Opportunity Information: Apply for P18AS00098
The grant opportunity titled "Paleontological Resources of the Lower Colorado Region, Lake Mead NRA" is a Department of the Interior, National Park Service (NPS) effort focused on improving how paleontological resources (fossils and related scientific materials) are identified, documented, and managed on federal lands along the lower Colorado River. The work area spans U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (USBR) lands in California, Arizona, and Nevada, and also includes NPS-managed lands within Lake Mead National Recreation Area. The central objective is to develop a clearer, more comprehensive understanding of where paleontological resources are likely to occur, how extensive they are, and what level of sensitivity different areas may have, so land managers can make better-informed decisions.
A major driver behind the project is compliance with the Paleontological Resources Preservation Act (PRPA), a federal law that directs Interior bureaus to preserve, manage, and protect paleontological resources on federal land. PRPA also pushes agencies to build sound inventory and monitoring programs grounded in scientific principles and professional expertise. In practical terms, this means moving beyond ad hoc fossil discoveries and toward a systematic approach: mapping resource potential, documenting known localities, establishing consistent records, and creating tools that help staff monitor sites over time and respond appropriately to threats such as erosion, unauthorized collecting, or ground-disturbing activities.
The project is also intended to improve the efficiency and quality of environmental compliance under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). NEPA reviews often need to evaluate whether proposed construction, maintenance, recreation developments, or other land-use actions could impact sensitive resources, including fossils. By producing paleontological resource maps and consolidated information for the lower Colorado region, the project aims to help land managers quickly determine when a proposed action is unlikely to affect fossil resources and can proceed with minimal additional review, versus when more detailed survey, avoidance measures, monitoring, or mitigation may be necessary. The broader idea is to streamline decision-making without lowering environmental standards, using better upfront data to reduce uncertainty, shorten timelines where appropriate, and focus effort where risk is real.
From an administrative standpoint, this notice is not an open call for applications. It is a public notice that funding will be provided through an existing cooperative agreement, rather than a competitive grant competition. The funding instrument is a cooperative agreement, which typically indicates substantial federal involvement in shaping or coordinating the work. The opportunity lists an award ceiling of $149,280 and shows no expected new awards because the recipient relationship is already established. The eligible applicant category shown is nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education), and the notice specifies that the National Park Service will fund the project under an existing cooperative agreement with GBI. The opportunity is categorized as discretionary funding in the natural resources activity area and is associated with CFDA number 15.931. The posting date is August 15, 2018.
In short, the project is about building better fossil-resource intelligence for USBR and NPS lands along the lower Colorado River and in Lake Mead NRA, using mapping and organized data to strengthen PRPA compliance, support scientifically grounded inventory and monitoring, and make NEPA reviews more efficient by clearly identifying where paleontological impacts are or are not likely.Apply for P18AS00098
- The Department of the Interior, National Park Service in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Paleontological Resources of the Lower Colorado Region, Lake Mead NRA" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.931.
- This funding opportunity was created on Aug 15, 2018.
- Applicants must submit their applications by This is NOT a request for application. This funding announcement is to provide public notice that the National Park Service will fund the lowing project under an existing Cooperative Agreement with GBI. (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 $149,280.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the name of this grant opportunity?
The opportunity is titled "Paleontological Resources of the Lower Colorado Region, Lake Mead NRA."
Which federal agency is offering this opportunity?
This opportunity is a U.S. Department of the Interior effort administered by the National Park Service (NPS).
What is the main purpose of the project?
The central purpose is to improve how paleontological resources (fossils and related scientific materials) are identified, documented, and managed on federal lands along the lower Colorado River and within Lake Mead National Recreation Area. A key deliverable is a clearer, more comprehensive understanding of where fossils are likely to occur, how extensive those resources may be, and how sensitive different areas are, so land managers can make better-informed decisions.
What types of resources does the project focus on?
The project focuses on paleontological resources, meaning fossils and related scientific materials, and on improving the information and tools used to manage them.
Where will the work take place?
The work area spans U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (USBR) lands in California, Arizona, and Nevada, and also includes NPS-managed lands within Lake Mead National Recreation Area (Lake Mead NRA).
Why is the project being done now (what is driving it)?
A major driver is compliance with the Paleontological Resources Preservation Act (PRPA), which directs Interior bureaus to preserve, manage, and protect paleontological resources on federal land. PRPA also emphasizes building scientifically grounded inventory and monitoring programs that rely on professional expertise.
How does PRPA relate to the work described in this opportunity?
PRPA encourages agencies to move from ad hoc fossil discoveries toward systematic management. In practical terms, this project supports that shift by emphasizing resource potential mapping, documentation of known localities, consistent recordkeeping, and tools to monitor sites over time and respond to threats.
How will the project help land managers make decisions?
By developing paleontological resource maps and consolidated information for the region, the project is meant to help managers quickly understand where fossil resources are likely or unlikely to be present and how sensitive certain areas may be. This supports better-informed decisions about land use, maintenance, recreation development, and other actions.
How does this project connect to NEPA compliance?
The project is intended to improve the efficiency and quality of environmental compliance under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). NEPA reviews often need to evaluate whether proposed actions could affect sensitive resources, including fossils. Better upfront mapping and consolidated data can reduce uncertainty and help target detailed review, avoidance, monitoring, or mitigation where it is most needed.
Does the project aim to reduce environmental protections in order to speed up NEPA reviews?
No. The stated intent is to streamline decision-making without lowering environmental standards by using better upfront data to reduce uncertainty, shorten timelines where appropriate, and focus effort where risk to paleontological resources is real.
What kinds of management improvements are described?
The notice describes moving toward a systematic approach that includes mapping resource potential, documenting known paleontological localities, establishing consistent records, and creating tools for ongoing monitoring and appropriate response over time.
What threats or impacts is the project meant to help address?
The project information mentions threats such as erosion, unauthorized collecting, and ground-disturbing activities, and it emphasizes having the tools and information needed to monitor sites and respond appropriately.
Is this an open call for applications?
No. This notice is not an open competitive funding announcement. It is a public notice that funding will be provided through an existing cooperative agreement rather than through a competitive grant competition.
What funding instrument is being used?
The funding instrument is a cooperative agreement, which typically indicates substantial federal involvement in shaping or coordinating the work.
Is the National Park Service expecting to make new awards under this notice?
No. The opportunity indicates no expected new awards because the recipient relationship is already established through an existing cooperative agreement.
Who is listed as eligible to receive funding?
The eligible applicant category shown is nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education).
Who is the recipient identified in the notice?
The notice specifies that the National Park Service will fund the project under an existing cooperative agreement with GBI.
What is the award ceiling listed for this opportunity?
The opportunity lists an award ceiling of $149,280.
How is the opportunity categorized?
It is categorized as discretionary funding in the natural resources activity area.
What CFDA number is associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is associated with CFDA number 15.931.
When was this opportunity posted?
The posting date shown is August 15, 2018.
What is the overall outcome the project is trying to achieve?
The overall goal is to build better fossil-resource intelligence for USBR and NPS lands along the lower Colorado River and within Lake Mead NRA by using mapping and organized data. This supports PRPA compliance, strengthens scientifically grounded inventory and monitoring, and helps NEPA reviews by clarifying where paleontological impacts are or are not likely.
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