Opportunity Information: Apply for P16AS00270
Apply for P16AS00270
- The Department of the Interior, National Park Service in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Notice of Intent: Promote Research and Preservation on National Park Service Collections" 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 Jun 20, 2016.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 30, 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 $103,307.00 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, Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Opportunity Summary:
The Notice of Intent: Promote Research and Preservation on National Park Service Collections (Funding Opportunity Number P16AS00270) is a National Park Service (NPS) discretionary grant opportunity, offered through a cooperative agreement, that centers on hands-on museum training while directly improving the care and documentation of federally managed collections. The project is based at the Western Archeological and Conservation Center (WACC), a major NPS repository, and is designed to give anthropology, archeology, and museum studies students a structured, museum-focused work experience that complements what they are learning in the classroom. In practical terms, the opportunity funds a program where students learn by doing real collections work under professional guidance, while the NPS benefits from increased capacity to process, stabilize, and properly manage its holdings.
The core purpose of the project is to strengthen preservation and accountability for NPS collections by having student participants carry out essential collections management tasks according to professional standards. Students are expected to perform object cataloging, labeling, and photography, along with rehousing and organizing materials for proper storage. These activities reflect best practices in preventive conservation and collections stewardship, aiming to reduce risks like physical damage, loss of provenience information, or long-term deterioration due to improper housing. Because WACC holds a large and diverse body of material, participants would gain exposure to a wide range of object types and formats, building familiarity with the realities of managing collections at scale rather than only working with small teaching collections.
A major educational component involves research and documentation, not just handling objects. Students are trained to work with archeological field records and other archival sources to verify and reconstruct accurate provenience and associations among objects. This emphasis matters because collections are only as valuable as the information tied to them; linking artifacts to correct excavation records, locations, and related materials is crucial for legitimate research use, interpretation, and responsible stewardship. By strengthening these links, the project supports both internal NPS collections accountability and the broader research potential of the holdings.
The project also highlights a pathway for participants who are considering conservation careers, particularly pre-graduate individuals interested in artifact conservation. Beyond general collections management, students can gain introductory skills related to the conservation and preservation of historic, ethnographic, and archeological materials. The work is framed as an applied training experience that builds a foundation in practical conservation awareness, such as recognizing condition issues, using appropriate handling and storage methods, and understanding how preventive care extends the life and research value of cultural resources.
From a public-purpose standpoint, the opportunity is positioned as supporting government objectives by improving public stewardship of national park resources and developing the next generation of professionals who will care for cultural and natural heritage. The program is meant to increase understanding of the natural and cultural dimensions of national parks by ensuring that objects, specimens, and archives are preserved and accessible for study and interpretation. It also explicitly aims to motivate youth involvement in protecting these resources, tying workforce development to broader civic and educational outcomes. The skills taught are described as transferable, meaning the standards and techniques students practice at WACC can be applied in other museum or repository settings, which strengthens participants long-term employability in both the public and private sectors.
Administratively, the opportunity was issued by the Department of the Interior, National Park Service, with a creation date of June 20, 2016, and an original closing date of June 30, 2016. The program listed an award ceiling of $103,307 and anticipated making one award. Eligible applicants included public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, with additional eligibility possible under the solicitation notes. The funding activity category is Natural Resources and the CFDA number associated with the opportunity is 15.945, indicating alignment with federal assistance programs related to resource stewardship and public benefit.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the funding opportunity called?
The opportunity is titled "Notice of Intent: Promote Research and Preservation on National Park Service Collections" with Funding Opportunity Number P16AS00270.
Which agency is offering this grant?
The grant was issued by the U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service (NPS).
Is this a discretionary grant, and what kind of award is it?
Yes. It is described as an NPS discretionary grant opportunity offered through a cooperative agreement.
What is the main goal of this project?
The project is designed to strengthen preservation and accountability for National Park Service collections by funding hands-on, museum-focused training in which students carry out essential collections management tasks using professional standards.
Where is the project based?
The project is based at the Western Archeological and Conservation Center (WACC), a major National Park Service repository.
Who is the program designed for?
The program is intended for anthropology, archeology, and museum studies students who want structured, museum-focused work experience that complements classroom learning.
What type of experience do students get through this program?
Students learn by doing real collections work under professional guidance, gaining experience with the realities of managing large, diverse federally managed holdings rather than only small teaching collections.
What hands-on collections tasks are students expected to perform?
Student participants are expected to perform object cataloging, labeling, and photography, along with rehousing and organizing materials for proper storage.
How does the project improve care of NPS collections?
By carrying out preventive conservation and collections stewardship activities (such as proper rehousing, organization, and documentation), the project aims to reduce risks like physical damage, loss of provenience information, and long-term deterioration caused by improper housing.
Does the program include research and documentation work, or only object handling?
It includes research and documentation in addition to object handling. Students are trained to work with archeological field records and other archival sources to verify and reconstruct accurate provenience and associations among objects.
Why is provenience and documentation emphasized in this opportunity?
The opportunity notes that collections are only as valuable as the information tied to them. Correctly linking artifacts to excavation records, locations, and related materials is essential for legitimate research use, interpretation, and responsible stewardship.
What kinds of materials might participants work with at WACC?
Because WACC holds a large and diverse body of material, participants may gain exposure to a wide range of object types and formats (the announcement describes the holdings as large and diverse but does not list specific object categories).
Is conservation training part of the program?
Yes. The project highlights a pathway for participants considering conservation careers, particularly pre-graduate individuals interested in artifact conservation.
What conservation-related skills are referenced?
The opportunity describes introductory skills tied to conservation and preservation of historic, ethnographic, and archeological materials, including recognizing condition issues, using appropriate handling and storage methods, and understanding how preventive care extends the life and research value of cultural resources.
How does this opportunity support public benefit or government objectives?
It is positioned as improving public stewardship of national park resources while developing the next generation of professionals who will care for cultural and natural heritage.
How does the project relate to national parks and public understanding?
The project aims to increase understanding of the natural and cultural dimensions of national parks by ensuring objects, specimens, and archives are preserved and accessible for study and interpretation.
Does the program include a youth or workforce development component?
Yes. The opportunity explicitly aims to motivate youth involvement in protecting national park resources and ties workforce development to civic and educational outcomes.
Are the skills gained through the program transferable to other workplaces?
Yes. The opportunity states that the standards and techniques practiced at WACC are transferable and can be applied in other museum or repository settings, supporting long-term employability in both public and private sectors.
What is the funding activity category for this opportunity?
The funding activity category is listed as Natural Resources.
What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The CFDA number is 15.945.
What was the creation date and the original closing date?
The opportunity lists a creation date of June 20, 2016, and an original closing date of June 30, 2016.
How much funding was available (award ceiling)?
The listed award ceiling was $103,307.
How many awards were anticipated?
The announcement anticipated making one award.
Who was eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants included public and state-controlled institutions of higher education. The opportunity also notes that additional eligibility may be possible under the solicitation notes.
What does it mean that the award is a cooperative agreement?
The opportunity describes the award mechanism as a cooperative agreement, indicating a form of federal assistance used for this discretionary grant. (No additional operational details are provided in the excerpt.)
What is the overall practical outcome the NPS expects from funding this project?
Practically, the NPS expects increased capacity to process, stabilize, and properly manage its holdings while improving documentation and strengthening links between objects and their supporting records.
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