Opportunity Information: Apply for P14AS00285
Apply for P14AS00285
- The National Park Service in the community development education humanities (see cultural affairs in cfda) information and statistics sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "HISTORIC RESOURCE STUDY HARRIETT TUBMAN NATIONAL MONUMENT" 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 21, 2014 and posted on Aug 21, 2014.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Sep 4, 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 $94,994.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $94,994.00 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:
This notice describes the National Park Service's intent to make a non-competitive (single-source) cooperative agreement award for a project titled "Historic Resource Study - Harriett Tubman National Monument" (Funding Opportunity Number P14AS00285). It is explicitly not a call for applications; instead, it functions as a public transparency posting that NPS plans to fund a specific recipient without full and open competition. The planned recipient is the Organization of American Historians (a 501(c)(3) nonprofit), with Aidan Smith listed as the principal investigator/program manager. The anticipated total federal funding is $94,994.03 with no cost share requirement, and it is described as a continuation award under an existing cooperative agreement (H2261100002) via a task agreement (P14AC01552). The award instrument is a cooperative agreement, meaning NPS expects substantial federal involvement during the work. The opportunity is listed under CFDA 15.946 (Cultural Resources Management). Key dates in the posting indicate the period of performance running through roughly early fall 2017 (the text references both 09/01/2017 and 10/01/2017 in different places), reflecting that the work was intended to be completed within that timeframe.
The purpose of the funded work is to produce a Historic Resource Study (HRS) for the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Monument, which was created by presidential proclamation on March 25, 2013. The monument covers about 11,750 acres in Dorchester County, Maryland, encompassing landscapes tied to Harriet Tubman's early life and later efforts to guide others to freedom. The notice highlights that the area includes open fields, marshes, and woodlands and references specific associated places such as Stewart's Canal, the Jacob Jackson Home Site, Bucktown Crossroads, Scotts Chapel, and Bazel Church, among others. Because much of Tubman's natal landscape is within the Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service also plays a management role in the broader landscape context. The HRS is framed as an NPS-required cultural resource planning product under NPS Cultural Resource Management Guidelines (commonly referenced as NPS-28): it provides the historical overview and organizes identified cultural resources within appropriate historic contexts. In practical terms, the study is meant to give the park a solid, professional baseline that can be used to guide preservation decisions, resource management priorities, and interpretive programming for the public.
The Organization of American Historians' responsibilities are extensive and cover both scholarly production and public-facing engagement. The recipient is expected to recruit and manage an appropriate scholar or team of scholars to conduct the research and serve as the working liaison with NPS. In coordination with NPS, the recipient must develop a detailed scope of work and ensure the final manuscript meets both the standards of the historical profession and NPS expectations, including managing agency and peer review and providing editorial services. Deliverables include a publication-quality final report made available as a PDF for online access and 25 bound print copies. Beyond the formal HRS, the project also requires an interim interpretive deliverable developed with NPS and the scholars, designed to translate contextual narratives for general and diverse audiences and to help engage stakeholders while the research is underway. The recipient must also take part in a one-day workshop with park staff and community stakeholders to share findings and support integration of the research into park programming. Finally, the OAH is tasked with distributing and promoting the completed study within its membership and professional networks, encouraging use by historians and educators, and highlighting how NPS applies the study in management and planning as part of broader efforts to keep NPS historical practice current and professionally grounded.
On the NPS side, the agency anticipates "substantial involvement," which is why the award is structured as a cooperative agreement rather than a simple grant. NPS will collaborate on the scope of work, participate in selecting the scholar(s), provide access to park records and relevant databases, and orient researchers to park resources and facilities. NPS will also support oral history needs by working with scholars on identifying potential interviewees, review research progress for relevance and quality, and take responsibility for distributing the completed report so it is available to park managers and the general public for planning and management use. NPS will organize the one-day findings workshop with OAH and the scholar(s) and will share and promote the completed HRS with other relevant NPS units. Overall, the notice emphasizes regular, cooperative communication between OAH and NPS to guide the researchers, monitor progress, and adjust priorities as needed.
A major administrative point in the announcement is the justification for awarding the project without competition. Under Department of the Interior single-source policy (505 DM 2), NPS must document why a competitive process is not practicable. Here, NPS cites the "Continuation" criterion, meaning the work is necessary to complete or continue an activity already being funded, and competing it would significantly disrupt continuity or completion. The cited statutory authorities include 16 USC 1(g), which authorizes NPS to enter cooperative agreements with nonprofit organizations to carry out NPS programs using appropriated funds, and a National Historic Preservation Act reference (16 U.S.C. 470 / 110(d)) included in the notice. The point of contact for the announcement is June Zastrow (with phone and email provided), and the posting includes an additional information link directing readers to Grants.gov, consistent with the document's role as a public notice rather than an open funding competition.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1) What is this notice about?
This notice describes the National Park Service's (NPS) intent to make a non-competitive (single-source) cooperative agreement award for a project titled "Historic Resource Study - Harriett Tubman National Monument" under Funding Opportunity Number P14AS00285.
2) Is this a call for applications?
No. The notice is explicitly not a call for applications. It functions as a public transparency posting stating that NPS plans to fund a specific recipient without full and open competition.
3) Who is the planned recipient?
The planned recipient is the Organization of American Historians (OAH), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
4) Who is the listed principal investigator/program manager?
Aidan Smith is listed as the principal investigator/program manager in the notice.
5) What type of award instrument will be used?
The planned award instrument is a cooperative agreement. This indicates NPS expects substantial federal involvement during the work, rather than a hands-off grant relationship.
6) What is the anticipated amount of federal funding?
The anticipated total federal funding is $94,994.03.
7) Is a cost share or match required?
No. The notice states there is no cost share requirement.
8) Is this a new award or a continuation?
It is described as a continuation award under an existing cooperative agreement (H2261100002) via a task agreement (P14AC01552).
9) What program area does this fall under?
The opportunity is listed under CFDA 15.946, Cultural Resources Management.
10) Why is this being awarded without competition?
NPS cites the Department of the Interior single-source policy (505 DM 2) and uses the "Continuation" justification. In other words, the work is necessary to complete or continue an activity already being funded, and competing it would significantly disrupt continuity or completion.
11) What is the main purpose of the funded project?
The purpose is to produce a Historic Resource Study (HRS) for the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Monument. The HRS is framed as an NPS-required cultural resource planning product that provides a historical overview and organizes identified cultural resources within appropriate historic contexts to support preservation decisions, resource management priorities, and interpretive programming.
12) What is a Historic Resource Study (HRS) in this context?
In this notice, the HRS is described as an NPS cultural resource planning product under NPS Cultural Resource Management Guidelines (commonly referenced as NPS-28). It is intended to establish a solid professional baseline of history and context for managing and interpreting park resources.
13) Which site is the HRS focused on?
The work focuses on the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Monument, created by presidential proclamation on March 25, 2013.
14) Where is the national monument located and how large is it?
The monument covers about 11,750 acres in Dorchester County, Maryland.
15) What types of landscapes and resources are included in the monument area?
The notice describes open fields, marshes, and woodlands, and references places associated with Harriet Tubman and related history, including Stewart's Canal, the Jacob Jackson Home Site, Bucktown Crossroads, Scotts Chapel, and Bazel Church, among others.
16) Does any other federal agency have a management role in the broader landscape?
Yes. Because much of Harriet Tubman's natal landscape is within the Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is referenced as having a management role in the broader landscape context.
17) What are the Organization of American Historians (OAH) expected to do?
OAH is expected to recruit and manage an appropriate scholar or team of scholars, coordinate closely with NPS, develop a detailed scope of work, ensure the final manuscript meets professional and NPS standards, manage agency and peer review, and provide editorial services. OAH also has public-facing and engagement responsibilities described in the notice.
18) What are the main deliverables?
Deliverables described in the notice include a publication-quality final Historic Resource Study report made available as a PDF for online access, plus 25 bound print copies.
19) Are there deliverables intended for general audiences while the study is underway?
Yes. The project requires an interim interpretive deliverable developed with NPS and the scholars. It is intended to translate contextual narratives for general and diverse audiences and help engage stakeholders during the research process.
20) Is there a workshop requirement?
Yes. OAH is required to take part in a one-day workshop with park staff and community stakeholders to share findings and support integration of the research into park programming.
21) What responsibilities does NPS have during the project?
NPS anticipates substantial involvement. The notice states NPS will collaborate on the scope of work, participate in selecting the scholar(s), provide access to park records and relevant databases, orient researchers to park resources and facilities, support oral history needs by helping identify potential interviewees, and review research progress for relevance and quality.
22) Who is responsible for distributing the completed report to the public and park managers?
The notice indicates NPS will take responsibility for distributing the completed report so it is available to park managers and the general public for planning and management use. The notice also states OAH will distribute and promote the completed study within its membership and professional networks.
23) How will the completed HRS be shared beyond the immediate park?
The notice says NPS will share and promote the completed HRS with other relevant NPS units. It also states OAH will encourage use by historians and educators through its membership and professional networks.
24) What does "substantial federal involvement" mean here?
Based on the notice, it means NPS is not only funding the work but also actively collaborating on planning (scope of work), selection of scholars, access to records, research orientation, oral history support, progress review, and dissemination of the final product.
25) What are the key dates or period of performance noted?
The posting indicates the period of performance running through roughly early fall 2017. The text references both 09/01/2017 and 10/01/2017 in different places.
26) What legal or policy authorities are cited for this award approach?
The notice references Department of the Interior single-source policy (505 DM 2) for the non-competitive justification, and cites statutory authorities including 16 USC 1(g) (authorizing NPS to enter cooperative agreements with nonprofit organizations using appropriated funds) and a National Historic Preservation Act reference included as 16 U.S.C. 470 / 110(d).
27) Where can someone find additional information referenced by the notice?
The posting includes an additional information link directing readers to Grants.gov, consistent with the document's role as a public notice rather than an open competition.
28) Who is the point of contact listed in the notice?
The point of contact is June Zastrow, with phone and email provided in the notice.
29) What is the overall outcome NPS is trying to achieve with this study?
The notice frames the HRS as a professional baseline intended to guide preservation decisions, set resource management priorities, and strengthen interpretive programming for the public at the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Monument.
30) Will the study involve stakeholder engagement?
Yes. The notice includes a one-day workshop with park staff and community stakeholders, and it also requires an interim interpretive deliverable meant to engage stakeholders while research is underway.
Browse more opportunities from the same category: Community Development Education Humanities (see Cultural Affairs in CFDA) Information and Statistics
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