Opportunity Information: Apply for P15AS00139
Apply for P15AS00139
- The National Park Service in the community development disaster prevention and relief education environment regional development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Cultural Resources, Disaster Resiliency, and Climate Uncertainty Study" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.945 Cooperative Research and Training Programs Resources of the National Park System.
- This funding opportunity was created on May 19, 2015 and posted on May 19, 2015.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 2, 2015. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $30,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $30,000.00 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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Opportunity Summary:
The Cultural Resources, Disaster Resiliency, and Climate Uncertainty Study is a National Park Service (NPS) notice of intent to award funding to the University of Florida under an existing Cooperative Agreement through the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Units (CESU) network. It is not an open grant competition and is not requesting applications; instead, it publicly announces NPS plans to issue a single continuation award without full and open competition. The anticipated award is $30,000, with no cost share requirement, issued as a cooperative agreement (Task Agreement P15AC00725) under CESU Cooperative Agreement H5000105040. The project is managed by University of Florida Principal Investigator Thomas T. Ankersen, with NPS contact June Zastrow. The period of performance runs from the award date through June 30, 2016. The funding is associated with CFDA 15.945 (Cooperative Research and Training Programs - Resources of the National Park System/CESU) and is authorized under 54 USC 100703 and 54 USC 101702(a) (and related cooperative agreement authorities).
At its core, the project responds to a common problem in disaster governance: emergency management and historic preservation staff often only coordinate after a disaster occurs, largely because federal disaster and hazard mitigation funding triggers compliance duties under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act. At the same time, State Historic Preservation Offices are expected to incorporate disaster mitigation into statewide historic preservation plans, but guidance and practical models can be uneven. This study is intended to bridge that gap by producing policy recommendations, best practices, and case studies that help state and local governments weave cultural resource protection into hazard mitigation planning, especially under growing climate uncertainty and sea level rise pressures.
The University of Florida's work plan focuses heavily on Florida as a detailed policy and planning laboratory while also drawing lessons from beyond the state. Major tasks include mapping and explaining Florida's legal and policy framework for hazard mitigation as it relates to cultural resources, including review of key emergency management and mitigation documents (such as the State Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan and Enhanced Hazard Mitigation Plan), and how those state-level policies connect to local mitigation strategies, comprehensive planning, land development regulations, and building codes. In parallel, the study reviews the cultural resource planning framework, looking at the statewide historic preservation plan and local preservation plans to evaluate how, and how well, hazard mitigation is addressed. From that baseline, the project identifies practical opportunities to strengthen cultural resource hazard mitigation through existing planning processes, rather than treating preservation as an after-the-fact compliance step.
A significant part of the scope addresses coastal risk and climate adaptation. The study examines how sea level rise adaptation approaches (generally framed as retreat, accommodation, or protection) line up with flood hazard mitigation policy, and what that means for managing historic sites, districts, and other cultural resources. The project also collects and analyzes examples (not limited to Florida) where cultural resources have been fully integrated into hazard mitigation planning, as well as examples where cultural resources have been successfully mitigated in practice, with the intent of turning these into usable case studies and best-practice guidance rather than purely academic summaries.
Another key element is the relationship between the FEMA Community Rating System (CRS) and local cultural resource management. The study is expected to identify whether CRS offers any existing leverage points that could encourage or reward cultural resource mitigation actions, and where reforms to CRS or local implementation practices might be needed to provide special or additional credit for cultural resource-focused mitigation policies. This is meant to connect preservation outcomes to a widely used floodplain management incentive structure, potentially creating a more durable policy pathway for communities to invest in protecting historic and cultural assets.
The project includes direct, on-the-ground engagement with a specific Florida community: Fernandina Beach, described as having nationally significant cultural resources. The intent is to work with the community to better integrate cultural resources into flood and sea level rise hazard mitigation planning by organizing documentation of relevant resources, assessing risks, and developing a mitigation plan. Lessons from this hands-on effort, combined with the broader research findings, are then used to draft a guidance document tailored for Florida communities on integrating cultural resources into hazard mitigation planning at both the state and local level. The process also includes convening a stakeholder workshop with cultural resource and emergency management participants to present results and gather feedback, followed by revision and finalization of the guidance document and delivery of policy reform recommendations identified throughout the research and engagement.
Because this is issued as a cooperative agreement, NPS is not simply providing funds; it is expected to be substantially involved in the work. NPS responsibilities include collaborating with the University of Florida on study content and outreach tied to NPS cultural resources programs, participating in working groups that shape the final guidance document and policy reform recommendations, helping identify communities and partner organizations so the work reflects a broad range of perspectives, and assisting with developing, editing, and distributing publications to share findings with preservation organizations nationwide.
The justification for awarding without competition is explicitly identified as a continuation action under Department of the Interior single-source policy (505 DM 2). NPS states that competing the work would risk disrupting continuity or completion because it is a continuation of activities already being carried out under the existing CESU cooperative agreement framework. The award also runs through the South Florida Caribbean CESU at a negotiated overhead rate of 17.5%, and NPS notes the project meets CESU requirements related to public purpose, alignment with the CESU network mission, and substantial federal involvement.
FAQs: Cultural Resources, Disaster Resiliency, and Climate Uncertainty Study (NPS / University of Florida)
Is this an open grant competition?
No. This is a National Park Service (NPS) notice of intent to award funding to the University of Florida under an existing Cooperative Agreement through the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Units (CESU) network. It is not requesting applications and is not a full and open competition.
Can my organization apply for this funding?
No. The notice describes NPS plans to issue a single continuation award to the University of Florida without full and open competition.
Who is the intended recipient of the award?
The intended recipient is the University of Florida, under the CESU framework, as a continuation action under an existing cooperative agreement.
What type of funding instrument will be used?
The funding will be issued as a cooperative agreement, specifically a continuation task agreement identified as Task Agreement P15AC00725 under CESU Cooperative Agreement H5000105040.
What is the anticipated award amount?
The anticipated award amount is $30,000.
Is there a cost share or matching requirement?
No. The opportunity description states there is no cost share requirement.
What is the period of performance?
The period of performance runs from the award date through June 30, 2016.
Which federal program listing (CFDA) is associated with this funding?
The funding is associated with CFDA 15.945, described as Cooperative Research and Training Programs - Resources of the National Park System/CESU.
What legal authorities support this award?
The notice cites authorization under 54 USC 100703 and 54 USC 101702(a), along with related cooperative agreement authorities.
Why is NPS making this award without competition?
NPS identifies the action as a continuation award under the Department of the Interior single-source policy (505 DM 2). The stated rationale is that competing the work could disrupt continuity or completion because the activities continue work already underway under the existing CESU cooperative agreement framework.
What is the project trying to solve?
The study responds to a common disaster governance problem: emergency management and historic preservation staff often coordinate only after a disaster occurs, largely because federal disaster and hazard mitigation funding triggers compliance duties under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act. The study aims to help integrate cultural resource protection into hazard mitigation planning earlier and more consistently, especially under climate uncertainty and sea level rise pressures.
What are the main deliverables or outputs expected from the study?
Based on the scope described, the study is intended to produce policy recommendations, best practices, and case studies. It also includes drafting a guidance document tailored for Florida communities on integrating cultural resources into hazard mitigation planning, plus policy reform recommendations identified through research and engagement.
How does Florida fit into the study?
Florida is used as a detailed policy and planning laboratory. The work plan emphasizes mapping and explaining Florida's legal and policy framework for hazard mitigation as it relates to cultural resources, while also drawing lessons and examples from beyond Florida.
What hazard mitigation and emergency management documents are reviewed?
The study includes review of key Florida emergency management and mitigation documents, including the State Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan and the Enhanced Hazard Mitigation Plan, and examines how state-level policies connect to local mitigation strategies and local planning and regulatory tools.
How does the project connect state-level policies to local implementation?
The work plan examines how state hazard mitigation policy connects to local mitigation strategies, comprehensive planning, land development regulations, and building codes, with the goal of identifying practical ways to strengthen cultural resource hazard mitigation through existing planning processes.
What cultural resource planning documents are included in the study?
The study reviews the cultural resource planning framework, including the statewide historic preservation plan and local preservation plans, to evaluate how (and how well) hazard mitigation is addressed.
How does the study address climate change and sea level rise?
A significant part of the scope focuses on coastal risk and climate adaptation. The study examines how sea level rise adaptation approaches (retreat, accommodation, and protection) align with flood hazard mitigation policy and what that means for managing historic sites, districts, and other cultural resources.
Will the study include examples from outside Florida?
Yes. While Florida is a major focus, the project also collects and analyzes examples not limited to Florida, including cases where cultural resources have been fully integrated into hazard mitigation planning and where cultural resources have been successfully mitigated in practice.
Are the case studies intended to be academic or practical?
The described intent is practical: turning examples into usable case studies and best-practice guidance rather than purely academic summaries.
How does the FEMA Community Rating System (CRS) factor into the work?
The study examines the relationship between FEMA's Community Rating System (CRS) and local cultural resource management. It is expected to identify whether CRS provides leverage points to encourage or reward cultural resource mitigation actions, and where reforms to CRS or local implementation practices might be needed to provide special or additional credit for cultural resource-focused mitigation policies.
What is the on-the-ground community engagement component?
The project includes direct engagement with Fernandina Beach, Florida, described as having nationally significant cultural resources. The intent is to help integrate cultural resources into flood and sea level rise hazard mitigation planning through documenting resources, assessing risks, and developing a mitigation plan, then using those lessons to inform broader guidance.
Will there be any convenings or workshops?
Yes. The scope includes convening a stakeholder workshop with cultural resource and emergency management participants to present results and gather feedback, followed by revision and finalization of the guidance document and delivery of policy reform recommendations.
Who is the Principal Investigator (PI) for the University of Florida?
The University of Florida Principal Investigator is Thomas T. Ankersen.
Who is the NPS contact for this project?
The NPS contact identified is June Zastrow.
What does it mean that this is a cooperative agreement?
In this project, a cooperative agreement means NPS is expected to be substantially involved in the work rather than simply providing funds. The notice describes NPS collaboration on study content and outreach, participation in working groups shaping the guidance and policy recommendations, help identifying communities and partners, and assistance developing, editing, and distributing publications.
How will NPS participate during the project?
NPS responsibilities include collaborating with the University of Florida on study content and outreach tied to NPS cultural resources programs, participating in working groups, helping identify communities and partner organizations, and assisting with developing, editing, and distributing publications for broader sharing with preservation organizations nationwide.
Which CESU is associated with this award and what overhead rate is noted?
The award runs through the South Florida Caribbean CESU, and the notice references a negotiated overhead rate of 17.5%.
What is the connection to Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act?
The study is motivated in part by the observation that emergency management and historic preservation coordination often happens only after a disaster because federal disaster and hazard mitigation funding can trigger compliance duties under Section 106. The project aims to integrate cultural resource considerations earlier in hazard mitigation planning.
What kinds of policy improvements is the study aiming to produce?
The described outputs include policy recommendations and policy reform recommendations, along with best practices and guidance intended to help state and local governments better weave cultural resource protection into hazard mitigation planning.
Does the notice say anything about how the project meets CESU requirements?
Yes. NPS notes the project meets CESU requirements related to public purpose, alignment with the CESU network mission, and substantial federal involvement.
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