arizona wild horse holding and training program final.doc

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT

Arizona Wild Horse Holding and Training Program Legislative Authority for this project is

Wild Free-roaming Horses and Burro Act of 1971, as amended, section 1336 (P.L. 92-195)

Request for Applications (RFA)

FUNDING OPPORTUNITY NO. L13AS00002

CFDA No. 15.229 CFDA Title: Wild Horse and Burro Resource Management ISSUE DATE: November 06, 2012

CLOSING DATE & TIME

November 16, 2012

4:30 PST

Contact Information:

Eddie W Bell Jr, Grants Management Specialist Phone: 602-417-9268 - Fax: 602-417-9462

SECTION I. Funding Opportunity Description A. Project Background Information:

Under the authority of the 1971 Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) manages, protects, and controls wild horses and burros as part of its overall multiple-use mission. The Bureau works to ensure that population levels are in balance with rangeland resources and other uses of the public lands; toward that end, the BLM removes thousands of wild horses and burros from the range each year to control the size of herds, which have virtually no predators and can double in population about every four years.

The current estimate of wild horses and burros on BLM-managed lands is about 37,000 which exceeds by some 11,000 the number determined by the Bureau to be the appropriate management level. Off the range, there are more than47, 000 wild horses and burros cared for in either short-term (corral) or long-term (pasture) facilities. All animals in holding are protected by the BLM under the 1971 law.

The Bureau works to place as many of the wild horses and burros that are in holding into private care, and since 1973, the BLM has placed more than 213,000 animals into private ownership through adoption.

B. Project Objective:

BLM Arizona’s objective is to provide a sound and meaningful way of ensuring proper care of captured wild horses and to ultimately prepare the horses for adoption and/or use by agencies requiring horses and provide training opportunities and positive work experiences for individuals. The facility will provide additional and critically needed holding capacity allowing BLM to achieve and maintain appropriate management levels of wild horses and burros on the range. It also reduces the cost of maintaining wild horses and/or burros at public expense by showcasing the trainability of wild horses and burros and increasing the number of successful adoptions.

C. Statement of Joint Objectives and Project Management Plan:

This program would provide a positive work experience for individuals and the chance to learn skills in animal husbandry, wild horse gentling techniques, and equine care.

The Wild Horse Program would benefit from the project by demonstrating the capabilities of wild horses, improving their adoptability, and increasing the numbers of animals adopted. The recipient will provide a facility to adequately and properly house wild horses. The facility will ensure that wild horses can be safely unloaded, moved, sorted, and restrained if necessary. The BLM may also use the facility to temporarily place wild horses that have been repossessed from adopters because of abuse or that have been abandoned, pending their reassignment to other adopters. Please review Section V. Application Review Information Criteria for detailed information.

E. Period of Performance:

The Period of Project: 5 years

SECTION II. AWARD INFORMATION

A. Expected Number of Awards: 1 B. Estimated Total Program Funding: $6,843,750.00 C. Estimated Award Ceiling First Year: $1,368,750.00 D. “BLM does not have legislative authority to reimburse for the construction of facilities outside of public lands”.

E. Assistance Instrument: Cooperative Agreement F. The BLM will be substantially involved as follows:

1. Holding Facility

a. Provide a maximum of 750 wild horses and burros to the holding facility.

b. Transport horses and burros to the facility.

c. Ensure that wild horses and burros brought into the facility are freeze marked and will provide freeze marks for all foals born at the facility as well as any animals whose existing freeze mark are unreadable.

2. Training and Adoption Program

a. Provide approximately 40 to 60 wild horses and/or burros annually for the training program. Horses to be saddle trained will be three to six years of age, burros to be trained for packing, carts, and other uses will be three years of age or older, horses and burros to be halter trained may be under three years. The horses selected for training will be common colors (bay, brown, black and sorrel), except for horses to be showcased for a specific purpose.

b. Deliver horses and burros selected for training from BLM managed facilities to the holding facility, as applicable.

c. Provide health certificates for all animals placed in the program.

d. All male horses will be gelded prior to placement in the program.

e. Complete a vaccination program for common diseases for all horses and burros placed in the program.

f. Removal of animals from the program that prove to be too dangerous to continue training.

g. Coordinate and participate with the Grantee in preparing for and conducting adoption events at the facility.

h. Provide transportation from the facility for horses and burros sent to other adoption events.

i. Photograph and prepare a catalog of offered animals for each facility adoption event. Post the catalog on BLM website and provide a disc for posting on an informational website.

j. Advertise and market facility adoptions.

SECTION III. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

A. Eligible Applicants:

Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burro Act (WFRHBA) of 1971, as amended, section 1336 (Public Law 92-195) that states “The Secretary is authorized to enter into cooperative agreements with other landowners and with State and local governmental agencies and may issue such regulations as he deems necessary for the furtherance of the purposes of this Act.”

B. Cost Sharing or Matching: None

SECTION IV. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

A. Address to Request Application Package:

This announcement contains all information and electronic addresses necessary to submit an application through Grants.gov.

B. Content and Form of Application:

The application package shall consist of all the required Standard Forms shown below AND a Certification for Federal Assistance “if applicable” (Attachment A), Proposal Submission Format (Attachment B) and Budget (Attachment C) narrative:

Required Standard Forms:

1. Indirect Charges Most States, Universities and larger non profits have a negotiated indirect cost rate agreement with the Federal Government. This agreement provides the rates approved for use on cooperative agreements, grants, contracts and other agreements with the Federal Government. A copy of the current rate agreement must be submitted with any proposed project. Smaller organizations may not have an agreement with the Federal Government. In these cases the indirect cost rate must be accompanied by a determination from an independent auditing firm. This determination will include the indirect cost rate, the calculations of the indirect cost rate including the base and indirect costs pools and the associated dollar figures for both. Proposals that fail to document their indirect costs will have those costs disallowed.

2. Proposal Submission Format (Attachment B) can be used as an example when submitting your proposal. The proposal technical text must be no longer than 10 pages, no smaller than font size 11, and have 1-inch margins. The 10-page limit includes all text, figures, references, and vitae. (The Budget, Attachment B, is not included in the 10-page limit.) The text should include the following:

a. Technical Approach - (Attachment B, Section I) – (a) The project design contains enough detail to show the development of the project and the relationship between the partners, milestones, and goals. The roles and responsibilities of each partner are clearly articulated. The milestones are clear, and supported by a well thought-out schedule that supports the work to be accomplished for the duration of the project. (b) The proposed project’s importance/relevance and applicability are tied to the program goals. Is there value and importance to the program goals? (c) The work plan objectives are clear, suitable, and feasible with respect to the following: Techniques, procedures, and methodologies; Data collection, analysis, and means of interpretation; Expected results or outcomes; and Procedures for evaluating project efficacy, including fixed performance indices with probabilities for obtaining them. (d) The project proposal work plan is designed to produce the proposed outcomes and outputs. The outcomes are clearly stated and tied to intermediate outcomes as stated in the announcement.

b. Qualifications, Experience, Past Performance - (Attachment B, Section II) – (a) The qualifications and experience of the organization are evident, and appear to be adequate to achieve project goals and objectives. (b). The qualifications and experience of the Project Director/Principal Investigator to be assigned for direct work on the project are evident, and appear to be adequate to achieve project goals and objectives and will be available for work on this agreement. (c). The applicants past and current assistance awards show they have completed project goals.

c. Purpose, Objectives, and Relevance - (Attachment B, Section III) – (a) The proposal adequately describes why the project is needed by the recipient. (b) The objectives are well defined, measurable, and realistic for the project’s anticipated timeframe. (c) The benefits support the mission of the recipient and as well as a public benefit and can be tied to a BLM Performance Measure.

d. Budget - (Attachment C, Section IV) – (a) The budget line items are appropriate, reasonable, allowable, well justified and commensurate with the level of effort needed to accomplish the project objectives. (b) The budget breakdown or narrative provides adequate justification for each budget category used. If equipment is requested by the applicant is it fully justified and necessary for the performance and completion of the project? (c) The applicant and other counterpart’s cash and in-kind matching funds or contributions are acceptable.

3. Budget - (Attachment C, Section IV) Please include a description of the cost share (cash vs. in kind). The budget should contain the following:

a. Salaries and Wages. Include all employees and their titles working on the project.

b. Fringe Benefits. Propose your rates/amounts. If rates are audit approved, include a copy of the audit agreement and/or the name of the audit agency. If more than one rate is used, lest each rate and the wage or salary base.

c. Consultant/Contracting Fees. Include payments for professional and technical consultants and contractors participating in the project.

d. Travel and Per Diem. For each trip, indicate the number of persons traveling, the total days they will be in travel status, and the total subsistence and transportation costs for that trip. Per diem rates shall not exceed maximum Federal rates. To view current Federal per diem rates, visit http://www.gsa.gov/Portal/gsa/ep/contentView.do?contentId=17943&contentType=GSA_BASIC and follow the links to per diem information.

e. Supplies and Materials. Include consumable supplies and materials to be used in the project, listing each item and quantity individually. Include items of expendable equipment, i.e., equipment costing less than $500 or with an estimated useful life of less than two years. Equipment costing more than that should be listed in the Other Costs category (Category G, below).

f. Services. This should include the cost of duplication and printing, long distance telephone calls, equipment rental, postage, and other services not previously listed.

g. Other Costs. List equipment items in excess of $500 and other items not previously listed. Note that equipment items worth less than $500 or that have a useful life of less than 2 years must be listed in the Supplies and Materials category.

h. Indirect Charges. If indirect costs will be charged to the grant, complete the table below with your current approved indirect cost rate and the direct costs it will be applied to. A copy of your most recent indirect cost rate must be attached if indirect costs will be requested.

C. Submission Dates and Times:

The electronic submission into Grants.gov is due by November 16, 2012 @ 4:30 p.m. Pacific Standard Time. A proposal received after the closing date and time will not be considered for award. If it is determined that a proposal will not be considered due to lateness, the applicant will be so notified immediately.

All proposals will be required to be submitted electronically through grants.gov. All of the required attached forms can be prepared online. Any form that is not available online may be submitted as attachments at the end of the proposal. If you have not registered in grants.gov, go to visit the website www.grants.gov and get started in the registration process. Application preparation time may take several weeks to get certified.

Once at the website, choose “Get Started” and work through the first 5 steps. If you have any questions or problems with the registration process, please contact the grants.gov help desk at 1-800-518-4726. In addition, Grants.gov has an “Applicant Users Guide” available at: http://www.grants.gov/help/user_guides.jsp that will answer most if not all your questions.

D. Submission Instruction and Information:

Applications/proposals may be submitted by the following methods only:

1. On-Line Submittal The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is participating in the Grants.gov Initiative that provides the grant community with a single site to find and apply for grant funding opportunities. BLM requires applicants to submit their applications/proposals electronically through: http://www.grants.gov/Apply.

YOU MUST REGISTER WITH GRANTS.GOV PRIOR TO SUBMITTING AN APPLICATION THROUGH THE GRANTS.GOV WEBSITE. THE REGISTRATION PROCESS MAY TAKE FROM 7 TO 21 DAYS.

2. Electronic Signature Applications submitted through Grants.gov constitute submission as electronically signed applications. The registration and e-authentication process establishes the Authorized Organization Representative (AOR). When you submit the application through Grants.gov, the name of your authorized organization representative on file will be inserted into the signature line of the application. Applicants must register the individual who is able to make legally binding commitments for the applicant organization as the Authorized Organization Representative.

3. Late Submissions, Modifications, and Withdrawals of Application and/or Proposal Any application/proposal received after the exact time specified for receipt will not be considered in the original selection process unless the application is received before award is made and it is determined by BLM that the late receipt was due to mishandling by the Government. Any modification of an application or quotation is subject to the same conditions stated above.

4. Electronic Application Submission and Receipt Procedures This provision provides information on the application submission and receipt instructions for applications submitted through Grants.gov apply. Please read the following instructions carefully and completely.

5. Timely Receipt Requirements and Proof of Timely Submission:

a. Electronic Submission. An electronic time stamp is generated within the system when the application is successfully received by Grants.gov. The applicant will receive an acknowledgement of receipt and a tracking number from Grants.gov with the successful transmission of their application. Applicants should print this receipt and save it.

b. BLM suggests that applicants submit their applications during the operating hours of the Grants.gov Support Desk, so that if there are questions concerning transmission, operators will be available to walk you through the process. Submitting your application during the Support Desk hours will also ensure that you have sufficient time for the application to complete its transmission prior to the application deadline. Applicants using dial-up connections should be aware that transmission will take some time before Grants.gov receives it.

c. Grants.gov will provide either an error or a successfully received transmission message. The Grants.gov Support desk reports that some applicants abort the transmission because they think that nothing is occurring during the transmission process. Please be patient and give the system time to process the application. Uploading and transmitting many files, particularly electronic forms with associated XML schemas, will take some time to be processed.

6. The Grants.gov website provides customer support via

(800) 518-GRANTS (this is a toll-free number) or through email at www.support@grants.gov The customer support center is open from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Eastern time, Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays, to address Grants.gov technology issues. For technical assistance on program related questions, contact the number listed in Section VII, Agency Contacts.

E. Intergovernmental Review:

This funding opportunity is not subject to Executive Order (EO) 12372, “Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs”. Applicants subject to EO 12372 must contact their State’s Single Point of Contact (SPOC) to find out about and comply with the State’s process. The names and addresses of the SPOC’s are listed in the OMB’s home page at:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants/spoc.html

F. Funding Restrictions:

A cooperative agreement issued by the BLM Arizona State Office, signed by the BLM GMO, obligates BLM funds. Notification of a successful proposal does not constitute authority to incur costs. Costs incurred prior to receipt of a signed cooperative agreement may not be reimbursed. Once the cooperative agreement for a successful proposal has been signed by the BLM GMO, the recipient may incur costs as specified in their proposed and approved budget submittal.

SECTION V. APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION CRITERIA

(By order of importance) A. Evaluation Criteria

1. Technical Approach The specific requirements are:

Facilities

1. Long Term Holding Corrals/Facilities Requirements.

a. Corral pens must be stoutly constructed of pipe, steel or wood construction and be at least 72" high. No barbed wire construction is allowed. Corrals constructed of pipe or wood must have openings of not more than 12 inches between horizontal members. Corrals and holding areas must be free of protrusions and hazards. Corral gates shall be constructed of wood or pipe the same height as the fences. Corrals constructed of mesh wire will be equipped with sight boards (2” by 6” pine or fir boards) at the upper portion of the fence. Material to obstruct the animal’s vision must be used on all gates that horses will encounter when they are being sorted.

b. Separate pens will be provided for mares, studs, geldings, fillies and colts.

c. A minimum space of 400 square feet per adult horse will be available in each maintenance corral. Each corral will be adequately sloped to ensure prompt drainage or include an earth mound in the center 5 to 6 feet high and 60-70 feet long to provide seasonal loafing areas.

d. A sufficient number of maintenance corrals will be included so that no more than 125 animals will be confined in any corral. For purposes of determining the number of animals per corral, a lactating mare and her foal will count as two animals. More specifically, a minimum of three smaller pens to accommodate the holding of animals prior to shipment is needed (these pens would be to facilitate shipping as opposed to providing additional holding capacity).

e. Horses may be placed in a feedlot where cattle are at one end and horses at the other end.

f. The facility will have the capability to maintain lactating mares and their foals. This includes foal creeps (small separate feeding areas for the foals). The creep feeders will include a feed bunk accessible only to the foals. The feeders will be at least 6 feet in height. The entrance to the creep will be constructed of ¾ inch pipe spaced at 12-14 inch intervals to allow entry by foals but not by larger animals.

2. Working Corrals.

a. Corral pens shall be set up with adequate chutes, runways and crowding alleys to allow for sorting, viewing, handling and loading/unloading of animals.

b. At least two sorting corrals, each a minimum of 3,000 square feet in size will be located adjacent to an unloading chute so that mixed loads of animals can be separated after unloading.

c. At least two separate corrals will be available for confining sick or lame animals requiring special care. Each of these corrals will be a minimum of 1,000 square feet in size.

d. A perimeter fence around the permanent corrals shall be provided in the event a wild horse escapes from an individual pen. The perimeter fence can be barbed wire with steel and wood post construction at least 48” high). Any entry into the personal residence or place of business must have the ability to be locked to provide adequate security during non-work hours.

3. Loading, Unloading, Working and Handling Facilities

a. The facility will have at least one squeeze chute with built-in observation doors. The chute will be at least 6 feet long; 28-36 inches wide; 7 feet high; and will have padded ends, sides and top rails. The runway leading to the chute will be at least 7 feet high, 36 feet long, and 28-36 inches wide.

b. The facility will have a loading and unloading chute at least 10 feet long, a crowding pen, and a runway at least 36 feet long. Suitable construction materials in order of preference are landing mat, pipe or hardwood. All sides will be at least 7 feet high and covered with solid material such as plywood to prevent animals from seeing outside or injuring themselves. The runway will be 28-36 inches wide and will be equipped with at least two solid sliding or rolling (non-swinging) gates to keep animals from backing up. The chute will be at least 28 inches in width and have a standard dock height of 45 inches to accommodate straight-decked and bobtail trucks.

4. Security, Safety, Sanitation and Shade Structures

a. All holding pens will have shade structures suitable to allow all animals to shade up during the day.

b. The Recipient shall assure that dust in the corrals and alley ways does not become a problem for the animals or employees. Proper dust abatement shall be at the direction of the Project Inspector.

c. The facilities will be operated and maintained in a manner to comply with all applicable State and Federal regulations relating to livestock waste control and off-site pollution.

d. Facilities will be cleaned and the animal waste removed once per month, at a minimum.

5. Feed and Water

a. Recipient will provide all necessary feed including, but not limited to, alfalfa hay, grass hay, rolled oats and any other supplemental rations deemed necessary for the horses at the facility(s). Adult animals vary in size and weight; their hay requirements will range from 20-30 pounds daily. Many of the animals arriving at the facility will not be accustomed to legume hay, and grass hay may be required during a short transition period to curtail colic and scours. Grass or alfalfa hay will be fed thereafter. Animals may be fed compressed hay (cubes or wafers) provided they are fed a reduced ration three times a day until they become accustomed to it.

b. The objective is for all animals to attain and/or maintain a good fleshy condition. Fleshy condition is defined as: back, level; ribs, not visually distinguishable but easily felt; fat around the tail head beginning to feel spongy; withers, rounded; and shoulders and neck blending smoothly into the body. If this objective is not being met, the Recipient understands that the program officer may direct a change.

c. Because the nutritional needs of animals vary with age and physiological status, basic requirements have been set for groups as follows:

· Adult Animals: good quality grass/alfalfa hay with a crude protein content of at least 10%.

· Lactating Mares: good quality grass/alfalfa hay with a crude protein content of at least 12%.

· Weanlings: good quality grass/alfalfa hay with a crude protein content of at least 16% and supplementation of 1 ½ pounds of grain per 100 pounds of body weight.

· Yearlings: good quality grass/alfalfa hay with a crude protein content of at least 14% and supplementation of 1 pound of grain per 100 pounds of body weight.

d. For the purposes of supplementing the hay ration, rolled oats will be used as the grain ration and will be mixed into the hay to ensure uniform intake of the total feed ration. Amounts will be controlled to keep the animals from foundering.

e. Adult animals in poor condition and lactating mares will be provided the supplemental ration as directed by the project inspector. Inclement weather may require the volume of feed to be increased, which will be directed by the project inspector. All animals will have access to trace mineralized salt at all times.

f. Each corral will have clean and fresh water available at all times in troughs equipped as necessary to keep the water clean and ice-free. Water sources must be capable of supplying at least 16 gallons of clean water per animal per day. Water shall be made available for the animals in troughs designed to prevent injury to the animals, (i.e. rounded trough corners and lips.) In order to minimize contamination, troughs will be cleaned at least once per month or at the direction of the project inspector.

g. Feed will be made available to animals in bunks that allow a minimum of two linear feet of bunk space per animal.

6. Ensuring Humane Care and Treatment

a. All animals shall be maintained, treated, handled and destroyed (when necessary), by experienced personnel in a humane manner and in accordance with applicable Federal, State, and Local laws and regulations. The use of ropes and prods will be minimized. Animals will be worked in small, manageable groups to prevent injuries from crowding or trampling.

b. Upon arrival at the facility, horses and burros will be unloaded, sorted and identified. Wild horses and burros will be sorted primarily by studs/geldings, mares, mares with foals and younger animals.

c. Corrals will be maintained adequately to ensure minimum danger to the animals from sharp projections, uneven surfaces, and other hazards. Corrals will be cleaned at the direction of the project inspector and often enough to ensure a healthy environment and to curtail the spread of diseases and internal parasites. It is currently projected that corrals will be cleaned once per month.

d. Animals that need special attention, either medical or nutritional, as identified by the project inspector or veterinarian, will be placed in a corral where appropriate treatments can be administered and monitored.

e. The death of a wild horse or burro in the facility will be reported to the project inspector as soon as practicable; the recipient will dispose of the carcass in accordance with applicable sanitation laws and regulations. Health records of dead animals will be submitted with death date and death reasons to the Project Inspector monthly.

7. Veterinary and Farrier Services

a. Recipient will provide routine veterinary and farrier services for all animals in the facility, and will provide special treatment for sick and injured animals. The BLM will provide all necessary veterinary supplies, medicines, and vaccines or reimbursement for any additional supplies supplied by the veterinarian. To be responsive to emergency situations, the veterinarian will be available at the site within four hours of notification and will provide the name, address and telephone number of a backup veterinarian. The duties require a veterinarian licensed in the State of Arizona, USDA accredited for issuing interstate health certificates, and skilled in handling and treatment ungentle large animals, specifically horses. Included is periodic hoof trimming for all animals maintained in the facility.

b. Under BLM directions, specific veterinary services, as necessary, to be performed are as follows:

c. Draw, prepare and ship blood samples to the State Animal Disease Control or Federal Testing Lab in Ames, Iowa, for testing of equine infectious anemia. The written test results will be given to the project inspector.

d. Vaccinate against:

i. Eastern, Western and Venezueland Encephalomyelitis

ii. Influenza

iii. Rabies

iv. West Nile

v. Tetanus

vi. Rhinopneumonitis

vii. Strangles

viii. (The BLM shall vaccinate and provide wormer for additional booster shots, when and if needed).

e. Control internal parasites.

f. Diagnose sick horses and burros.

g. Treat sick and injured horses or burros. It is assumed that horses and burros shipped to this facility will be certified healthy for interstate shipment.

h. Provide adequate and secure storage, including refrigeration when appropriate, for all materials.

i. Issue health certificates for interstate shipment of horses and burros.

j. Provide in writing to the Project Inspector the probable cause of death of horses or burros that die at or enroute to the facility.

k. Humanely euthanize wild horses or burros when necessary, and provide a written report to the program officer on the reason.

l. Collect tissue samples for postmortem examination as directed by the project inspector.

m. Provide all ropes and other restraints necessary for the treatments or tests required.

n. Annotate and initial the health record for each animal to reflect the treatments, vaccinations and tests administered.

o. When the use of needles is required as in vaccinating or drawing blood, a sterile needle will be used for each animals and disposal of needle will be made in accordance with institutional safety procedures.

p. Farrier services will involve the trimming of hooves of all wild horses to maintain natural hoof shape. The recipient will be responsible for providing all personnel, supplies and equipment to restrain and trim the animals’ hooves.

8. Shipment of Wild Horses and Burros

a. The Project Inspector will inform the recipient a minimum of two weeks prior to when horses need to be shipped.

b. The recipient will have all vaccinations and Coggins tests and hooves trimmed prior to the date of shipment.

Training and Adoption

1. Training Program

a. Least resistance training methods and concepts will be employed (what comes naturally to the horse).

b. Saddle training will be completed in an average of 120 days, and halter training will be completed in an average of 30 days.

c. The definition of a halter trained horse or burro is one that can be safely led, accepts touching and brushing of all parts of the body, allows feet to be lifted and handled, and loads into a trailer.

d. A saddle trained horse will meet the criteria for a halter trained horse plus accept a saddle and rider and perform basic maneuvers (stop, back up, turn left and right, etc.).

e. Horses and/or burros placed in the program will be selected by the recipient.

f. Horses to be saddle trained will be three to six years of age, while horses/burros to be halter trained may be under three years of age but not more than six years of age.

g. The animals selected for training will be common colors (bay, brown, black and sorrel), except for horses to be showcased for a specific purpose, wild burros may be any color.

2. Adoption Events

a. The BLM will take photographs and/or videotape the trained animals and prepare a catalog for each adoption event. The catalog will be posted on BLM’s web site and a copy will be provided on a CD for posting on the recipient’s web site.

b. The BLM will prepare flyers and coordinate media, advance promotion and marketing.

c. Recipient will provide security during adoption events at their facility.

d. The BLM will provide a clerk to handle all necessary paperwork and collect fees.

e. Recipient will showcase/demonstrate the offered animals as well as arrange for necessary inspections and personnel to conduct the adoption, and load adopted horses and/or burros for the successful adopters.

a. Recipient will print catalogs for the use at adoption events (with prior approval by Arizona State Public Affairs Officer).

The horses placed in the program will be selected by either the BLM Project Inspector and/or Recipients Project Manager. The Recipient will assume sole responsibility for care and control of all wild horses and burros within their custody. Veterinary services and supplies for animals injured because of improper training techniques (if determined by the BLM Project Inspector) will be the responsibility of the Recipient. Animals severely injured in training (or accidentally) will be euthanized only following a veterinarian’s recommendation, and will be documented in writing for records provided to the BLM. The recipient shall not contract with any third party for the care and control of wild horses held at their Facility unless they request authorization in advance and gets written approval from the BLM, Grants Management Officer (GMO). The recipient will coordinate with BLM and hold approximately three adoption events each year at their facility. The goal would be to train approximately 40-80 wild horses and burros annually.

Recipient’s Project Management Plan Approach:

The proposed Assistance Agreement is intended to provide a public service by providing a facility to feed, sort, train, and adopt wild horses and burros removed from public lands. The facility will provide additional and critically needed holding capacity allowing the BLM to achieve and maintain appropriate management levels of wild horses and burros on the range. It also reduces the cost of maintaining wild horses and burros at public expense by showcasing the trainability and versatility of wild horses and burros and increasing the number of successful adoptions

a. The project design contains enough detail to show the development of the project and the relationship between the partners, milestones, and goals. The roles and responsibilities of each partner are clearly articulated. The milestones are clear, and supported by a well thought-out schedule that supports the work to be accomplished for the duration of the project.

b. The proposed project’s importance/relevance and applicability are tied to the program goals. Is there value and importance to the program goals?

c. The work plan objectives are clear, suitable, and feasible with respect to the following:

· Techniques, procedures, and methodologies;

· Data collection, analysis, and means of interpretation;

· Expected results or outcomes; and

· Procedures for evaluating project efficacy, including fixed performance indices with probabilities for obtaining them.

d. The project proposal work plan is designed to produce the proposed outcomes and outputs. The outcomes are clearly stated and tied to intermediate outcomes as stated in the announcement.

2. Qualifications, Experience, Past Performance

a. The qualifications and experience of the organization are evident, and appear to be adequate to achieve project goals and objectives.

b. The qualifications and experience of the Project Director/Principal Investigator to be assigned for direct work on the project are evident, and appear to be adequate to achieve project goals and objectives and will be available for work on this agreement.

c. The applicants past and current assistance awards show they have completed project goals.

3. Purpose, Objectives, and Relevance

a. The proposal adequately describes why the project is needed by the recipient.

b. The objectives are well defined, measurable, and realistic for the project’s anticipated timeframe.

b. The benefits support the mission of the recipient and as well as a public benefit and can be tied to a BLM Performance Measure.

c. Performance Measures

1. M1G1S1.09 - Wild Horse and Burro Management Areas: Cumulative of number of Herd Management Areas (HMAs) achieving appropriate management levels. (Bureau Measure)

4. Budget

a. The budget line items are appropriate, reasonable, allowable, well justified and commensurate with the level of effort needed to accomplish the project objectives.

b. The budget breakdown or narrative provides adequate justification for each budget category used. If equipment is requested by the applicant is it fully justified and necessary for the performance and completion of the project?

c. The applicant and other counterpart’s cash and in-kind matching funds or contributions are acceptable.

B. Review and Selection Process:

Proposals will be reviewed by BLM personnel. All proposals for funding will be considered using the criteria outlined above. A summary of the review panel comments may be provided to the applicant if requested in writing within 5 days of notification of an unsuccessful proposal SECTION VI. Award Administration Information

A. Award Notices:

If the applicant’s proposal is selected for award, work cannot begin before the awardee receives a fully executed copy of the agreement approved by the GMO.

B. Administrative and National Policy Requirements:

1. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circulars By accepting Federal assistance, your organization agrees to abide by the applicable OMB Circulars in the expenditure of Federal funds and performance under this program. http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/circulars/

· 2 CFR Part 220 (OMB Circular A-21) - Cost Principles for Educational Institutions

· 2 CFR Part 225 (OMB Circular A-87) - Cost Principles for State, Local and Indian Tribal Governments

· 2 CFR Part 230 (OMB Circular A-122) - Cost Principles for Non-Profit Organizations

· 2 CFR Part 215 (OMB Circular A-110) - Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and Other Agreements with Institutions of Higher Education, Hospitals and Other Non-Profit Organizations

· 2 CFR Part 170 - Reporting Subaward and Executive Compensation Information.

· 2 CFR Subtitle A, Chapter 1, and Part 25 - Financial Assistance Use of Universal Identifier and Central Contractor Registration.

· 2 CFR Part 182 – Government wide Requirement for a Drug-Free Workplace

· OMB Circular A-133 - Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations.

2. Standard Award Terms and Conditions This agreement incorporates the Standard Award Terms and Conditions found at the following Department of the Interior website as if they were given here: http://www.doi.gov/pam/TermsandConditions.html Prohibition on Text Messaging and Using Electronic Equipment Supplied by the Government while Driving.

This executive order introduces a Federal Government-wide prohibition on the use of text messaging while driving on official business or while using Government-supplied equipment, driving company-owned or rented vehicles or GOV, or while driving POV when on official Government business or when performing any work for or on behalf of the Government.

Acceptance of a Federal Financial Assistance award from the Department of the Interior (DOI) carries with it the responsibility to be aware of and comply with the terms and conditions of award. Acceptance is defined as the start of work, drawing down funds, or accepting the award via electronic means. Awards are based on the application submitted to, and as approved by DOI and are subject to the terms and conditions incorporated either directly or by reference in the following:

a. Program legislation/regulations.

b. Special terms and conditions.

c. Code of Federal Regulations/Regulatory Requirements, as applicable (Contact your program officer with any questions regarding the applicability of the following):

· 2 CFR Part 175 Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000

· 43 CFR 12(A) Administrative and Audit Requirements and Cost Principles for Assistance Programs

· 43 CFR 12(E)

Buy American Requirements for Assistance Programs

· 43 CFR 12(C) Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and Cooperative Agreements to State and Local

· 43 CFR 12(F)

Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and Cooperative Agreements with Institutions of Higher Education, Hospitals, other Non-Profit and Commercial Organizations

· 43 CFR 42 Government wide Debarment and Suspension (Nonprocurement)

· 43 CFR 18 New Restrictions on Lobbying

3. Compliance With Buy American Act:

a. Notice: Pursuant to sec. 307 of the Omnibus Consolidated Appropriations Act of 1997, Public Law 104-208, 110 Stat. 3009, please be advised of the following: In the case of any equipment or product that may be authorized to be purchased with financial assistance provided using funds made available in this act, it is the sense of the Congress that entities receiving the assistance should, in expending the assistance, purchase only American-made equipment and products.

b. Recipient agrees to follow the requirements in 43 CFR Part 12, Subpart E, Buy American Requirements for Assistance Programs.

4. Opposition to Any Legislation In accordance with the Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Act, 2006, Title IV, Section 402, No part of any appropriation contained in this Act shall be available for any activity or the publication or distribution of literature that in any way tends to promote public support or opposition to any legislative proposal on which Congressional action is not complete other than to communicate to Members of Congress as described in 18 U.S.C. 1913.

5. Endorsements Recipient shall not publicize or otherwise circulate, promotional material (such as advertisements, sales brochures, press releases, speeches, still and motion pictures, articles, manuscripts or other publications) which states or implies governmental, Departmental, bureau, or government employee endorsement of a product, service, or position which the recipient represents. No release of information relating to this award may state or imply that the Government approves of the recipient’s work products, or considers the recipient’s work product to be superior to other products or services.

All information submitted for publication or other public releases of information regarding this project shall carry the following disclaimer: The views and conclusions contained in this document are those of the authors and should not be interpreted as representing the opinions or policies of the U.S. Government. Mention of trade names or commercial products does not constitute their endorsement by the U.S. Government.

Recipient must obtain prior Government approval for any public information releases concerning this award which refer to the Department of the Interior or any bureau or employee (by name or title). The specific text, layout photographs, etc. of the proposed release must be submitted with the request for approval.

A recipient further agrees to include this provision in a sub award to and sub recipient, except for a sub award to a State government, a local government, or to a federally recognized Indian tribal government.

6. Retention and Access Requirements for Records All recipient financial and programmatic records, supporting documents, statistical records, and other grants-related records shall be maintained and available for access in accordance with 43 CFR Subpart C, Section 12.82 for State, local and Indian tribal governments or Subpart F, Section 12.953 for institutions of higher education, hospitals, other non-profit and all other organizations.

7. Increasing Seat Belt Use Recipients of grants/cooperative agreements and/or sub-awards are encouraged to adopt and enforce on-the-job seat belt use policies and programs for their employees when operating company-owned, rented, or personally owned vehicles. These measures include, but are not limited to, conducting education, awareness, and other appropriate programs for their employees about the importance of wearing seat belts and the consequences of not wearing them.

8. Special Terms and Conditions.

a. Order of Precedence - Any inconsistency in the agreement shall be resolved by giving precedence in the following order: (a) Any national policy requirements and administrative management standards; (b) 43 CFR Part 12; (c) requirements of the applicable OMB Circulars and Treasury regulations; (d) special terms and conditions; and (e) all agreement sections, documents, exhibits, and attachments; (f) and the recipient’s project proposal.

b. Modifications - The agreement may be amended by written agreement signed by both the recipient’s Authorized Representative and the GMO. Administrative changes (i.e. GMO name change, etc.) which do not change the project management plan, NTE amount, etc. or otherwise affect the recipient may be signed unilaterally by the GMO. Additionally, a unilateral amendment may be utilized if it should become necessary to suspend or terminate the agreement in accordance with 43 CFR, Subpart C, Section 12.83 for State, local and Indian tribal governments or Subpart F, Section 12.961 for institutions of higher education, hospitals, other non-profit and all other organizations.

All other changes shall be made by means of a bilateral amendment to the agreement. No oral statement made by any person, or written statement by any person other than the GMO, shall be allowed in any manner or degree to amend or otherwise effect the terms of the agreement.

All requests for amendment of the agreement shall be made in writing, provide a full description of the reason for the request, and be sent to the attention of the GMO. Any request for project extension shall be made at least 120 days prior to the expiration date of the agreement or the expiration date of any extension period that may have been previously granted. Any determination to extend the period of performance or to provide follow-on funding for continuation of a project is solely at the discretion of the BLM.

c. Budget and Program Plan Revision - The budget plan is the financial expression of the project or program as approved during the award process. Recipients are required to report deviations from budget and program plans and request prior approval for budget and program plan revisions. Recipients are not required to request prior approval for deviations among approved direct cost categories when the cumulative amount of the transfer is less than 10 percent of that cost category. However, the recipient must report any deviation to the GMO and Program Officer (PO).

d. Audit Requirements - Non-Federal entities that expend $500,000 or more during a year in Federal awards shall have a single or program-specific audit conducted for that year in accordance with the Single Audit Act Amendments of 1996 (31 U.S.C. 7501-7507) and revised OMB Circular A-133, which is available at http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants/grants_circulars.html.

Federal awards are defined as Federal financial assistance and Federal cost-reimbursement contracts that non-Federal entities receive directly from Federal awarding agencies or indirectly from pass-through entities. They do not include procurement contracts, under grants or contracts, used to buy goods or services from vendors. Non-Federal entities that expend less than $500,000 for a fiscal year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in A-133, §_215(a), but records must be available for review or audit by appropriate officials of the Federal agency, pass-through entity, and General Accounting Office (GAO).

Audits shall be made by an independent auditor in accordance with generally accepted government auditing standards covering financial audits. Additional audit requirements applicable to this agreement are found at 43 CFR 12.66 or 43 CFR 12.926, as applicable. General guidance on the single audit process is included in a pamphlet titled, Highlights of the Single Audit Process" which is available on the internet at http://www.dot.gov/ost/m60/grant/sincontact.html. Additional information on single audits is available from the Federal Audit Clearinghouse at http://harvester.census.gov/sac/ .

e. Metric Conversion - All performance and final reports, other reports, or publications, produced under this agreement, shall employ the metric system of measurements to the maximum extent practicable. Both metric and inch-pound units (dual units) may be used if necessary during and transition period(s). However, the recipient may use non-metric measurements to the extent the recipient has supporting documentation that the use of metric measurements is impracticable or is likely to cause significant inefficiencies or loss of markets to the recipient, such as when foreign competitors are producing competing products in non-metric units.

f. Officials Not to Benefit - No member of or delegate to Congress, or resident commissioner, shall be admitted to any share of this agreement, or to any benefit arising from it. However, this clause does not apply to this agreement to the extent that this agreement is made with a corporation’s general benefit.

g. Deposit of Publications - In addition to any requirements listed in the Project Management Plan, two (2) copies of each applicable publication produced under this agreement shall be sent to the Natural Resources Library with a transmittal that identifies the sender and the publication, and states that the publication is intended for deposit in the Natural Resources Library. Publications shall be sent to the following address:

U.S. Department of the Interior

Natural Resources Library

Interior Service Center

Gifts and Exchanges Section

1849 C Street, N.W.

Washington, D.C. 20240

h. Reimbursable Costs and Limitations:

The recipient shall not incur costs or obligate funds for any purpose pertaining to operation…