Opportunity Information: Apply for P20AS00043
The funding opportunity titled "Archives Cataloging and Preservation for Alaska Park Units" (Funding Opportunity Number P20AS00043) is a National Park Service cooperative agreement under the U.S. Department of the Interior focused on building hands-on workforce experience in archives work while supporting Alaska-based park units with real archival needs. At its core, the project is designed as a structured, work-based learning arrangement where a student or entry-level professional serves as a research associate and works directly alongside National Park Service (NPS) professional staff. The emphasis is on exposure to complex, real-world archival issues and the kinds of projects that help an emerging professional understand what a long-term career in archives, cultural resources, or related park operations could look like.
A central goal of the agreement is professional development through immersion. Rather than classroom-style training, the selected research associate is expected to learn by doing, taking on assignments that are tied to active NPS work and receiving mentorship and developmental opportunities connected to the specific project they are assigned. While the title centers on archives cataloging and preservation, the opportunity is intentionally broader in terms of the park environment: participants may also gain familiarity with other operational areas, including natural and cultural resource management, reflecting how archival programs in parks often intersect with resource stewardship, compliance, interpretation, and museum or cultural collections functions.
Administratively, this opportunity is categorized as discretionary funding and uses a cooperative agreement instrument, which generally implies substantial involvement by the federal agency in the project through collaboration, guidance, or shared responsibilities during execution. The activity areas listed align with education and workforce development as well as humanities and cultural affairs (CFDA 15.946), which fits the dual purpose of preserving and organizing archival materials while simultaneously training the next generation of professionals.
In terms of eligibility and competition, the notice makes clear that this is not an open solicitation. Although the eligible applicant type is listed as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (other than institutions of higher education), the opportunity is explicitly a notice of intent to award to the Great Basin Institute, and it states that applications will not be accepted from any other entity. The expected number of awards is one, with an award ceiling of $205,000. The opportunity record shows it was created on March 24, 2020, with an original closing date of March 30, 2020, which is consistent with a short window typical of intent-to-award postings that are published for transparency even when the recipient has already been identified.
Overall, the grant can be understood as a targeted partnership arrangement where NPS funds a nonprofit partner to place and support an early-career research associate who will contribute to archives cataloging and preservation work in Alaska park units, while receiving close mentorship and exposure to broader park resource management contexts. The outcome is both practical (progress on archival organization and preservation tasks) and developmental (building a pipeline of trained professionals with direct experience in NPS archival and resource settings).Apply for P20AS00043
- The Department of the Interior, National Park Service in the education, employment, labor and training, humanities (see cultural affairs in cfda) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Archives Cataloging and Preservation for Alaska Park Units" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.946.
- This funding opportunity was created on Mar 24, 2020.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Mar 30, 2020 This is a notice of intent to award to Great Basin Institute. Applications will not be accepted from any other entity.. (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 $205,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the title of this funding opportunity?
The funding opportunity is titled Archives Cataloging and Preservation for Alaska Park Units.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON)?
The Funding Opportunity Number is P20AS00043.
Which federal agency is offering this award?
This is a National Park Service (NPS) cooperative agreement under the U.S. Department of the Interior.
What type of funding is this (grant vs. cooperative agreement)?
The opportunity uses a cooperative agreement instrument. This generally indicates substantial NPS involvement during the project through collaboration, guidance, or shared responsibilities while the work is carried out.
Is this considered discretionary funding?
Yes. The opportunity is categorized as discretionary funding.
What is the main purpose of the project?
The project is designed to do two things at once: (1) support Alaska-based park units with real archival needs, and (2) build hands-on workforce experience in archives through a structured, work-based learning arrangement.
What kind of work does the project focus on?
The core focus is archives cataloging and preservation work for Alaska park units, tied to active National Park Service archival needs.
Who is the intended participant or trainee in this project model?
The project is structured around placing a student or entry-level professional who serves as a research associate and works directly alongside NPS professional staff.
How is the professional development structured?
Professional development is designed to be immersive and work-based. Instead of classroom-style instruction, the research associate is expected to learn by doing, through assignments connected to active NPS work, with mentorship and developmental opportunities tied to the project.
Will the participant only work on archives cataloging and preservation?
Not necessarily. While archives cataloging and preservation are central, the opportunity is intentionally broader in the park environment. Participants may also gain familiarity with other operational areas, including natural and cultural resource management, reflecting how archival programs intersect with park stewardship and related functions.
What kind of real-world exposure is emphasized?
The emphasis is on exposure to complex, real-world archival issues and projects that help an emerging professional understand what a long-term career in archives, cultural resources, or related park operations could look like.
What program areas does this opportunity align with?
The listed activity areas align with education and workforce development as well as humanities and cultural affairs.
What CFDA number is associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity references CFDA 15.946.
Is this an open solicitation where multiple organizations can apply?
No. The notice states this is not an open solicitation.
Are applications accepted from entities other than the named recipient?
No. The notice states that applications will not be accepted from any other entity.
Who is the intended recipient identified in the notice?
The opportunity is explicitly a notice of intent to award to the Great Basin Institute.
What applicant type is listed as eligible?
The listed eligible applicant type is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (other than institutions of higher education).
How many awards are expected?
The expected number of awards is one.
What is the maximum funding amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling listed for this opportunity is $205,000.
When was the opportunity record created?
The opportunity record shows it was created on March 24, 2020.
What was the original closing date shown for the opportunity?
The original closing date shown is March 30, 2020.
Why would there be a short posting window if applications are not accepted?
Based on the provided description, the short window is consistent with intent-to-award postings published for transparency, even when the recipient has already been identified.
Where will the project work take place?
The work is focused on supporting Alaska-based park units.
What is the basic partnership model described?
The opportunity can be understood as a targeted partnership where the National Park Service funds a nonprofit partner to place and support an early-career research associate who contributes to archival work in Alaska park units while receiving close mentorship and broader park operational exposure.
What are the expected outcomes of the project?
The outcomes are both practical and developmental: progress on archival organization and preservation tasks for Alaska park units, and workforce development through training and mentoring an emerging professional in an NPS setting.
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