Archeological Survey in the Chignik and Meshik Rivers Region | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Archeological Survey in the Chignik and Meshik Rivers Region (NPS)

1) What is the official title of this grant opportunity?

The opportunity is titled "Archeological Survey in the Chignik and Meshik Rivers Region" and is issued by the National Park Service (NPS).

2) What type of federal award is this?

This is a discretionary cooperative agreement. It is not described as a standard competitive grant, and it includes substantial federal involvement in the work.

3) What does "cooperative agreement" mean for how the project is run?

NPS describes its role as having substantial involvement. Based on the announcement, NPS will help manage related project components, coordinate with other agencies (such as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service), handle external contracts for printing, review and approve key deliverables prior to printing, participate in outreach and consultation activities, and serve as a liaison among the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF) and various landowners.

4) Is this a competitive funding opportunity?

No. The announcement explains the award is justified as a single-source continuation under Department of the Interior policy (505 DM 2). NPS states that open competition was not pursued because the work continues an ongoing, already-funded activity, and changing performers could disrupt continuity and jeopardize completion.

5) Who is this continuation award intended for?

The announcement indicates the intent is to continue an existing research partnership with the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF) through the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) network, as part of a multi-year effort that began in 2010 under agreement P10AC00021.

6) What is the CESU network and how does it relate to this project?

CESUs are described as partnerships designed to support collaborative research, technical assistance, and education by pairing federal agencies with academic and other partners. This project is framed within that CESU model.

7) What is the main purpose of the project?

The project aims to conduct archeological survey and cultural resource inventory work to better establish the prehistory of the Chignik and Meshik Rivers region on the central Alaska Peninsula, with emphasis on improving understanding of human activity connected to Aniakchak National Monument and Preserve (ANIA).

8) What makes the research approach interdisciplinary?

The announcement states the archeological record will be interpreted alongside an emerging scientific record of volcanism and broader environmental change. The goal is to understand settlement patterns, land use, and cultural history in the context of shifting landscapes, volcanic events, and tephra deposits.

9) Which project year does this specific award cover?

This award is framed as the final year (Year 4) of a multi-year effort that began in 2010.

10) What is the focus of Year 4 compared to earlier years?

Year 4 is described as being focused less on new fieldwork and more on synthesis, analysis, and delivery of complete final products, building on the research design created in Year 1 and refined based on findings from Years 1 through 3 field reports.

11) What are the major responsibilities for UAF during the final year?

UAF responsibilities are centered on completing and publishing the work at a professional standard and ensuring collections and data are properly curated and accessible. The tasks listed include maintaining or hiring appropriate project staff, creating publication-quality artifact plates, finalizing curation agreements with landowners, assigning catalog numbers, and completing a monograph-style final report along with a public-facing brochure or small booklet.

12) What is expected to be included in the monograph-style final report?

The monograph is expected to include detailed sections on: the environmental and geologic setting; culture history and prior research; survey and testing methods and results; lithic analysis; regional geomorphology and volcanism including tephra identification; radiocarbon analysis tied to settlement patterns; final conclusions; and future research needs, supported by appendices.

13) Are public-friendly materials required, or only technical reporting?

Both are required. In addition to the technical monograph, UAF is expected to translate findings for broader audiences by preparing a brochure or small booklet suitable for the general public.

14) What data management and records submission products are required?

The announcement emphasizes final data processing and formal submission into cultural resource tracking systems. Listed deliverables include Alaska Heritage Resource Survey (AHRS) site cards, NPS Archaeological Sites Management Information System (ASMIS) records, GIS-based site maps and geodatabase components, photo logs, artifact catalogs, and original field notes, with copies provided to NPS (including the original field notes).

15) Why is NPS emphasizing standardized records like AHRS and ASMIS?

The announcement explains this documentation supports long-term cultural resource tracking and helps ensure results become part of stewardship and compliance systems used for ongoing management and interpretation.

16) What role will NPS play in printing project products?

NPS indicates it will handle external contracts for printing the final monograph and the public-facing brochure or booklet, and NPS will review and approve those products prior to printing.

17) What outreach or consultation activities are part of the project?

NPS staff are expected to participate in outreach and consultation activities such as meetings with village councils, corporations, and schools, reflecting community engagement and coordination beyond purely academic research.

18) How does land ownership factor into the project?

NPS will act as a liaison between UAF and other landowners across federal, state, and private holdings, and UAF is expected to finalize curation agreements with landowners as part of the final-year work.

19) What is the funding opportunity number?

The funding opportunity number is P13AS00085.

20) What is the CFDA program and activity category listed?

The activity category is listed as Natural Resources, under CFDA 15.945, described as Cooperative Research and Training Programs - Resources of the National Park System.

21) How much federal funding is proposed for this continuation?

The proposed federal funding amount for this continuation is $70,441.

22) Is there a cost-sharing or match requirement?

No. The announcement explicitly states there is no cost-sharing requirement.

23) What is the expected number of awards?

The announcement lists an expected number of awards as one.

24) What are the award ceiling and floor amounts?

The estimated total funding amount and the award ceiling are both listed as $70,441, and the award floor is listed as $1,000.

25) Who is eligible to apply, according to the notice?

Eligible applicants are public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, which aligns with the CESU academic partnership model described in the announcement.

26) What are the posting and closing dates?

The posting date is June 13, 2013. The original and current closing date is June 14, 2013.

27) What is the project period or end date referenced in the announcement?

The agreement period is referenced as ending April 21, 2014.

28) Who is the listed technical representative for this opportunity?

The technical representative listed is Dale Vinson (NPS Alaska Region).

29) Is there a contact for access or administrative issues?

Yes. The announcement notes that an agreements officer contact is provided for access issues.

30) What is the connection to Aniakchak National Monument and Preserve (ANIA)?

The work is intended to improve understanding of human activity linked to ANIA, using survey and inventory results from the Chignik and Meshik Rivers region to inform broader interpretations of settlement and land use in the area.

31) What kinds of analyses are specifically mentioned for the final report?

The announcement specifically calls out lithic analysis, radiocarbon analysis tied to settlement patterns, and interpretation of archeological findings in relation to regional geomorphology, volcanism, and tephra identification.

32) What is the stated reason for continuing with the current partner rather than changing performers?

NPS states that switching performers would risk disrupting the continuity of an ongoing effort and could jeopardize completion, which is why the continuation is handled as a single-source award.