Opportunity Information: Apply for NOIP16AC00858
This opportunity is a National Park Service (NPS) notice of intent to fund a single task agreement, issued under an existing master cooperative agreement through the Great Lakes Northern Forest Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU). The project focuses on Miners Beach at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore and is aimed at documenting and assessing congestion, visitor use patterns, and visitor behavior in a heavily used waterfront area. It is framed as a research and education effort that will give the park a clearer picture of how people are actually using the beach and nearshore waters, especially in ways that may affect safety and future visitor management decisions.
The intended recipient is the University of Minnesota, which is identified as an eligible CESU partner already holding Master Cooperative Agreement P12AC31164. The work is designed to be carried out in close collaboration with Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore staff, meaning it is not a hands-off grant where the recipient operates independently. Instead, the NPS expects substantial involvement, with park staff working directly with University of Minnesota faculty and a graduate student to conduct on-the-ground observation of public access and use at Miners Beach. The project is also connected to the University of Minnesota's Parks and Protected Area Management program and is structured to support a graduate student thesis, reinforcing that it has both applied management value and academic outcomes.
The core purpose is to address a lack of reliable, current data. According to the description, the park does not have systematic information on how the area is used and has only limited, stakeholder-provided accounts describing conditions such as overcrowding and concerns about visitors having limited experience on the water. Those concerns matter because Miners Beach draws water-based and waterfront recreation, and unmanaged crowding combined with inexperience can raise the risk of accidents or emergencies. By collecting observational data on when, how, and to what extent visitors use the beach and adjacent waters, the project is meant to inform safety planning, emergency preparedness, and longer-term visitor use management strategies that align with environmental stewardship goals.
In practical terms, the expected outcomes include a clearer understanding of current use patterns, evidence that can be used to evaluate whether use limits or other management actions are needed, and insights into visitor needs that could improve the overall quality and safety of the boating and beach experience. While the announcement notes that the information is not essential to the park's daily operations, it emphasizes that the findings would significantly improve the park's ability to evaluate management options and respond to reported issues with crowding and risk.
Administratively, this is a discretionary funding opportunity using a cooperative agreement instrument, categorized under natural resources, with CFDA number 15.945. The opportunity number is NOIP16AC00858. The anticipated award ceiling is $50,000, and the NPS expects to make one award. The original closing date listed is 2016-09-15, and the creation date is 2016-09-14. The announcement functions primarily as public notice that the NPS intends to fund this work through a task agreement under the existing master agreement rather than through an open competitive process.Apply for NOIP16AC00858
- The National Park Service in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Assessing Congestion at Miners Beach, Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore - GLNF NOTICE ON INTENT TO FUND A TASK AGREEMENT" 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 2016-09-14.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2016-09-15. (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 $50,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is this funding opportunity?
This is a National Park Service (NPS) notice of intent to fund a single task agreement under an existing master cooperative agreement through the Great Lakes Northern Forest Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU).
Is this an open, competitive grant opportunity?
No. The announcement serves as a public notice that the NPS intends to fund this work through a task agreement under an existing master agreement, rather than running an open competitive process.
Who is the intended recipient of the award?
The intended recipient is the University of Minnesota, identified as an eligible CESU partner that already holds Master Cooperative Agreement P12AC31164.
How many awards does the NPS expect to make?
The NPS expects to make one award.
What is the maximum (ceiling) amount expected for the award?
The anticipated award ceiling is $50,000.
What is the funding instrument being used?
The instrument is a cooperative agreement, and the work is to be implemented as a single task agreement under the existing master cooperative agreement framework.
What CESU is associated with this work?
The work is issued under the Great Lakes Northern Forest Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU).
What is the project location and focus area?
The project focuses on Miners Beach at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, a heavily used waterfront area.
What is the main purpose of the project?
The purpose is to document and assess congestion, visitor use patterns, and visitor behavior at Miners Beach and in the nearshore waters to support future visitor management and safety-related decision-making.
Why is the park seeking this work now?
The description indicates the park lacks reliable, current, systematic data on how Miners Beach and adjacent waters are being used. Existing information is described as limited and based largely on stakeholder-provided accounts reporting overcrowding and concerns about visitor inexperience on the water.
What types of issues is the project intended to help address?
The project is intended to help the park better understand reported crowding and safety concerns, including the risk that unmanaged congestion combined with visitor inexperience in water-based settings could increase the likelihood of accidents or emergencies.
What kind of data collection is described?
The work is described as observational data collection focused on public access and use at Miners Beach, including when, how, and to what extent visitors use the beach and adjacent waters.
Will the National Park Service be actively involved in the project?
Yes. The opportunity describes substantial NPS involvement, with Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore staff working directly with University of Minnesota faculty and a graduate student during on-the-ground observation and project execution.
Is this project connected to an academic program?
Yes. The work is connected to the University of Minnesota's Parks and Protected Area Management program and is structured to support a graduate student thesis, combining applied management value with academic outcomes.
How will the results be used by the park?
The findings are intended to improve the park's ability to evaluate visitor use management options, assess whether use limits or other actions may be needed, and strengthen safety planning and emergency preparedness in ways consistent with environmental stewardship goals.
Are the results considered essential to daily park operations?
The announcement notes that the information is not essential to daily operations, but that it would significantly improve the park's ability to evaluate management options and respond to reported crowding and risk issues.
What is the CFDA number and program category?
The CFDA number listed is 15.945, and the opportunity is categorized under natural resources.
What is the opportunity number for this notice?
The opportunity number is NOIP16AC00858.
What are the key dates listed in the announcement?
The creation date is 2016-09-14, and the original closing date listed is 2016-09-15.
What does it mean that this is a "notice of intent"?
Based on the description provided, it means the NPS is publicly notifying that it intends to fund a specific project with a specific partner (the University of Minnesota) under an existing master cooperative agreement, rather than soliciting proposals from the broader public.
What makes this a "research and education" effort?
The project is framed as research to produce systematic observational data about visitor use and behavior, and as an education effort through its integration with a university program and a graduate student thesis.
What visitor activities are implied to be of interest in this study?
The description highlights water-based and waterfront recreation at Miners Beach, including beach use and nearshore water use, particularly where crowding and varying levels of visitor experience may affect safety.
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