Opportunity Information: Apply for P19AS00379
The grant opportunity titled "Implementation of Stone Conservation Methods for Petrified Tree" (Funding Opportunity Number P19AS00379) is a National Park Service cooperative agreement focused on protecting and stabilizing large petrified redwood stumps at Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument (FLFO). These petrified stumps are described as the park's fundamental resource, making their preservation a core stewardship priority. The project is designed to put into practice conservation techniques that have already been tested, using established stone conservation methods adapted to the specific needs and deterioration patterns of petrified wood.
The main problem the project targets is active, ongoing deterioration affecting a subset of the monument's stumps. Out of roughly 30 petrified stumps, five are identified as actively deteriorating. The documented forms of damage include cracking, spalling (surface flaking or breaking away), and the loss of large fragments. Some stumps contain deep, complex fractures that likely originated during early excavation activities, reportedly involving dynamite, and those weaknesses have continued to worsen over time due to environmental exposure. The opportunity emphasizes that both natural and human-influenced weathering processes are accelerating the damage, meaning the condition is not simply static aging but a continuing decline that requires intervention.
The description highlights several specific risk factors that the project is expected to address. Freeze-thaw cycling is a major driver, since water entering cracks can expand when frozen, prying fragments loose and increasing spalling. Gravity compounds the problem once pieces are loosened, leading to falling fragments and progressive loss of material. Biological interactions are also noted, including cracking or defacement connected to plant growth, burrowing activity, and animal excrement, all of which can introduce moisture, salts, physical pressure, or chemical changes at vulnerable surfaces. Theft is explicitly mentioned as another threat, particularly because some fragments are within reach of visitors and can be removed. In addition, the opportunity notes that ground salts, when activated by moisture, may be contributing to deterioration, which aligns with common conservation concerns where salts migrate through porous materials and crystallize, causing internal stress and surface loss.
At the time of the announcement, the stumps' most vulnerable sections were being held together primarily with steel banding, a practical restraint that helps prevent immediate separation but does not solve the underlying conservation problem. The intent of the project is therefore to move beyond temporary containment and implement more durable stabilization measures based on stone conservation practice, presumably including approaches that mitigate fragment movement, reduce further loss, and improve long-term resilience under ongoing exposure conditions. While the notice does not list specific products or treatment steps, it makes clear that the work is grounded in methods previously tested for these resources, suggesting a transition from pilot or trial treatments into field implementation.
Administratively, this was a discretionary funding opportunity under the Department of the Interior, National Park Service, with a Natural Resources activity category and CFDA number 15.945. Funding was offered as a cooperative agreement, indicating substantial involvement or collaboration with the federal agency during execution rather than a more hands-off grant. Eligibility was limited to public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, pointing to an intended partnership with universities or similar institutions that can provide conservation expertise, applied research support, or specialized technical capacity. The opportunity anticipated a single award, with an award ceiling of $27,000. The posting was created on July 15, 2019, with an original closing date of July 24, 2019, reflecting a short application window typical of targeted, project-specific cooperative agreements.
Overall, the opportunity is best understood as a focused preservation action aimed at preventing further material loss from some of the most threatened petrified stumps at FLFO by applying established conservation treatments to stabilize fractured and fragmenting petrified wood, reduce risks from environmental cycles and human impacts, and improve the long-term protection of a defining park resource.Apply for P19AS00379
- The Department of the Interior, National Park Service in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "mplementation of Stone Conservation Methods for Petrified Tree" 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 Jul 15, 2019.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 24, 2019. (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 $27,000.00 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.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the name of this grant opportunity?
The opportunity is titled "Implementation of Stone Conservation Methods for Petrified Tree".
What is the Funding Opportunity Number?
The Funding Opportunity Number is P19AS00379.
Which federal agency is offering this opportunity?
This is a discretionary funding opportunity under the U.S. Department of the Interior, specifically the National Park Service (NPS).
What type of award is being offered?
Funding is offered as a cooperative agreement, which typically indicates substantial involvement and collaboration with the federal agency during the project rather than a fully independent grant.
What is the project location or site this work will support?
The work focuses on Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument (FLFO).
What resources is the project intended to protect?
The project targets the preservation of large petrified redwood stumps at FLFO. The opportunity describes these petrified stumps as the park's fundamental resource, making their protection a central stewardship priority.
What is the core purpose of the project?
The goal is to protect and stabilize petrified stumps that are experiencing ongoing deterioration by putting into practice stone conservation methods that have already been tested and adapting those methods to the specific deterioration patterns of petrified wood.
Is this project about testing new conservation techniques or implementing existing ones?
The description emphasizes implementation of conservation techniques that have already been tested. It suggests moving from earlier trials or pilot treatments into broader field application for the targeted stumps.
What problem is the project trying to solve?
The project addresses active, ongoing deterioration affecting a subset of the monument's petrified stumps. The condition is described as a continuing decline driven by both natural and human-influenced weathering processes, not simply static aging.
How many petrified stumps are at the monument, and how many are actively deteriorating?
The opportunity references roughly 30 petrified stumps in total, with five identified as actively deteriorating.
What types of damage are occurring to the petrified stumps?
Documented damage includes cracking, spalling (surface flaking or breaking away), and the loss of large fragments.
Are there known historical causes contributing to the current fractures?
Some stumps contain deep, complex fractures that likely originated during early excavation activities, reportedly involving dynamite. The opportunity indicates these pre-existing weaknesses have continued to worsen over time due to environmental exposure.
What environmental processes are specifically mentioned as contributing to deterioration?
The notice highlights freeze-thaw cycling as a major driver. Water entering cracks can expand when frozen, increasing cracking and spalling and prying fragments loose.
How does gravity factor into the deterioration described?
Once fragments are loosened by cracking and spalling, gravity contributes to falling fragments and progressive loss of material, accelerating the decline of already weakened sections.
What biological factors are mentioned as risks to the stumps?
Biological interactions noted include cracking or defacement associated with plant growth, burrowing activity, and animal excrement. These can introduce moisture, salts, physical pressure, or chemical changes at vulnerable surfaces.
Does the opportunity mention salts as a deterioration factor?
Yes. It notes that ground salts, when activated by moisture, may be contributing to deterioration, which aligns with conservation concerns about salt movement and crystallization causing stress and surface loss.
Is theft considered a threat in the opportunity description?
Yes. Theft is explicitly cited as a threat, particularly because some fragments are within reach of visitors and can be removed.
What is currently being used to hold unstable sections together?
The most vulnerable sections were being held together primarily with steel banding, described as a practical restraint to prevent immediate separation.
Why is steel banding described as insufficient on its own?
The opportunity frames steel banding as temporary containment that helps prevent immediate separation but does not resolve underlying conservation problems driving continued deterioration.
What kind of conservation approach is expected under this project?
The project is expected to apply established stone conservation methods adapted to petrified wood, with the intent to move beyond temporary restraint and implement more durable stabilization measures suited to the specific deterioration patterns observed at FLFO.
Does the notice specify exact treatment materials or step-by-step methods?
No. While it clearly indicates the work is grounded in previously tested techniques and established stone conservation practice, the notice does not list specific products or treatment steps.
What is the activity category associated with this funding opportunity?
The opportunity is listed under a Natural Resources activity category.
What is the CFDA number listed for this opportunity?
The CFDA number provided is 15.945.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is limited to public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, indicating the opportunity is intended for universities or similar institutions.
How many awards were anticipated?
The opportunity anticipated a single award.
What was the maximum funding amount available?
The award ceiling was $27,000.
When was the posting created and when did it close?
The posting was created on July 15, 2019, and the original closing date was July 24, 2019.
How long was the application window?
Based on the dates provided (July 15, 2019 to July 24, 2019), the opportunity had a short application window, consistent with a targeted, project-specific cooperative agreement.
What is the overall intent of the grant in plain terms?
In practical terms, the opportunity aims to prevent further loss from some of the most threatened petrified stumps at FLFO by applying proven conservation treatments to stabilize fractured and fragmenting material, reduce risks from environmental cycles and human impacts, and improve long-term protection of a defining park resource.
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