Geophysical Survey of fossil trackway and lake formations | P17AS00327

Opportunity Information: Apply for P17AS00327

The grant opportunity titled "Geophysical Survey of fossil trackway and lake formations" (Funding Opportunity Number P17AS00327) is a National Park Service project under the U.S. Department of the Interior focused on locating and documenting buried fossil trackways and associated ancient lakeshore features within a national monument. The work is framed as a targeted, early-stage effort meant to confirm how well geophysical tools can detect covered fossil resources and to generate usable datasets and images that can be shared with the public while also supporting long-term resource management, protection, and planning.

The proposed survey area is the western half of the monument, specifically at a site known to contain a dense concentration of fossil tracks. A small-scale test survey conducted in April 2017 over a 2-meter by 2-meter grid reportedly succeeded in identifying buried prints, which serves as proof of concept and a technical basis for the new work. Building on that initial success, the project aims to collect additional geophysical measurements and interpretive outputs that help managers understand where significant trackways and shoreline features may lie beneath the surface without relying on extensive excavation.

This opportunity is offered as a discretionary cooperative agreement, meaning the National Park Service anticipates close collaboration with the selected recipient rather than a hands-off grant. Eligibility is limited to public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, indicating that universities or similar public academic entities are the intended partners, likely due to the specialized expertise and equipment needed for geophysical surveying and the scientific handling of paleontological resources.

The funding details indicate a single expected award with a maximum federal amount (award ceiling) of $30,122. The funding activity category is Natural Resources, and the listing is tied to CFDA number 15.945. The opportunity was created on June 5, 2017, with an original application closing date of June 14, 2017, reflecting a short application window typical of some targeted, project-specific cooperative agreements.

Overall, the project is positioned as a pilot or initial expansion effort that tests and refines methods for non-invasive detection and documentation of paleontological trackways and paleoshoreline formations. The primary value is the practical knowledge gained about equipment performance and site conditions, along with the resulting maps, data, and imagery that can guide a much broader future survey of the monument's western shoreline areas and strengthen protection strategies for sensitive fossil resources.

• The Department of the Interior, National Park Service in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Geophysical Survey of fossil trackway and lake formations" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.945.
• This funding opportunity was created on Jun 05, 2017.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 14, 2017. (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 $30,122.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education.

Apply for P17AS00327

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