Opportunity Information: Apply for NOIP17AC01135
The grant opportunity "Surveillance for the White-nose Syndrome Fungus in Multiple Northern Great Plains Parks" (Funding Opportunity Number NOIP17AC01135) is a National Park Service project focused on early detection and tracking of white-nose syndrome (WNS) in bat populations across the Northern Great Plains. WNS is a devastating bat disease associated with the fungus Pseudogymnoascus destructans (Pd), and the opportunity is framed around the urgent concern that the disease is nearing the region and may already be present. While Northern Great Plains (NGP) parks have begun responding through management actions and have partnered with the University of Wyoming on acoustic bat surveys, the actual disease status in the region is described as poorly understood. This funding is intended to close that information gap by pairing field sampling with laboratory testing so park managers can make informed decisions based on confirmed presence or absence of the fungus.
The core work proposed centers on collecting biological and environmental samples and testing them for Pd. Field teams would swab bats in two main contexts: bats encountered in caves and bats captured during spring mist-netting efforts. In addition to sampling bats directly, the project would also collect environmental samples within caves, reflecting the reality that Pd can persist in hibernation environments and that environmental surveillance can help detect fungal presence even when infected bats are not easily observed. All samples would then be analyzed to determine whether Pd is present, supporting a clearer picture of where the fungus may be established and whether bats show signs consistent with WNS.
Geographically, the project is designed to cover all 13 parks in the Northern Great Plains network, spanning Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming. The timeline described in the opportunity places fieldwork in the winter and spring seasons across 2017 through 2019, aligning with key periods for bat biology and WNS surveillance. Winter cave work is relevant because WNS impacts hibernating bats and cave environments can serve as reservoirs for the pathogen, while spring mist-netting provides a practical window to capture bats as they emerge and to assess species presence and condition.
The objectives lay out a structured set of deliverables, prioritized by management value. The top priority is to assess and document the distribution of Pd and the disease status of bats within NGP parks, essentially answering where the fungus is and what that means for local bat populations. Additional goals broaden the project from pathogen detection into baseline biodiversity and monitoring capacity: developing park-level species lists from mist-net captures; collecting demographic information on captured bats (which can include basic biological and population-relevant metrics gathered during handling); and building a catalog of locally recorded acoustic calls that can be used to test, calibrate, and improve acoustic monitoring methods. The project also explicitly aims to continue long-term acoustic monitoring that began in 2015, indicating this funding supports continuity of an existing monitoring program rather than a one-off effort. Finally, the work is meant to generate timely, credible information that parks can use for education and outreach, which is especially important when communicating about wildlife disease risks, cave access considerations, and conservation needs to visitors and local communities.
From an administrative standpoint, the opportunity was issued by the U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, under CFDA 15.945. It was categorized broadly as "Other" for opportunity, instrument type, and activity category, with eligibility listed as "Others" subject to clarification in the full notice. The posting date was August 29, 2017, with an original closing date of September 6, 2017, indicating a short application window. Funding details show a single anticipated award with an award ceiling of $300,000, suggesting this was intended as one coordinated, multi-park effort rather than multiple small awards. Overall, the grant is best understood as a targeted surveillance and monitoring investment meant to provide early warning, establish baseline bat community data, strengthen acoustic monitoring reliability, and give park managers practical information to respond to a high-impact wildlife disease threat across a large, multi-state park network.Apply for NOIP17AC01135
- The Department of the Interior, National Park Service in the other (see text field entitled explanation of other category of funding activity for clarification) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Surveillance for the White-nose Syndrome Fungus in Multiple Northern Great Plains 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 Aug 29, 2017.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Sep 06, 2017. (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 $300,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1) What is the title of this grant opportunity?
The opportunity is titled "Surveillance for the White-nose Syndrome Fungus in Multiple Northern Great Plains Parks."
2) What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON)?
The Funding Opportunity Number is NOIP17AC01135.
3) Which federal agency is offering this opportunity?
This opportunity was issued by the U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service (NPS).
4) What is the CFDA number for this opportunity?
The CFDA number listed is 15.945.
5) What problem is this project trying to address?
The project focuses on early detection and tracking of white-nose syndrome (WNS) in bat populations across the Northern Great Plains. WNS is described as a devastating bat disease associated with the fungus Pseudogymnoascus destructans (Pd), and the notice emphasizes urgent concern that the disease is nearing the region and may already be present.
6) What is white-nose syndrome (WNS) in the context of this opportunity?
Within this opportunity, WNS is characterized as a serious bat disease linked to the fungus Pseudogymnoascus destructans (Pd). The project is framed around surveillance to determine whether Pd is present and what that implies for bats in the Northern Great Plains parks.
7) What is Pseudogymnoascus destructans (Pd)?
Pseudogymnoascus destructans (Pd) is the fungus associated with white-nose syndrome. The core purpose of the project is to collect samples and conduct laboratory testing to determine whether Pd is present in bats and/or cave environments in the Northern Great Plains park network.
8) Why is this funding considered urgent?
The notice describes an urgent concern that WNS is approaching the Northern Great Plains region and may already be present, while also stating that the disease status in the region is poorly understood. The grant aims to close that information gap with confirmed, test-based evidence.
9) What information gap is this grant intended to close?
The opportunity states that although Northern Great Plains parks have begun response efforts and have partnered with the University of Wyoming on acoustic bat surveys, the actual disease status in the region remains poorly understood. This funding is intended to pair field sampling with laboratory testing so managers can base decisions on confirmed presence or absence of Pd.
10) What is the overall purpose of the proposed work?
The purpose is to conduct surveillance by collecting biological and environmental samples and testing them for Pd, producing credible information about whether the fungus is present and what the disease status of bats may be across multiple Northern Great Plains parks.
11) What kinds of samples would be collected under this project?
The project proposes collecting (1) biological samples from bats and (2) environmental samples from within caves. Both sample types are intended for laboratory analysis to determine whether Pd is present.
12) How would bats be sampled in this project?
Field teams would swab bats in two main contexts: bats encountered in caves and bats captured during spring mist-netting efforts.
13) What is the role of cave sampling in this opportunity?
The project includes collecting environmental samples within caves because the notice indicates Pd can persist in hibernation environments. Environmental surveillance is presented as a way to detect fungal presence even when infected bats are not easily observed.
14) What is the role of spring mist-netting in this opportunity?
Spring mist-netting is described as a practical window to capture bats as they emerge, allowing sampling (via swabbing), assessment of species presence, and collection of demographic information during handling.
15) What happens to the samples after they are collected?
All collected samples would be analyzed in a laboratory to determine whether Pd is present, supporting a clearer picture of where the fungus may be established and whether bats show signs consistent with WNS.
16) How many parks are included in the project area?
The project is designed to cover all 13 parks in the Northern Great Plains (NGP) network.
17) Which states are included in the geographic scope?
The covered parks span Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming.
18) When was fieldwork expected to occur?
The timeline places fieldwork in winter and spring seasons across 2017 through 2019.
19) Why does the project emphasize winter fieldwork?
Winter cave work is described as relevant because WNS impacts hibernating bats and cave environments can act as reservoirs for the pathogen.
20) Why does the project emphasize spring fieldwork?
Spring mist-netting is presented as a practical period to capture bats as they emerge, supporting surveillance sampling and the collection of species and demographic information.
21) What is the top-priority objective of the project?
The top priority is to assess and document the distribution of Pd and the disease status of bats within Northern Great Plains parks, essentially answering where the fungus is and what that means for local bat populations.
22) Beyond Pd detection, what additional objectives are included?
Additional objectives include developing park-level species lists from mist-net captures, collecting demographic information on captured bats, creating a catalog of locally recorded acoustic calls to help test and improve acoustic monitoring methods, and continuing long-term acoustic monitoring that began in 2015.
23) What does the opportunity mean by "park-level species lists"?
Based on the description provided, park-level species lists would be developed from species identified during spring mist-net captures.
24) What demographic information is expected to be collected from captured bats?
The opportunity indicates demographic information would be collected during handling and notes this can include basic biological and population-relevant metrics gathered during bat capture activities.
25) What is the acoustic monitoring component of this work?
The project includes building a catalog of locally recorded acoustic calls to test, calibrate, and improve acoustic monitoring methods, and it also aims to continue long-term acoustic monitoring that began in 2015.
26) Why is a local acoustic call catalog included as a deliverable?
The opportunity describes the catalog as a tool to test, calibrate, and improve acoustic monitoring methods, strengthening the reliability of acoustic data used for bat monitoring in the parks.
27) Is this project starting acoustic monitoring for the first time?
No. The opportunity explicitly references continuing long-term acoustic monitoring that began in 2015, indicating this funding supports continuity of an existing monitoring program.
28) How will the results be used by parks?
The notice emphasizes generating timely, credible information that park managers can use for informed decision-making, and it also notes the information will support education and outreach related to wildlife disease risks, cave access considerations, and conservation needs.
29) What kind of management decisions could this support?
Based on the description, decisions would be informed by confirmed presence or absence of Pd and clearer understanding of disease status, along with supporting baseline information on bat species presence and monitoring capacity. (Specific management actions are not detailed in the provided summary.)
30) What type of funding opportunity category is listed?
The opportunity was categorized broadly as "Other" for the opportunity, instrument type, and activity category.
31) Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is listed as "Others," with a note that clarification is subject to the full notice. The provided summary does not specify additional eligibility details.
32) When was the opportunity posted?
The posting date was August 29, 2017.
33) What was the application closing date?
The original closing date was September 6, 2017.
34) How long was the application window?
Based on the provided dates (August 29, 2017 to September 6, 2017), the application window was very short. The summary characterizes it as a short application window.
35) How many awards were anticipated?
Funding details indicate a single anticipated award.
36) What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling is listed as $300,000.
37) What does the single anticipated award suggest about project structure?
The notice suggests the funding was intended as one coordinated, multi-park effort across the Northern Great Plains network rather than multiple smaller awards.
38) What makes this a multi-park or network-level effort?
The work is designed to cover all 13 parks in the Northern Great Plains network across four states, with coordinated field sampling, lab testing, and monitoring deliverables intended to support regional understanding of Pd and bat status.
39) Does the opportunity mention existing partners or prior work?
Yes. It notes that Northern Great Plains parks have partnered with the University of Wyoming on acoustic bat surveys and that long-term acoustic monitoring began in 2015.
40) What are the main deliverables implied by the objectives?
Deliverables implied in the objectives include documentation of Pd distribution and bat disease status, park-level bat species lists based on mist-netting, demographic data from captured bats, a catalog of locally recorded acoustic calls for calibration and method improvement, and continued acoustic monitoring outputs as part of the long-term effort.
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