2023-04-21 R23AS00326 FWCAP FY23 FINAL_.pdf

U.S. Department of the Interior April 2023

Notice of Funding Opportunity No. R23AS00326 Region 8: Lower Colorado Basin Region

Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act Program Financial Assistance for Fiscal Year 2023

Mission Statements

The U.S. Department of the Interior protects and manages the Nation’s natural resources and cultural heritage; provides scientific and other information about those resources; and honors its trust responsibilities or special commitments to American Indians, Alaska Natives, and affiliated Island Communities.

The mission of the Bureau of Reclamation is to manage, develop, and protect water and related resources in an environmentally and economically sound manner in the interest of the American public.

Cover photo: Yuma East Wetlands, Yuma, AZ. (Reclamation/Jed Blake).

Acronyms

ARC Application Review Committee

ASAP Automated Standard Application for Payments

CE Categorical Exclusion

CEC Categorical Exclusion Checklist

CFR Code of Federal Regulations

CWA Clean Water Act

DM Departmental Manual

DOI U.S. Department of the Interior

EA Environmental Assessment

EIS Environmental Impact Statement

EO Executive Order

ESA Endangered Species Act

FAIR Financial Assistance Interior Regulation

FAPIIS Federal Awardee Performance and Integrity Information System

FONSI Finding of No Significant Impact

FTHL Flat-tailed horned lizard

FWCAP Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act Program

FY Fiscal Year

LCB Lower Colorado Basin

MTDC Modified total direct cost

NEPA National Environmental Policy Act

NHPA National Historic Preservation Act

NICRA Negotiated indirect cost rate agreement

NOFO Notice of Funding Opportunity

OMB Office of Management and Budget

P.L. Public Law

Reclamation Bureau of Reclamation

SAM System for Award Management

SF Standard Form

SPOC State Point of Contact (for intergovernmental review)

UEI Unique Entity ID

USC United States Code

WIIN Act Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act

YAO Yuma Area Office i

Synopsis Federal Agency Name: Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation, Lower Colorado Basin

Region 8.

Funding Opportunity Title: Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act Program Financial Assistance for Fiscal

Year 2023 Announcement Type: Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) Funding Opportunity Number:

R23AS00326

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number:

15.517

Dates:

(See NOFO Sec. D.4)

Application due date:

Thursday, June 1, 2023, 4:30 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time

Eligible Applicants:

(See NOFO Sec. C.1)

Applicants eligible to receive financial assistance to fund activities under this NOFO include: 00 – State governments 01 – County governments 02 – City or township governments 04 – Special district governments 06 – Public and State controlled institutions of higher education 07 – Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) 11 – Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments) 12 – Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher 20 – Private institutions of higher education 22 – For profit organization other than small businesses 23 – Small businesses

Recipient Cost-Share:

(See NOFO Sec. C.2)

No cost sharing requirement under this NOFO

Federal Funding Amount:

(See NOFO Sec. B.1)

Up to $55,000 per applicant

Estimated Number of Agreements to be Awarded:

(See NOFO Sec. B.4)

One

Intergovernmental Review:

(See NOFO Sec. D.5)

This NOFO is subject to Executive Order 12372, “Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs.” A list of states that have elected to participate in the intergovernmental review process is available here https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/SPOC-4-13- 20.pdf.

iii

Contents Page

Section A. Program Description A.1. Authority A.2. Notice of Funding Opportunity Purpose and Objectives A.3. Program Requirements

Section B. Federal Award Information B.1. Total Funding B.2. Expected Award Amount B.3. Expected Award Funding and Anticipated Dates B.4. Number of Awards B.5. Type of Award B.6. Technical Assistance

Section C. Eligibility Information C.1. Eligible Applicants C.2. Cost Sharing or Matching C.3. Donations and In-Kind Contributions C.4. Other C.5. Eligible Projects

Section D. Application and Submission Information D.1. Contact to Request Application Package D.2. Content and Form of Application Submission D.3. Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and System for Award Management (SAM) D.4. Submission Date and Time D.5. Intergovernmental Review D.6. Funding Restrictions

Section E. Application Review Information E.1. Technical Proposal: Evaluation Criteria E.2. Review and Selection Process E.3. Federal Award Performance Integrity Information System

Section F. Federal Award Administration Information F.1. Federal Award Notices F.2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements F.3. Reporting Requirements and Distribution F.4. Disclosures F.5. Data Availability (2 CFR §1402.315)

Section G. Federal Awarding Agency Contact(s) G.1. Reclamation Grants Contact G.2. Reclamation Program Coordinator

Section H. Other Information H.1. Environmental and Cultural Resource Considerations H.2. Endangered Species Act

Section A. Program Description

A.1. Authority This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) is issued under the authority of the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act of 1934, Public Law (P.L.) 85-624, 16 United States Code (U.S.C.)

§661, et.seq., as amended; as limited by the Secretary of the Interior delegation of authority at 255 Departmental Manual (DM) 1.1B to:

(a) conduct activities for the improvement of fish and wildlife habitat associated with water systems or water supplies affected by Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) projects, including but not limited to fish passage and screening facilities at any non- Federal water diversion or storage project within the region;

(b) plan, design, construct, and monitor, including acquire lands or interest therein as needed, instream habitat improvements, including but not limited to fish passage screening facilities at off-site locations (as negotiated on privately owned lands and facilities not associated with a Reclamation project); and

(c) monitor and evaluate the effect of Reclamation actions on fish and wildlife resources including ESA-listed species.

A.2. Notice of Funding Opportunity Purpose and Objectives Reclamation’s Yuma Area Office (YAO) periodically makes funding available for conducting activities for Threatened and Endangered species and their habitats under Section 7(a)1 of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) under the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act Program (FWCAP). The objective(s) of this NOFO is to fund projects for activities in support of YAO’s endangered species and environmental restoration programs in Federal fiscal year (FY) 2023 (October 1, 2022, through September 30, 2023).

The map below shows the YAO management areas covered under this NOFO.

Figure 1 – Yuma Area Office Area of Consideration for FWCAP NOFO

The Bureau of Reclamation manages, develops, and protects water and related resources in an environmentally and economically sound manner in the interest of the American public.

Reclamation has a major responsibility, in partnership with water users, states, and other interested parties, to help improve water resource management and water use efficiency in the western United States. More efficient water use is a key component of Reclamation’s water resource management strategy. Through coordination with our stakeholders, FWCAP supports the Department of the Interior’s (DOI) priorities, including:

Creating a conservation stewardship legacy;

Utilizing our natural resources;

Restoring trust with local communities;

Striking a regulatory balance;

Modernizing our infrastructure; and

Achieving our goals and leading our team forward.

Reclamation priorities are also supported through this program, including:

Increasing water supplies, storage, and reliability under WIIN Act (Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation) and other authorities to benefit farms, families, businesses, and fish and wildlife;

Streamlining regulatory processes and removing unnecessary burdens to provide more water and power supply reliability;

Leveraging science and technology to improve water supply reliability to communities;

Addressing ongoing drought;

Improving the value of hydropower for Reclamation power customers;

Improving water supplies for tribal and rural communities; and

Promoting title transfer opportunities.

A.3. Program Requirements Proposed projects should seek to include conservation and improvement programs, habitat conservation, and riparian restoration projects.

All proposals will be evaluated against the Evaluation Criteria stated in Section E – Application Review Information of this NOFO.

Projects to be considered should address one of the following task component areas:

Wetland and riparian habitat restoration, enhancement, and protection;

Tracking fish and wildlife movement, habitat monitoring, collection, analysis of invertebrates, and/or genetics studies; or

Surveying and monitoring of fish and wildlife.

Projects to be considered should consider:

Demonstration of long-term studies of native riparian habitat restoration;

Specific emphasis of plant genetic variation and its effect on community structure; or Demonstrated skill in the propagation and long-term survival of Lower Colorado Basin native riparian species.

Section B. Federal Award Information

B.1. Total Funding Approximately $55,000 is available for this NOFO.

Reclamation will determine the final amount of Federal funding available for award under this NOFO once final FY 2023 appropriations have been made. This NOFO may be canceled if appropriations are insufficient to support new awards.

B.2. Expected Award Amount Maximum Award: $55,000

Minimum Award: $1

The maximum award amount in Federal funds may be awarded to an applicant over the 2-year period, with no more than $55,000 total amount to be available for entire project period.

B.3. Expected Award Funding and Anticipated Dates Anticipated Award Date: 09/01/2023

Reclamation expects to contact potential award recipients and unsuccessful applicants in Summer 2023 (or later if necessary), subject to the timing of final FY 2023 appropriations.

Anticipated Project Completion Date: 08/01/2025

B.4. Number of Awards Approximately one award, depending on the amount requested by each applicant and the amount of Federal funding available, will be awarded under this NOFO.

B.5. Type of Award Project awards will be made through grants agreements.

B.6. Technical Assistance At your request, Reclamation can provide technical assistance after award of the project. If you receive Reclamation’s assistance, you must account for these costs in your budget. To discuss available assistance and these costs, contact the program coordinator identified in Section G.

Federal Awarding Agency Contact(s).

Section C. Eligibility Information

C.1. Eligible Applicants 00 – State governments 01 – County governments 02 – City or township governments 04 – Special district governments 06 – Public and State controlled institutions of higher education 07 – Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) 11 – Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments) 12 – Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher 20 – Private institutions of higher education 22 – For profit organization other than small businesses 23 – Small businesses

Note: The Application Review Committee (ARC) has the discretion to determine which group an applicant is eligible for.

C.1.1. Ineligible Applicants

Those not eligible are:

Federal governmental entities Individuals

C.2. Cost Sharing or Matching No cost sharing is required under this NOFO.

Should an applicant choose to provide any cost-sharing, it may be made through cash or in-kind contributions from the applicant or third-party partners; however, all cost-share contributions must meet the criteria established in the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) administrative and cost principles circulars applicable to the applicant.

Project costs that have been incurred prior to the date of award of the project may be submitted for consideration as an allowable portion of the recipient’s cost-share for the project.

Reclamation will review the proposed pre-award costs to determine if they are allowable in accordance with the authorizing legislation and applicable cost principles.

If cost-share is included in the proposed budget, all cost-share contributions must meet the applicable administrative and cost principles criteria established in 2 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 200.

C.3. Donations and In-Kind Contributions Donations and in-kind contributions constitute the value of noncash contributions that benefit a federally assisted project. If provided, these contributions may be in the form of real property, equipment, supplies and other expendable property, as well as the value of goods and services directly benefiting and specifically identifiable to the proposed project or program. The cost or value of in-kind contributions that have been or will be relied on to satisfy a cost-sharing or matching requirement for another Federal financial assistance agreement, a Federal procurement contract, or any other award of Federal funds may not be relied on to satisfy the cost-share requirement for FWCAP Grant applications. Applicants should refer to 2 CFR §200.434 for regulations regarding the valuation of in-kind donations and contributions, available at www.ecfr.gov.

C.4. Other Reclamation conducts a review of the SAM.gov Exclusions database (https://sam.gov/content/exclusions) for all applicant entities and their key project personnel prior to award; ineligibility conditions apply to this Federal program. If entities or key project personnel are 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, Reclamation cannot award funds to them.

C.5. Eligible Projects Applicants can apply for funding for activities that seek to include conservation and improvement programs, habitat conservation, and riparian restoration projects.

C.5.1. Projects to be considered should address one of the following task component areas:

Wetland and riparian habitat restoration, enhancement, and protection;

Tracking fish and wildlife movement, habitat monitoring, collection, analysis of invertebrates, and/or genetics studies; or Surveying and monitoring of fish and wildlife.

C.5.2. Projects to be considered should consider:

Demonstration of long-term studies of native riparian habitat restoration;

Specific emphasis of plant genetic variation and its effect on community structure; or Demonstrated skill in the propagation and long-term survival of Lower Colorado Basin native riparian species.

Section D. Application and Submission Information

D.1. Contact to Request Application Package This document contains all information, forms, and electronic addresses required to obtain the information required to submit an application.

If you are unable to access this information electronically, you can request paper copies of any of the documents referenced in this NOFO by emailing the grants management specialist, Sharon Opfermann at sopfermann@usbr.gov.

D.2. Content and Form of Application Submission All applications must conform to the requirements described in this section.

D.2.1. Application Format and Length The total technical proposal and criteria section (defined below) shall be limited to a maximum of 15 consecutively numbered pages. If this section exceeds 15 pages, only the first 15 pages will be evaluated. The font shall be at least 12 points in size and easily readable. Page size shall be 8½ by 11 inches, including charts, maps, and drawings. Margins should be standard 1-inch margins. Oversized pages will not be accepted.

Applications will be prescreened for compliance to the above page number limitation. Excess pages will be removed and not considered in the evaluation of the proposed project.

D.2.2. Application Content The application must include the following elements to be considered complete:

Mandatory Federal Forms o SF-424 Application for Federal Assistance o SF-424A Budget Information for Non-Construction Projects o SF-424B Assurances for Non-Construction Activities

These forms may be obtained at www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms/sf-424-family.html.

Technical proposal and evaluation criteria (limited to 15 pages), which should include:

o Title Page o Table of Contents o Executive summary o Project location o Technical project description o Evaluation criteria

● Project budget, which should include:

o Funding plan and letters of funding commitment o Budget proposal o Budget narrative

Environmental and cultural resources compliance, if applicable.

Required permits or approvals.

Letters of support for the project and letters of participation (will not count towards the page limitation).

Official resolution (will not count towards the page limitation).

To facilitate fair and timely reviews by the ARC, it is highly recommended that application packages be structured in the order identified above.

D.2.2.1. Mandatory Federal Forms The application must include the following standard Federal forms for an application to be considered complete. Incomplete applications will be screened as ineligible and will not proceed to a merit evaluation by the ARC. Questions regarding forms should be referred to the Financial Assistance Point of Contact under Section G. Federal Awarding Agency Contact(s).

SF-424 Application for Federal Assistance

A fully completed SF-424 Application for Federal Assistance signed by a person legally authorized to commit the applicant to performance of the project must be submitted with the application. Failure to submit a properly signed SF-424 may result in the elimination of the application from further consideration.

If you request more than $100,000 in Federal funding, you must certify that all statements in 43 CFR Part 18, Appendix A-Certification Regarding Lobbying are true. The Authorized Official’s signature on the appropriate SF-424, Application for Federal Assistance form represents the entity’s certification of the statements in 43 CFR Part 18, Appendix A.

Failure to submit a signed SF-424 with a valid Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) number will result in the elimination of the application from further consideration.

SF-424A or SF-424C Budget Information Form

A fully completed SF-424A/SF-424C Budget Information must be submitted with the application.

Failure to submit an SF-424A or SF-424C will result in the elimination of the application from further consideration.

SF-424B or SF-424D Assurances Form

A SF-424B/SF-424D Assurances for Non-Construction/Construction Programs signed by a person legally authorized to commit the applicant to performance of the project shall be included.

Failure to submit a signed SF-424B/SF-424D will result in the elimination of the application from further consideration.

D.2.2.2. Technical Proposal Content

Title Page

Provide a brief, informative, and descriptive title for the proposed work that indicates the nature of the project. Include the name and address of the applicant, and the name and address, e-mail address, and telephone of the Project Manager.

Table of Contents

List all major sections of the proposal in the table of contents.

Technical Proposal and Evaluation Criteria

The technical proposal and evaluation criteria must be submitted and it should (limited to 15 pages) include:

(1) Executive summary

(2) Project location

(3) Technical project description

(4) Evaluation criteria

Executive Summary

The executive summary should include:

The date, applicant name, city, county, and state.

A one paragraph project summary that briefly describes the work proposed, including how project funds will be used to accomplish specific project activities, and briefly identifies how the proposed project contributes to accomplishing the goals of this NOFO (see Section C.5 - Eligible Projects)

State the length of time and estimated completion date for the proposed project (month/year).

Whether or not the proposed planning efforts are focused on a Federal facility or will involve Federal land.

Task Component Area

On a separate line, on the first page of the Project Narrative, clearly identify which task component area will be addressed through the proposed activity/project.

To assure your proposal receives the points it deserves, applicants are strongly encouraged to explain how your proposed project relates to the Evaluation Criteria outlined in Section E1. DO NOT attempt to address ALL the criteria. Applicants must select the ONE task component area that most directly applies to the proposed activity/project and must address the criteria for that ONE selected component area. If your project has aspects of more than one area, you must choose which one is the better fit or best describes the primary reason for the project.

Project Location

If you are selected for funding, Reclamation may request additional detail regarding your project location.

Problem Statement

Describe the problem to be solved by the proposed project, including why current approaches or technologies are insufficient and how the proposed approach or technology improves on current shortcomings. Include information on what is already known, either due to previous research done or a literature review. Describe how the proposed work aligns with one or more of the objectives shown in Section A.2. Notice of Funding Opportunity Purpose and Objectives.

Work Plan and Schedule

Provide a work plan based on the technical approach and project activities. The work plan should include a schedule showing individual tasks with significant milestones identified for the work to be accomplished (see Table 1Table 1 as an example). Clearly and concisely convey this schedule using a table, Gantt chart, project network diagram, or any other visual format. Multi-year applications should include such information for each year of the proposed activity. Time for final report preparation as described in Section F.3. Reporting Requirements and Distribution should also be included in the work plan.

Table 1. Milestones Milestone/Task/Activity Planned Start Date Planned Completion Date

Technical Project Description

The technical project description should describe the work, including specific activities that will be accomplished. This section provides an opportunity to provide a clear description of the technical nature of the project and to address any aspect of the project that reviewers may need additional information to understand. As part of this discussion, please address the following:

● Applicant Category: Please indicate whether you are seeking funding as a Group described under Section C.1. Eligible Applicants

● Eligibility of Applicant: Please write a narrative summary indicating how the applicant meets the eligibility requirements, as described in Section C.1. Eligible Applicants.

● Goals: Discuss your organization’s preliminary goals and objectives for this project.

● Approach: Provide a comprehensive description of your planned approach for this project.

Describe the technical approach and/or proposed research and testing activities to be conducted under the project. Include enough detail on the proposed technology or approach to permit a comprehensive evaluation of the proposal. The applicant’s understanding will be established not only by the proposed approach, but also by identifying potential challenges that will be faced throughout the proposed testing, and mitigation strategies for these challenges.

Describe in detail the tasks to be conducted, including the development of the final technical report. For each task, describe planned activities and expected outcomes and milestones.

Describe the staff levels and expertise, the number of staff hours, and the schedule for completing each task.

This section is solely intended to provide an understanding of the technical aspects of the project. Please note, if the work for which you are requesting funding is a phase of a larger project, please only describe the work that is reflected in the budget and exclude description of other activities or components of the overall project. Please do not duplicate information.

Evaluation Criteria

Section E.1. Technical Proposal: Evaluation Criteria provides a detailed description of each criterion, and sub-criterion and points associated with each. The evaluation criteria portion of your application should thoroughly address each criterion and sub-criterion in the order presented to assist in the complete and accurate evaluation of your proposal.

Copying and pasting the evaluation criteria and sub-criteria in Section E.1. Technical Proposal: Evaluation Criteria into your applications is suggested to ensure that all necessary information is adequately addressed.

Failure to submit a technical project description will result in the elimination of the application from further consideration.

D.2.2.3. Project Budget The project budget must be submitted and it should include:

(1) Budget proposal

(2) Budget narrative

Incurrence of pre-award costs is not authorized without prior written approval of the awarding Grants Officer. Per 2 CFR 200.458, pre-award costs are those incurred prior to the effective date of the Federal award or subaward directly pursuant to the negotiation and in anticipation of the Federal award where such costs are necessary for efficient and timely performance of the scope of work. If the proposed project is selected, the awarding Reclamation Grants Officer will review the proposed pre-award costs to determine if these costs are consistent with program objectives and are allowable in accordance with the authorizing legislation. Proposed pre-award costs must also be compliant with all applicable administrative and cost principles criteria established in 2 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 200, available at www.ecfr.gov, and all other requirements of this NOFO.

Please note that the costs for preparing and submitting an application in response to this NOFO, including developing data necessary to support the proposal, are not eligible project costs under this NOFO and must not be included in the project budget. In addition, budget proposals must not include costs for the purchase of water or land, or to secure an easement other than a construction easement. These costs are not eligible project costs under this NOFO.

Budget Proposal and Funding Plan

The total project cost is the sum of all allowable items of costs, including all required cost sharing and voluntary committed cost sharing, including third-party contributions, that are necessary to complete the project. Please include the following chart (Table 2) to summarize all funding sources. Denote in-kind contributions with an asterisk (*).

Table 2. Summary of Non-Federal and Federal Funding Sources

FUNDING SOURCES AMOUNT

Non-Federal Entities 1.

2.

3.

Non-Federal Subtotal

REQUESTED RECLAMATION FUNDING

The budget proposal should include detailed information on the categories listed below and must clearly identify all items of cost, including those that will be contributed as non-Federal cost share by the applicant (required and voluntary), third-party in-kind contributions, and those that will be covered using the funding requested from Reclamation, and any requested pre-award costs (Table 3).

Table 3. Total Project Cost Table

SOURCE AMOUNT

Costs to be reimbursed with the requested Federal funding $ Costs to be paid by the applicant $ Value of third-party contributions $

TOTAL PROJECT COST $

Budget Narrative

Submission of a budget narrative is mandatory. An award will not be made to any applicant who fails to fully disclose this information. The budget narrative provides a discussion of, or explanation for, items included in Section B of the SF-424A. Costs, including the valuation of third-party in-kind contributions, must comply with the applicable cost principles contained in 2 CFR Part §200, available at the Electronic CFR (www.ecfr.gov).

In addition, please identify whether the budget proposal includes any project costs that may be incurred prior to award. See requirements below.

Failure to submit a budget proposal and budget narrative will result in the elimination of the application from further consideration.

D.2.2.4. Pre-Award Costs If the proposed project is selected, the awarding Reclamation Grants Officer will review the proposed pre-award costs to determine if they are consistent with program objectives and are allowable in accordance with the authorizing legislation. Proposed pre-award costs must also be compliant with all applicable administrative and cost principles criteria established in 2 CFR Part 200 and all other requirements of this NOFO.

Please note that the costs for preparing and submitting an application in response to this NOFO, including the development of data necessary to support the proposal, are not eligible project costs under this NOFO and must not be included in the project budget.

The budget proposal shall include any project costs that may be incurred prior to award. For each cost, describe:

The project expenditure and amount

The date of cost incurrence

How the expenditure benefits the project

D.2.2.5. Environmental and Cultural Resources Compliance Please answer the questions from Section H.1. Environmental and Cultural Resource Considerations in this section.

D.2.2.6. Required Permits or Approvals You should state in the application whether any permits or approvals are required and explain the plan for obtaining such permits or approvals.

Note that improvements to Federal facilities that are implemented through any project awarded funding through this NOFO must comply with additional requirements. The Federal government will continue to hold title to the Federal facility and any improvement that is integral to the existing operations of that facility. Please see P.L. 111-11, Section 9504(a)(3)(B). Reclamation may also require additional reviews and approvals prior to award to ensure that any necessary easements, land use authorizations, or special permits can be approved consistent with the requirements of 43 CFR Section 429 and that the development will not impact or impair project operations or efficiency.

D.2.2.7. Overlap or Duplication of Effort Statement Applicants should provide a statement that addresses if there is any overlap between the proposed project and any other active or anticipated proposals or projects in terms of activities, costs, or commitment of key personnel. If any overlap exists, applicants must provide a description of the overlap in their application for review.

Applicants must also state if the proposal submitted for consideration under this program does or does not in any way duplicate any proposal or project that has been or will be submitted for funding consideration to any other potential funding source - whether it be Federal or non- Federal. If such a circumstance exists, applicants must detail when the other duplicative proposal(s) were submitted, to whom (Agency name and Financial Assistance 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 Reclamation, applicants must notify the NOFO point of contact or the Program Coordinator immediately.

D.2.2.8. Conflict of Interest Disclosure Statement Conflict of Interest Disclosure Per the Financial Assistance Interior Regulation (FAIR), 2 CFR §1402.112, you should state in your application if any actual or potential conflict of interest exists at the time of submission.

Applicability

This section intends to ensure that non-Federal entities and their employees take appropriate steps to avoid conflicts of interest in their responsibilities under or with respect to Federal financial assistance agreements.

In the procurement of supplies, equipment, construction, and services by recipients and by sub-recipients, the conflict of interest provisions in 2 CFR §200.318 apply.

Notification

Non-Federal entities, including applicants for financial assistance awards, must disclose in writing any conflict of interest to the DOI awarding agency or pass-through entity in accordance with 2 CFR §200.112.

Recipients must establish internal controls that include, at a minimum, procedures to identify, disclose, and mitigate or eliminate identified conflicts of interest. The successful applicant is responsible for notifying the Grants Officer in writing of any conflicts of interest that may arise during the life of the award, including those that have been reported by subrecipients.

Restrictions on Lobbying

Non-Federal entities are strictly prohibited from using funds under a grant or cooperative agreement for lobbying activities and must provide the required certifications and disclosures pursuant to 43 CFR §18 and 31 U.S.C §1352, as described in the SF-424 section above.

Review Procedures

The Grants Officer will examine each conflict of interest disclosure on the basis of its particular facts and the nature of the proposed grant or cooperative agreement, and will determine whether a significant potential conflict exists and, if it does, develop an appropriate means for resolving it.

Enforcement

Failure to resolve conflicts of interest in a manner that satisfies the government may be cause for termination of the award. Failure to make required disclosures may result in any of the remedies described in 2 CFR §200.339, Remedies for noncompliance, including suspension or debarment (see also 2 CFR §180).

D.2.2.9. Uniform Audit Reporting Statement All U.S. states, local governments, federally recognized tribal governments, and non-profit organizations expending $750,000 in U.S. dollars or more in Federal award funds in your organization’s fiscal year must submit a Single Audit report for that year through the Federal

Audit Clearinghouse’s Internet Data Entry System in accordance with 2 CFR §200 subpart F.

U.S. state, local government, federally recognized tribal governments, 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 Employer Identification Number (EIN) associated with that report and state if it is available through the Federal Audit Clearinghouse website at https://facides.census.gov/.

D.2.2.10. Letters of Support Please include letters from interested stakeholders supporting the proposed project. To ensure your proposal is accurately reviewed, please attach all letters of support/partnership letters as an appendix. Letters of support received after the application deadline for this NOFO will not be considered in evaluating your proposed project. These letters do not count within the 15-page maximum.

D.2.2.11. Official Resolution Include an official resolution adopted by your organization’s board of directors or governing body, or, for state government entities, an official authorized to commit the applicant to the financial and legal obligations associated with receipt of a financial assistance award under this NOFO, verifying:

The identity of the official with legal authority to enter into an agreement.

The board of directors, governing body, or appropriate official who has reviewed and supports the application submitted.

That your organization will work with Reclamation to meet established deadlines for entering into a grant or cooperative agreement.

An official resolution meeting the requirements set forth above is mandatory. If you are unable to submit the official resolution by the application deadline because of the timing of board meetings or other justifiable reasons, the official resolution may be submitted to Sharon Opfermann at sopfermann@usbr.gov up to 30 days after the application deadline. This resolution does not count within the 15-page maximum.

D.3. Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and System for Award Management (SAM)

Each applicant (unless the applicant is an individual or Federal awarding agency that is excepted from those requirements under 2 CFR 25.110 (b) or (c), or has an exception approved by the Federal awarding agency under 2 CFR 25.110 (d)) is required to:

D.3.1. Register with the System for Award Management Each applicant must be registered in SAM before submitting its application.

Register on the SAM.gov website. The “Help” tab on the website contains User Guides and other information to assist you with registration. The Grants.gov ‘Register with SAM’ page 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 IRS information.

There is no cost to register with SAM.gov. There are third-party vendors who will charge a fee in exchange for registering entities with SAM.gov; please be aware you can register and request help for free.

D.3.2. Obtain a UEI Number Provide a valid Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) in the application. You are required to register in SAM.gov prior to submitting a Federal award application and obtain a UEI which has replaced the Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number. A UEI will be assigned to entities upon registering with SAM.

D.3.3. Obtain a UEI Number Continue to maintain an active SAM registration with current information at all times during which it has an active Federal award or an application or plan under consideration by a Federal awarding agency. The Federal awarding agency may not make a Federal award to an applicant until the applicant has complied with all applicable UEI and SAM requirements and, if an applicant has not fully complied with the requirements by the time the Federal awarding agency is ready to make a Federal award, the Federal awarding agency may determine that the applicant is not qualified to receive a Federal award and use that determination as a basis for making a Federal award to another applicant.

D.4. Submission Date and Time Due Date for Applications: Thursday, June 1, 2023, 4:30 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time

Applications must be submitted (not postmarked by) no later than this due date and time.

Electronic proposals received after the application deadline will not be considered unless it can be determined that the delay was caused by Reclamation technical issues with the Grants.gov application system. Please note that difficulties related to an applicant’s Grants.gov profile (e.g., incorrect organizational representative), uploading documents to Grants.gov, or an applicant’s SAM registration are not considered technical issues with the Grants.gov system.

D.4.1. Application Delivery Instructions Applications submitted electronically through Grants.gov (www.grants.gov). Under no circumstances will applications received through any other method (such as e-mail or fax) be considered eligible for award.

D.4.2. Instructions for Submitting the Project Application Each applicant should submit an application in accordance with the instructions contained in this section.

D.4.2.1. Applications Submitted Electronically Electronic applications must be submitted through Grants.gov. Applicant resource documents and a full set of instructions for registering with Grants.gov and completing and submitting applications online are also available at www.grants.gov/applicants/apply-for-grants.html.

Please note that submission of an application electronically requires prior registration through Grants.gov, which may take 7 to 21 days. In addition, please note that the Grants.gov system only accepts applications submitted by individuals that are registered and active in SAM as both a user and an Authorized Organizational Representative.

Because applicants have experienced significant delays when attempting to submit applications through Grants.gov, you are encouraged to submit your application several days prior to the application deadline. If you are a properly registered Grants.gov applicant and encounter problems with the Grants.gov application submission process, you must contact the Grants.gov Help Desk to obtain a case number. This case number will provide evidence of your attempt to submit an application prior to the submission deadline.

You must ensure that your proposal arrives by the date and time deadline stated in this NOFO.

Late applications will not be considered unless it is determined that the delay was caused by Reclamation mishandling or technical issues with the Grants.gov application system.

D.4.2.2. Acknowledgement of Application Receipt Applicants will receive an e-mail acknowledging receipt of the application from Grants.gov. In addition, you will receive an email acknowledgement when your application is successfully downloaded from Grants.gov.

D.5. Intergovernmental Review This NOFO is subject to E.O. 12372, “Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs”. A list of states (and their associated Single Points of Contact [SPOCs]) that have elected to participate in the intergovernmental review process are listed on the Office of Management and Budget’s website at https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/SPOC-4-13-20.pdf.

Applicants in these states must contact their state’s SPOC to find out about and comply with the state’s process under Executive Order 12372.

D.6. Funding Restrictions D.6.1. Environmental and Regulatory Compliance Costs Prior to awarding financial assistance, Reclamation must first ensure compliance with Federal environmental and cultural resources laws and other regulations (i.e., “environmental compliance”). Every project funded under this program will have environmental compliance activities undertaken by Reclamation and the successful applicant.

Depending on the potential impacts of the project, Reclamation may be able to complete its compliance activities without additional cost to the successful applicant. Where environmental or cultural resources compliance requires significant participation by Reclamation, Reclamation will add a line item for costs incurred by Reclamation to the budget during development of the financial assistance agreement and cost shared accordingly (i.e., withheld from the Federal award amount). Any costs to the successful applicant associated with compliance will be identified during the process of developing a final project budget for inclusion in the financial assistance agreement.

D.6.2. Indirect Costs You may include indirect costs that will be incurred during the development or construction of a project, which will not otherwise be recovered, as part of the project budget. Show the proposed rate, cost base, and proposed amount for allowable indirect costs based on the applicable cost principles for your organization. It is not acceptable to simply incorporate indirect rates within other direct cost line items.

If you have never received a Federal negotiated indirect cost rate, your budget may include a de minimis rate of up to 10 percent of modified total direct costs. For further information on modified total direct costs, refer to 2 CFR §200.1.

If you do not have a federally approved indirect cost rate agreement and are proposing a rate greater than the de minimis 10 percent rate, include the computational basis for the indirect expense pool and corresponding allocation base for each rate. Information on “Preparing and Submitting Indirect Cost Proposals” is available from the Department’s Interior Business Center, Office of Indirect Cost Services, at https://ibc.doi.gov/ICS/icrna.

If the proposed project is selected for award, the successful applicant will be required to submit an indirect cost rate proposal with their cognizant agency within 3 months of award. 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 (IBC) will negotiate your indirect cost rate.

Contact the IBC by phone 916-930-3803 or email at ICS@ibc.doi.gov. Visit their website https://ibc.doi.gov/ICS/icrna, for information regarding email submission forms.

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 may not shift unallowable indirect costs to another Federal award unless specifically authorized to do so by legislation.

Section E. Application Review Information

E.1. Technical Proposal: Evaluation Criteria The evaluation criteria portion should be addressed in the technical proposal section of the application. Applications should thoroughly address each criterion and any sub-criterion in the order presented below. Applications will be evaluated (Table 4) against the evaluation criteria listed below. If the work described in your application is a phase of a larger project, only discuss the benefits that will result directly from the work discussed in the technical project description and that is reflected in the budget—not the larger project.

Table 4. Sample of Application Review Committee Proposal Evaluation Scoring Evaluation Criteria Scoring Summary Points

A. Project A1. Projects to be considered should address one of the following task component areas A2. Projects to be considered should consider

Max 25

B. Goals and Objectives Max 25 C. Personnel and Institutional Qualifications Max 15 D. Demonstration Max 15 E. DOI Priorities Max 10 F. Reclamation Priorities Max 10 Total 100

Note: Projects may be prioritized to ensure balance among the program task component areas and to ensure the projects address this NOFO’s goals and objectives.

E.1.1. Evaluation Criterion A. Project (max 25 points) Proposed projects should seek to include conservation and improvement programs, habitat conservation, and riparian restoration projects.

E.1.1.1. Sub-criterion No. A1. Projects to be considered should address one of the following task component areas:

Wetland and riparian habitat restoration, enhancement, and protection;

Tracking fish and wildlife movement, habitat monitoring, collection, analysis of invertebrates, and/or genetics studies; or

Surveying and monitoring of fish and wildlife.

E.1.1.2. Sub-criterion No. A2. Projects to be considered should consider:

Demonstration of long-term studies of native riparian habitat restoration;

Specific emphasis of plant genetic variation and its effect on community structure; or Demonstrated skill in the propagation and long-term survival of Lower Colorado Basin native riparian species.

E.1.2. Evaluation Criterion B. Goals and Objectives (max 25 points) The extent to which the stated goals and objectives and methods are specific, measurable, appropriate, and realistic to achieve within the time and budget proposed.

E.1.3. Evaluation Criterion C. Personnel and Institutional Qualifications (max 15 points) Past experience to demonstrate capability and capacity of the principal investigator(s), staff, and laboratory, and their experience bringing similar projects to completion on time and within budget, especially over the past two years.

E.1.4. Evaluation Criterion D. Demonstration (max 15 points) The proposal identifies how it will meet the FWCAP Strategy’s planning action.

E.1.5. Evaluation Criterion E. DOI Priorities (max 10 points) May be awarded based on the extent that the proposal demonstrates how the project supports the Department’s priorities. Please address only those priorities that are applicable to your project. A project will not necessarily receive more points simply because multiple priorities are addressed.

Points will be allocated based on the degree to which the project supports one or more of the priorities listed, and whether the connection to the priority(ies) is well supported in the proposal.

The following are the Department’s priorities:

1. Creating a conservation stewardship legacy second only to Teddy Roosevelt

a. Utilize science to identify best practices to manage land and water resources and adapt to changes in the environment.

b. Examine land use planning processes and land use designations that govern public use and access.

c. Revise and streamline the environmental and regulatory review process while maintaining environmental standards.

d. Review the Department’s water storage, transportation, and distribution systems to identify opportunities to resolve conflicts and expand capacity.

e. Foster relationships with conservation organizations advocating for balanced stewardship and use of public lands.

f. Identify and implement initiatives to expand access to Department’s lands for hunting and fishing.

g. Shift the balance towards providing greater public access to public lands over restrictions to access.

2. Utilizing our natural resources

a. Ensure American Energy is available to meet our security and economic needs.

b. Ensure access to mineral resources, especially the critical and rare earth minerals needed for scientific, technological, or military applications.

c. Refocus timber programs to embrace the entire ‘healthy forests’ lifecycle.

d. Manage competition for grazing resources.

3. Restoring trust with local communities

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

b. Expand the…