BLM OR/WA Harney Basin Curation | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): BLM OR/WA Harney Basin Curation (L15AS00142)

What is the "BLM OR/WA Harney Basin Curation" grant opportunity?

"BLM OR/WA Harney Basin Curation" (Funding Opportunity Number L15AS00142) was a Bureau of Land Management (BLM) discretionary grant focused on cultural resource management. Its purpose was to support the long-term care and proper housing (curation) of archaeological materials associated with BLM-supported work in Oregon, with an emphasis on collections from the Harney Basin area.

What was the main goal of the project funded by this opportunity?

The stated objective was to help defray the costs of curation and the physical move of previously collected archaeological collections into permanent storage at the University of Oregon Museum of Natural and Cultural History (UOMNCH). The funding emphasized completing post-fieldwork responsibilities like organizing, stabilizing, documenting, and transferring items into an appropriate permanent repository.

Was this funding intended for new excavation or fieldwork?

No. The opportunity was aimed less at new excavation and more at finishing behind-the-scenes curation work after fieldwork had already occurred, including preparing collections for permanent museum storage and moving them out of temporary campus space.

Which agency offered this grant?

The grant opportunity was offered by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM).

What types of materials were included in the collections to be curated?

The collections included artifacts as well as associated scientific materials commonly produced through modern archaeological practice. Examples specifically mentioned include soil samples, radiocarbon samples, and faunal and botanical specimens.

Where did the collections come from?

The collections were generated through decades of University of Oregon (UO) archaeological field training and research conducted in partnership with the BLM. The announcement highlights the University of Oregon summer archaeological field school (operating since 1937) as the long-running program through which much of the material was recovered, and it identifies the BLM-UO partnership since 1988 as producing the specific collections needing final curation and transfer.

What geographic area did the project emphasize?

The opportunity emphasized material from the Harney Basin area in Oregon.

Why was this grant needed if the collections already existed?

The materials were being held temporarily in an office or laboratory on the University of Oregon campus while awaiting the work and resources required to process them for permanent museum storage. The grant addressed the practical need to complete curation tasks and physically move the collections into a permanent repository.

What is UOMNCH and what role did it play in the project?

The University of Oregon Museum of Natural and Cultural History (UOMNCH) was central to the project. It was described as Oregon's primary repository for anthropological and paleontological collections and as a federally accepted repository for prehistoric collections in the state. The project involved transferring the collections into permanent storage at UOMNCH.

Why was UOMNCH considered an appropriate permanent home for these collections?

The announcement stated that UOMNCH is recognized under Oregon state law in its repository capacity and is a federally accepted repository for prehistoric collections in Oregon. This was presented as reinforcing that UOMNCH is an appropriate permanent home that meets expectations typically associated with federally recognized curation standards.

What was the total funding amount available?

The opportunity anticipated a single award totaling $8,000.

Was the award amount flexible or a fixed amount?

It was a fixed-size grant. Both the award ceiling and the award floor were listed as $8,000, indicating the award amount was not a range.

How many awards were expected to be made?

The opportunity anticipated a single award.

Was cost sharing or matching required?

No. The opportunity carried no cost sharing or matching requirement, meaning applicants were not required to contribute additional funds as a condition of receiving the award.

What assistance listing (CFDA) was associated with this grant?

The assistance listing was tied to CFDA 15.224, labeled "Cultural Resource Management."

Who was eligible to apply?

Eligibility was listed as "unrestricted," meaning it was open to any type of entity. The notice also indicated that applicants should review any clarifications provided in the full announcement.

When was the opportunity posted?

The opportunity was posted on June 1, 2015.

What was the application deadline?

The original and current closing date was August 1, 2015.

Is this funding opportunity still open?

No. The opportunity was later archived on May 30, 2016.

Where were applicants directed to find application instructions and the application package?

Applicants were pointed to the full instructions and application package via the "APPLICATION" tab in the posting system.

Who was the grants management contact listed for questions or access issues?

The announcement listed a BLM grants management contact: Sheri Dowley.

What kinds of outcomes did the grant support?

Based on the description, the grant supported responsible curation, legal compliance, and long-term preservation by moving legacy archaeological collections from temporary campus storage into the state's recognized museum repository, where they could be properly preserved, managed, and made available for future research, education, and compliance needs.