Opportunity Information: Apply for P17AS00252
The Plant Propagation for NPS Southwest Exotic Plant Management Team opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number P17AS00252) is a National Park Service cooperative agreement designed to strengthen native plant restoration capacity in Arizona and New Mexico by aligning two major federal conservation efforts released in 2015: the Department of the Interior's National Seed Strategy and the National Strategy to Promote the Health of Honey Bees and Other Pollinators. At its core, the grant is about building a practical, regional pipeline for native plant materials, especially seeds that are locally adapted and genetically appropriate, so land managers can restore damaged landscapes and simultaneously improve habitat for pollinators.
A key focus of the project is implementing the National Seed Strategy at a landscape scale. That strategy emphasizes four connected goals: first, identifying what seeds are needed and making sure there is a reliable supply of the right native seed for the right place; second, identifying research gaps and supporting research that improves native seed production methods and restoration outcomes; third, developing decision-support tools so managers can make informed seeding choices quickly (for example, after wildfire or major disturbance); and fourth, improving communication strategies so information about seed availability, best practices, and restoration needs moves efficiently among agencies, producers, researchers, and partners. The grant frames these needs as particularly urgent in the Southwest, where restoration demand is high and seed supply is limited.
The opportunity also ties directly to the federal Pollinator Strategy, which addresses pollinator declines driven by multiple pressures such as pests and pathogens, habitat loss, lack of diverse floral resources, and pesticide exposure. That strategy sets ambitious national goals, including restoring or enhancing seven million acres of pollinator habitat over five years and increasing the eastern monarch butterfly population. It also prioritizes strengthening the science behind land management decisions, expanding public outreach and education, improving pollinator habitat, and building public-private partnerships. In the context of this grant, the practical overlap between the Pollinator Strategy and the Seed Strategy is the need for robust, pollinator-friendly native seed mixes that can be deployed widely in restoration, rehabilitation, and land management projects.
The description makes clear why Arizona and New Mexico are highlighted. The region faces millions of acres needing rehabilitation due to wildfire, erosion, development, invasive species, and related landscape disturbance. There is also steady demand from both public and private restoration projects aimed at improving wildlife habitat, supporting pollinator health, and countering the spread of exotic and invasive plants. The grant emphasizes that planting a diverse set of native species is not only beneficial for pollinators (by providing nectar, pollen, shelter, and breeding resources), but also helps ecosystems resist invasion and become more resilient under climate change. However, the current market situation is a major barrier: demand for native seed in the Southwest far exceeds supply, and what is available is often non-local and therefore not well suited genetically or ecologically to the specific conditions of Arizona and New Mexico.
A recurring gap this funding is meant to address is the shortage of native forb seed sources in particular. Forbs are critical for creating high-quality pollinator habitat because they provide diverse blooms across seasons, yet the opportunity notes that seed sources for forbs in Arizona and New Mexico are rare or essentially nonexistent. It also points out a capacity problem on the production side, with too few growers prepared to cultivate these native species for seed production. In practical terms, the project is intended to help coordinate and expand the supply chain so that restoration practitioners can obtain appropriate native plant materials rather than relying on generalized, non-local mixes that may perform poorly and can even undermine restoration goals.
Administratively, this is a discretionary funding opportunity offered by the U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, under CFDA 15.954, using a cooperative agreement instrument. The award ceiling is $30,000, and the opportunity anticipated making about three awards. Eligible applicants are broad and include state, county, and local governments; special districts; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations; public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities; and nonprofits both with and without 501(c)(3) status. The opportunity was created on May 15, 2017, with an original closing date of June 15, 2017.Apply for P17AS00252
- The Department of the Interior, National Park Service in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Plant Propagation for NPS Southwest Exotic Plant Management Team" 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 May 15, 2017.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 15, 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 $30,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 3 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the Plant Propagation for NPS Southwest Exotic Plant Management Team opportunity (P17AS00252)?
It is a National Park Service (NPS) cooperative agreement funding opportunity intended to strengthen native plant restoration capacity in Arizona and New Mexico by improving how locally adapted, genetically appropriate native plant materials (especially seed) are produced, coordinated, and supplied for restoration and land management needs.
What is the main purpose of this grant?
The core purpose is to build a practical regional pipeline for native plant materials so land managers can restore damaged landscapes and, at the same time, improve habitat for pollinators. The emphasis is on having the right native seed for the right place, particularly in the Southwest where restoration demand is high and seed supply is limited.
Which federal strategies does this opportunity align with?
This opportunity is designed to align two major federal conservation efforts released in 2015: (1) the U.S. Department of the Interior National Seed Strategy, and (2) the National Strategy to Promote the Health of Honey Bees and Other Pollinators (the Pollinator Strategy).
How does the grant relate to the National Seed Strategy?
The project focuses on implementing the National Seed Strategy at a landscape scale, with emphasis on building supply and coordination for native seed needed for restoration, identifying and addressing research gaps that affect native seed production and restoration outcomes, developing decision-support tools for quicker and better seeding decisions (including post-disturbance situations like wildfire), and improving communication about seed availability, best practices, and restoration needs among agencies, producers, researchers, and partners.
What are the four connected goals of the National Seed Strategy referenced in the opportunity?
The opportunity highlights four connected goals: identifying seed needs and ensuring a reliable supply of appropriate native seed; identifying research gaps and supporting research to improve production and restoration outcomes; developing decision-support tools for informed seeding choices; and improving communication strategies so information flows efficiently among stakeholders.
How does the grant relate to pollinator conservation?
The opportunity ties directly to the federal Pollinator Strategy by emphasizing the need for robust, pollinator-friendly native seed mixes that can be widely used in restoration, rehabilitation, and land management projects. Diverse native plantings can provide nectar, pollen, shelter, and breeding resources for pollinators.
What pollinator challenges does the federal Pollinator Strategy address (as described in the opportunity)?
The Pollinator Strategy is described as responding to pollinator declines driven by multiple pressures, including pests and pathogens, habitat loss, lack of diverse floral resources, and pesticide exposure.
What national pollinator goals are referenced in the opportunity?
The opportunity references ambitious goals in the Pollinator Strategy, including restoring or enhancing seven million acres of pollinator habitat over five years and increasing the eastern monarch butterfly population.
Why is the Southwest (Arizona and New Mexico) a priority area for this grant?
The opportunity emphasizes that Arizona and New Mexico face millions of acres needing rehabilitation due to wildfire, erosion, development, invasive species, and other landscape disturbances. At the same time, there is steady demand for native seed and plant materials for public and private restoration projects, including projects aimed at improving wildlife habitat and supporting pollinator health.
What kinds of landscape problems is this funding meant to help address?
The opportunity points to restoration and rehabilitation needs driven by wildfire, erosion, development, invasive species, and related disturbances, along with ongoing efforts to counter the spread of exotic and invasive plants and restore damaged landscapes.
What is meant by a “regional pipeline” for native plant materials?
Based on the description, it refers to a coordinated, practical supply chain that helps ensure locally adapted and genetically appropriate native plant materials (especially seed) are available when needed for restoration, including the ability to source, produce, and deliver appropriate mixes for specific landscapes in Arizona and New Mexico.
Why does the opportunity emphasize “locally adapted” and “genetically appropriate” seed?
The opportunity states that what seed is currently available is often non-local and may not be well suited genetically or ecologically to specific conditions in Arizona and New Mexico. Using locally adapted, genetically appropriate seed supports better restoration performance and helps meet ecological goals.
Why is native plant diversity important in the context of this grant?
The opportunity explains that planting a diverse set of native species benefits pollinators by providing seasonally diverse floral resources and other habitat needs, and it can also help ecosystems resist invasion and become more resilient under climate change.
What specific native seed gap is highlighted as especially urgent?
A recurring gap identified is the shortage of native forb seed sources in Arizona and New Mexico. The opportunity notes that forb seed sources in the region are rare or essentially nonexistent.
Why are forbs specifically important for pollinator habitat?
The opportunity describes forbs as critical for high-quality pollinator habitat because they provide diverse blooms across seasons, supporting a wider range of pollinators with nectar and pollen resources.
What production-side capacity issue does the opportunity identify?
It identifies that too few growers are prepared to cultivate native species (particularly forbs) for seed production, limiting the ability to scale up regionally appropriate native seed supply.
How does this grant address the mismatch between seed demand and supply in the Southwest?
The opportunity frames the project as a way to coordinate and expand the native seed supply chain so restoration practitioners can obtain appropriate native plant materials, rather than relying on generalized, non-local mixes that may perform poorly or undermine restoration goals.
What are decision-support tools in the context of this opportunity?
They are tools intended to help land managers make informed seeding choices quickly, especially following disturbances (the opportunity gives wildfire as an example), by improving access to information and guidance about appropriate seed selection.
Why does the opportunity emphasize communication among agencies, producers, researchers, and partners?
The opportunity identifies communication as a key strategy to ensure that information about seed availability, best practices, and restoration needs moves efficiently among the groups involved in producing, selecting, and deploying native plant materials.
Which agency is offering this funding opportunity?
The opportunity is offered by the U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service (NPS).
What type of funding instrument is used?
This opportunity uses a cooperative agreement instrument.
Is this a discretionary or mandatory grant opportunity?
The opportunity is described as discretionary funding.
What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The CFDA number listed is 15.954.
What is the funding opportunity number?
The Funding Opportunity Number is P17AS00252.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling is $30,000.
How many awards were anticipated?
The opportunity anticipated making about three awards.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants include state, county, and local governments; special districts; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations; public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities; and nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status.
Are nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status eligible?
Yes. The opportunity explicitly includes nonprofits both with and without 501(c)(3) status among eligible applicants.
Are tribal governments and tribal organizations eligible?
Yes. Federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations are included as eligible applicants.
Are educational institutions eligible?
Yes. Both public/state-controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education are listed as eligible applicants, and independent school districts are also included.
What geographic area is emphasized in the project description?
The opportunity emphasizes strengthening restoration capacity in Arizona and New Mexico, describing seed supply and restoration needs as particularly urgent in the Southwest.
When was the opportunity created and when did it close?
The opportunity was created on May 15, 2017, with an original closing date of June 15, 2017.
What is the practical overlap between the Seed Strategy and the Pollinator Strategy in this grant?
The opportunity describes the practical overlap as the need for robust, pollinator-friendly native seed mixes that can be deployed widely to support restoration, rehabilitation, and broader land management objectives.
Why does the opportunity caution against generalized, non-local seed mixes?
It indicates that non-local seed may not be well suited genetically or ecologically to Arizona and New Mexico conditions, may perform poorly, and can undermine restoration goals compared to using locally adapted and genetically appropriate materials.
How does this funding connect to invasive or exotic plant issues?
The opportunity notes that the region experiences disturbance and invasive species pressures, and it emphasizes that diverse native plantings can help ecosystems resist invasion and support resilience, alongside efforts aimed at countering the spread of exotic and invasive plants.
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