Foa_Content_of_F22AS00398.pdf

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

FWS - International Conservation www.fws.gov/international

MENTOR-Bat Program Fiscal Year: 2022

F22AS00398

Due Date for Applications: 09/09/2022

Table of Contents A. Program Description

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 Authority:

15.664 - Fish and Wildlife Coordination and Assistance

Assistance Listing Number:

15.664 Background, Purpose and Program Requirements:

Background, Purpose and Program Requirements

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s (Service) mission is to work with others to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. The Service’s International Affairs Program delivers on this mission through its financial and technical assistance programs by supporting strategic projects that deliver measurable conservation results for priority species and their habitats around the world. In 2021, the U.S. Congress passed the American Rescue Plan Act in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the corresponding economic crisis. The Act provides funds to the Service to “address wildlife disease outbreaks before they become pandemics” via research and extension activities.

Because bats (Order Chiroptera) have been identified as an international focal taxon for the prevention of disease spillovers and pandemics, the International Affairs Program is focused on the need for greater capacity development to address interactions between bats, people, and the environment. The Service has a strong track record of working closely with national governments, U.S. agencies, and a range of other partners to ensure a strategic, evidence-based approach to capacity development in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. This funding opportunity aligns with the Service’s mission, including the commitment to international cooperation and the conservation of endangered or threatened species in foreign countries as authorized and encouraged by the Endangered Species Act.

Funding Opportunity

MENTOR Model Description:

The Service currently supports multi-year cooperative agreements to develop the capacity of conservationists through the series of USFWS MENTOR Fellowship programs. [See: Abu- Bakarr, I., Bakarr, M., Gelman, N., Johnny, J., Kamanda, P., Killian, D., . . . Wadsworth, R.

(2022). “Capacity and leadership development for wildlife conservation in sub-Saharan Africa:

Assessment of a programme linking training and mentorship.” Oryx, 1-9.

doi:10.1017/S0030605321000855. ] MENTOR programs establish transdisciplinary teams of emerging conservation leaders who work together to problem solve on threats to wildlife, such as the unsustainable commercial bushmeat trade and uncontrolled extractive industry exploitation, as well as species conservation focusing on pangolins, manatees, chimpanzees, and fish. For a given MENTOR program, a lead recipient organization works with the Service to further co-design the program. Teams of eight to ten MENTOR Fellows are identified and assembled to participate in rigorous academic and field-based training that emphasizes technical conservation skills, as well as team building, conflict management, environmental governance, outreach, and https://www.fws.gov/program/mentor-fellowship https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/oryx/article/capacity-and-leadership-development-for-wildlife-conservation-in-subsaharan-africa-assessment-of-a-programme-linking-training-and-mentorship/59BA1816DEB2FBEA064E03E72AF74B57 https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/oryx/article/capacity-and-leadership-development-for-wildlife-conservation-in-subsaharan-africa-assessment-of-a-programme-linking-training-and-mentorship/59BA1816DEB2FBEA064E03E72AF74B57 leadership. Training occurs through a combination of virtual and in-person learning. Fellows learn adaptive management in order to design pilot conservation projects, which they then work as a team to implement in 8-12 months. Fellows work with technical and capacity development Mentors who help them to develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills. At the end of the 18-month program, Fellows earn a post-graduate certificate, diploma, or degree from a national or regional university or college.

As the program has grown, international MENTOR Forums serve an important purpose of bringing together Fellows from the series of MENTOR programs to network and focus on conservation leadership. The first MENTOR Forum, held in 2020 in Sierra Leone, included over 30 participants from the seven USFWS MENTOR programs. The Forum sought to share and evaluate the MENTOR programs implemented across Africa over the last decade. The three-day bilingual meeting provided an opportunity for mentoring, exchanging technical information, sharing approaches to address common threats to wildlife, examining experiences on species conservation, and synthesizing lessons on capacity development initiatives for conservation leadership. Having Fellows from different MENTOR programs meet in-person is critical for forging future collaboration and helping wildlife champions have the support they need to address conservation challenges. Hosting regular MENTOR Forums is a key component of the MENTOR Model.

Using species celebration days, such as World Pangolin Day on the third Saturday each February, have played a key role in the MENTOR programs as they help the general public to recognize and celebrate different animals, but they can also be a time for launching species outreach campaigns and seeking policy changes.

MENTOR Subject Focus:

The Service is soliciting proposals for MENTOR-Bat, a global conservation fellowship program focused on the linkages between the health of bats, people, and the environment. Having co-evolved with a variety of viral pathogens, bats have become reservoir hosts to many pathogens and, therefore, live with the viruses without suffering from the effects of the disease. Disturbance to forest and cave habitats and direct disturbance to bat roosts disrupts this delicate host-pathogen balance, resulting in bats shedding the virus, potentially infecting other animals. Such disturbances may also change the bat hosts’ ranging patterns, resulting in greater contact with humans. For example, in West and Central Africa, the emergence of Ebola virus outbreaks has been associated with areas of elevated forest fragmentation Rulli 2017]. Broadly, the greater the human disturbance of bats and their habitat, the greater the risk of zoonotic disease spillover to humans. The goal of the MENTOR-Bat program is to promote healthy environments where bats and humans coexist with reduced risk of disease transmission.

The proposed MENTOR-Bat program should address the relationships between bats, people, and environmental health that impact the potential for spillover and pandemic interventions such as:

The influence of habitat disturbance on the stress and health of bats and the impact this may have on increasing potential zoonotic disease spillover.

The relationship between the health status of bats and the degree to which they shed viruses and thus pose a zoonotic disease risk.

The role that the consumption and trade of bats plays in the risk of zoonotic disease transmission through direct human contact.

The importance of public attitudes and messaging towards bats in influencing bat persecution, human-bat contact, and opportunities for zoonotic disease transmission.

The impact of education and outreach regarding safer practices and coexistence initiatives on the nature of human-bat interactions and zoonotic disease transmission risk.

How understanding of ecosystem services and economic value provided by bats influences habitat management policy and contributes to public perception of bats.

Priority will be given to projects that address two or more of the following priorities:

Table 1. Bat One Health Priorities.

Bat One Health Priorities Description Example of MENTOR-

Bat Pilot Projects Suggested References

Reducing Bat Persecution

Training and activities to reduce persecution of wild bats, including direct killing and disturbance or destruction of roosts, following disease outbreaks in people.

Using social science to understand drivers of persecution, community engagement, proactive prevention and rapid response toolkits, and field monitoring of persecution and roosts in human-dominated landscapes.

Zhao 2020, IUCN 2015, Olival 2016, Blackwood

Bushmeat and Bat Trade

Training and activities to reduce the trade in live bats, bat bushmeat, and other bat-derived products that may pose a zoonotic disease risk.

CITES policy support and proposed listings, trade in key markets, analysis of bat bushmeat, and Wildmeat.org collaboration.

Sheherazade & Tsang

2015, UN,

WCMC,

JNCC 2021

Communications and Outreach

Training and activities to effectively and accurately communicate about bats, including amplified messaging to mitigate actual health risks, mitigating the risks themselves, testing what messaging works to reduce bat persecution and trade, as well as communications focused on the value of bats to people such as pollination, seed dispersal, insect control, and other ecosystem services.

Communications training, pre/post social science research, audience identification and segmentation, message testing, outreach resources and toolkits, and media engagement.

Lu et al. 2021, Kingston 2016, Lopez- Baucells et al.

Community Engagement

Training and activities including extension and education interventions to increase community capacity to coexist and live safely alongside bats.

Community engagement, education, social science research, and outreach resources and toolkits.

Straka et al.

Wildlife Health

Training and activities that promote healthy bat populations and reduce likelihood of disease spread, including direct disease threats to bats.

Outreach on best practices near roosts, surveillance, and rapid response toolkits.

Frick et al.

Habitat Restoration and Protection

Training and activities that reduce degradation and boost restoration of bat habitat, including protection of caves and roosts in urban landscapes.

Restoration efforts, land protection and policy, and cave/roost conservation.

IPBES 2020

Ecosystem Services

Analyses and outreach that advance understanding of bat ecosystem services and communicate to the public.

Economic assessments, infographics, and outreach toolkits.

Kunz et al.

This program goal is aligned with the program’s legislative authorities and requires a series of short- and medium-term conservation results to which the project is expected to contribute. In the short-term, the MENTOR-Bat program will advance the capacity of early career professionals to become leaders on bat conservation in foreign countries. These leaders will work together as a team to dispel misinformation related to bats and their role in disease transmission;

improve informational resources for local health practitioners; and amplify messaging linking the health of bats, people, and the essential ecosystem services and economic benefits that healthy bat populations provide for the environment and overall human well-being. By developing applied conservation pilot projects and participating in a global network of conservation champions, MENTOR-Bat Fellows will contribute to the enabling conditions needed to both reduce negative bat-human interactions and address wildlife disease outbreaks before they become pandemics.

Achievement of short-term results is expected to help catalyze bat conservation and environmental health priorities over the next two decades, including a reduction in bat persecution, a significant reduction of bats in the national and international bushmeat trade, and an increase in the capacity of communities to live safely alongside bats. These priorities (see table above) and associated medium-term outcomes are not expected to be fully achieved or monitored by the recipient during the award’s period of performance. The applicant, however, should select two or more of these priorities as thematic foci of the Fellowship program’s activities and capacity development. By establishing durable conservation capacity in foreign countries through the creation of new champions of bat conservation, locally and nationally driven problem-solving is expected to be more effective than externally driven approaches alone.

Program Co-Design:

As a result of past efforts and evaluations related to the Service’s and other conservation fellowship programs, the following measurable objectives, indicators, and expected outputs were established. Applicants are encouraged to tailor their proposal with these and additional measurable objectives, indicators, and outputs that contribute to the overall goal and advance the medium-term results identified in the previous section. The Service will work with the recipient of the award to further refine goals and objectives through a co-design process. As part of co-design, the Service will work with the selected applicant to determine the final geographic representation of the team of Fellows, the selection criteria for the Fellows including their academic and work experience, as well as the choice of Mentors and Lecturers, topics to be covered in the curriculum, and all other aspects of the MENTOR-Bat program. The applicant should be aware that the design is likely to change from the initial proposal to the implementation phases of the MENTOR-Bat program.

Table 2. Objectives, Indicators, and Expected Outputs.

Objective Indicator

Obj.

By 12 months after the date of award, all available MENTOR-Bat Fellowship participant slots are filled with transdisciplinary candidates who demonstrate a high potential for a durable and impactful conservation career.

# and % of slots filled with candidates scoring high on evaluation rubric 12 months after the date of award

Obj.

By the end of the program, a successful academic and field-based training and mentoring program has been delivered to the MENTOR-Bat Fellows.

# of Fellows completing the MENTOR-Bat program and ranking the program as successful in terms of their reaction, their learning, and the new bat conservation and One Health networks developed. Copies of the curriculum and lists compiled of Lecturers and Mentors who taught

Obj. By the end of the Fellowship, all % change in competencies over Fellowship

3 MENTOR-Bat Fellows have gained essential skills and meaningful experiences to advance national and local conservation objectives as leaders of bat conservation.

# and % Fellows identifying as leaders within their countries on bat conservation issues

Obj.

By three months after the end of the Fellowship, at least 90% of MENTOR Fellows are active in their conservation communities and applying training.

# and % Fellows active in conservation community and applying their training three months after the end of the Fellowship

Expected Outputs: (1) Team pilot projects, including theories of change for how planned interventions contribute to MENTOR-Bat goal. (2) Outreach coordination with the Service for International Bat Appreciation Day on April 17 and/or International Bat Week in October for duration of the award. (3) Global network of bat conservation leaders. (4) International MENTOR Forum on conservation leadership hosted for past and present MENTOR Fellows.

Following the review and selection of the proposal, the Service will be substantially involved in the co-development of the evaluation rubric for candidate selection, candidate recruitment, and identifying the competencies considered necessary to advance national and local bat conservation priorities (see section B5 below). Ideally, Fellowship candidates should be recruited at a critical point in which investment in their capacity can change the trajectory of their conservation careers, as opposed to candidates who have not yet demonstrated potential or, conversely, candidates who are already well established in career positions. Post-fellowship, and as resources allow, the Service will monitor an additional objective related to positive changes in Fellows’ career trajectory and any accomplishments that stem from the Fellowship program.

Geographic Priorities:

Priority will be given to projects that will recruit Fellows from multiple foreign countries where bats are significantly threatened and show high species richness and abundance, and where a high probability of bat-to-human zoonotic disease spillover exists and has led to disease outbreaks in the past. Ideally, a team of about 12 international MENTOR-Bat Fellows will include representation from Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Priority regions for bat conservation and One Health include West, Central and East Africa; Southeast Asia; northern South America; Central America, and Mexico. While projects including countries in these regions may be given preference, proposing to include Fellows and organizations with suitable bat expertise from other countries around the world will also be considered with justification. As part of the co-design process, the Service will work with the recipient on the final selection of countries involved in MENTOR-Bat.

Funding Mechanism:

This solicitation involves submitting a proposal for a MENTOR-Bat Fellowship Program that highlights the applicant’s expertise on bat conservation, their global networks, their experience in organizing training programs and developing capacity, and their interest in working with the Service to apply the USFWS MENTOR Model to develop MENTOR-Bat, an international team of early career conservationists who will work towards the goal of promoting healthy environments where bats and humans coexist with reduced risk of disease transmission.

The proposal should be up to ten pages. Letters of support from government agencies and other partners and curricula vitae of key personnel do not count toward the ten-page limit. These may be included as support for the applicant’s capacity to implement proposed activities effectively and to demonstrate a history of coordinating with partners on international bat conservation. The proposal, written in English, must address:

Objectives and activities of the proposed MENTOR-Bat program Geographic areas in Africa, Asia, and Latin America that will be included in MENTOR-

Bat Proposed composition of the team of MENTOR-Bat Fellows in terms of what disciplines and work experiences will they come from Key topics covered in proposed MENTOR-Bat curriculum How the proposed MENTOR-Bat program will address Bat One Health priorities How the linkages between spillover and pandemic interventions are considered The role that effective communication on scientifically sound information about bats and their degree of association with zoonotic disease will be integrated into the project Plans to use International Bat Appreciation Day and/or International Bat Week to raise awareness on bat conservation and One Health Description of the recipient’s capacity to lead the program, including proposed staffing and partners that will be engaged (e.g., proposed MENTOR-Bat Coordinator, Program Staff, Mentors, Lecturers, and what local, national, and regional NGOs, universities and networks might be involved -if current staff is not yet in place, please identify the core roles and capacities that would be recruited)

Plans for the international MENTOR Forum.

From the submitted proposals, one applicant will be selected based on the criteria described below to work together with the Service to update the proposal for a cooperative agreement.

Through the co-design process, the specific elements of bat conservation and One Health will be determined. The final version of the cooperative agreement will apply the USFWS MENTOR Model and plan for the international MENTOR Forum.

The proposal will include all the items in the Application Checklist. It will be submitted through GrantSolutions.gov

Schedule and Submission:

One applicant will be selected to work with the Service to co-design the cooperative agreement.

Unsuccessful applicants will be notified before 180 days.

B. Federal Award Information B1. Total Funding Estimated Total Funding $1,000,000

This funding opportunity will solicit a single award with an expected period of performance of two to three years and a range of $300,000 to $500,000 USD/per year.

B2. Expected Award Amount Maximum Award $1,000,000 Minimum Award $800,000

B3. Expected Award Funding and Anticipated Dates Expected Award Funding $1,000,000 Expected Award Date November 25, 2022

B4. Number of Awards Expected Number of Awards This funding opportunity will solicit a single award with an expected period of performance of two to three years and a range of $300,000 to $500,000 USD/per year.

B5. Type of Award Funding Instrument Type CA - Cooperative Agreement This cooperative agreement requires substantial involvement by the Service during the program design and implementation of this award to ensure the achievement of the program objectives.

Service involvement will include to:

work with the selected applicant on the co-design of the MENTOR-Bat program engage with the grantee to apply the USFWS MENTOR Model for developing a transdisciplinary team of early career conservationists who collaborate and develop networks to address threats to wildlife help select and approve project staff, if not already determined spend first six months after award helping the grantee to design Fellow and Mentor criteria for selection, refine the geographic scope for the program, determine bat and one health priorities, work on monitoring and evaluation, and discuss potential pilot team project ideas meet regularly with grantee on program design and implementation, including monthly phone calls co-develop evaluation rubric for Fellow selection and monitoring schedule participate in selection of Fellows, Mentors, and Lecturers identify the competencies considered necessary to advance national and local bat conservation priorities work with the recipient to design the MENTOR-Bat curriculum conduct virtual and in-person teaching to the MENTOR-Bat Fellows in disciplines where

Service staff have specific relevant expertise facilitate training on adaptive management, conservation planning, and design of pilot projects by the Fellows train Fellows on conservation problem solving and conservation leadership plan outreach coordination for International Bat Appreciation Day on April 17 and/or

International Bat Week in October provide input into the goals and planning of the international MENTOR Forum.

C. Eligibility Information C1. Eligible Applicants Eligible Applicants 25 – Others (see text field entitled “Additional Information on Eligibility” for clarification) Additional Information on Eligibility Applicants can be individuals; multi-national secretariats; foreign national and local government agencies; non-profit non-governmental organizations; for-profit organizations; public and private institutions of higher education; and U.S. territorial governments.

C2. Cost Sharing or Matching Cost Sharing / Matching Requirement No Percentage of Cost Sharing / Matching Requirement Cost sharing is the portion of program costs not borne by the Service. Under this program, cost share is not required, but may be committed on a voluntary basis (Voluntary Committed Cost Share). Voluntary Committed Cost Share (See 2 CFR 200.1). If cost share is included, it should be necessary and reasonable to accomplish project objectives, and allowable in accordance with 2 CFR 200 Subpart E—Cost Principles.

Applicants may consider all types of cost sharing, including in-kind and public-private partnerships. Examples include the use of office space owned by other entities; donated or borrowed supplies and equipment; (non-federal) sponsored travel costs; waived indirect costs;

and program activities, translations, or consultations conducted by qualified volunteers. Assign a monetary value in U.S. dollars to each in-kind contribution. The values of offered cost-share should be included in the detailed budget and explanations of contributions should be included in https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=38753b18f54182883b86b0bb0eede07b&mc=true&node=pt2.1.200&rgn=div5#se2.1.200_11 https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=38753b18f54182883b86b0bb0eede07b&mc=true&node=pt2.1.200&rgn=div5#sp2.1.200.e the Budget Narrative whether cash or in-kind.

If the proposed project is a component of a larger program, identify other funding sources and the specific funding amount to be provided by those sources in the Budget Narrative. In addition, it is recommended that the Budget Narrative address the overall cost-effectiveness of the proposal, including leveraging institutional or other resources.

Funds provided by another U.S. Federal Government agency or another Service award cannot be reported as cost share but contributions should be noted and explained in detail in the Budget Narrative.

If cost share is included in the budget, written records must be maintained to support all allowable costs that are claimed as its contribution to cost share, as well as costs to be paid by the Federal government. Such records are subject to audit.

C3. Other Foreign Entities or Projects:

State Sponsors of Terrorism: This program will not fund projects in countries determined by the U.S. Department of State to have repeatedly provided support for acts of international terrorism and therefore are subject to sanctions restricting receipt of U.S. foreign assistance and other financial transactions.

Office of Foreign Assets Control Sanctions: This program will not fund projects in countries subject to comprehensive sanction programs administered by the U.S. Department of Treasury, Office of Foreign Asset Control without proper licenses.

In-Country Licenses, Permits, or Approvals: Entities conducting activities outside the U.S.

are responsible for coordinating with appropriate U.S. and foreign government authorities as necessary to obtain all required licenses, permits, or approvals before undertaking project activities. The Service does not assume responsibility for recipient compliance with the laws, regulations, policies, or procedures of the foreign country in which they are conducting work.

Excluded Parties:

The DOI conducts a review of the SAM.gov Exclusions database for all applicant entities and their key project personnel prior to award. The DOI cannot award funds to entities or their key project personnel identified in the SAM.gov Exclusions database as ineligible, prohibited/restricted or otherwise excluded from receiving Federal contracts, certain subcontracts, and certain Federal assistance and benefits, as their ineligibility condition applies to this Federal program.

D. Application and Submission Information https://www.state.gov/j/ct/list/c14151.htm https://www.state.gov/j/ct/list/c14151.htm https://www.state.gov/j/ct/list/c14151.htm http://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/sanctions/Pages/default.aspx http://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/sanctions/Pages/default.aspx

D1. Address to Request Application Package This funding opportunity contains everything needed to apply. To request paper copies of materials, please contact wwb_africa@fws.gov

Program Website Link www.fws.gov/international

D2. Content and Form of Application Submission SF-424, Application for Federal Assistance

All applicants must submit the Standard Form (SF)-424, Application for Federal Assistance. This form is available with the announcement on Grants.gov and in GrantSolutions. The form must be complete and signed by an Authorized Representative. For all applicants except individuals and commercial entities, the Authorized Representative’s signature on a standard application form submitted to the Service represents their certification that the entity’s financial management system meets 2 CFR §200.302 financial management requirements. The non-Federal entity’s financial management system must be sufficient to:

1. Permit the preparation of required reports;

2. Trace funds to a level of expenditures adequate to establish that the entity has used such funds per Federal statutes, regulations, and terms and conditions of the Federal award;

3. Provide for the requirements in 2 CFR §200.302(b); and

4. Comply with §200.334 Retention requirements for records, §200.335 Requests for transfer of records, §200.336 Methods for collection, transmission, and storage of information, and §200.337 Access to records.

If this application requests more than $100,000 in Federal funds, the Authorized Representative’s signature on or submission of the SF-424 form in GrantSolutions also represents their certification of the statements in 43 CFR Part 18, Appendix A-Certification Regarding Lobbying.

When completing the SF-424 Application form, enter only the amount requested from this Federal program in Box 18a, Estimated Federal Funding. Include any other Federal sources of funding in Box 18e. Estimated Other Funding and identify any such sources and amounts in the required Budget Narrative (see below). For individuals applying as a private citizen (i.e., unrelated to any business or nonprofit organization you may own or operate in your name), do NOT include your Social Security Number on this or any other document to be submitted with your application! When completing the SF-424 Application form, individuals must enter in Box 8b. Employee/Taxpayer Identification Number (EIN/TIN) the substitute number “444-44- 4444.” Individuals may register in SAM.gov but are not required to have a SAM.gov registration. For individuals without a SAM.gov registration enter in Box 8c. the substitute Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) “KA5HQCLKUVW1 “

Project Abstract Summary (OMB Number 4040-0019) Applicants must complete and submit the Project Abstract Summary form. The Project Abstract Summary form must provide a brief award description. The description must be in plain language that the public can understand without viewing the full application proposal. It should include a brief, simple description of the project purpose, activities to be performed, deliverables mailto:africa@fws.gov https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200/subpart-D/section-200.302 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200/subpart-D/section-200.302 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200/subpart-D/subject-group-ECFR4acc10e7e3b676f/section-200.334 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200/subpart-D/subject-group-ECFR4acc10e7e3b676f/section-200.335 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200/subpart-D/subject-group-ECFR4acc10e7e3b676f/section-200.336 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200/subpart-D/subject-group-ECFR4acc10e7e3b676f/section-200.337 and expected outcomes, intended beneficiaries, and subrecipient activities, if known at the time of submission.

Do not include personally identifiable, sensitive, or proprietary information in the award description as this is available to the public. Use only English characters, numbers, punctuation, and standard symbols. Use of non-English, non-standard characters (also referred to as special or extended ASCII characters) will result in the award description failing to be reported correctly to USASpending.gov. Award descriptions are limited to 4,000 characters or less. Applicants should check the length of the award description and proofread for proper grammar and spelling.

For applicants applying through Grants.gov: Applicants must download and complete the Grants.gov “Project Abstract Summary” form from the full text announcement. To submit the Grants.gov “Project Abstract Summary” form with the application, applicants must add the form as an attachment to the Grants.gov “Attachments” form that is included in the application package.

For applicants applying through GrantSolutions-Grants Management Module (GS- GMM): Applicants must enter the information in the Project Abstract Summary screen. Do not upload a document in place of entering the information directly into GS-GMM Project Abstract Screen.

Project Narrative Project Narrative for Proposals Please note: Project narratives should be ten pages or less. Pages should be numbered. Project summary, figures, tables, maps, curriculum vitae, and required standard forms do not count toward the ten-page limit.

1. Project Title: Provide a basic description of the project in the title. If this is a continuation of an earlier funded proposal, use the same title and include the appropriate number to denote that this is a subsequent proposal. Please note: This title will be the reference archived and communicated in all future documents.

2. Statement of Need: This section should answer the question, “Why is this project necessary?”

Clearly identify the wildlife, habitat or biodiversity targeted for conservation (including any existing estimates of population size, geographic range, or extent where relevant); a description of the direct threats that affect the targeted species at the project site; and the specific threats that the project will address. This section should describe how the proposed activities are expected to lead to desired conservation outcomes, such as the reduction of direct threats or improvement of the status of species and habitats. Summarize previous or on-going efforts (of you/your organization, and other organizations or individuals) that are relevant to the proposed work, including how the proposal differs from past work, or builds upon it, including how the applicant plans to expand upon the successes, failures, and lessons learned from past efforts.

If you have received funding previously from the Service for this specific project work or site, provide a summary of the funding, associated activities, products, outcomes and associated measurable conservation results. A table may be the most efficient way to convey this information: including columns for donor, reference number, amount funded, year of activity, and bullet points of major activities, outcomes, products and associated measurable conservation results. Projects with funding from any other government source or eligible for any other government source should add a section describing the activities supported and the added value of Service support. Please note how the proposal differs or builds upon funding available from other major donors. Former recipients of Service support should note that every proposal is expected to be a stand-alone document. Not all proposal reviewers may be familiar with past grants and a summary of activities and accomplishments helps all reviewers to better understand the proposal in context.

3. Project Goals, Objectives, Activities and Methods: This section should answer the question, “What do you want to achieve and how are you going to do it?” State the long-term goals of what your project aims to achieve. Objectives are the specific steps that you will take to reach your stated goals. Your objectives must be attainable within the project period and should be specific, measurable, and realistic. 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 to make a clear connection between the activities and the proposed project costs. Provide a detailed description of the method(s) used to carry out each activity.

The following format is recommended:

GOAL:

Objective 1.

Activity 1.1 Activity 1.2 Objective 2.

Activity 2.1 Objective 3.

Activity 3.1 Activity 3.2 Activity 3.3 Consider including activities that meet one or more of the following conditions:

a. Activities that clearly address the specific direct threats describe in the above section titled: Statement of Need;

b. Activities that are feasible and likely to be successfully implemented as stated;

c. Activities that apply the best scientific and/or technical information and methods available;

d. Activities that include the participation of local partners in project activities, including meaningful involvement of government, community or civil society stakeholders; and

e. Activities resulting in benefits continuing beyond the period of performance of the project.

4. Project Timetable: This section should answer the question, “Over what time period will project activities be implemented? 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.

5. Stakeholder Coordination/Involvement: This section should answer the question, “Who is impacted by this project and how will they be incorporated into the project?” As applicable, describe how you/your organization has coordinated with and involved other relevant organizations, local community groups 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. Please describe any previous work with these stakeholders and how working with them relates to the specific threats and target audiences. Where multiple groups are working in the same site or are listed as stakeholders in the proposal, letters of endorsement specifically referring to this proposal and to the proposed collaboration from each partner organization will strengthen your proposal and may be requested by reviewers.

6. Project Monitoring and Evaluation: This section should answer the question, “How will you evaluate the progress and success of this project?” Detail the monitoring and evaluation plan for the project considering the Objectives and Indicators described in Section A2. 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). Note that outputs (or products) should generally NOT be used as indicators, including Service performance reports. Indicators should reflect a change in capacity, human behavior, threat, or status of the target species. If the current status of the indicator is known, and the applicant identifies the indicator’s desired status or qualitative condition, providing this information will strengthen the proposal.

The Service values projects that report both the success and failures of efforts as a means by which an applicant can improve their performance and provide lesson learned to improve our efforts to conserve wildlife.

7. Description of Entities Undertaking the Project: This section should answer the question, “Who will carry out the project and what are their specific qualifications?” Provide a brief description of the applicant organization and all participating entities and/or individuals. Where relevant, refer to any institutional codes of conduct or safeguarding policies the institution organization has in place to demonstrate capacity to implement the proposed project in accordance with relevant laws and best practices. Identify which of the proposed activities each agency, organization, group, or individual is responsible for conducting or managing. On the SF- 424, Application for Federal Assistance, provide complete contact information for the individual within the organization that will oversee/manage the project activities on a day-to-day basis. If eligibility for funding is based completely or in part on the qualifications of key personnel, provide brief (1-page) curricula vitae for key personnel, identifying their qualifications to meet the project objectives. To prevent unnecessary transmission of Personally Identifiable Information, DO NOT include Social Security numbers, the names of family members, or any other personal or sensitive information including marital status, religion or physical characteristics on the description of key personnel qualifications.

8. Sustainability: This section should answer the question, “What is your long-term plan for this project beyond the Service funding period?” 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.

Objective Indicator (i.e., what you will measure to track your progress toward achieving the objective)

Monitoring Method (i.e., how you will measure the indicator)

Current Status (if known)

Desired Status

9. Literature Cited: (if applicable) include as an addendum and not within the text of the proposal.

10. Map of Project Area: This section should answer the question, “Where is the project located?” The map should clearly delineate the project area and be large enough to be legible.

Label any sites referenced in the project narrative.

11. Government Letter of Endorsement: For projects implemented outside the United States, non-governmental applicants should include a recent letter of support (no older than two years) from the appropriate local, regional, or national government wildlife or conservation authority.

Where appropriate, letters of support from impacted local communities or project beneficiaries should be provided. Endorsement letters should be in English and make specific reference to the project by its title as submitted on the applicant’s proposal and be addressed to the US Fish and Wildlife Service International Affairs or Africa Program is also acceptable. If the letter is not in English, please provide an English translation. Letters addressed to another entity will not be accepted.

Budget Narrative Applicants must include a budget narrative that describes and justifies requested budget items and costs. In your budget narrative, describe how the SF-424 Budget Information, “Object Class Category” totals were determined. For personnel salary costs, generally describe how estimates were determined by identifying what type of staff will support the project and how much time they will contribute to the project (in hours or workdays). Describe any proposed items of cost that require prior approval under the Federal award cost principles, including any anticipated subawarding, transferring, or contracting out of any work under the award. If equipment previously purchased with Federal funds is available for the project, provide a list of that equipment and identify the Federal funding source. Identify any third-party cash or in-kind contributions that a partner or other entity will contribute to the project and describe how the contributions directly and substantively benefit completion of the project. For in-kind contributions, identify the source, the amount, and the valuation methodology used to determine the total value. See 2 CFR §200.306 for more information.

Budget Narrative Applicants must include a budget narrative that describes and justifies requested budget items and costs. Every budget line included in the Budget Table should be explained in the Budget Narrative. In your budget narrative, describe how the SF-424 Budget Information, “Object Class Category” totals were determined. For personnel salary costs, generally describe how estimates were determined by identifying what type of staff will support the project and how much time they will contribute to the project (in hours or workdays). Describe any proposed items of cost that require prior approval under the Federal award cost principles, including any anticipated subawarding, transferring, or contracting out of any work under the award. If equipment previously purchased with Federal funds is available for the project, provide a list of that equipment and identify the Federal funding source. Identify any third-party cash or in-kind contributions that a partner or other entity will contribute to the project and describe how the contributions directly and substantively benefit completion of the project. For in-kind contributions, identify the source, the amount, and the valuation methodology used to determine the total value. See 2 CFR §200.306 for more information.

https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200#200.407 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200#200.407 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200#subpart-E 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#200.407 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200#subpart-E https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200/subpart-D/section-200.306

Applicants must include an itemized Budget Table following the example shown in the attachment titled BUDGET TABLE EXAMPLE NOFO. If your Budget Table requires more than one page, verify that the column headings and row titles appear on all pages. For multi-year or multi-phase projects, please include a separate budget table and narrative for each year/phase with subtotals.

The itemized budget should provide enough information for reviewers to be able to understand the cost basis and calculation at a glance. For example, a $3,300 charge for lodging should include the formula for how the cost was calculated: Lodging for 20 nights x 11 people x $15/night = $3,300. For personnel salary costs, include the baseline salary figures and the estimates of time.

For any salaries, staff time, or contractors for which Service funds are requested, the person should be identified, and their qualifications described in the Project Narrative (Description of Entities Undertaking the Project). For any training, a description of the training should be included in the Methods section. For any meetings, a description of participants, a draft agenda, and desired outputs should be provided.

Expenses listed as “Miscellaneous” or “etc.” are unallowable. Unless conditions listed under

200.433 Contingency provisions are applicable, “contingencies” are unallowable. Expenses listed as “Other” must be clearly identified and described in the Budget Narrative.

Applicants should be aware of and comply with the requirements of 200.216 Prohibition on certain telecommunications and video surveillance services or equipment.

All budget items listed (as shown in the example table) will compose the direct costs. Indirect cost rate (e.g., for organizational overhead) depends on whether the submitting organization has, or plans to apply for, a negotiated indirect cost rate agreement (NICRA). Without a NICRA the organization can claim up to a 10% de minimis rate. To calculate indirect costs with de minimis, you must first calculate modified total direct costs (MTDC) and then multiply that by 10%. For example, if a project proposed $450,000 in direct costs, the MTDC would be the total remaining after items listed as ‘excluded’ are subtracted. If $2,000 was subtracted for workshop participant costs and $40,000 for student tuition, the MTDC would be $408,000. The indirect costs would then be $408,000 multiplied by 10%, i.e. $40,800. And the total award amount would then be $490,800.

Modified Total Direct Cost (MTDC): all direct salaries and wages, applicable fringe benefits, materials and supplies, services, travel, and up to the first $25,000 of each subaward (regardless of the period of performance of the subawards under the award). MTDC excludes equipment, capital expenditures, charges for patient care, rental costs, tuition remission, scholarships and fellowships, participant support costs, and the portion of each subaward in excess of $25,000.

Other items may only be excluded when necessary to avoid a serious inequity in the distribution of indirect costs, and with the approval of the cognizant agency for indirect costs.

Identify any cash or in-kind contributions that a partner or other entity will contribute to the project and describe how the contributions directly and substantively benefit completion of the project. For in-kind contributions, include the source, the amount, and the valuation methodology https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=38753b18f54182883b86b0bb0eede07b&mc=true&node=pt2.1.200&rgn=div5#se2.1.200_1433 https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=38753b18f54182883b86b0bb0eede07b&mc=true&node=pt2.1.200&rgn=div5#se2.1.200_1216 https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=38753b18f54182883b86b0bb0eede07b&mc=true&node=pt2.1.200&rgn=div5#se2.1.200_1216 used to determine the total value. See 2 CFR 200.306 “Cost sharing or matching” for more information.

Equipment: Equipment is defined as an item with a per-unit cost of $5,000 or more and a service life of more than one year. If the item meets these criteria, all federal procurement policies and procedures must be followed.