Opportunity Information: Apply for NPS NOIP18AC00179
The Lewis and Clark Expedition Exhibit Development (LECL) grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number NPS NOIP18AC00179) is a National Park Service cooperative agreement designed to strengthen interpretation and public awareness of the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail (NHT). The core purpose is to help the NHT and its partners present a richer, more professionally developed story of the Lewis and Clark Expedition to the public, with a particular focus on key trail sites such as Fort Mandan. The project is framed as a collaborative effort rather than a simple pass-through award, emphasizing partnership-based planning and delivery of interpretive products.
The funded work centers on developing and improving interpretive exhibits that communicate multiple dimensions of the expedition and the trail. The opportunity highlights several exhibit themes and content areas, including (but not limited to) firearms associated with the expedition, the natural resources encountered along the trail corridor, and the cultural resources connected to the route and its historical landscapes. A major interpretive priority is accurately and thoughtfully telling the story of the relationship between the Corps of Discovery and Native peoples, making that relationship a visible and integral part of the visitor experience rather than a side topic. In practice, this means exhibit development that can present historical context, cultural perspectives, and resource significance in ways that are accessible to the public and grounded in professional interpretation standards.
A key element of the opportunity is the partnership between the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail and the Lewis and Clark Fort Mandan Foundation. The grant is intended to support the Foundation in developing exhibits that provide professional interpretation for the Fort Mandan site while also advancing the broader mission of the NHT. The description makes clear that both organizations share aligned goals: commemorating the Lewis and Clark Expedition and improving how its stories, places, and resources are understood by visitors today. The cooperative agreement structure signals ongoing coordination with the National Park Service during development, helping ensure the exhibits fit NPS interpretive goals and contribute to trail-wide public education.
Administratively, this was a discretionary funding opportunity offered by the U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, under CFDA 15.935. It was posted on March 27, 2018, with an original closing date of April 13, 2018. The expected award count was one, with a maximum award amount (ceiling) of $95,000. The eligible applicant category listed is nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) IRS status (other than institutions of higher education), which indicates the program was structured to work with a specific type of nonprofit partner rather than broadly opening competition to all standard nonprofit categories. The activity categories connected to the opportunity include community development, environment, and natural resources, reflecting that the project is not only about museum-style storytelling but also about interpreting landscapes, ecological context, and cultural heritage resources along the historic trail.Apply for NPS NOIP18AC00179
- The Department of the Interior, National Park Service in the community development, environment, natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Lewis and Clark Expedition Exhibit Development- LECL" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.935.
- This funding opportunity was created on Mar 27, 2018.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Apr 13, 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 $95,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education.
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Lewis and Clark Expedition Exhibit Development (LECL) Grant - FAQs
What is the Lewis and Clark Expedition Exhibit Development (LECL) grant?
The Lewis and Clark Expedition Exhibit Development (LECL) grant is a National Park Service (NPS) cooperative agreement intended to strengthen interpretation and public awareness of the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail (NHT) by supporting the development and improvement of interpretive exhibits about the Lewis and Clark Expedition.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this grant?
The Funding Opportunity Number is NPS NOIP18AC00179.
Which federal agency offered this opportunity?
This opportunity was offered by the U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service.
Is this a grant or a cooperative agreement?
It is described as a cooperative agreement, which emphasizes collaboration and ongoing coordination with the National Park Service during planning and delivery of interpretive products rather than a simple pass-through award.
What is the core purpose of the LECL cooperative agreement?
The core purpose is to help the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail and its partners present a richer, more professionally developed story of the Lewis and Clark Expedition to the public, with a particular focus on key trail sites such as Fort Mandan.
What types of activities or projects does the funding support?
The funded work centers on developing and improving interpretive exhibits. These exhibits are intended to communicate multiple dimensions of the expedition and the historic trail, using professionally developed interpretation approaches that are accessible to the public.
What exhibit topics and themes are highlighted in the opportunity?
The opportunity highlights interpretive exhibit themes and content areas including (but not limited to) firearms associated with the expedition, natural resources encountered along the trail corridor, and cultural resources connected to the route and its historical landscapes.
What is a major interpretive priority for exhibit content?
A major interpretive priority is accurately and thoughtfully telling the story of the relationship between the Corps of Discovery and Native peoples, making that relationship visible and integral to the visitor experience rather than a side topic.
How should Native peoples and Corps of Discovery relationships be addressed in the exhibits?
The opportunity calls for exhibit development that can present historical context, cultural perspectives, and resource significance in ways that are accessible to the public and grounded in professional interpretation standards, with the Native peoples relationship treated as a central interpretive element.
Which site is specifically emphasized in the opportunity?
Fort Mandan is specifically emphasized as a key trail site where the project aims to support more professional interpretation through exhibit development.
Which organizations are central to this cooperative agreement?
A key element is the partnership between the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail and the Lewis and Clark Fort Mandan Foundation. The grant is intended to support the Foundation in developing exhibits for the Fort Mandan site while advancing the broader mission of the NHT.
How does this grant relate to the broader mission of the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail?
The exhibits supported through this agreement are intended to improve how the expedition's stories, places, and resources are understood by visitors today, contributing to trail-wide public education and reinforcing the NHT's interpretive goals.
Does the opportunity indicate that the National Park Service will be involved after an award is made?
Yes. The cooperative agreement structure signals ongoing coordination with the National Park Service during development to help ensure the exhibits fit NPS interpretive goals and contribute to trail-wide public awareness and education.
What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is listed under CFDA 15.935.
What type of funding opportunity was this (competitive vs. discretionary)?
It is described as a discretionary funding opportunity offered by the National Park Service.
When was the opportunity posted?
The opportunity was posted on March 27, 2018.
What was the original closing date for applications?
The original closing date was April 13, 2018.
How many awards were expected?
The expected award count was one.
What was the maximum (ceiling) award amount?
The maximum award amount (ceiling) was $95,000.
Who was eligible to apply based on the applicant category listed?
The eligible applicant category listed is nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) IRS status (other than institutions of higher education). This indicates the program was structured to work with a specific type of nonprofit partner rather than broadly opening competition to all nonprofit categories.
What does the eligible applicant category suggest about how the program was structured?
It suggests the opportunity was geared toward a specific nonprofit partner type and aligned with a partnership model, rather than being designed as a wide-open competition among all standard nonprofit organizations.
What activity categories are connected to the opportunity?
The activity categories connected to the opportunity include community development, environment, and natural resources.
Why are environment and natural resources listed as activity categories for an exhibit development project?
The opportunity frames interpretation as more than museum-style storytelling. It also involves interpreting landscapes, ecological context, and natural resource themes encountered along the historic trail corridor, alongside cultural heritage resources.
What kinds of interpretive products are implied by the opportunity?
The opportunity emphasizes developing interpretive exhibits, and it frames exhibit planning and delivery as a collaborative effort with NPS. The focus is on professionally developed interpretive content and visitor-facing products that support public awareness of the trail and expedition.
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