As a steward of the Nation"s natural and cultural heritage, the primary responsibility of the NPS is to preserve and protect park resources and values.

The NPS actively manages cultural resources in the national park system to meet its statutory responsibility to preserve these resources unimpaired

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for future generations.

The National Park Service (NPS) conducts cultural resource stewardship largely at the park level.

To carry out and further this stewardship responsibility, the Service implements programs that encompass a broad range of research, operational, and educational activities.

The NPS conducts:
• Research to identify, evaluate, document, register, and establish basic information about cultural resources and traditionally associated peoples;
• Planning to ensure that management processes for making decisions and setting priorities integrate information about cultural resources, and provide for consultation and collaboration with outside entities; and
• Stewardship to ensure that cultural resources are preserved and protected, receive appropriate treatments (including maintenance), and are made available for public understanding and enjoyment.



This work is conducted at all units of the NPS and helps to perpetuate resources and allows for their continued appreciation, understanding, and enjoyment.

The solicitation, award and administration of Cooperative Agreements is done on a project by project bases generally at the park level.

Additionally, the National Park Service is authorized by Congress as the principal federal agency to lead the Nation"s efforts in historic preservation, providing for the identification, documentation, registration of, treatment of, and preservation planning for, the nation"s historic and cultural resources.

The National Park Service is directed by Congress and the National Historic Preservation Act to administer programs and partnerships with State, Tribal, and Local governments and nonprofit organizations.

Fiscal Year 2010: Not Applicable, new program (2011). Fiscal Year 2011: Not Applicable, new program (2011). Fiscal Year 2012: No Current Data Available

Uses and Use Restrictions

Funds used for all aspects of cultural resource stewardship activities, including but not limited to inventory, monitoring, research, rehabilitation, reconstruction, restoration, preservation, documentation, data recovery, education, and climate change mitigation and adaptation.

The Secretary of Interior must determine that appropriations for the purpose of cooperative management of projects are available and an agreement is in the best interests of the United States.

Funds may not be used for acquisition of real property.

For further information, please contact the regional office.

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Eligibility Requirements

Applicant Eligibility

Generally, applicant entity must have expertise in the contemplated resource management and/or research project.

Applicant eligibility will be specified in the Funding Opportunity Announcement, if applicable.

Beneficiary Eligibility

State and local governments, Federal recognized Indian Tribal governments, nonprofit organizations, educational or scientific institutions, associations, individuals and in some cases corporations.

Credentials/Documentation

Will be specified in the Funding Opportunity Announcement, if applicable. OMB Circular No. A-87 applies to this program.

Aplication and Award Process

Preapplication Coordination

Preapplication coordination is required.

Environmental impact information is not required for this program.

This program is excluded from coverage under E.O.

12372.

Application Procedures

OMB Circular No. A-102 applies to this program. OMB Circular No. A-110 applies to this program.

Award Procedures

Projects are identified and awarded based on priorities of the agency and available funding. Will be specified in the Funding Opportunity Announcement, if applicable.

Deadlines

Contact the headquarters or regional office, as appropriate, for application deadlines.

Authorization

Historic Sites Act 16 U.S.C.462e & 464; Archeological and Historic Preservation Act 16 U.S.C.469b1; National Historic Preservation Act 16 U.S.C.470a(b)6, 470w-7(b)2Biv, 470w-5(a), & 470a(d)4; Cooperative Agreements, 16 U.S.C. 1g: Omnibus Parks and Public Lands Management Act of 1996, Public Law 104-333; Research and Training 16 U.S.C. 1a-2j; Cost Sharing, 16 U.S.C. 1f; Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009, Public Law 111-11.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time

Generally 30- 120 days.

Appeals

Will be specified in the Funding Opportunity Announcement, if applicable.

Renewals

Recipients may request renewal of existing projects or additional projects to meet program goals and objectives. NPS will make awards based on mission needs and priorities. Renewals are contingent upon available appropriations to the program, and applicable regulations.

Assistance Considerations

Formula and Matching Requirements

Statutory formulas are not applicable to this program.
Matching Requirements: Recipients may share some project or program costs. The cost-sharing arrangements are developed between NPS and the recipients in advance of the program unless otherwise stated by Congress.
MOE requirements are not applicable to this program.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance

Will be specified in the Funding Opportunity Announcement, if applicable. See the following for information on how assistance is awarded/released: Will be specified in the Funding Opportunity Announcement, if applicable.

Post Assistance Requirements

Reports

Program reports are not applicable.

Cash reports are not applicable.

Unless otherwise specified in the award, additionally, all organizations will be required to submit a yearly narrative summary accomplishment reports to the National Park Service at the end of each project year.

Specific projects or activities for which funds are advanced shall be tracked and reported by submittal of, Standard Form 270, Request for Advance or Reimbursement, and a quarterly or annual submittal of Standard Form 425, the Financial Report .

All projects and activities are monitored for progress and compliance within the agreed upon scope of work and in accordance with 43 CFR Part 12.

Specific requirements will be specified in the Funding Opportunity Announcement.

Audits

In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 27, 2003), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $500,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $500,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133.

Records

Recipients will maintain records in accordance with the provisions of 43 CFR Part 12 and all other requirements specified in the Funding Opportunity Announcement and Cooperative Agreement.

Financial Information

Account Identification

14-1036-0-1-303 - Operation of the National Park System; 14-5140-0-2-303 - HPF; 14-1042-0-1-303 - NR&P.

Obigations

(Cooperative Agreements (Discretionary Grants)) FY 10 $0; FY 11 $0; FY 12 $1,000,000

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

Information not available, new program.

Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature

Recipients of awards will comply with the applicable OMB Circular and DOI Regulations governing Financial Assistance awards at 43 CFR Part 12

Information Contacts

Regional or Local Office

See Regional Agency Offices.

Headquarters Office

Stephanie Toothman U.S. Department of the Interior, Main Building, 1849 C Street NW, Room #2737 , Washington , District of Columbia 20240 Phone: 202 2087625

Criteria for Selecting Proposals

Specific criteria will be developed based on the objectives of individual projects and will be provided in Funding Opportunity Announcements. Generally, relevance to agency program mission and qualification of principle investigator and institution will be important to the acceptance of proposals.