Opportunity Information: Apply for P17AS00465
The grant opportunity titled "Archaeological Survey of High Altitude Snow and Ice Patches" (Funding Opportunity Number P17AS00465) is a National Park Service project under the U.S. Department of the Interior focused on cultural resource protection in Yellowstone National Park. It is framed around a growing management problem: as perennial snowfields and ice patches retreat, they can expose well-preserved archaeological materials that have been locked in ice for long periods. Once exposed, those materials can deteriorate quickly due to weathering, melting, freeze-thaw cycles, and other environmental impacts, making them time-sensitive to locate, document, and protect.
The main goal of the project is to conduct an inventory of cultural resources associated with these retreating ice patches and to evaluate any discoveries for eligibility for listing on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). The opportunity notes that critically endangered archaeological materials have already been found in the Greater Yellowstone Area in connection with kinetically stable ice patches, and that some sites within Yellowstone have been determined eligible for the NRHP. Building on that evidence, the project aims to identify additional high-potential ice patch locations inside the park, guided by existing geophysical and archaeological modeling that suggests more significant cultural resources may be present but undiscovered.
In addition to field identification and NRHP eligibility evaluation, the project emphasizes proactive resource management. A key deliverable is a set of recommendations for monitoring strategies and stabilization treatments intended to slow or prevent further degradation of archaeological materials as ice continues to retreat. In practice, this implies not only finding and documenting resources, but also helping the park decide how to routinely check vulnerable locations, prioritize which places need repeated visits, and determine what preservation actions are appropriate when artifacts or other cultural materials are exposed.
From an administrative standpoint, this was a discretionary funding opportunity using a cooperative agreement, indicating substantial involvement or collaboration with the National Park Service during the work. The activity category is listed as natural resources, and the CFDA number is 15.945. Eligibility was limited to public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, which signals the intent to partner with universities or similar entities with relevant technical expertise in archaeology, geophysics, cultural resource management, and high-altitude fieldwork. The opportunity was created on June 30, 2017, with an original closing date of July 9, 2017. The anticipated funding ceiling was $82,901, with one expected award, suggesting a single focused project rather than a broad multi-recipient program.
Overall, the opportunity supports a targeted archaeological survey and evaluation effort in Yellowstone that responds directly to climate-driven ice loss. It combines discovery and documentation of vulnerable high-altitude cultural resources with practical recommendations for long-term monitoring and stabilization, with the explicit purpose of identifying NRHP-eligible resources and preventing irreversible loss once materials emerge from melting snow and ice.Apply for P17AS00465
- The Department of the Interior, National Park Service in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Archaeological Survey of High Altitude Snow and Ice Patches" 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 30, 2017.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 09, 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 $82,901.00 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.
[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal:
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the title of this grant opportunity?
The opportunity is titled "Archaeological Survey of High Altitude Snow and Ice Patches."
What is the Funding Opportunity Number?
The Funding Opportunity Number is P17AS00465.
Which federal agency is offering this opportunity?
This is a National Park Service (NPS) project under the U.S. Department of the Interior.
Where will the work take place?
The project is focused on Yellowstone National Park.
What management problem is this project responding to?
The project addresses the growing issue that retreating perennial snowfields and ice patches can expose well-preserved archaeological materials that were previously locked in ice. Once exposed, these materials can deteriorate rapidly due to weathering, melting, freeze-thaw cycles, and related environmental impacts, making timely identification and protection critical.
What is the main goal of the project?
The primary goal is to conduct an inventory of cultural resources associated with retreating high-altitude snow and ice patches and to evaluate discoveries for eligibility for listing on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP).
What kinds of cultural resources is the project looking for?
The opportunity is centered on archaeological materials and other cultural resources that may be preserved in or near high-altitude snowfields and ice patches and may become exposed as ice retreats.
Why are these archaeological materials considered time-sensitive?
Materials can remain well-preserved while encapsulated in ice, but once exposed they may quickly degrade due to weathering and repeated freeze-thaw and melt cycles. The opportunity emphasizes that the resources can be critically endangered once they emerge.
Is there evidence that similar resources have already been found in the region?
Yes. The opportunity notes that critically endangered archaeological materials have already been found in the Greater Yellowstone Area associated with kinetically stable ice patches, and that some sites within Yellowstone have been determined eligible for the NRHP.
How will potential survey locations be identified?
The project aims to identify additional high-potential ice patch locations within Yellowstone National Park, guided by existing geophysical and archaeological modeling that suggests significant cultural resources may be present but undiscovered.
Does the project include more than field survey and documentation?
Yes. In addition to identifying and evaluating resources, the project emphasizes proactive resource management. A key deliverable is recommendations for monitoring strategies and stabilization treatments to slow or prevent further degradation as ice continues to retreat.
What does "NRHP eligibility evaluation" mean in this context?
It means assessing any discoveries to determine whether they meet criteria to be considered eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places, as stated in the opportunity.
What is meant by monitoring strategies in the deliverables?
The opportunity indicates the work should help the park decide how to routinely check vulnerable ice patch locations, prioritize which places need repeat visits, and manage the risks to exposed cultural materials over time.
What is meant by stabilization treatments?
Stabilization treatments refer to preservation-oriented actions recommended to slow or prevent further degradation of archaeological materials as they become exposed due to ice loss. The opportunity frames these as practical recommendations to support long-term management.
What type of funding instrument is described?
The opportunity used a cooperative agreement.
What does it imply that this is a cooperative agreement?
The description indicates substantial involvement or collaboration with the National Park Service during the work, rather than the project being carried out entirely independently by the recipient.
Is this discretionary funding?
Yes. The opportunity is described as a discretionary funding opportunity.
What is the activity category for this opportunity?
The activity category is listed as natural resources.
What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The CFDA number is 15.945.
Who was eligible to apply?
Eligibility was limited to public and state-controlled institutions of higher education.
What kinds of applicant capabilities does the eligibility suggest the project was seeking?
Based on the eligibility limitation and the project scope, the opportunity signals an intent to partner with universities or similar institutions with relevant technical expertise, including archaeology, geophysics, cultural resource management, and high-altitude fieldwork.
When was the opportunity created, and what was the closing date?
The opportunity was created on June 30, 2017, with an original closing date of July 9, 2017.
What was the anticipated funding amount?
The anticipated funding ceiling was $82,901.
How many awards were expected?
One award was expected, indicating a single focused project rather than multiple awards to several recipients.
What is the overall purpose of funding this project?
The opportunity supports a targeted archaeological survey and evaluation effort in Yellowstone National Park that responds to climate-driven ice loss by combining discovery and documentation of vulnerable high-altitude cultural resources with practical recommendations for monitoring and stabilization, with the explicit purpose of identifying NRHP-eligible resources and preventing irreversible loss once materials emerge from melting snow and ice.
Browse more opportunities from the same category: Natural Resources
Next opportunity: BLM-(MT), Traditional Properties and Sacred Site Identification
Previous opportunity: OVC FY 17 Vision 21: Integrated Services for Victims Program: Increasing Access to Mental Health Services for Victims of Crime
Applicant Portal:
Are you interested in learning about about how to apply for this government funding opportunity? You can create a free applicant account and receive instant access to our applicant portal that many business owners like you have benefited from.
Apply for P17AS00465
Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (P17AS00465) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| Grand Ditch Restoration Adaptive Management Monitoring Apply for P17AS00467 Funding Number: P17AS00467 Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $42,466 |
| Vegetation Mapping and Assessment in Sonoran Desert Network Parks Apply for P17AS00464 Funding Number: P17AS00464 Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $94,041 |
| Data Analysis and Report Writing for CHDN, SODN, and SOPN Monitoring Programs Apply for P17AS00466 Funding Number: P17AS00466 Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $79,700 |
| Inventory and Evaluate Archaeolgical Resources along High Priority Trail Segments Apply for P17AS00463 Funding Number: P17AS00463 Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $42,000 |
| BLM OR/WA Curry County Sudden Oak Death Treatment Apply for L17AS00195 Funding Number: L17AS00195 Agency: Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| BLM-WO, National Seed Strategy Implementation and Sagebrush Restoration Apply for L17AS00196 Funding Number: L17AS00196 Agency: Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $330,000 |
| BLM-NM 2017 Youth Opportunities to Work on Conservation Projects on New Mexico Public Lands Apply for L17AS00197 Funding Number: L17AS00197 Agency: Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $500,000 |
| BLM-NM Partners for a Clean New Mexico Apply for L17AS00198 Funding Number: L17AS00198 Agency: Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $145,000 |
| BLM-NM Tribal Survey Assistance for the Fort Stanton-Snowy River Cave National Conservation Area (NCA) Apply for L17AS00199 Funding Number: L17AS00199 Agency: Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $100,000 |
| Integration of strategic wildfire adn fuel treatment analysis Apply for P17AS00470 Funding Number: P17AS00470 Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $97,000 |
| Repair Historic Irrigation Ditch at Montezuma Well, Montezuma Castle National Monument Apply for NPSNOIMOCA1700986 Funding Number: NPSNOIMOCA1700986 Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Designing Sustainable Landscape Projects Apply for F17AS00302 Funding Number: F17AS00302 Agency: Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $96,272 |
| Notice of Intent: Digital Bedrock Topographic and Drift Thickness Maps of the Glaciated Counties of Northwestern Pennsylvania - 2017 Apply for USGS FA 17 0277 Funding Number: USGS FA 17 0277 Agency: Department of the Interior, Geological Survey Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $20,000 |
| Notice of Intent Apply for USGS 17 FA 0401 Funding Number: USGS 17 FA 0401 Agency: Department of the Interior, Geological Survey Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $20,000 |
| Interpretive Park Guide Apply for NPSNOIWHSA1701013 Funding Number: NPSNOIWHSA1701013 Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Middle Entiat Adaptive Management Plan Apply for BOR PN 17 N003 Funding Number: BOR PN 17 N003 Agency: Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $334,440 |
| Evaluate Status of Composition, Distribution, and Structure of Wet Forest and Subalpine Habitat in Pacific Island Parks Apply for P17AS00415 Funding Number: P17AS00415 Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Lake Canyon Grazing Allotment Archeological Site Condition Assessment Apply for P17AS00478 Funding Number: P17AS00478 Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $98,000 |
| BLM-(MT), University/College Native Plant Materials Development Partnerships Apply for L17AS00201 Funding Number: L17AS00201 Agency: Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $25,000 |
| Enable Public and Research Access to the Peter Misch Geology Collection through Cataloging and Interpretive Products Apply for P17AS00480 Funding Number: P17AS00480 Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service Category: Natural Resources Funding Amount: $33,484 |
Grant application guides and resources
It is always free to apply for government grants. However the process may be very complex depending on the funding opportunity you are applying for. Let us help you!
Apply for Grants
Inside Our Applicants Portal
Access Applicants Portal
- Grants Repository - Access current and historic funding opportunities with ease. Thousands of funding opportunities are published every week. We can help you sort through the database and find the eligible ones to apply for.
- Applicant Video Guides - The grant application process can be challenging to follow. We can help you with intuitive video guides to speed up the process and eliminate errors in submissions.
- Grant Proposal Wizard - We have developed a network of private funding organizations and investors across the United States. We can reach out and submit your proposal to these contacts to maximize your chances of getting the funding you need.
Premium leads for funding administrators, grant writers, and loan issuers
Thousands of people visit our website for their funding needs every day. When a user creates a grant proposal and files for submission, we pass the information on to funding administrators, grant writers, and government loan issuers.
If you manage government grant programs, provide grant writing services, or issue personal or government loans, we can help you reach your audience.
Learn More
Request more information:
Would you like to learn more about this funding opportunity, similar opportunities to "P17AS00465", eligibility, application service, and/or application tips? Submit an inquiry below:
Don't forget to subscribe to our grant alerts mailing list to receive weekly alerts on new and updated grant funding opportunities like this one in your email.