Sitka National Historical Park Scholars In Parks Program | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the Sitka National Historical Park Scholars in Parks Program funding opportunity?

It was a National Park Service (NPS) discretionary funding opportunity intended to strengthen Sitka National Historical Park (Sitka NHP) history and scholarship work, with a specific focus on Russian America and Sitka's role in Alaska's broader Russian American past.

What problem or need was this opportunity designed to address?

The opportunity was grounded in findings from a recently commissioned Historical Research Plan (Allan 2015), which identified gaps in Sitka NHP's history program. The identified weaknesses included challenges in effectively communicating the history of Russian America to the public, limited engagement with scholars who specialize in Russian American history, and a need to better connect the park's interpretation and research to the larger regional story of Alaska during the Russian America period.

What was the main goal of the cooperative agreement?

The cooperative agreement aimed to move the park toward fixing the gaps identified in the Historical Research Plan by leveraging Sitka NHP's existing strengths, especially its collection of Russian American reference materials and its Congressional designation as the principal location for NPS scholarship on Russian America.

What specific historical focus did the program emphasize?

The program emphasized Russian America and Sitka's role in Alaska's broader Russian American past, with the intent to improve how the park studies, frames, and shares the Russian America story within the context of Alaska history.

What type of award was this: grant or cooperative agreement?

This award was set up as a cooperative agreement rather than a standard grant, signaling a more hands-on partnership between the federal agency (NPS) and the recipient.

What does it mean that the award was a cooperative agreement?

Based on how it was described, the cooperative agreement structure typically indicates a closer, more involved working relationship between NPS and the recipient compared with a standard grant.

What funding activity category and program listing applied to this opportunity?

The funding activity category was listed as Education under CFDA 15.945, titled "Cooperative Research and Training Programs - Resources of the National Park System."

What did the Education category imply for this opportunity?

It reflected an emphasis on research, training, and scholarly engagement in support of the park's mission, particularly around Russian American history and scholarship needs at Sitka NHP.

How many awards were anticipated?

The solicitation anticipated a single award.

Who was eligible to apply?

Although the eligible applicant category broadly included public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, the solicitation explicitly stated that applications would only be accepted from Central Washington University (CWU).

Was this an open, competitive opportunity?

No. In practical terms, it functioned as a notice of intent to award to Central Washington University (CWU), not an open competition among multiple universities.

Why was Central Washington University (CWU) the only applicant accepted?

The announcement tied the purpose of the effort to connecting NPS needs at Sitka NHP with CWU's identified expertise in Russian American history, helping build a stronger pipeline of scholarship and improving the park's ability to interpret and research Russian America within Alaska history.

What was the estimated total funding amount?

The opportunity listed an estimated total funding amount of $44,000.

What were the award floor and award ceiling?

The award floor was $44,000 and the award ceiling was $220,000.

Were cost sharing or matching funds required?

No. The opportunity stated that no cost sharing or matching funds were required, meaning the recipient was not expected to provide a financial match.

When was the announcement posted and when did it close?

The announcement was posted on August 28, 2015, and it closed on September 7, 2015.

When was the opportunity archived?

The archive date listed was September 8, 2015.

What does the short posting window suggest about the solicitation?

The short posting window was consistent with a targeted, institution-specific intent to award, rather than a broad, open solicitation.

Where were applicants directed for additional details?

For additional details, the announcement directed applicants to Grants.gov.

Who was the contact for access issues, and what was the email address?

The listed contact for access issues was Erica Cordeiro at EricaCordeiro@nps.gov.

What park strengths were specifically mentioned as assets to leverage?

The announcement specifically highlighted Sitka NHP's collection of Russian American reference materials and its Congressional designation as the principal location for NPS scholarship on Russian America.

What outcomes was the opportunity trying to support?

Based on the description, the purpose was to strengthen scholarship and improve how Sitka NHP studies, frames, and shares the Russian America story, while also increasing scholarly engagement and better connecting interpretation and research to Alaska's broader Russian America period.