Archives Cataloging and Preservation for Alaska Park Units | P20AS00043

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).

• 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.

Apply for P20AS00043

[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal: