Long-Term Curation of Reclamation-Controlled Collections and Archaeological Fieldwork for Unanticipated Discoveries of Property Under Reclamation Jurisdiction and Archaeological Fieldwork for Unanticipated Discoveries | BOR GP 17 N008

Opportunity Information: Apply for BOR GP 17 N008

This funding opportunity is a Bureau of Reclamation (U.S. Department of the Interior) discretionary grant notice, issued as a Notice of Intent to make a single cooperative agreement award for work tied to cultural resources stewardship. The project focus is twofold: first, providing long-term curation for archaeological and related heritage collections that are controlled by Reclamation, and second, conducting archaeological fieldwork in cases where unanticipated discoveries are made on property under Reclamation jurisdiction. In practical terms, the opportunity is aimed at ensuring that materials recovered from Reclamation lands or projects are properly preserved, documented, and managed over the long term, while also maintaining the capacity to respond quickly and appropriately when previously unknown cultural resources are encountered during operations, maintenance, or other activities.

The opportunity is identified by Funding Opportunity Number BOR GP 17 N008 and falls under the Humanities activity category (noted as Cultural Affairs in the CFDA context), with CFDA number 15.511. The funding instrument is a cooperative agreement, which typically indicates that Reclamation expects to have substantial involvement in the work beyond simply providing funds, such as coordinating on technical approaches, reviewing deliverables, or aligning field responses with federal compliance obligations. The notice specifies that this is an intent to award to the Institute of the Great Plains, signaling that it is not an open competitive solicitation in the usual sense, but rather a planned award to a named organization for a defined scope of work.

From an operational standpoint, "long-term curation" generally refers to the professional, standards-based care of collections that may include artifacts, field records, photographs, maps, reports, and associated documentation. The goal is to keep these materials stable, organized, and accessible for future research and compliance needs, with appropriate cataloging, conservation measures when needed, and proper storage conditions. The second component, archaeological fieldwork for unanticipated discoveries, points to on-the-ground investigations that occur when cultural items, features, or sites are unexpectedly found, requiring timely evaluation, documentation, and management actions consistent with federal cultural resources responsibilities. Because the lands and properties are under Reclamation jurisdiction, this work supports the bureau's mission by helping ensure compliance and responsible stewardship while projects continue.

The award ceiling listed is $82,739, with one expected award. The posting shows a creation date of August 23, 2017, and an original closing date of September 6, 2017. Eligible applicants are broadly described as state governments, public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, and private institutions of higher education; however, the Notice of Intent language makes clear that the planned recipient is the Institute of the Great Plains. Overall, the opportunity is best understood as targeted support for a specific partner to maintain Reclamation-controlled archaeological collections in long-term care and to provide professional archaeological services when unexpected cultural resource discoveries occur on Reclamation-managed lands or facilities.

• The Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation in the humanities (see cultural affairs in cfda) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Long-Term Curation of Reclamation-Controlled Collections and Archaeological Fieldwork for Unanticipated Discoveries of Property Under Reclamation Jurisdiction and Archaeological Fieldwork for Unanticipated Discoveries" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.511.
• This funding opportunity was created on Aug 23, 2017.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Sep 06, 2017. (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 $82,739.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education.

Apply for BOR GP 17 N008

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