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. Place Cursor Here for Definition
Direct Payments for Specified Use. Place Cursor Here for Definition
USES AND USE RESTRICTIONS:
To make Conservation Project Support (CP) awards. CP grants are annual
competitive awards for projects of up to 2 years. CP 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 General
Operating Support 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.
Pre-application 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: The range is
approximately 6 months.
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. CP grants require a
fifty percent match by the applicant from nonfederal sources, but may include
in-kind contributions.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance: CP 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.
FINANCIAL INFORMATION:
Account Identification: 59-0300-0-1-503.
Obligations: (Grants) FY 01 $2,310,000; FY 02 est
$2,310,000; and FY 03 est $2,310,000.
Range and Average of Financial Assistance: For
fiscal year 2001, CP awards averaged $30,504.
For fiscal year 2001, 169 CP applications were received and 73 were funded.
REGULATIONS, GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE:
Final regulations are codified in 45 CFR 1180.
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: Steve 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: http://www.imls.gov.
EXAMPLES OF FUNDED PROJECTS:
CP 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.
