Historical Markers (U.S. - Panama Shared History) | PAS PAN FY20 03

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Historical Markers (U.S. - Panama Shared History) Grant

What is the "Historical Markers (U.S. - Panama Shared History)" grant opportunity?

It is a discretionary grant opportunity offered by the U.S. Department of State through the Public Affairs Section (PAS) at the U.S. Embassy in Panama (Funding Opportunity Number: PAS PAN FY20 03). The opportunity was designed to fund one project that highlights and promotes locations in Panama that reflect the shared history between the United States and Panama.

What is the main goal of the project?

The core goal is to identify significant U.S.-Panamanian historical sites and implement practical ways to bring them to the public's attention through visible, accessible historical interpretation. The broader public diplomacy objective is to strengthen understanding and support among the Panamanian public by presenting a cohesive, engaging, and historically accurate story of shared history.

How many awards were expected to be made?

The notice indicates an expected total of one award.

What is the maximum funding amount (award ceiling)?

The award ceiling listed in the notice is $40,000.

Who is the primary target audience for the funded project?

The primary target audience is the general public in Panama. Domestic tourists are also specifically highlighted as an important audience segment, with an emphasis on educating residents and encouraging domestic tourism connected to these historical places.

What kinds of activities or deliverables does the grant strongly encourage?

The announcement strongly suggests installing physical interpretive elements such as historical markers, signs, or plaques at relevant locations in Panama City and/or other parts of the country. The project is also required to produce a brochure-style guide map, or a series of maps, featuring the selected sites and presenting them as a unified narrative.

Are physical markers required, or just recommended?

Based on the notice, physical interpretive elements (markers/signs/plaques) are strongly suggested as a central approach to meeting the objective of visible, accessible interpretation. The project is expected to develop strategies to bring sites to public attention, and the notice emphasizes physical markers as a key method.

What printed or take-home materials must be produced?

The project must produce a brochure-style guide map, or a series of maps, that feature the selected historical sites and present them as a cohesive, engaging, and historically accurate story. Wide distribution of these materials is a key requirement.

What does "wide distribution" mean in this context?

The notice emphasizes that the maps/brochure materials must be distributed broadly to educate residents and encourage domestic tourism tied to the historical sites. The specific distribution channels or quantities are not defined in the provided information, but the intent is to reach large audiences.

What types of costs are explicitly allowable under this grant?

Allowable expenses explicitly include design, production, installation, and printing of markers and brochures. Related personnel costs needed to carry out the work are also allowable, as long as they fall within applicable policy limits.

Does the grant support personnel or staffing costs?

Yes. The notice states that related personnel costs needed to carry out the work can be covered, within applicable policy limits.

What capabilities should a strong applicant demonstrate?

The opportunity is framed to support partners who can deliver high-quality public-facing products and reach large audiences. Applicants are expected to show capacity in research and historical interpretation as well as communications, outreach, and audience engagement.

What kind of experience is considered ideal for the implementer?

The ideal implementer is described as an organization or individual with experience in public engagement and marketing, museum or historical curation, or experiential learning, and with the ability to translate historical content into compelling materials for the general public.

Will the project require coordination with local authorities or site managers?

Yes. Because installing physical markers typically involves permissions and site management, the notice indicates the project will likely require coordination with local governments and other entities responsible for the locations where signs or plaques would be placed.

Is collaboration with the U.S. Embassy required?

The notice indicates the project will likely require close collaboration with the U.S. Embassy PAS.

Where can markers be installed under this project?

The notice suggests markers may be installed in Panama City and/or in other parts of Panama, depending on the selected sites and the strategy proposed.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is broad and includes registered nonprofit organizations (including think tanks and civil society/NGOs), universities and educational institutions, governmental institutions, and individuals. The notice also lists common U.S. grants eligibility categories such as city or township governments, public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, and nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status.

Are for-profit or commercial entities eligible to apply?

No. The opportunity explicitly excludes for-profit or commercial entities.

Are individuals allowed to apply, or only organizations?

Individuals are listed as eligible applicants, along with multiple types of organizations and institutions.

What registrations or identifiers are required for organizational applicants?

Organizational applicants must meet standard U.S. government registration requirements to receive an award, including having a DUNS number, an NCAGE/CAGE code, and an active registration in SAM.gov.

When was the application deadline?

The application window was open until January 31, 2020, with submissions accepted any time before that closing date.

When were applicants advised to start project activities?

Applicants were advised not to schedule project activities before April 1, 2020 to allow time for grant processing.

How were applications submitted?

Applications had to be submitted by email to PanCultural@state.gov.

What documents were required in the application package?

The notice states that applications needed to include a full proposal with a budget narrative, a budget worksheet, and the required federal form SF-424 (Application for Federal Assistance).

Where could applicants find additional instructions and required forms?

Additional instructions and required forms were made available through the U.S. Embassy Panama grants webpages, as referenced in the notice.

What makes this a public diplomacy project?

The notice frames the project as supporting public diplomacy by advancing U.S. national interests through strengthening understanding and support among the Panamanian public. It does this via visible, accessible historical interpretation that presents shared U.S.-Panamanian history in public spaces and widely distributed materials.