Maritime Heritage Education Subgrant Program: FAQs
The National Maritime Heritage Grant Program (NMHG) is a federally funded program with a 50% matching grant reimbursement. The program is administered by the National Park Service National Maritime Heritage Program, in partnership with the Maritime Administration (MARAD).
The Massachusetts Historical Commission is among the recipients of 2023 National Maritime Heritage Grants Program, awarded by the National Park Service (NPS) to State Historic Preservation Offices (SHPO).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the National Maritime Heritage Grant Program Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO)?
The National Maritime Heritage Grant NOFO is a comprehensive overview, prepared by the National Park Service (NPS), of their federal Maritime Heritage Education Grant Program. MHC applied for the program and received the education funding (MHC Maritime Heritage Education) currently offered to eligible applicants.
View the National Maritime Heritage Education Grant Program Notice of Funding Opportunity document (PDF).
What is the objective of an Education Grant?
Education grants advance maritime heritage through public education for a wide audience. Eligible activities advance America’s maritime heritage in addition to at least one of the following:
- Develop educational activities concerning historic marine resources, including archaeological sites
- Facilitate public connection and access to maritime heritage and resources
Who can apply for the MHC Maritime Heritage Education Subgrant Program?
Local governments, non-profit organizations, and tribal entities. Federal agencies can’t apply directly for assistance, but projects involving federally-owned historic maritime resources are eligible.
Proposals relating to federally owned or managed historic maritime resources should be submitted by a non-federal organization working under a legal written agreement (such as a cooperative agreement, memorandum of agreement, or memorandum of understanding) with a Federal agency to carry out the objectives of the project.
Any grants awarded will be made to the non-federal applicant, not the Federal agency owning or managing Federal historic maritime resources. In addition, non-federal organizations applying for funds to support activities relating to federally owned maritime resources must match the requested grant amount on a 1-to-1 basis with non-federal contributions from non-federal sources.
Federal funding may not be used to match federal funding. Projects contemplating work on federal resources must carefully consider how matching obligations will be fulfilled.
What is the MHC Maritime Heritage Education Subgrant Program Funding Level?
The total amount available in the Fiscal Year 2023 grants cycle is $226,901.25.
Awards for the FY2023 grants cycle will range from $10,000 to $50,000, with total project costs from $20,000 to $100,000.
The amount requested must be matched on a 1-to-1 basis with non-federal contributions from non-federal sources. Project activities should be designed with these funding levels in mind.
What are the different types of Historic Maritime Resources?
Based on the provisions of the Act, NPS guidelines, and Secretary of the Interior Standards, “Historic Maritime Resources” consists of:
- Historic Maritime Properties
- Maritime Heritage Collections
- Traditional Maritime Skills
Download a guide to Defining Historic Maritime Resources (PDF).
How much grant money can our organization request from the program?
You can request between $10,000 and $50,000.
What are the allowable grant costs?
Grant funds can only support grant-related activities. Federal Cost Principles are used to determine allowable costs for project activities supported by the NMHG Program.
All costs claimed under the grant/subgrant are subject to the applicable Federal cost principles as well as those selected items of cost addressed in the Historic Preservation Fund Grants Manual and 2 CFR 200.
How much match is required?
This grant program requires a 1:1 match. For example, if your entity requests $15,000 in grant money, it must match that with at least $15,000, and the total project cost would be at least $30,000.
What can serve as match?
Cash, in-kind labor, goods and services, volunteer time, and donations may count as match. Make sure to adequately document any match activities.
If you use general or professional volunteer time as match, you’ll need to keep a thorough record of donated labor hours, rates, dates, and names.
Funds from other grant sources may be considered match if they directly and wholly support the purpose of your Maritime Heritage project. The funds can’t come from federal monies, though.
Can maritime matching share include donations that are promised but not yet collected?
No, the matching share can’t include uncollected pledges.
How do you value volunteer services?
Volunteer services can be counted as cost sharing or matching if:
- They’re provided by third-party professional and technical personnel, consultants, or other skilled and unskilled labor
- They’re an integral and necessary part of an approved project or program
Rates for third-party volunteer services must align with the rates for similar work by the non-Federal entity. If the required skills aren’t found in the non-Federal entity, rates must align with the market rate for similar work and services. In either case, you can include paid fringe benefits that are reasonable, necessary, allocable, and otherwise allowable.
If a third-party organization hires an employee, any services must be valued at the employee's regular rate of pay, plus:
- An amount of fringe benefits that is reasonable, necessary, allocable, and otherwise allowable
- Any indirect costs at either the third-party organization's approved federally-negotiated indirect cost rate or, a rate in accordance with § 200.414(d), provided these services use the same skills for which the employee is normally paid.
If any donated services are treated as indirect costs, indirect cost rates will separate the value of the donated services, to avoid reimbursement for those services.
How do you value donated property?
Donated property from third parties can include items like:
- Equipment
- Office supplies
- Laboratory supplies
- Workshop and classroom supplies
What is considered equipment?
Equipment is defined as tangible personal property with:
- A useful life of more than one year
- A cost equal or exceeding $5,000 (2 CFR 200.1)
What are considered supplies?
Supplies are defined as tangible personal property with:
- A cost less than $5,000, regardless of longevity (2 CFR 200.1).
What isn’t eligible for funding?
Generally, the program doesn’t fund:
- Long-term maintenance or curatorial work beyond the grant period
- Activities that train a professional to perform work better
- Cash reserves, endowments, revolving funds, or fund-raising costs
- Work performed before the announcement of the prime or sub-award, as appropriate
- Lobbying or advocacy activities
- Costs for work already completed or funded through other federal programs
- Miscellaneous costs, contingencies, reserves, or overhead, except as permitted by 2 CFR 200
What are the federal financial and administrative requirements for the program?
Grant administration follows standards specified in 43 CFR 12, "Administrative and Audit Requirements and Cost Principles for Assistance Programs," which incorporates applicable Office of Management and Budget Circulars.
Several significant changes to OMB Circulars have been incorporated into a new "Supercircular." Grant recipients should review these changes within 2 CFR 200.Should I follow a specific format when submitting requests for reimbursement and narrative progress reports?
We’ll supply grant recipients with specific forms, file formats, and reporting examples after executing a grant.
As you incur costs, you can submit proof of costs (copies of cancelled checks, invoices, timesheets, etc.) with a reimbursement payment request.
What is a Unique Entity Identifier and System for Award Management (SAM) Employee Identification Number (SAM.gov) Registration?
All applicants must register in SAM.gov before submitting a federal award application. You’ll obtain a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) during registration.
Registration in SAM.gov is required to receive any federal award. Without a completed registration, you won’t qualify to receive a grant.
If you’re registered, and you receive a federal grant, you’ll also need to maintain an active SAM.gov registration with current information throughout the life of your federal award.
What is Section 106 compliance?
Grants funded by the National Maritime Heritage Grants Program are subject to “Section 106” review. This is derived from Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966.
Section 106, formally 54 USC 306108, requires federal agencies to consider the impact (called “effect”) of federally funded projects on historic resources. Learn more about Section 106 review in this Citizen’s Guide.
For additional Section 106 information, visit the NPS Section 106 Compliance Program and the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP).
What is the National Maritime Heritage Grant Program?
The National Maritime Heritage Grant Program (NMHG), administered by the National Park Service (NPS), is a federally funded program with a 50% matching grant reimbursement. On November 2, 1994, the National Maritime Heritage Act (H.R. 3059) became Public Law 103-451 (54 USC 308701-380707). It describes a National Maritime Heritage Policy and establishes the National Maritime Heritage Grants Program within the Department of the Interior. The Grants Program is administered by the National Park Service National Maritime Heritage Program, in partnership with the Maritime Administration (MARAD). The program doesn’t use federal tax dollars, but is funded by recycling vessels from the MARAD's National Defense Reserve Fleet.
A single round of grants was awarded in 1998. Due to environmental and worker safety issues associated with the grant funding source, the program was discontinued until 2014 after this first round. Successful projects from the 1998 and 2014 grant cycles can be found on National Park Services recipient list. Visit the NPS for a list of 2023 recipients.
In 2013, the NPS and MARAD entered into a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) that established a partnership to promote and advance public awareness and appreciation for the nation’s maritime heritage, including re-establishment of the grants. MARAD sales of obsolete ships will continue to provide annual grant funding at approximately this same level; MARAD and the NPS anticipate that if sales continue at or near current levels, the program can continue to support maritime heritage projects across the country for the foreseeable future.