National Park Service Centennial Challenge

 

The National Park Centennial Initiative is an effort to prepare national parks for another century of conservation, preservation, and public enjoyment. Project efforts will improve parks and serve all Americans. Since 2015, the National Park Service has leveraged more than $88 million in funding from Congress through the Centennial Challenge program to attract more than $119 million from partner organizations to support hundreds of projects across the country. These projects reduce the maintenance backlog, improve visitor services, support outreach to new audiences, and strengthen partnerships to reinvigorate national parks and forge connections to new communities.

Active 15.406 National Park Service, Department of The Interior B - Project Grants; C - Direct Payments For Specified Use Fiscal Year 2017 Information not available. In FY 2017, the program received over 200 applications and funded 65 projects.
Fiscal Year 2019 The program supported approximately 60 projects.
Fiscal Year 2020 One project for the Anchorage School District received funding.
Fiscal Year 2021 Parks throughout the National Park Service partnered with local community organization to initiate programs that support park missions.
Fiscal Year 2022 3 awards totaling $413,000. 54 USC §101701(b) Challenge Cost-share Agreement Authority; Public Law 110-161, Title I, Department of the Interior, Centennial Challenge; Public Law 114-289, Title I, Centennial Challenge Fund. Non-federal partners may include state agencies, Tribes, local governments, non-governmental organizations, private companies, and private individuals. Non-federal partners are expected to match NPS Centennial Challenge Cost Share funds at or above 1:1 for their respective projects. State and local governments, private, public, profit, nonprofit organizations and institutions who are positioned to contribute at least 50 percent of the value of projects included in the list of approved Centennial Challenge projects. Proposals that support the goals of the NPS Centennial Challenge including commitment letters from partners demonstrating ability to contribute the required match and readiness to complete the project. Proposals include description of the project, proposed budget, commitments from recipients. Preapplication coordination is required. Proposals that support the goals of the NPS Centennial Challenge including commitment letters from partners demonstrating ability to contribute the required match and readiness to complete the project. Proposals include description of the project, proposed budget, commitments from recipients. 2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards applies to this program. Applications will be considered via an internal NPS system, PMIS. Interested parties should work with an NPS office to submit a project proposal. Proposals received are reviewed on the basis of a competitive, merit-based review process, and are rated in accordance with evaluation criteria A panel of NPS staff recommends projects to the NPS Director, who makes the final decision on project selection. Contact the headquarters or regional location, as appropriate for application deadlines Varies depending on the type and complexity of the project. Projects eligible for funding are submitted up to 12 months in advance of funding determinations. None. Final award decisions are not subject to appeal; however, the National Park Service will provide applicants with information on why their proposals were not selected for award. If renewals or extensions are applicable to the project, this information will be included in the funding opportunity announcement. When renewals or extensions are applicable, continuation of funding for these and will be subject to availability of appropriated funds. Proposed projects and programs must: Provide for authorized activities that benefit one or more National Park System areas; require little or no additional recurring NPS operating or maintenance funds to be sustainable; and have partner(s) who will contribute at least 50% of the project cost to the NPS in the form of cash or assets from non-federal sources. For the purpose of sharing costs or services in carrying out authorized functions and responsibilities of the Secretary of the Interior with respect to any unit or program of the National Park System through Centennial Challenge projects. Not applicable. Per 2 CFR Part 200.501-521, including applicable Appendices Per 2 CFR Part 200.333 - 200.337 Statutory formula is not applicable to this assistance listing.

Matching is mandatory. Yes. Have partner(s) who are ready, willing, and able to contribute at least 50% of the project cost to the NPS in the form of cash or assets from non-federal sources. In-kind services from the partner may only be received in addition to, not in place of, the 1:1 cash or asset contribution.

MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing. The project approval, execution and completion period is typically for a time period not to exceed 24 months. Specific requirements for project execution and completion are outlined in detailed project plans and budgets. Payment terms vary by agreement awarded under this program. None/Not specified. Karyn Ferro
Office of Partnerships and Philanthropic Stewardship
Department of Interior
National Park Service
1849 C Street, NW
Washington, DC 20240 USA
karyn_ferro@nps.gov
Phone: 2023542172 https://www.nps.gov/subjects/centennial/nps-centennial-challenge-projects.htm 14-2645-0-1-303 (Direct Payments for Specified Use) FY 22 FY 23 FY 24 FY 21 FY 20$28,821.00; FY 19$298,598.00; FY 18$1,500,000.00; FY 17$40,719.00; - Direct Payments for Specified Use - This program does not provide direct funding through grants or cooperative agreements. Community organization partner with parks directly to implement programs in support of the park mission. Organizations must provide 50% of the project costs. $5,000 - $200,000 2 CFR, Part 200, 43 CFR, OMB Circulars, standard forms, and program information. Fiscal Year 2017 Information not available. Reducing deferred maintenance on the Moccasin Bend Orientation Plaza and on two park trails at Chickamauga & Chattanooga NMP, restoration of the Traverse Magazines at Fort Jefferson in Dry Tortugas NP, and rehabilitation of the Lower and Middle Emerald Pools Trails at Zion NP.
Fiscal Year 2018 Projects not yet selected
Fiscal Year 2019 In FY 2020, the program plans to support 50+ projects, of which 1-3 would utilize a cooperative agreement. In FY 2019, the program supported approximately 60 projects, of which 1-3 would utilize a cooperative agreement.
Fiscal Year 2020 San Antonio Missions National Historical Park Superintendent Mardi Arce announced a $300,000 project in partnership with Mission Heritage Partners to restore and preserve historic masonry in the park. The funding will be utilized to hire a temporary mason crew to preserve portions of the over 270,000 sq. ft. of historic masonry the National Park Service preserves. Working with the Thomas A. Edison Papers Project at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, the park will preserve and improve accessibility to the Edison Archives in West Orange. The funding for this project will be matched by Rutgers. The historic line shafts in the heavy machine shop in Edison’s West Orange Laboratory will also be repaired for safe operation, with funds matched by The Friends of Thomas Edison NHP, Inc.