Opportunity Information: Apply for P16AS00160
Apply for P16AS00160
- The DOI-NPS in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Expand Visitor and Public Involvement in Park Museum Collections and Materials" 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 May 11, 2016 and posted on May 11, 2016.
- Applicants must submit their applications by May 23, 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 $107,400.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education.
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Opportunity Summary:
The funding opportunity titled "Expand Visitor and Public Involvement in Park Museum Collections and Materials" (Funding Opportunity Number P16AS00160) is a discretionary cooperative agreement offered by the U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service (DOI-NPS) under CFDA 15.945, within the Natural Resources funding activity category. The focus of the project is practical and collections-centered: it is designed to keep moving forward on the cataloging and documentation of a very large existing backlog of park museum holdings and archival materials. The park is dealing with a substantial volume of items, described as more than 379,000 museum collection objects and related archival materials, and the grant supports continued efforts to bring those materials under better intellectual and physical control through systematic cataloging.
Beyond the basic cataloging work, the opportunity emphasizes a public-facing and educational purpose. A key secondary objective is to expand access to the park's collections so they can be meaningfully used by visitors, scholars, and park staff. That includes enabling personal research by members of the public, scholarly research by academics and specialists, and internal research or interpretive work by staff. In other words, the project is not just about inventorying items for recordkeeping; it is also about making the collection more discoverable and usable, which can lead to better interpretation, education, and resource stewardship. By improving catalog records and organizing archival materials, the project lays the groundwork for easier reference, improved research support, and more informed decision-making related to exhibits, interpretation, and preservation.
The opportunity also highlights workforce development and training in museum and curatorial practice. It is structured to provide a training environment for undergraduate and graduate students in the curatorial arts, giving students hands-on experience with real museum and archival workflows. While the announcement does not list specific tasks in the excerpt provided, the described aim suggests activities commonly associated with cataloging and making collections accessible, such as creating or enhancing object records, organizing and describing archival groups, and improving the usability of collection information for research and visitor engagement. The cooperative agreement structure typically indicates that the federal agency anticipates substantial involvement during the project, such as collaboration on methods, standards, priorities, and oversight aligned with National Park Service museum and archival requirements.
Eligibility is limited to public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, which aligns with the student-training goal and signals that universities or similar public higher-education entities are the intended partners. The opportunity was posted on May 11, 2016, created the same day, and had an application deadline of May 23, 2016. The award ceiling is listed as $107,400. The listing shows "Expected Awards: 0," which can appear in postings for various administrative reasons and does not necessarily describe the practical intent of the program, but it is part of the posted metadata. Overall, the grant is aimed at improving stewardship and accessibility of a major park collection by reducing cataloging backlogs while also expanding public, scholarly, and staff engagement with those resources and creating structured learning opportunities for emerging museum professionals.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the title of this funding opportunity?
The funding opportunity is titled "Expand Visitor and Public Involvement in Park Museum Collections and Materials".
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON)?
The Funding Opportunity Number is P16AS00160.
Which federal agency is offering this grant?
This opportunity is offered by the U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service (DOI-NPS).
What type of award is this?
The opportunity is a discretionary cooperative agreement. This typically means the National Park Service expects to be substantially involved in the project (for example, collaborating on methods, standards, priorities, and oversight aligned with NPS museum and archival requirements).
What CFDA number is associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is listed under CFDA 15.945.
What funding activity category does this opportunity fall under?
The listing places this opportunity within the Natural Resources funding activity category.
What is the main purpose of the project?
The primary focus is practical and collections-centered: to continue moving forward on systematic cataloging and documentation of a large existing backlog of park museum holdings and related archival materials, improving both intellectual and physical control of those materials through cataloging.
What problem or need is this grant trying to address?
The park has a substantial backlog and volume of materials to manage, described as more than 379,000 museum collection objects and related archival materials. The grant supports efforts to bring these materials under better control through improved cataloging and documentation.
Is this opportunity only about cataloging, or is there a public benefit component?
It is not only about recordkeeping. A key secondary objective is to expand access to the park's collections so they can be meaningfully used by visitors, scholars, and park staff, supporting education, interpretation, research, and stewardship.
Who is expected to benefit from improved access to the collections?
The described beneficiaries include:
- Members of the public conducting personal research
- Academics and specialists conducting scholarly research
- Park staff conducting internal research or interpretive work
How does cataloging support visitor engagement and education?
By improving catalog records and organizing archival materials, the project lays groundwork for collections to be more discoverable and usable. This can support improved reference, better research support, and more informed decisions related to exhibits, interpretation, education, and preservation.
What kinds of activities does the opportunity appear to support?
While specific tasks are not listed in the excerpt, the stated aims suggest activities commonly associated with cataloging and access, such as:
- Creating or enhancing museum object records
- Organizing and describing archival materials or archival groupings
- Improving the usability of collection information for research and visitor engagement
- Continuing systematic work to reduce cataloging backlogs and improve control of holdings
Does the opportunity include student training or workforce development?
Yes. The opportunity highlights workforce development and training in museum and curatorial practice and is structured to provide a training environment for undergraduate and graduate students in the curatorial arts, with hands-on experience in real museum and archival workflows.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is limited to public and state-controlled institutions of higher education.
Why does eligibility focus on public and state-controlled higher education institutions?
Based on the description provided, this limitation aligns with the opportunity's student training goal and indicates that universities or similar public higher-education entities are the intended partners for carrying out the cataloging and access work while providing hands-on curatorial training.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling is listed as $107,400.
When was this opportunity posted?
The opportunity was posted on May 11, 2016 (and created the same day, according to the listing metadata).
What was the application deadline?
The application deadline was May 23, 2016.
What does "Expected Awards: 0" mean in the listing?
The listing shows "Expected Awards: 0". As noted in the opportunity description, that value can appear for various administrative reasons and does not necessarily reflect the practical intent of the program, but it is part of the posted metadata.
How does the cooperative agreement structure affect the project?
Because the award is a cooperative agreement, the National Park Service typically anticipates substantial involvement during the project. The description suggests involvement such as collaboration on project methods, cataloging standards, prioritization of work, and oversight consistent with NPS museum and archival requirements.
What is the overall goal of the grant in plain terms?
Overall, the grant is aimed at improving stewardship and accessibility of a major park museum and archival collection by reducing cataloging backlogs, expanding public and scholarly access, supporting park staff research and interpretation, and providing structured learning opportunities for emerging museum and curatorial professionals.
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