Opportunity Information: Apply for NPS NOIP19AC00135
The "Airphoto Acquisition for Apostle Islands National Lakeshore - GLKN" opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number NPS NOIP19AC00135) is a discretionary National Park Service (NPS) cooperative agreement intended to help Ashland County, Wisconsin acquire and deliver high-resolution aerial imagery that covers federal lands within the county, including areas associated with Apostle Islands National Lakeshore. The core goal is to produce accurate, modern orthoimagery that multiple levels of government can rely on for mapping and decision-making. The work is designed as a partnership where the NPS and the county pool resources and coordinate roles so the imagery is collected once, processed to shared standards, and then used broadly by state, county, and federal programs.
The project focuses on collecting airphotos during spring "leaf-off" conditions, which is a common requirement for mapping because it improves visibility of ground features that can be obscured when trees and vegetation are fully leafed out. After collection, the imagery must be processed into geospatial products that are geo-referenced (tied to real-world coordinates), mosaicked (stitched into seamless coverage), and compressed for distribution and practical use. The end result is intended to be accessible through online public map services, expanding the value of the investment beyond a single agency. The expected benefits specifically include improved support for transportation network planning, emergency response and dispatch, community development and land-use planning, agricultural assessment, and environmental and natural resource management.
A key feature of the award is that the county (as the recipient) is responsible for working directly with the selected aerial imagery vendor and handling the contracting administration. This includes ensuring the vendor meets the required technical specifications described by the Wisconsin Regional Orthoimagery Consortium, which functions as the standard-setting reference for how the imagery should be collected and processed. Once the vendor completes collection and processing, the recipient must provide all required products to the NPS on digital media, ensuring the Park Service receives complete deliverables suitable for its internal use and for broader distribution.
The NPS role is both supportive and quality-focused. The Park Service will provide spatial data that defines the area of interest (AOI) to ensure the acquisition covers the needed federal lands. NPS will also provide transportation and logistical support when needed for ground control surveys and for placing RTK GPS base stations, which are used to improve positional accuracy and ensure the final products align correctly with real-world locations. Before final acceptance of the deliverables, NPS will conduct a formal review of all geo-referenced products to confirm that they meet specifications and quality expectations. After acceptance, NPS will ensure the final geospatial products are posted to Geospatial One Stop for public access, reinforcing the public-facing, shared-data intent of the project.
Administratively, this opportunity was issued by the Department of the Interior, National Park Service, and categorized under community development, environment, natural resources, and regional development (CFDA 15.944). Eligibility is limited to county governments, with Ashland County identified as the cooperative partner. The posting date was May 15, 2019, with an original closing date of May 25, 2019. The award ceiling was $77,388, and the NPS anticipated making one award, reflecting a targeted, single-recipient project structured around a specific geographic area and an existing intergovernmental partnership.Apply for NPS NOIP19AC00135
- The Department of the Interior, National Park Service in the community development, environment, natural resources, regional development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Airphoto Acquisition for Apostle Islands National Lakeshore- GLKN" 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 May 15, 2019.
- Applicants must submit their applications by May 25, 2019. (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 $77,388.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: County governments.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1) What is the name of this grant opportunity?
The opportunity is titled "Airphoto Acquisition for Apostle Islands National Lakeshore - GLKN."
2) What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON)?
The Funding Opportunity Number is NPS NOIP19AC00135.
3) What type of funding instrument is this?
This is a discretionary National Park Service (NPS) cooperative agreement.
4) Who issued this opportunity?
The opportunity was issued by the U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service.
5) What is the CFDA number and program category?
The CFDA is 15.944, and it is categorized under community development, environment, natural resources, and regional development.
6) Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is limited to county governments.
7) Who is the identified cooperative partner/recipient?
Ashland County, Wisconsin is identified as the cooperative partner for this project.
8) What is the main purpose of the award?
The purpose is to help Ashland County acquire and deliver high-resolution aerial imagery covering federal lands within the county, including areas associated with Apostle Islands National Lakeshore, and to produce accurate, modern orthoimagery for mapping and decision-making.
9) What area will the imagery cover?
The imagery is intended to cover federal lands within Ashland County, Wisconsin, including areas associated with Apostle Islands National Lakeshore.
10) Why is the project described as a partnership?
The work is designed so the NPS and the county pool resources and coordinate roles. The intent is that imagery is collected once, processed to shared standards, and then used broadly by state, county, and federal programs.
11) What kind of aerial imagery is being acquired?
The project is focused on high-resolution aerial imagery that will be processed into accurate orthoimagery products suitable for government mapping uses.
12) When is the imagery expected to be collected?
The project focuses on collecting airphotos during spring "leaf-off" conditions.
13) What does "leaf-off" mean and why does it matter for this project?
"Leaf-off" refers to a time (commonly in spring) when trees and vegetation are not fully leafed out. This improves visibility of ground features that can be obscured during full foliage, which is helpful for mapping.
14) What processing steps are required after the imagery is collected?
After collection, the imagery must be processed into geospatial products that are geo-referenced (tied to real-world coordinates), mosaicked (stitched into seamless coverage), and compressed for distribution and practical use.
15) What deliverable characteristics are emphasized?
The deliverables must meet shared technical specifications, be suitable for internal NPS use, and be prepared for broader distribution, including access through online public map services.
16) Which technical specifications must the vendor follow?
The vendor must meet the required technical specifications described by the Wisconsin Regional Orthoimagery Consortium, which serves as the standard-setting reference for collection and processing.
17) Who manages the aerial imagery vendor and contracting?
Ashland County (the recipient) is responsible for working directly with the selected aerial imagery vendor and handling contracting administration.
18) What does contracting administration include in this opportunity?
It includes overseeing the vendor relationship and ensuring the vendor meets the required technical specifications for imagery collection and processing.
19) What support will the NPS provide during the project?
NPS will provide spatial data defining the area of interest (AOI) and may provide transportation and logistical support for ground control surveys and placement of RTK GPS base stations to improve positional accuracy.
20) What is the AOI and who provides it?
The AOI (area of interest) defines the geographic area that must be covered by the acquisition. NPS will provide the spatial data that defines the AOI.
21) What are RTK GPS base stations and why are they mentioned?
RTK GPS base stations are used to improve positional accuracy so the final products align correctly with real-world coordinates. The NPS may help with logistics related to placing these base stations.
22) Will NPS review the final products?
Yes. Before final acceptance, NPS will conduct a formal review of all geo-referenced products to confirm they meet specifications and quality expectations.
23) How are final products made available to the public?
After acceptance, NPS will ensure the final geospatial products are posted to Geospatial One Stop for public access.
24) In what format must deliverables be provided to NPS?
The recipient must provide all required products to NPS on digital media, ensuring NPS receives complete deliverables suitable for internal use and broader distribution.
25) What are the expected public or governmental benefits of the project?
Expected benefits include improved support for transportation network planning, emergency response and dispatch, community development and land-use planning, agricultural assessment, and environmental and natural resource management.
26) How many awards was NPS expecting to make?
NPS anticipated making one award.
27) What is the award ceiling?
The award ceiling is $77,388.
28) When was the opportunity posted and when did it close?
The posting date was May 15, 2019, and the original closing date was May 25, 2019.
29) Is this a broad competitive opportunity or a targeted project?
Based on the information provided, it is a targeted, single-recipient project structured around a specific geographic area and an existing intergovernmental partnership with Ashland County.
30) What is the overarching data-sharing intent of the project?
The intent is to collect imagery once, process it to shared standards, and make it usable across multiple levels of government, with public access supported through online map services and posting to Geospatial One Stop.
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