Notice of Intent: Level III Energy Audit and Net-Zero Analysis for Organ Pipe Cactus NM in 2017 | P17AS00046

Opportunity Information: Apply for P17AS00046

The Notice of Intent titled "Level III Energy Audit and Net-Zero Analysis for Organ Pipe Cactus NM in 2017" describes a small, targeted cooperative project between the National Park Service (NPS) and the University of Arizona (U of A) to evaluate and improve energy performance at Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument. The central aim is to produce a comprehensive, building-by-building assessment of a portion of the park's electricity use, then translate those findings into practical recommendations that reduce overall consumption, cut the park's carbon footprint, and support the development of sustainable, potentially net-zero energy solutions for park operations.

This opportunity builds on work already completed under the same collaboration. Prior efforts covered the visitor center, a Mission 66-era proposed historic structure, and nine housing units, and also included rethinking a residential community center concept. The 2017 effort is framed as a continuation and expansion of that earlier scope rather than a brand-new standalone study. The intent is to extend energy auditing and net-zero analysis to additional park facilities that had not yet been fully assessed, creating a more complete understanding of where energy is being used and which retrofit strategies would provide the best returns.

A key feature of the project is its dual role as both applied research and experiential education. U of A students, working through coursework and hands-on studio or field-based activities in the College of Architecture, Planning and Landscape Architecture and the Environmental Sciences program, would participate in assessing building energy performance and consumption. The educational component is not presented as separate from the deliverables; instead, student work is directly tied to generating audit outputs and actionable energy efficiency measures that could help the park move toward net-zero building performance and broader sustainability goals.

On the technical side, the grant emphasizes a Level III energy audit approach paired with a net-zero analysis. In practice, this means the project is oriented toward a detailed, investment-grade style of assessment that can go beyond simple walk-through observations. The description highlights both "Energy Pre-Audit and Post-Audit required activities," indicating a structured process: collecting and analyzing baseline data, evaluating existing conditions, identifying conservation measures, and then compiling results into a formal, end-of-semester post-audit report. The final report is positioned as a concrete deliverable that packages the processed information and recommendations for NPS use in planning improvements.

The additional facilities targeted for this phase include the remaining housing units not previously covered, the maintenance facility, modular offices (specifically referenced as Resources and VRP), and the campground restroom and shower buildings, including those at the group campground. By covering housing, operational workspaces, and high-use visitor-serving restroom/shower facilities, the project addresses a mix of occupancy patterns and load types, which can help the park identify both common efficiency opportunities (lighting, envelope performance, HVAC controls) and site-specific solutions (hot water loads in shower buildings, plug loads in offices, or cooling demands in desert conditions).

Administratively, this was a discretionary funding opportunity from the Department of the Interior, National Park Service, issued as a cooperative agreement. Eligibility was limited to public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, aligning with the fact that the University of Arizona is the intended partner. The opportunity was posted under Funding Opportunity Number P17AS00046, tied to CFDA 15.945 (natural resources). The notice anticipated a single award with an award ceiling of $27,666, reflecting a focused, relatively low-dollar project intended to support analysis, fieldwork, and reporting rather than large-scale construction.

The timeline provided shows the opportunity was created on December 22, 2016, with an original closing date of December 31, 2016, suggesting a short application window consistent with a continuation effort where the partner, scope, and deliverables were largely known in advance. Overall, the notice outlines a practical, park-specific energy assessment initiative that leverages university expertise and student participation to deliver detailed audit findings and net-zero pathways for several key facilities at Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument.

• The Department of the Interior, National Park Service in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Notice of Intent: Level III Energy Audit and Net-Zero Analysis for Organ Pipe Cactus NM in 2017" 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 Dec 22, 2016.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Dec 31, 2016. (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 $27,666.00 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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