Notice of Intent: Documentation and Implementation of Treatment Plans at Casa Grande Ruins | P17AS00026

Opportunity Information: Apply for P17AS00026

This Notice of Intent funding opportunity (P17AS00026) from the Department of the Interior, National Park Service focuses on urgently documenting and carrying out conservation treatment plans for prehistoric finish plasters at Casa Grande Ruins. The plasters described in the notice are clay-based and only lightly bound, and they contain soot deposits trapped between successive plaster layers. Over time, that soot has contributed to weak bonding between layers, and the park has recently seen an apparent increase in active deterioration. The main symptom is delamination, meaning the plaster layers are separating from each other and in some areas pulling away from the underlying substrate. The condition is serious enough that plaster fragments are frequently found on the floor at the base of walls, which signals ongoing loss rather than isolated, historic damage.

The core purpose of the work is preservation in place, with a strong emphasis on keeping both the physical material and its context intact. The notice lays out three principal treatment goals: first, to preserve the archaeological, architectural, technological, and iconographic information contained in the finishes so they remain available for future research; second, to preserve the plasters in situ, meaning on the walls and in their original architectural setting rather than removed or replaced; and third, to retain as much of the original fabric and integrity as possible by using minimally invasive materials and methods. The opportunity makes it clear that context matters as much as the plaster itself, because future study depends not only on the material composition but also on how the finishes relate to construction sequences, architectural spaces, and visible surface features.

From a technical standpoint, the notice indicates that localized delamination can often be stabilized using a range of natural and/or synthetic adhesives, implying that the project will involve careful selection and controlled application of consolidants or bonding agents to reattach loose layers. At the same time, it highlights a specific treatment risk: soot-darkened surfaces are highly sensitive because soot is very soluble and can migrate easily, potentially staining surrounding plaster during conservation work. Because of that, testing is not optional. The plan calls for preparing facsimiles (test panels or mock-ups that replicate the plaster and soot conditions) to evaluate both the potential for staining and the achievable bond strength before any treatment is applied directly to the historic fabric. In practical terms, this means the project is expected to include a structured testing phase that informs final treatment decisions, rather than moving straight to field application.

Administratively, this is a discretionary grant supported through a cooperative agreement, which typically means the National Park Service expects to be actively involved during the project, such as coordinating technical decisions, reviewing deliverables, or providing site access and oversight. The funding activity category is Natural Resources, and the CFDA number listed is 15.945. Eligibility is limited to public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, suggesting the intended applicant pool includes universities and similar public academic entities with relevant conservation, materials science, archaeology, or historic preservation expertise. The opportunity anticipated a single award, with an award ceiling of $51,000. The notice was created on November 29, 2016, with an original closing date of December 8, 2016, indicating a short application window consistent with time-sensitive stabilization needs.

Overall, the opportunity centers on preventing further loss of fragile, historically significant wall finishes at Casa Grande Ruins by pairing careful documentation with field-appropriate treatment implementation. The emphasis on minimal intervention, in-place preservation, and pretesting on facsimiles reflects a conservation approach aimed at stabilizing what exists while avoiding unintended side effects, especially soot-related staining and any treatment that could compromise future research value.

• The Department of the Interior, National Park Service in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Notice of Intent: Documentation and Implementation of Treatment Plans at Casa Grande Ruins" 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 Nov 29, 2016.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Dec 08, 2016. (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 $51,000.00 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.

Apply for P17AS00026

[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal: