Opportunity Information: Apply for P15AS00394
The Fort Brown National Historic Landmark Nomination opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number P15AS00394) is a National Park Service cooperative agreement tied to the National Historic Landmark (NHL) Program, carried out under the authorities of the Historic Sites Act of 1935 and the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 (as amended). In practical terms, it supports federal work to properly identify, document, and strengthen the long-term preservation and interpretation of historic places that have national significance. Here, the focus is Fort Brown in Brownsville, Cameron County, Texas, a site connected to early U.S.-Mexico conflict history and the broader military landscape along the Rio Grande.
The core purpose of the award is to revise the existing NHL boundary for Fort Brown and to prepare a new National Historic Landmark nomination package that better reflects what is actually present on the ground and below the surface. The earlier 1986 nomination was relatively limited in scope, largely concentrating on the visibly surviving earthworks and formally covering only an 80 by 170 yard portion of the fort that was designated at the time. Since then, newer research has changed the understanding of the site. Non-invasive archeological methods and a cultural landscape study indicate there are substantial subsurface remains of the fort that were not captured by the earlier boundary and documentation. In addition, the surrounding landscape may contain other related features, including additional American and Mexican earthworks connected to the siege of Fort Texas, meaning the historically significant area is likely larger and more complex than what the NHL listing currently recognizes.
This opportunity is structured around collaboration. The NPS Heritage Partnerships Program is identified as the lead on the federal side, working in cooperation with a designated cooperator and key partners that include the International Boundary and Water Commission, Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park, and the City of Brownsville. The work implies coordination across multiple jurisdictions and interests, especially because one of the explicit goals is to encompass the entire original earth fortification area, or as much of it as feasible, depending on landowner consent. That detail matters because it signals that boundary expansion and the updated nomination are intended to be grounded not only in historical and archeological evidence, but also in real-world property ownership and stakeholder agreement.
From a grant mechanics perspective, this is listed as a discretionary award using a cooperative agreement instrument under CFDA 15.954, with the activity category noted as Natural Resources. It is also described as a noncompetitive notice of intent to award, with an expected number of awards of one, indicating NPS planned to make a single, directed award rather than run an open, competitive solicitation. The posting shows an original closing date of 2015-09-18 and an award ceiling listed as 0, which often appears in notices where the funding amount is predetermined, handled through internal agreement structures, or otherwise not expressed as a standard competed ceiling in the public listing.
Overall, the opportunity is best understood as targeted federal support to update and strengthen the official NHL documentation for Fort Brown by expanding the boundary and rewriting the nomination so it reflects current scholarship and field findings. The intended outcome is a more accurate and comprehensive recognition of Fort Brown as a cultural landscape, not just a small area of visible earthworks, capturing both the fort itself and related defensive or siege features that help explain the full historical story of the site.Apply for P15AS00394
- The National Park Service in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Fort Brown National Historic Landmark Nomination" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.954.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2015-09-08.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2015-09-18. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others.
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Fort Brown National Historic Landmark Nomination (P15AS00394) - FAQs
What is this funding opportunity?
This is a National Park Service (NPS) cooperative agreement connected to the National Historic Landmark (NHL) Program. It is focused on updating the official NHL documentation for Fort Brown in Brownsville, Cameron County, Texas.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number?
The Funding Opportunity Number is P15AS00394.
Which federal program is this tied to?
The effort is tied to the National Historic Landmark (NHL) Program, which supports the identification, documentation, preservation, and interpretation of places with national significance.
What legal authorities support this work?
The work is carried out under the authorities of the Historic Sites Act of 1935 and the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 (as amended).
What site does this opportunity focus on?
The focus is Fort Brown in Brownsville, Cameron County, Texas. The site is connected to early U.S.-Mexico conflict history and the broader military landscape along the Rio Grande.
What is the core purpose of the award?
The core purpose is to revise the existing National Historic Landmark boundary for Fort Brown and prepare a new NHL nomination package that better reflects what is present on the ground and below the surface.
Why is a new nomination package needed if Fort Brown was already nominated?
The earlier nomination from 1986 was limited in scope and focused largely on visibly surviving earthworks. It formally covered only an 80 by 170 yard portion of the fort designated at the time. Newer research suggests the historically significant area is larger and more complex than what the current NHL documentation recognizes.
What new information has changed the understanding of Fort Brown?
Non-invasive archeological methods and a cultural landscape study indicate there are substantial subsurface remains that were not captured by the earlier boundary and documentation. The surrounding landscape may also contain related features connected to the siege of Fort Texas.
What types of resources might be included in the updated boundary and documentation?
The updated work is intended to reflect both visible and subsurface remains of the fort. It may also account for related landscape features, including additional American and Mexican earthworks associated with the siege of Fort Texas.
What does "revise the NHL boundary" mean in practical terms?
It means adjusting the officially recognized area of the National Historic Landmark so that it encompasses the entire original earth fortification area, or as much of it as feasible, based on evidence and practical constraints such as landowner consent.
How does land ownership affect the boundary revision?
One explicit goal is to include the entire original earth fortification area, or as much as feasible, depending on landowner consent. This signals that the proposed boundary expansion must account for real-world property ownership and stakeholder agreement.
Who is leading the work on the federal side?
The NPS Heritage Partnerships Program is identified as the federal lead.
Who are the partners involved in this effort?
The opportunity describes collaboration with a designated cooperator and key partners that include the International Boundary and Water Commission, Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park, and the City of Brownsville.
Why is collaboration emphasized for this opportunity?
The work implies coordination across multiple jurisdictions and interests, especially because boundary expansion can involve multiple landowners and because the broader historic landscape may extend beyond the area covered by the older NHL documentation.
What type of award mechanism is being used?
This is a discretionary award using a cooperative agreement instrument.
What does it mean that this is a cooperative agreement?
Based on the listing, the award is structured for collaborative work between NPS (as the federal lead) and a designated cooperator, along with other partners, to complete the boundary revision and updated NHL nomination package.
Is this an open, competitive grant opportunity?
No. It is described as a noncompetitive notice of intent to award, with an expected number of awards of one. That indicates a single, directed award rather than an open competition.
How many awards were expected?
The expected number of awards is one.
What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The listing references CFDA 15.954.
What activity category is listed for this opportunity?
The activity category is noted as Natural Resources.
What was the original closing date shown for the opportunity?
The posting shows an original closing date of 2015-09-18.
What is the award ceiling for this opportunity?
The award ceiling is listed as 0. The description notes that this often appears in notices where the funding amount is predetermined, handled through internal agreement structures, or otherwise not expressed as a standard competed ceiling in the public listing.
What is the intended end result of the funded work?
The intended outcome is stronger, more accurate National Historic Landmark documentation for Fort Brown, including a revised boundary and a rewritten nomination that reflects current scholarship and field findings.
How is Fort Brown being treated in the updated approach?
The opportunity frames Fort Brown as a cultural landscape, not just a small surviving area of visible earthworks. The updated nomination is intended to capture the fort and related defensive or siege features that help explain the full historical story.
Does the opportunity specifically mention the siege of Fort Texas?
Yes. It notes that the surrounding landscape may contain additional American and Mexican earthworks connected to the siege of Fort Texas, which could be part of the broader historically significant area.
What is the practical significance of updating the nomination and boundary?
The update is meant to ensure the official NHL record matches current evidence, including subsurface archeological findings and cultural landscape research, so the nationally significant resources are properly identified, documented, and supported for long-term preservation and interpretation.
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