Opportunity Information: Apply for P23AS00293
The National Park Service is offering a discretionary funding opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number P23AS00293) focused on researching and understanding the effects of sound on wildlife, ecosystems, and visitors within units of the National Park System. Structured as a cooperative agreement, the program is positioned for projects where the National Park Service is likely to remain actively involved during the work, which typically means collaboration on study design, access to park sites or data, coordination with park staff, and alignment with park management needs. The opportunity falls under the Environment activity category and is associated with CFDA number 15.945, signaling its placement within federal assistance programs tied to conservation and resource stewardship.
At its core, this opportunity targets the issue of sound in park settings, which can include both natural soundscapes and human-caused noise. Projects supported under this call would be expected to examine how sound influences wildlife behavior and physiology, broader ecological dynamics, and visitor experiences. In practical terms, that can encompass how noise affects animal communication, movement patterns, habitat use, reproduction, and stress responses, as well as how it may alter predator-prey interactions or other ecosystem processes. On the visitor side, it can involve studying how sound conditions influence enjoyment, perceptions of solitude or wilderness character, learning outcomes, or overall satisfaction, especially in settings where quiet and natural sounds are part of what parks are meant to protect.
The maximum federal award amount listed for this opportunity is $360,000. While the source data indicates an "ExpectedAwards" field, the number of anticipated awards is not provided, so applicants would need to plan with the understanding that funding may be competitive and the final number of awards could depend on available funds and the quality and relevance of proposals received. The original application closing date was June 1, 2023, and the opportunity was created on March 1, 2023, which places it within a defined historical funding cycle.
Eligibility is broad and includes state, county, and city or township governments; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; nonprofit organizations with IRS 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education); and even individuals. That range suggests the National Park Service was open to proposals from academic researchers, nonprofit science and conservation groups, tribal entities, and practitioners with specialized expertise in acoustics, wildlife biology, ecology, recreation management, visitor use management, or related fields. Because the instrument type is a cooperative agreement rather than a standard grant, applicants would typically be expected to demonstrate not only technical capability, but also a clear plan for coordination with NPS priorities and operational realities in park units.
Overall, the opportunity is aimed at generating actionable scientific information that park managers can use to protect soundscapes as a resource, reduce or manage harmful noise where appropriate, and better understand tradeoffs between access, recreation, and resource protection. The most competitive projects under a call like this generally tie sound measurements and analyses to measurable biological or visitor outcomes, connect findings to management decisions (such as flight corridors, traffic management, construction timing, visitor education, or zoning), and produce deliverables that are useful beyond a single study site, such as transferable methods, monitoring protocols, models, or decision-support tools.Apply for P23AS00293
- The National Park Service in the environment sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Effects of sound on wildlife, ecosystems, and visitors in units of the National Park system." 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 2023-03-01.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2023-06-01. (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 $360,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, Individuals.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is this funding opportunity?
This is a National Park Service (NPS) discretionary funding opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number P23AS00293) focused on research to better understand the effects of sound on wildlife, ecosystems, and visitors within units of the National Park System.
What is the main purpose of the program?
The program supports studies that generate actionable scientific information park managers can use to protect soundscapes as a resource, reduce or manage harmful noise where appropriate, and understand tradeoffs between access, recreation, and resource protection.
What types of sound are included in the scope of this opportunity?
The scope includes sound in park settings broadly, including natural soundscapes and human-caused noise. Projects may look at how different sound conditions influence wildlife, ecological processes, and visitor experiences.
What kinds of research topics would fit under this opportunity?
Projects are expected to examine how sound influences (1) wildlife behavior and physiology, (2) broader ecological dynamics, and (3) visitor experiences in park units. The opportunity emphasizes connecting sound measurements and analyses to measurable outcomes that matter for management.
How might sound impacts on wildlife be studied under this program?
The opportunity describes wildlife-focused research areas such as impacts to animal communication, movement patterns, habitat use, reproduction, and stress responses. It also mentions potential ecosystem-level effects, such as changes to predator-prey interactions or other ecological processes.
How might sound impacts on visitors be studied under this program?
Visitor-focused research can include studying how sound conditions influence enjoyment, perceptions of solitude or wilderness character, learning outcomes, or overall satisfaction. This is especially relevant in settings where quiet and natural sounds are part of what parks are meant to protect.
Is this a grant or a cooperative agreement?
The opportunity is structured as a cooperative agreement. That structure is intended for projects where NPS is likely to remain actively involved during the work.
What does "NPS actively involved" typically mean for a cooperative agreement?
Based on the description, active involvement can include collaboration on study design, access to park sites or data, coordination with park staff, and alignment with park management needs.
What activity category does this opportunity fall under?
The opportunity is listed under the Environment activity category, indicating its connection to conservation, resource stewardship, and related environmental research priorities.
What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is associated with CFDA number 15.945.
What is the maximum federal award amount?
The maximum federal award amount listed is $360,000.
How many awards does NPS expect to make?
The source information references an "ExpectedAwards" field, but the number of anticipated awards is not provided. Applicants should assume the opportunity may be competitive and that the number of awards could depend on available funding and proposal quality and relevance.
When was the opportunity created, and what was the application closing date?
The opportunity was created on March 1, 2023. The original application closing date was June 1, 2023.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes:
- State governments
- County governments
- City or township governments
- Public and state-controlled institutions of higher education
- Private institutions of higher education
- Federally recognized Native American tribal governments
- Nonprofit organizations with IRS 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education)
- Individuals
Does the opportunity allow applications from universities and colleges?
Yes. Both public/state-controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education are listed as eligible.
Can nonprofit organizations apply?
Yes. Nonprofit organizations with IRS 501(c)(3) status are eligible, excluding institutions of higher education.
Can tribal governments apply?
Yes. Federally recognized Native American tribal governments are included in the eligibility list.
Can individuals apply?
Yes. Individuals are explicitly listed as eligible applicants.
What kinds of expertise are likely relevant for applicants?
The description suggests NPS was open to proposals from academic researchers, nonprofit science and conservation groups, tribal entities, and practitioners with specialized expertise in areas such as acoustics, wildlife biology, ecology, recreation management, visitor use management, or related fields.
What makes a project a strong fit for this opportunity?
The most competitive projects described are those that tie sound measurements and analyses to measurable biological or visitor outcomes, connect findings to management decisions, and produce deliverables that are useful beyond a single study site.
What types of management decisions could this research inform?
The description provides examples of decisions that findings could support, such as flight corridors, traffic management, construction timing, visitor education, or zoning.
What kinds of deliverables are emphasized?
Beyond site-specific results, the opportunity highlights deliverables with broader value, such as transferable methods, monitoring protocols, models, or decision-support tools that can be applied in more than one park setting.
Is the research expected to take place within the National Park System?
Yes. The opportunity is focused on understanding effects of sound within units of the National Park System, and it notes that NPS involvement may include access to park sites or data and coordination with park staff.
Why is sound considered an important resource in parks?
As described, sound conditions in parks affect both natural resources (wildlife and ecosystems) and human experiences (enjoyment, solitude, wilderness character, learning, and satisfaction). Protecting natural soundscapes and managing harmful noise supports the mission of conserving resources and visitor experiences.
What is the broader outcome NPS is trying to achieve with this funding?
The stated goal is to produce science that can be used in real-world park management to protect soundscapes, reduce or manage harmful noise when appropriate, and guide decisions that balance recreation and access with long-term resource protection.
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