Produce and Televise Memorial Day and Independence Day Programs Featuring the National Symphony Orchestra on the West Lawn of the United States Capitol | P17AS00274

Opportunity Information: Apply for P17AS00274

The funding opportunity titled "Produce and Televise Memorial Day and Independence Day Programs Featuring the National Symphony Orchestra on the West Lawn of the United States Capitol" (Funding Opportunity Number P17AS00274) is a National Park Service (NPS), Department of the Interior discretionary cooperative agreement focused on producing and broadcasting two major national concerts in 2017. The central activity is to stage the Memorial Day and Independence Day programs featuring the National Symphony Orchestra on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol and to distribute those performances broadly through a live public event, a public service television broadcast, and worldwide streaming, including access intended for members of the U.S. military.

A major purpose of the project is public education and civic engagement around American cultural heritage, using a high-visibility performance on historic property to reach audiences who may not otherwise connect with preservation and stewardship issues. By placing a nationally recognized cultural event in a landmark setting, the program is positioned as more than entertainment: it is designed to strengthen public understanding of the nation’s natural, cultural, and historical heritage and to build public support for protecting and caring for that heritage. The opportunity description also emphasizes a public-benefit rationale, describing the agreement as serving a public purpose by encouraging broader public and private participation in historic preservation programs and related activities.

In practical terms, the funded work encompasses end-to-end production and dissemination of these two events: planning and coordination for the on-site performance, the technical production required for televised distribution, and the infrastructure for streaming the concerts worldwide. The reach component is a defining feature of the project. The concerts are intended to be shared with a wide audience across the United States and internationally, leveraging television and online distribution to expand access far beyond the in-person attendees on the West Lawn. The explicit mention of worldwide streaming to U.S. military audiences highlights an intent to make the programs accessible to service members regardless of where they are stationed.

From an administrative and funding standpoint, the opportunity is structured as a cooperative agreement, which typically indicates substantial involvement by the federal agency in coordinating or overseeing aspects of the work rather than a hands-off grant. The award ceiling is listed at $6,000,000, with one expected award. The listing is presented as a notice of intent to partner with Capital Concerts, Inc. under an existing cooperative agreement (P13AC00130), and it states that no applications will be accepted and that there will be no additional competition. In other words, this posting functions primarily as a public notice documenting the government’s plan to continue work with a specific partner rather than an open call for proposals.

Eligibility is broadly labeled as "Others" with a note to consult additional eligibility information; however, because the agency states it will proceed without additional competition and will not accept applications, eligibility details are not practically relevant for new applicants in this instance. The opportunity was created on May 18, 2017, and is categorized under Arts (with reference to Cultural Affairs in CFDA), with CFDA number 15.946, aligning the project with federal cultural and public heritage-related programming.

Overall, the opportunity supports the production and mass distribution of two signature patriotic concerts with the National Symphony Orchestra, using the setting and visibility of the U.S. Capitol’s West Lawn to elevate public awareness of cultural heritage and to encourage wider participation in historic preservation and stewardship efforts, while ensuring the events are accessible nationally and globally through broadcast and streaming.

• The Department of the Interior, National Park Service in the arts (see cultural affairs in cfda) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Produce and Televise Memorial Day and Independence Day Programs Featuring the National Symphony Orchestra on the West Lawn of the United States Capitol" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.946.
• This funding opportunity was created on May 18, 2017.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Notice of intent to partner with Capital Concerts, Inc. under existing Cooperative Agreement P13AC00130 without additional competition. No applications will be accepted.. (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 $6,000,000.00 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).

Apply for P17AS00274

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