Preparing Canaveral National Seashore for the Future: Stabilizing Eroding Archeological Sites through the Use of Living Shoreline Techniques | NPS NOI 17 CESU 28776

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1) Is this an open grant competition?

No. This posting is a National Park Service (NPS) Notice of Intent (NOI) describing an intended, non-competitive (single-source) award rather than an open, competitive funding opportunity.

2) What is the official title of the opportunity?

The title is "Preparing Canaveral National Seashore for the Future: Stabilizing Eroding Archeological Sites through the Use of Living Shoreline Techniques."

3) What agency is issuing this notice?

The notice is issued by the National Park Service (NPS), a bureau within the U.S. Department of the Interior.

4) What type of announcement is this (NOI) and what does it mean?

This is a Notice of Intent (NOI). In the context provided, it functions as a public notice that NPS intends to make a specific, non-competitive award to a single recipient, rather than inviting applications from multiple organizations.

5) Is NPS accepting proposals or applications from other organizations?

No. The description states that NPS is not soliciting proposals from other organizations. The purpose is to document the intent to fund a specific partner under an existing agreement framework.

6) Who is the intended recipient of the award?

The intended recipient is the University of Central Florida (UCF).

7) Why is the award non-competitive (single-source)?

The notice explains that the non-competitive approach is justified because UCF has specialized expertise in living shoreline stabilization and has more than ten years of successful experience working in Canaveral National Seashore (CANA). The posting also cites Department of the Interior policy (505 Departmental Manual 2.12C) as the basis for using a single-source approach.

8) What agreement framework is being used for this award?

The notice states it is issued under the Gulf Coast Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) Master Cooperative Agreement (P12AC51051).

9) What is the funding instrument type?

The instrument is a cooperative agreement.

10) What does a cooperative agreement imply about NPS involvement?

Based on the description, a cooperative agreement typically indicates that the federal agency expects substantial involvement in the work as it is carried out.

11) What is the main purpose of the project?

The project purpose is to protect significant archeological sites within Canaveral National Seashore that are being damaged or threatened by ongoing coastal erosion.

12) Where will the work take place?

The work is focused on Canaveral National Seashore (CANA).

13) What is causing the erosion impacting these archeological sites?

The notice identifies storms, high-water events, and boat wakes as drivers that can accelerate shoreline retreat and undermine fragile cultural resources.

14) What kinds of activities are included in the project work?

The described work includes continuing efforts to evaluate present-day site conditions, determine how stable or unstable key locations are, document erosion impacts, and prioritize actions based on urgency and feasibility.

15) How will sites be prioritized for action?

According to the notice, prioritization is based on urgency and feasibility, following field assessments and documentation of erosion impacts.

16) What stabilization approach is emphasized?

The project emphasizes using "living shoreline" techniques, described as soft-armor stabilization.

17) What are "living shoreline" techniques in this notice?

In the description provided, living shorelines refer to natural or nature-based features used to reduce erosion, such as native vegetation, biodegradable materials, organic fill, and shoreline grading designed to absorb wave energy while maintaining habitat value.

18) Will the project use seawalls or bulkheads?

The notice contrasts living shorelines with hard infrastructure like seawalls or bulkheads, indicating the focus is on soft-armor, nature-based approaches rather than hard structures.

19) Why are living shorelines considered appropriate for archeological settings?

The notice states these approaches are framed as low-cost and low-impact, which matters in archeological settings where intrusive construction could damage the resources being protected.

20) What construction or implementation is anticipated?

For sites considered viable for intervention, the notice anticipates constructing living shoreline elements to buffer wave action and slow shoreline loss.

21) Is this a new project or a continuation?

This is explicitly described as a continuation of an existing, urgent shoreline stabilization effort already underway with UCF.

22) What is the funding activity category and CFDA number listed?

The listing appears under the natural resources funding activity category and cites CFDA 15.945.

23) What is the Funding Opportunity Number?

The Funding Opportunity Number is "NPS NOI 17 CESU 28776."

24) What is the listed closing date and what does it mean here?

The original closing date is listed as 2017-08-09. In the context provided, this functions more like a public notice period than a deadline for submitting applications, since the award is not competitive.

25) What is the award ceiling shown in the posting?

The award ceiling is shown as 0 in the excerpt described.

26) Are expected award counts or amounts provided?

Expected awards are not specified in the excerpt provided, and the posting is described as informational rather than a standard competitive grant announcement.

27) What is the key takeaway for organizations looking to apply?

The key takeaway is that this is a targeted, single-recipient cooperative agreement intended to support continued assessment and implementation of living shoreline protections for eroding archeological sites at Canaveral National Seashore, and it is not a solicitation for new applicants.