Opportunity Information: Apply for NPS NOIPAC00003
The Cave Management Services - OZAR opportunity is a National Park Service cooperative agreement focused on improving how Ozark National Scenic Riverways (OZAR) manages and protects the underground habitat used by cave-dwelling bats, including species that are federally threatened or endangered. The project centers on strengthening day-to-day and long-term stewardship of caves and karst systems by combining scientific research, hands-on conservation work, and public-facing education. A key driver is the need for better information and management capacity to safeguard sensitive subterranean ecosystems, especially in the context of ongoing threats like White-Nose Syndrome and human-caused impacts such as cave vandalism.
The work is designed to be carried out in close partnership with the Cave Research Foundation (CRF), a nonprofit recognized for decades of national leadership in cave exploration, mapping, and research. CRF has a long history of collaborating with federal and state agencies and other partners to deliver reliable cave resource data that park resource management staff can use for decision-making. In this project, that expertise is applied directly to OZAR priorities, helping the park meet its legal and mission-based responsibilities to protect and conserve natural and cultural resources. The partnership is also structured to support planning and compliance needs: OZAR staff consult CRF for cave-specific history, biological and cultural significance, management needs, and vandalism concerns, including information that can inform NEPA scoping for other park actions.
The scope of activities is broad and practical. On the science side, CRF is expected to conduct biological inventories and annual monitoring of cave biota in selected caves, maintain long-term datasets, and perform targeted monitoring related to White-Nose Syndrome. Mapping and surveying of caves is another core component, producing updated cave maps and documentation that can guide safe access, habitat protection, and management actions. CRF also supports the park with bat-related fieldwork, including assisting with annual biological inventories for federally listed bat species, which helps the park understand population status and habitat use while meeting conservation and reporting expectations.
On the resource protection and restoration side, the project includes routine cave management and direct conservation interventions. Examples include designing and installing cave gates to control access where needed (a common tool to reduce disturbance while preserving bat movement), repairing sites damaged by vandalism, and restoring cave floors in coordination with cultural resource specialists to ensure that restoration protects both ecological values and any associated cultural materials. CRF may also write cave restoration project statements to pursue additional funding, extending the impact beyond the initial award. Technical support and expertise for cave and karst management decisions are explicitly part of the deliverables, meaning CRF functions as an on-the-ground and advisory resource to park staff.
Education and interpretation are also emphasized rather than treated as an add-on. The agreement anticipates development of outreach materials such as educational articles, brochures, newsletters, and research publications that translate cave science and management into accessible information for the public and professional audiences. It also references interpretive programming such as cave tours at Round Spring, indicating that the project aims to increase public understanding and appreciation of cave resources while reinforcing conservation messaging.
Volunteer engagement is another notable feature of this opportunity. CRF recruits volunteers for cave-related projects, blending specialized expertise from the caving and karst community with opportunities for participants to learn the park firsthand. Beyond providing additional capacity for field projects, this approach builds a broader stewardship network and connects volunteers to OZARs landscapes and rivers, which can indirectly support public support for cave conservation. Data and findings generated through these efforts are intended to feed into a statewide cave life database and other informational products, ensuring that the work contributes to larger conservation knowledge systems beyond a single park unit.
Administratively, this is a discretionary funding opportunity offered by the Department of the Interior, National Park Service, using a cooperative agreement instrument, which typically reflects substantial agency involvement in shaping and implementing the work. It falls under CFDA 15.944 and is categorized under environment, natural resources, and research and development. Eligibility is limited to nonprofits with IRS 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education). The opportunity was posted with a creation date of January 13, 2020, and an original closing date of January 23, 2020. The anticipated award structure was one award with a ceiling of $97,000, indicating a focused partnership intended to deliver a defined set of management, research, restoration, and outreach outcomes in support of cave bat habitat protection at OZAR.Apply for NPS NOIPAC00003
- The Department of the Interior, National Park Service in the environment, natural resources, science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Cave Management Services- OZAR" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.944.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jan 13, 2020.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jan 23, 2020. (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 $97,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education.
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