The Preservation Technology and Training (PTT) Grants program provides funding for innovative research that develops new technologies or adapts existing technologies to preserve cultural resources. Grant recipients undertake innovative research and produce technical reports which respond to national needs in the field of historic preservation. Since the inception of the grants program in 1994, the National Center has awarded over 300 grants totaling more than $9.1 million in Federal funds.
View a list of awarded grants >>>
2020 Call for Proposals
Deadline for submission: Monday, February 24, 2020 by 6:00PM ET for Projects beginning in late 2020.
Funding Opportunity Number: P20AS00028
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 15.923
Legislative Authority: 54 U.S.C. § 305304 Preservation Grants
Federal Regulations: 2 C.F.R. § 200, 2 C.F.R. § 1402
Program Background Information and Objectives:
2020 Preservation Technology and Training Grants (PTT Grants) are intended to create better tools, better materials, and better approaches to conserving buildings, landscapes, sites, and collections. The PTT Grants are administered by the National Center for Preservation Technology and Training (NCPTT), the National Park Service’s innovation center for the preservation community.
The competitive grants program will provide funding to federal agencies, states, tribes, local governments, and non-profit organizations. PTT Grants will support the following activities:
- Innovative research that develops new technologies or adapts existing technologies to preserve cultural resources (typically $20,000)
- Specialized workshops or symposia that identify and address national preservation needs (typically $15,000 to $20,000)
- How-to videos, mobile applications, podcasts, best practices publications, or webinars that disseminate practical preservation methods or provide better tools for preservation practice (typically $5,000 to $15,000)
The maximum grant award is $20,000. The actual grant award amount is dependent on the scope of the proposed activity. NCPTT does not fund “bricks and mortar” grants.
Secretary of the Interior Priorities:
This program supports Secretary of the Interior Priority1.a.” Utilize science to identify best practices to manage land and water and cultural resources and adapt to changes in the environment” in the following way, by creating new research, technology, and training to protect and conserve architecture, archeological sites and objects, cultural landscapes, and museum objects. The resulting products can be used to save cultural heritage important to the U.S. The work will lead to innovation in the preservation world.
Pre-Proposal Guidance
Applicants are encouraged to contact NCPTT to discuss their ideas prior to submitting a proposal. NCPTT staff will provide feedback on the degree of fit between the proposed idea and the mission of the grants program, along with suggestions for improving competitiveness. Please contact the expert below that most closely relates to the subject matter of your grant idea.
Archeology & Collections, contact Tad Britt, tad_britt@nps.gov
Architecture & Engineering, contact Andy Ferrell, andrew_ferrell@nps.gov
Historic Landscapes, contact Debbie Smith, debbie_smith@nps.gov
Materials Conservation, contact Dr. Mary F. Striegel, mary_striegel@nps.gov
You may also call (318) 356-7444 and an operator will connect you with the appropriate party.
To Apply
To apply for a PTT Grant, you must follow the instructions in the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) on Grants.gov at this address: https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/search-grants.html?keywords=P20AS00028.