CallforCanadianNAWCAandMBTAProposals2018-2.pdf

CALL FOR CANADIAN

NAWCA and MBTA PROPOSALS

FUNDING WINDOW 2018-2

For funding consideration through the North American Wetlands Conservation Council under authority of the North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA) of the United States of America

Habitat Conservation Unit Environment and Climate Change Canada

14th Floor, Place Vincent Massey 351 St. Joseph Boulevard

Gatineau, Québec K1A 0H3

Table of Contents Introduction 3

Figure 1 5

Key Documents and Reference Materials 6

Purpose of the North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA) 7 Box 1 – NAWCA Funding Structure 9

Figure 2 9

Definition of a Wetlands Conservation Project 10

NABCI, NAWMP and NAWCA 12

Schedule and Timelines for Submission 13 Table 1 14

NAWCA and MBTA Proposals 15 Box 2: Terminology 15 NAWCA Funding – Important Notes 15 Proposal Format 16 Proposal Activities 17 Submission of Proposals 17 Match Letters 17 SF 424 and SF 424d Forms (Application for Federal Assistance) 18 Exceptions to NAWCA & Match Eligibility Rules 19

Proposal Components 20

Proposal Completion Instructions 21

1. Proposal Application Cover Page 21

2. Executive Summary 22

3. Proposal Body 25

4. Maps, Photos and GIS Shapefiles 33

5. Appendices 35

Determining Eligibility and Accounting for Expenditures for Activities in NAWCA Proposals 36

Table 2 Activities & Eligible Expenditures 39 Table 3 Ineligible Expenditures 44

NAWCA Funding Program Contacts 45

Appendix 1 – Migratory Bird Treaty Act Gulf Spill Funding 46 Eligibility Requirements for funding proposals with Migratory Bird Treaty Act Gulf Spill funding 47

Table 4. Migratory Bird Treaty Act Gulf Spill Affected Species List 48 Figure 3. Gulf Spill Zone Map 49 Figure 4. Migratory Bird Treaty Act Spill Fund Affected Species Richness Map 50

Introduction

This document, Call for Canadian NAWCA and MBTA Proposals: Funding Window 2018-2, describes in detail the preparation and submission of Canadian applications for funding consideration through the 1989 United States Congress North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA), as amended in 1994, 2002 and 2010 and Gulf Spill Funding under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA). It provides guidelines to assist in developing a proposal for wetlands conservation partnerships in which U.S. federal NAWCA grant monies and other U.S. and Canadian funds are used to secure, enhance or manage wetlands in Canada. Legal obligations pertaining to the fulfilment of objectives in the NAWCA proposals and grant agreements exist only between the successful Grantee and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS).

The objective of the NAWCA is to encourage partnerships to protect North America’s wetlands as habitat for waterfowl and other wetland-associated migratory birds, fish and wildlife. It should be noted that the statutory criteria encourage proposals with multiple partnerships, projects supporting the purposes of the Act, and projects that have multiple benefits in addition to those for wetland-associated migratory birds.

The key players in the Canadian NAWCA and MBTA proposal process and their roles are described in Figure

1. The North American Wetlands Conservation Council (Canada), or the NAWCC (Canada), is the body responsible for reviewing and endorsing Canadian NAWCA and MBTA proposals. Canadian proposals must be submitted to the Habitat Conservation Unit (HCU) at Environment and Climate Change Canada through the Joint Venture Provincial Steering Committees and applicable Habitat Joint Venture Management Boards.

Proposals are then forwarded to the NAWCC (Canada) for review and endorsement before being recommended to its U.S. counterparts, the NAWCC (U.S.), for consideration.

This document includes an explanation of the wetlands conservation project grant application process, definitions, timeline for proposals, description of information required in the proposal, and the format for proposals. In addition, reference materials (e.g., North American Waterfowl Management Plan 2012 Revision) are available online or from the HCU to assist proposal Grantees (see the Key Documents and Reference Materials section on page 6).

Grantees are strongly encouraged to use the instructions found in this document and the attached Proposal Template to develop proposals in order to avoid delays in submitting materials to NAWCC (Canada) and NAWCC (U.S.). When the application is complete and has been vetted by the applicable Habitat Joint Venture Management Board in Canada, it should be forwarded to the HCU, Stewardship and Regional Operations, Canadian Wildlife Service.

If you are a new NAWCA grantee you must first determine whether or not your organization qualifies for Canadian NAWCA funding by contacting your regional Habitat Joint Venture. Furthermore, you must ensure your application meets the definition of a wetlands conservation project, see page 10.

A list of Canadian Joint Ventures is found on page 45.

►Please read these instructions thoroughly before developing your proposals, as incomplete or inappropriate proposals will be returned to proposal writers for corrections and formatting. See page 13 for submission and timeline details.

For detailed information on the Canadian process related to Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA) Gulf Spill Funding refer to Appendix 1 which describes eligibility requirements, affected species, and target areas. For important dates for the MBTA Spill Funding process refer to the Schedule & Timelines for 2018-2 NAWCA & MBTA Canadian Proposals (page 13).

Any questions regarding the development of the Canadian NAWCA or MBTA 2018-2 Proposals can be directed to your regional Habitat Joint Venture Coordinator or the HCU (for contact information see page 45).

Figure 1 The Canadian NAWCA proposal process within Canada and the United States. The HCU (Canadian Wildlife Service), Environment and Climate Change Canada facilitates this process in Canada and the Division of Bird Habitat Conservation (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service) (USFWS) administers the process in the U.S.

Key Documents and Reference Materials

Key Documents available online where indicated and/or from the HCU:

● Final Report on NAWCA Funding Allocations: NAWCA Funding Task Force Report 2004, available at request from the HCU

● Form SF-425, Federal Financial Report (U.S.)

● North American Wetlands Conservation Act

● 2 CFR Part 230, formerly called “OMB Circular A122” (Cost Principles for Non-Profit Organizations):

● System for Award Management (SAM) There is NO FEE to register or maintain your SAM.gov registration.

If you get an email, text, or phone call from a company asking you to contact them right away about your SAM.gov registration, be cautious. If you are asked to pay money to complete or renew your SAM.gov registration, be cautious. These messages are not from the Federal Government. It is *FREE *to register in SAM.gov for any entity.

Reference Materials for Proposal Development available online where indicated and/or from the HCU:

● North American Waterfowl Management Plan 2012 Revision

● Bird Conservation Plans

● Threatened and endangered species in the United States

● Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada

● Species at Risk Public Registry Canada

● U.S. Standard grant proposal instructions

● U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service climate change strategy, “Rising to the Urgent Challenge: Strategic Plan for Responding to Accelerating Climate Change,” https://www.gsa.gov/portal/forms/download/149786 http://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?path=/prelim@title16/chapter64&edition=prelim https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/granule/CFR-2012-title2-vol1/CFR-2012-title2-vol1-part230 http://www.sam.gov/ http://www.sam.gov/ http://www.sam.gov/ http://www.sam.gov/ http://www.sam.gov/ http://www.sam.gov/ http://www.nawmprevision.org/ http://www.nabci.net/International/English/bird_conservation_plans.html http://www.fws.gov/endangered/ http://www.cosewic.gc.ca/default.asp?lang=en&n=A9DD45B7-1 https://www.sararegistry.gc.ca/default.asp?lang=en&n=24F7211B-1 http://www.fws.gov/birds/grants/north-american-wetland-conservation-act/how-to-apply-for-a-nawca-grant.php http://www.fws.gov/home/climatechange/pdf/CCStrategicPlan.pdf http://www.fws.gov/home/climatechange/pdf/CCStrategicPlan.pdf

Purpose of the North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA)

The 101st Congress of the United States enacted the North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA) "to conserve North American wetland ecosystems and waterfowl and the other migratory birds and fish and wildlife that depend upon such habitats." Senator George Mitchell championed passage of this legislation, cited as the Public Law 101-233, with the support and encouragement of U.S. President George Bush who signed it on December 13, 1989. The NAWCA is United States law and final decision-making rests with U.S.

administrative bodies (Migratory Bird Conservation Commission). Canada is a major beneficiary of NAWCA funding, but its powers are limited to recommending projects and programs to the NAWCC (U.S.).

In recognition of the many public values that wetland ecosystems across North America provide, the purposes of the Act are to:

... encourage partnership among public agencies and other interests --

(1) to protect, enhance, restore, and manage an appropriate distribution and diversity of wetland ecosystems and habitats associated with wetland ecosystems and other fish and wildlife in North America;

(2) to maintain current or improved distributions of wetland associated migratory bird populations;

and,

(3) to sustain an abundance of waterfowl and other wetland associated migratory birds consistent with the goals of the North American Waterfowl Management Plan, the United States Shorebird Conservation Plan, the North American Waterbird Conservation Plan, the Partners in Flight Landbird Conservation Plan and the international obligations contained in the migratory bird treaties and conventions and other agreements with Canada, Mexico, and other countries.

The NAWCA further establishes the North American Wetlands Conservation Council in the United States, or the NAWCC (U.S.), and instructs the Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service to appoint an individual to serve as Council Coordinator. Both Canada and Mexico sit as ex-officio (non-voting) members on the NAWCC (U.S.). The fourteen member federal-state-private Council recommends wetlands conservation projects to the United States Migratory Bird Conservation Commission (MBCC). The MBCC, composed of the U.S. Secretary of the Interior, Secretary of Agriculture, Environmental Protection Agency Administrator, two Congressmen, and two Senators, approves funding for the wetlands conservation projects.

In Canada, the North American Waterfowl Management Plan (NAWMP) and actions by the Minister of Environment and Climate Change under the Canada Wildlife Act established a structure similar to that in the United States, which brings forward proposals to the U.S. Migratory Bird Conservation Commission (MBCC).

A series of mechanisms including the Joint Venture Provincial Steering Committees and Habitat Joint Venture Management Boards (with federal-provincial and non-government representation) evaluate and recommend proposals to the NAWCC (Canada).

NAWCC (Canada) is responsible for the delivery of long term strategies and ongoing actions that connects the NAWCC’s (Canada) mission (purpose) to its vision that “Canada has abundant and resilient wetlands, waterfowl and other wetland dependent species that are sustained and valued’’ (NAWCC (Canada) Strategic Plan 2010-2020, updated, 2015). NAWCC (Canada) members originate from federal, provincial and/or territorial governments and non-government organizations. The partnership includes 19 members and is co-chaired by the Director General of Stewardship and Regional Operations of the Canadian Wildlife Service at

Environment and Climate Change Canada and a non-federal council member (currently Ducks Unlimited Canada). The NAWCC (Canada) includes the chairpersons of the four Habitat Joint Ventures, the three Species Joint Ventures, representatives of Ducks Unlimited Canada, Nature Conservancy of Canada, Wildlife Habitat Canada, Bird Studies Canada, Nature Canada (formerly the Canadian Nature Federation) and 4 provincial/territorial representatives. The NAWCC (Canada) reviews and endorses Canadian NAWCA proposals to ensure they align with Canadian programming and recommends them for funding to the NAWCC (U.S.).

Box 1 – NAWCA Funding Structure The North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA) provides U.S. federal funding grants for North American wetlands conservation projects. This grant funding shall be referred to as NAWCA Funds or NAWCA Funding throughout this document.

The NAWCA provides a mechanism to leverage NAWCA Funds with other funding and to provide this combined funding to Canada and Mexico in support of wetland projects that benefit the bird conservation plans noted in the Act’s purpose (see (3) above, page 7). At least 50% and not more than 70% of the NAWCA Funds are available each year to be spent on proposals submitted from Canada and Mexico. NAWCA proposals from Canada must have at least a one-to-one ratio of matching funds to the NAWCA Funds requested through the Act. Match Funds or Match Funding can include U.S. non-federal funding and/or Canadian federal or non-federal funding. It is important to note that the Canadian portion may comprise up to 50% of the total Match Funds. The NAWCC (U.S.) will not consider a project which does not have the necessary Match Funds therefore confirming such Match Funds should be initiated early in the project development process.

In addition to the NAWCA Funds and the Match Funds, contributions from Canadian or other international partners related to the project that is above and beyond the required Match Funding, and any funding that will be used for project activities that are not eligible for NAWCA Funding or Match Funding are hereafter referred to as Other Contributions or Other Contributors, are not legally required under NAWCA, but they do however increase investment in Canadian NAWCA projects, allow for expanded programs, and indicate the level of support for the project to the NAWCC (U.S.).

Figure 2 NAWCA funding structure, in terms of percent of total project funding, allowed according to the 2010 Amendment. Several possible funding scenarios within the NAWCA framework are shown. The Canadian portion of the Match Funds can be up to 50% of the Match Funds. Note that Other Contributions (not shown) are funds above and beyond the NAWCA and Match Funding (U.S. and Canada) sources shown here.

Definition of a Wetlands Conservation Project

Section 4402(9) of the Act (amended in March 2010) states that the term "wetlands conservation project" means:

(A) the obtaining of a real property interest in lands or waters, including water rights of a wetland ecosystem and associated habitat, if the obtaining of such interest is subject to the terms and conditions that will ensure that the real property will be administered for the long-term conservation of such lands and waters and the migratory birds and other fish and wildlife dependent thereon; and

(B) the restoration, management, or enhancement of wetland ecosystems and associated habitat for migratory birds and other fish and wildlife species if such restoration, management, or enhancement is conducted on lands and waters that are administered for the long-term conservation of such lands and waters and the migratory birds and other fish and wildlife dependent thereon.

In Canada, wetland conservation projects should also:

1. Contain specific objectives with measurable outputs (e.g., milestones, products, accomplishments) on at least an annual basis.

2. Have specific geographic and temporal bounds (i.e., define the area affected and the time period required to develop the project/program).

3. State whether they are single or multi-year efforts. Submissions to the NAWCC (Canada) must be accompanied by information as to whether the effort will be completed over one year or contribute to a multi-year initiative. Funding of a single year portion of a multi–year proposal will assist in securing, but does not guarantee future funding in subsequent funding windows. Each portion should be submitted annually and will be reviewed with other proposals for that funding window. NAWCC (Canada) recommendations for funding subsequent years of multi-year wetlands conservation proposals will be partially based on satisfactory completion of the earlier funded submissions related to the initiative within specified time frames.

4. Conserve wetland values in the long term. Easements or other land agreements for any tenure less than perpetuity may qualify as long term project elements if:

a. they are likely to result in the landowner agreeing to a longer term conservation agreement at the end of the initial easement or land agreement;

b. it is likely the landowner will continue the practice encouraged by the agreement; or,

c. it is the maximum length of time that provincial, territorial or federal law will allow or the area is highly valued and present landowner will not support long term agreements.

The longest possible length of agreement should be pursued that is appropriate for the intended land management practice; however, agreements less than 10 years must be classed as one-time demonstration projects and included under stewardship activities (see Eligible and Ineligible Expenditures for Activities in NAWCA Proposals pages 36-44).

5. Consider public access in the proposal. When it is appropriate and compatible with the purposes for which the land was secured, public access should be allowed and should not be discriminatory (e.g., based on membership to a club). Limitations on the number of people permitted access or the time at which access is permitted may be appropriate and should be adequate to protect the conservation purposes of the project. Also note that those lands secured under Conservation Easements through the Canadian NAWMP process remain as private property, thus while access provisions are included in conservation easement Agreements, discretionary access remains the purview of the landowner.

Generally, non-commercial pedestrian access (walking, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing) is permitted on all Canadian NAWMP partner-owned lands. Hunting is usually permitted on all properties unless Federal, Provincial, or Municipal restrictions indicate otherwise. When decisions to restrict access or to permit or restrict activities are made the properties will be clearly and accordingly signed and the decision will generally be based on the following criteria:

● The ecological values of the property identified as critical for conservation could be negatively impacted by public access.

● There is a public safety or community concern or a government authority prohibits the activity.

● Access is against the wishes of a donor who solely enabled the acquisition of the property or donated land.

6. Identify the needs for adequate Match Funds. A minimum of a 1:1 Match Funds from U.S. (non-federal) and/or Canadian (federal or non-federal) sources is required by the NAWCA. Up to 50% of the Match Funds may be from Canadian sources. The NAWCC (U.S.) will not consider a project which does not have the necessary Match Funds therefore confirming such Match Funds should be initiated early in the project development process.

7. Identify Other Contributions, which are those not included in the NAWCA and Match Funding components.

NABCI, NAWMP and NAWCA

The North American Bird Conservation Initiative (NABCI) was initiated in 1999 to facilitate coordination and communications among public and private organizations, initiatives, and individuals across the continent involved in conserving North American birds and their habitats (all birds, all habitats). The need for the NABCI stems from growing conservation needs for many of North America’s more than 1,100 bird species.

Many of their populations are in decline, some moderately, some precipitously; and their habitats continue to be degraded or lost.

A key focus of the NABCI is to deliver comprehensive “all bird” conservation through regionally-based, biologically-driven, landscape-oriented partnerships. National coordination occurs through the NABCI (Canada) Council comprised of federal, provincial and territorial governments, environmental non-government organizations, and industry associations. Similar Councils exist in Mexico and United States.

The pillars of the NABCI are the four bird conservation plans – the North American Waterfowl Management Plan (NAWMP), the Shorebird Conservation Plan, the Waterbird Conservation Plan and the Partners in Flight Landbird Conservation Plan. The NAWMP is the oldest and most established Plan, having been signed in 1986 by the United States and Canada, and by Mexico in 1994.

In 1989, the NAWCA was enacted to protect, enhance, restore and manage wetland ecosystems and sustain an abundance of waterfowl and other migratory birds consistent with the goals of the NAWMP.

Following subsequent amendments to the Act, the purpose of the Act is to protect, enhance, restore and manage wetland ecosystems; to maintain and improve distributions of wetland-associated migratory birds; and to sustain an abundance of waterfowl and other wetland-associated migratory birds consistent with the goals of the North American Waterfowl Management Plan, the Shorebird Conservation Plan, the Waterbird Conservation Plan and the Partners in Flight Landbird Conservation Plan.

NAWMP relation to NAWCA proposals In October 2004, the NAWCC (Canada) agreed that in Canada “future NAWCA funding will be used with a primary focus on implementing the North American Waterfowl Management Plan, and with consideration to implementation of the other bird plans where NAWCA rules permit and respecting the availability of U.S.

and/or Canadian Match Funds”.

NAWCA funding cannot be used to fund “all bird, all habitat” conservation projects. NAWCA funding must be used for wetland conservation projects that benefit waterfowl and wetland-associated migratory birds, with an emphasis on NAWMP priority species.

Schedule and Timelines for Submission

The 2018-2 schedule and timelines are outlined in Table 1. Project proposals must be vetted and evaluated by the Joint Venture Provincial Steering Committees, and applicable Habitat Joint Ventures in Canada, reviewed by the HCU, and then submitted to the NAWCC (Canada).

Joint Venture vetted proposals must be submitted to the HCU by the dates outlined in Table 1. The HCU reviews each proposal over the next week and works with proposal writers to make any necessary revisions and ensure consistency with NAWCC (Canada) direction and priorities. The purpose of this review is to ensure national consistency according to the template, and ensuring compliance with NAWCA eligibility and U.S.

MBCC. Once finalized, the proposals are submitted to the NAWCC (Canada) for review and endorsement. If any revisions are requested or if any issues are raised by NAWCC (Canada), these must be resolved to the satisfaction of the NAWCC (Canada) Executive Secretary before the proposals are submitted to the NAWCC (U.S.) Council Coordinator.

Each proposal endorsed by the NAWCC (Canada) will be submitted for consideration to the NAWCC (U.S.)

Staff, NAWCC (U.S.), and the MBCC. At any point prior to recommendation by NAWCC (U.S.), USFWS Staff may contact a Canadian Project Officer directly to request changes or clarifications to a proposal. The project is only approved once the MBCC has ruled on it. All Grantees will be notified directly by the USFWS of NAWCC (U.S.) and MBCC decisions concerning recommendations, approval, and funding of project proposals. Proposals rejected may be restructured, updated and resubmitted through the previously described process in a subsequent funding window.

After the MBCC approves a project for funding, a USFWS Program Officer prepares the grant agreement, working directly with the Canadian Project Officer from the Grantee organization identified in each approved proposal. Normally, grant agreements are completed within 60-90 days following MBCC approval of the proposal. Issuance of grant agreements is contingent upon available funding. If actual funding is below estimates, USFWS will work with the HCU and the Grantees to modify funding amounts accordingly.

Table 1 Schedule & Timelines for 2018-2 NAWCA & MBTA Canadian Proposals:

Funding Window Time Frame Activities

Second Window

April 21, 2017 Call for Proposals sent by Joint Ventures to Canadian Grantees with estimated U.S. funding.

April 21, 2017 to May 10, 2017

HCU staff, JV Coordinators, and Grantees to discuss the allocation of 2018-2 traditional NAWCA funding (based on estimates, or actuals if available) among Grantees. As soon as possible following the Call for Proposals.

April 21, 2017 to July 14, 2017

Proposal/project planning with provincial steering committees, proposal writing, and Habitat Joint Venture review and approval of proposals1.

July 14, 2017 Deadline for Canadian NAWCA and MBTA proposal submissions to HCU.

July 17, 2017 to August 10, 2017

HCU staff review proposals and work with Grantees on revisions2.

August 2, 2017 to August 9, 2017

NAWCC (Canada) Staff evaluation and ranking of MBTA proposals.

August 11, 2017 to August 18, 2017 NAWCC (Canada) review and endorsement of proposals.

August 21, 2017 to August 24,2017

NAWCC (Canada) comments and changes integrated into proposals, and proposals prepared by HCU for submission to the USFWS.

August 25, 2017 Deadline for the submission of the Canadian 2018-2 proposals and all associated materials to the USFWS for consideration.

October 25, 2017 to October 26, 2017

NAWCC (U.S.) Staff meeting to recommend proposals for approval.

November 29, 2017 to November 30, 2017

NAWCC (U.S.) meeting to recommend proposals for approval.

TBD, 2018 MBCC meeting to approve proposals.

1 Joint Venture Coordinators are responsible for ensuring proposals meet the goals and objectives of the Implementation Plans and activities are eligible under NAWCA.

2 The Habitat Conservation Unit is responsible for ensuring national consistency according to the template, ensuring consistency with NAWCC (Canada) direction, and ensuring compliance with NAWCA eligibility and U.S. MBCC.

NAWCA and MBTA Proposals

Box 2: Terminology

Project Officer: The individual who is responsible for overseeing the project implementation (may be the same person who writes the proposal) and prepares the agreement; identified on the cover page of the proposal.

Proposal Writer: The individual who writes the proposal; identified on the cover page of the proposal.

Grantee, aka Applicant: The organization (1) to which the USFWS would award the grant, (2) that will be accountable for reporting on and managing the grant and, (3) that will be responsible for compliance with regulatory requirements. Note that the Grantee organization is an “Applicant” during the application process and prior to NAWCA grant approval. However for simplicity the term “Grantee” is used in this document.

Partner: Agency or organization working with and providing funds and/or support to the Grantee for the purposes of the NAWCA proposal.

HCU: Team in Stewardship and Regional Operations Directorate of the Canadian Wildlife Service, at Environment and Climate Change Canada that is responsible for administering the Canadian NAWCA proposal process.

Program vs. Project: In the context of Canadian NAWCA proposals, "project" refers to individual work within a proposal, and "program" refers to a larger, multi-year initiative. “Project" is used when specifically referring to a proposal or its content, and "program" is used when referring to how the proposal fits in with other work, Implementation Plans, previous NAWCA endeavours, etc. A more complete definition for “project” is provided on pages 10-11.

NAWCA Funding – Important Notes

● Application is for one NAWCA Funding contract with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service only.

Subsequent funding for continuation of the same project requires a separate application along with the title and grant number of the previous grant agreement.

● NAWCA Funding must be matched 1:1 with Match Funding, of which up to 50% can be from federal or non-federal Canadian sources.

● NAWCA Funds and Match Funds allocated to Canada must be expended in Canada within the appropriate

Habitat Joint Venture(s). The location where all activities will be undertaken must be clearly indicated in the proposal and executive summary (i.e., provinces within the Joint Venture).

● The total NAWCA Funding outlined in all of the 2018-2 proposals must be equal to the 2018-2 NAWCA funding estimates provided by the USFWS.

● Funding from Other Contributors, referred to as Other Contributions, (cash and/or in-kind) is not a part of the core NAWCA proposal, instead if a Grantee wishes to list its Other Contributions this can be done in appendix A. These Other Contributions are not referenced in the body of the proposal including the Executive Summary.

►To ensure consistency across tables, do not round figures in the Partners and Funding Table, the Workplan Budget and Acres Table or the Budget Table3. As per direction from the USFWS: “Budgets should match [NAWCA Funding] requests, and [Match Funds] reported by the Grantee on the front page of the proposal".

Proposal Format

Two Proposal Templates have been developed for the Canadian NAWCA 2018-2 proposals and Canadian MBTA Gulf Spill 2018-2 proposals have been created to facilitate proposal writing.

► Proposal writers must use this template to ensure compliance with U.S. content and formatting requirements, and to ensure a national consistency across all Canadian proposals.

► All proposals must be submitted in MS Word format and use 11 pt Calibri font, with one inch margins.

► All documentation must refer to areas in acres, be written in English, and show proposed contributions and expenditures in U.S. dollars. Do not convert any U.S. dollars in the proposal to Canadian dollars.

► Note that there are slight differences in the two proposal templates. While much of this guidance document applies to both proposal templates it was developed specifically for NAWCA proposals. Any questions or clarifications regarding the template, and general proposal development, can be directed to the HCU or your regional Habitat Joint Venture Coordinator (for contact information see page 45).

● Limit the amount of narrative information in the proposal to a minimum to adequately convey the required information.

► The proposal body (section beginning after the executive summary) cannot exceed 12 pages, single-sided, of text using 11 pt Calibri font. This page limit excludes appendices, maps and photos.

● Use unique language to describe the proposed work rather than language used in previous NAWCA proposals.

● The proposal will be incorporated as part of the legal grant agreement with the USFWS; therefore information provided in the proposal must be accurate. Double check to ensure acreage and dollar figures add correctly and are consistent between text and tables.

● The proposal must state in the executive summary and budget that any currency exchange gains will be directed back into NAWCA projects within the same Joint Venture, as previously allocated.

● In developing proposals, remember that this project will be reviewed by U.S. decision-makers who may not be familiar with Canadian needs, landscapes, partners and projects. It is incumbent on the grantee to ensure that proposals are complete, clear and succinctly written. Each proposal should be able to stand on its own, as should each executive summary.

● Ensure that guidelines relating to the use of acronyms and abbreviations are respected. All acronyms and

3 Note that the Habitat Conservation Unit will provide estimates for NAWCA funding in round numbers (to the nearest $100).

Proposal writers must not round numbers any further (e.g., to the nearest $1,000); the same numbers should be used in all tables, such that the financial numbers in the Partners and Funding, Workplan Budget and Acres, and Budget Tables match exactly.

abbreviations must be spelled out in full when they first appear in the proposal, including the executive summary.

● Ensure that guidelines relating to the use of common names of waterfowl species are respected. In general, two proper names are capitalized (i.e. Redhead Duck); names following a hyphen are not capitalized (but the second part of the name is, i.e. Long-tailed Duck); when speaking of eiders, geese, ducks generically, names are not capitalized. Please refer to the following website for the correct format for specific species names:

http://www.aou.org/checklist/north/full.php

Proposal Activities

● Project Officers must review all types of activities permitted by the NAWCA, as well as eligible and ineligible expenditures before addressing the activities in the proposal (see Eligible and Ineligible Expenditures for Activities in NAWCA Proposals pages 36-44).

● All activities funded by U.S. grants must be in compliance with the guidelines set out in U.S. 2 CFR part 230 (formerly OMB Circular A-122), Cost Principles for Non-Profit Organizations. Please see the “Key Documents and Reference Materials” section, on page 4.

● Please ensure that proposal activities comply with the requirements of federal, provincial and territorial legislation, as well as municipal by-laws. Ensure that requirements are verified and that any permits and/or approvals from other federal, provincial/territorial and/or municipal governments are obtained prior to the commencement of activities.

Submission of Proposals

Once approved by the appropriate Habitat Joint Venture Management Board, the proposal must be e-mailed (including maps/photos) to the HCU for review. Please also copy the appropriate Habitat Joint Venture Coordinator when submitting the proposal. During this review period, the NAWCA Program Coordinator will work with the proposal writer and project officer (if different) to finalize the proposal and may request clarification and/or revisions to the proposal.

►It is the Grantee’s responsibility to ensure that the Project Officer or their delegate can be reached during the review period (refer to Table 1, page 14 to finalize the proposal).

Match Letters

The total amount of NAWCA Funding in each proposal must be matched 1:1 by a matching source (U.S. non-federal and/or Canadian federal or non-federal) and original letters of confirmation from each source (listed in the Partners and Funding Table of the executive summary) must be submitted to the USFWS upon finalization of the NAWCA budget. These “match letters” are letters from the U.S. and/or Canadian agencies/corporations confirming their contribution of required Match Funds for the total amount shown in the proposal.

http://www.aou.org/checklist/north/full.php

Please note that all references to Match Funds in these letters must be in $U.S.

►Original letters identifying the source (s) and amount(s) of each of the U.S. and/or Canadian Match Funds:

Must be addressed to:

Ms. Sarah P. Mott Chief, Division of Bird Habitat Conservation and Council Coordinator North American Wetland Conservation Council U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

And must be sent to:

Lacy Alison Division of Bird Habitat Conservation U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 5275 Leesburg Pike, MS: MB Falls Church, VA 22041-3803

*Send a digital copy of the letters to the HCU for the official Canadian submission package to the

USFWS.

SF 424 and SF 424D Forms (Application for Federal Assistance)

Due to the implementation of the Department of Interior Financial and Business Management System (FBMS), all proposal SF 424 and SF 424D forms must be submitted through Grants.Gov. For guidance on getting set up in Grants.gov, please click here. To access all required forms and submit a proposal:

● Go to www.grants.gov and search for “NAWCA Canada”.

● Click on “application”

● Use the link for SF 424 and SF 424D to complete the forms.

● Submit forms within Grants.gov.

Note that in previous years grantees were required to submit hard copies of the SF 424 and SF 424D forms with their proposal package to the HCU. This is no longer required. Once submitted online, these forms will be accessible by the USFWS.

If funding amounts change, revised proposals including the SF424 and SF424D may be submitted to the USFWS NAWCC Coordinator or program officer directly.

https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration.html http://www.grants.gov/

When completing the forms, please note the following:

Section 8.b: Employer/Taxpayer Identification Number (EIN/TIN): is always 44-4444444 for Canadian Grantees.

Section 11: Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number (will remain the same for all submissions):

15.623 CFDA Title: North American Wetlands Conservation Fund

Section 12: Funding Opportunity number: is generated by Grants.gov once the FWS posts the announcement there (usually a month or two prior to the proposal submission date to FWS office).

Section 18: Estimated Funding ($U.S.):

a. Federal: Include NAWCA request

b. Grantee: Include Match Funding (both U.S. Non-Federal match and Canadian match, both expressed as

$U.S.)

c. Total: Include the sum of a + b

● SF-424D: Assurances. It provides certain assurances that the project will be administered and the work done as required by U.S. laws and regulations. Of all assurances listed, the following apply to grants awarded to Canadians: numbers 1, 2, 5, 6, and 7 in whole, and the first sentence of #3.

Examples of completed SF-424 forms are available from the HCU.

Exceptions to NAWCA & Match Eligibility Rules

There are several grant administration changes that have been negotiated by Grantees directly with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. While it is desirable for Canadian partners to continue negotiating exceptions, as this allows flexibility in the program, some of these have led to confusion and misunderstanding because they are not well known by all Canadian or U.S. partners. Therefore, any future exceptions to NAWCA and Match rules (i.e., exceptions that affect the Canadian NAWCA program as a whole) must be reviewed and endorsed by the appropriate Habitat Joint Ventures and NAWCC (Canada) prior to being negotiated by a Grantee with the USFWS. This will ensure the transparency of activities and ensure that the exception is beneficial to the entire NAWCA program in Canada.

Proposal Components

In order to facilitate consistency among NAWCA proposals, a formatted Proposal Template (attached) has been developed for use by proposal writers. Writers must use this template in order to ensure that the proposal meets the U.S. content and formatting requirements, and to expedite the review and administration process. Certain instructions are provided in the Proposal Template, which appear as [italics text in square brackets]. Please ensure that these instructions are deleted and replaced with the requested information in normal font. Please note that all proposals must be submitted in MS Word format.

Each NAWCA proposal submission must include the following:

1. Proposal Application Cover Page (1 page maximum)

2. Executive Summary (2 pages maximum)

3. Proposal Body (12 pages maximum).

The proposal body includes the following sections:

A. Project Description

B. Expected Benefits

C. Other Considerations

D. Detailed Workplan

E. Budget

4. Maps, Photos and Shapefiles (if applicable)

5. Appendices

In addition, please remember that in order to complete the proposal submission:

▪ Original, signed Match Letters from each Match Funds source must be forwarded to the USFWS upon finalization of the NAWCA budget. These are described on page 16.

Proposal Completion Instructions

These instructions are designed to facilitate the completion of necessary forms and to guide proposal writers through the use of the Proposal Template. Please follow these instructions carefully.

1. Proposal Application Cover Page (maximum 1 page)

A cover page, as per the Proposal Template, must accompany each proposal. It has no page number and must include the following information:

Canada Proposal Number: Leave blank. HCU to complete upon submission.

DUNS (Data Universal Numbering System) Number

SAM Identifier: Identifier under the System for Award Management

Proposal or Project Title:

Develop a succinct, descriptive, and unique title restricted to the space provided (2 lines).

Grantee Information:

This is the organization (1) to which the USFWS would award the grant, (2) that will be accountable for reporting on and managing the grant and (3) that will be responsible for compliance with regulatory requirements. A contact person must be provided including their address, email, telephone and fax number.

Project Officer:

This is the agency, organization, group or individual that will be implementing the proposal and has complete knowledge of the proposal details. A contact person must be provided including their address, email, telephone and fax number. This role may belong to the proposal writer.

Proposal Writer:

This is the agency, organization, group or individual that will be writing the proposal. A contact person must be provided including their address, email, telephone and fax number. This role may belong to the proposal officer.

Date Submitted: Leave blank (for use by the HCU).

Are you requesting that this proposal be considered as a continuation of a previous grant agreement (a Programmatic Project Proposal)? Yes/No If yes, provide the title and grant agreement number of the previous grant agreement.

2. Executive Summary (maximum 2 pages)

The executive summary is a brief synopsis of the work to be accomplished with NAWCA and Match Funds in the location prescribed in the proposal. It is best to complete this section last, since it is a synopsis of information provided in the proposal – it should not contain new information that is not in the proposal. It must also contain sufficient information to “stand alone” as the NAWCC (Canada), the NAWCC (U.S.) and the MBCC review only the executive summary for funding approval.

The format for the executive summary was approved by NAWCC (U.S.) Staff in 2010 and is provided in the Proposal Template. It must be no more than 2 pages in length and be in 11 pt Calibri font with 1 inch margins.

The executive summary is provided to the MBCC for final approvals, and will not be accepted if it does not follow formatting guidelines.

Instructions for Executive Summary:

Location:

Identify the provinces and Habitat Joint Venture(s) where any activities funded by NAWCA and/or Match Funds will be undertaken in the proposal - include Bird Conservation Regions (BCRs).

Grantee Organization:

Name of Grantee only (no address required here).

Partners and Funding table:

This table is a key section of the proposal and outlines the funding provided by various partners for the project.

It was updated in 2011-3 to accommodate the 2010 NAWCA Amendment.

Indicate only the U.S. Federal NAWCA Funds and the corresponding Match Funds (specifying all U.S. non-federal and Canadian funding partners) here. Other Contributing partners, including names and funding amounts, are to be listed in Appendix A.

Please note that if Canadian federal government contributions are included in this table, “Environment and Climate Change Canada” contributes to NAWCA projects, not the “Canadian Wildlife Service”.

U.S. Federal (NAWCA) and Match Funding must be indicated in $U.S. and should not be rounded.

Ensure that all totals are accurate and that numbers presented here match those presented in the proposal.

Include all footnotes as indicated in the Proposal Template, and adjust them to correspond to each proposal.

Please do not reference maps, appendices, or figures in the Executive Summary.

Expected Benefits:

Indicate what the benefits of the proposed project are to the production, moulting, staging and wintering of waterfowl and other wetland-associated migratory birds; other wetland-associated birds, mammals, fish, reptiles, plants, etc.; species at risk; wetlands (by type) and associated upland habitats; conservation of biodiversity; water quality (if it relates directly to the project); other social and ecological aspects of significance.

Context of this Proposal:

This section may include a description of how the project fits into a larger multi-year program, if applicable, and how it fits into the Habitat Joint Venture five-year implementation plan. It should also describe the science/planning that underpins the proposal. In addition, indicate how this proposal relates to NAWCA accomplishments to date; new activities and/or partnerships; previous proposals; other Joint Ventures (other Canadian or U.S. habitat and species JVs); NAWMP and/or other bird initiatives.

Example:

The Prairie Pothole Region (PPR) is one of the most productive waterfowl breeding areas of North America. This proposal focuses on restoring continental waterfowl populations by securing, enhancing and managing waterfowl breeding, moulting and staging habitat. The delivery context is defined under the PHJV and Manitoba NAWMP implementation plans, which are designed to ensure that high-quality habitats will remain in the PPR and will allow for the continued production of waterfowl in the prairies.

Most activity and funding in this proposal is directed to priority landscapes were waterfowl pair densities exceed 30 pairs/mi2 and the threat of habitat loss is significant. This proposal also targets an internationally-recognized moulting and staging marsh, the Big Grass Marsh, for perpetual securement via donated conservation easement. By securing 15,000 acres of the Big Grass Marsh within this proposal, MHHC is building upon a recently acquired 18,000 acre block of adjacent wetland and upland habitat. This 33,000 acre unit will provide habitat required for the lifecycle needs of many species of landbirds, waterbirds and waterfowl.

Workplan Budget ($U.S.) and Acres:

Fill in the table with the total cost and cost per acre for securement activities, enhancement, management and stewardship. Be sure to break out each securement activity type. Please include the total cost for each activity eligible for NAWCA and/or Match Funds listed under Other Functions in this table, as well as the approved indirect cost rate and total indirect cost amount if applicable. Please add further rows as required. The information in this table must match Section D (Detailed Workplan) of the proposals exactly; do not round figures.

►The following footnote must appear below the table: “Acres are not additive as enhancement and management acres have been secured in this and/or previous proposals”.

Workplan Details:

Do not repeat the acres in this section. Detail the types of securement, enhancement, management and stewardship activities that will be undertaken and the types of other functions (communications, coordination, evaluation, and/or reconnaissance and design) that will be undertaken using NAWCA and/or Match Funds. All activities funded by Other Contributions for both eligible and non-eligible activities under NAWCA rules are to be listed in Appendix A.

Securement: list the type of acquisition activities to be used (fee simple acquisition, land title donation, conservation agreements, conservation easements, covenants, etc.) to be used.

Enhancement: list the types of enhancement activities that will be undertaken.

Management: list the types of management activities that will be undertaken.

Stewardship: list the types of stewardship activities that will be undertaken.

Other Functions: List all other functions and activities eligible for NAWCA and/or Match funds here. Do not identify those activities that cannot use NAWCA and/or Match funds (see Table 2: Eligible Expenditures for Activities, page 40).

Public Access:

If specific public access information is available, include a brief overview/statement. If public access information is not available at the time of proposal writing, include the following statement: “Lands purchased with NAWCA or Match Funds are open to the public, subject to regulations to protect the ecological integrity of the site”.

3. Proposal Body (maximum 12 pages)

The body of the proposal must be succinct and cannot exceed twelve pages of text (single-sided) using Calibri 11 point font (not including appendices, maps and photos).

►NAWCC (U.S.) specifies that the text may not be a direct copy from previous proposals. Even if similar landscapes and activities are being described, text must be revised and updated to reflect current activities.

►During the course of proposal development, proposal writers may make reference to other Canadian and/or North American programs such as the North American Landbird Conservation Plan, the Canadian Shorebird Conservation Plan, the North American Waterbird Conservation Plan, Bird Conservation Regions, and/or Canada’s Waterbird Conservation Plan, or provincial plans where they apply. In addition proposals may mentioned how proposed activities may contribute to the conservation of habitat for species at risk listed on Schedule 1 of the Species at Risk Act (SARA), species assessed/designated under the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC, provincially listed/proposed species, and/or other wetland-dependent fish and wildlife.

The body of the proposal must describe how the activities in the proposal fit into a long-term wetlands conservation plan (such as the existing five-year Joint Venture implementation plans) and/or programs in the province.

In addition, the proposal sections (outlined below) must describe the project objectives, stressing biological and ecological considerations. These sections must include a project description, outline expected benefits, examine special considerations, and include a workplan as discussed below.

A. Project Description (recommend 2.5 pages) This section is an introduction to the proposal.