CESU-Collaborate with the University of West Florida to Develop Mutually Beneficial Learning Experiences in Archaeology | NPS NOI P20AC00470

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1) What is this opportunity?

This is a National Park Service (NPS) Notice of Intent to Award titled "CESU-Collaborate with the University of West Florida to Develop Mutually Beneficial Learning Experiences in Archaeology" (Funding Opportunity Number: NPS NOI P20AC00470). It announces NPS plans to make an award under an existing cooperative agreement rather than opening a new competition.

2) Is this an open funding opportunity that accepts new applications?

No. The notice is explicitly a Notice of Intent to Award and is not an open solicitation. It is not requesting new applications from the public.

3) Who is the intended recipient of the award?

The notice indicates the intended recipient is the University of West Florida.

4) What agreement framework is being used for this award?

NPS plans to issue a task agreement to the University of West Florida through a previously established Master Cooperative Agreement under the CESU framework.

5) What is the main purpose of the planned task agreement?

The planned task agreement is intended to create hands-on, practical learning experiences for students focused on archaeology and cultural resource management, while also supporting stewardship and interpretation of cultural resources at Gulf Islands National Seashore (GUIS).

6) What kinds of student learning experiences are described?

Students are expected to gain direct field and professional experience with core methods used to protect and document archaeological resources, including real stewardship activities tied to archaeological and cultural resource management work.

7) What fieldwork activities are included in the described work?

The work described includes monitoring and surveying archaeological sites, addressing and stabilizing sites that are actively eroding, and making informed choices about materials and approaches used in stabilization and preservation efforts.

8) Does the project include laboratory or documentation work in addition to fieldwork?

Yes. The experience extends into lab and documentation tasks such as cataloging artifacts, analyzing findings, and producing professional-quality reports.

9) What kinds of reports or deliverables are expected?

The notice references professional-quality reports that meet the standards typically required in cultural resource compliance and stewardship settings, along with documentation based on archaeological findings.

10) Which park or site is expected to benefit from this work?

A key emphasis is on benefits to Gulf Islands National Seashore (GUIS), including stewardship actions and improved interpretation and communication of the park's cultural history.

11) How is the public expected to benefit from this project?

The notice describes two main public-facing impacts: improved understanding among interns and the public of cultural resources within GUIS, and an enhanced ability for GUIS to interpret and communicate the park's long human history using archaeological findings and resulting documentation.

12) What is the award mechanism and program category listed in the posting?

The listing classifies the award mechanism as a discretionary cooperative agreement and places it within the "Science and Technology and other Research and Development" activity category.

13) What CFDA number is referenced?

The notice references CFDA number 15.945.

14) What does it mean that the eligible applicants field is "not relevant" here?

Because this is not a competitive call for proposals, the usual eligible applicants concept does not apply in the typical way. The notice states the intended recipient is the University of West Florida.

15) What are the important dates shown, and do they function as application deadlines?

The posting shows a creation date of 2020-04-03 and an original closing date of 2020-04-12. In this context, these dates function as a public notice period rather than a deadline for submitting proposals, since the notice is not requesting applications.

16) Why does the award ceiling show as 0 and expected awards appear blank?

The award ceiling is listed as 0 and expected awards is blank, which can occur in notice-only postings where final funding details may be contained in the attached full announcement or handled internally through the existing cooperative agreement and task agreement process.

17) Is this announcement primarily about transparency rather than competition?

Yes. The announcement is described as a transparency notice: NPS is providing public notice that it plans to fund a specific partner under an existing CESU cooperative agreement to carry out the described work.

18) What types of archaeological resource issues are specifically mentioned?

The notice specifically mentions monitoring and surveying archaeological sites and addressing sites that are actively eroding through stabilization and preservation-related decisions.

19) What skill areas does the project aim to develop for student participants?

The notice highlights developing practical experience with protecting and documenting archaeological resources, conducting field monitoring and surveys, participating in stabilization and preservation decision-making, processing and cataloging artifacts, analyzing findings, and producing professional-standard documentation and reports.

20) How does the project support GUIS interpretation and communication?

By generating archaeological findings and documentation through real stewardship activities, the project is intended to enhance GUIS's ability to interpret and communicate the park's long human history.