Ambassador's Fund for Cultural Preservation Grants Program

Full implementation of the program is pending availability of FY 2025 funds. Please read carefully and follow all instructions below.

The submission of the SOI is the first step in a two-step process.  Applicants must first submit a concept note, which is a concise, 3-page document designed to clearly communicate a program idea and its objectives before the development of a full proposal application.  This is not a full proposal.  The purpose of the SOI process is to allow applicants to submit program ideas for evaluation prior to requiring the development of a full proposal application.  Upon a merit review of eligible SOIs, selected applicants will be invited to expand on their program idea(s) by submitting a full proposal application. Full proposals will go through a second merit review before final funding decisions are made.

B.             APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

Please follow all instructions below carefully. SOIs that do not meet the requirements of this announcement or fail to comply with the stated requirements will be ineligible.

The Concept Note (not to exceed 3 pages in Microsoft Word) should include:

a) Project Basics:

1.   Project Title

2.   Project Length (in months – not to exceed 60 months)

3.   Location site

4.   If part of an inscribed World Heritage Site, the name of the World Heritage Site

5.   Project cost estimate in U.S. Dollars – please refer to the attached budget template.

b)   Project Applicant Information:

1.   Organization name

2.   Organization type

3.   Name, title, and contact info of project coordinator

c)    Project Scope of Work that briefly explains the project objectives and desired results.

d)   Proposed Activities that explain all activities in a logical order.

e)   Desired results that explain how the activities will contribute towards achieving desired results.

f)     Statement of Importance highlighting the historic, architectural, artistic, or cultural (non-religious) values of the cultural site, object, collection, or form of traditional expression.

g)   Statement of Urgency indicating the severity of the situation and explaining why the project must take place now.

h)   Statement of Sustainability outlining the steps or measures that will be taken to maintain the site, object, or collection in good condition after the AFCP-supported project is complete; or in the case of forms of traditional cultural expression, to preserve and disseminate the documentation, knowledge, or skills either resulting or gained from the project.

i)     Attachments of five (5) high quality digital images (JPEGs) or audiovisual files that convey the nature and condition of the site, object, or form of expression and, in the case of a site or object, show the urgency or need for the proposed project (collapsing walls, water damage, worn fabric, broken handle, etc.), any historic structure reports, conservation needs assessments, and other planning documents compiled in preparation for the proposed project.

C.   FUNDING AREAS:  

The AFCP Grants Program supports the preservation of archaeological sites, historic buildings and monuments, museum collections, and forms of traditional cultural expression, such as indigenous languages and crafts. Appropriate project activities may include:

a)   Anastylosis (reassembling a site from its original parts)

b)   Conservation (addressing damage or deterioration to an object or site)

c)    Consolidation (connecting or reconnecting elements of an object or site)

d)   Documentation (recording in analog or digital format the condition and salient features of an object, site, or tradition)

e)   Inventory (listing of objects, sites, or traditions by location, feature, age, or other unifying characteristic or state)

f)     Preventive Conservation (addressing conditions that threaten or damage a site, object, collection, or tradition)

g)   Restoration (replacing missing elements to recreate the original appearance of an object or site, usually appropriate only with fine arts, decorative arts, and historic buildings)

h)   Stabilization (reducing the physical disturbance of an object or site)

Special Note Regarding Sites and Objects that have a Religious Connection: The establishment clause of the U.S. Constitution permits the government to include religious objects and sites within an aid program under certain conditions.  For example, an item with a religious connection (including a place of worship) may be the subject of a cultural preservation grant if the item derives its primary significance and is nominated solely on the basis of architectural, artistic, historical, or other cultural (not religious) criteria.

D.   ELIGIBLE PROJECT APPLICANTS:

Eligible project implementers are defined as reputable and accountable non-commercial entities that can demonstrate they have the requisite capacity to manage projects to preserve cultural heritage. Eligible implementers may include non-governmental organizations, museums, educational institutions, ministries of culture, or similar institutions and organizations, including U.S.-based educational institutions and organizations subject to Section 501 (c)(3) of the tax code. The AFCP will not award grants to individuals, commercial entities, or past award recipients that have not fulfilled the objectives or reporting requirements of previous awards.

Potential implementing partners must be registered and active in the U.S. Government’s System for Award Management (SAM) to receive U.S. federal assistance. SAM will assign a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) automatically to any entity registering or renewing its record in the system. Registration in SAM is free: https://sam.gov/

E.   INELIGIBLE ACTIVITIES AND UNALLOWABLE COSTS:

AFCP does support the following activities or costs, and the Center will deem applications involving any of these activities or costs ineligible:

A.         Privately or Commercially Owned Property: Preservation or purchase of privately or commercially owned cultural objects, collections, or real property, including those whose transfer from private or commercial to public ownership is envisioned, planned, or in process but not complete at the time of application.

B.         Natural Heritage: Preservation of natural heritage (physical, biological, and geological formations, paleontological collections, habitats of threatened species of animals and plants, fossils, etc.) unless the natural heritage has a cultural heritage connection or dimension.

C.         Human Remains: Preservation of hominid or human remains.

D.        News Media: Preservation of news media (newspapers, newsreels, radio and TV programs, etc.).

E.         Published Materials: Preservation of published materials available elsewhere (books, periodicals, etc.).

F.         Mandated Educational Materials: Development of curricula or educational materials for classroom use.

G.        Archaeological Research: Archaeological excavations or exploratory surveys for research purposes.

H.        Historical Research: Historical research, except in cases where the research is justifiable and integral to the success of the proposed project.

I.           New Exhibits or Collections: Acquisition or creation of new exhibits, objects, or collections for new or existing museums.

J.           New Construction: Construction of new buildings, building additions, or permanent coverings (over archaeological sites, for example).

K.         New Works of Art: Commissions of new works of art or architecture for commemorative or economic development purposes.

L.          New or Modern Adaptations: Creation of new or the modern adaptation of existing traditional dances, songs, chants, musical compositions, plays, or other performances.

M.      Conjectural Reconstructions: Creation of replicas or conjectural reconstructions of cultural objects or sites that no longer exist.

N.        Relocation: Relocation of cultural sites from one physical location to another unless under imminent threat of irreversible damage or destruction.

O.        Removal: Removal of cultural objects or elements of cultural sites from the country for any reason.

P.         Digitization: Digitization of cultural objects or collections, unless part of a larger, clearly defined conservation or documentation effort.

Q.        Conservation Plans or Studies: Conservation plans or other studies, unless they are one component of a larger project to implement the results of those studies.

R.         Cash Reserves or Endowments: Cash reserves, endowments, or revolving funds (funds must be expended within the award period [up to five years] and may not be used to create an endowment or revolving fund).

S.         Fund-Raising Campaigns: Costs of fund-raising campaigns.

T.         Contingency Costs: Contingency, unforeseen, or miscellaneous costs or fees.

U.        Pre-Award Costs: Costs of work performed prior to announcement of the award unless allowable per 2 CFR 200.458 and approved by the Grants Officer.

V.         International Travel: International travel outside the project country, except in cases where travel is justifiable and integral to the success of the proposed project or to provide project leaders with learning and exchange opportunities with cultural heritage experts.

W.      Project Cost Limits: Individual projects costing less than $25,000 or more than $500,000.

X.         Independent U.S. Projects: Independent U.S. projects overseas.

F.    COST SHARING AND OTHER FORMS OF COST PARTICIPATION:

There is no minimum or maximum percentage of cost participation required for this competition. When an applicant offers cost sharing, it is understood and agreed that the applicant must provide the amount of cost sharing as stipulated in its application and later included in an approved agreement.  The applicant will be responsible for tracking and reporting on any cost share or outside funding, which is subject to audit per 2 CFR 200.  Cost sharing may be in the form of allowable direct or indirect costs.

G.  SUBMISSION DATES AND TIMES:

SOIs are due no later than December 27th, 2024 at 12:00 noon La Paz time.

H. OTHER SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS:

All application materials must be submitted by email to IbarnegarayFX@state.gov and ArriazaL@state.gov.

I. APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION:

Review and Selection Process

1.                  A Grants Review Committee will evaluate all eligible SOIs.

2.                  Following the review, any successful SOI applicants will be contacted and instructed to submit full applications.  A full application will include:

·      SF-424 (Application for Federal Assistance — organizations)

·      SF424A (Budget Information for Non-Construction programs)

·      SF424B (Assurances for Non-Construction programs) for individual or organization exempted from registering in SAM. Unique Entity Identifier and System for Award Management (SAM.gov)

·      Relevant supporting documentation, including project activities description and timeframe, a detailed project budget, maintenance plan, public outreach plan, data and media access plan, and resume or CV of key project participants.

·      Proof of official permission to undertake the project from the office, agency, or organization that owns or is otherwise responsible for the preservation and protection of the site or collection.

K. FEDERAL AWARD ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION

Administrative and National Policy Requirements:

Terms and Conditions: Before submitting the SOI, applicants should review all the terms and conditions and required certifications which will apply if a full proposal application is requested and awarded, to ensure that they will be able to comply. These include: 2 CFR 200, 2 CFR 600, and the Department of State Standard Terms and Conditions which are available at: 

https://usdos.sharepoint.com/sites/A-OPE/FA/SiteAssets/Forms/AllItems.aspx?id=%2Fsites%2FA%2DOPE%2FFA%2FSiteAssets%2FStandard%20Terms%20and%20Conditions%20for%20Federal%20Awards%2D10%2E1%2E24%2Epdf&parent=%2Fsites%2FA%2DOPE%2FFA%2FSiteAssets

L. FEDERAL AWARDING AGENCY CONTACTS

If you have any questions about the SOI application process, please contact IbarnegarayFX@state.gov.