Prepare a Multi Park Collections Management Plan and Operations General Agreement(s) for Keweenaw National Historical Park, Apostles Islands National Lakeshore, Isle Royale National Park, and Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1) What is this funding opportunity about?

This notice describes a National Park Service (NPS) cooperative agreement intended to support the preparation of a multi-park Collections Management Plan and related Operations General Agreement(s). The effort covers four NPS units in the Great Lakes region and focuses on how those parks manage museum and archival collections, including documentation, preservation, access, and the formalization of ongoing responsibilities through one or more operational agreements.

2) Which parks are included in the project?

The notice identifies four participating NPS units:

• Keweenaw National Historical Park
• Apostle Islands National Lakeshore
• Isle Royale National Park
• Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

3) What work will be supported by the cooperative agreement?

The work centers on planning and operational coordination for collections activities across the participating parks. Specifically, it supports development of:

• A multi-park Collections Management Plan (CMP)
• Related Operations General Agreement(s) that describe and formalize day-to-day collections responsibilities and expectations

In practical terms, the focus is on how collections are managed, documented, preserved, and made accessible, and how ongoing operations are governed through general agreements across the parks.

4) What is meant by "Operations General Agreement(s)" in this notice?

Based on the notice language, the Operations General Agreement(s) are intended to formalize operational responsibilities and expectations for continuing collections-related work. They serve as guiding documents for ongoing collections activities across the participating parks.

5) Is this an open, competitive grant solicitation?

No. The notice explicitly states it is not a request for applications. It is a notice of intent to make a noncompetitive, single-source award rather than running an open competition.

6) Who will receive the award?

The notice states the award will be made to the University of Arizona.

7) Can other organizations apply?

No. Although the listing may reference broad eligibility categories, the notice explains that this action is a noncompetitive, single-source award and that the named recipient is the University of Arizona. Functionally, other organizations are not being invited to apply under this notice.

8) Why is the award noncompetitive (single-source)?

The notice cites compliance with Department of the Interior policy under 505 Departmental Manual 2.12C, which describes circumstances under which an award can be made without full competition.

9) What funding mechanism is being used?

The opportunity is being issued under the National Park Service Desert Southwest Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) framework and is described as a task agreement award. CESUs are cooperative arrangements used by the Department of the Interior and partner institutions to conduct research, technical assistance, and training in support of public land management.

10) What is the instrument type for this award?

The notice lists the instrument type as a cooperative agreement, and it is described as a discretionary funding opportunity.

11) How many awards does NPS expect to make?

NPS anticipated making one award.

12) What is the estimated total funding amount?

The estimated total funding amount is $27,694.

13) Is cost sharing or a matching contribution required?

No. The notice states that no cost sharing or matching is required.

14) Why are the award ceiling and award floor listed as $0?

The notice shows an award ceiling and floor of $0. As explained in the description, this typically indicates the specific funding amount is handled within the task agreement documentation rather than presented as a competed ceiling/floor range in the public synopsis.

15) What is the program/category information listed for this opportunity?

The activity category is listed under natural resources. The notice references CFDA 15.945, identified as "Cooperative Research and Training Programs - Resources of the National Park System."

16) What are the key dates in the posting?

The notice was posted and created on June 22, 2011. The original and current closing date are both June 27, 2011. The archive date is July 27, 2011.

17) Does the closing date function like an application deadline?

Not in the usual sense. Because the notice is not a competed solicitation and is not a request for applications, the short public window is best understood as a required public posting period for transparency associated with a sole-source intent rather than a true application deadline.

18) Who can be contacted for help accessing the full announcement or for technical issues retrieving it?

The notice lists William Tallbull, Grant/Agreement Specialist, as the point of contact. Phone: 303-969-2891.

19) What is the geographic focus of the work?

The parks covered are identified as being in the Great Lakes region, and the work is multi-park across those four units.

20) What is the practical purpose of the Collections Management Plan described here?

As described in the notice, the plan is intended to guide how the participating parks manage, document, preserve, and provide access to museum and archival collections, with related operational agreements helping define ongoing responsibilities and expectations across the parks.