20180810 WolfLivestock.FY18.NOFO.Final.docx

OMB Control Number: [1018-0109] Expiration Date: [07/31/2021]

Paperwork Reduction Act Statement. We are collecting this information in accordance with Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act of 1934, U.S.C. 16 et seq.; Endangered Species Act of 1973, 16 U.S.C. 1531 et. seq., as amended; Public Law 111-11. Your response is required to obtain or retain a benefit. We will use the information you provide to conduct a competitive review and select projects for funding. We may not conduct or sponsor and you are not required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. We estimate that it will take applicants under this program about 8 hours to complete an application. We estimate it will take recipients under this program about 4 hours to complete required reporting and 4 hours for required recordkeeping. All burden estimates include the time to review instructions, search existing data resources, gather data needed and complete and review the submission. You may send comments on the burden estimate or any other aspect of this information collection to the Information Collection Clearance Officer, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, MS BPHC, 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041-3803.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Ecological Services

Endangered Species Conservation- Wolf Livestock Loss Compensation and Prevention Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 15.666

Notice of Funding Opportunity

I. Description of Funding Opportunity

Subtitle C of the Omnibus Public Lands Management Act of 2009 (P.L. 111-11) authorized the Wolf Livestock Loss Demonstration Project (WLLDP) with two purposes:

1) Prevention - Provide funding to assist livestock producers in undertaking proactive, nonlethal activities to reduce the risk of livestock loss due to predation by wolves; and

2) Compensation - Provide funding to reimburse livestock producers for livestock losses due to such predation.

Included in the authorizing language is direction to award this Federal financial assistance through a competitive grant program and to expend funds equally between the program’s two purposes. States and Tribes (States) may apply for a Compensation Program Grant to fund reimbursement of livestock losses and/or a Prevention Program Grant to fund preventative management activities that occur on Federal, State, or private land, or land owned by, or held in trust for the benefit of, a Tribe. Further, P.L. 111-11 directs funding be awarded based on level of livestock predation and whether the area proposed to be covered is located in a geographical area that is at high risk for livestock predation.

These grants are awarded directly to States that must establish their own procedures for accepting applications from private entities (including individual ranchers, for-profit corporations, and not-for-profit corporations) interested in obtaining WLLDP funds. Individuals or corporations seeking funds will need to work through the procedures established by their State wildlife management/animal damage control agency.

States are eligible to compete for either a Compensation Program or Prevention Program grant, or both. States must submit separate proposals for each grant.

General Program Information and Funding Priorities

Prevention Program:

Proactive, nonlethal preventive measures eligible for funding include, but are not limited to fencing, livestock guard dogs, and range riders who patrol areas occupied by livestock and are susceptible to predation by wolves. State programs working in areas with high percentages of livestock producer participation and supporting the utilization of a wide variety of deterrents and techniques will be prioritized for funding.

Compensation Program:

This funding may be used for the reimbursement of livestock losses due to confirmed wolf depredation. Qualifying livestock includes cattle, swine, horses, mules, sheep, goats, livestock guard animals, and other domestic animals. For compensation grants, State programs that are robust in terms of investigation management, record keeping and reporting, public transparency, and implemented in areas with the highest rates of confirmed wolf depredation events will be prioritized for funding.

Department of Interior Priorities

In addition, grants awarded through the Wolf Livestock Loss Demonstration Project support the following Department of Interior priority for Federal financial assistance.

Restoring trust with local communities:

Be a better neighbor with those closest to our resources by improving dialogue and relationships with persons and entities bordering our lands;

Expand the lines of communication with Governors, state natural resource offices, Fish and Wildlife Service offices, water authorities, county commissioners, Tribes, and local communities.

Through these grants, the Service is working to be a better neighbor with those closest to our resources by leveraging State investment to assist livestock producers in finding ways to coexist with wolves on the landscape. These awards encourage the development and implementation of proactive management techniques to reduce the frequency of predation events and compensate producers when such predation does occur. Because of their authorities and close working relationships with local governments and landowners, States are in a unique position to assist the Service in implementing all aspects of the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Through these grants, the Service works collaboratively with States to manage and conserve wolves in a manner that respects State management and leverages State investment. This grant program reflects our common commitment to actively advance the purpose and policies of the ESA by providing financial assistance to foster relationships with public and private partners, reduce conflicts between listed species and economic development activities, and promote the long-term conservation of the species. Finally, these grants encourage the cooperative implementation of the ESA by leveraging local investment in species recovery and demonstrate the Service’s commitment to cooperative conservation at the local level.

Wolf Livestock Loss Demonstration Project is authorized by the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act of 1934, U.S.C. 16 et seq.; Endangered Species Act of 1973, 16 U.S.C. 1531 et. seq., as amended; Public Law 111-11.

II. Award Information

Federal financial assistance, provided in the form of grants, can be used to support the implementation of State wolf-livestock interaction programs administered to assist livestock producers in undertaking proactive, nonlethal activities to reduce the risk of livestock loss due to predation by wolves and to compensate livestock producers for livestock losses due to such predation.

Section 6202 (d) of P.L. 111-11 states available funding will be allocated:

(A) the level of livestock predation in the State or on the land owned by, or held in trust for the benefit of, the Indian tribe;

(B) whether the State or Indian tribe is located in a geographical area that is at high risk for livestock predation; and

(C) any other factors that the Secretaries determine are appropriate.

The Service awarded approximately $900,000 to 15 projects in fiscal year 2017 through the Wolf Livestock Loss Demonstration Project. Compensation Program grants were awarded to eight states totaling $450,000 with an average award of $56,250. Prevention Program grants were awarded to six States and one Tribe totaling $450,000 with an average award of $64,285. The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018, included $900,0000 to be awarded through these grants in fiscal year 2018. The Service estimates 15 grants may be funded should the average grant amount remain consistent with previous fiscal years.

Proposals may address new or ongoing work funded through State wolf-livestock interaction programs. If the proposal includes a continuation of previous or ongoing work, a brief discussion of accomplishments and a justification for the continuation of the work must be included in the Project Narrative (See Section IV Application Requirement B). Further, if there is any overlap between the proposed project and any other active or anticipated projects in terms of activities, costs, or time commitment of key personnel, applicants must provide a description of the overlap and state if the proposal submitted for consideration under this program is/is not in any way duplicative of any proposal that was/will be submitted for funding consideration to any other potential funding source (Section IV Application Requirement I).

III. Basic Eligibility Requirements Eligible Applicants:

To be eligible to receive a grant, a State or Tribe must:

(1) designate an appropriate agency of the State or tribal government to administer one or both aspects of the program funded by the grant;

(2) establish one or more accounts to receive grant funds;

(3) maintain files of all claims received under programs funded by the grant, including supporting documentation;

(4) submit to the Service’s Regional Program Coordinator (see Section VIII)

(A) annual reports that include:

(i) a summary of claims and expenditures under the program during the year; and (ii) a description of any action taken on the claims; and

(B) such other reports as the Secretary may require to assist in determining the effectiveness of activities provided assistance under this program; and

(5) promulgate rules for reimbursing livestock producers under the program, for:

Compensation Program Grants:

· Commitment to ensure proper documentation, retain receipts, and records of matching funds expended.

· Ability to protect the evidence of depredation.

· Coordination with local United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)-Wildlife Services field representatives, or other authorized official, who will coordinate an investigation.

· Documentation to ensure payments of fair-market value.

Prevention Program Grants:

· Commitment to ensure proper documentation, retain receipts, and records of matching funds expended.

· Applicant demonstration of good faith effort to avoid conflicts.

· Demonstrated effectiveness of non-lethal measures.

Federal law mandates that all entities applying for Federal financial assistance must have a valid Dun & Bradstreet Data Universal Number System (DUNS) number and have a current registration in the System for Award Management (SAM). See Title 2 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Part 25 for more information. Exemptions: The SAM registration requirement does not apply to individuals submitting an application on their own behalf and not on behalf of a company or other for-profit entity, state, local or Tribal government, academia or other type of organization.

A. DUNS Registration Request a DUNS number at http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform. For technical difficulties, contact Dun & Bradstreet by email at: govt@dnb.com, or by calling the Government Customer Resource Center at voice phone: 866-705-5711 or TTY line: 877-807-1679 (hearing impaired customers only). Once assigned a DUNS number, entities are responsible for maintaining up-to-date information with Dun & Bradstreet.

B. Entity Registration in SAM Register in SAM at www.sam.gov. Once registered in SAM, entities must renew and revalidate their SAM registration at least every 12 months from the date previously registered. Entities are strongly urged to revalidate their registration as often as needed to ensure that their information is up to date and in synch with changes that may have been made to DUNS and IRS information. Foreign entities who wish to be paid directly to a United States bank account must enter and maintain valid and current banking information in SAM.

Note: The official U.S. government website address for SAM is www.sam.gov. There is NO COST to register in or access SAM.gov. There are third-party vendors who charge a fee in exchange for registering entities in SAM; please be aware that you can register to do business with the U.S. government FOR FREE directly in SAM at www.sam.gov.

C. Excluded Entities Applicant entities or their key project personnel identified in the SAM.gov Exclusions database as ineligible, prohibited/restricted or excluded from receiving Federal contracts, certain subcontracts, and certain Federal assistance and benefits will not be considered for Federal funding, as applicable to the funding being requested under this Federal program. The Service conducts a review of the SAM.gov Exclusions database for all applicant entities and their key project personnel prior to award.

D. Cost Sharing or Matching:

Qualifying projects must include at a minimum a 50 percent non-Federal cost share. The cost share may be cash or a third party in-kind contribution, such as volunteer efforts and donations of goods or services. Applicants may attribute some or all of their allowable indirect costs as voluntary committed cost share.

E. Other:

The following additional criteria apply to all grants and must be satisfied for a project to receive funding:

1. A proposal cannot include U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) costs.

2. A proposal cannot seek funding for projects that serve to satisfy regulatory requirements of the ESA, including complying with a biological opinion under section 7 or fulfilling commitments of a Habitat Conservation Plan under section 10, or for projects that serve to satisfy other Federal regulatory requirements (e.g., mitigation for Federal permits).

3. Administrative costs must either be assumed by the State or Tribe, or included in the proposal in accordance with Federal requirements.

4. Land acquisition is not an eligible use of these funds.

5. Environmental effects of projects funded through these grants must be minor or negligible.

IV. Application Requirements To be considered for funding under this opportunity, an application must contain:

A. A completed, signed and dated SF 424, Application for Federal Assistance form (http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms/sf-424-family.html#sortby=1). Do not include other Federal sources of funding, requested or approved, in the total entered in the “Federal” funding box on the Application for Federal Assistance form. Enter only the amount being requested under this program in the “Federal” funding box. Include any other Federal sources of funding in the total funding entered in the “Other” box.

B. Project Title and Narrative Please refer to the evaluation criteria outlined in Section VI. Application Review Information below for more detail. Project narratives that clearly address the specific review criteria in an organized manner will facilitate proposal review and scoring.

1. Statement of Need Describe why this project is being undertaken and how it advances program priorities as discussed above (see Section I. Description of Funding Opportunity.) Characterize the area to be covered and the extent of wolf depredation damage that has occurred in the area. The area may include Federal, State, or private land, or land owned by, or held in trust for the benefit of, a Tribe. Suggestions for presentation of this information include describing the number (or value) and type of livestock that have been lost, or some other description of the average extent of losses in the past 12 months or an average of the past three years.

2. Approach List the proposed project activities, methods, and timetable and describe how they relate to the statement of need.

For Prevention Program Grants – Describe what types of activities the requested funds will be used to support (e.g., range riders, guard dogs, fladry). Describe any key cooperators and their respective roles in the program. Describe the extent of any public involvement in the administration of your prevention program and list key cooperators (e.g., Wildlife Services, non-governmental organizations) and their respective roles. Describe your program’s procedures to maintain records that will support reporting to the Service how the funds were expended. Describe any efforts to encourage participation in prevention activities and how grant funds will promote such participation. Describe how the grantee will assess the effectiveness of funded prevention activities and report those results to the Service. Describe how the required non-Federal cost-share will be achieved.

For Compensation Program Grants - Describe the numbers of past depredation events and the anticipated need for future depredation dollars; describe also how the value of reimbursement is determined and the procedures that will be used to verify that available funds will be used to compensate for losses caused by wolves. Describe any key cooperators and their respective roles in the program. Describe the extent of any public involvement in the administration of your compensation program. Describe your program’s procedures to maintain records that will support reporting to the Service how the funds were expended. Describe how the required non-Federal cost-share will be achieved.

3. Estimated Costs Identify the total amount of Federal funds requested and the total amount of matching funds provided, through cash or a third party in-kind contribution, such as volunteer efforts and donations of goods or services. Estimates should include separate costs for materials and labor. All proposals for FY 2018 must indicate funding is sought for pre-award costs in order to remain in compliance with 2 CFR 200.

C. Budget Form Complete the Budget Information for Non-Construction Programs (SF 424A) or Budget Information for Construction Programs (SF 424C) form. Use the SF 424A if your project does not include construction and the SF 424C if the project includes construction. The budget forms are available on the Internet at http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms/sf-424-family.html#sortby=1. When developing your budget, keep in mind that financial assistance awards and subawards are subject to the Federal cost principles in Title 2 of the Code of Federal Regulations Part 200, as applicable to the recipient organization type. Links to the full text of the Federal cost principles are available on the Internet at http://www.ecfr.gov/.

Note on Multiple Federal Funding Sources: If the project budget includes multiple Federal funding sources, you must show the funds being requested from this Federal program on the budget form separately from any other requested/secured Federal sources of funding. Enter the funds being requested from this Federal program in the first row of the Budget Summary section of the form, and then enter funding related to other Federal programs in the subsequent row(s). Be sure to enter each Federal program’s CFDA number in the corresponding fields on the form. The CFDA number for this Federal program appears on the first page of this funding opportunity.

D. Budget Justification In a separate narrative titled “Budget Justification”, explain and justify all requested budget items/costs. Detail how the SF 424 Budget Object Class Category totals were determined and demonstrate a clear connection between costs and the proposed project activities. For personnel salary costs, include the base-line salary figures and the estimates of time (as percentages) to be directly charged to the project. Describe any item that under the applicable Federal cost principles requires the Service’s approval and estimate its cost.

If Federally-funded equipment will be used for the project, provide a list of that equipment, including the Federal funding source.

Required Indirect Cost Statement: Recipients that do not have an approved indirect cost rate cannot charge indirect costs to their Federal award. All applicants except individuals applying for funds separate from a business or non-profit organization he/she may operate must include in the budget justification narrative one of the following statements and attach to their application any required documentation identified in the applicable statement:

“We are:

1. A U.S. state or local government entity receiving more than $35 million in direct Federal funding each year with an indirect cost rate of [insert rate]. We submit our indirect cost rate proposals to our cognizant agency. A copy of our most recently approved rate agreement/certification is attached.

2. A U.S. state or local government entity receiving less than $35 million in direct Federal funding with an indirect cost rate of [insert rate]. We are required to prepare and retain for audit an indirect cost rate proposal and related documentation to support those costs.

3. A [insert your organization type; U.S. states and local governments, please use one of the statements above or below] that has previously negotiated or currently has an approved indirect cost rate with our cognizant agency. Our indirect cost rate is [insert rate]. [Insert either: “A copy of our most recently approved but expired rate agreement is attached In the event an award is made, we will submit an indirect cost rate proposal to our cognizant agency within 90 calendar days after the award is made.” or “A copy of our current, approved rate agreement(s) is attached.”]

4. A [insert your organization type] that has never submitted an indirect cost rate proposal to our cognizant agency. Our indirect cost rate is [insert rate]. In the event an award is made, we will submit an indirect cost rate proposal to our cognizant agency within 90 calendar days after the award is made.

5. A [insert your organization type] that has never submitted an indirect cost rate proposal to our cognizant agency and has an indirect cost rate that is lower than 10%. Our indirect cost rate is [insert rate; must be lower than 10%]. However, in the event an award is made, we will not be able to meet the requirement to submit an indirect cost rate proposal to our cognizant agency within 90 calendar days after award. We request as a condition of award to charge a flat indirect cost rate of [insert rate; must be lower than 10%] of [insert a clear description of the direct cost base against which your rate is charged (e.g., salaries; salaries and fringe benefits; or modified total direct costs). However, please note that your organization cannot charge indirect costs in excess of the indirect costs that would be recovered if applied against modified total direct costs as defined in 2 CFR 220.68]. We understand that we must notify the Service in writing immediately if we establish an approved rate with our cognizant agency at any point during the award period.

6. A [insert your organization type] that has never submitted an indirect cost rate proposal to our cognizant agency and has an indirect cost rate that is 10% or higher. Our indirect cost rate is [insert your organization’s indirect rate; must be 10% or higher]. However, in the event an award is made, we will not be able to meet the requirement to submit an indirect cost rate proposal to our cognizant agency within 90 calendar days after award. We request as a condition of award to charge a flat de minimis indirect cost rate of 10% of modified total direct costs as defined in 2 CFR 200.68. We understand that we must notify the Service in writing immediately if we do establish an approved rate with our cognizant agency at any point during the award period. We understand that additional Federal funds may not be available to support an unexpected increase in indirect costs during the project period and such changes are subject to review, negotiation, and prior approval by the Service.

7. A [insert your organization type] that is submitting this proposal for consideration under the [insert either “Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit Program” or “Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit Network”], which has a Department of the Interior-approved indirect cost rate cap of [insert program rate] If we have an approved indirect cost rate with our cognizant agency, we understand that we must apply this reduced rate against the same direct cost base as identified in our approved indirect cost rate agreement. If we do not have an approved indirect cost rate with our cognizant agency, we understand that the basis for direct costs will be the modified total direct cost base defined in 2 CFR 200.68 “Modified Total Direct Cost (MTDC)”. We understand that we must request prior approval from the Service to use the MTDC base instead of the base identified in our approved indirect cost rate agreement, and that Service approval of such a request will be based on: 1) a determination that our approved base is only a subset of the MTDC (such as salaries and wages); and 2) that use of the MTDC base will still result in a reduction of the total indirect costs to be charged to the award. In accordance with 2 CFR 200.405, we understand that indirect costs not recovered due to a voluntary reduction to our federally negotiated rate are not allowable for recovery via any other means.

8. A [insert your organization type] that will charge all costs directly.

All applicants are hereby notified of the following:

· Recipients without an approved indirect cost rate are prohibited from charging indirect costs to a Federal award. Accepting a flat de minimis rate as a condition of award is an approved rate.

· Failure to establish an approved rate during the award period renders all costs otherwise allocable as indirect costs unallowable under the award.

· Recipients may not charge to their Service award any indirect costs calculated against the portion of total direct project costs paid by any other Federal funding source or non-Federal partner.

· Recipients must have prior written approval from the Service to transfer unallowable indirect costs to amounts budgeted for direct costs or to satisfy cost-sharing or matching requirements under the award.

· Recipients are prohibited from shifting unallowable indirect costs to another Federal award unless specifically authorized to do so by legislation.

Applicants who are individuals applying for funds separate from a business or non-profit organization he/she may operate are not eligible to charge indirect costs to their award. If you are an individual applying for funding, do not include any indirect costs in your proposed budget.

For more information on indirect cost rates, see the Service’s Indirect Costs and Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreements guidance document on the Internet at https://www.fws.gov/grants/atc.html.

Negotiating an Indirect Cost Rate with the Department of the Interior: Entities that do not have a NICRA must first have an open, active Federal award before they can submit an indirect cost rate proposal to their cognizant agency. The Federal awarding agency that provides the largest amount of direct funding to your organization is your cognizant agency, unless otherwise assigned by the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB). If the Department of the Interior is your cognizant agency, your indirect cost rate will be negotiated by the Interior Business Center (IBC). For more information, contact the IBC at:

Indirect Cost Services Acquisition Services Directorate, Interior Business Center U.S. Department of the Interior 650 Capitol Mall, Suite 7-400 Sacramento, CA 95814 Phone: 916-930-3803 Email: Through https://www.doi.gov/ibc/contactus/ibcfeedback web form Internet address: https://www.doi.gov/ibc/services/finance/indirect-cost-services

E. Single Audit Reporting Statements: As required in Title 2 of the Code of Federal Regulations Part 200, Subpart F, all U.S. states, local governments, federally-recognized Indian tribal governments, and non-profit organizations expending $750,000 USD or more in Federal award funds in a fiscal year must submit a Single Audit report for that year through the Federal Audit Clearinghouse’s Internet Data Entry System. All U.S. state, local government, federally-recognized Indian tribal government and non-profit applicants must provide a statement regarding if your organization was/was not required to submit a Single Audit report for the organization’s most recently closed fiscal year and, if so, state if that report is available on the Federal Audit Clearinghouse Single Audit Database website (https://harvester.census.gov/facweb/) and provide the EIN under which that report was submitted. Include these statements at the end of the Project Narrative in a section titled “Single Audit Reporting Statements.”

F. Assurances: Include the appropriate signed and dated Assurances form available at http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms/sf-424-family.html#sortby=1. Use the Assurances for Construction Programs (SF 424D) for construction projects. Use the Assurances for Non-Construction Programs (SF 424B) for all other projects. The form includes a statement that some of the assurances may not be applicable to your organization and/or your project or program. Signing this form does not make you or your organization subject to laws that are otherwise not applicable to you or your organization. Changing, crossing out, or making notations on the form before signing has no impact on the applicability of law.

G. Certification and Disclosure of Lobbying Activities: Under Title 31 of the United States Code, Section 1352, an applicant or recipient must not use any federally appropriated funds (both annually appropriated and continuing appropriations) or matching funds under a grant or cooperative agreement award to pay any person for lobbying in connection with the award. Lobbying is defined as influencing or attempting to influence an officer or employee of any agency, a Member of Congress, an officer or employee of Congress, or an employee of a Member of Congress connection with the award. Submission of an application also represents the applicant’s certification of the statements in 43 CFR Part 18, Appendix A-Certification Regarding Lobbying. If you/your organization have/has made or agrees to make any payment using non-appropriated funds for lobbying in connection with this proposal AND the Federal share exceeds $100,000, complete and submit the SF LLL, Disclosure of Lobbying Activities form available at http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms/post-award-reporting-forms.html#sortby=1. See 43 CFR, Subpart 18.100 for more information on when additional submission of this form is required.

H. Conflict of Interest Disclosures: Applicants must notify the Service in writing of any actual or potential conflicts of interest that are known at the time of application or that may arise during the life of this award, in the event an award is made. Conflicts of interest include any relationship or matter, which might place the recipient, the recipient’s employees, or the recipient’s subrecipients in a position of conflict, real or apparent, between their responsibilities under the award and any other outside interests. Conflicts of interest may also include, but are not limited to, direct or indirect financial interests, close personal relationships, positions of trust in outside organizations, consideration of future employment arrangements with a different organization, or decision-making affecting the award that would cause a reasonable person with knowledge of the relevant facts to question the impartiality of the applicant, the applicant’s employees, or the applicant’s future subrecipients in the matter. Applicants must notify the Service in writing in their application if any key project personnel, including subrecipient and contractor personnel, are known to be related to, married to, or have a close personal relationship with any Federal employee in or associated with the program to which you are applying for funding or who otherwise may be involved in the review and selection of the application. Upon receipt of such a notice, the Service program, in consultation with their Ethics Counselor, will determine if a conflict of interest exists and, if so, if there are any possible actions to be taken by the applicant to reduce or resolve the conflict. Failure to disclose and resolve conflicts of interest in a manner that satisfies the Service may result in the project not being select for funding.

I. Required Overlap/Duplication Statement: Applicants must provide a statement that addresses if there is any overlap between the proposed project and any other active or anticipated projects in terms of activities, costs, or time commitment of key personnel. If any overlap exists, applicants must provide a description of the overlap in their application. Applicants must also state if the proposal submitted for consideration under this program is/is not in any way duplicative of any proposal that was/will be submitted for funding consideration to any other potential funding source (Federal or non-Federal). If such a circumstance exists, applicants must detail when the other duplicative proposal(s) were submitted, to whom (entity name and program), and when funding decisions are expected to be announced. If at any time a proposal is awarded funds that would be duplicative of the funding requested from the Service, applicants must notify the Service point of contact for this funding opportunity immediately.

Application Checklist

· Evidence of non-profit status: If a non-profit organization, a copy of their Section 501(c)(3) or (4) status determination letter received from the Internal Revenue Service.

· SF 424, Application for Federal Assistance: A complete, signed and dated SF 424, SF 424-Mandatory, or SF 424-Individual form.

· Project title and narrative

· Single Audit Reporting statement: If a U.S. state, local government, federally-recognized Indian tribal government, or non-profit organization, statements regarding applicability of and compliance with Single Audit reporting requirements.

· SF 424 budget form: A complete SF 424A or SF 424C Budget Information form.

· Budget justification

· Federally-funded equipment list: If Federally-funded equipment will be used for the project, a list of that equipment.

· Indirect cost statement

· NICRA: When applicable, a copy of the organization’s current Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement.

· SF 424 Assurances form: Signed and dated SF 424B or SF 424D Assurances form.

· SF LLL form: If applicable, completed SF-LLL Disclosure of Lobbying Activities form.

· Conflict of Interest disclosure, when applicable.

· Overlap/Duplication statement

Failure to provide complete information may cause delays, postponement, or rejection of the application.

V. Submission Instructions

SUBMISSION DEADLINE: October 19, 2018.

Intergovernmental Review: Before submitting an application, U.S. state and local government applicants should visit the following website (https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/omb/grants_spoc) to determine whether their application is subject to the state intergovernmental review process under Executive Order (E.O.) 12372 “Intergovernmental review of Federal Programs.” E.O. 12372 was issued to foster the intergovernmental partnership and strengthen federalism by relying on state and local processes for the coordination and review of proposed Federal financial assistance and direct Federal development. The E.O. allows each state to designate an entity to perform this function. The official list of designated entities is posted on the website. Contact your state’s designated entity for more information on the process the state requires to be followed when applying for assistance. States that do not have a designated entity listed on the website have chosen not to participate in the review process.

Download the Application Package linked to this Funding Opportunity on Grants.gov to begin the application process. Downloading and saving the Application Package to your computer makes the required government-wide standard forms fillable and printable. Completed applications may be submitted by mail, by email, electronically through Grants.gov, or as otherwise described in the Grants.gov funding opportunity. Please select ONE of the submission options:

To submit an application by e-mail:

Format all of your documents to print on Letter size (8 ½” x 11”) paper. Format all pages to display and print page numbers. Scanned documents should be scanned in Letter format, as black and white images only. Where possible, save scanned documents in .pdf format. E-mail your application to the Service program point of contact identified in Section VIII.

The required SF 424 Application for Federal Assistance and Assurances forms and any other required standard forms MUST be signed by your organization’s authorized official. The Signature and Date fields on the standard forms downloaded from Grants.gov are pre-populated with the text “Completed by Grants.gov upon submission” or “Completed on submission to Grants.gov”. Remove this text (manually or digitally) before signing the forms.

To submit an application through Grants.gov:

Go to the Grants.gov Apply for Grants page (http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/apply-for-grants.html) for an overview of the process to apply through Grants.gov. You/your organization must complete the Grants.gov registration process before submitting an application through Grants.gov. Registration can take between three to five business days, or as long as two weeks if all steps are not completed in a timely manner.

Important note on Grants.gov application attachment file names: Please do not assign application attachments file names longer than 20 characters, including spaces. Assigning file names longer than 20 characters will create issues in the automatic interface between Grants.gov and the Service’s financial assistance management system.

VI. Application Review Information Criteria: To be considered for funding, applications should address the following:

PREVENTION PROGRAM GRANTS

1. Proactive Techniques (40 points) The purpose of this section is to evaluate the extent to which the requested funds would foster increased use of prevention measures or encourage the development of new preventative measures. Prevention tools and incentives should be designed to decrease the risk of wolf-livestock interactions, and reduce the extent of livestock losses caused by wolves.

Consider the percentage of landowners in wolf areas using non-lethal techniques to deter or preclude wolf depredation of livestock. A variety of visual and auditory scare devices may be used, including electric fences, fladry or other flagging, range riders, increased monitoring, Radio‐Activated Guard (RAG) devices, livestock guard dogs, and modification of husbandry practices. States may purchase and loan prevention supplies, such as radio receivers in accordance with applicable Federal financial assistance regulations. Funds may be used to pay salaries of range riders and for the care and feeding of documented livestock guard dogs. Consideration may also be given for incentives to participate in the program or for the establishment of new wolf-livestock interaction prevention programs.

Score: Consider the percentage of livestock producers using non-lethal techniques, incentives for implementing non-lethal strategies, and the demonstrated effectiveness of any ongoing prevention measures or the likelihood of success if the proposal is to develop new techniques. Rank from 1 (low) to 40 (high) planned non-lethal techniques used with various number/age/type of livestock and the areas to be protected.

2. Outreach and Coordination (40 points) The purpose of this section is to evaluate coordination strategies of States with partners regarding livestock depredation management and efforts to reduce wolf-livestock interactions.

Review the program’s demonstrated or planned work with partners including local USDA Wildlife Services and nongovernmental organizations. A higher score should be provided to States with a cooperative or interagency system to approve projects, or programs that use the results of local nonlethal strategies to guide future nonlethal preventative measures and expenditures. The highest ranking will go to programs committed to fostering coexistence between wolves and livestock producers.

Score: Consider the program’s efforts to involve potentially affected livestock producers, the planned coordination with USDA Wildlife Services and other partners, and the contribution of the program to wolf conservation.

3. Project Costs (15 Points) Reviewers will evaluate the budget to determine if it is sufficiently detailed, realistic, and commensurate with the project needs and timeframe. Reviewers will consider whether sufficient detail was provided to evaluate how costs were estimated.

Score: 1-15 points; where, for example, 1= unrealistic and lacking sufficient detail; 7= adequately detailed and realistic; 15= extremely detailed and realistic.

4. Secretarial Priorities 5 points) In order to support the Department of Interior’s Priorities for Federal Financial Assistance, proposals are to be evaluated with the priorities highlighted in Section I. Description of Funding Opportunity, in mind.

Score: 1-5 points; where, 0= no importance/relevance to Secretarial priorities and 5= extremely relevant to Secretarial priorities.

COMPENSATION PROGRAM GRANTS

1. Extent of Wolf Depredation (25 points) The purpose of this section is to assess the anticipated need for compensation funds by reviewing the past numbers and appraised value of livestock depredation by wolves. Estimate events only if investigated by a local USDA Wildlife Services field representative, or other authorized State or Tribal investigator.

Review the number of confirmed wolf depredation events in past 12 months, or the average number of confirmed events in the past 3 years as an estimate of future depredation events. Summarize fair market value of losses. Indirect costs (moving animals, etc.) may not be included in this estimate; however, veterinary bills for confirmed injuries to livestock caused by wolves may be included in this estimate.

Score: On a scale of 1 to 25, rank the total annual anticipated need of depredation compensation with 1 being less than $25,000/year, 15 being approximately $100,000/year, and 25 representing an anticipated need of more than $250,000/year. No points provided for unconfirmed or missing livestock.

2. Program Evaluation and Recordkeeping (25 points) The purpose of this section is to evaluate how robust the State wolf-livestock interaction program is in terms of the procedures for investigation management and record keeping.

Rank program efficiencies. Review the rigor of the applicant’s program, including the process for confirming depredation by wolves, the availability of trained investigators, procedures for differentiating confirmed versus probable wolf depredations and the adequacy of record keeping.

Score: One a scale of 1 (low) to 25 (high) rank the effectiveness of the program, focusing on the depredation investigation and record keeping procedures.

3. Reporting and Coordination (25 points) The purpose of this section is to evaluate the procedures for reporting and documenting livestock depredation and the coordination with local USDA Wildlife Services field representatives or other authorized State or Tribal investigator, and other partners.

Review the process for reporting depredation investigations, and the transparency of the program with partners and the public. A higher score should be given to established programs with a high percentage of livestock producers participating. A higher ranking should also be given to programs with coordinated wolf-livestock interaction prevention programs.

Score: On a scale of 1 to 25, rank the reliability of the reporting and coordination procedures.

Project Costs (15 Points) Reviewers will evaluate the budget to determine if it is sufficiently detailed, realistic and commensurate with the project needs and timeframe. Reviewers will consider whether sufficient detail was provided to evaluate how costs were estimated.

Score: 1-15 points; where, for example, 1= unrealistic and lacking sufficient detail; 7= adequately detailed and realistic; 15= extremely detailed and realistic.

4. Secretarial Priorities (5 points) In order to support the Department of Interior’s Priorities for Federal Financial Assistance, proposals are to be evaluated with the priorities highlighted in Section I. Description of Funding Opportunity, in mind.

Score: 1-5 points; where 0= no importance/relevance to Secretarial priorities and 5= extremely relevant to Secretarial priorities.

Assistant Director’s Discretion The criteria above provide a rank order of proposals to reviewers in order to make final award recommendations to Assistant Director of Ecological Services. Projects will be funded by the rank order of the review criteria unless a proposal is justified to be selected out of rank order based upon the following considerations, where applicable:

a. Regional priority

b. Applicant’s ability to use partial funding

c. Availability of funding

d. Matching funds greater than the requirement

e. Balance/distribution of funds geographically within a Region

f. Balance/distribution of funds geographically across Regions

g. Whether this project duplicates other projects funded by Service or other Interior agencies

h. The applicant’s prior award performance

i. Partnerships with and/or participation of targeted groups

The Service may select all, some, or none of the applications, or part of any application, defer applications to the future, or reallocate funds to different funding categories, to the extent authorized. Applicants may be asked to modify objectives, work plans or budgets, and provide supplemental information required by the agency prior to the award. The exact amount of funds to be awarded, the final scope of activities, the project duration of each project proposed for funding will be determined in pre-award negotiations between the applicant and the Service.

The Service reserves the right to reject an application in its entirety where information is uncovered that raises a significant risk with respect to the responsibility or suitability of an applicant. The final approval of projects recommended for funding will be made through the Department of Interior’s financial assistance review of discretionary grants and cooperative agreements process effective in fiscal year 2018.

Review and Selection Process:

Proposals submitted for consideration will be reviewed by representatives from Service staff in the Regional and Headquarters Offices.

Initial Screening:

Completeness and Eligibility: Proposals will be screened to ensure that application packages have all required forms, application elements, and meet all of the eligibility criteria. Regions will review the status of applicants’ administration of other grants, including Single Audit submissions, past performance, financial strength and management capabilities, and procedures and methods for monitoring subrecipients or vendors. Applicants in poor standing may not be considered for funding. If there are any questions about the ability of the project to be completed in compliance with Federal laws and regulations, additional information may be requested from the State. A project may be disqualified if Service staff determine the project cannot meet Federal requirements. Incomplete applications will be returned for corrections. Corrections must be submitted within two weeks of the returned application. Applicants that do not respond within two weeks with corrected materials will be disqualified. The Service, in its sole discretion, may continue the review process for applications with non-substantive issues that may be easily rectified or cured.

Merit Review: After initial screening, applications meeting the basic eligibility requirements will undergo initial merit review by the Regional Offices based on the criteria outlined above. Each application will be reviewed, evaluated, and scored independently by Field and Regional staff with appropriate subject-matter expertise (e.g., wolf recovery, ESA policy and programs, Federal financial assistance). Proposals will then be forwarded to the Headquarters Office for a secondary merit review at the national level. The Headquarters ranking committee will also review, evaluate, and independently score each proposal based on the evaluation criteria outlined above. Reviewers may discuss individual applications, but all scoring will be non-consensus. The reviewers’ scores will be averaged and used to produce a rank order of the proposals for consideration by the Assistant Director of Ecological Services.

Selection by Director and Department of Interior Review: Proposals selected for funding will be submitted for final award and obligation approval through the Department of Interior’s financial assistance review of discretionary grants and cooperative agreements process effective in fiscal year 2018.

Prior to participating in any review or evaluation process, all staff and peer reviewers, evaluators, panel members, and advisors must sign and return to the program office point of contact the “Department of the Interior Conflict of Interest Certification” form. For a copy of this form, contact the Service point of contact identified in the Agency Contacts section below.

Prior to award, the Service reviews the selected applicant’s statement regarding potential overlap or duplication in terms of activities, funding, or time commitment of key personnel and makes a determination regarding Service funding. Depending on the circumstances, modification of the application, other pending applications, or an active award may be necessary, or the Service might choose to not fund the proposed project.

Each fiscal year, for every entity receiving one or more awards in that fiscal year, the Service conducts a risk assessment based on eight risk categories.