Opportunity Information: Apply for P16AS00539
Apply for P16AS00539
- The Department of the Interior, National Park Service in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Research and Preservation on the Trail of Tears National Historic Trail and Santa Fe National Historic Trail" 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 Aug 23, 2016.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Sep 02, 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 $35,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Private institutions of higher education, Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Opportunity Summary:
The grant opportunity titled "Research and Preservation on the Trail of Tears National Historic Trail and Santa Fe National Historic Trail" (Funding Opportunity Number P16AS00539) was offered by the U.S. Department of the Interior through the National Park Service. It was issued under the National Trails Intermountain Region, a program area that coordinates work across a large network of nationally significant routes, including nine national historic trails and one historic highway spanning roughly 24,000 miles across 25 states. The basic purpose of the opportunity was to support practical, on-the-ground and research-driven efforts that help protect, document, and interpret key resources associated with the Trail of Tears National Historic Trail and the Santa Fe National Historic Trail.
This opportunity was structured as a discretionary cooperative agreement rather than a simple grant. In practice, that typically signals a more collaborative relationship between the National Park Service and the recipient, where the agency may remain substantially involved in planning, technical review, coordination, or implementation. The activity category was listed as natural resources, but the description makes clear the work is interdisciplinary and can include cultural resource protection, mapping, historical research, preservation planning, and public education. The National Trails Intermountain Region emphasized its role as a partner and technical resource, working with a wide range of stakeholders to identify significant trail-related resources, support site planning and design, map trail corridors and sites on the ground, and develop educational opportunities that improve public understanding of these historic routes.
Eligible applicants included private institutions of higher education and other entities as referenced in an additional eligibility section (not included in the excerpt). That eligibility framing suggests the program expected proposals from universities and similar research-capable organizations, potentially alongside qualified nonprofits, tribal entities, or other partners depending on the clarifying language in the full notice. The listing is associated with CFDA number 15.945, which corresponds to National Park Service assistance programs that commonly fund preservation, interpretation, and heritage partnership work tied to NPS mission goals.
Financially, the opportunity listed an award ceiling of $35,000. The posting shows "ExpectedAwards: 0," which often indicates the number of awards was not predetermined at the time of posting or that awards would depend on available funds and proposal quality rather than a fixed target. The opportunity was created on August 23, 2016, with an original closing date of September 2, 2016, meaning the application window was short and likely intended for a specific, time-sensitive project or a focused collaboration already under development.
In terms of the work the funding was meant to advance, the description points to a combination of resource identification and documentation (such as locating and recording historic sites, segments, landscapes, and associated features), planning and design support (which can include preservation planning, site stabilization concepts, visitor access planning, or interpretive site layouts), physical or GIS-based mapping of the trail where appropriate, and education-related products or programming. Because both the Trail of Tears and the Santa Fe Trail involve complex, multi-state histories and resources that cross jurisdictional boundaries, the National Park Service emphasis on partnering with community groups, private landowners, nonprofits, tribes, and government agencies is central: many trail resources are not on federal land, and successful preservation and interpretation often depends on coordination, voluntary participation, and shared planning.
Overall, this grant opportunity can be understood as a modestly funded, collaborative National Park Service assistance effort aimed at strengthening research, preservation planning, and public interpretation for two nationally significant historic trails, leveraging the National Trails Intermountain Region staff expertise and partnerships to protect resources and improve how these trail stories are documented and shared.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the title and funding opportunity number for this grant?
The opportunity is titled "Research and Preservation on the Trail of Tears National Historic Trail and Santa Fe National Historic Trail" and the Funding Opportunity Number is P16AS00539.
Which federal agency offered this opportunity?
This opportunity was offered by the U.S. Department of the Interior through the National Park Service (NPS).
What program area within the National Park Service is associated with this funding?
The funding was issued under the National Trails Intermountain Region, which coordinates work across a large network of nationally significant routes, including nine national historic trails and one historic highway spanning roughly 24,000 miles across 25 states.
What is the main purpose of the funding opportunity?
The purpose was to support practical, on-the-ground and research-driven efforts that help protect, document, and interpret key resources associated with the Trail of Tears National Historic Trail and the Santa Fe National Historic Trail.
Which trails are specifically covered by this opportunity?
The opportunity focuses on two routes: the Trail of Tears National Historic Trail and the Santa Fe National Historic Trail.
Is this a standard grant or a cooperative agreement?
It was structured as a discretionary cooperative agreement rather than a simple grant.
What does it mean that the award is a discretionary cooperative agreement?
Based on the description provided, a cooperative agreement typically signals a more collaborative relationship between the National Park Service and the recipient, where the agency may remain substantially involved in planning, technical review, coordination, or implementation.
What activity category was listed for this opportunity?
The activity category was listed as natural resources.
Does the opportunity only fund natural resources work?
No. While it was listed under natural resources, the description indicates the work is interdisciplinary and can include cultural resource protection, mapping, historical research, preservation planning, and public education.
What kinds of projects or tasks were encouraged under this opportunity?
The description points to work such as identifying and documenting trail-related resources, supporting planning and design activities, mapping trail corridors and sites (including GIS-based mapping where appropriate), and developing education-related products or programming.
What types of resources could be included in identification and documentation work?
The opportunity referenced locating and recording historic sites, segments, landscapes, and associated features connected to the trails.
What does "planning and design support" include in this context?
Examples mentioned include preservation planning, site stabilization concepts, visitor access planning, and interpretive site layouts.
Was mapping an eligible or expected component of work?
Yes. The description mentions physical or GIS-based mapping of the trail where appropriate, as well as mapping trail corridors and sites on the ground.
Was public education or interpretation part of the intended outcomes?
Yes. The opportunity included developing educational opportunities and education-related products or programming to improve public understanding of these historic routes.
How does the National Trails Intermountain Region describe its role?
It emphasized serving as a partner and technical resource, working with a wide range of stakeholders to identify significant trail-related resources, support site planning and design, map trail corridors and sites, and develop educational opportunities.
Why does the opportunity emphasize partnerships and coordination?
The description notes that both trails involve complex, multi-state histories and resources crossing jurisdictional boundaries. It also highlights that many trail resources are not on federal land, so preservation and interpretation often depend on coordination, voluntary participation, and shared planning.
Who were the eligible applicants?
Eligible applicants included private institutions of higher education, along with other entities referenced in an additional eligibility section that was not included in the provided excerpt.
Does the excerpt list all eligible entity types?
No. The excerpt indicates there were other eligible entities referenced elsewhere, but that additional eligibility language was not included in the information provided.
Does the opportunity appear oriented toward universities and research-capable organizations?
Yes. The eligibility framing suggests the program expected proposals from universities and similar research-capable organizations, potentially alongside other qualified partners depending on the full notice language.
What CFDA number is associated with this opportunity?
The listing is associated with CFDA number 15.945.
What does the CFDA association indicate about the program purpose?
The provided description states that CFDA 15.945 corresponds to National Park Service assistance programs that commonly fund preservation, interpretation, and heritage partnership work tied to NPS mission goals.
What was the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling listed for this opportunity was $35,000.
How many awards were expected?
The posting shows "ExpectedAwards: 0."
What does "ExpectedAwards: 0" mean here?
As described in the provided information, this often indicates the number of awards was not predetermined at the time of posting, or that awards would depend on available funds and proposal quality rather than a fixed target.
When was the opportunity created and when did it close?
The opportunity was created on August 23, 2016, and had an original closing date of September 2, 2016.
How long was the application window?
Based on the provided dates (August 23, 2016 to September 2, 2016), the application window was short.
Does the short window suggest anything about the nature of the opportunity?
The description suggests it was likely intended for a specific, time-sensitive project or a focused collaboration already under development.
Is the work limited to federal land managed by the National Park Service?
No. The description emphasizes that many trail resources are not on federal land and notes the importance of working with community groups, private landowners, nonprofits, tribes, and government agencies.
What is the overall scope or theme of the opportunity?
Overall, it is described as a modestly funded, collaborative National Park Service assistance effort aimed at strengthening research, preservation planning, and public interpretation for two nationally significant historic trails, leveraging National Trails Intermountain Region expertise and partnerships.
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| Conservation of Channel Islands National Park Botanic Resources Apply for P16AS00564 Funding Number: P16AS00564 Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $750,000 |
| Notice of Intent to Award: The Conservation of Three Historical Cannons, 40 Shells and Treatment for Ordóñez Cannon and its Carriage Apply for P16AS00566 Funding Number: P16AS00566 Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $27,000 |
| Student Intern Support for the Cumberland Piedmont Inventory and Monitoring Network Apply for P16AS00567 Funding Number: P16AS00567 Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $29,000 |
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