The University of West Florida, Florida Public Archaeology Network (FPAN) has issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) to host a Regional Center of the Network. The RFP is posted on www.flpublicarchaeology.org. Proposals are due October 20, 2006.

In 2004 the Florida Legislature established and in 2005 provided continuing funding for the Florida Public Archaeology Network (FPAN) through the University of West Florida (UWF). The Network is administered by the University of West Florida through a memorandum of agreement (MOA) between UWF and the Florida Division of Historical Resources. Regional public archaeology centers will be established throughout Florida to help stem the rapid deterioration of this state’s buried past and to expand public interest in archaeology. This will be achieved by a robust program of public education, through the promotion and development of archaeology-based heritage tourism, by active involvement of the public through volunteerism, and through education and outreach to local government officials, land managers, and others whose actions affect the archaeological record.

The FPAN Coordinating Center in Pensacola and Charter Regional Centers at St. Augustine, hosted by Flagler College; Tampa, hosted by the University of South Florida; and Pineland, hosted by the Florida Museum of Natural History were established during FY 2005-2006. Four additional Regional Centers will be selected by the FPAN Board of Directors from proposals received from institutions or organizations willing to provide, at no cost, space for the center. In exchange, the host institution will receive an annual grant from the University of West Florida to provide for professional staff and operation of the center.

This Request for Proposals seeks to identify hosts for four additional Regional Centers to provide public archaeology services for four regions within Florida:

The Big Bend Region is Leon, Wakulla, Jefferson, Madison, Taylor, Hamilton, Suwannee, Lafayette, Dixie, Columbia, Gilchrist, Levy, Baker, Union, Bradford, and Alachua Counties.

The Central Region is Marion, Citrus, Hernando, Sumter, Lake, Seminole, Orange, and Osceola Counties.

The East Central Region is Brevard, Indian River, St. Lucie, Martin, Okeechobee, and Highlands Counties.

The Southeast Region is Palm Beach, Broward, Miami-Dade, and Monroe Counties.

A map showing regions of the Florida Public Archaeology Network as described above is available at www.flpublic archaeology.org/RegionFPANMap.htm

For more information, please contact: Cheryl Phelps, Office/Grants Manager, FPAN, Email: cphelps@uwf.edu, Phone: (850)595-0050.