Frequently Asked Questions.Final.docx

Frequently Asked Questions: Prescott Grant Program

The Prescott Grant Program provides financial assistance to eligible marine mammal stranding participants to support all aspects of response (i.e., rescue, retrieval, care, treatment, rehabilitation, and release, as appropriate) to the stranding of certain marine mammals and for related scientific research. Below you will find answers to some frequently asked questions regarding the program.

What marine mammal species are covered under the Service’s Prescott Grant Program?

The Service’s Prescott Grant Program will cover those marine mammal species under the authority of the Department of the Interior (i.e., West Indian manatees, sea otters, Pacific walruses, and polar bears) that typically occur within waters of the United States.

What are the “designated stranding regions” for the Service’s distribution of funds?

The Service has identified four stranding regions for the purpose of this funding program. These are:

South Atlantic-Gulf stranding region for manatees throughout the southeast and parts of the Caribbean (including Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands);

California stranding region for southern sea otters in California;

Pacific Northwest stranding region for northern sea otters along the northern coast of the Pacific Ocean; and Alaska stranding region for polar bears, Pacific walruses, and northern sea otters in Alaska.

What should be included in a Prescott Grant Application?

Detailed guidance on application forms and content requirements is provided in section IV. Application Requirements of this notice of funding opportunity (NOFO). In general, the Application Checklist includes:

· SF-424, Application for Federal Assistance

· SF-424B or 424D, Assurances

· Project Narrative

· SF-424A or 424C, Budget Information

· Budget Narrative

· Indirect Costs: Individuals (when applicable)

· Indirect Costs: Organizations (when applicable)

· Appendices (as applicable)

· Supporting Documentation (as applicable)

· Conflict of Interest Disclosure (when applicable)

· Single Audit Reporting Statement (when applicable)

· Certification Regarding Lobbying (when applicable)

· SF-LLL, Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (when applicable)

· Overlap or Duplication of Effort Statement

Please read the NOFO carefully to ensure that proposals meet eligibility requirements and are complete upon submission. Complete instructions for preparing and submitting proposals are also available through Grants.gov.

Is there a time limit in which a project should be completed?

The project period for awards may be up to 3 years to complete the proposed work, but each award can only be $100,000 in federal funds.

How many proposals can I submit?

Because the Service is announcing funds to cover two grant cycles (i.e., FY19 and FY20) in this NOFO, an applicant may submit one proposal per each Category (i.e., Category A and B) for each fiscal year of funding. However, if you submit an application for the same activities under FY19 and FY20, the period of performance cannot overlap, i.e., the performance of one must end before the performance period of the second begins. In addition, they will both be considered as separate "new" applications and subject to the competitive review process.

How early can I submit my Prescott Grant application? If I submit my application early, will it be reviewed immediately to ensure all the necessary information is included?

Applications can be submitted any time after the NOFO has been published on Grants.gov; however, applications will only be reviewed after the NOFO has been closed. Therefore, applicants should ensure all application requirements are addressed prior to submission. Applicants will be given notice to make any corrections after the initial compliance screening is completed.

Who is eligible to apply for Prescott Grant funding?

Eligible applicants must have appropriate authorization under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) to conduct stranding activities. If the marine mammal is listed under the U.S. Endangered Species Act (ESA), additional authorizations may be required.

Applicants working with stranded distressed marine mammals or conducting scientific research focused on marine mammal health must have authorization under section 104(c) of the MMPA. For take of marine mammals in response to a stranding as described in MMPA section 109(h), an applicant must have designation under section 112(c) of the MMPA. An applicant is also eligible if they are a federal, state, or local government employee operating in the course of their official duties as indicated under MMPA section 109(h).

Applicants working with marine mammals listed under the ESA must also have authorization under section 10(a)(1)(A) (except for polar bears as long as authorization has been provided under the MMPA). State employees, when acting in the course of their official duties, must have appropriate authorization under ESA section 6.

Applicants cannot be a current full-time or part-time employee of the Department of the Interior or the Department of Commerce.

What are indirect costs?

Indirect costs are those associated with overhead costs for the basic operational functions of a facility, organization, or business (e.g., utilities, rent, insurance). If the applicant will be requesting funds for indirect costs they should be included and identified in the budget. Applicants with an approved negotiated indirect cost rate agreement (NICRA) must submit a copy of the signed NICRA with the application package. Applicants that have not previously established an indirect cost rate with a federal agency may choose to use the de minimis indirect cost rate of 10 percent of modified total direct costs (as allowable under 2 C.F.R. §200.414). If an applicant has not previously established an indirect cost rate with a federal agency, the applicant may choose to negotiate a rate with the U.S. Department of the Interior Business Center.

What is the maximum amount of federal funds that can be awarded for any one Prescott grant?

The maximum amount of federal funds that can be awarded for any one grant is $100,000.

Is there a required match for this NOFO?

The applicant must match at least 25 percent in non-federal funding based on the TOTAL project costs, NOT JUST the federal costs being requested.

For example, projects requesting $100,000 in federal funding, would be responsible to $33,334 (25 percent of $133,334) in match.

All funding requests and match amounts must be in whole dollars and may require rounding up to the next whole dollar.

Can in-kind contributions be counted toward the 25 percent non-federal match?

Yes, in-kind contributions may be allowed. The Service will determine the appropriateness of all cost sharing proposals, including the valuation of in-kind contributions, according to the regulations codified at 2 CFR 200.306. An in-kind contribution is a non-cash contribution, donated or loaned, by a third party to the applicant. In general, the value of in-kind services or property to fulfill the cost share requirement will be assessed at fair market value for the services or property provided. Thus, the value is equivalent to the cost for the applicant to obtain such services or property if it had not been donated, or to obtain such services or property for the period of the loan.

What types of "construction costs" can be included in a Prescott Grant proposal?

For the Prescott Grant Program, allowable costs for construction include build-outs, alterations, upgrades, and renovations to facilities. New construction projects will not be considered at this time.

Who can I contact if I have questions concerning any of the marine mammal species that may be covered under this Prescott Grant Program?

The offices to contact for questions specific to the identified species are:

West Indian Manatee – Florida subspecies North Florida Ecological Services Field Office Terri Calleson 904/731-3286 teresa_calleson@fws.gov

West Indian Manatee – Antillean subspecies Caribbean Ecological Services Field Office Jan Paul Zegarra 787/851-7297, ext. 220 jan_zegarra@fws.gov

Southern Sea Otter Ventura Fish and Wildlife Office Lilian Carswell 805/677-3325) lilian_carswell@fws.gov

Northern Sea Otter in Washington State Washington Fish and Wildlife Office Deanna Lynch 360/753-9545) deanna_lynch@fws.gov

Northern Sea Otter in Alaska, Pacific Walrus, and Polar Bear Marine Mammals Management Office Charles Hamilton 907/786-3804 charlies_hamilton@fws.gov