Opportunity Information: Apply for P15AS00344
Apply for P15AS00344
- The National Park Service in the education employment, labor and training science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "NOTICE OF INTENT TO AWARD Preparing National Park Service Records for Improved Public Access" 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 Aug 25, 2015 and posted on Aug 25, 2015.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Sep 8, 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 $287,521.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $287,521.00 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:
This notice is a public announcement that the National Park Service (NPS) intends to make a non-competitive award to Western Washington University (WWU) for a records and archives project called "Preparing National Park Service Records for Improved Public Access" (Funding Opportunity Number P15AS00344). It is explicitly not a request for applications and is posted only to document the governments intent to fund specific activities without opening a competition. The planned award is a cooperative agreement under CFDA 15.945 (Cooperative Research and Training Programs - Resources of the National Park System/CESU), with an anticipated total of $287,521 and no cost share requirement. The agreement and period of performance run from the date of final signature through April 1, 2018. The statutory authority cited includes 54 USC 101702(a) and (b), and 54 USC 100703. The listed point of contact is June Zastrow (303-987-6718, junezastrow@nps.gov).
The core purpose of the project is to make large volumes of NPS natural and cultural resource information easier to find and use by the public, researchers, and park staff. The announcement frames the need around rising public interest in park resources driven by issues like climate change, biodiversity loss, and endangered species concerns, alongside the reality that key supporting data often sits in archival holdings that are unknown, uncataloged, or difficult to access. It also ties the work to NPSs "Gift to the Nation" Centennial effort (around the 2016 centennial), which aims to improve public access to historically significant records, particularly those connected to the National Register of Historic Places and the National Historic Landmarks Program. Those combined programs document more than 90,000 historic properties nationwide, and the project described here focuses on preparing those records so they can be digitized and ultimately made more broadly accessible.
Operationally, the effort is anchored at the NPS Western Archeological and Conservation Center (WACC) in Tucson, Arizona, managed by the NPS Intermountain Region Museum Services Program. WACC holds more than 6 million archival items from about 70 western parks and continues to grow rapidly, with holdings increasing by roughly 750,000 archival items each year. The announcement notes that NPS records management has weakened over recent decades, resulting in fragmented and hard-to-use mixtures of temporary and permanent records, and that more than 40 known agency archives remain uncataloged. Against that backdrop, the WWU-NPS partnership is structured to improve both intellectual control (how records are organized and described) and physical control (how records are housed, labeled, and preserved), which also improves security and long-term preservation.
The work is described as multi-phase, with Phase I funded initially and future phases potentially added later through modifications, depending on funding availability and satisfactory progress. Phase I has two main tracks. First, it covers processing and archival control for an estimated 65 linear feet of NPS archival collections tied primarily to natural and cultural resource management. This includes about 50 linear feet of Water Resources Division archives to be processed, arranged, rehoused, and have metadata developed, and about 15 linear feet of Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park archives to be processed, arranged, rehoused, cataloged, and supported by formal finding aids. Second, Phase I supports the Gift to the Nation digitization pipeline by preparing large bodies of National Register and National Historic Landmark documentation for digitization by the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). That includes sorting approximately 150 linear feet of Determinations of Eligibility (around 240,000 items) by state, creating an inventory covering about 275 linear feet of those records (around 440,000 items), and processing/arranging/rehousing/labeling approximately 650 linear feet of nomination files (estimated at about 1.04 million items). The project also includes handling transfers between NPS and NARA, such as receiving records from NARA and preparing materials for return.
The cooperative agreement structure reflects substantial involvement by NPS staff rather than a simple pass-through grant. WWU is responsible for hands-on archival work: appraising materials, processing and arranging collections into series and file units under approved processing plans, rehousing and labeling materials to archival standards, and cataloging records in the Interior Collections Management System (ICMS) archives module. WWU also develops finding aids in both hard copy and electronic PDF formats and creates metadata spreadsheets for the nomination records following established local protocols to support digitization. A notable component is workforce development: WWU supplies Research Assistants (including graduate students and post-graduates) who get practical training and supervised experience applying professional archival standards and digitization-prep workflows, consistent with WWUs Archives and Records Management graduate program requirements and Society of American Archivists graduate program guidelines (including a 350-hour internship expectation).
NPS responsibilities are equally specific and are centered on oversight, infrastructure, and integration with existing NPS archival systems and standards. NPS selects which collections are addressed, sets schedules, provides training and established processing/cataloging/storage protocols, and reviews the final products (arranged collections, rehousing work, draft catalog records, metadata spreadsheets, and finding aids). NPS also handles pre-processing logistics such as identifying and assembling the relevant collections, ensuring pest mitigation is completed where needed, obtaining accession and catalog numbers, coordinating any necessary changes to processing plans during active work, and providing the physical work environment at WACC (space, equipment, and supplies). NPS assigns a project coordinator to align the WWU teams work on National Register/National Historic Landmark records with parallel work being performed by NPS project archivists, and NPS archivists provide technical assistance throughout.
The award is justified as a single-source, non-competitive action under Department of the Interior policy (505 DM 2) using the "Continuation" criterion. The announcement argues that WWU has already collaborated successfully with the Intermountain Region Museum Services Program for about three years, previously processing, rehousing, and cataloging more than 500 linear feet of park and program records and preparing more than 1,000 linear feet of National Register and National Historic Landmark records for digitization under a prior agreement (P12AC15007). Because the new work continues within the same broad body of collections, uses the same protocols, and in some cases overlaps with portions already being handled under the earlier agreement, bringing in a different partner would disrupt continuity, slow completion, and create inefficiencies. In short, the notice positions WWU as uniquely situated to keep the work moving smoothly because they already understand the collections, the workflows, and the NPS archival standards being applied.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is this a competitive grant opportunity open to applicants?
No. The notice explicitly states it is not a request for applications. It is posted only to document the governments intent to fund specific activities without opening a competition.
Who is the intended recipient of the award?
The National Park Service (NPS) intends to make a non-competitive award to Western Washington University (WWU).
What is the project called?
The project is titled "Preparing National Park Service Records for Improved Public Access."
What is the Funding Opportunity Number?
The Funding Opportunity Number is P15AS00344.
What type of award is planned?
The planned award is a cooperative agreement, which reflects substantial involvement by NPS staff rather than a simple pass-through grant.
What is the CFDA number and program name associated with this award?
The notice lists CFDA 15.945, described as Cooperative Research and Training Programs - Resources of the National Park System/CESU.
How much funding is anticipated?
The anticipated total funding amount is $287,521.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. The notice states there is no cost share requirement.
What is the period of performance?
The agreement and period of performance run from the date of final signature through April 1, 2018.
What statutory authority is cited for this action?
The notice cites 54 USC 101702(a) and (b), and 54 USC 100703 as statutory authority.
Why is the award non-competitive (single-source)?
The notice justifies the action as a single-source, non-competitive award under Department of the Interior policy (505 DM 2) using the "Continuation" criterion. It states WWU has already collaborated successfully with NPS for about three years under a prior agreement, using the same collections and protocols, and that changing partners would disrupt continuity and efficiency.
What prior agreement is referenced as the basis for continuity?
The notice references a prior agreement, P12AC15007, under which WWU previously processed and prepared large volumes of similar NPS records.
What is the main purpose of the project?
The core purpose is to make large volumes of NPS natural and cultural resource information easier to find and use by the public, researchers, and park staff by improving archival organization, description, housing, and digitization preparation.
Why is this work needed according to the notice?
The notice points to rising public interest in park resources (including issues like climate change, biodiversity loss, and endangered species concerns) and explains that key supporting data often sits in archival holdings that are unknown, uncataloged, or difficult to access. It also notes weakening records management over recent decades and that more than 40 known agency archives remain uncataloged.
How does the project connect to the NPS "Gift to the Nation" Centennial effort?
The notice ties the work to NPSs "Gift to the Nation" Centennial effort to improve public access to historically significant records, particularly those connected to the National Register of Historic Places and the National Historic Landmarks Program, by preparing records so they can be digitized and ultimately made more broadly accessible.
Where is the work primarily based?
The effort is anchored at the NPS Western Archeological and Conservation Center (WACC) in Tucson, Arizona, managed by the NPS Intermountain Region Museum Services Program.
What is the scale of archival holdings at WACC?
The notice states WACC holds more than 6 million archival items from about 70 western parks and that holdings continue to grow rapidly, increasing by roughly 750,000 archival items each year.
How is the project structured (phases)?
The work is described as multi-phase. Phase I is funded initially, and future phases may be added later through modifications, depending on funding availability and satisfactory progress.
What are the two main tracks of work in Phase I?
Phase I includes (1) processing and archival control for an estimated 65 linear feet of NPS archival collections tied primarily to natural and cultural resource management and (2) preparing National Register and National Historic Landmark documentation for digitization by the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) as part of the Gift to the Nation digitization pipeline.
What collections are included in the 65 linear feet of archival processing work?
The notice identifies approximately 50 linear feet of Water Resources Division archives and approximately 15 linear feet of Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park archives as the primary components of this track.
What work will be done for the Water Resources Division archives?
About 50 linear feet will be processed, arranged, rehoused, and have metadata developed.
What work will be done for the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park archives?
About 15 linear feet will be processed, arranged, rehoused, cataloged, and supported by formal finding aids.
What digitization-preparation work is described for Determinations of Eligibility?
The notice describes sorting approximately 150 linear feet of Determinations of Eligibility (about 240,000 items) by state, and creating an inventory covering about 275 linear feet of those records (about 440,000 items).
What digitization-preparation work is described for nomination files?
The notice describes processing, arranging, rehousing, and labeling approximately 650 linear feet of nomination files (estimated at about 1.04 million items).
Does the project involve coordination with NARA?
Yes. The notice states the work supports digitization by NARA and includes handling transfers between NPS and NARA, such as receiving records from NARA and preparing materials for return.
What does "improving intellectual control and physical control" mean in this context?
Based on the notice, intellectual control refers to how records are organized and described (including series/file unit arrangement, catalog records, metadata, and finding aids). Physical control refers to how records are housed, labeled, and preserved to archival standards, improving security and long-term preservation.
What are WWUs responsibilities under the cooperative agreement?
WWU is responsible for hands-on archival work, including appraising materials; processing and arranging collections into series and file units under approved processing plans; rehousing and labeling to archival standards; cataloging records in the Interior Collections Management System (ICMS) archives module; developing finding aids in hard copy and electronic PDF formats; and creating metadata spreadsheets for nomination records following established local protocols to support digitization.
What are NPS responsibilities under the cooperative agreement?
NPS selects collections, sets schedules, provides training and established processing/cataloging/storage protocols, and reviews final products (arranged collections, rehousing work, draft catalog records, metadata spreadsheets, and finding aids). NPS also manages pre-processing logistics (identifying/assembling collections, pest mitigation as needed, obtaining accession and catalog numbers, coordinating processing plan changes), provides the work environment at WACC (space, equipment, supplies), and assigns archivists and a project coordinator for alignment and technical assistance.
What system will be used to catalog the records?
The notice specifies cataloging in the Interior Collections Management System (ICMS) archives module.
What formats will finding aids be provided in?
The notice states finding aids will be produced in both hard copy and electronic PDF formats.
Does the project include training or workforce development?
Yes. The notice highlights workforce development through WWU supplying Research Assistants (including graduate students and post-graduates) who receive practical training and supervised experience applying professional archival standards and digitization-prep workflows.
How does this project relate to WWUs academic program expectations?
The notice states the work aligns with WWUs Archives and Records Management graduate program requirements and references Society of American Archivists graduate program guidelines, including a 350-hour internship expectation.
Who is the point of contact for this notice?
The listed point of contact is June Zastrow.
What is the contact phone number and email?
Phone: 303-987-6718. Email: junezastrow@nps.gov.
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