Northern Alaska National Historic Landmark Condition and Vulnerability Assessment | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the Northern Alaska National Historic Landmark Condition and Vulnerability Assessment (P13AS00162)?

It is a National Park Service (NPS) notice of intent to award funding for a specific, pre-identified project focused on assessing the condition and vulnerability of a Northern Alaska National Historic Landmark. The notice is informational and is meant to publicly communicate the agency's plan to support the project without full and open competition.

Is this an open grant competition?

No. The posting is explicitly not a request for applications. It is not an open competition and is not inviting proposals from the general public.

Can I apply for this funding through Grants.gov?

No. The notice states it is not a request for applications and indicates there is no application window and no proposal submission process for outside parties, even though it references Grants.gov for additional information.

Why does the NPS say this is "not a request for applications"?

Because the NPS is providing public notice that it intends to make an award for a specific project without conducting a full, open competition. The purpose of the posting is transparency about the agency's intent to fund the work under an existing agreement framework, not to solicit new applicants.

What type of award is planned for this project?

The NPS intends to make the award as a cooperative agreement. This structure is used when the agency expects to have substantial involvement in the project as the work is carried out, typically through close technical coordination and ongoing collaboration.

What does "substantial involvement" mean in this context?

It means the NPS expects to be actively involved in the project during performance, rather than simply providing funds and receiving final deliverables. This is common for work that requires ongoing technical input, shared expertise, or coordinated decision-making.

How will the NPS issue the award?

The announcement states the NPS intends to issue a task agreement under Cooperative Agreement H8W07110001 through the Pacific Northwest Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU).

What is a CESU and why is it being used here?

CESUs (Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Units) are partnership networks that allow federal agencies and partner institutions (often universities and other organizations) to collaborate efficiently on research, technical assistance, and education related to public lands and cultural resources. In this case, the CESU framework is the mechanism being used to carry out the work through existing institutional partnerships.

Which partners are referenced in the notice?

The notice references Portland State University and the University of Alaska Southeast as partners within the Pacific Northwest CESU network tied to this effort.

What is the CFDA number associated with this notice, and what does it represent?

The CFDA listing is 15.945. It covers cooperative research and training programs related to resources of the National Park System.

What topic areas does this work fall under?

The notice places the work under both humanities/cultural affairs and natural resources categories, reflecting a focus on cultural resource stewardship in a northern Alaska setting where environmental conditions and landscape processes can affect historic sites.

How much funding is expected to be awarded?

The estimated total funding amount listed is $50,000.

How many awards does the NPS expect to make?

The expected number of awards is one.

Is there any cost sharing or matching requirement?

No. The notice indicates there is no cost sharing or matching requirement.

Why does the notice show an award ceiling of $0 and an award floor of $0?

Notices like this sometimes list $0 for ceiling and floor because the posting is not structured as a competitive solicitation with variable award sizes. Instead, the intended funding level is communicated elsewhere in the notice as the estimated total funding amount.

When was this opportunity posted and when was it archived?

It was posted on July 26, 2013, and archived on July 29, 2013.

Are there closing dates or an application deadline?

The posting shows closing date fields, but both the original and current closing date language emphasizes that it is not a request for applications. Practically, this means there is no application deadline because there is no application process being opened to outside parties.

Who is listed as an eligible applicant type?

The eligible applicant category is listed as public and state-controlled institutions of higher education. This aligns with the CESU model and the referenced university partners.

Does the eligibility language mean new institutions can apply?

Not in this case. Even though eligibility is listed, the notice is a non-competitive intent to award for a specific, pre-identified project, so the eligibility language is largely formal and does not function as an invitation for additional applicants.

Where can I find additional information about the notice?

The notice points to Grants.gov as the additional information link for the opportunity listing.

Who do I contact if I have questions or access issues?

The notice provides an NPS point of contact: Cameron Reed, phone 415-623-2253, email CameronReed@nps.gov.