Opportunity Information: Apply for STX 100 FY20 0002
The Exchange program for historical sites preservation experts is a U.S. Department of State funding opportunity run by the U.S. Mission to Turkmenistan that supports a professional exchange in the United States for five specialists from Turkmenistan's National Department of Protection, Research, and Restoration of Historical and Cultural Sites under the Ministry of Culture. The program is designed around an urgent preservation problem in Turkmenistan: many antique and medieval sites are built largely from unbaked brick, which makes them especially vulnerable to weathering and natural deterioration. While the National Department has significant local experience and has already accomplished a lot, the opportunity is built on the premise that the agency needs more resources, more specialized expertise, and more exposure to international best practices to carry out preservation and restoration work more efficiently and sustainably. A second major need the program targets is the lack of practical experience in turning historic sites into well-managed tourist destinations in a way that generates revenue while still protecting fragile cultural heritage.
The core goal is practical, near-term impact after the exchange ends. Within 10 months of completing the program, participants are expected to begin applying what they learned directly to preservation and restoration projects back home, and to incorporate U.S. approaches to "capitalizing" on historical sites, meaning developing tourism potential, improving promotion, and strengthening visitor services without compromising conservation. Progress toward this goal is intended to be checked through follow-up interviews with participants and other National Department staff, which makes post-program implementation a key part of how success is judged rather than treating the exchange as a stand-alone study tour.
The objectives spell out what the participants should gain from the U.S. experience. They include learning U.S. methods for historic-site preservation, understanding how American institutions market and promote heritage sites as tourist attractions, and studying operational strategies for managing large visitor flows while preventing damage caused by increased tourism. The program also emphasizes public outreach and education, focusing on how U.S. organizations raise public awareness about why preservation matters and how communities can support it. Finally, the exchange is meant to be two-way: participants are expected to share Turkmenistan's experience with U.S. colleagues and build professional relationships that can continue as partnerships after the program ends.
Planned activities combine expert engagement with hands-on observation. Participants would take part in meetings and discussions with U.S. preservation professionals, including opportunities to compare approaches and talk through challenges that are especially relevant to earthen and brick-built sites. The itinerary is expected to include visits to active preservation and restoration projects where participants can see technologies, materials, and field practices in context. Another track focuses on tourism development, with meetings that look at how heritage sites are positioned to the public, how visitor experiences are designed, and how revenue and management models work. Participants would also visit high-traffic historical locations to examine real-world practices for crowd management, site operations, interpretation and signage, visitor safety, and protective measures that reduce wear and vandalism. The notice lists preferred locations in the U.S. Southwest, including Albuquerque, Acoma Pueblo, Mesa Verde, and Santa Fe, while also allowing additional sites as appropriate.
The direct participants are the five National Department experts traveling to the United States, but the intended audience extends beyond them. Direct beneficiaries also include officials and experts in related Turkmen institutions such as the Institute of History and Archaeology, the Academy of Sciences, and the Ministry of Culture. Indirect beneficiaries are broader: the Turkmen government, international institutions involved in archaeology and history, tourism companies that may develop heritage offerings, and tourists who would benefit from improved preservation and visitor services. The performance period for the award is flexible, lasting between 6 and 12 months, with an anticipated program start date of March 2021.
Funding is offered through a cooperative agreement rather than a standard grant, which signals that U.S. embassy or bureau staff will play an active role in implementation. The post expects to help solicit and identify participants, coordinate program dates, and select some U.S. sites and venues. The opportunity is listed under Funding Opportunity Number STX 100 FY20 0002 with an award ceiling of $55,000 and an expectation of one award. Eligible applicants are U.S. not-for-profit organizations (including NGOs, civil society groups, and think tanks) and U.S. public or private educational institutions. Cost sharing is not mandatory, but it is treated as a competitive advantage and can add points to an application score depending on the level of match.
To apply, organizations must meet standard U.S. federal assistance eligibility requirements, including having a unique entity identifier (historically a DUNS number), an NCAGE/CAGE code, and an active SAM.gov registration, renewed annually. Applications must be submitted in English, with budgets in U.S. dollars, and must follow formatting rules (8.5 x 11 pages, Times New Roman 12-point, single-spaced, 1-inch margins, and numbered pages). Required components include federal forms (SF-424, SF-424A, and SF-424B), a cover-style summary page, a full proposal narrative that clearly explains the problem, goals and measurable objectives, activities, methods and design (with a logic model if appropriate), schedule and timeline, key personnel, partners, and a monitoring and evaluation plan, plus a sustainability or future funding section. Applicants must also include a budget justification narrative and attachments such as short resumes for key staff, partner letters of support, and an indirect cost rate agreement if they plan to charge those costs. The funding announcement also notes compliance expectations with relevant federal regulations and standard Department of State award terms, and it specifies that award funds cannot be used in countries other than the United States and Turkmenistan. Applications are submitted by email to the U.S. Mission in Ashgabat at AshgabatCulturalAffairs@state.gov, and the original closing date listed for the opportunity was August 10, 2020.Apply for STX 100 FY20 0002
- The Department of State, U.S. Mission to Turkmenistan in the other (see text field entitled explanation of other category of funding activity for clarification) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Exchange program for historical sites preservation experts" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.040.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jul 13, 2020.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 10, 2020. (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 $55,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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FAQs: Exchange Program for Historical Sites Preservation Experts (Turkmenistan - U.S. Exchange)
1) What is this funding opportunity?
This opportunity funds a professional exchange program in the United States for five specialists from Turkmenistan's National Department of Protection, Research, and Restoration of Historical and Cultural Sites (Ministry of Culture). It is a U.S. Department of State program run by the U.S. Mission to Turkmenistan and focuses on practical preservation and sustainable heritage tourism management.
2) Who is the funder and implementing U.S. government entity?
The funder is the U.S. Department of State. The opportunity is run by the U.S. Mission to Turkmenistan (U.S. Embassy/Consulate section responsible for the program), which will be actively involved during implementation.
3) What is the main preservation problem the exchange is designed to address?
The program is built around an urgent preservation challenge in Turkmenistan: many antique and medieval sites are constructed largely from unbaked brick, making them especially vulnerable to weathering and natural deterioration.
4) Why does the opportunity emphasize "more resources" and "international best practices"?
While the National Department has strong local experience and has already achieved significant results, the funding notice states the agency needs additional resources, specialized expertise, and greater exposure to international best practices to improve how efficiently and sustainably it can conduct preservation and restoration work.
5) What is the second major need this program targets besides conservation?
The program also targets the lack of practical experience in transforming historic sites into well-managed tourist destinations that generate revenue while still protecting fragile cultural heritage.
6) What is the core goal of the exchange program?
The core goal is near-term, practical impact after the exchange ends. Within 10 months of completing the program, participants are expected to start applying what they learned to preservation and restoration projects in Turkmenistan and to incorporate U.S. approaches to developing tourism potential and improving visitor services without compromising conservation.
7) How will success be checked after the exchange?
The notice indicates that progress is intended to be assessed through follow-up interviews with participants and other National Department staff. Post-program implementation is treated as a central measure of success, not just the exchange experience itself.
8) What are the stated learning objectives for participants?
Objectives include learning U.S. methods for historic-site preservation, understanding how American institutions market and promote heritage sites as tourist attractions, and studying operational strategies for managing high visitor volumes while preventing tourism-related damage.
9) Does the program include public outreach and education topics?
Yes. The program emphasizes public outreach and education, including how U.S. organizations build public awareness of preservation and encourage community support for protecting cultural heritage.
10) Is the exchange intended to be a two-way professional exchange?
Yes. Participants are expected to share Turkmenistan's experience with U.S. counterparts and to build professional relationships that can continue as partnerships after the program.
11) What kinds of activities are expected during the U.S. exchange?
Planned activities include meetings and discussions with U.S. preservation professionals, visits to active preservation/restoration projects to observe technologies and field practices, and sessions focused on tourism development and heritage site promotion, visitor experience design, and revenue/management models.
12) Will participants observe how high-traffic historic sites are managed?
Yes. The itinerary is expected to include visits to high-traffic historical locations to examine crowd management, site operations, interpretation and signage, visitor safety, and protective measures that reduce wear and vandalism.
13) Which U.S. locations are preferred for the exchange itinerary?
The notice lists preferred locations in the U.S. Southwest, including Albuquerque, Acoma Pueblo, Mesa Verde, and Santa Fe. It also allows additional sites as appropriate.
14) Who are the direct participants?
The direct participants are five specialists from Turkmenistan's National Department of Protection, Research, and Restoration of Historical and Cultural Sites under the Ministry of Culture.
15) Are there other direct beneficiaries beyond the five participants?
Yes. The notice identifies additional direct beneficiaries such as officials and experts in related Turkmen institutions, including the Institute of History and Archaeology, the Academy of Sciences, and the Ministry of Culture.
16) Who are the indirect beneficiaries?
Indirect beneficiaries identified in the notice include the Turkmen government, international institutions involved in archaeology and history, tourism companies that may develop heritage offerings, and tourists who would benefit from improved preservation and visitor services.
17) What is the award type: grant or cooperative agreement?
Funding is offered through a cooperative agreement rather than a standard grant, meaning U.S. embassy or bureau staff are expected to play an active role in implementation.
18) What active roles will the U.S. Mission play under the cooperative agreement?
The notice states the post expects to help solicit and identify participants, coordinate program dates, and select some U.S. sites and venues.
19) What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON)?
The Funding Opportunity Number is STX 100 FY20 0002.
20) What is the maximum award amount?
The award ceiling is $55,000.
21) How many awards are expected?
The notice indicates an expectation of one award.
22) What is the performance period for the award?
The performance period is flexible, lasting between 6 and 12 months.
23) What was the anticipated program start date?
The anticipated start date listed in the notice is March 2021.
24) Who is eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants are U.S. not-for-profit organizations (including NGOs, civil society groups, and think tanks) and U.S. public or private educational institutions.
25) Is cost sharing required?
No. Cost sharing is not mandatory, but the notice states it is a competitive advantage and can add points to an application score depending on the level of match.
26) What federal registrations/identifiers are required to apply?
Applicants must meet standard U.S. federal assistance requirements, including having a unique entity identifier (historically a DUNS number), an NCAGE/CAGE code, and an active SAM.gov registration that is renewed annually.
27) What language and currency requirements apply to the application?
Applications must be submitted in English, and budgets must be in U.S. dollars.
28) What formatting requirements are specified for the application?
The notice specifies 8.5 x 11 pages, Times New Roman 12-point font, single-spaced text, 1-inch margins, and numbered pages.
29) Which federal forms are required?
Required federal forms include SF-424, SF-424A, and SF-424B.
30) What narrative and planning components must be included in the proposal?
The required components include a cover-style summary page and a full proposal narrative addressing the problem, goals and measurable objectives, activities, methods and design (with a logic model if appropriate), schedule and timeline, key personnel, partners, a monitoring and evaluation plan, and a sustainability or future funding section.
31) Is a monitoring and evaluation approach required?
Yes. The notice requires a monitoring and evaluation plan, and it also describes post-program follow-up interviews as a mechanism for checking implementation progress.
32) What budget documentation is required?
Applicants must include a budget justification narrative in addition to the budget figures.
33) What attachments are required or expected?
The notice calls for attachments such as short resumes for key staff, partner letters of support, and an indirect cost rate agreement if the applicant plans to charge indirect costs.
34) Are there restrictions on where award funds can be used?
Yes. The notice specifies that award funds cannot be used in countries other than the United States and Turkmenistan.
35) How must applications be submitted?
Applications are submitted by email to the U.S. Mission in Ashgabat at AshgabatCulturalAffairs@state.gov.
36) What was the closing date listed in the funding announcement?
The original closing date listed for the opportunity was August 10, 2020.
37) What kinds of U.S. expertise and topics are especially relevant to this exchange?
The notice highlights engagement with U.S. preservation professionals and opportunities to compare approaches and discuss challenges relevant to earthen and brick-built sites, alongside tourism development practices that protect conservation outcomes.
38) What does "capitalizing" on historical sites mean in this notice?
In this context, "capitalizing" refers to developing tourism potential, improving promotion, and strengthening visitor services in ways that do not compromise conservation of fragile heritage sites.
39) Is the exchange meant to be a stand-alone study tour?
No. The notice frames post-program implementation and follow-up as central to how success is judged, rather than treating the exchange as a stand-alone study tour.
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