fy 13 ppplcc.docx

Plains and Prairie Potholes Landscape Conservation Cooperative

FY 2013

Notice of Availability for Federal Assistance and Application Instructions

Program Overview Information

Federal Agency Name:

Department of the Interior U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Plains and Prairie Potholes Landscape Conservation Cooperative

Announcement Type:

Notice of Funding Availability for FY 2013.

Funding Opportunity Title: Plains and Prairie Potholes Landscape Conservation Cooperative

Funding Opportunity Number: PPP-LCC-2013-R3

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 15.650

Dates: Grant application packages are due to no later than November 30, 2012.

Background The Plains and Prairie Potholes Landscape Conservation Cooperative (LCC) is seeking project ideas for potential funding in 2013. While the total available funding for 2013 is somewhat uncertain at this time, the Cooperative may have up to $500,000 dollars to distribute for projects in 2013 and decisions will be made by the end of March to distribute available funds. Individual projects in past funding cycles have ranged from $10,000 to $500,000.

The Plains and Prairie Potholes LCC is responsible for identifying, prioritizing, and supporting projects that will address the scientific uncertainties and needs that can inform better conservation. Climate change, shifts in land-use, urban expansion, agricultural changes, are all contributing stressors affecting the plains and prairie potholes landscape.

Research requirements The Plains and Prairie Potholes LCC has identified two distinct areas of research this year that will better inform on-the-ground conservation decision-making and delivery for natural resources managers. These projects should account for sources of uncertainty about system dynamics that may affect management decisions. Projects under consideration for 2013 funding must address one or both of the following science needs:

· Information related to land use, land use policy and factors influencing land use and land conversion. This includes gathering information on factors that influence land owner decision-making that will help the partnership improve and/or incentivize conservation.

To best utilize funding, proposals should address scientific issues of importance to multiple LCC partners, address research questions quickly (within a year if possible), avoid long-term monitoring needs, and produce publishable and usable results. The LCC discourages duplication of existing research efforts. Applicants must demonstrate collaboration, discussion and development of their project with LCC partners. The following questions must be addressed in the proposal:

1. Why is this work important to LCC partners?

2. How are you going to accomplish what you propose to do?

3. How do you propose to deliver your products to the LCC?

4. Which partners are invested in this effort and how?

5. How do you propose your research findings inform conservation management?

Communications Plan Successful project proposals will be required to develop a full communications plan. Initial applications should, at a minimum, identify target audiences and delivery methods that supplement published research findings.

Projects may be one year or more in duration, however, deliverables should be clearly identified for each year, and subsequent years' funding is not guaranteed. Project applicants should outline how the results of their project will be shared across the LCC partnership.

Application and Submission Instructions

Project applicants must address one or more of the science needs identified above. The application may not be longer than three pages. Reviewers will not read additional material that is provided. Each proposal must also be accompanied by curriculum vitae for each principal investigator (no more than two pages) and a budget sheet for the project (no more than one page).

A. A complete grant application package needs to include the following:

1. SF 424 Application for Federal Assistance – signed by an authorized representative of the agency.

2. One of the following depending on the type of project conducted:

a. SF 424B Standard Assurances – Non-Construction Projects; or

b. SF 424D Standard Assurances – Construction Projects.

3. Project Narrative that identifies and describes:

a. The need for the proposed project(s);

b. Discrete, quantifiable, and verifiable objectives to be accomplished during a specific time period;

c. Expected results or benefits from accomplishing the objectives;

d. The approach to be used in meeting the objectives, including specific procedures, schedules, key personnel, and cooperators;

e. Description of the activity, so staff are able to determine compliance with National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), Section 7 of Endangered Species Act (ESA), and Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA); and

f. Project location – Maps or other geographic aids may be attached.

4. Budget Narrative:

a. Estimated costs to attain the objectives – The various activities or components of each project should be broken down by cost and by cooperator;

b. In-Kind Match – Include the source, the amount, and the valuation methodology used to arrive at the total; and

c. Program Income, if any – Include the source, amount, and the requested method of crediting the program income (i.e. deductive or additive).

5. Optional Supplemental Forms can include:

a. SF 424A Budget Information – Non-Construction Projects; or

b. SF 424C Budget Information – Construction Projects.

B. Submission Dates and Times:

Grant application packages are due to no later than November 30, 2012.

C. Submit applications either electronically or by mail:

1. Electronic Submission Instructions:

a. Go to www.grants.gov

b. Click the “Apply for Grants” tab and read the instructions provided by grants.gov.

c. The following are items that need to be done before a grant application package can be submitted electronically through grants.gov:

i. Applicants must register as an Authorized Organization Representative (AOR) and have a user id and password. The applicant can register on the web at http://www.grants.gov/applicants/get_registered.jsp;

ii. Applicants must have Adobe Acrobat Reader to view files on the web. You can download Adobe Acrobat Reader at http://www07.grants.gov/help/download_software.jsp#adobe811.

d. Standard forms such as SF 424, SF 424A, SF 424B, SF 424 C, and SF 424D are fillable forms on grants.gov. The project narrative and budget narrative must be attachments in the following formats: MS Word, Adobe PDF, or MS Excel.

e. All forms and attachments mentioned above must be submitted with the grant application package.

2. Instruction on submitting applications by mail:

a. Applicants can obtain forms, in PDF fillable/printable formats, from the WSFR Toolkit at http://wsfrprograms.fws.gov/Subpages/ToolkitFiles/toolkit.pdf.

b. The completed grant application package must be mailed to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Regional Offices:

Project Selection Schedule

The LCC technical team will review project applications in December/January 2013. Final selection of successful projects will be made by the LCC steering committee in March 2013. Awards will be announced soon thereafter. Contracts for this funding will likely not be finalized before February 2013.

Award Administration Information

A. Award Notices:

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Regional Director or his/her designee approves or disapproves grant proposals. Regional Offices are responsible for notification of grant approval to the applicant.

B. Administrative and National Policy Requirements:

1. Compliance with environmental laws such as the ESA, NEPA, and NHPA must be satisfied before the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service can approve a grant proposal.

1. On June 27, 2003, the Office of Management and Budget published a Federal Register notice (68 FR 38402) that announced its final policy on the use of a universal identifier by financial assistance applicants. The policy requires applicants applying for Federal grants or cooperative agreements to obtain a Data Universal Number System (DUNS) number. All organizations must obtain a DUNS number, a unique identifying number, before applying for Federal funds. Only private individual landowners are exempted. Organizations can receive a DUNS number at no cost by calling the DUNS number request line at 1-866-706-5711 or on-line at http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform.

1. Grantees need an active registration in the Central Contractor Registry (CCR). If you are receiving funds as an individual not operating as a business or a foreign entity not already registered and applying for or receiving an award for less than $25,000 for activities to be performed outside the United States, you are not required to register in CCR. You can register in CCR or obtain additional CCR information online at https://www.bpn.gov/ccr/default.aspx.

1. Grantees must complete and submit an Automated Standard Application for Payments (ASAP) system Participation Form. You can find the form at www.fws.gov. If you have an existing account with another Federal agency, please indicate your ASAP ID on the form. You will receive further instructions as soon as we initiate your ASAP enrollment.

1. Acceptance of a Federal Financial Assistance awards from the Department of the Interior carries with it the responsibility to be aware of and comply with the terms and conditions of the grant award. For more information on the Standard Award Terms and Conditions see: http://www.doi.gov/pam/TermsandConditions.html

C. Reporting:

A. Financial and Performance reporting requirements are specified in 43 CFR 12.80 and 12.81 and in the Interim Guidance for Financial Status and Performance Reporting, dated May 15, 2009; and B. Retention and access requirements for records are specified in 43 CFR 12.82. Regulations and guidelines follow 50 CFR 80 and the WSFR toolkit.

Questions

For questions regarding this request for proposals, contact Mike Olson at 701-355-8545 or Rick Nelson at 701-355-8509. LCC staff will host two conference calls on Monday November, 19 at 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. (central time) to discuss the proposal process and any specific concerns applicants may have. The call in numbers: Toll free @ 1-877-282-9259 Passcode: 1978254. Toll number @ 1-517-345-0375 Passcode: 1978254. For more information visit http://www.fws.gov/home/climatechange/ and http://www.plainsandprairiepotholeslcc.org/

Other Information

The Federal government is not bound to financially support any project until an official U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service financial officer has signed off on the grant award.