Opportunity Information: Apply for F18AS00247
The funding opportunity titled "Restoration of the historic St. Marks Lighthouse" (Funding Opportunity Number F18AS00247) is a U.S. Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service notice stating an intent to make a single-source award. This is not a typical competitive grant solicitation and there is no full announcement attached to the notice. Instead, it functions as a formal public notification that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) plans to enter into one cooperative agreement with one recipient, with only one award expected.
The purpose of the cooperative agreement is to support restoration work on the historic St. Marks Lighthouse, which is located on the St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge in Wakulla County, Florida. The lighthouse is listed on the National Register of Historic Sites, and its preservation is tied to federal stewardship responsibilities. The notice explains that the lighthouse was transferred from the U.S. Coast Guard to the USFWS in 2013. At the time of transfer, the structure had seen limited maintenance, and deterioration was already visible in both the lighthouse tower and the keeper's house. Because the Department of the Interior requires proper maintenance of historic sites under its care, the project is framed as both a preservation effort and a compliance-driven need to stabilize and restore a nationally significant asset.
USFWS indicates that it partnered with the Friends of the St. Marks Wildlife Refuge soon after the transfer to develop a restoration strategy, and then began pursuing grant funding and donations to carry out that strategy. While the notice does not provide detailed scopes of work, timelines, or construction specifications, the clear intent is that the cooperative agreement will fund tangible restoration actions addressing the documented deterioration and helping return the lighthouse and associated structures to a properly maintained condition consistent with historic preservation expectations.
From an administrative standpoint, the opportunity is categorized as discretionary funding using a cooperative agreement instrument, which typically implies substantial federal involvement during the project (for example, coordination, oversight, or shared project execution), rather than a hands-off pass-through award. The listing associates the opportunity with activity areas such as community development, education, and law/justice/legal services, and cites CFDA 15.654. Eligibility is described as "unrestricted" in the source data, but because the notice is explicitly a single-source intent to award, it should be understood as effectively closed to open competition; the practical outcome is that the agency is signaling its plan to fund a particular partner rather than inviting applications from the public.
Key dates in the record show the opportunity was created on July 17, 2018, with an original closing date of July 26, 2018, reflecting the short window typical of public notices of intent rather than open application periods. The expected number of awards is one, and the listed award ceiling is shown as 1 (as presented in the source data), reinforcing that this posting is primarily informational and meant to document the agency's intended award for the lighthouse restoration effort.Apply for F18AS00247
- The Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service in the community development, education, law, justice and legal services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Restoration of the historic St. Marks Lighthouse" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.654.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jul 17, 2018.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 26, 2018 THIS IS A NOTICE OF INTENT TO AWARD TO A SINGLE SOURCE ANNOUNCEMENT ASSOCIATED WITH THIS NOTICE.. (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 $1.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the name of this funding opportunity?
The funding opportunity is titled "Restoration of the historic St. Marks Lighthouse."
What is the Funding Opportunity Number?
The Funding Opportunity Number is F18AS00247.
Which federal agency is issuing this notice?
This notice is issued by the U.S. Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS).
Is this a competitive grant that accepts applications from the public?
No. The notice states an intent to make a single-source award, meaning it is not a typical competitive grant solicitation and is not set up as an open application opportunity.
Is there a full funding announcement with instructions and an application package?
No. The notice indicates there is no full announcement attached. It functions as a formal public notification of USFWS's intent to enter into one cooperative agreement with one recipient.
How many awards does USFWS expect to make under this opportunity?
Only one award is expected.
What type of funding instrument will be used?
The agency plans to use a cooperative agreement.
What does it mean that the award is a cooperative agreement?
A cooperative agreement typically indicates substantial federal involvement during the project, such as coordination, oversight, or shared project execution, rather than a purely hands-off award.
What is the purpose of the cooperative agreement?
The purpose is to support restoration work on the historic St. Marks Lighthouse and associated structures to address documented deterioration and return them to a properly maintained condition consistent with historic preservation expectations.
Where is the St. Marks Lighthouse located?
The lighthouse is located on the St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge in Wakulla County, Florida.
Why is this restoration project being funded?
The notice frames the project as a preservation effort tied to federal stewardship responsibilities. It also describes a compliance-driven need to maintain historic sites under Department of the Interior care, especially given visible deterioration in the lighthouse tower and the keeper's house.
Is the lighthouse historically significant?
Yes. The St. Marks Lighthouse is listed on the National Register of Historic Sites.
What is included in the restoration effort?
The notice does not provide detailed scopes of work, timelines, or construction specifications. It does indicate that the cooperative agreement will fund tangible restoration actions addressing deterioration in the lighthouse tower and the keeper's house.
When did USFWS receive responsibility for the lighthouse?
The notice states that the lighthouse was transferred from the U.S. Coast Guard to USFWS in 2013.
What condition was the lighthouse in at the time of transfer?
According to the notice, the structure had seen limited maintenance and deterioration was already visible in both the lighthouse tower and the keeper's house.
Did USFWS work with any partner on a restoration strategy?
Yes. The notice states that USFWS partnered with the Friends of the St. Marks Wildlife Refuge soon after the transfer to develop a restoration strategy and to pursue grant funding and donations to support that strategy.
What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The notice cites CFDA 15.654.
What activity areas are associated with this opportunity?
The listing associates the opportunity with activity areas including community development, education, and law/justice/legal services.
Who is eligible to apply?
The source data describes eligibility as "unrestricted." However, the notice is explicitly a single-source intent to award, so in practical terms it is effectively closed to open competition and is not presented as an invitation for the public to apply.
What are the key dates for this notice?
The record shows the opportunity was created on July 17, 2018, with an original closing date of July 26, 2018.
Why is the posting window so short?
The short window is consistent with a public notice of intent to award, which is typically informational and meant to document the agency's planned action rather than run an open competition.
What is the award ceiling for this opportunity?
The listed award ceiling is shown as 1 in the source data, reinforcing that the posting is primarily informational and tied to a single anticipated award.
What is the main takeaway for organizations looking for open grants?
This notice is best understood as a public record that USFWS plans to fund one specific restoration effort through one cooperative agreement with one recipient, rather than an open call for applications.
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