Conservation Project Support (45.303)
Program
45.303 Conservation Project Support
Federal Agency
OFFICE OF MUSEUM SERVICES, INSTITUTE OF MUSEUM AND LIBRARY SERVICES, NATIONAL FOUNDATION ON THE ARTS AND THE HUMANITIES
Authorization
Museum and Library Services Act of 1996, Title II, Public Law 104-208.
Program Number
45.303
Last Known Status
Active
Objectives
To support the efforts of museums to conserve the Nation's historic, scientific, and cultural heritage; to maintain and expand museums and libraries educational roles; and to ease the financial burden borne by museums and libraries as a result of their increasing use by the public.
Types of Assistance
Project Grants; Direct Payments for Specified Use.
Uses and Use Restrictions
To make Conservation Project Support (CPS) awards. CPS grants are annual competitive awards for projects of up to 2 years. CPS grants fund a variety of projects related to the safe-keeping of living and non-living collections including: surveys of collections and environmental conditions; treatment of collections, conservation research, environmental improvements, and training of museum staff in collections care.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicant Eligibility
A museum located in the 50 States, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, American Samoa, the Virgin Islands, the Northern Mariana Islands, the Trust Territories of the Pacific Islands, Guam, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, The Federated States of Micronesia, and the Republic of Palau, or the District of Columbia may apply for a grant under the Act. No museum is eligible to apply for Learning Opportunities Grants or Conservation Project Support funding under the Act unless it has provided museum services including exhibiting objects to the general public on a regular basis for at least 2 years prior to application. A public or private nonprofit organization, such as a municipality, college, or university which is responsible for the operation of a museum may apply on behalf of the museum. A museum operated by a department or agency of the Federal government is not eligible to apply. Under the IMLS definition, a museum is a public or private nonprofit institution which is organized on a permanent basis for essentially educational or aesthetic purposes and which, using a professional staff: (1) Owns or uses tangible objects, whether animate or inanimate; (2) cares for these objects; and (3) exhibits them to the general public on a regular basis. A museum must have at least one staff member, paid or unpaid, who devotes his or her time primarily to the acquisition, care or exhibition of objects.The definition makes clear that the term "museum" includes aquariums and zoological parks; botanical gardens and arboretums; nature centers; art, history, (including historic buildings and sites), natural history, children's, general and specialized museums, science and technology centers and planetariums.
Beneficiary Eligibility
Public nonprofit museums and private nonprofit museums benefit.
Credentials/Documentation
Costs will be determined in accordance with OMB Circular No. A-87 for State and local governments. OMB Circular No. A-21 for educational institutions and other nonprofit organizations also applies.
Application and Award Process
Preapplication Coordination
The standard application forms as furnished by the Federal agency and required by OMB Circular No. A-102 must be used for this program. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.
Application Procedure
Applications are submitted directly to the Institute of Museum and Library Services, 1100 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Room 609, Washington, DC 20506. Telephone: (202) 606-8539. For Conservation Project Support Awards, a museum must submit the designated application form containing the information requested in the form. This program is subject to the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-110.
Award Procedure
Proposals are reviewed by field reviewers, panels of experts, and the Director to determine the grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements awarded by IMLS to eligible applicants.
Deadlines
Contact the Institute of Museum and Library Services for deadlines. Telephone: (202) 606-8539 or e-mail imlsinfo@imls.gov.
Range of Approval/Disapproval Time
Appeals
Appeals may be made in writing to the Director of the Institute of Museum and Library Services.
Renewals
The IMLS may extend particular grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements at the discretion of the Director.
Assistance Considerations
Formula and Matching Requirements
45 CFR 1180. Conservation grants normally will not exceed $50,000. CPS grants require a fifty percent match by the applicant from nonfederal sources, but may include in-kind contributions.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
CPS grants are awarded with phasing of assistance as required.
Post Assistance Requirements
Reports
The IMLS requires interim and final reports from Conservation Project Support recipients.
Audits
Audits not required for application.
Records
Grant and contract recipients will be required to maintain standard and financial statements.
Program Accomplishments
For fiscal year 2002, 215 CPS applications were received and 67 were funded.
Financial Information
Account Identification
59-0300-0-1-503.
Obligations
(Grants) FY 02 $2,310,000; FY 03 est $2,310,000; and FY 04 $2,310,000.
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
For fiscal year 2002, CPS awards averaged $35,148.
Regulations, Guidelines and Literature
Final regulations are codified in 45 CFR 1180.
Related Programs
45.301, Institute of Museum and Library Services; 45.302, Museum Assessment Program; 45.304, Conservation Assessment Program; 45.312, Institute of Museum and Library Services_National Leadership Grants; 15.904, Historic Preservation Fund Grants-In-Aid; 15.914, National Register of Historic Places; 15.915, Technical Preservation Services.
Information Contacts
Regional or Local Office
Not applicable.
Headquarters Office
Institute of Museum and Library Services, 1100 Pennsylvania Avenue, Room 510, NW., Washington, DC 20506. Contacts: Steven Shwartzman at (202) 606-4641, Public Affairs at (202) 606-8339, or imlsinfo@imls.gov. For general information visit www.imls.gov or call (202) 606-5226 for information on library programs and (202) 606- 8539 for information on museum programs. The TTY number is (202) 606- 8636.
Web Site Address
Examples of Funded Projects
CPS grants were for general conditions/surveys of museum collections and environments, staff conservation training, treatment of collections, improving existing environmental conditions, and research to better care for living plant and animal collections.
Criteria for Selecting Proposals
Museums must document that the project is the museum's highest priority for collections care.
