Develop and Implement Educational Needs Assessment for Antietam National Battlefield | P19AS00044

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the "Develop and Implement Educational Needs Assessment for Antietam National Battlefield" funding opportunity?

It is a National Park Service (NPS) discretionary funding opportunity under the U.S. Department of the Interior focused on designing and carrying out an educational needs assessment for Antietam National Battlefield. The intent is to generate practical findings that help improve education and interpretation connected to the park's cultural, historic, and educational resources.

Which federal agency is offering this opportunity?

The opportunity is offered by the National Park Service (NPS), within the U.S. Department of the Interior.

What type of award is this (grant, contract, or something else)?

This opportunity is offered as a cooperative agreement rather than a standard procurement contract. That means it is framed as a collaborative project supporting a public purpose, rather than the federal government purchasing a product or service for its direct internal use.

What does "cooperative agreement" mean in this context?

In this context, a cooperative agreement signals that the project is intended to be a partnership-style effort aimed at public benefits. The work is positioned to strengthen public education and stewardship related to Antietam National Battlefield and the broader National Park System, rather than producing a deliverable solely for government internal operations.

What is the main purpose of the project?

The core purpose is to develop and implement an educational needs assessment for Antietam National Battlefield. The resulting information is meant to be usable for improving educational and interpretive programming and materials connected to the site.

What is an educational needs assessment (as described in the opportunity)?

Based on the description provided, an educational needs assessment typically examines what audiences currently know, what they want to learn, what barriers prevent participation, and what gaps exist in current educational or interpretive programming and materials.

What kinds of questions or topics might the needs assessment address?

The opportunity frames a needs assessment around audience knowledge, learning interests, participation barriers, and interpretive or educational gaps. It is oriented toward understanding how people learn about the park's resources and how educational offerings could be improved.

What outcomes does the NPS want from this project?

The opportunity emphasizes outcomes that improve public understanding of national parks and strengthen education and stewardship. It also stresses that findings, products, and/or services should be shared broadly so that results reach beyond the immediate partner group.

Is the project expected to improve education and interpretation at Antietam National Battlefield?

Yes. The project is described as a targeted research and planning effort intended to improve educational effectiveness and interpretive approaches related to the park's cultural, historic, and educational resources.

How does this opportunity relate to public understanding of national parks?

A major theme is increasing public understanding of national parks by promoting and improving how people learn about the park's cultural and educational resources, including history, preservation, and the significance of protected places.

Is sharing results (dissemination) a required or expected part of the project?

Dissemination is strongly emphasized. The opportunity states that information, products, and/or services created through the project should be shared through multiple strategies so the results extend beyond the immediate partners and contribute to public awareness and stewardship.

What kinds of deliverables are implied by the description?

The notice does not lay out a detailed scope of deliverables, but it does indicate the project should produce usable findings and share information, products, and/or services through multiple dissemination strategies. Examples implied include research findings and educational resource information that can inform interpretive approaches and engagement strategies.

Does the opportunity emphasize student involvement?

Yes. Workforce development and experiential learning are major components, with an emphasis on providing undergraduate and graduate students meaningful, hands-on experience in real park settings through the cooperating organization.

What types of student experiences does the opportunity aim to support?

The project is described as providing hands-on experience in real park settings, allowing students to engage directly with natural, cultural, and/or historical resource projects. It also mentions exposure to professional work in public history, interpretation, education, or related research fields.

How does the NPS benefit from student involvement if the award is not a procurement?

The NPS is described as benefiting indirectly because student-supported work can contribute to resource conservation and protection and to improved educational programming, while the primary framing remains a broader public-purpose collaboration.

Does the opportunity aim to create long-term civic or professional engagement?

Yes. An intended outcome is to encourage longer-term civic and professional involvement in cultural and historical resource protection by engaging students and partners in park-based projects.

Who else benefits from the project besides the park and students?

The description identifies broader beneficiaries such as the education community and researchers outside the NPS, particularly through the creation of new knowledge and the dissemination of results that can inform educational resources and interpretive strategies for park audiences.

What is the Funding Opportunity Number?

The Funding Opportunity Number is P19AS00044.

What CFDA number is associated with this opportunity?

The opportunity is associated with CFDA 15.945.

What activity category is this opportunity listed under?

It falls under the Science and Technology and other Research and Development category, reflecting its assessment and research-oriented nature.

What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?

The award ceiling is $34,401.

How many awards was the NPS expecting to make?

The NPS anticipated making a single award.

When was the opportunity posted and when did it close?

It was posted on March 5, 2019, and had an original closing date of March 15, 2019.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is listed broadly as "Others." The notice indicates applicants should refer to additional eligibility language in the full announcement for clarification on which organizations can apply.

Is this opportunity more like research and planning or construction and operations?

It is described as assessment and research-oriented (Science and Technology and other Research and Development), focused on needs assessment, learning gaps, and educational improvement rather than construction or routine operations.

Is the intent to produce a one-time report for internal government use?

No. The description explicitly frames the emphasis as producing knowledge, tools, and engagement benefits that advance public education and stewardship, with an expectation that results and products are shared beyond the immediate partner group.

What site is the project focused on?

The project is specifically focused on Antietam National Battlefield, while also supporting broader goals connected to the wider National Park System.