Opportunity Information: Apply for NPS NOIP18AC00280
The National Park Service (Department of the Interior) released a discretionary cooperative agreement opportunity titled "Next Generation Sequencing of Amphibian Metagenomic Amplicons (eDNA) - GLKN" (Funding Opportunity Number NPS NOIP18AC00280; CFDA 15.945). The project is tied to the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative through GLRI Project Number 2018-322b and is being carried out in partnership with the Great Lakes - Northern Forest Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit at the University of Minnesota. The intent is to support environmental DNA (eDNA) monitoring in Great Lakes wetlands to better understand amphibian presence and, by extension, wetland condition over time, since amphibians are widely treated as sensitive indicators of ecosystem health.
At its core, the work focuses on using a relatively newer monitoring approach: detecting species by sequencing DNA that organisms leave behind in the environment (for example, in water from wetlands). The National Park Service unit involved (GLKN) prepares PCR amplicons from eDNA samples, with target fragments under 550 base pairs, and the selected cooperator then performs next-generation sequencing (NGS) to identify what amphibian DNA is present in those samples. By comparing detections across sites and time, the project aims to help determine whether eDNA metabarcoding is a practical, reliable, and cost-effective tool for tracking amphibian communities and changes in wetland condition, including whether wetlands are improving or declining.
A major component of the cooperative agreement is method development and optimization rather than simply running samples through a sequencer. The cooperator is expected to work closely with the NPS researcher to develop and refine an index/library preparation approach (sample tagging) suitable for high-throughput sequencing of these metagenomic amplicons. GLKN anticipated that an approach such as Nextera XT chemistry could be used, but also indicated openness to non-proprietary chemistries, with the overarching goal being a protocol that produces the necessary sequence data accurately while keeping per-sample costs manageable. The sequencing platform and run configuration anticipated in the announcement was an Illumina MiSeq using a 2x300 protocol, which is commonly used for amplicon-based community analyses where longer paired-end reads can improve taxonomic assignment.
Operationally, GLKN planned to submit samples in plate-quantity increments, and the agreement was expected to cover up to about 10 MiSeq sequencing lanes along with their associated library preparations over the project period. The final number of samples actually sequenced would depend on the costs of the chosen library preparation and sequencing workflow and how far the available funding could stretch. The award ceiling was listed at $49,000, with a single award anticipated.
Beyond producing sequence data for a single study, the announcement emphasizes broader management and scientific value. The work is framed as advancing DOI Secretary Priority 1a by using science to identify best practices for managing land and water resources and adapting to environmental change. The techniques and findings developed under the agreement were intended to be shared through reports and peer-reviewed publications so that the wider scientific and land management communities, including NPS and other partners, can learn from the results. A key expected benefit is that, if the approach proves effective, other programs could adopt similar eDNA sequencing methods to reduce the time and cost of determining amphibian species presence and overall community structure in wetland habitats.
Key administrative details include a creation date of May 21, 2018, an original closing date of May 31, 2018, a cooperative agreement funding instrument, and an eligibility category listed broadly as "Others" (with further clarification referenced in the full notice).Apply for NPS NOIP18AC00280
- 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 "Next Generation Sequencing of Amphibian Metagenomic Amplicons (eDNA) - GLKN" 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 May 21, 2018.
- Applicants must submit their applications by May 31, 2018. (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 $49,000.00 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)
What is the name of this funding opportunity?
The opportunity is titled "Next Generation Sequencing of Amphibian Metagenomic Amplicons (eDNA) - GLKN."
Which federal agency is offering this opportunity?
The opportunity is released by the National Park Service (NPS), which is part of the U.S. Department of the Interior.
What type of award is being offered?
The funding instrument is a discretionary cooperative agreement. This implies active collaboration between the recipient (cooperator) and the National Park Service during the project.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON)?
The Funding Opportunity Number is NPS NOIP18AC00280.
What is the CFDA number for this opportunity?
The CFDA number listed is 15.945.
How is this project connected to the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI)?
The project is tied to the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative through GLRI Project Number 2018-322b.
Who is the project partner mentioned in the announcement?
The project is being carried out in partnership with the Great Lakes - Northern Forest Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit at the University of Minnesota.
What is the overall purpose of the project?
The intent is to support environmental DNA (eDNA) monitoring in Great Lakes wetlands to better understand amphibian presence over time and, by extension, track wetland condition. Amphibians are widely treated as sensitive indicators of ecosystem health.
What does "eDNA" mean in the context of this opportunity?
In this announcement, eDNA refers to DNA that organisms leave behind in the environment (for example, in wetland water). The project uses that DNA to detect which amphibian species are present without needing to directly observe or capture them.
What is being sequenced in this project?
The National Park Service unit (GLKN) prepares PCR amplicons from eDNA samples, targeting fragments under 550 base pairs. The selected cooperator then performs next-generation sequencing (NGS) on those amplicons to identify amphibian DNA present in the samples.
What role does GLKN play versus the role of the selected cooperator?
GLKN prepares the PCR amplicons from eDNA samples. The selected cooperator is expected to conduct next-generation sequencing and work closely with the NPS researcher on method development and optimization for library preparation and indexing (sample tagging).
Is this opportunity just for running samples on a sequencer?
No. A major component is method development and optimization. The announcement emphasizes developing and refining an index/library preparation approach suitable for high-throughput sequencing of these metagenomic amplicons, not simply sequencing existing libraries.
What sequencing platform and run configuration does the announcement anticipate?
The anticipated platform is an Illumina MiSeq using a 2x300 protocol (paired-end reads).
What library preparation or indexing approach is expected?
The cooperator is expected to develop and refine an index/library preparation approach for high-throughput sequencing. GLKN anticipated that an approach such as Nextera XT chemistry could be used, but indicated openness to non-proprietary chemistries, as long as the protocol produces accurate data while keeping per-sample costs manageable.
Does the notice require proprietary chemistry such as Nextera XT?
No. While Nextera XT is mentioned as an anticipated approach, the notice states openness to non-proprietary chemistries. The emphasis is on accuracy and cost-effectiveness.
How will samples be submitted during the project?
GLKN planned to submit samples in plate-quantity increments.
How much sequencing work is expected to be covered during the project?
The agreement was expected to cover up to about 10 MiSeq sequencing lanes, along with associated library preparations, over the project period.
Will the final number of samples sequenced be fixed?
No. The final number of samples sequenced depends on the costs of the selected library preparation and sequencing workflow and how far the available funding can stretch.
What is the maximum funding amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling listed is $49,000.
How many awards were anticipated?
A single award was anticipated.
What management or broader impacts are highlighted in the announcement?
The work is framed as advancing DOI Secretary Priority 1a by using science to identify best practices for managing land and water resources and adapting to environmental change. The results and methods are intended to have value for NPS and other partners, potentially enabling other programs to adopt similar eDNA sequencing approaches to reduce time and cost for determining amphibian presence and community structure.
How will results from the project be shared?
The announcement indicates that techniques and findings developed under the agreement were intended to be shared through reports and peer-reviewed publications.
What scientific question or evaluation is the project trying to address?
By comparing detections across sites and time, the project aims to help determine whether eDNA metabarcoding is practical, reliable, and cost-effective for tracking amphibian communities and changes in wetland condition, including whether wetlands are improving or declining.
Why are amphibians a focus for this wetland monitoring work?
The announcement notes that amphibians are widely treated as sensitive indicators of ecosystem health, so tracking amphibian presence can help infer wetland condition over time.
When was this opportunity created and when did it originally close?
The creation date listed is May 21, 2018, and the original closing date listed is May 31, 2018.
Who is eligible to apply based on the information provided?
The eligibility category is listed broadly as "Others," with further clarification referenced in the full notice.
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