Increase Accountability of Public Access to Bureaus' Museum Tree-Ring Specimens | P18AS00116

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the title and funding opportunity number for this grant?

The opportunity is titled "Increase Accountability of Public Access to Bureaus' Museum Tree-Ring Specimens" and the Funding Opportunity Number is P18AS00116.

Which agency is offering this opportunity?

This is a Department of the Interior opportunity administered by the National Park Service as a discretionary funding program.

What type of award instrument is used?

The program is offered through a cooperative agreement, which typically means the federal agency expects substantial involvement during the project (for example, coordination on standards and periodic review of progress).

What is the primary focus area of the project?

The project focuses on natural resources and is centered on museum tree-ring related holdings, with an emphasis on accountability, organization, and public accessibility.

What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?

The opportunity is tied to CFDA number 15.945.

What collection or location is referenced for the inventory and cataloging work?

The work involves bureau collections located at LTRR, where a large volume of tree-ring related specimens are housed.

What is the main purpose of the project?

The purpose is to improve accountability, organization, and public access to museum tree-ring specimens by systematically inventorying and cataloging a large volume of holdings, standardizing identification and documentation, and making records discoverable through modern cataloging systems and online access points.

What are the key deliverables described in the notice?

Key deliverables include: (1) conducting an inventory using existing, already-developed protocols and templates (updated as needed), (2) entering information for an estimated 71,000 archeological and natural history specimens into a web-accessible catalog, (3) linking catalog records to centralized scientific data repositories, and (4) formally cataloging the specimens into ICMS to ensure they are tracked in an established Interior collections management system.

Approximately how many specimens are expected to be entered into the web-accessible catalog?

The notice estimates entry of information for approximately 71,000 archeological and natural history specimens.

Is the web-accessible catalog intended to be a standalone database?

No. The catalog is intended to be connected to centralized scientific data repositories so that specimen records can be linked with broader research data ecosystems.

What does the opportunity mean by improving "public access"?

Public access is addressed by publishing specimen records online for discovery and research use, increasing visibility and discoverability of the collection through web-accessible cataloging and linked repository connections.

What does ICMS refer to in the context of this project?

ICMS is described as an Interior collections management system used for formal cataloging so the holdings are tracked in an established system rather than scattered or inconsistent local documentation.

What does the project require regarding protocols and templates?

The awardee is expected to use existing, already-developed protocols and templates to conduct the inventory and cataloging work, updating them when needed to support the project goals.

Does the project expect process improvements during the work?

Yes. The notice emphasizes joint evaluation and ongoing refinement of specimen identification and processing methods to improve efficiency and maintain consistent data quality over the course of the project.

What kinds of workflow refinements are implied by the notice?

Examples implied include developing clearer decision rules for specimen classification, standardizing metadata fields, improving handling of legacy labels or incomplete provenance information, and tightening quality control steps so the resulting records are reliable and usable.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is limited to public and state-controlled institutions of higher education.

How many awards are anticipated?

The notice indicates a single anticipated award.

What is the maximum (ceiling) amount that may be awarded?

The award ceiling is $409,634.

What kinds of staff or expertise does the notice suggest are relevant?

Because eligibility is limited to public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, the notice frames the work as leveraging university-based expertise and staffing such as museum studies professionals, collections managers, archaeologists, dendrochronologists, data managers, and trained student assistants.

What level of federal involvement should applicants expect under a cooperative agreement?

The notice suggests substantial agency involvement, often including coordination on standards, periodic progress review, and alignment with bureau requirements for museum documentation and public access.

When was the opportunity created and when did it close?

The notice states the opportunity was created on April 6, 2018, with an original closing date of April 15, 2018.

How long was the application window based on the dates provided?

Based on the posted creation date (April 6, 2018) and the closing date (April 15, 2018), the application window was very short.

What is meant by "collections accountability" in this project?

In the context of this notice, collections accountability is addressed through systematic inventorying, standardized identification and documentation, formal cataloging into ICMS, and improving organization so specimens are consistently tracked rather than managed through scattered or inconsistent local records.

What is the overall theme of the project in one sentence?

It is a large-scale collections accountability and digitization initiative to inventory and standardize documentation for museum tree-ring related specimens, publish records online linked to scientific repositories, and ensure formal tracking in ICMS.