F24AS00061_C-SWG NOFO_Final.pdf

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

FWS - Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration https://www.fws.gov/program/state-wildlife-grants/about-us

F24AS00061 - FY 2024 Competitive State Wildlife Grant (C-SWG) Program Fiscal Year: 2024

F24AS00061

Due Date for Applications: 02/23/2024

Table of Contents A. Program Description

A1. Authority

A2. Assistance Listing Number

A3. Background, Purpose and Program Requirements

A4. Funding Opportunity Goals

B. Federal Award Information

B1. Total Funding

B2. Expected Award Amount

B3. Expected Award Funding and Anticipated Dates

B4. Number of Awards

B5. Type of Award

C. Eligibility Information

C1. Eligible Applicants

C2. Cost Sharing or Matching

C3. Other

D. Application and Submission Information

D1. Address to Request Application Package

D2. Content and Form of Application Submission

D3. Unique Entity Identifier and System for Award Management (SAM)

D4. Submission Dates and Times

D5. Intergovernmental Review

D6. Funding Restrictions

D7. Other Submission Requirements

E. Application Review Information

E1. Criteria

E2. Review and Selection Process

E3. CFR – Regulatory Information

E4. Anticipated Announcement and Federal Award Dates

F. Federal Award Administration Information

F1. Federal Award Notices

F2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements

F3. Reporting

G. Federal Awarding Agency Contact(s)

G1. Program Technical Contact

G2. Program Administration

G3. Application System Technical Support

H. Other Information

A. Program Description A1. Authority Continuing Appropriations and Ukraine Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2023, Public Law 117-180 (H.R. 6833, 117th Cong. Div. A, Section 101 (7), and prior-year appropriations acts.

Fiscal Year 2024 authorization of funding for the C-SWG Program is not confirmed at the time this announcement was published. The Antideficiency Act (31 U.S.C. § 1341) prohibits WSFR from awarding or obligating C-SWG Program funds until authorized by Congress.

A2. Assistance Listing Number 15.634 A3. Background, Purpose and Program Requirements References to “you” in this announcement refer to the eligible State, Territory, Commonwealth, or D.C. fish and wildlife agency or regional association of fish and wildlife agencies completing the application and any potential subrecipient, if applicable. References to “we” or “us” in this announcement refer to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service).

The Competitive State Wildlife Grant (C-SWG) Program provides Federal grant funds to help you and your partners implement programs for the benefit of fish and wildlife and their habitats.

Eligible activities include conservation planning and implementation. Planning activities must contribute directly to the development or modification of your Wildlife Action Plan (Plan) approved by the Director of the Service or other Service designee. Implementation activities are those that you carry out to execute your Plan. Priority for use of these funds must be placed on your identified species of greatest conservation need (SGCN) and their habitats and should take into consideration the relative level of funding available for the conservation of these species.

Ineligible activities include wildlife education or outreach and law enforcement activities unless they are a minor or incidental component considered critical to the success of your project.

Answers to frequently asked questions are provided toward the end of this section below. We encourage you to contact your WSFR Regional Office for further guidance. Additional information about the C-SWG Program is available here.

WSFR

C-SWG Program awards are administered through the Service’s Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program (WSFR). WSFR’s mission is to work through partnerships to conserve and manage fish and wildlife and their habitats for the use and enjoyment of current and future generations. WSFR’s vision is of healthy, diverse, and accessible fish and wildlife populations that offer recreation, economic activity, and other societal benefits, in addition to sustainable ecological functions. WSFR’s guiding principle is that society benefits from conservation-based management of fish and wildlife and their habitats and opportunities to use and enjoy them. The https://www.fws.gov/program/state-wildlife-grants/about-us https://www.fws.gov/program/wildlife-and-sport-fish-restoration https://www.fws.gov/program/wildlife-and-sport-fish-restoration

C-SWG Program aligns with WSFR’s mission, vision, and guiding principle.

TRACS

Wildlife TRACS (Tracking and Reporting Actions for the Conservation of Species) is the tracking and reporting system used by WSFR to capture conservation and related actions funded by its grant programs. TRACS serves as the electronic repository system for all performance and accomplishment reporting related to those Federal awards. TRACS highlights program accountability by documenting program accomplishments and results. As outlined in this announcement, grant and project statement information and performance reporting data must be entered into TRACS as authorized under 2 CFR 200.102(c), 200.202, 200.301, and 200.329.

Because this is a competitive program, and we typically fund only a portion of the applications we receive each year, we recommend that you do not enter TRACS information prior to selection of your award for funding.

This announcement contains instructions to apply for both a C-SWG Program award and a Plan Enhancement Subprogram award. You may submit one or more applications for the C-SWG Program and the Plan Enhancement Subprogram concurrently. However, because ranking criteria and partnership requirements differ, you cannot request funding for the same project from both the C-SWG Program and the Plan Enhancement Subprogram concurrently. You must submit a separate application for each project, and you must meet all the requirements described in this announcement in each application.

C-SWG Program The C-SWG Program supports two of the Administration’s priorities including improving climate change adaptation and increasing resilience (through wildlife research, habitat restoration, land acquisition, and other actions) and strengthening the economy (by supporting outdoor recreation activities). Grant awards issued under this program typically include projects for biological research, fish and wildlife conservation, and habitat management. Many of the projects conducted under the C-SWG Program directly or indirectly support Executive Order 14008: Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad. Program activities support land conservation and biodiversity efforts, contributing to the Conserving and Restoring America the Beautiful (30 x 30) initiative.

The C-SWG Program is successful when it leverages Federal funding through cost-sharing provisions with you and your partners to design and implement proactive conservation actions in a strategic fashion, as articulated in your Plan. In doing so, it helps protect your authority to identify, study, and conserve those species you deem most in need of conservation while helping to avoid more prescriptive Federal regulatory requirements associated with listing under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). A core principle of the C-SWG Program is the utilization of effective partnerships that demonstrate the spirit of cooperation and sharing of resources to achieve our common conservation goals.

Plan Enhancement Subprogram In FY 2024, the Service offers you the opportunity to apply for an award through the Plan Enhancement Subprogram, in parallel with any C-SWG Program application(s) you may choose to submit. The purpose of this Subprogram is to support the implementation of major Plan improvements recommended in the report, Best Practices for State Wildlife Action Plans https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?node=se2.1.200_1102&rgn=div8 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200#200.202 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200#200.301 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200/subpart-D/subject-group-ECFR36520e4111dce32/section-200.329 https://www.fishwildlife.org/application/files/3215/1856/0300/SWAP_Best_Practices_Report_Nov_2012.pdf

(Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, 2012). Maximum awards, scoring criteria, and partnership requirements differ for Plan Enhancement Subprogram applications and awards (see Section C3. Other [Information on Eligibility]) of this announcement.

The Plan Enhancement Subprogram is intended to support Plan modifications that substantially improve the relevance or effectiveness of a Plan, especially modifications that are urgent or time sensitive. Routine or general Plan modifications that you would normally implement through a Major or Minor Revision are not prioritized for funding under this Subprogram. We strongly recommend that you contact your Regional WSFR Office prior to developing your application, for input on your project concept and its eligibility and/or appropriateness for Plan Enhancement Subprogram funding. Plan modifications proposed under this Subprogram must be explicitly linked to at least one of the following themes:

Climate Adaptation: We support development of climate adaptation information and identification of adaptation strategies for wildlife and their habitats. Such activities may include but are not limited to:

• Identification of best-management practices to address climate-related threats to SGCN, their habitats, or ecological processes that affect them;

• Identification of climate-resilient priority conservation areas for SGCN/habitats;

• Implementation of large-scale climate change vulnerability assessments for multiple

SGCN/habitats; or

• Alignment of Plan strategies with the report, Advancing the National Fish, Wildlife, and

Plants Climate Adaptation Strategy Into the New Decade, or with another published climate adaptation strategy.

Classification and Prioritization: We support projects that will result in improved Plan classification and prioritization methods, especially those that advance large-scale, multi-jurisdictional SGCN conservation. Examples include but are not limited to:

• Revision of Plan criteria for identifying or prioritizing SGCN, or collaboration among multiple States resulting in adoption of a unified SGCN selection or ranking procedure;

• Adoption of a unified nomenclature, standard lexicon, or other methodology for classification or prioritization of Plan elements. For example: NatureServe’s natural heritage methodology, N. Salafsky’s unified conservation threats and actions, International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List, or the Service’s TRACS Performance Matrix; or

• Implementation of strategies identified in the report, Leading At-Risk Fish and Wildlife Conservation: A Framework to Advance Landscape-Scale and Cross-Boundary Conservation Through Coordinated State Wildlife Action Plans (Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, September 2021).

Mapping: We support use of digital mapping technologies and techniques to delineate geographic areas presenting the best opportunities for conservation (such as focal areas or conservation opportunity areas). Partnerships of two or more States may utilize funds to align and unify geospatial information across State lines. We encourage use of a common platform that can be integrated across State fish and wildlife agencies and/or regional associations of fish and wildlife agencies.

https://www.fishwildlife.org/application/files/4216/1161/3356/Advancing_Strategy_Report_FINAL.pdf https://www.fishwildlife.org/application/files/4216/1161/3356/Advancing_Strategy_Report_FINAL.pdf https://www.natureserve.org/conservation-tools/standards-methods/natureserve-core-methodology https://www.natureserve.org/conservation-tools/standards-methods/natureserve-core-methodology https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18544093/ https://www.iucnredlist.org/ https://wsfrtraining.fws.gov/pluginfile.php/406/mod_page/content/203/TRACS%20Performance%20Matrix_V19%2004282021.pdf?time=1623953311192 https://wsfrtraining.fws.gov/pluginfile.php/406/mod_page/content/203/TRACS%20Performance%20Matrix_V19%2004282021.pdf?time=1623953311192 https://www.fishwildlife.org/application/files/6416/3240/1090/SWAPLandscapeConservationReport_2021-FINAL.pdf https://www.fishwildlife.org/application/files/6416/3240/1090/SWAPLandscapeConservationReport_2021-FINAL.pdf https://www.fishwildlife.org/application/files/6416/3240/1090/SWAPLandscapeConservationReport_2021-FINAL.pdf

Database Enhancements: We support efforts to expand or enhance databases for Plan elements of one or more States. Databases may house SGCN information or related data on habitats, threats, conservation actions, and/or accomplishments.

Plan Accessibility: We support efforts to improve the accessibility of Plan information. For example, you may utilize funds to web-enable your Plan so that it is searchable and easily shared with and understood by partners. You may repackage and deliver Plan data to local or regional entities engaged in land-use planning or development, so that data is more accessible and relevant to towns, counties, industry, or others.

Plan Evaluation: We support efforts to evaluate the effectiveness of a Plan, to determine the degree to which your agency or division is meeting your Plan’s goals and objectives, and to develop strategies to improve your Plan.

Adaptive Management

Whether you apply for a C-SWG Program or Plan Enhancement Subprogram grant, we encourage you to design and manage your project within an adaptive management framework.

Adaptive management in the context of natural resources conservation involves the integration of design, management, and monitoring to systematically test your assumptions in order to adapt and learn. Adaptive management is a form of structured decision-making that requires careful goal setting, identifying management objectives and causal hypotheses, taking action, measuring results, and evaluating, documenting, interpreting, and sharing outcomes of management actions.

We utilize the Strategic Habitat Conservation framework to improve our ability to define desired biological outcomes and articulate the consequences of site-scale actions on landscape-scale functions. Other, similar adaptive management frameworks may be used. For more information, see:

• Strategic Habitat Conservation: Final Report of the National Ecological Assessment Team (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and U.S. Geological Survey, 2006)

• The Open Standards for the Practice of Conservation (The Conservation Measures Partnership, 2013)

• Measuring the Effectiveness of State Wildlife Grants (Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, 2011)

We award funds through the C-SWG Program for projects that will implement actions or strategies identified in your Plan, for surveys, monitoring, and related activities designed to determine whether to designate SGCN, for efforts to address documented emerging wildlife issues, or for Plan Enhancement activities consistent with the themes provided in this announcement. Although intended as Service policy and not regulation, you may wish to review the Service Manual Part 517 FW 10 for more information. In administration of the C-SWG Program, we adopt policies described in this chapter which are applicable to the non-competitive (Formula) SWG Program, except where such policies may conflict with information contained in this announcement.

We encourage you to engage with partners as appropriate in planning, executing, and evaluating your conservation project(s). Partners may include but are not limited to other State fish and wildlife agencies or other State entities (in or out of State), Tribes, the Service or other Federal https://digitalmedia.fws.gov/digital/collection/document/id/904/ https://digitalmedia.fws.gov/digital/collection/document/id/904/ https://conservationstandards.org/ https://www.fishwildlife.org/application/files/3815/2278/1426/FINAL_Effectiveness_Measures_report.pdf http://www.fws.gov/policy/517fw10.pdf agencies, local governments or other jurisdictions, non-governmental organizations (including for-profit and nonprofit organizations), academic institutions, private landowners or other individuals, industry groups, and international partners.

Changes from the FY 2023 Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) include:

1. Minor edits for clarity were made throughout the announcement.

2. A3. TRACS: we recommend you do not enter TRACS data unless your project is selected for an award.

3. C3. Tiers: we have added a link to a table showing the partnership requirements to qualify for the C-SWG Program and Plan Enhancement Subprogram Tiers.

4. E1. Criteria: we have removed the following language and points from Criterion 2 because the Service no longer publishes a list of unscheduled species (3 Points: Project directly targets a SGCN with a positive 90-day finding that is under review for listing pursuant to the ESA but is an unscheduled species in the Service's National Domestic Listing Workplan).

Fiscal Year 2024 Competitive State Wildlife Grant (C-SWG) Program Questions and Answers

Will grant applications from a single State be considered for funding?

Yes. The State fish and wildlife agencies of Alaska, Hawai'i, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands may apply for C-SWG Program funds independently, without an active participant partner. Contiguous (lower 48) States and D.C. may apply independently if they identify at least one partner that is an active participant in the project. An active participant is defined as a partner that is requesting and/or matching at least 10 percent of total project costs as given in your Project Narrative and budget. See Section C3 of this FOA for more information on Tier 1 and partner requirements.

In the Plan Enhancement Subprogram, any single State, Territory, or D.C. fish and wildlife agency may apply for up to $150,000 (Tier 1). There is no requirement for documentation of active participants as long as you and/or your partner(s) provide matching funds to meet the minimum requirement. Simplified tables showing the partnership requirements to qualify for the C-SWG Program and Plan Enhancement Subprogram Tiers are available here, or contact your WSFR Regional Office.

What are the minimum and maximum Federal awards in the C-SWG Program?

There is no minimum award, although most applicants request at least $50,000 in C-SWG Program funds. The maximum award varies from $250,000 (Tier 1) to $1 million (Tier 4), depending on the number of active participant State fish and wildlife agencies or other partners you choose to involve in your project. Maximum awards and partnership requirements are described in detail in section C3 of this announcement. Simplified tables showing the partnership requirements to qualify for the C-SWG Program and Plan Enhancement Subprogram Tiers are available here, or contact your WSFR Regional Office.

What are the minimum and maximum Federal awards in the Plan Enhancement subprogram?

There is no minimum award, although most applicants request at least $50,000 in Plan https://fawiki.fws.gov/display/WSFRP/State+Wildlife+Grant+Program?preview=%2F26837115%2F287703046%2FCompetitive+SWG+and+Plan+Enhancement+Funding+Tiers+Table.pdf https://fawiki.fws.gov/display/WSFRP/State+Wildlife+Grant+Program?preview=%2F26837115%2F287703046%2FCompetitive+SWG+and+Plan+Enhancement+Funding+Tiers+Table.pdf https://fawiki.fws.gov/display/WSFRP/State+Wildlife+Grant+Program?preview=%2F26837115%2F287703046%2FCompetitive+SWG+and+Plan+Enhancement+Funding+Tiers+Table.pdf

Enhancement Subprogram funds. The maximum Federal award is either $150,000 or $300,000, depending on whether you are proposing a single-state (Tier 1) or multi-state (Tier 2) project.

Maximum awards and partnership requirements are described in section C3 of this announcement. Simplified tables showing the partnership requirements to qualify for the C-SWG Program and Plan Enhancement Subprogram Tiers are available here, or contact your WSFR Regional Office for more information.

What are the Federal cost-sharing requirements for this competitive program?

The Federal share of C-SWG Program and Plan Enhancement Subprogram grants may not exceed 75 percent of the total project cost. Matching requirements must be waived for the Territories of the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (see 48 U.S.C. 1469(a), Amendment of Subsection (d) and the DOI Policy Advisory Notice on the waiver of matching fund requirements for insular areas).

Matching requirements are described in Section C2 of this FOA.

How do I calculate the minimum amount of non-Federal match that my agency and/or partners must provide in total?

The maximum Federal share is 75 percent of total project costs, unless you are an exempt agency (see previous Q&A). Total project costs include requested Federal funds plus eligible match identified in your application. To determine the minimum required non-Federal match, we recommend you divide your total Federal request by three. For example, if your total Federal request is $500,000, divide this amount by three to arrive at your minimum required non-Federal match amount of $166,667.

Will the C-SWG Grant Program continue in future years?

Funding for the C-SWG Program and the Plan Enhancement Subprogram is appropriated annually by Congress. There is no assurance that funds will be appropriated in subsequent years.

How must a Project Narrative document an emerging issue?

We may provide C-SWG Program funds to address emerging issues relevant to species or their habitats that are not included in your Wildlife Action Plan. In such cases, a Project Narrative must: a. describe the emerging issue fully by identifying the wildlife species or habitats that would benefit from the proposed action(s); b. explain why it is an emerging issue; and c. commit your agency to monitoring the effectiveness of the completed action(s), so you can adaptively manage the species. Your application must also include a commitment letter that the director of your State fish and wildlife agency has signed stating that the next version of your Plan will identify and include the species if it remains a priority.

For projects involving multiple States, should one State be the project lead?

Yes. Multi-state projects should identify a Lead Entity (State or Association). The role of the Lead Entity will differ depending on how you and your partners decide to administer the grant or grants.

Option 1: Participating States may designate a Lead Entity to receive the full grant award. The Lead Entity will provide grant funds to partnering States, non-State entities such as universities, or other non-governmental organizations through subawards. Under this option, the Lead Entity https://fawiki.fws.gov/display/WSFRP/State+Wildlife+Grant+Program?preview=%2F26837115%2F287703046%2FCompetitive+SWG+and+Plan+Enhancement+Funding+Tiers+Table.pdf https://fawiki.fws.gov/display/WTK/Director%27s+Orders-Rules-Policy-Interim+Guidance?preview=/5931146/244514836/DOI-PGM-PAN-2023-0001%20Insular%20Area%20Matching%20Funds%20Waiver%20-%20FINAL%20-%2010-12-2022.pdf https://fawiki.fws.gov/display/WTK/Director%27s+Orders-Rules-Policy-Interim+Guidance?preview=/5931146/244514836/DOI-PGM-PAN-2023-0001%20Insular%20Area%20Matching%20Funds%20Waiver%20-%20FINAL%20-%2010-12-2022.pdf must complete TRACS performance data entry and prepare and submit financial status and performance reports, including the final report, on behalf of all partners for the entire project.

Option 2: Each State in a multi-state project may choose to directly receive funds from the Service as separate grants. In this case, after the Service Director approves such an award, each participating State must submit a complete application in GrantSolutions for its portion of awarded funds, identify a TRACS lead point of contact, and complete TRACS performance data entry for their portion of the award. The Lead Entity and each participating State must prepare and submit separate financial status and performance reports for each State’s portion of the overall project. The Lead Entity is responsible for preparing an executive summary paragraph describing all work completed in the multi-state project as part of their final performance report and must use the Multi-Award Linkage Tool in TRACS to combine the separate performance reports your State partners enter in this system. For more information, see the WSFR Training Portal, Course 12 (select the “log-in as guest" option at the bottom) or contact your WSFR Regional Office.

For more information, see section C.3, Matching Requirements for Multi-State Projects.

For projects involving multiple States, does each State need to contribute the minimum required match?

No. Each application must show that any required non-Federal matching resources (cash, equipment, in-kind, etc.) will be contributed. The match commitment required of each partnering State depends on the administrative option selected. Under Option 1, the application is submitted by a State or association that will administer a single C-SWG Program award to one or more subrecipients. States involved in the project may contribute any amount of match agreed to in the application or negotiated following award, if the application demonstrates that the non-Federal matching requirements for the overall project as described in the proposal are met.

Under Option 2, the application is submitted on behalf of one or more States and will be administered as separate awards to the Lead Entity and partnering States and/or other subrecipients. Under this Option, each partnering State is responsible for ensuring that the required minimum match is met for their individual award.

For more information, see section C.3, Matching Requirements for Multi-State Projects.

What activities are eligible for funding under this program?

The C-SWG Program was created to meet the conservation needs of animal SGCN and their habitats through activities that are identified in your Plan. Activities eligible for funding are described in Table 10-1 of the Service Manual Chapter 517 FW 10, State Wildlife Grants – Mandatory Subprogram, which is available here.

What are the compliance requirements for activities funded under this program?

You must comply with all applicable Federal laws and regulations as a condition of acceptance of Federal funds. In addition to the authorizing legislation, compliance requirements for the C- SWG Program include 2 CFR 200, the Endangered Species Act (ESA), the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA), and other applicable State and Federal laws, regulations, and policies. You must provide assurance that you will comply with all applicable provisions. The Service, in cooperation with grantees, must address Federal compliance issues relating to the ESA, NEPA, and NHPA prior to obligating https://wsfrtraining.fws.gov/course/index.php?categoryid=3 https://wsfrtraining.fws.gov/course/index.php?categoryid=3 https://www.fws.gov/policy-library/517fw10 grant funds. WSFR Regional Office staff can assist you in understanding the procedures and documentation necessary for meeting Federal requirements prior to approval of the award.

Are there additional formatting criteria?

Submission and formatting requirements are described in section D7 of this announcement.

Applications must be formatted to fit on 8.5” X 11” paper, with 1” margins at the top, bottom, and both sides, and page numbers at the bottom of the page. Fonts must be no less than 12-point Arial, Times New Roman, or other commonly used font.

Where should an applicant submit an application?

Submission requirements are described in section D7 of this announcement. All applications should be submitted through GrantSolutions, searching for Funding Opportunity Number F24AS00061. We recommend you also submit via email a single document in PDF format containing your entire proposal to your WSFR Regional Office prior to the deadline, in case you experience difficulties submitting your application through GrantSolutions. If your agency does not use GrantSolutions, you may submit your application through Grants.gov.

Who announces the awards, and what additional documentation is required of selected applicants?

The Service Director selects awards based on ranking criteria published annually in the Funding Opportunity Announcement. We may or may not publish a national or regional media release announcing awards. The WSFR Regional Office will notify successful applicants of the selections and provide any additional requirements or other information needed to receive an award.

What must be done during the grant period if a change in objectives or approach is needed?

This is a competitive program. Therefore, each grant application is judged to be complete with all costs needed to accomplish the proposed objectives. The WSFR Regional Office has discretion to determine whether proposed changes can be accepted if the original objectives will still be met, and the resulting benefits will be equivalent to or greater than those initially described. Otherwise, no changes to the originally described objectives or approach will be allowed. If you cannot complete the project as approved, the grant will be terminated, all remaining unexpended funds will revert to us, and you must submit a final report within 90 days of the termination date. We may require that you repay expended funds if the final financial status report and the final performance report indicate that no substantive accomplishments were made.

Who has the authority to terminate a grant?

Grants may be terminated by the Service Director or designee, or by mutual agreement between your State director or designee and the WSFR Regional Manager. A termination decision by the Service Director is not subject to appeal.

What is included within the 15-page limit for the Project Narrative, and what is not?

Included in Project Narrative page limit: Project Narrative including any graphs or tables within the text, location description, project leader information (do not include CVs or résumés), responses to ranking criteria, and any other information that explains or provides additional information necessary for project scoring.

Not included in Project Narrative page limit: Federal forms, project abstract summary, budget and budget narrative, maps, photos, diagrams, drawings, or schematics, citations to literature, appendices, supplementary web links, letters of commitment, and any statements pertaining to indirect costs or other budget-related responses, audit statements, overlap/duplication statements, lobbying disclosures, or conflict of interest statements or forms.

Please organize your proposal so that Project Narrative elements appear on consecutive, numbered pages, so reviewers can verify it is no more than 15 pages in length. Please also limit the total application package to 50 pages or fewer. Any additional information beyond 50 pages will not be considered when reviewing your application. If all required information is not provided within the 50-page limit, your application may be rejected.

What resources are available to help with project design and proposal development?

You may benefit from information in the report, Measuring the Effectiveness of State Wildlife Grants (AFWA, 2011). See also the WSFR Standard Project Statement Wiki for general examples and guidance on using Standard Objectives (i.e., TRACS Objectives) which are required. Contact your WSFR Regional Office if you need assistance or more information.

Additional resources focusing on adaptive management include:

Strategic Habitat Conservation: Final Report of the National Ecological Assessment Team (U.S.

Fish and Wildlife Service and U.S. Geological Survey, 2006); and The Open Standards for the Practice of Conservation (The Conservation Measures Partnership, 2013)

Are land values eligible as match?

Although land value is allowable for use as match, we generally discourage this source of match in the C-SWG Program. For the value of land to qualify as match, you must show that the expenses associated with acquisition of a specific parcel, appraised and reviewed following Federal standards, are necessary for the achievement of project objectives. This justification should address why acquisition of the subject parcel was necessary and could not be accomplished through another less expensive action such as an easement. Values of lands acquired in previous years or lands that have not yet been acquired may be disqualified as match if they are not shown to be necessary for achieving project objectives.

Ranking criteria provide extra points for certain classes such as amphibians. Are projects targeting birds, mammals, and fish still eligible?

Yes, any project targeting a designated animal SGCN (or a non-SGCN animal species impacted by an emerging issue) is eligible for funding under this program.

Is student tuition an eligible cost under the C-SWG Program?

Yes. Tuition remission and other forms of compensation paid as, in addition to, or in lieu of wages to students performing necessary work are allowable, provided that such compensation meets the five criteria described at 2 CFR 200.466. Requests for student compensation should be clearly justified by including a cost analysis comparing alternative hiring arrangements such as hiring seasonal staff. Your justification must also demonstrate that the requested tuition results in https://www.fishwildlife.org/application/files/3815/2278/1426/FINAL_Effectiveness_Measures_report.pdf https://www.fishwildlife.org/application/files/3815/2278/1426/FINAL_Effectiveness_Measures_report.pdf https://fawiki.fws.gov/display/WSFR/Standard+Project+Statements https://digitalmedia.fws.gov/digital/collection/document/id/904/ https://conservationstandards.org/about/ https://conservationstandards.org/about/ https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200/subpart-E/subject-group-ECFRed1f39f9b3d4e72/section-200.466 the greatest benefit to the project. Your cost analysis should provide justification for all related tuition costs, including any stipends that students may be receiving in addition to tuition remission.

Are pre-award costs eligible under the C-SWG Program?

Yes. Pre-award costs are those incurred prior to the effective date of a Federal award that are necessary for efficient and timely performance of proposed activities. Such costs may be eligible for reimbursement or use as match with written approval of a WSFR Regional Manager or designee. Pre-award costs are generally limited to those that are directly pursuant to the negotiation and in anticipation of the pending Federal award, and they must be otherwise allowable if they were incurred after the date of the Federal award (2 CFR 200.458).

Costs meeting this definition include, for example, required compliance activities that are performed after selection of the project for funding by the Service Director but prior to receipt of an award letter from the WSFR Regional Office. Costs from a previous project do not meet the criteria for eligible pre-award costs because they are not directly pursuant to the negotiation and in anticipation of the pending Federal award.

Are costs related to education/outreach or law enforcement eligible under the C-SWG Program?

Yes, with limitations. For an education/outreach or law enforcement cost to be eligible for C- SWG Program or Plan Enhancement Subprogram funding or used as match, activities must constitute a minor portion of a project, be critical to the project’s success, and specifically address a threat or issue identified within your State’s Plan. “Minor” is no more than 10 percent of total project costs, including both the Federal and non-Federal resources identified in your application.

WSFR defines education/outreach as an action or effort intended to increase the public’s knowledge or understanding of wildlife or wildlife conservation and management through instruction or distribution of materials. It includes giving general information to the public about conservation and management programs, actions, or activities (517 FW 10.13). For purposes of this guidance, education and outreach are used interchangeably, and encompass any of the activities identified within the Outreach/Communication and Training/Education strategies in the TRACS Performance Matrix. Activities identified under the Technical Assistance strategy are not included in the definition of education or outreach and are not subject to the 10 percent limit.

A4. Funding Opportunity Goals The outcomes intended with this funding opportunity include: 1. protection and enhancement of populations of State-identified animal species of greatest conservation need and their habitats as documented in Service-approved Wildlife Action Plans; and 2. significant advancements in the utility, accessibility, and scientific integrity of the Wildlife Action Plans.

Long-term program outcomes may include favorable listing decisions of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service or the National Marine Fisheries Service under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). These include: 1. determinations that species are not warranted for Federal listing; 2.

down-listing of species protected under the ESA (from endangered to threatened); and 3. de-listing of species protected under the ESA due to recovery (removed from Federal listing).

https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200/subpart-E/subject-group-ECFRed1f39f9b3d4e72/section-200.458 https://www.fws.gov/policy-library/517fw10 https://wsfrtraining.fws.gov/pluginfile.php/406/mod_page/content/250/TRACS%20Performance%20Matrix_V20%2008092023.pdf

B. Federal Award Information B1. Total Funding Estimated Total Funding $7,600,000 Fiscal Year 2024 authorization of funding for the C-SWG Program was not confirmed at the time this announcement was published. The Antideficiency Act (31 U.S.C. § 1341) prohibits WSFR from awarding or obligating FY 2024 C-SWG Program funds until authorized by Congress.

B2. Expected Award Amount Maximum Award $1,000,000 Minimum Award $50,000

B3. Expected Award Funding and Anticipated Dates Expected Award Funding $7,600,000 Expected Award Date May 31, 2024

B4. Number of Awards Expected Number of Awards

B5. Type of Award Funding Instrument Type G - Grant

C. Eligibility Information C1. Eligible Applicants Eligible Applicants 00 – State governments 25 – Others (see text field entitled “Additional Information on Eligibility” for clarification) Additional Information on Eligibility Only the following entities are eligible to apply for and directly receive C-SWG Program grants:

1. State, Territory, or District of Columbia (D.C.) fish and wildlife agencies; and

2. The four regional associations of fish and wildlife agencies (NEAFWA, SEAFWA, MAFWA, and WAFWA).

C2. Cost Sharing or Matching Cost Sharing / Matching Requirement Yes Percentage of Cost Sharing / Matching Requirement For the continental States, Hawai'i, the District of Columbia, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Federal share of C-SWG Program or Plan Enhancement Subprogram grants may not exceed 75 percent of the total project cost. The total project cost includes the requested Federal funds plus identified matching funds or other resources but excludes other Federal funds that are ineligible for or not attributed as match.

In accordance with 48 United States Code (U.S.C.) 1469(a), Amendment of Subsection (d), and the DOI Policy Advisory Notice on the waiver of matching fund requirements for insular areas, the Regional Director shall waive all required match for each grant awarded to the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands and the Territories of American Samoa, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Matching and cost-sharing requirements are provided in 2 CFR 200.1 and 2 CFR 200.306. You must provide detailed information about cash and in-kind contributions in your budget narrative, as described in section D2 of this announcement (Content and Form of Application Submission).

You may meet your minimum required match through contributions from a third party. A third party is any individual or organization other than the State applicant, such as a partner or subrecipient. For your proposed cost share to be allowable, it must meet all the criteria listed in 2 CFR 200.306(b). As the primary State recipient, you are responsible for the full amount of the non-Federal cost share proposed, including any amount provided by one or more third parties, as you document on the Standard Form 424, Application for Federal Assistance (SF-424).

You may attribute some or all of your or a partner’s allowable indirect costs as voluntary committed match; however, you may only charge to the Federal award the indirect costs calculated against the allowable direct costs charged to the Federal award.

You must document all third‐party matching funds or in-kind contributions with a signed letter of financial commitment from an authorized representative of the match provider. The letter must detail the amount of matching funds or value of donated land, equipment, volunteer or staff time, and/or services. See section D2. Content and Form of Application Submission for more information on letters of commitment.

If you are using volunteer time to meet your cost share requirement, you must provide an estimate of the financial value of the in-kind contribution based upon rates or amounts your State normally pays for a similar product or service in the marketplace. For example, if your cost share consists of volunteer in-kind contributions, provide the required skill level of your volunteer(s) https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USCODE-2009-title48/pdf/USCODE-2009-title48-chap10-sec1469a.pdf https://fawiki.fws.gov/display/WTK/Director%27s+Orders-Rules-Policy-Interim+Guidance?preview=/5931146/244514836/DOI-PGM-PAN-2023-0001%20Insular%20Area%20Matching%20Funds%20Waiver%20-%20FINAL%20-%2010-12-2022.pdf https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/retrieveECFR?gp=&SID=049305c173b88964e96991aafabcf1f4&mc=true&n=pt2.1.200&r=PART&ty=HTML#se2.1.200_11 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200/subpart-D/section-200.306 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200/subpart-D/section-200.306#p-200.306(b) https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200/subpart-D/section-200.306#p-200.306(b) and link their duties to those of a comparable position in your agency. Provide the compensation rate for the equivalent State position, give the number of hours that you expect the volunteer(s) will contribute, and justify the necessity and reasonableness of the volunteer contributions for completion of project objectives. Estimates of the value of volunteer hourly contributions that are calculated by third parties do not sufficiently verify the value of such contributions.

More information on third-party in-kind contributions is available here.

Please note that any contributions from Federal sources are not eligible for use as non-Federal match unless authorized by Federal statute (such as the Department of Defense Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration Program or REPI funds).

C3. Other Maximum Awards and Partnership Requirements In 2018, the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies recommended we adopt the funding Tiers and associated maximum Federal awards described in this section. The Tiers are intended to encourage partnerships dedicated to cross-jurisdictional, large landscape-scale conservation.

Below we provide the funding limits and partnership requirements for C-SWG Program and Plan Enhancement Subprogram grants separately. Simplified tables showing the partnership requirements to qualify for the C-SWG Program and Plan Enhancement Subprogram Tiers are available here.

C-SWG Grants: Funding Limits, Tiers, and Partnership Requirements For C-SWG Program grants, the maximum Federal award increases from $250,000 to $1 million per award based on the number of State fish and wildlife agencies actively participating in a project. Partnership requirements of the contiguous, lower 48 States (including the District of Columbia) differ from requirements of Alaska and the island jurisdictions (Hawai'i, Guam, American Samoa, the Commonwealths of the Northern Mariana Islands and Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands). These differing requirements address resource limitations and/or geographic isolation of the island jurisdictions and Alaska.

For C-SWG Program grants, eligibility for the funding Tiers may only be met with documentation that a project partner is an active participant. An active participant is another project partner (not including your own agency or organization) that is requesting and/or matching at least 10 percent of total project costs. Matching resources may be in the form of cash, real or personal property, or staff time that is provided by your agency or organization, or third-party cash or in-kind contributions. Matching resources contributed to meet Tier eligibility requirements must be described in detail, appropriately valued, and documented in a letter signed by an individual with budgetary authority to commit the identified resources. This letter is not required from the Lead Entity (State or Association).

A State fish and wildlife agency active participant is another partnering State fish and wildlife agency (not including your own agency) that is normally eligible to apply for and receive SWG Program funds, in addition to requesting and/or matching at least 10 percent of total project costs. State fish and wildlife agency active participants do not need to share geographic borders to meet the following Tier eligibility requirements.

https://fawiki.fws.gov/display/WSFR/Third-party+In-kind+Contributions https://fawiki.fws.gov/display/WSFRP/State+Wildlife+Grant+Program?preview=%2F26837115%2F287703046%2FCompetitive+SWG+and+Plan+Enhancement+Funding+Tiers+Table.pdf

C-SWG Tier 1 Maximum Federal Award: $250,000 State fish and wildlife agencies of the contiguous States must apply with at least one active participant, which may be any State or non-state entity. Alaska and the island jurisdictions do not need an active participant to apply at this Tier. Associations must apply with at least one State fish and wildlife agency active participant.

C-SWG Tier 2 Maximum Federal Award: $500,000 State fish and wildlife agencies of the contiguous States must apply with at least one other State fish and wildlife agency active participant. Alaska and the island jurisdictions may apply with any active participant, including any State or non-state entity. Associations must apply with at least two State fish and wildlife agency active participants.

C-SWG Tier 3 Maximum Federal Award: $750,000 State fish and wildlife agencies of the contiguous States must apply with at least two other State fish and wildlife agency active participants. Alaska and the island jurisdictions must apply with at least two active participant partners, including any State or non-state entity. Associations must apply with at least three State fish and wildlife agency active participants.

C-SWG Tier 4 Maximum Federal Award: $1,000,000 State fish and wildlife agencies of the contiguous States must apply with at least three other State fish and wildlife agency active participants. Alaska and the island jurisdictions must apply with at least three active participants, including any State or non-state entity. Associations must apply with at least four State fish and wildlife agency active participants.

As applicable, please clearly identify any State fish and wildlife agency active participants(s) and any other active participant(s) so we can verify the maximum award you are eligible to receive under the C-SWG Program. All such partners must be documented in your Project Narrative, budget, and budget narrative along with a brief justification for the Tier under which you are applying.

Plan Enhancement Grants: Funding Limits, Tiers, and Partnership Requirements

For multi-state Enhancement Subprogram grants, you do not need to demonstrate inclusion of an active participant in your application (i.e., your partner(s) is/are not required to receive and/or contribute 10 percent or more of project costs). However, to ensure sufficient communication and coordination in such projects, we require all partnering State fish and wildlife agencies to provide a signed letter indicating that your agency consents to the Lead Entity (another State or an Association) applying for a Plan Enhancement grant on your behalf. The letter must also describe how your State will utilize project results in your next Plan revision or comprehensive review. State fish and wildlife agency active participants do not need to share geographic borders to meet the following Tier eligibility requirements.

Plan Enhancement Tier 1 – Single-State Projects Maximum Federal Award: $150,000 Single State fish and wildlife agencies are eligible to apply. Associations must apply on behalf of at least one State fish and wildlife agency. Partners and active participants are not required but are encouraged.

Plan Enhancement Tier 2 – Multi-State Projects Maximum Federal Award: $300,000 Partnerships of two or more State, Territory, and/or D.C. fish and wildlife agencies are eligible to apply. Associations applying on behalf of two or more State, Territory, and/or D.C. fish and wildlife agencies are eligible to apply. Demonstration of State or non-state active participants (providing and/or receiving 10% of project costs) is not required. Partnering fish and wildlife agencies in these multi-state projects must provide a signed letter indicating that your State consents to the Lead Entity applying for a Plan Enhancement grant on your behalf.