Opportunity Information: Apply for NPS 18 NERO 0117
The National Park Service (NPS), within the Department of the Interior, issued a public notice describing its intent to fund a specific project titled "Improve Visitor Experience and Enhance Visitor Access to the Isle au Haut District of Acadia National Park" (Funding Opportunity Number: NPS 18 NERO 0117). The key point is that this notice is not a request for applications and is not being competed. Instead, NPS is signaling that it plans to make a single cooperative agreement award to support defined activities that align with Acadia National Park's Visitor Use Management Plan for Isle au Haut. The award amount is relatively small (up to an award ceiling of $24,500), and only one award was expected.
The project is centered on maintaining and strengthening ferry-based access to Isle au Haut, specifically service to Duck Harbor, which is the primary gateway for visitors to reach Acadia National Park lands on the island. Because public access to Isle au Haut is essentially limited to private boats and the ferry, the ferry becomes the practical tool for both access and visitor management. NPS frames ferry operations not just as transportation, but as a core mechanism for managing visitor use levels in a way that is consistent with federal law (Public Law 99-335) and the park's mission. In other words, if the park is going to offer any structured visitor experience on Isle au Haut while still protecting resources and respecting capacity limits, the ferry service is a central lever for controlling how many people arrive, when they arrive, and where they enter the park.
The intended partner for this cooperative agreement is Isle au Haut Boat Services, a community-rooted operator with a long history of serving the island. The organization began in 1973 as a for-profit venture created by island residents to ensure the ferry would continue and remain largely under local control for the benefit of the community. Over time, because year-round service is costly and often runs at a loss, the organization shifted in 2002 into a nonprofit, tax-exempt entity (501(c)(3)). The notice emphasizes that the ferry is not only important for visitors, but also vital for residents, particularly those living on Isle au Haut year-round, since it helps maintain the social and economic integrity of the island community and provides the only practical means for the public to access Acadia National Park on the island.
From NPS's perspective, supporting this existing resident-controlled, year-round ferry service serves two connected goals: preserving reliable transportation for the island community and sustaining managed visitor access to the park at Duck Harbor. The notice explicitly ties the financial sustainability of the ferry operator to park visitor traffic, stating that without the visitor business to Duck Harbor, Isle au Haut Boat Services would face greater financial losses and might be unable to continue service. The cooperative agreement structure also signals that NPS expects an active partnership relationship, not just a pass-through grant, with Isle au Haut Boat Services potentially playing a larger role in both providing access and helping implement visitor use limits consistent with the Visitor Use Management Plan.
Administratively, the opportunity is categorized as discretionary funding using a cooperative agreement under the funding activity category of business and commerce (CFDA 15.954). The eligible applicant type listed is nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education), which matches the status of Isle au Haut Boat Services. The notice was created on August 5, 2018, with an original closing date of August 14, 2018, reflecting the typical timeline for a public notice of intent rather than an open application period. Overall, the announcement communicates that NPS intends to directly support a specific local nonprofit ferry provider to ensure continued, managed visitor access to Isle au Haut and to help protect both park resources and the long-term viability of the island's year-round community.Apply for NPS 18 NERO 0117
- The Department of the Interior, National Park Service in the business and commerce sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Improve Visitor Experience & Enhance Visitor Access to the Isle au Haut District of Acadia National Park" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.954.
- This funding opportunity was created on Aug 05, 2018.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 14, 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 $24,500.00 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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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is this NPS funding notice about?
The National Park Service (NPS), within the Department of the Interior, issued a public notice stating its intent to fund a specific project titled "Improve Visitor Experience and Enhance Visitor Access to the Isle au Haut District of Acadia National Park" (Funding Opportunity Number: NPS 18 NERO 0117). The notice describes planned support for activities that strengthen and manage ferry-based visitor access to Isle au Haut, consistent with Acadia National Park's Visitor Use Management Plan for the island.
Is this a request for applications (RFA) or an open competition?
No. The notice is not a request for applications and is not being competed. It is a notice of intent indicating NPS plans to make a single award to support a defined project rather than soliciting proposals from multiple applicants.
How many awards does NPS expect to make?
NPS expected to make one award.
What type of award is NPS planning to use?
NPS indicated it plans to make a cooperative agreement award. This structure generally reflects an active partnership relationship rather than a simple pass-through of funds.
What is the maximum funding amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling listed in the notice is up to $24,500.
Who is the intended recipient/partner for this cooperative agreement?
The intended partner identified in the notice is Isle au Haut Boat Services, a community-rooted ferry operator with a long history of serving Isle au Haut.
Why is the ferry service so central to this project?
The project centers on maintaining and strengthening ferry-based access to Isle au Haut, specifically service to Duck Harbor, described as the primary gateway for visitors to reach Acadia National Park lands on the island. Because public access to Isle au Haut is essentially limited to private boats and the ferry, ferry operations function not only as transportation but also as a practical tool for managing how many visitors arrive, when they arrive, and where they enter the park.
What is Duck Harbor and why is it important in the notice?
Duck Harbor is described as the primary gateway for visitors to reach Acadia National Park lands on Isle au Haut. The ferry route to Duck Harbor is positioned as the key mechanism for sustaining public access and supporting visitor management consistent with the park's planning framework.
How does this funding relate to visitor management at Acadia National Park?
NPS links the proposed cooperative agreement to Acadia National Park's Visitor Use Management Plan for Isle au Haut. The notice describes ferry operations as a central lever for controlling visitor use levels in ways consistent with federal law (Public Law 99-335) and the park's mission, balancing visitor experience with protection of park resources and capacity limits.
Why is NPS supporting this particular ferry operator?
The notice emphasizes that Isle au Haut Boat Services is a resident-controlled, community-rooted operator created to ensure ferry service would continue and remain largely under local control. Supporting this existing year-round service is framed as advancing two connected goals: preserving reliable transportation for the island community and sustaining managed visitor access to the park at Duck Harbor.
What is the history and organizational status of Isle au Haut Boat Services?
According to the notice, the organization began in 1973 as a for-profit venture created by island residents to keep ferry service operating and locally controlled. In 2002, due to the high cost and frequent losses associated with year-round service, it shifted into a nonprofit, tax-exempt 501(c)(3) entity.
How does the ferry service affect Isle au Haut residents?
The notice states the ferry is vital not only for visitors but also for year-round residents. It is presented as supporting the social and economic integrity of the island community and providing a practical means for public access to Acadia National Park lands on Isle au Haut.
Does the notice explain why ferry financial sustainability matters to NPS?
Yes. NPS explicitly ties the financial sustainability of Isle au Haut Boat Services to park visitor traffic, stating that without visitor business to Duck Harbor the operator would face greater financial losses and might be unable to continue service.
What kinds of activities is the cooperative agreement meant to support?
Based on the notice, the award is intended to support defined activities aligned with Acadia National Park's Visitor Use Management Plan for Isle au Haut, with a focus on maintaining and strengthening ferry-based access to Isle au Haut and service to Duck Harbor as the key visitor gateway.
What funding category and assistance listing are associated with this opportunity?
The notice categorizes the opportunity as discretionary funding using a cooperative agreement under the funding activity category of business and commerce, and it references CFDA 15.954.
Who is listed as eligible to apply?
The eligible applicant type listed is nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education). This matches the status of Isle au Haut Boat Services described in the notice.
When was the notice posted and what is the closing date?
The notice was created on August 5, 2018, and lists an original closing date of August 14, 2018. The timeline is presented as consistent with a public notice of intent rather than an open application period.
If it is not competed, what is the purpose of publishing a public notice?
Based on the information provided, the purpose is to publicly communicate NPS's intent to make a single cooperative agreement award for a defined project rather than to solicit applications through a competitive process.
Does this opportunity imply NPS will work closely with the ferry operator?
Yes. The use of a cooperative agreement and the language in the notice indicate NPS expects an active partnership relationship, with Isle au Haut Boat Services potentially playing a larger role in providing access and helping implement visitor use limits consistent with the Visitor Use Management Plan.
What legal authority is referenced in connection with managing visitor use?
The notice references Public Law 99-335 in the context of managing visitor use levels consistent with federal law and the park's mission.
What is the core outcome NPS is trying to achieve through this planned award?
The notice communicates that NPS intends to directly support a specific local nonprofit ferry provider to help ensure continued, managed visitor access to Isle au Haut (via Duck Harbor) while also helping protect park resources and support the long-term viability of the island's year-round community.
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