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Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance

Program Descriptions

45.304:  Conservation Assessment Program

Popular Name:  CAP

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.

PROGRAM AND AWARD	FINANCIAL AND INFORMATION CONTACTS
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS	FINANCIAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFO.
APPLICATION AND AWARD PROCESS	INFORMATION CONTACTS
RELATED PROGRAMS	ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS
PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS	POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS

45.304 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 Marshall Islands, The Federated States of Micronesia, and Palau, or DC may apply for a grant under this Act. A public or private nonprofit organization, such as a municipality, college, or university which is responsible for the operation of a museum may, if necessary, 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, private nonprofit museums, museum service organizations 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.

45.304 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:  To participate in the Conservation Assessment Program, a museum must contact Historic Preservation, Inc. at 3299 K Street, NW., Suite 602, Washington DC 20007. Phone: (202) 625-1495. FAX: (202) 625-1485.

Award Procedure:  Proposals are reviewed by Historic Preservation Inc., and IMLS to determine the assessments awarded by IMLS to eligible applicants.

Deadlines:  Contact the Institute of Museum and Library Services for deadlines. Phone: (202) 606-8539.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time:  The range is about 4 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.

Criteria for Selecting Proposals:  The following criteria apply to the evaluation of all applications for Conservation Assessment Program: first come-first served to eligible museum.

Examples of Funded Projects:  Conservation Assessment Program grants to all museums, including historic houses, anthropology museums, aviation history were awarded.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance:  For fiscal year 1999, CAP awards averaged $6,000.

45.304 RELATED PROGRAMS:

• 45.301 Institute of Museum and Library Services;
• 45.302 Museum Assessment Program;
• 45.303 Conservation Project Support;
• 45.305 Professional Services Program;
• 45.306 Museum Leadership Initiatives;
• 15.904 Historic Preservation Fund Grants-In-Aid;
• 15.914 National Register of Historic Places;
• 15.915 Technical Preservation Services.

45.304 PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

For fiscal year 1999, 156 awards were funded.

45.304 FINANCIAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFO:

Federal Agency:  OFFICE OF MUSEUM SERVICES, INSTITUTE OF MUSEUM AND LIBRARY SERVICES, NATIONAL FOUNDATION ON THE ARTS AND THE HUMANITIES

Type of Assistance:  Direct Payments for Specified Use (Cooperative Agreements).

Obligations:  (Grants) FY 99 $820,000; FY 00 est $820,000; and FY 01 est $820,000.

Budget Account Number:  59-0300-0-1-503.

Authorization:  Museum Library Services Act of 1996, Title II, Public Law 104-208.

Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature:  Final regulations are codified in 45 CFR 1180.

45.304 INFO CONTACTS:

Regional or Local Office:  Not applicable.

Headquarters Office:  Institute of Museum and Library Services, 1100 Pennsylvania Ave., Room 510, NW., Washington, DC 20506. Contacts: Steve Shwartzman at (202) 606-4644, Public Affairs at (202) 606-4646, 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.

(See Appendix IV for more contact info.)

45.304 ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS:

Formula and Matching Requirements:  45 CFR 1180. The Conservation Assessment Program is funded by the Institute of Museum and Library Services. CAP museums share a percentage of the cost of the assessment.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance:  CAP grants are paid directly to the grantees.

Uses and Use Restrictions:  To make grants to museums for the Conservation Assessment Program (CAP). CAP funds an overall assessment of the conditions of a museum's environment and collections to identify conservation needs and priorities.

45.304 POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:

Reports:  Final reports are required from a Conservation Assessment Program grantees.

Audits:  All applicants who have previously received an IMLS grant (excluding MAP, MAP II, MAP III, and CAP grants) must submit their audited financial statement for the last fiscal year immediately preceding the fiscal year in which application is made or the preceding fiscal year, prepared by an individual or organization meeting the qualifications of the Comptroller General of the United States for individuals or organizations conducting Government audits. Reference is made to GAO, "Standards for Audit of Government Organizations, Programs and Functions." Applicants for a Professional Services Program contract must submit with their application and their financial statements for the most recent fiscal year that information is available.

Records:  Grant and contract recipients will be required to maintain standard and financial statements.