: Invasive Plant Control: Implementing Integrated Pest Management at Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area | P18AS00612

Opportunity Information: Apply for P18AS00612

The grant opportunity titled "Invasive Plant Control: Implementing Integrated Pest Management at Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area" is a National Park Service (NPS) discretionary funding action focused on reducing the impacts of invasive, nonnative plant species within and near the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area (SMMNRA). The project is framed around the broader concern that invasive species are a major driver of biodiversity loss because they can outcompete native plants, change how ecosystems function, and weaken native wildlife habitat. In the Santa Monica Mountains specifically, the presence of more than 100 invasive species is highlighted as a direct threat to habitat quality, a contributor to wildfire risk (both ignition potential and fire spread), and a factor that can degrade visitor and recreational experiences on public lands.

This funding is structured as a cooperative agreement, meaning the work is intended to be carried out collaboratively rather than as a simple pass-through grant. NPS staff and the recipient organization are expected to work in partnership over two field seasons to implement best management practices for invasive plant control. The approach emphasized throughout the notice is integrated pest management (IPM), which generally means using a planned, science-informed combination of methods (such as mechanical removal, targeted herbicide use where appropriate, restoration, and follow-up monitoring) rather than relying on a single tactic. The stated outcome is a measurable reduction in the invasive plant species selected for treatment, supported by monitoring and effectiveness assessments rather than one-time removal alone.

The core activities described include implementing comprehensive invasive plant control projects that cover the full cycle of work: treatment actions in the field, monitoring before and after treatment, and formal assessments of how effective the treatments are over time. In addition to removing invasives, the project also includes native plant community restoration, which is important because disturbed or cleared sites can quickly be reinvaded if native vegetation is not re-established. The work is intended to be completed using a mix of technicians, partner staff, interns, and volunteers, indicating a strong hands-on field component and a workforce model that blends professional crews with supervised training and volunteer engagement.

A significant operational focus is placed on safe, compliant implementation. The announcement calls for maintaining tool and herbicide inventories with attention to proper handling and use, cleaning, secure storage, and loss prevention. It also requires training for crew members on project protocols and on the safe and effective use of hand tools, power equipment, and herbicides. Before field activities occur, monitoring is expected to confirm that planned actions will not damage sensitive natural resources or cultural resources, which is especially relevant in national park settings where archaeological sites, protected habitats, and sensitive species may be present. The project also stresses that safety and work procedures must be followed consistently, reflecting the risks associated with remote fieldwork, equipment operation, and chemical application.

Beyond on-the-ground control, the agreement is meant to support learning and improvement over time. The project includes evaluating monitoring protocols and conservation techniques used under the agreement to improve both efficiency and effectiveness, which suggests an adaptive management mindset where results inform adjustments in methods. Finally, the opportunity includes a communication element: findings are to be shared with local agency partners and the public, helping align invasive plant control practices across jurisdictions (federal and non-federal public lands) and supporting broader awareness of invasive species impacts and control strategies.

From an administrative standpoint, the opportunity is identified as Funding Opportunity Number P18AS00612 under CFDA 15.944, offered by the U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service. Eligible applicants are limited to nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education). The notice states it is a "Notice of Intent to Award" and explicitly says it is not a request for applications, meaning the NPS is publicly announcing its plan to fund a specific project under an existing cooperative agreement (referencing MRT) rather than running an open competition. The expected number of awards is one, with an award ceiling of $45,000. The posting dates (created August 29, 2018, with an original closing date of September 12, 2018) function mainly as public notice timing rather than a typical application window, since the agency is indicating the recipient is already determined under the existing agreement.

• The Department of the Interior, National Park Service in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled ": Invasive Plant Control: Implementing Integrated Pest Management at Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area" 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 Aug 29, 2018.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Sep 12, 2018 NOTICE OF INTENT TO AWARD. This is not a request for applications. This funding announcement is to provide public notice that the National Park Service will fund the following project under an existing Cooperative Agreement with MRT.. (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 $45,000.00 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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