Opportunity Information: Apply for P18AS00326
The National Park Service, within the Department of the Interior, offered a discretionary cooperative agreement opportunity titled "Paleo Indian Assessment of the Lakes and Prehistoric Wetlands" (Funding Opportunity Number P18AS00326). The project is centered on White Sands National Monument (WHSA) and targets Paleoindian-era archaeological resources associated with the ancient landscape of Pleistocene Lake Otero, including areas around Lake Lucero and the Alkali Flats. The opportunity reflects a need to better document and understand early human use of this basin-and-shoreline environment, especially where cultural materials appear to cluster along former lake margins and prehistoric drainage systems.
The core problem the grant aims to address is that, even though Paleoindian cultural sites are already known in the monument, the overall footprint of the site distribution has not been fully mapped, and not all cultural features have been identified or properly recorded. Sites are described along the western edge of the monument overlooking Lake Lucero and the Alkali Flats, and additional sites have been identified on the eastern margins following prehistoric drainages. There is also a notable, though not yet definitively proven, pattern in which some of these cultural locations sit near Pleistocene megafauna trackways, suggesting the potential for important connections between early human activity, ancient wetlands or shorelines, and the movements of large Ice Age animals.
Recent reconnaissance surveys are highlighted as having found a strong correlation between site locations and the prehistoric lake shores across the basin, with similar discoveries made elsewhere in the area. This suggests that earlier survey coverage or baseline records may be incomplete, inconsistent, or outdated, and that a more systematic assessment could substantially improve the understanding of where sites are likely to occur and what kinds of features they contain. In practical terms, the opportunity is aimed at correcting and improving baseline data so the monument can make informed decisions about significance, protection priorities, and long-term stewardship.
A major deliverable implied by the notice is the development of documentation sufficient to support a nomination and a management plan, if the results justify it. In other words, the work is not only research-driven but also compliance- and management-oriented: it is meant to strengthen the monument's ability to evaluate eligibility, define boundaries, and plan for preservation, monitoring, and potential impacts. The mention of a "nomination" strongly suggests preparation for formal recognition processes (commonly associated with National Register of Historic Places considerations), though the award text keeps it general by stating this would be pursued only "if warranted."
Eligibility was limited to public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, indicating the National Park Service anticipated an academic partner with archaeological and geoarchaeological capacity, likely capable of field survey, mapping, database correction, and interpretive synthesis. The funding instrument was a cooperative agreement, which typically means the agency expected substantial involvement in the project, such as collaboration on methods, priorities, access, data standards, and review of products. The opportunity anticipated a single award, with an award ceiling of $97,893. It was posted on June 14, 2018, with an original closing date of June 23, 2018, signaling a short application window and a relatively focused, targeted scope of work.
Overall, the grant opportunity is best understood as an effort to systematically assess Paleoindian archaeological resources tied to ancient lake and wetland features at White Sands, refine and correct existing baseline site information, and translate the improved understanding into actionable cultural resource planning. The emphasis on shoreline correlations, drainages, and possible proximity to megafauna trackways underscores the scientific value of the landscape, while the focus on nomination and management planning underscores the immediate need for better documentation to guide protection and decision-making.Apply for P18AS00326
- The Department of the Interior, National Park Service in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Paleo Indian Assessment of the Lakes and Prehistoric Wetlands" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.945.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jun 14, 2018.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 23, 2018. (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 $97,893.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the title and funding opportunity number for this grant?
The opportunity is titled "Paleo Indian Assessment of the Lakes and Prehistoric Wetlands" and it was issued under Funding Opportunity Number (FON) P18AS00326.
Which federal agency offered this opportunity?
The grant opportunity was offered by the National Park Service (NPS), within the Department of the Interior.
What type of funding instrument is being used?
The opportunity uses a cooperative agreement. This generally indicates substantial involvement by the agency during the project, such as collaborating on methods and priorities, coordinating access, ensuring data standards are followed, and reviewing deliverables.
How many awards were anticipated?
The opportunity anticipated a single award.
What is the maximum funding amount available?
The award ceiling listed for this opportunity is $97,893.
When was the opportunity posted and when did it close?
The opportunity was posted on June 14, 2018, with an original closing date of June 23, 2018. This reflects a short application window.
Who was eligible to apply?
Eligibility was limited to public and state-controlled institutions of higher education. This suggests the National Park Service expected an academic partner capable of archaeological and geoarchaeological work.
Where is the project geographically focused?
The project is centered on White Sands National Monument (WHSA). It specifically targets the ancient landscape of Pleistocene Lake Otero, including areas around Lake Lucero and the Alkali Flats, as well as locations along the eastern margins associated with prehistoric drainages.
What time period and resource type does the project focus on?
The project focuses on Paleoindian-era archaeological resources. The intent is to better document early human use of a basin-and-shoreline environment tied to ancient lakes and prehistoric wetlands.
Why is this assessment needed if Paleoindian sites are already known at White Sands?
Although Paleoindian cultural sites are known within the monument, the overall footprint of site distribution has not been fully mapped, and not all cultural features have been identified or properly recorded. The opportunity emphasizes that baseline survey coverage and records may be incomplete, inconsistent, or outdated.
What is the main problem this grant is trying to solve?
The core problem is insufficient and uneven documentation: site distributions have not been fully mapped, and existing baseline records do not capture all features or locations reliably. The grant aims to correct and improve baseline data so the monument can make informed decisions about significance, protection priorities, and long-term stewardship.
What landscape features are especially important to this project?
The project emphasizes former lake margins (prehistoric shorelines) and prehistoric drainage systems across the basin. The notice describes cultural materials clustering along former lake margins and drainages, pointing to a strong relationship between sites and ancient lake/wetland landforms.
What areas within the monument are mentioned as having known or suspected site concentrations?
Sites are described along the western edge of the monument overlooking Lake Lucero and the Alkali Flats. Additional sites have been identified on the eastern margins following prehistoric drainages.
What did recent reconnaissance surveys suggest?
Recent reconnaissance surveys are described as finding a strong correlation between site locations and prehistoric lake shores across the basin. Similar discoveries elsewhere in the area reinforce the idea that a more systematic assessment could significantly improve understanding of where sites are likely to occur and what features they contain.
How does this opportunity connect archaeology with Ice Age animals?
The notice highlights a notable (though not definitively proven) pattern in which some cultural locations appear to sit near Pleistocene megafauna trackways. This suggests potential connections among early human activity, ancient wetlands or shorelines, and the movements of large Ice Age animals.
Is the project primarily research, or is it also intended to support management and compliance needs?
It is both. While the opportunity is research-driven in its goal to understand early human use of the Lake Otero landscape, it is also compliance- and management-oriented. A key purpose is to strengthen the monument's ability to evaluate significance, define boundaries, prioritize protection, and plan long-term stewardship actions.
What kinds of outcomes or deliverables are implied?
A major deliverable implied by the notice is documentation sufficient to support a nomination and a management plan, if results justify it. The work is intended to translate improved knowledge into actionable cultural resource planning and decision-making.
What does the notice mean by a "nomination"?
The notice indicates preparation for a formal recognition process may be supported if warranted by the results. While the award text keeps it general, the term "nomination" commonly aligns with National Register of Historic Places-related considerations, pursued only if the findings justify it.
How would improved baseline data be used by the monument?
Improved baseline data would help the monument make better-informed decisions about significance and eligibility, protection priorities, boundary definition, preservation planning, monitoring, and managing potential impacts over time.
What does it mean that this is a cooperative agreement for day-to-day project work?
Based on the description, it means NPS likely expected active collaboration throughout the effort, including alignment on survey and mapping approaches, coordination related to access and priorities within the monument, adherence to data and documentation standards, and agency review of resulting products.
What is the overall purpose of this grant in plain terms?
The opportunity is aimed at systematically assessing Paleoindian archaeological resources tied to ancient lake and wetland features at White Sands, refining and correcting existing site information, and turning that improved understanding into practical planning tools for protection and stewardship.
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