Promote and Enhance River Access, Conservation and Management | P18AS00492

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1) What is the title of this funding opportunity?

The funding opportunity is titled "Promote and Enhance River Access, Conservation and Management."

2) What is the Funding Opportunity Number?

The Funding Opportunity Number is P18AS00492.

3) Which federal agency is offering this opportunity?

This opportunity is offered by the U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service.

4) What type of funding instrument is being used?

The funding instrument is a cooperative agreement.

5) What does it mean that this is a cooperative agreement?

Based on the notice language, the cooperative agreement structure generally indicates an active partnership role for the federal agency in carrying out the work, rather than a more hands-off grant relationship.

6) What is the overall purpose of the project?

The purpose is to strengthen how rivers are accessed, managed, and conserved, while keeping river recreation safe and sustainable. The work focuses on practical tools and guidance to help river managers and communities improve public access to river recreation while protecting river resources.

7) What is the main focus area or theme of the opportunity?

The opportunity is environment-focused and centered on river access, conservation, and management, including safe and sustainable recreation.

8) What kinds of outcomes is the project trying to achieve?

The notice emphasizes outcomes such as improved availability and quality of information about river recreation opportunities, development of standards for river access, and science-based identification of best practices for stewardship that remain effective as environmental conditions change.

9) What is meant by improving information about river recreation opportunities?

The project aims to produce and share clearer information that helps the public find and use river access points and recreation opportunities, and that guides users to appropriate access locations while encouraging responsible use.

10) What are the major project components mentioned in the notice?

The notice frames a major portion of the effort around connected tasks including the National Rivers Project, a River Access Framework, and River Access Standards.

11) What is the National Rivers Project in this opportunity?

The notice lists the National Rivers Project as one of the connected tasks framing the effort. It is described in the context of building tools and guidance to improve river access and management and to support safe, sustainable recreation.

12) What is the River Access Framework intended to do?

The River Access Framework is intended to help make it easier for the public to find and use river access points and recreation opportunities, while helping agencies and partners design and manage access in ways that reduce resource damage and improve user safety.

13) What are River Access Standards?

River Access Standards are described as part of the suite of tools meant to support consistent, practical approaches for land and river managers to apply on the ground when designing, improving, or managing access.

14) How does the opportunity address conservation and resource protection?

The opportunity emphasizes protecting river resources while improving access, reducing resource damage through better access design and management, and identifying stewardship best practices using science-based approaches.

15) How does the opportunity address safety for river recreation?

Safety is addressed through the goal of keeping recreation safe and sustainable and by developing frameworks and standards that help managers design and manage access in ways that improve user safety.

16) What does the notice mean by "science-based approaches"?

The notice indicates that best practices for stewardship should be identified using science-based approaches, with an emphasis on practices that can hold up as environmental conditions change.

17) What kinds of deliverables are implied by the notice?

The notice points to deliverables such as new techniques, frameworks, and standards for managers, along with clearer information products for the public and the development and sharing of guidance materials that support responsible river use and stewardship.

18) Is training or technical assistance included?

Yes. The notice highlights information dissemination and training with the goal of equipping river managers with tools they can adopt broadly.

19) Who is expected to use the tools and guidance produced?

The notice indicates the outputs are intended for river managers, land managers, agencies, partners, and communities involved in river access and stewardship, as well as members of the public seeking river recreation access information.

20) What is the Partnership Wild and Scenic Rivers Toolkit work?

It is a key element of the opportunity aimed at supporting local, community-driven river conservation and access initiatives by providing toolkit tasks designed to help communities conserve river resources while creating or improving public access opportunities that fit local conditions and priorities.

21) What is the toolkit expected to support at the community level?

The toolkit work is designed to support community-driven conservation and access initiatives, helping communities balance river resource conservation with public access improvements appropriate to local needs.

22) Does the opportunity emphasize coordination among different partners?

Yes. The notice explicitly emphasizes improving coordination and communication among local communities, state natural resource offices, and Governors, and building stronger working relationships with conservation organizations.

23) What does the notice say about the role of conservation organizations?

The notice highlights building stronger working relationships with conservation organizations to support balanced stewardship and responsible public use of rivers and surrounding public lands.

24) What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?

The opportunity is listed under CFDA 15.921.

25) How much funding is anticipated?

The total anticipated award amount is capped at $71,300.

26) How many awards does the notice expect to make?

The notice indicates one expected award.

27) Is this an open competition where anyone can apply?

No. The notice makes clear this is not an open competition.

28) Will the National Park Service accept applications for this opportunity?

No. The notice explicitly states that no applications will be accepted.

29) Why are no applications being accepted?

The notice describes the posting as a notice of intent to partner with the River Management Society under an existing cooperative agreement, rather than a standard competitive funding opportunity.

30) Who is the intended partner named in the notice?

The intended partner named in the notice is the River Management Society.

31) What does the "Eligible Applicants: Others" label mean here?

The opportunity lists an "Eligible Applicants" category of "Others" with additional eligibility details referenced elsewhere, but the notice also clearly states this is not an open competition and that no applications will be accepted.

32) When was this opportunity created or posted?

The opportunity was created on Aug 02, 2018.

33) Is there a standard application deadline?

No. The closing information reflects the non-competitive intent rather than a standard application deadline.

34) What is meant by "shifting the balance" in the notice?

The notice describes a goal of equipping river managers with tools they can adopt broadly to "shift the balance" toward providing greater access to public lands and waters without compromising conservation goals.

35) What kinds of on-the-ground changes does the notice imply?

The notice implies on-the-ground application of new techniques, frameworks, and standards that managers can use to design and manage access, reduce resource damage, improve safety, and support sustainable recreation while conserving river resources.