number: W81XWH 18 PHTBIRP R2OE TRA Agency: Department of Defense, Dept. of the Army -- USAMRAA Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Landscape Approaches to Resource Stewardship Apply for P18AS00711 Funding Number: P18AS00711 Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $29,952 |
| Fish and Wildlife Coordination Assistance Programs Apply for F18AS00352 Funding Number: F18AS00352 Agency: Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $30,000 |
| NIST Advanced Materials Center of Excellence Apply for 2019 NIST ADV MAT COE 01 Funding Number: 2019 NIST ADV MAT COE 01 Agency: Department of Commerce, National Institute of Standards and Technology Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| INVESTIGATIONS AND NOVEL APPROACHES IN ISOTOPE SCIENCE AND PRODUCTION AT U.S. UNIVERSITIES Apply for DE FOA 0001982 Funding Number: DE FOA 0001982 Agency: Department of Energy - Office of Science, Office of Science Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $600,000 |
| Understanding the Rules of Life: Epigenetics Apply for 18 600 Funding Number: 18 600 Agency: National Science Foundation Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Surface Modified Metal Nanoparticles for Compatibilization into Fluoropolymer Based Composites Apply for USAFA BAA 2015 0006 Funding Number: USAFA BAA 2015 0006 Agency: Department of Defense, Air Force Academy Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $21,600 |
| Surface Modified Metal Nanoparticles for Compatibilization into Fluoropolymer Based Composites Apply for USAFA BAA 2015 CALL 0006 Funding Number: USAFA BAA 2015 CALL 0006 Agency: Department of Defense, Air Force Academy Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $21,600 |
| Joint DMS/NLM Initiative on Generalizable Data Science Methods for Biomedical Research Apply for 19 500 Funding Number: 19 500 Agency: National Science Foundation Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $300,000 |
| Accelerating Research through International Network-to-Network Collaborations Apply for 19 501 Funding Number: 19 501 Agency: National Science Foundation Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Algorithms for Threat Detection Apply for 19 504 Funding Number: 19 504 Agency: National Science Foundation Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
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 "P18AS00684", 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.