2019 WNS Capacity NOFO 3.28final (1).docx

White-Nose Syndrome Grants to States and Tribes Fiscal Year 2019 Notice of Funding Opportunity Notice of Funding Opportunity Number: F19AS00167 Federal Program: Department of the Interior, United States (U.S.) Fish and Wildlife Service, Ecological Services and Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration (WSFR) Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 15.657 Authorizing Legislation: Endangered Species Act, 16 U.S.C. §1531 et. seq.

Paperwork Reduction Act Statement: We are collecting this information in accordance with the authorizing legislation identified above. 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 and, if awarded, to evaluate performance. We may not conduct or sponsor and you are not required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control number. We estimate that it will take you on average about 40 hours to complete an initial application, about 3 hours to revise the terms of an award, and about 8 hours per report to prepare and submit financial and performance reports, including time to maintain records and gather information. Actual time for these activities will vary depending on program-specific requirements. 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.

OMB Control Number: 1018-0100 (Expiration Date: 7/31/2021) I. Program Description The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) is pleased to announce the availability of financial assistance to State and District of Columbia agencies and federally recognized Native American Tribes for efforts related directly to the management of white-nose syndrome (WNS), a fungal disease of bats. As in previous years of this funding opportunity, State agencies are encouraged to apply for this opportunity. In 2019, the Service is extending eligibility for funding through this program to Tribal natural resource or environmental management programs. The most competitive proposals will present actionable plans to manage WNS and affected or potentially vulnerable bat species.

WNS has been confirmed in three federally listed bat species (Indiana bat, gray bat, and northern long-eared bat). The northern long-eared bat was listed as Threatened primarily due to impacts of WNS. Concern over population declines resulting from WNS led the Service to schedule status assessments for two additional bat species: little brown bat and tricolored bat. The work funded through the WNS grant programs is expected to reduce the administrative and regulatory burden imposed on U.S. industry and the public by potentially precluding the need to list additional species. In addition, the projects funded will provide information that will ensure that Endangered Species Act decisions are based on strong science and thorough analysis.

Since 2008, funding through the WNS Grants to State Wildlife Management Agencies has provided critical information and resources for maximizing the benefits of bat conservation efforts by States. Although WNS has decimated several species of bats in eastern North America, efforts taken with the support of funding from the Service’s WNS program have helped the management community to focus efforts where there is the greatest need and benefit. Through the advances made in understanding WNS over the past decade, we now have numerous tools that management agencies can consider when developing and implementing management strategies for WNS. In this way, these grants support the priorities of the Department of the Interior by creating a conservation stewardship legacy, restoring trust with local communities, and striking regulatory balance.

The Service has targeted up to $1.2 million (up to $1 million for States and up to $200,000 for Tribes) for this funding opportunity in 2019 to help State management agencies and Tribes develop and implement strategies to conserve species of bats that are affected by or vulnerable to WNS. Available funds are from internally directed funds for Fiscal Year 2019.

2019 Priorities The goal of this funding opportunity is to help our State and Tribal partners fulfill data needs and implement management actions for WNS-susceptible bat species. We intend to award funds that assist State agencies and Tribes to complete the following activities in their jurisdictions:

1) enact conservation strategies for WNS-affected or WNS-vulnerable species;

2) develop and implement strategies to mitigate impacts of WNS*;

3) curtail the spread of Pseudogymnoascus destructans; and

4) conduct population monitoring and disease surveillance relevant to local management decisions, the North American Bat Population Monitoring Program (NABat), and national guidelines. Additional details about priorities are provided below.

* Some proposed WNS mitigation and treatment actions will entail significant workload by the applicant to comply with regulatory requirements of the Endangered Species Act, National Environmental Policy Act, and National Historic Preservation Act. These requirements must be satisfactorily completed prior to funds becoming available for the proposed actions.

Department of Interior Priorities for Federal Financial Assistance The WNS Grants to States and Tribes will support the following Department of Interior priorities for Federal Financial Assistance:

Creating a conservation stewardship legacy second only to Teddy Roosevelt Utilize science to identify best practices to manage land and water resources and adapt to changes in the environment.

Restoring trust with local communities Expand the lines of communication with Governors, State natural resource offices, fish and wildlife offices, water authorities, county commissioners, Tribes, and local communities.

Striking a regulatory balance Ensure that Endangered Species Act decisions are based on strong science and thorough analysis.

Ensuring sovereignty means something Solidify mutual interests between the U.S. and the freely associated States and territories.

Funding opportunities from the Service’s national WNS program have contributed to a conservation stewardship legacy by helping to stem the decline of bat species in the face of WNS through research and monitoring efforts that improve understanding and treatment of the disease. By supporting research to better understand the disease and the species affected by it, WNS Grants to States and Research grants have utilized science to identify best practices to manage wildlife resources and to foster relationships with other agencies and conservation organizations. These programs also help restore trust with local communities. The WNS Grants to States have been awarded to State Wildlife or Natural Resource Agencies, directly expanding the lines of communication to the public about management of bats facing the invasion, progression, or recovery from WNS in their respective jurisdictions. In some cases, WNS Grants to States have provided the sole monetary means for States to engage in collaborative management efforts to prepare for and respond to WNS. Those agencies are partners in the majority of WNS Research proposals and agencies themselves are eligible grantees under the WNS Research Grant Program. As of 2019, federally recognized Tribes are also eligible grantees.

II. Federal Award Information The Ecological Services and Science Applications programs of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will be working with the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration program (WSFR) to award grants to State agencies and Tribes that engage in the collaborative national response to WNS. Grants will be competitively awarded based on merit review of proposed actions for their applicability and feasibility to advance the priorities identified above and for their overall contribution to meeting the objectives of the WNS national plan (White-Nose Syndrome Response Plans).

Up to $1.0 million is available to assist States and up to $200,000 is available to assist Tribes with enacting their management needs for WNS. To be eligible to compete for an award, an applicant must:

1) propose actions aimed at benefiting bat species that are known, assumed, or anticipated to be impacted by WNS; and

2) propose activities that directly advance the priorities of this funding opportunity and the WNS National Plan; and

3) notify and work with their Regional USFWS WNS Coordinator (see VIII. Agency Contacts) prior to grant submission to identify opportunities for potential collaboration and avoid redundant proposals within States.

Proposals for this program will be plans of action specific to the current status of WNS in the applicant’s State, and will address context-specific conservation needs of bats as well as the ecosystem as a whole. These priorities are intended to address relevant projects in any State or Tribal lands regardless of WNS status. Some examples of context-specific strategies for the endemic, leading edge and at-risk areas are described in “Defeating White-Nose Syndrome: A Vision for the Future.”

We anticipate announcing awards by September 1, 2019. The Service will rank applicants for award consideration based on the most competitive, highest quality work that advances State, Tribal and national priorities for WNS. Awards are not guaranteed. (This represents a change from past WNS State grant opportunities.)

The proposed actions and related budget must meet the following conditions:

1) Proposed activities must be consistent with the WNS National Plan and must clearly address at least one of the “2019 Priorities” stated above. All proposed activities should represent a logical and appropriate progression of actions conducted in preparation for or in response to WNS in the action area. Applications must include clear project descriptions for how proposed activities address State and national management objectives for WNS. Project descriptions must clearly articulate the activities, methods, and timetables for each identified goal and objective, as well as justification for these goals and objectives, and anticipated utility of the results.

2) Grant proposals must be no more than $50,000 in total Federal request (including direct and indirect costs).

a) Funding may be used for fulfilling data needs to inform management decisions such as distribution and habitat requirements of WNS-affected or susceptible bats, and implementing these strategies:

i) developing and implementing strategies to mitigate ongoing, imminent, or future impacts of WNS;

ii) enacting conservation strategies for WNS-affected and/or WNS-vulnerable species;

iii) curtailing the spread of Pd;

iv) conducting bat population monitoring activities using methods appropriate for the contribution of colony estimates and acoustic data to NABat;

v) conducting disease surveillance efforts in accordance with the national surveillance and diagnostics guidelines.

b) No more than $2,500 may be used to travel to and participate in the Service’s national WNS meeting and regional bat working group meetings.

NOTE: As a condition of any grant award, grantees will be required to submit population monitoring data, including that from acoustic monitoring and colony surveys, collected using awarded funds to NABat prior to completion of the project period. Population monitoring efforts do not need to be restricted to only NABat highest priority grid cells. Contribution of these data entails providing locations at the resolution of the NABat grid cell, but not precise locations of data collection.

Proposed projects must be for a period of no more than 1 year. If an extension of the performance period becomes necessary due to unforeseen circumstances, the Service may consider an extension request if the request is submitted at least 60 days in advance of the end of the performance period.

The use of grant funds requires adherence to established protocols and methodologies developed or espoused by the national WNS working groups for surveillance, diagnostics, conservation and recovery, and disease management (for more information contact the appropriate Service WNS coordinator), as well as the Endangered Species Act, National Historic Preservation Act, and National Environmental Policy Act.

Anticipated award announcement date: September 1, 2019 Anticipated earliest project start date: September 30, 2019

III. Eligibility Information Eligible Applicants Eligible applicants for this competitive grant program include fish and wildlife or natural resources agencies in all States and the District of Columbia, and federally recognized Tribes.

Cost Sharing or Matching Matching funds and/or contributions are not required but are highly valued to increase effectiveness of federal investments.

Other Eligibility Criteria Applicants must be in good standing on previously awarded Federal grant agreements, with no outstanding reports or obligations, and a record of successful use of funds from previous WNS Grants to States awards (if applicable). When an applicant is carrying two or more active WNS projects while applying for another, the Service has an administrative obligation to verify that there are no correctable problems in implementing the existing awards. The Service will review the reasons why those grants are still open before proceeding with further consideration. States or Tribes that demonstrate their effective use of WNS funds will not be affected. States or Tribes that have taken no significant action on any one of their two or more preexisting awards will not be considered eligible to apply for new funds from the WNS program until the problem is resolved.

Unique Entity Identifier and System for Award Management (SAM.gov) Registration: This requirement does not apply to individuals applying for funds as a private citizen (i.e., unrelated to any business or nonprofit organization you may own or operate in your name) or any entity with an exception approved by the Service under 2 CFR 25.110(d). All other applicants are required to obtain a Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number from Dun & Bradstreet and then register in SAM.gov prior to submitting a Federal award application. Federal award recipients must continue to maintain an active SAM.gov registration with current information through the life of their Federal award(s). See the “Submission Requirements” section of this document below for more information on SAM.gov registration. The Service may not make a Federal award to an applicant that has not completed the SAM.gov registration. If an applicant selected for funding has not completed their SAM.gov registration by the time the Service is ready to make an award, the program may determine that the applicant is not qualified to receive an award. The program can use that determination as a basis for making an award to another applicant.

Prohibition on Issuing Awards to Entities that Require Certain Internal Confidentiality Agreements: Domestic (U.S.) non-Federal entities requiring their employees or contractors to sign internal confidentiality agreements or statements that prohibit, or otherwise restrict, such employees or contractors from lawfully reporting waste, fraud, or abuse to a designated investigative or law enforcement representative of a Federal department or agency authorized to receive such information are not eligible to compete for or receive a Federal award. See Pub. L. 113-235, Title VII, Division E, Section 743 for more information.

Excluded Parties: The Service conducts a review of the SAM.gov Exclusions database for all applicant entities and their key project personnel prior to award. The Service cannot award funds to entities or their key project personnel identified in the SAM.gov Exclusions database as ineligible, prohibited/restricted or otherwise excluded from receiving Federal contracts, certain subcontracts, and certain Federal assistance and benefits, as their ineligibility condition applies to this Federal program.

IV. Application Requirements

1. Requesting Paper Application Package Forms required for the application can be found here: https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms/sf-424-family.html or requested from Sadie Stevens, Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration, 413-253-8677 or Sadie_Stevens@fws.gov.

Application Form and Content Requirements Proposals must not exceed 8 pages in length (excluding required forms and letters of support/collaboration) and must have a minimum font size of 11 pt.

Applicants must submit the following:

SF-424, Application for Federal Assistance Applicants must submit the Standard Form SF-424, Application for Federal Assistance. All of the required application forms are available on the “Packages” tab of this Funding Opportunity on Grants.gov. The SF-424, Application for Federal Assistance must be complete, and signed and dated. Please note: Enter only the amount requested from this Federal program in the “Federal” funding box on the SF-424 Application form. Include any other Federal sources of funding in the “Other” box, and provide details on those Federal source(s) and funding amount(s) in the required Budget Narrative (see the “Budget Narrative” section below).

SF 424, Assurances Applicants must submit the signed and dated SF-424B, Assurances for Non-Construction Programs. All of the required application forms are available on the “Packages” tab of this Funding Opportunity on Grants.gov. The SF-424 Assurances forms include a statement that some of the assurances may not be applicable to your organization and/or your project or program. Signing the required SF-424 Assurances 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.

Project Narrative The project narrative should include:

a) Statement of Need: The statement of need should be a concise paragraph describing why the State or Tribe is requesting funds and how the funds will advance the State or Tribe’s objectives for managing bats affected by or vulnerable to WNS.

b) Project Goals and Objectives: State the long-term overarching goal(s) of the program/project, and state the specific objectives to be addressed with the proposed funding. Objectives are the specific outcomes to be accomplished in order to reach the stated goal(s). The project’s objectives must be clear and specific with measurable outcomes, and deliverable within the project’s proposed timeline. A description of how the objectives prepare for or advance implementation of strategies that benefit bats affected or potentially affected by WNS is required.

c) Results: Anticipated results or benefits from accomplishing the goals and objectives.

d) Project Activities, Methods, and Timetable: Identify the proposed activities to be undertaken to fulfill the project objectives and reach the project goal(s). The proposed project activities narrative must be detailed enough for reviewers to make a clear connection between the activities and the proposed project costs. Provide a detailed description of the method(s) to be used to carry out each activity.

Provide a timetable indicating when activities or project milestones are to be accomplished. The timetable should not propose specific dates but instead group activities by month for each month over the entire proposed project period.

e) Budget table: Provide an itemized budget table as part of the project narrative. This table must indicate the budget categories, itemized expenses within each category, and total amounts requested for eligible expenses needed to achieve the proposed objectives.

f) Description of Entities Undertaking the Project: Provide a brief description of the applicant organization and all participating entities and/or individuals collaborating to complete the project. Identify which of the proposed activities each agency, organization, group, or individual is responsible for conducting or managing. Provide complete contact information for the individual within the organization that will oversee/manage the project activities on a day-to-day basis.

g) Environmental Compliance: Provide sufficient detail about site locations, species, and methods so that reviewers are able to determine project compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act, Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act, and Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act. For projects being conducted on the high seas, the narrative should provide enough detail so that reviewers are able to determine project compliance with Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act.

h) Permitting: All participants working in conjunction with the proposed activities must demonstrate all necessary Federal, State, and local permits, and landowner permissions prior to project initiation. States or Tribes submitting proposals to support animal based experiments, whether in conjunction with universities or not, will be expected to demonstrate compliance with the Endangered Species Act and the Animal Welfare Act with satisfactory review of animal use protocols by an established Animal Care and Use Committee or related State wildlife veterinarian (as appropriate). Treatment and decontamination actions also require demonstrated compliance with FDA, EPA, and other relevant regulatory agencies.

i) Sustainability: Identify how the actions to be completed in the project period contribute to longer term management objectives for bats in the State where the project is located.

A separate project summary is not required for this application.

SF-424, Budget Information Applicants must submit the SF-424A, Budget Information for Non-Construction Programs. All of the required application forms are available on the “Packages” tab of this Funding Opportunity on Grants.gov. Federal award recipients and subrecipients are subject to Federal award cost principles as detailed in the Service’s “Financial Assistance Award Terms and Conditions”. Please note: Show funds requested from this Federal program separately from any other Federal sources of funding. In the “Budget Summary” section, use the first row for funding requested from this Federal program. Use subsequent row(s) for other Federal funding. Enter each Federal program’s CFDA number(s) in the corresponding fields on the form. The CFDA number(s) for this Federal program appears on the first page of this Funding Opportunity.

Budget Narrative Describe and justify requested budget items and costs. Detail how the SF-424 Budget Information, Object Class Category totals were determined. For personnel salary costs, include the baseline salary figures and the estimates of time. Describe any item of cost that requires prior approval under the Federal cost principles. See 2 CFR 200.407 “Prior written approval (prior approval)” for more information. If equipment purchased previously with Federal funds is available for the project, provide a list of that equipment and identify the Federal funding source.

Indirect Costs: Organizations The Federal awarding agency that provides the largest amount of direct funding to your organization is your cognizant agency for indirect costs, unless otherwise assigned by the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB). If the Department of the Interior is your organization’s cognizant agency, the Interior Business Center will negotiate your indirect cost rate. Contact the Interior Business Center by phone 916-930-3803 or using the IBC Email Submission Form. See the IBC Website for more information.

Organizations must have an active Federal award before they can submit an indirect cost rate proposal to their cognizant agency. Failure to establish an approved rate during the award period renders all costs otherwise allocable as indirect costs unallowable under the award. Recipients must have prior written approval from the Service to use amounts budgeted for direct costs to satisfy cost-share or match requirements or to cover unallowable indirect costs. Recipients shall not shift unallowable indirect costs to another Federal award unless specifically authorized to do so by legislation.

Required Indirect Cost Statement All organizations must include the applicable statement from the following list in their application to the Service, and attach to their application any documentation identified in the applicable statement:

We are:

· 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. Attached is a copy of our most recently approved rate agreement/certification.

· 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 have prepared and will retain for audit an indirect cost rate proposal and related documentation.

· 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: “Attached is a copy of our most recently approved but expired rate agreement. 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 “Attached is a copy of our current negotiated indirect cost rate agreement.”]

· 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]. If we receive an award, we will submit an indirect cost rate proposal to our cognizant agency within 90 calendar days after the award date.

· 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, if we receive an award 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%] against [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 200.68]. We understand that we must notify the Service in writing if we establish an approved rate with our cognizant agency at any point during the award period.

· 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, if we receive an award 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% to be charged against modified total direct project costs as defined in 2 CFR 200.68. We understand that we must notify the Service in writing if we establish a negotiated 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 that such changes are subject to review, negotiation, and prior approval by the Service.

· 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 we must charge indirect costs against 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 2 CFR 200 MTDC base instead of the base identified in our approved indirect cost rate agreement. We understand 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.

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

Conflict of Interest Disclosure Applicants must state in their application if any actual or potential conflict of interest exists at the time of submission. Conflicts of interest include any relationship or matter that might place the recipient, including their employees and subrecipients, in a position of conflict, real or apparent, between their responsibilities under the award and any other outside interests. Conflicts of interest include direct or indirect financial interests; close personal relationships; positions of trust in outside organizations; consideration of future employment arrangements with a different organization; and decision-making authority related to the proposed project. Conflicts of interest are those circumstances real or perceived that would cause a reasonable person with knowledge of the relevant facts to question the impartiality of the applicant, or the applicant’s employees or subrecipients, in matters pertaining to the proposed project. Applicants must notify the Service in writing in their application if any employees, including subrecipient and contractor personnel, are related to, married to, or have a close personal relationship with any Federal employee in the Federal program receiving this application or who otherwise may be involved in the review and selection of their proposal. The term employee means any individual to be engaged in the performance of work pursuant to the Federal award application. Failure to disclose and resolve conflicts of interest in a manner that satisfies the Service may result in the rejection or disqualification of the application.

Single Audit Reporting Statement 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 the applicant’s fiscal year must submit a Single Audit report for that year through the Federal Audit Clearinghouse’s Internet Data Entry System. U.S. state, local government, federally recognized Indian tribal government, and non-profit applicants must state if your organization was or was not required to submit a Single Audit report for the most recently closed fiscal year. If your organization was required to submit a Single Audit report for the most recently closed fiscal year, provide the EIN associated with that report and state if it is available through the Federal Audit Clearinghouse website.

Certification Regarding Lobbying Applicants requesting more than $100,000 in Federal funding must certify to the statements in 43 CFR Part 18, Appendix A-Certification Regarding Lobbying. If this application requests more than $100,000 in Federal funds, the Authorized Official’s signature on the appropriate SF-424, Application for Federal Assistance form also represents the entity’s certification of the statements in 43 CFR Part 18, Appendix A.

Disclosure of Lobbying Activities Applicants and recipients must not use any federally appropriated funds (annually appropriated or continuing appropriations) or matching funds under a Federal award to pay any person for lobbying in connection with the award. Lobbying is influencing or attempting to influence an officer or employee of any U.S. agency, a Member of the U.S. Congress, an officer or employee of the U.S. Congress, or an employee of a Member of the U.S. Congress connection with the award. Applicants and recipients must complete and submit the SF-LLL, Disclosure of Lobbying Activities if the Federal share of the proposal or award is more than $100,000 and the applicant or recipient has made or has agreed to make any payment using non-appropriated funds for lobbying in connection with the application or award. The SF-LLL form is available on the “Packages” tab of this Funding Opportunity on Grants.gov. See 43 CFR, Subpart 18.100 for more information on when additional submission of this form is required.

Overlap or Duplication of Effort Statement Applicants must provide a statement indicating if there is any overlap between this Federal application and any other Federal application, or funded project, in regards to activities, costs, or time commitment of key personnel. If no such overlap or duplication exists, state, “There are no overlaps or duplication between this application and any of our other Federal applications or funded projects, including in regards to activities, costs, or time commitment of key personnel”. If any such overlap exists, provide a complete description of overlaps or duplications between this proposal and any other federally funded project or application in regards to activities, costs, and time commitment of key personnel, as applicable. Provide a copy of any overlapping or duplicative proposal submitted to any other potential funding entity and identify when that proposal was submitted, to whom (entity name and program), and when you anticipate being notified of their funding decision. When overlap exists, your statement must end with “We understand that if at any time we receive funding from another source that is duplicative of the funding we are requesting from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in this application, we will immediately notify the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service point of contact identified in this Funding Opportunity in writing.”

APPLICATION CHECKLIST

· SF-424, Application for Federal Assistance

· SF-424B, Assurances

· Project Narrative

· SF-424A, Budget Information

· Budget Narrative

· Indirect Cost Statement and related documentation

· Conflict of Interest Disclosure (when applicable)

· Single Audit Reporting Statement (when applicable)

· SF-LLL, Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (when applicable)

· Overlap or Duplication of Effort Statement

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

V. Submission Requirements

1. Unique Entity Identifier and System for Award Management (SAM.gov) Registration These requirements do not apply to any individual applying for funds as a private citizen or any entity with an exception approved by the Federal awarding agency under 2 CFR 25.110(d). All other applicants are required to obtain a Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number from Dun & Bradstreet and provide that number in the application; complete SAM.gov registration before submitting an application; and continue to maintain an active SAM.gov registration with current information at all times when the entity has an active Federal award or application under consideration. There is NO COST to register with Dun & Bradstreet or SAM.gov. There are third-party vendors who will charge a fee in exchange for registering entities with Dun & Bradstreet and SAM.gov; please be aware you can register and request help for free.

1. Obtain a DUNS Number Request a DUNS Number through the Dun & Bradstreet website. The official website address is http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform. For technical difficulties, send an email to the D&B SAM Help Desk. Please ensure that you are able to receive emails from SAMHelp@dnb.com. The Grants.gov “Obtain a DUNS Number” webpage also provides detailed instructions. Once assigned a DUNS number, your organization must maintain up-to-date information with Dun & Bradstreet. Applicants must enter their DUNS number in the “Organizational DUNS” field on the SF-424, Application for Federal Assistance form.

Register with SAM Register on the SAM.gov website. The official website address is http://www.sam.gov. The “Help” tab on the website contains User Guides and other information to assist you with registration. The Grants.gov Register with SAM” webpage also provides detailed instructions. You can also contact the supporting Federal Service Desk for help registering in SAM. Once registered in SAM, entities must renew and revalidate their SAM registration at least once every 12 months from the date previously registered. Entities are strongly encouraged to revalidate their registration as often as needed to ensure their information is up to date and reflects changes that may have been to the entity’s DUNS or IRS information. Foreign entities who want to receive payment directly to a U.S. bank account must enter and maintain valid, current banking information in SAM.

Submission Dates and Times May 28, 2019, by 11:59 PM Eastern Daylight Time. The submission deadline is rigid. Applications deemed ineligible, incomplete, or that have not reached the Service at the deadline may be rejected.

Intergovernmental Review Prior to application submission, U.S. state and local government applicants should visit the OMB Office of Federal Financial Management website and view the “State Point of Contact (SPOC) List” to determine whether their application is subject to the state intergovernmental review process under Executive Order (E.O.) 12372 “Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs.” States not on the list do not participate in the intergovernmental review process, and therefore do not have a SPOC. If you are located within a State that does not have a SPOC, you may send application materials directly to a Federal awarding agency. If your state is on the list, contact the designated entity for more information on the state’s prior review requirements for Federal assistance applications.

Funding Restrictions Awards will be capped at $50,000. No more than $2,500 will be awarded for travel to participate in the Service’s national WNS meeting and regional bat working group meetings.

Submission Instructions This program encourages applicants to submit their applications online through Grants.gov. Follow these steps to apply through Grants.gov.

1. Register with Grants.gov Applicants must first register an account with Grants.gov and complete all steps of the registration process before they can apply through Grants.gov. Grants.gov registration requires the entity to create an account, create an account profile, and establish authorized profile roles, including the applicant’s authorized representative. Registration can take three to five business days or longer, if you do not complete the required steps in a timely manner.

Grants.gov Workspace Application Grants.gov applicants apply online using Workspace. Workspace is a shared, online environment where members of a grant team may simultaneously access and edit different webforms within an application. For each funding opportunity announcement, you can create individual instances of a workspace. To apply, the applicant will create, complete, and submit a Workspace application package for this Funding Opportunity directly on Grants.gov. Grants.gov recommends submitting your application package at least 24-48 hours prior to the close date to allow time to correct any potential technical issues that may disrupt the application submission. When attaching files to the Grants.gov application, please do not assign file names longer than 20 characters, including spaces. File names longer than 20 characters will prevent your application received by Grants.gov from automatically downloading into the Service’s financial assistance management system. Applicants using slow internet, such as dial-up connections, should be aware that the transmission of the application to Grants.gov takes time. Grants.gov sends either an error message or a “successfully received” message by email to the applicant’s authorized representative once the transmission is complete. Please do not end the transmission process before receiving that message.

Proof of Timely Submission Grants.gov automatically generates an electronic date and time stamp in the system upon application receipt. Grants.gov sends an acknowledgement of receipt with the date and time stamp and a unique Grants.gov application tracking number to the authorized representative by email. This email from Grants.gov serves as your proof of timely submission.

Applicants may also submit an application by email. Follow these directions to apply via email.

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 FW5FAReports@fws.gov.

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.

Applicants may also submit an application by mail. Follow these directions to apply via email. Number all pages of your printed application. Mail one, single-sided, unbound copy (do not staple or otherwise permanently bind pages) of your complete application to:

Dr. Sadie Stevens U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Division of Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration 300 Westgate Center Drive Hadley, MA 01035-9589 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.

VI. Application Review Information

1. Criteria Review of proposals that meet basic eligibility requirements will commence after the application deadline. Eligible applications must clearly identify and describe all activities to be supported by these funds. The applicant must meet eligibility requirements described above and include all required components of the application. While more than one agency or division within a State may apply for this funding opportunity, cross-agency collaborations to achieve management objectives will likely be more competitive.

Evaluation of Proposals Project Responsiveness

· How well does the proposed study address one or more priorities (identified in Section I) for this funding opportunity?

Project Relevance

· Does the project have a high likelihood of contributing positively to bat conservation?

· To what degree will the anticipated products of the proposed actions benefit management activities for WNS?

Geographic Scope

· Are the proposed actions specific and appropriate to species, habitats, and the status of WNS in the project area?

· Will the proposed actions benefit a meaningful portion of bat populations that could be or are affected by WNS in the State’s jurisdiction?

Study Design

· Does the proposal have clear objectives?

· Does the project have sound study design and methods?

· Are the expected outcomes measurable and meaningful?

Project Need

· Does the project build upon and advance our understanding of WNS and bat conservation, or implement management strategies appropriate to the level of knowledge?

· Does the project address information gaps in life history of bats relevant to WNS?

Budget

· Does the budget table provide sufficient information to evaluate costs?

· Is the project budget justifiable and cost effective for the proposed actions?

Project Feasibility

· Are the proposed timeline and work schedule realistic for achieving the goals and objectives of the project within a one-year project period?

· Are project key personnel experienced and well positioned to successfully complete the project and communicate the results?

· Does the proposal adequately address issues regarding regulatory requirements or permits that are necessary for the success of the project?

· Does the project utilize appropriate partnerships within the project area?

Potential to benefit bats

· How well will the proposed project benefit WNS-affected and/or WNS-vulnerable species?

Travel Support

· Does the proposal identify meetings, the participant, and role of the participant whose travel is supported with the requested funds?

· Funds for travel support will be allocated to balance geographic representation at the national WNS meeting.

The review committee may employ additional review criteria to specifically evaluate groups of proposals with similar objectives. These criteria may include prioritization of projects that increase the number of locations, species, or topics affected by the proposed work, and collaborations that amplify the utility of funded actions and improve efficiency of actions.

Review and Selection Process The review panel will include national and regional coordinators of the Service’s white-nose syndrome program. At least three reviewers per proposal will evaluate each proposal on the criteria listed above. All elements of review will be submitted and maintained electronically by the national assistant coordinator for the Service’s white-nose syndrome program. The Service will evaluate recommendations from the review committee and is responsible for all final decisions. The National WNS Steering Committee will be notified of the award selections by the WNS Program prior to final issuance of awards.

Prior to award, the Service will review any applicant statement regarding potential overlap or duplication between the project to be funded and any other funded or proposed project in terms of activities, funding, or time commitment of key personnel. Depending on the circumstances, the Service may request modification to the application, other pending applications, or an active award, as needed to eliminate any duplication of effort, or the Service may choose not to fund the selected project.

The Service may not make a Federal award to an applicant that has not completed the SAM.gov registration. If an applicant selected for funding has not completed their SAM.gov registration by the time the Service is ready to make an award, the program may determine that the applicant is not qualified to receive an award. The program can use that determination as a basis for making an award to another applicant.

Prior to award, the Service will evaluate the risk posed by applicants as required in 2 CFR 200.205. Service programs document applicant risk evaluations using the Service’s “Financial Assistance Recipient Risk Assessment” form. Prior to approving awards for Federal funding in excess of the simplified acquisition threshold (currently $250,000), the Service is required to review and consider any information about or from the applicant found in the Federal Awardee Performance and Integrity Information System. The Service will consider this information when completing the risk review. The Service uses the results of the risk evaluation to establish monitoring plans, recipient reporting frequency requirements, and to determine if one or more of the specific award conditions in 2 CFR 200.207 should be applied the award.

VII. Federal Award Administration

1. Federal Award Notices Successful applicants will receive written notice in the form of a notice of award document. Notices of award are typically sent to recipients by e-mail. If e-mail notification is unsuccessful, the documents will be sent by courier mail (e.g., FedEx, DHL or UPS). Award recipients are not required to sign/return the Notice of Award document.

Awards are based on the application submitted to and approved by the Service and are subject to the terms and conditions incorporated into the Notice of Award either by direct citation or by reference to the following: Federal regulations; program legislation or regulation; and special award terms and conditions. Recipient acceptance of a Federal award from the Service carries with it the responsibility to be aware of and comply with all terms and conditions applicable to the award. Recipients indicate their acceptance of the Federal award by starting work, drawing down funds, or accepting the award via electronic means.

Award Terms and Conditions See the Service’s “Financial Assistance Award Terms and Conditions” for the administrative and national policy requirements applicable to Service awards. Grantees will be required to submit population monitoring data, including that from acoustic monitoring and colony surveys, collected using awarded funds to NABat prior to completion of the project period.