What's the National Maritime Heritage Grants Program?
The National Maritime Heritage Grants Program is a competitive program that provides funding to prime recipients for education and preservation projects. The projects are designed to preserve historic maritime resources and to increase public awareness and appreciation for the maritime heritage of the United States. The National Maritime Heritage Grant Program was created under the National Maritime Heritage Act of 1994 (54 USC 308701-380707). The Program is administered jointly by the National Park Service (NPS), The Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (MARAD), and State Historic Preservation Offices (SHPO).
Are National Maritime Heritage Grants funded by Congressional appropriations?
No. The National Maritime Heritage Grants are funded by partial proceeds from the sale and scrapping of obsolete vessels from the National Defense Reserve Fleet. MARAD administers the scrapping program and provides the NPS with funds for the National Maritime Heritage Grants Program through a Memorandum of Agreement.
How do I contact the National Maritime Heritage Grants Program?
You can contact the program by emailing us at maritime_grants@nps.gov
Grants: General Information
Who can apply for a National Maritime Heritage Grant?
The any State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) in a state, territory, or freely associated state as well as the National Trust for Historic Preservation can apply for a National Maritime Heritage grant. Once they've recieved a grant they become known as the prime recipient. The prime recipient is able to use their grants to operate in-house projects and/or run competitive subgrant programs.
Who can apply for a National Maritime Heritage Grant subgrant?
State, tribal, or local governments or nonprofit organizations can apply for National Maritime Heritage Grant subgrants. Please reach out to the prime recipient/SHPO in the state, territory, or freely associated state in which your resource/project is located for more information.
Who cannot apply for a National Maritime Heritage grant or subgrant?
Individuals and federal agencies are not eligible to apply for National Maritime Heritage Maritime grants or subgrants.
What’s the difference between an in-house project and a competitive subgrant program?
An in-house project is a project the prime recipient manages and completes themselves. The prime recipient holds and uses the grant funds for their own project instead of using the grant funds to create a competitive subgrant program. Examples might include a state that wants to stabilize a specific historic maritime resource.
A competitive subgrant program is on that uses a competitive process in order to select individual projects to receive subgrants. A competitive subgrant program is created by a prime recipient who re-grants funds from their overall grant award in smaller amounts to individual projects. Potential subgrant recipients may apply for a competitive subgrant and are evaluated using pre-established criteria dictated by the prime recipient.
Note: A museum collaborating with an SHPO under a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) is not considered a competitive subgrant program. It's an in-house project since the museum was not selected competitively as a subgrant. However, a museum which applies to a competitive subgrant program and is selected using set criteria, is a competitively selected subgrant program.
Grant Types - Preservation and Education
What are the two types of grants funded by National Maritime Heritage Grants?
The two types of grants are Preservation and Education. These grants support projects in all three of the categories below:
- Historic Maritime Properties,
- Maritime Heritage Collections, and
- Traditional Maritime Skills.
National Maritime Heritage Grants are designed to support various maritime heritage projects that focus on these three broad categories of historic maritime resources.
Are Preservation Grant and Education Grant requirements basically the same?
No. Preservation grants and Education grants are two separate entities with their own distinct Notices of Funding (NOFO). They should be treated as separate grants when applying for a National Maritime Heritage Grant. Guidance for each grant type is outlined in its separate NOFO. Grant applications for each grant type should follow the correct NOFO guidelines. Please read each NOFO carefully before submitting an application for each grant type as they have multiple separate, non-overlapping requirements.
What’s the objective of a Preservation Grant?
The objective of a Preservation grant is to advance maritime heritage through public education for a wide audience on America’s maritime heritage in addition to at least one of the following:
- Identification of historic marine resources, including archaeological sites
- Acquisition of historic marine resources for the purposes of preservation
- Repair, rehabilitation, stabilization, maintenance, limited reconstruction, or other capital improvements to historic maritime resources in accordance with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards and Guidelines for Archaeology and Historic Preservation.
Example of a preservation project: An SHPO could apply for a grant to administer a subgrant program that supports the repair of historic piers. The application would describe why the SHPO has selected historic piers as the focus of the subgrant program, the broad educational value of such resource types, the maximum amount of each subgrant, how they intend to publicize the subgrant opportunity, and how they intend to select projects for funding.
What’s the objective of an Education Grant?
The objective of an Education grant is to advance maritime heritage through public education for a wide audience on America’s maritime heritage in addition to at least one of the following:
- Educational activities concerning historic marine resources, including archaeological sites
- Facilitate public connection and access to maritime heritage and resources
Example of an education project: An SHPO could apply for a grant to support the production of an online guide of the history of 8 historic anchors held by an SHPO owned/operated collecting institution. This project would then be an in-house education project.
I’m an SHPO applying for a Preservation Grant. Do I need to have an education plan?
Yes. All Preservation grants and subgrants must have an educational component to their scope of work.
The intent of the National Maritime Heritage Act of 1994 was to promote America’s maritime heritage and make more of the public aware of its critical role in our history. Criteria laid out for grant projects in the Act include the following criterian:
(1) demonstrate that the project for which the direct grant or subgrant will be used has the potential for reaching a broad audience with an effective educational program based on American maritime history, technology, or the role of maritime endeavors in American culture.
To be considered for funding applicants must show how all projects, whether preservation or education in nature, will meet criterion 1.
Additional information about the educational component of a Preservation Grant can be found below in the next FAQ question. In addition, all requirements for the Preservation grants are outlined in the Preservation Grant Notice of Funding Opportunity.
Can you provide more information about the educational component of a Preservation Grant?
Yes. In general, the educational component of a Preservation grant can be fulfilled by either:
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The SHPO (as the direct recipient) conducting an educational program highlighting the work of the individual subgrant projects or
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The individual subgrantees conducting an education program for their individual projects.
The NPS cannot dictate the specific educational requirements of a subgrant program. However, as the subgrant managing entity an SHPO has the flexibility to use their subgrant agreements to require specific tasks and deadlines.
If an SHPO decides to have subgrantees fulfill the educational component of the Preservation grant themselves, the SHPO will have to monitor and report on the individual activities in addition to the primary project. In that case, quantitative elements which are easy to monitor might be a useful tool to express how subgrantees may/must complete the educational component of their preservation subgrant award.
If the decision is made to have the individual subgrantees fulfill the educational component of the Preservation Grant, the SHPO may wish to consider ideas such as:
- Subgrantees could be required to provide proof of one successful public presentation before the final report is completed and/or,
- SHPOs could require a subgrantee to publish social media posts outlining project work. This would be due by the end of the period of performance.
The Maritime Heritage Grants Program would advise that any subgrant's educational component requirement be aligned with and in proportion to the primary subproject goals and objectives. This will help to maintain efficient project budget and staffing allocations.
Do you have language about the educational component of a Preservation Grant that SHPOs can use in their subgrant agreements?
Yes. The following language can be used:
In accordance with 54 USC § 308703(d)(1), the National Maritime Heritage Grants Program requires that Maritime Heritage preservation projects must, "demonstrate that the project for which the direct grant or subgrant will be used has the potential for reaching a broad audience with an effective educational program based on American maritime history, technology, or the role of maritime endeavors in American culture." The requirement for an educational component for preservation grant awards extends to individual subgrant projects and is reflected in the FY22 Notice of Funding Opportunity and in individual grant awards awarded to State Historic Preservation Offices (SHPO) to include the grant award for [INSERT PRES GRANT AWARD NUMBER]. As the entity acting on behalf of the Federal government in management of a subgrant program, the SHPO maintains the right and responsibility to impose requirements on a subrecipient so the pass-through entity and subrecipient may meet responsibilities to the Federal awarding agency as outlined in 2 CFR 200.332 (see specifically 2 CFR 200.332(a)(2) and (3)).
Additionally, per 2 CFR 200.331(a) on subrecipients, the subrecipient is responsible for adherence to applicable Federal program requirements specified in the Federal Award to include the successful execution of an education component for subgrant projects as determined by the managing entity of the subgrant program.
Prime Recipient (SHPO)
Is the Program looking for specific subgrant projects to be identified in a Prime Recipient's grant application?
No. The National Maritime Heritage Grant Program isn't looking for specific subgrant projects. Subgrant projects cannot be pre-selected. However, strong plans for a creative subgrant program that encourages and supports maritime heritage education projects and preservation projects are important. These will focus on three broad categories of historic maritime resources through Preservation and Education grant awards:
- Historic Maritime Properties
- Maritime Heritage Collections, and
- Traditional Maritime Skills.
I'm applying for a Preservation Grant, do I still need to have an education plan?
Yes. Please see the question above regarding SHPOs and education components of a Preservation Grant.
I’m a new prime recipient. Where can I go for guidance?
Please see our Manage Your Grant webpage for more information.
I’m a current prime recipient. What are my oversight responsibilities for my subgrants?
The prime recipient is responsible for the management of their subgrants. This includes oversight of subgrant reporting, compliance, financials, and budget. Preservation grants and Education grants are separate entities and should be treated as such. Guidance for each grant type is outlined in its own Notice of Funding (NOFO). Please read each NOFO carefully as each grant type has multiple separate, non-overlapping requirements.
I’m a prime recipient and need a sign for my project. Where can I find a project sign template?
You can find a National Maritime Heritage Grants Program project sign template on our Manage Your Grant webpage.
Subgrants
Can grant monies be awarded directly to a subgrantee by the National Maritime Heritage Grants Program?
No. The National Maritime Heritage Grants Program cannot award grant monies to a subgrantee. The grant funding is awarded to a prime recipient for distribution to subgrantees through a subgrant program.
What’s a subgrant program?
A subgrant program allows the prime recipient to award smaller amounts from a block of funding (grant) to eligible subgrant applicants.
For National Maritime Heritage Grants, grant funding is awarded to a prime recipient who may then set up a competitive subgrant program and award subgrants to eligible entities. These are intended to accomplish the goals of the National Maritime Heritage Grants Program. The prime recipient serves as a pass-through entity (2 CFR 200.1), providing grant funds to eligible entities in their state or territory who apply for grant funding.
Is it hard to run a subgrant program?
It all depends. It’s something to be carefully planned and not to be undertaken lightly. It’s very important that the subgrant applicant demonstrate their ability to manage a Federal subgrant program. Familiarity with the Office of Management and Budget’s (OMB) 2 CFR 200 is important in making this determination. Demonstrated experience with Federal grants and management of subgrant programs will be considered when awarding subgrants.
How long will I have to complete a subgrant?
Grant agreements will outline requirements for the length of the overall grant award. Subgrants need to begin and be completed within the timeframe set out in the grant award. Extensions may be requested and are awarded no more than one year at a time if significant progress can be shown.
Nonprofit
What constitutes a Nonprofit?
At a basic level, a nonprofit is an organization that’s exempt from taxation under 26 USC 501(c)(3) and has been granted tax exemption status by the US Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
For grants, under 2 CFR 200.1 “nonprofit organization” means any corporation, trust, association, cooperative, or other organization, not including Institutions of Higher Education (IHE), that:
- Is operated primarily for scientific, educational, service, charitable, or similar purposes in the public interest;
- Is not organized primarily for profit; and
- Uses net proceeds to maintain, improve, or expand the operations of the organization.
Can the nonprofit determination be in progress?
No. The applicant must already be a registered nonprofit organization and IRS documentation must be provided showing the organization’s nonprofit status. A nonprofit organization may show proof of their status by providing evidence that they’ve been granted tax exemption status by the IRS under section 501 (c)(3) (26 USC 501(c)(3).
I’m a registered nonprofit. Can I apply directly to the National Park Service (NPS) for a National Maritime Heritage Grant?
No. Only SHPOs and the National Trust for Historic Preservation may apply directly to the NPS for a National Maritime Heritage Grant. A nonprofit may apply for a subgrant from a prime recipient that has been awarded a National Maritime Heritage grant and that’s operating a subgrant program. Please reach out to the prime recipient in the state in which your resource/project is located for additional information.
Budget: Eligible Costs
What are the Eligible Costs for grant and subgrant projects?
Eligible costs for the National Maritime Heritage Grants are outlined in the Notices of Funding for Preservation grants and for Education grants.
What's not funded under grant and subgrant projects?
National Maritime Heritage Grants do not fund new infrastructure projects such as sidewalks, sewers, and water systems. Additional items that aren't funded are outlined in the Notices of Funding for Preservation grants and for Education grants.
Budget: Administrative Costs
What are Administrative Costs and are they allowable?
Administrative costs are costs specifically associated with the administration of the grant. They’re allowable under this grant program, however they’re limited. Administrative costs that are used to execute the grant as a whole (to include in-house and subgrant projects) cannot exceed 7.5%. In other words, any monies that are used to administer any aspect of the grant cannot exceed 7.5%
Administrative costs are allowable, reasonable, and allocable cost related to the overall management of activities directly related to:
- Finance – accounting, auditing, budgeting, contracting
- General administrative salaries and wages – grant administration, personnel, property management, equal opportunity
- Other “overhead” functions not directly attributable to specific program areas identified in the grant agreement – general legal services, general liability insurance, depreciation on buildings and equipment, etc.
All administrative costs reported must be absolutely necessary for program implementation, such as the cost items identified in the grant agreement or items otherwise approved in writing by the National Park Service Awarding Official (AO).
Budget: Indirect Costs
What are Indirect Costs?
Indirect costs are costs incurred for a common or joint purpose benefitting more than one cost objective, and not readily assignable to the cost objectives specifically benefitted (2 CFR 200.1) In other words, indirect costs are general business operations expenses. Grant projects generate operational costs that can't be directly identified with a specific grant or project cost objective but are indirectly associated with the grant.
Examples of common indirect costs include such things as office space and related costs, utilities, telephone, postage, office supplies, administrative and clerical salaries, and legal and financial services.
What’s considered equipment? What’s considered supplies?
Equipment is defined as tangible personal property with a useful life of more than one (1) year whose cost equals or exceeds $5,000 (2 CFR 200.1) Note: A computing device is a supply if the acquisition cost is less than $5,000, regardless of the length of its useful life. See 2 CFR 200.1 for the definition of "computing device".
Supplies are defined as tangible personal property that’s not equipment. Their cost is less than $5,000, regardless of the length of their useful life (2 CFR 200.1 ).
What's an Indirect Cost Rate?
An indirect cost rate is a tool for determining the proportion of indirect costs each program should bear. It's the ratio (expressed as a percentage) of the indirect costs to a direct cost base.
Some subgrantee applicants are eligible to use what's called a 10% de minimis rate composed of modified total direct costs (MTDC). This rate may be used indefinitely. The applicability and composition of this rate is defined in 2 CFR 200.414(f). If your budget proposal includes this 10% de minimis rate, you should carefully review 2 CFR 200.414 to understand how to apply the rate and the types of eligible costs allowed under the rate.
If your organization is ineligible to use the 10% de minimis rate or decides to apply for an Indirect Cost Rate Agreement, you should submit an Indirect Cost Rate Proposal to a cognizant federal agency for indirect costs.
What’s an Indirect Cost Rate Proposal?
An indirect cost rate proposal is the documentation prepared by an organization requesting an indirect cost rate. This package normally includes the proposal, related audited financial statements, and other detail supports such as general ledger, trial balance, etc. It determines the portion of indirect costs charged to the grant.
Indirect cost rate proposals are submitted to a cognizant federal agency. The Department of the Interior is the cognizant federal agency for:
- Nonprofit, state, and local entities that receive a majority of their federal funding from the Department of the Interior,
- All Indian tribal governments and their component units, and
- Insular area governments
If your cognizant federal agency is the Department of the Interior, you should submit an Indirect Cost Rate Proposal to the Interior Business Center. The Interior Business Center also negotiates and issues federally recognized indirect cost rate agreements on behalf of other cognizant federal agencies.
What’s an Indirect Cost Rate Agreement?
Once an Indirect Cost Rate has been negotiated, an Indirect Cost Rate Agreement will be signed by both your organization and the cognizant federal agency and will usually describe the type of rate, the effective period of the rate, and any other special notations.
For more information about indirect cost rates, proposals, and agreements visit the Interior Business Center's Frequently Asked Questions page.
Budget: Program-Related Costs
National Register Nominations
Can the cost of a National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) nomination be covered by a Maritime Heritage grant?
Yes. A National Maritime Heritage Grant can cover the cost of an NRHP nomination. Subgrant projects considering undertaking an NRHP nomination should talk with their SHPO about the NRHP process.
Is the cost of an NRHP nomination considered part of the 7.5% administrative costs budget limit?
No. An NRHP nomination is a program-related cost not an administrative cost. It doesn’t count towards the 7.5% administrative costs budget limit.
Section 106 Review, NEPA Review
Are Section 106 and NEPA reviews part of the 7.5% administrative costs budget limit? Under what category should they be listed in the budget?
No. Section 106 and NEPA reviews are program-related costs. Neither review counts towards the 7.5% administrative costs budget limit. The cost for conducting Section 106 and NEPA reviews should be listed under “personnel”.
Easement, Covenant. Preservation Agreement
Can the cost of the required easement, covenant, or preservation agreement be included in the grant application?
Yes. Costs to establish and manage easements, covenants, or preservation agreements are allowable. The costs associated with an easement, covenant, or preservation agreement should be listed under “other".
Do easement, covenant, or preservation agreement costs count towards the 7.5% administrative costs budget limit?
No. Easements, covenants, and preservation agreements are program-related costs. They don’t count towards the 7.5% administrative costs budget limit.
Port of San Diego/Flickr
Are Section 106 reviews required for all Preservation projects?
Yes. Preservation projects funded as subgrants and in-house projects under a National Maritime Heritage Grant constitute "undertakings" as defined by Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (54 USC 306108). The National Maritime Heritage Grants Program utilizes a 4-Step process for Section 106 reviews and operates in compliance with the NPS 2008 Nationwide Programmatic Agreement.
The NPS and the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP) are creating a new Nationwide Financial Assistance Programmatic Agreement which will affect all NPS Cultural Resource programs that award grants including the National Maritime Heritage Grants Program. The Program will operate in compliance with this new Programmatic Agreement when it's released to the public. For additional information related to this new Programmatic Agreement, please see: Nationwide Programmatic Agreement for Cultural Resources Financial Assistance.
Please Note: The National Maritime Heritage Grants Program 2017 Manual should not be used as a guiding reference for grants with FY22 funding and beyond. Prime recipients should reference their Notice of Funding Opportunities for their individual Preservation and Education grants for additional information and guidance on Section 106.
For specific Section 106 concerns, please email the National Maritime Heritage Grants Program directly at maritime_grants@nps.gov.
What types of grant projects require a NEPA review?
Under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) the NPS reviews all archaeological surveys that have ground disturbance and any construction projects for impacts on the environment. The National Maritime Heritage Grants Program will provide a worksheet for this process.
Can an SHPO carry out Section 106 and NEPA reviews of their subgrantee's Preservation Projects?
Yes. SHPOs are responsible for conducting Section 106 and NEPA reviews of the plans and specifications for each selected subgrant preservation project. The SHPO may choose to add Section 106 and NEPA considerations to their criterion for subgrant preservation project selection. Section 106 and NEPA reviews must be submitted to NPS for review in HPF Online.
Are any other reviews required for National Maritime Heritage Grant Preservation Projects?
Depending on the project, additional federal reviews may be required under other laws such as the Archeological Resources Protection Act of 1979 (ARPA) and the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA).
Last updated: February 15, 2024