Niagara Falls National Heritage Area | NPS 18 NERO 0171

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Niagara Falls National Heritage Area (NPS 18 NERO 0171)

1) Is this an open funding opportunity where new applicants can submit proposals?

No. This notice is not requesting proposals from the public. It is a National Park Service notice of intent to make an award, rather than an open call for new applications.

2) What is the purpose of this posting if applications are not being accepted?

The posting serves as public notice that the National Park Service intends to make an award. Specifically, it signals the agency's intent to award a task agreement under an existing master cooperative agreement that was either previously competed or supported by a single-source justification.

3) Who is the funding agency for this opportunity?

The funding agency is the U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service (NPS).

4) What is the Funding Opportunity Number?

The Funding Opportunity Number is NPS 18 NERO 0171.

5) What type of funding opportunity is this (competitive vs. non-competitive)?

Based on the description provided, this is a discretionary funding opportunity notice that functions as a notice of intent to make an award under an existing agreement framework, rather than a competitive solicitation for new proposals.

6) What funding instrument will be used?

The funding instrument type listed is a Cooperative Agreement.

7) What does it mean that the award will be made under an existing master cooperative agreement?

It means the recipient is expected to be selected from an already-established cooperative agreement framework. The task agreement referenced in the notice is tied to a master cooperative agreement that was either previously competed or supported by a single-source justification, rather than created through a new application process tied to this posting.

8) How many awards does the National Park Service anticipate making?

The opportunity lists an anticipated single award (Expected Awards: 1).

9) What is the maximum funding amount available?

The award ceiling listed is $327,720.

10) What is the activity category for this opportunity?

The activity category is listed as Regional Development.

11) What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?

The associated CFDA number is 15.939.

12) What is the posting date?

The posting was created on August 28, 2018.

13) What is the closing date, and does it function like an application deadline?

The original closing date is September 6, 2018. In this context, it functions more like the end of the public notice period than a deadline for applicants to submit materials, since proposals are not being requested from the public.

14) Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is broadly labeled as "Others," with a note to consult the additional eligibility information in the full announcement for clarification. However, because this notice is not soliciting applications, the eligibility field mainly reflects the type of entity that may receive funding under the existing cooperative agreement mechanism rather than inviting new entities to apply.

15) Can an organization that is not already part of the existing cooperative agreement framework still apply?

Based on the information provided, this posting is not set up as a mechanism for new organizations to apply. The intent is to award under an existing master cooperative agreement (previously competed or supported by a single-source justification), which implies the recipient is expected to come from that existing framework rather than through a new competitive process tied to this notice.

16) Is this opportunity categorized as discretionary funding?

Yes. The opportunity is categorized as a discretionary funding opportunity.

17) What is the key takeaway for prospective applicants reading this notice?

The key point is procedural: it is a notice of intent to make an award, not a request for applications. In practical terms, it is announcing the National Park Service's intent to award a task agreement under an existing cooperative agreement structure rather than running a new competition through this posting.