THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR APPLICATIONS- Comprehensive Archeological Inventory of Ruddick's Field within Pea Ridge National Military Park- THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR APPLICATIONS | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Is this an open grant competition or a request for applications?

No. Although it is presented in a grant-opportunity format, the notice explicitly indicates it is not a request for applications. That typically means it is a pre-arranged, partner-specific cooperative agreement rather than an open competition.

What federal agency is issuing this funding notice?

The notice is issued by the U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service (DOI-NPS).

What type of award instrument is being used?

The award is described as a discretionary cooperative agreement. Cooperative agreements generally involve substantial federal involvement and collaboration during the project, rather than a more hands-off grant structure.

What is the purpose of the project described in the notice?

The project supports an ongoing, multi-year archeology effort at Pea Ridge National Military Park in Arkansas. The central purpose is to carry out a comprehensive archeological inventory in targeted areas of the park, with particular attention to resources tied to the historic community of Leetown and associated cultural features.

Which park and location does the project focus on?

The work is focused on Pea Ridge National Military Park in Arkansas, specifically in targeted areas connected to the historic community of Leetown.

How long is the overall effort expected to last, and what year of work is this notice describing?

The notice frames the work as the second year of a planned four-year project.

Who are the main partners involved in carrying out the work?

The collaboration includes the NPS Midwest Archeological Center, Pea Ridge National Military Park staff, and the Arkansas Archeological Survey (ARAS). The partnership operates under the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Units (CESU) program.

What is CESU and how is it relevant to this project?

The Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Units (CESU) program is commonly used to support cooperative research, technical assistance, and public-benefit projects involving federal agencies and research partners. In this notice, CESU is the partnership structure supporting the fieldwork and analysis at Pea Ridge National Military Park.

What is the central archeological focus (what is being documented)?

The central goal is to document Leetown and its associated cultural landscape through an archeological inventory, and to determine how much of the site still contains intact subsurface deposits that can meaningfully inform the park's historical understanding and interpretation.

What kinds of cultural features are included in the Leetown landscape?

Leetown is treated as a broader cultural landscape rather than a single point location. The notice references feature types including the Leetown cemetery and historic road alignments, among other potential archeological signatures.

Why is the condition and integrity of subsurface deposits important in this project?

Determining integrity helps the project team understand what remains intact versus what has been disturbed. This, in turn, helps identify where the most significant archeological information is likely to be preserved and where findings can support reliable historical conclusions.

What are the four main performance goals for year two?

Year two includes four primary goals: (1) investigate the cultural landscape of mid-to-late 19th-century Leetown; (2) use targeted, multi-sensor geophysical methods to locate subsurface cultural anomalies; (3) evaluate the interpretive potential and integrity of identified subsurface deposits; and (4) prepare recovered artifacts for analysis and conduct a preliminary analysis.

What time period is emphasized for the year-two landscape investigation?

The notice specifically highlights mid-to-late 19th-century Leetown as the focus for the cultural landscape investigation during year two.

What does the notice mean by "multi-sensor geophysical methods"?

Based on the notice, this refers to non-invasive geophysical approaches used to detect and precisely locate subsurface cultural anomalies, which may indicate buried features or patterns associated with past human activity.

What are "subsurface cultural anomalies" in the context of this project?

They are geophysically detected patterns or signals that may correspond to buried cultural features such as structures, activity areas, graves, roads, refuse deposits, or other archeological signatures mentioned in the notice.

Are there specific priority targets for the geophysical work?

Yes. The notice highlights the cemetery and former road locations as priority targets for the targeted geophysical investigation.

Will the work include excavation, or is it entirely non-invasive?

The year-two goals combine non-invasive technology with selective excavation. The notice indicates targeted geophysics and an evaluation of deposits, alongside preparation and analysis of any recovered artifacts, which implies at least some selective recovery/excavation consistent with identifying and evaluating subsurface deposits.

What does "interpretive potential" mean in this notice?

In the notice, interpretive potential refers to whether identified subsurface deposits are sufficiently intact, datable, and informative to support reliable historical conclusions and improved public interpretation at the park.

What happens to artifacts that are recovered during the project?

The notice states that recovered artifacts will be prepared for analysis and that a preliminary analysis will be conducted, beginning the process of organizing discoveries into data suitable for comparison, interpretation, and reporting.

How will the results be used by the National Park Service?

The stated purpose includes producing stronger evidence about what happened in and around Leetown so the park can improve historical interpretation for visitors, both on-site and within the Visitor Center exhibits and programming. The results also support better-informed preservation decisions.

What are the key administrative identifiers for this opportunity?

The opportunity number is NPS NOIP15AC01596. It is tied to CFDA 15.945.

What activity categories does the notice list for this work?

The activity categories span education/humanities/cultural affairs and science and technology research and development, reflecting both cultural resource stewardship/historical research and technical field methods.

What are the posting date, creation date, and closing date shown in the notice?

The posting and creation dates are February 19, 2016, and the closing date is February 29, 2016.

How many awards are expected and what is the funding ceiling?

The listing anticipates a single award, with an award ceiling of $200,000.

Who is eligible to apply, based on the eligibility field?

Eligibility is listed broadly as "Others." However, the notice also indicates it is not a request for applications, which aligns with the likelihood that a specific partner entity was intended for the cooperative agreement.

Why would a notice be posted if it is not a request for applications?

Based on the description provided, the notice functions as a formal public description of a continuing, collaborative archeological research and resource management effort, even though it is not inviting applications from the general public.

What is the overall intended outcome of this cooperative agreement?

The intended outcomes include new archeological data; mapped and inventoried cultural features; verified understanding of what remains intact below ground; curated artifacts and records prepared for analysis; and improved preservation decisions and historical storytelling about Leetown grounded in documented evidence.