Condition Assessment of and Development of Best Management Practices for The National Mall’s Elm Tree Panels | P17AS00260

Opportunity Information: Apply for P17AS00260

The grant opportunity titled "Condition Assessment of and Development of Best Management Practices for The National Mall's Elm Tree Panels" is a National Park Service research-focused cooperative agreement centered on understanding and improving the health of the elm tree panels on the National Mall in Washington, DC. Led by the National Park Service, National Mall and Memorial Parks (NAMA) in collaboration with Cornell University, the project is designed as a practical, science-based assessment that connects on-the-ground field observations with management recommendations that can be used to guide future care of this high-profile urban tree stand.

At its core, the study aims to evaluate the current condition of both the trees and the soil systems supporting them. That includes documenting present-day growing conditions, assessing overall tree health, and identifying any underlying factors that may be limiting tree performance. Because elm panels on the Mall face unique stresses associated with urban environments and intensive public use, the work is intended to go beyond a simple snapshot and instead build a fuller picture of what the trees are experiencing and why certain problems may be recurring or worsening over time.

A key part of the effort is the use of historical data to place current conditions in context. By reviewing prior records and earlier findings, the project seeks to identify patterns and trends, such as changes in tree vigor, repeated maintenance issues, or long-term soil constraints. This historical perspective is meant to help distinguish one-time events from chronic site challenges and to clarify how past management actions, environmental conditions, or site modifications may have influenced current outcomes.

Another central objective is to pinpoint the specific environmental and site-management challenges affecting the elm panels. While the notice does not list every stressor explicitly, the intent is to identify the most significant barriers to healthy growth within the planting environment. These challenges commonly involve soil-related limitations and other factors tied to highly managed landscapes, and the project is structured to translate diagnostic findings into practical steps that can be implemented by land managers.

The deliverable focus is on developing and recommending Best Management Practices (BMPs) tailored to the Mall's elm panels. These BMPs are intended to address and correct "growing deficiencies," meaning conditions in the planting environment that reduce tree health, resilience, or longevity. The recommended practices are expected to be actionable guidance for improving the rooting environment and overall conditions so that the elm stand can be maintained in a healthier, more sustainable way over the long term.

Finally, the opportunity emphasizes defining clear management objectives moving forward. In addition to recommending technical BMPs, the project is meant to help NAMA establish a coherent set of goals for ongoing stewardship of the elm panels. That forward-looking component is about ensuring the long-term health of the tree stand, aligning future maintenance and monitoring with the realities identified during the assessment, and creating a defensible management direction supported by research findings.

Administratively, this is a discretionary funding opportunity under the Department of the Interior, National Park Service, using a cooperative agreement mechanism, which typically reflects a partnership model where the federal agency expects to be substantially involved during the project. The activity category is listed as Science and Technology and other Research and Development under CFDA 15.945. Eligibility is limited to public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, aligning with the research and applied science nature of the work and the partnership with Cornell University. The notice is labeled as a "Notice of Intent Only," and it references that the agreement was previously competed under cooperative agreement number P14AC00888, signaling continuity from earlier work rather than an entirely new initiative. The funding ceiling is $57,000, with one expected award. The opportunity was created May 12, 2017, with an original closing date of May 22, 2017.

• The Department of the Interior, National Park Service in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Condition Assessment of and Development of Best Management Practices for The National Mall’s Elm Tree Panels" 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 May 12, 2017.
• Applicants must submit their applications by May 22, 2017 This is a Notice is a notice of Intent Only. This Agreement previously competed under Cooperative agreement number P14AC00888.. (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 $57,000.00 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.

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