F17AS00463_NOFO.pdf

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Science Applications

Synthesizing Socioeconomic Information, Data and Values in the Aleutians and Bering to

Inform Large Scale Planning

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 15.669

Funding Opportunity Announcement Number: F17AS00463

SUBMISSION DEADLINE: September 20, 2017, 16:00 Alaska Standard Time

Notice of Funding Opportunity The US Fish and Wildlife Service, Region 7 intends to award a single source financial assistance agreement as authorized by 505 DM 2.14 (B) to Aleut International Association. This notice is not a request for proposals and the Government does not intend to accept proposals.

I. Description of Funding Opportunity

The Aleutian and Bering Sea Islands LCC (ABSI) and the US Fish and Wildlife Service have shared interests with the Aleut International Association (AIA) relative to conservation efforts that benefit communities and the natural and cultural resources they depend on in the Aleutians and Bering Sea region. The following proposed joint venture would leverage expertise, resources and the regional credibility of both entities to increase stakeholder engagement in order to inform land and resource planning by the Fish and Wildlife Service and their partners in the region. Synthesizing Socioeconomic

Information, Data and Values in the Aleutians and Bering to Inform Large Scale Planning is being announced under the following authorities: Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act (16 U.S.C. 2901-2911; 94

Stat. 1322).

II. Federal Award Information

Brief Summary:

The total amount of funding awarded to this program is expected to be approximately $99,000 awarded to a single institution using the instrument of a single source cooperative agreement that will have a period of performance from September 1, 2017 through September 30, 2019. The Statement of Work below provides specific details about the project.

Statement of work:

Objective 1: Increase community engagement and promote the integration of socio-cultural and economic values into landscape conservation planning efforts of the Fish and Wildlife Service and others with special focus on conservation priorities and stressors identified in the ABSI LCC’s Strategic Science Plan.

Task 1a) Integrate contemporary community resilience and socio-economic perspectives into landscape level planning efforts currently underway by the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) and its partners in the region.

Task 1b) Seek input from local decision makers and leaders (Tribes, Alaska Native corporations, municipalities) and industry leaders by organizing meetings with individuals, small focus group activities and collaborating on regional workshops aimed to engage key stakeholders and community leaders.

Task 1c) Develop draft landscape planning objectives and compile spatial data characterizations related to socio-economic values in the ABSI region to be used in ABSI's Landscape Conservation Design (LCD) efforts to help inform the Alaska Maritime NWR with regard to broader regional efforts to promote sustainable communities.

These objectives are expected to be significantly leveraged by AIA. The leveraged value associated with coordination of Objective 1 in terms of staff time, office support, and monetary resources over the three years is estimated at $120,000. AIA also will pursue additional funding support through our typical annual program requests and expect to be able to further leverage the work by an additional $120,000, if they are successful in those pursuits. At a minimum they are committing their own resources to leverage the work in the following ways:

Building upon expertise, contacts and trained, local individuals who have experience collecting information and data on values in Bering and Aleutian communities under the Bering Sea Sub

Network (BSSN) and Community Observation Network for Adaptation ( CONAS) efforts that have are being led by AIA.

Building upon existing subsistence harvest and perspectives data that has been completed/is underway in communities under the BSSN and CONAS project including: Gambell, Sand Point, Savoonga, Togiak, and in Russia, Nikolksoye (Commander Islands), Tymlat (mid Bering on the

Russian side, and Kanchalan (slightly north of St. Lawrence Island on the Russian side St George and Sand point) Each community must provide approval to use their data for this proposal and have final approval of any reports written using their data.

Resilience planning efforts within communities under the Arctic Resilience Action Framework of the Sustainable Development Working Group.

Helping connect ABSI efforts in LCD relative to community adaptation and safe vessel traffic to the efforts of two Arctic Council working group projects that are co-led by AIA including Small

Community Preparedness and Response initiatives under Emergency Prevention Preparedness and Response (EPPR) and Meaningful Engagement on Marine Activities (MEMA) initiative under the Protection for the Arctic Marine Environment (PAME).

Informing ABSI LCD efforts relative to the progress of the Conservation of Arctic Flora and

Fauna (CAFF) Working Group relative to Arctic Migratory Birds Initiative and the Arctic

Invasive Alien Species (ARIAS) where AIA has an active role

Bring information and insights on best practices from PAME to the planning efforts of the newly forming Aleutians Waterway Safety Committee

Drawing on capacity from local Community Resource Assistants to help ground truth ideas with local communities and serve as key outreach contacts for LCD efforts

Pursuit of funding opportunities that strengthen community involvement in efforts relative to socio, economic and cultural aspects of LCD

Expected Deliverables & Outcomes:

Numerous discussions with local leaders from tribes, communities and industry in the ABSI region yielding a synthesis of socioeconomic values.

At least three (3) community engagement efforts in the form of workshops or sensing sessions

(with variable size and scope) to utilize existing gatherings for ABSI region community, tribal, industry, and agency stakeholders.

A mapped set of data layers describing subsistence use, and social and economic values in the

ABSI region to inform planning efforts of FWS and ABSI partners.

A report summarizing perspectives of local leaders and decision makers relative to resource management concerns, issues and opportunities to be considered by the FWS and ABSI partners.

Increased communication and trust between communities, industry, and agencies engaged in resource conservation and development issues and efforts in the ABSI region.

The USFWS is required to be substantially involved in the project(s) under this funding opportunity for the successful completion of the activities to be funded. In particular, the Service will be responsible for the following:

Coordination support for stakeholder engagement and community sensing activities

Design support for spatial analysis and synthesis as well as editing support for final report

Communications in advance, during and upon final results of the work

Collaboration on pursuit of funding opportunities to strengthen Landscape Conservation

Design (LCD) efforts

III. Eligibility Information

Eligible Applicants:

Restricted – Single Source award Aleut International Association is the only eligible applicant for this award.

Federal law mandates that all entities applying for Federal financial assistance must have a valid Dun &

Bradstreet Data Universal Number System (DUNS) number and have a current registration in the System for Award Management (SAM). See Title 2 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Part 25 for more information. Exemptions: The SAM registration requirement does not apply to individuals submitting an application on their own behalf and not on behalf of a company or other for-profit entity, state, local or

Tribal government, academia or other type of organization.

Federal Award may not be made to an applicant until the applicant has complied with all applicable unique entity identifier and SAM requirements additionally if an applicant has not fully complied with the requirements by the time the Service is ready to make the award, the Service may determine that the applicant is not qualified to receive a Federal award and use that determination as a basis for making a

Federal award to another applicant.

A. DUNS Registration

Request a DUNS number at http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform. For technical difficulties, contact Dun & Bradstreet by email at: govt@dnb.com, or by calling the Government

Customer Resource Center at voice phone: 866-705-5711 or TTY line: 877-807-1679

(hearing impaired customers only). Once assigned a DUNS number, entities are responsible for maintaining up-to-date information with Dun & Bradstreet.

B. Entity Registration in SAM

Register in SAM at www.sam.gov. Once registered in SAM, entities must renew and revalidate their

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

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

government FOR FREE directly in SAM at www.sam.gov.

C. Excluded Entities

Applicant entities identified in the SAM.gov Exclusions database as ineligible, prohibited/restricted or excluded from receiving Federal contracts, certain subcontracts, and certain Federal assistance and http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform mailto:govt@dnb.com http://www.sam.gov/ benefits will not be considered for Federal funding, as applicable to the funding being requested under this Federal program.

D. Cost Sharing or Matching:

There is no required cost sharing, matching, or cost participation, however it should be noted that Aleut

International Association is contributing approximately a 120% match toward the full cost of the award contributed in the form of in-kind commitments of staff and resources and will be seeking an up to $120K in additional funding to further leverage the work.

IV. Application Requirements

To be considered for funding under this opportunity, an application must contain:

A. Application for Federal Assistance form

Applicants must submit a completed, signed and dated Application for Federal Assistance, i.e.

Standard Form (SF) 424, Application for Federal Assistance.

Do not include other Federal sources of funding, requested or approved, in the total entered in the

“Federal” funding box on the Application for Federal Assistance form. Enter only the amount being requested under this program in the “Federal” funding box. Include any other Federal sources of funding in the total funding entered in the “Other” box.

B. Project Summary

Briefly summarize the project, in one page or less. Include the title of the project, geographic location, and a brief overview of the need for the project. Goal(s), objectives, specific project activities, anticipated outputs and outcomes can also be included in this section.

C. Project Narrative

1. Statement of Need: Describe why this project is necessary (significance/value) and include supporting information. Summarize previous or on-going efforts (of you/your organization, and other organizations or individuals) that are relevant to the proposed work. Explain the successes or failures of past efforts and how your proposed project builds on them. If you have received funding previously (from the Service or any other donor) for this specific project work or site, provide a summary of the funding, associated activities and products/outcomes.

2. Project Goals and Objectives: State the long-term, overarching goal(s) of the program/project.

State the objectives of the project. Objectives are the specific outcomes to be accomplished in order to reach the stated goal(s). The project objectives must be specific, measurable, and realistic (attainable within the project’s proposed project period).

3. Project Activities, Methods and Timetable: List the proposed project activities and describe how they relate to the stated objectives. Activities are the specific actions to be undertaken to fulfill the project objectives and reach the project goal(s). The proposed project activities narrative must be detailed enough for reviewers to make a clear connection between the activities and the proposed project costs. For projects being conducted within the United States, the narrative must provide enough detail so that reviewers are able to determine project compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act, Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act, and

Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act. For projects being conducted on the high seas, the narrative should provide enough detail so that reviewers are able to determine project compliance with Section 7 of Endangered Species Act. Provide a detailed description of the method(s) to be used to carry out each activity. Provide a timetable indicating roughly when activities or project milestones are to be accomplished. Include any resulting tables, spreadsheets or flow charts within the body of the project narrative (do not include as separate attachments).

The timetable should not propose specific dates but instead group activities by month for each month over the entire proposed project period.

4. Stakeholder Coordination/Involvement: As applicable, describe how you/your organization has coordinated with and involved other relevant organizations or individuals in planning the project, and detail if/how they will be involved in conducting project activities, disseminating project results and/or incorporating your results/products into their activities or if not applicable to your proposal please mark this is Not Applicable.

5. Project Monitoring and Evaluation: Detail the monitoring and evaluation plan for the project.

Building on the stated project objectives, which must be specific and measurable, identify what you will measure (i.e., quantitative/quantifiable indicators) and how you will measure (i.e., methods, sample size, survey tools). Reference the stated project timetable (i.e., process indicators) and budget information (i.e., input indicators). Identify the products/services to be delivered and how/to whom they will be delivered (i.e., output indictors). Detail the expected direct effect(s) of the project on beneficiaries (i.e., outcome indicators). Include any available questionnaires, surveys, curricula, exams/tests or other assessment tools to be used for project evaluation. Describe the resources and organizational structure available for gathering, analyzing and reporting monitoring and evaluation data.

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

7. Sustainability: As applicable, describe which project activities will continue beyond the proposed project period, who will continue the work or act on the results achieved, and how and at what level you expect these future activities will be funded or if not applicable to your proposal please mark this is Not Applicable.

8. Literature Cited: if not applicable to your proposal please mark this is Not Applicable.

9. Single Audit Reporting Statements: Enter the appropriate single audit language from

Section F below.

D. Budget Form

Complete the Budget Information for Non-Construction Programs (SF 424A) or Budget

Information for Construction Programs (SF 424C) form. Use the SF 424A if your project does not include construction and the SF 424C if the project includes construction or land acquisition. The budget forms are available on the Internet at http://apply07.grants.gov/apply/FormLinks?family=15.

When developing your budget, keep in mind that financial assistance awards and subawards are subject to the Federal cost principles in Title 2 of the Code of Federal Regulations Part 200, as applicable to the recipient organization type.

Links to the full text of the Federal cost principles are available on the Internet at http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?tpl=/ecfrbrowse/Title02/2cfr200_main_02.tpl

Multiple Federal Funding Sources: If the project budget includes multiple Federal funding sources, you must show the funds being requested from this Federal program separately from any other requested/secured Federal sources of funding on the budget form. For example, enter the funds being requested from this Federal program in the first row of the Budget Summary section of the form and http://apply07.grants.gov/apply/FormLinks?family=15 http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?tpl=/ecfrbrowse/Title02/2cfr200_main_02.tpl then enter funding related to other Federal programs in the subsequent row(s). Be sure to enter each

Federal program’s CFDA number in the corresponding fields on the form. The CFDA number for this Federal program appears on the first page of this funding opportunity.

E. Budget Justification

In a separate narrative titled “Budget Justification”, explain and justify all requested budget items/costs. Detail how the Budget Object Class Category totals on the SF-424A were determined and demonstrate a clear connection between costs and the proposed project activities. For personnel salary costs, include the base-line salary figures and the estimates of time

(as percentages) to be directly charged to the project. Describe any item that under the applicable

Federal cost principles requires the Service’s approval and estimate its cost.

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

Required Indirect Cost Statement: All applicants except individuals applying for funds separate from a business or non-profit organization he/she may operate must include in the budget justification narrative one of the following statements and attach to their application any required documentation identified in the applicable statement:

“We are:

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

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

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

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

5. A [insert your organization type] that has never submitted an indirect cost rate proposal to our cognizant agency and has an indirect cost rate that is lower than 10%. Our indirect cost rate is

[insert rate; must be lower than 10%]. However, in the event an award is made, we will not be able to meet the requirement to submit an indirect cost rate proposal to our cognizant agency within 90 calendar days after award. We request as a condition of award to charge a flat indirect cost rate of [insert rate; must be lower than 10%] of [insert a clear description of the direct cost base against which your rate is charged (e.g., salaries; salaries and fringe benefits; or modified total direct costs). However, please note that your organization cannot charge indirect costs in excess of the indirect costs that would be recovered if applied against modified total direct costs as defined in 2 CFR 220.68]. We understand that we must notify the Service in writing immediately if we establish an approved rate with our cognizant agency at any point during the award period.

6. A [insert your organization type] that has never submitted an indirect cost rate proposal to our cognizant agency and has an indirect cost rate that is 10% or higher. Our indirect cost rate is

[insert your organization’s indirect rate; must be 10% or higher]. However, in the event an award is made, we will not be able to meet the requirement to submit an indirect cost rate proposal to our cognizant agency within 90 calendar days after award. We request as a condition of award to charge a flat de minimis indirect cost rate of 10% of modified total direct costs as defined in 2

CFR 200.68. We understand that we must notify the Service in writing immediately if we do establish an approved rate with our cognizant agency at any point during the award period. We understand that additional Federal funds may not be available to support an unexpected increase in indirect costs during the project period and such changes are subject to review, negotiation, and prior approval by the Service.

7. A [insert your organization type] that is submitting this proposal for consideration under the

[insert either “Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit Program” or “Cooperative Ecosystem

Studies Unit Network”], which has a Department of the Interior-approved indirect cost rate cap of

[insert program rate]. If we have an approved indirect cost rate with our cognizant agency, we understand that we must apply this reduced rate against the same direct cost base as identified in our approved indirect cost rate agreement. If we do not have an approved indirect cost rate with our cognizant agency, we understand that the basis for direct costs will be the modified total direct cost base defined in 2 CFR 200.68 “Modified Total Direct Cost (MTDC)”. We understand that we must request prior approval from the Service to use the MTDC base instead of the base identified in our approved indirect cost rate agreement, and that Service approval of such a request will be based on: 1) a determination that our approved base is only a subset of the MTDC

(such as salaries and wages); and 2) that use of the MTDC base will still result in a reduction of the total indirect costs to be charged to the award. In accordance with 2 CFR 200.405, we understand that indirect costs not recovered due to a voluntary reduction to our federally negotiated rate are not allowable for recovery via any other means.

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

All applicants are hereby notified of the following:

Recipients without an approved indirect cost rate are prohibited from charging indirect costs to a Federal award. Accepting the 10% de minimus rate as a condition of award is an approved rate.

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

Only the indirect costs calculated against the Federal portion of the total direct costs may be charged to the Federal award. Recipients may not charge to their Service award any indirect costs calculated against the portion of total direct costs charged to themselves or charged to any other project partner, Federal and non-Federal alike.

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

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

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

For more information on indirect cost rates, see the Service’s Indirect Costs and Negotiated Indirect

Cost Rate Agreements guidance document on the Internet at https://www.fws.gov/grants/atc.html under the “Resources” tab.

https://www.fws.gov/grants/atc.html

Negotiating an Indirect Cost Rate with the Department of the Interior:

Entities that do not have a NICRA, must have an open, active Federal award before they can submit an indirect cost rate proposal to their cognizant agency. The Federal awarding agency that provides the largest amount of direct funding to your organization is your cognizant agency, unless otherwise assigned by the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB). If the Department of the

Interior is your cognizant agency, your indirect cost rate will be negotiated by the Interior Business

Center (IBC). For more information, contact the IBC at:

Indirect Cost Services

Acquisition Services Directorate, Interior Business Center

U.S. Department of the Interior

2180 Harvard Street, Suite 430

Sacramento, CA 95815

Phone: 916-566-7111 - Fax: 916-566-7110

Email: Through https://www.doi.gov/ibc/contactus/ibcfeedback web form

Internet address: https://www.doi.gov/ibc/services/finance/indirect-cost-services

F. Single Audit Reporting Statements: As required in Title 2 of the Code of Federal Regulations Part

200, Subpart F Audit Requirements, all U.S. states, local governments, federally-recognized Indian tribal governments, and non-profit organizations expending $750,000 USD or more in Federal award funds in a fiscal year must submit a Single Audit report for that year through the Federal Audit

Clearinghouse’s Internet Data Entry System.

All U.S. state, local government, federally-recognized Indian tribal government and non-profit applicants must provide a statement regarding if your organization was or was not required to submit a Single Audit report for the organization’s most recently closed fiscal year. If required, state that the report is available on the Federal Audit Clearinghouse Single Audit Database website (https://harvester.census.gov/facweb/) and provide the EIN under which that report was submitted.

See the following statements and include all applicable statements at the end of the Project

Narrative in number 10, titled: Statement(s) Regarding Single Audit Reporting

Single Audit Report was required:

My organization was required to submit a Single Audit report last year. The reporting period covered was from (insert date) to (insert date). This report, filed under EIN #(insert EIN), is available on the

Federal Audit Clearinghouse Single Audit Database website (https://harvester.census.gov/facweb/) or will be by (insert date).

OR

Single Audit Report was not required:

My organization was not required to submit a Single Audit report last year.

G. Assurances

Include the appropriate signed and dated Assurances form available online at http://apply07.grants.gov/apply/FormLinks?family=15. Use the Assurances for Construction

Programs (SF 424D) for construction and land acquisition projects. Use the Assurances for Non-

Construction Programs (SF 424B) for all other types of projects. Signing this form does not mean that all items on the form are applicable. The form contains language that states that some of the assurances may not be applicable to your organization and/or your project or program.

https://www.doi.gov/ibc/contactus/ibcfeedback https://www.doi.gov/ibc/services/finance/indirect-cost-services http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?tpl=/ecfrbrowse/Title02/2cfr200_main_02.tpl http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?tpl=/ecfrbrowse/Title02/2cfr200_main_02.tpl https://harvester.census.gov/facweb/ https://harvester.census.gov/facweb/ http://apply07.grants.gov/apply/FormLinks?family=15

H. Certification and Disclosure of Lobbying Activities: Under Title 31 of the United States Code, Section 1352, an applicant or recipient must not use any federally appropriated funds (both annually appropriated and continuing appropriations) or matching funds under a grant or cooperative agreement award to pay any person for lobbying in connection with the award. Lobbying is defined as influencing or attempting to influence an officer or employee of any agency, a Member of

Congress, an officer or employee of Congress, or an employee of a Member of Congress connection with the award. Submission of an application also represents the applicant’s certification of the statements in 43 CFR Part 18, Appendix A-Certification Regarding Lobbying. If you/your organization have/has made or agrees to make any payment using non-appropriated funds for lobbying in connection with this proposal AND the Federal share exceeds $100,000, complete and submit the SF LLL, Disclosure of Lobbying Activities. See 43 CFR, Subpart 18.100 for more information on when additional submission of this form is required.

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

Application Checklist

□ DUNS Registration (see requirement in Section III Basic Eligibility Requirements, A Duns

Registration)

□ SAM active registration (see requirement in Section III Basic Eligibility Requirements, B Entity

Registration in SAM)

□ Evidence of non-profit status: If a non-profit organization, a copy of their Section 501(c)(3) or

(4) status determination letter received from the Internal Revenue Service.

□ SF 424, Application for Federal Assistance: A complete, signed and dated SF 424, SF 424-

Mandatory, or SF 424- Individual form

□ SF 424 Budget form: A complete SF 424A or SF 424C Budget Information form

□ SF 424 Assurances form: Signed and dated SF 424B or SF 424D Assurances form

□ Project Summary

□ Project Narrative

□ Timetable

□ Description of key personnel qualifications, if applicable

□ Single Audit Reporting statement: If a U.S. state, local government, federally-recognized

Indian tribal government, or non-profit organization, statements regarding applicability of and compliance with 2 CFR 200, Subpart F, Audit Requirement.

□ Financial Capability Questionnaire – Only required if your organization was not required to have a single audit completed this fiscal year. (Individuals and foreign entities are exempt)

□ Budget Justification

□ Federally-funded equipment list: If Federally-funded equipment will be used for the project, a list of that equipment http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=683823273fc0da6a1060883eda593fb8&mc=true&node=pt43.1.18&rgn=div5 http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=2&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwidsOONg8rSAhVK4SYKHcfCDz8QFgghMAE&url=http%3A%2F%2Fapply07.grants.gov%2Fapply%2Fforms%2Fsample%2FSFLLL-V1.1.pdf&usg=AFQjCNFNKoVhfSxzK5sMSGV8E6db6ggcMg

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

Agreement

□ Conflict of Interest Disclosures: When applicable, written notification of any actual or potential conflicts of interest that may arise during the life of this award.

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

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

V. Submission Instructions

SUBMISSION DEADLINE: September 20, 2017, 16:00 Alaska Standard Time.

Intergovernmental Review: Before submitting an application, U.S. state and local government applicants should visit the following website (https://whitehouse.gov/omb/grants_spoc) to determine whether their application is subject to the state intergovernmental review process under Executive Order

(E.O.) 12372 “Intergovernmental review of Federal Programs.” E.O. 12372 was issued to foster the intergovernmental partnership and strengthen federalism by relying on state and local processes for the coordination and review of proposed Federal financial assistance and direct Federal development. The

E.O. allows each state to designate an entity to perform this function. The official list of designated entities is posted on the website. Contact your state’s designated entity for more information on the process the state requires to be followed when applying for assistance. States that do not have a designated entity listed on the website have chosen not to participate in the review process.

Funding Restrictions: Construction costs are not an allowable activity under this award. The applicant may be reimbursed for pre-Federal award costs.

Other Submission Requirements: Download the Application Package linked to this Funding

Opportunity on Grants.gov to begin the application process. Downloading and saving the Application

Package to your computer makes the required government-wide standard forms fillable and printable.

Completed applications may be submitted by mail, by email, electronically through Grants.gov, or as otherwise described in the Grants.gov funding opportunity. Please select ONE of the submission options:

The required SF 424 Application for Federal Assistance and Assurances forms and any other required standard forms MUST be signed by your organization’s authorized official. The Signature and Date fields on the standard forms downloaded from Grants.gov are pre-populated with the text “Completed by

Grants.gov upon submission” or “Completed on submission to Grants.gov”. Remove this text

(manually or digitally) before signing the forms.

To submit an application by e-mail:

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

The required SF 424 Application for Federal Assistance and Assurances forms and any other required standard forms MUST be signed by your organization’s authorized official. The Signature and Date fields on the standard forms downloaded from Grants.gov are pre-populated with the text “Completed by

Grants.gov upon submission” or “Completed on submission to Grants.gov”. Remove this text (manually or digitally) before signing the forms.

To submit an application through Grants.gov:

Go to the Grants.gov Apply for Grants page (http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/apply-for-grants.html) for an overview of the process to apply through Grants.gov. You/your organization https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/omb/grants_spoc http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/apply-for-grants.html http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/apply-for-grants.html must complete the Grants.gov registration process before submitting an application through Grants.gov.

Registration can take between three to five business days, or as long as two weeks if all steps are not completed in a timely manner.

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

VI. Application Review

Criteria:

To be considered for funding, applications must address the following:

Soundness of Design / Technical Feasibility (“Go/No Go” criterion)

Applicant Capability to Satisfactorily Complete Project (“Go/No Go” criterion)

Usability/Applicability

Timeline and Costs

Review and Selection Process:

1. Soundness of Design / Technical Feasibility (“Go/No Go” criterion)

Is there a clear statement of project objectives, explanation of what the project will accomplish and why it is important for the ABSI and Western Alaska LCCs? Has the applicant demonstrated a clear understanding of the issue being addressed and present state of knowledge in the field? Is there sufficient information to evaluate the project technically?

2. Applicant Capability to Satisfactorily Complete Project (“Go/No Go” criterion)

Does the proposal demonstrate that the technical capability of the applicant is sufficient to successfully complete the project, taking into account such factors as the applicant’s 1) past performance in successfully completing projects similar in size, scope and relevance to the proposed project; 2) organizational experience and plan for timely and successfully achieving the objectives of the project; 3 and 4) experience/familiarity working with land and resource management entities, and/or other targeted stakeholders.

3. Usability/Applicability

Does the proposal clearly articulate the issues being considered as well as the targeted stakeholders and how they are affected by the issues? Does the proposal clearly articulate the relevant information needs of the targeted stakeholders and the measurable benefits to them, and other LCC partners, which will result from the project?

4. Timeline and Costs

Is there a clear table detailing appropriate timelines and associated measurable milestones, objectives, accomplishments, and deliverables that can be used to track and evaluate project performance through the entire award period? Is the justification and allocation of the budget, in terms of the work to be performed, unreasonably high or low?

Prior to participating in any review or evaluation process, all staff and peer reviewers, evaluators, panel members, and advisors must complete the applicable Conflict of Interest form; Conflict of Interest FWS

FA Source Selection form or Conflict of Interest Form Other than FWS FA Source Selection.

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

Each fiscal year, for every entity receiving one or more awards in that fiscal year, the Service conducts a risk assessment based on eight risk categories. The result of this risk assessment is used to establish a monitoring plan for all awards to the entity in that fiscal year. For a copy of the Service’s risk assessment form, go to https://www.fws.gov/grants/atc.html.

Prior to approving an award with a Federal funding amount that exceeds or is expected to exceed the simplified acquisition threshold, as adjusted (see 2 CFR 200.88), the Service must review and consider any information about the applicant that is in the designated integrity and performance system accessible through SAM (currently FAPIIS; https://www.fapiis.gov/fapiis/index.action) to determine if, at a minimum, the information found in the system for the applicant demonstrates a satisfactory record of

Federal award performance and integrity and business ethics (see 2 CFR 200.205(a)(2)). The Service must also report to FAPIIS if an applicant subject to this review is found not qualified for a particular award due to its prior record of integrity or performance under Federal awards (see 2 CFR 200.212).

VII. Federal Award Administration

Federal Award Notices: Following review, applicants may be requested to revise the project scope and/or budget before an award is made. You may receive an information notice of intent from the Service program Project Officer stating that your application has been selected for the intent to award, this is not the official Notice of Award. Successful applicants will receive written notice in the form of a notice of award document. Notices of award are typically sent to recipients by e-mail. If e-mail notification is unsuccessful, the documents will be sent by courier mail (e.g., FedEx, DHL or UPS). Award recipients are not required to sign/return the Notice of Award document. Acceptance of an award is defined as starting work, drawing down funds, or accepting the award via electronic means. Awards are based on the application submitted to, and as approved by, the Service. The notice of award document will include instructions specific to each recipient on how to request payment. If applicable, the instructions will detail any additional information/forms required and where to submit payment requests. Applicants whose projects are not selected for funding will receive written notice, most often by e-mail, within 30 days of the final review decision.

Administrative and National Policy Requirements:

Award Notices: Following review, applicants may be requested to revise the project scope and/or budget before an award is made. Successful applicants will receive written notice in the form of a notice of award document. Notices of award are typically sent to recipients by e-mail. If e-mail notification is unsuccessful, the documents will be sent by courier mail (e.g., FedEx, DHL or UPS). Award recipients are not required to sign/return the Notice of Award document. Acceptance of an award is defined as starting work, drawing down funds, or accepting the award via electronic means. Awards are based on the application submitted to, and as approved by, the Service. The notice of award document will include instructions specific to each recipient on how to request payment. If applicable, the instructions will detail any additional information/forms required and where to submit payment requests. Applicants whose projects are not selected for funding will receive written notice, most often by e-mail, within 30 days of the final review decision.

Domestic Recipient Payments: Prior to award, the Service program office will contact you/your organization to either enroll in the U.S. Treasury’s Automated Standard Application for Payments

(ASAP) system or, if eligible, obtain approval from the Department of the Interior to be waived from using ASAP.

Domestic applicants subject to the SAM registration requirement (see Section III B.) who receive a waiver from receiving funds through ASAP must maintain current banking information in SAM.

https://www.fapiis.gov/fapiis/index.action

Domestic applicants exempt from the SAM registration requirement who receive a waiver from receiving funds through ASAP will be required to submit their banking information directly to the Service program.

However, do NOT submit any banking information to the Service until it is requested from you by the

Service program!

Foreign Recipient Payments: Foreign recipients receiving funds to a bank outside of the United States will be paid electronically through U.S. Treasury’s International Treasury Services (ITS) system.

Foreign recipients receiving funds electronically to a bank in the United States will be paid by Electronic

Funds Transfer (EFT) through the Automated Clearing House network. Foreign recipients who wish to be paid to a bank account in the United States must enter and maintain current banking information in

SAM (see Section III).

The Notice of Award document from the Service will include instructions specific to each recipient on how to request payment. If applicable, the instructions will detail any additional information/forms required and where to submit payment requests.

Transmittal of Sensitive Data: Recipients are responsible for ensuring any sensitive data being sent to the Service is protected during its transmission/delivery. The Service strongly recommends that recipients use the most secure transmission/delivery method available. The Service recommends the following digital transmission methods: secure digital faxing; encrypted emails; emailing a password protected zipped/compressed file attachment in one email followed by the password in a second email; or emailing a zipped/compressed file attachment. The Service strongly encourages recipients sending sensitive data in paper copy to use a courier mail service. Recipients may also contact their Service

Project Officer and provide any sensitive data over the telephone.

Award Terms and Conditions: Acceptance of a financial assistance award (i.e., grant or cooperative agreement) from the Service carries with it the responsibility to be aware of and comply with the terms and conditions applicable to the 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 approved by the Service and are subject to the terms and conditions incorporated into the notice of award either by direct citation or by reference to the following: Federal regulations; program legislation or regulation; and special award terms and conditions. The Service’s Standard Award Terms and Conditions are available on the Internet at https://www.fws.gov/grants/atc.html. If you do not have access to the

Internet and require a full text copy of the award terms and conditions, contact the Service point of contact identified in the Agency Contacts section below.

Recipient Reporting Requirements:

i. Financial and Performance Reports: Interim financial reports and performance reports may be required. Interim reports will be required no more frequently than quarterly, and no less frequently than annually. A final financial report and a final performance report will be required and are due within 90 calendar days of the end date of the award. Performance reports must contain: 1) a comparison of actual accomplishments with the goals and objectives of the award as detailed in the approved scope of work; 2) a description of reasons why established goals were not met, if appropriate; and 3) any other pertinent information relevant to the project results.

ii. Significant Development Reports (SDR):

Events may occur between the scheduled performance reporting dates that have significant impact upon the supported activity. In such cases, recipients are required to notify the Service in writing as soon as the following types of conditions become known:

Problems, delays, or adverse conditions that will materially impair the ability to meet the objective of the Federal award. This disclosure must include a statement of any corrective action(s) taken or contemplated, and any assistance needed to resolve the situation.

Favorable developments that enable meeting time schedules and objectives sooner or at less cost than anticipated or producing more or different beneficial results than originally planned.

The Service will specify in the notice of award document the reporting and reporting frequency applicable to the award.

iii. Conflict of Interest Disclosures (COI):

The recipient must establish safeguards to prohibit its employees and subrecipients from using their positions for purposes that constitute or present the appearance of a personal or organizational conflict of interest. The recipient is responsible for notifying the Grants Officer in writing of any actual or potential conflicts of interest that may arise during the life of this award.

Conflicts of interest include any relationship or matter which might place the recipient or its employees in a position of conflict, real or apparent, between their responsibilities under the agreement and any other outside interests. Conflicts of interest may also include, but are not limited to, direct or indirect financial interests, close personal relationships, positions of trust in outside organizations, consideration of future employment arrangements with a different organization, or decision-making affecting the award that would cause a reasonable person with knowledge of the relevant facts to question the impartiality of the recipient and/or recipient's employees and subrecipients in the matter.

The Grants Officer and the servicing Ethics Counselor will determine if a conflict of interest exists. If a conflict of interest exists, the Grants Officer will determine whether a mitigation plan is feasible. Mitigation plans must be approved by the Grants Officer in writing. Failure to resolve conflicts of interest in a manner that satisfies the government may be cause for termination of the award.

Failure to make required disclosures may result in any of the remedies described in 2 CFR

200.338; including…