Opportunity Information: Apply for P14AS00259
Apply for P14AS00259
- The National Park Service in the education employment, labor and training information and statistics science and technology and other research and development transportation sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "ANALYZE EXISTING COVERED BRIDGE FLOOR SYSTEMS" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.946 Cultural Resources Management.
- This funding opportunity was created on Aug 14, 2014 and posted on Aug 14, 2014.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 29, 2014. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $150,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $150,000.00 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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Opportunity Summary:
The grant opportunity titled ANALYZE EXISTING COVERED BRIDGE FLOOR SYSTEMS (Funding Opportunity Number P14AS00259) is a National Park Service notice of intent to award, not an open solicitation. In other words, the announcement is mainly there to inform the public that the National Park Service (NPS), under the Department of the Interior, plans to provide funding without full and open competition. The award is structured as a cooperative agreement and is described as a continuation action tied to an existing cooperative agreement rather than a new competitive grant round.
The planned recipient is the National Society for the Preservation of Covered Bridges (NSPCB), with William Caswell listed as the principal investigator or program manager. The total anticipated federal award amount is $150,000, and there is no cost share or matching requirement. The instrument is a continuation under Cooperative Agreement P14AC01002, implemented through a task agreement (noted as P14AC01504). The anticipated period of performance runs from the date of award through late December 2015 (listed as 12/30/2015 in one place and 12/31/2015 in another). The opportunity is associated with CFDA 15.946, Cultural Resource Management, and is authorized under 16 U.S.C. 1(g), which allows NPS to enter into cooperative agreements that transfer appropriated funds to eligible public and nonprofit entities to carry out NPS program purposes.
At its core, the project is an applied research effort under the National Historic Covered Bridge Preservation Program focused on how covered bridge floor systems actually behave under real vehicle loads. The research objective is to compare measured, real-world stresses in bridge deck components and supporting floor beams (while an actual truck crosses the bridge) with stresses predicted by different engineering calculation methods. The motivation is practical: current design and load-rating methods may not fully capture how timber bridge decks and floor beams act together as a composite system when the deck is fastened to the beams. The working hypothesis is that fastening the deck to the supporting beams strengthens the beams more than standard calculations typically recognize, and that the amount of strengthening depends on the type, quality, and quantity of fasteners (such as spikes or screws). If that composite behavior can be better understood and modeled, the outcome could be more accurate load ratings, potentially higher recognized capacity for existing structures, and better preservation decisions that avoid unnecessary or overly invasive modifications.
The scope described for the NSPCB includes using salvaged materials from the historic Bartonsville Covered Bridge, a Town lattice truss bridge that was swept away during Tropical Storm Irene. Those salvaged Town lattice trusses would be repurposed for research to study load interaction and distribution, particularly because observed performance of these systems has been noted as exceeding what calculations alone would suggest. NSPCB would also fabricate and install different floor system configurations using solid sawn lumber, build temporary back walls and approaches so live-load truck testing can be conducted, and perform a literature review of prior relevant studies. A major technical component involves instrumenting the test structure with strain gauges on deck boards, floor beams, and truss members, then using data acquisition equipment and software to capture structural response as a rented design vehicle (truck) is driven over the bridge. The testing would be repeated across different deck thicknesses and different attachment methods and levels of fastening between the deck and the floor beams to evaluate how those variables change measured bending moments and overall system behavior.
Deliverables and expected outputs are framed around producing a testing plan, collecting and analyzing field data, and writing a final report that directly compares experimental results with analytical predictions. The primary goal is to develop an improved model of composite floor system behavior for covered bridges that aligns more closely with observed real-world response. A related practical outcome is the development of guidelines for retrofitting or adding shear fasteners (for example, additional spikes or other attachment strategies) to reliably achieve the desired composite action between floor planks and floor beams. The announcement also emphasizes preservation-friendly benefits: improving understanding of floor behavior could allow for decks to be replaced with locally produced, historically appropriate materials, potentially at lower cost and with less drastic intervention, while maintaining or improving user safety.
Because this is a cooperative agreement, the NPS anticipates substantial involvement rather than simply issuing funds and stepping back. NPS responsibilities include providing funding and coordinating the task agreement, with HAER (Historic American Engineering Record) producing quarterly progress reports for the Federal Highway Administration. NPS also plans to use the project as a training and professional development opportunity by providing students and professionals in engineering and related fields chances to learn documentation skills and observe how a national historic engineering documentation program is managed. In addition, NPS will share resources and expertise, including AutoCAD and engineering documentation capabilities, and will help disseminate the resulting knowledge to public officials, private organizations, and others working under the Secretary of the Interiors HABS/HAER documentation standards and the Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties.
Finally, the single-source nature of the award is justified under the Department of the Interior single source policy (505 DM 2) using the criterion labeled Continuation. The rationale given is that the work being funded is necessary to complete or continue an ongoing activity already supported under the existing cooperative agreement, and that opening the work to competition would negatively affect continuity or completion. The posted opportunity lists an expected number of awards as one, an award ceiling of $150,000, and eligible applicants as nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education), but the notice makes clear that this particular funding action is intended for the named recipient as a continuation rather than as a competitive application process. The NPS point of contact is June Zastrow (303-987-6718, junezastrow@nps.gov).
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1) What is the title and Funding Opportunity Number for this announcement?
The opportunity is titled ANALYZE EXISTING COVERED BRIDGE FLOOR SYSTEMS and the Funding Opportunity Number is P14AS00259.
2) Is this an open grant competition that organizations can apply to?
No. This is a National Park Service notice of intent to award, not an open solicitation. The purpose of the posting is to inform the public that NPS plans to provide funding without full and open competition as a continuation action under an existing cooperative agreement.
3) What type of award instrument will be used?
The planned award instrument is a cooperative agreement. It is described as a continuation tied to an existing cooperative agreement rather than a new competitive grant round.
4) Who is the planned recipient for this funding action?
The planned recipient is the National Society for the Preservation of Covered Bridges (NSPCB).
5) Who is listed as the principal investigator or program manager?
William Caswell is listed as the principal investigator/program manager.
6) What is the anticipated federal award amount and the maximum (ceiling) amount?
The total anticipated federal award amount is $150,000. The posted award ceiling is also $150,000.
7) Is cost sharing or a match required?
No. The notice states there is no cost share or matching requirement.
8) How many awards does NPS expect to make under this notice?
The notice lists an expected number of awards as one (1).
9) What is the project period of performance?
The anticipated period of performance runs from the date of award through late December 2015. The end date is listed as 12/30/2015 in one place and 12/31/2015 in another.
10) What existing agreement is this continuation associated with?
This action is a continuation under Cooperative Agreement P14AC01002, implemented through a task agreement noted as P14AC01504.
11) What agency is issuing the notice and under what Department?
The notice is issued by the National Park Service (NPS) under the Department of the Interior.
12) What CFDA program is associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is associated with CFDA 15.946, Cultural Resource Management.
13) What legal authority is cited for using a cooperative agreement?
The notice cites 16 U.S.C. 1(g), which allows NPS to enter into cooperative agreements that transfer appropriated funds to eligible public and nonprofit entities to carry out NPS program purposes.
14) Why is this a single-source (noncompetitive) award?
The single-source approach is justified under the Department of the Interior single source policy (505 DM 2) using the Continuation criterion. The rationale given is that the funded work is necessary to complete or continue an ongoing activity already supported under the existing cooperative agreement, and competition would negatively affect continuity or completion.
15) What is the core purpose of the project?
The project is an applied research effort under the National Historic Covered Bridge Preservation Program focused on how covered bridge floor systems actually behave under real vehicle loads, and how measured behavior compares to common engineering calculation methods.
16) What specific engineering question is the study trying to answer?
The study aims to compare measured, real-world stresses in deck components and supporting floor beams (as a truck crosses the bridge) against stresses predicted by different analytical/design and load-rating methods.
17) What hypothesis is being tested about timber deck-to-beam behavior?
The working hypothesis is that fastening the deck to the supporting beams can create composite action that strengthens the beams more than standard calculations typically recognize, and that the amount of strengthening depends on the type, quality, and quantity of fasteners (for example, spikes or screws).
18) Why does this research matter for preservation and safety decisions?
If composite behavior can be better understood and modeled, the expected practical benefits include more accurate load ratings, potentially higher recognized capacity for existing bridges where justified by data, and better preservation decisions that may avoid unnecessary or overly invasive modifications while supporting user safety.
19) What materials and historic bridge components will be used in the research?
The NSPCB scope includes using salvaged materials from the historic Bartonsville Covered Bridge, a Town lattice truss bridge that was swept away during Tropical Storm Irene. Salvaged Town lattice trusses would be repurposed for research.
20) What types of floor system configurations will be tested?
The project includes fabricating and installing different floor system configurations using solid sawn lumber. Testing is planned across different deck thicknesses and different attachment methods and levels of fastening between the deck and the floor beams.
21) How will the bridge response be measured during testing?
The test structure will be instrumented with strain gauges on deck boards, floor beams, and truss members. Data acquisition equipment and software will record structural response while a rented design vehicle (truck) is driven over the bridge.
22) Will the live-load tests be repeated?
Yes. The notice describes repeating testing across varying deck thicknesses and fastening approaches to evaluate how those variables affect measured bending moments and overall system behavior.
23) What site or structural preparations are mentioned to enable truck testing?
The NSPCB scope includes building temporary back walls and approaches so that live-load truck testing can be conducted.
24) Does the scope include a review of prior research?
Yes. The NSPCB is expected to perform a literature review of relevant prior studies.
25) What are the key deliverables described in the notice?
Deliverables and outputs are framed around producing a testing plan, collecting and analyzing field data, and writing a final report that compares experimental results with analytical predictions, with the goal of developing an improved model of composite floor system behavior for covered bridges.
26) Will the project produce practical retrofit guidance?
Yes. A related practical outcome described is the development of guidelines for retrofitting or adding shear fasteners (for example, additional spikes or other attachment strategies) to reliably achieve desired composite action between floor planks and floor beams.
27) What preservation-friendly outcomes are mentioned?
The notice emphasizes that improved understanding of floor behavior could allow decks to be replaced with locally produced, historically appropriate materials, potentially at lower cost and with less drastic intervention, while maintaining or improving safety.
28) What does "cooperative agreement" imply about NPS involvement?
The notice states that NPS anticipates substantial involvement, rather than simply issuing funds. NPS responsibilities include providing funding, coordinating the task agreement, sharing resources and expertise, and supporting dissemination of results.
29) What progress reporting is mentioned, and who produces it?
The notice states that HAER (Historic American Engineering Record) will produce quarterly progress reports for the Federal Highway Administration.
30) Are training or professional development activities part of the NPS role?
Yes. NPS plans to use the project as a training and professional development opportunity by providing students and professionals in engineering and related fields opportunities to learn documentation skills and observe how a national historic engineering documentation program is managed.
31) What technical or documentation resources will NPS share?
The notice mentions NPS sharing resources and expertise including AutoCAD and engineering documentation capabilities.
32) How will results be shared and to whom?
NPS will help disseminate the resulting knowledge to public officials, private organizations, and others working under the Secretary of the Interior's HABS/HAER documentation standards and the Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties.
33) Who is the NPS point of contact for this notice?
The NPS point of contact is June Zastrow, phone 303-987-6718, email junezastrow@nps.gov.
34) The notice lists eligible applicants as certain nonprofits. Does that mean any eligible nonprofit can apply to this posting?
The posting lists eligible applicants as nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education). However, the notice also makes clear that this specific funding action is intended for the named recipient as a continuation and is not described as a competitive application process.
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