FY15 SFR NOFA R5.docx

Sport Fish Restoration Grant Program

Fiscal Year 2015 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 Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program (WSFR)

Funding Opportunity Title:

Sport Fish Restoration Grant Program – REGION 5

Announcement Type:

Notice of availability of grants for fiscal year (FY) 2015 and request for applications (RFA)

Funding Opportunity Number: F15AS00028

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 15.605

Dates: Grant application packages are due to your Regional WSFR Office (see Section IV, Agency Contacts) no later than August 31, 2016.

Background:

The Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration Act of 1950 (Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish Restoration Act), 64 Stat. 430 as amended; 16 U.S.C. 777-777m, was passed on August 9, 1950. It was modeled after the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act to create a parallel program for management conservation, and restoration of fishery resources. The Sport Fish Restoration Grant Program (SFR) is funded by revenues collected from the manufacturers of fishing rods, reels, creels, lures, flies and artificial baits, who pay an excise tax on these items to the U.S. Treasury. An amendment in 1984 (Wallop-Breaux Amendment) added new provisions to the Act by extending the excise tax to previously untaxed items of sport fishing equipment. SFR provides funding to restore, conserve, manage, or enhance sport fish populations and the public use and benefits from these resources; and to provide boating access to public waters.

Additional information about SFR is on the internet at http://wsfrprograms.fws.gov/Subpages/GrantPrograms/SFR/SFR.htm

I.

Funding Opportunity Description:

SFR provides Federal grant funding to the 50 States, Commonwealths, and territories of the United States of America for land acquisition, boating access development, research projects, operations and maintenance of public fishing areas, hatchery and lake construction and maintenance, sport fish population management, fishing habitat improvements, coordination projects, and aquatic resource education. These activities restore or manage sport fish populations and provide public access to these resources. Ineligible activities include law enforcement of fish and game regulations and public relation activities to promote the fish and wildlife agency.

II. Award Information:

The final SFR apportionments are on the internet at http://wsfrprograms.fws.gov/Subpages/GrantPrograms/SFR/SFR_Funding.htm

Eligibility Information:

A. Eligible Applicants:

Participation is limited to State, Commonwealth, or territorial agencies with lead management responsibility for fish and wildlife resources in the United States of America. States, Commonwealths, and territories (State(s)) must pass laws (assent legislation) for the conservation of fish and wildlife. The law(s) must include a prohibition against the diversion of license fees paid by anglers for purposes other than the administration of the fish and wildlife agency.

B. Formula and Matching Requirements:

1. SFR funding is based 60 percent on its number of licensed anglers and 40 percent on its land and water area. No State, Commonwealth, the District of Columbia, or territory may receive more than 5 percent or less than 1/3 of 1 percent of each year's total apportionment. The Commonwealth of Puerto Rico receives 1 percent, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the District of Columbia, and the territories of American Samoa, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands each receive one-third of 1 percent.

2. The State fish and wildlife agency must furnish a certification of the number of paid fishing license holders on an annual basis.

3. The program is a cost-reimbursement program: the State covers the full amount of an approved project then applies for reimbursement through WSFR and can be reimbursed up to 75 percent of project costs through the program. The State must provide at least 25 percent of the project costs from a non-Federal source. The non-Federal match for the Commonwealths of Puerto Rico and the Northern Mariana Islands, and the territories of American Samoa, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands must not exceed 25 percent and may be waived at the discretion of the Regional Director. According to 48 U.S.C. 1469(a), the Regional Director must waive the first $200,000 of match for each grant from the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands and the territories of Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and American Samoa. The non-Federal share may come from license fees. Matching and cost-share requirements are discussed in 50 CFR 80, 43 CFR 12.64 and 43 CFR 12.923. In addition, 43 CFR 12.62 identifies Federal cost principles for determining allowable costs.

C. Other:

SFR funds are available for a period of two years. Any funds not obligated within two years by the Service are returned to the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund for obligation to States in the following year’s apportionment. Although only State agencies may apply for and receive grants under this program, the program encourages partnering with local governments, Native American governments, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and educational institutions.

IV. Application and Submission Instructions

A. Address to Obtain Application Package

You can download the application package for SFR on Grants.gov here: https://apply07.grants.gov/apply/forms_apps_idx.html, searching by CFDA 15.605. You can also download application forms through the WSFR toolkit under “Forms”: http://fawiki.fws.gov/display/WTK/Forms. If you have trouble accessing the online forms, you can contact one of the Service WSFR Offices (see Section IV, Agency Contacts).

B. Content and Form of Application

A complete grant application package must 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 (unless the State agency has an approved Statement of Assurances on file with your Regional Office that is updated at least annually):

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) within the purpose of the Act;

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 WSFR 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 – Include GPS coordinates (if exact locations are not available at the time of application, please be as specific as possible); 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).

d. When applicable, for any organization charging indirectly, a copy of a current Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement.

5. Supplemental Forms can include:

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

b. SF 424C Budget Information – Construction Projects.

c. If applicable, a completed SF-LLL Disclosure of Lobbying Activities form. If you/your organization have/has made or agrees to make any payment using non-appropriated funds for lobbying in connection with a project AND the project budget exceeds $100,000, complete and submit the SF-LLL form.

C. Submission Dates and Times:

Grant application packages are due to your Regional Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration (WSFR) Offices (see Section IV, Agency Contacts) no later than August 31, 2016.

D. 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

ii. http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration/step-4-aor-authorization.html

iii. Applicants must have Adobe Acrobat Reader to view files on the web. You can download Adobe Acrobat Reader at

iv. http://get.adobe.com/reader/otherversions/

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:

Applicants can obtain forms, in PDF fillable/printable formats, from the WSFR Toolkit at http://fawiki.fws.gov/display/WTK/Forms.

a. The completed grant application package must be mailed to the Service’s Regional WSFR Office:

States, Commonwealths, the District of Columbia, and territories by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Region Regional Contact Information

Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program Eastside Federal Complex 911 NE 11th Avenue Portland, OR 97232-4181 503-231-6128 r1fa_grants@fws.gov

Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program P.O. Box 1306 500 Gold Avenue, SW Albuquerque, NM 87103 505-248-7450 fw2fa@fws.gov

Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program 5600 American Blvd. West, Suite 990 Bloomington, MN 55437-1458 612-713-5130 R3fedaid@fws.gov

Division of Federal Assistance 1875 Century Boulevard, Suite 240 Atlanta, GA 30345 404-679-4159 fws-r4federalassistance@fws.gov

Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program 300 Westgate Center Drive Hadley, MA 01035 413-253-8508 fw5fareports@fws.gov

Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program 134 Union Blvd., P.O. Box 25486 Denver, Colorado 80225 303-236-5420 fw6_fagrants@fws.gov

Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program 1011 East Tudor Road MS-261 Anchorage, AK 99503 907-786-3631 AK_FA@fws.gov

Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program 2800 Cottage Way, W-1729 Sacramento, CA 95825 916-414-6525 R8fa_grants@fws.gov

E. Intergovernmental Review:

Sport Fish Restoration is subject to EO 12372 “Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs”. States that choose to participate in the Executive Order process have established Single Points of Contact (SPOCs). Applicants should alert their SPOCs early in the application process. If the applicant is required to submit materials to a SPOC, indicate the date of this submittal (or the date of contact if requested by the SPOC not to submit) on the Standard Form 424. Applicants from jurisdictions that have not chosen to participate do not need to take any action regarding E.O. 12372.

F. Funding Restrictions:

1. Ineligible activities include activities that do not provide public benefits, enforcement activities, and public relation activities.

2. A maximum of 15% of the apportionment can be used for aquatic resource education or outreach and communication.

i. However, the Commonwealths of Puerto Rico and the Northern Mariana Islands, the District of Columbia, and the territories of American Samoa, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands are not limited to the 15% cap imposed on the 50 States.

ii. Each of these entities may spend more on these activities with the approval of the appropriate Regional Director.

3. A minimum of 15% of the apportionment must be used for boating access. Notwithstanding this provision, States within a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Region may allocate more or less than 15% in a fiscal year, if the total Regional allocation averages at least 15% over a 5-year period.

V. Award Administration Information:

A. Award Notices:

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Regional Director or his/her designee approves or disapproves grant applications. 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 1-888-253-1617 or on-line at http://www.dnb.com/get-a-duns-number.html.

1. The Central Contractor Registry (CCR) was replaced by the Systems for Award Management (SAM). SAM is where states will need to register in order to apply for Federal Assistance (grants). States can register online at https://www.sam.gov. States must maintain an active registration in order to receive grant funds. 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 SAM.

1. Recipients must be enrolled in Automated Standard Application for Payments (ASAP) to receive funds. If you are not enrolled, you must complete and submit a Participation Form. You can find the form at https://inside.fws.gov/index.cfm/go/post/Payments-New. 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 award 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/programs/financial_assistance/TermsandConditions.cfm.

C. Reporting:

A. Financial and Performance reporting requirements are specified in 43 CFR 12.80 and 12.81 and in the WSFR Toolkit at http://fawiki.fws.gov/display/WTK/Service+Manual+Chapters+Pertaining+to+WSFR+Grants 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.

VI. Agency Contacts:

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service administers the Sport Fish Restoration Grant Program. Additional program information can be found by contacting your Regional U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Office (see the list under “Applications by Mail Instructions”) or go to http://wsfrprograms.fws.gov/Subpages/ContactUs/ContactUs.htm.

VII. 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.

OMB Control Number 1018-0109, Expires September 30, 2015 PAPERWORK REDUCTION ACT STATEMENT: The Paperwork Reduction Act requires us to tell you why we are collecting this information, how we will use it, and whether or not you have to respond. We will use the information that we collect to evaluate applications submitted to acquire funding for SFR funds. Your response is required to receive funding. A Federal agency may not conduct or sponsor and you are not required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB Control Number. We estimate that it will take an average of 40 hours to complete the application. The average estimated annual burden associated with writing and submitting required performance reports is 6 hours. You may send comments concerning the burden estimates or any aspect of this information collection to the Information Collection Clearance Officer, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 4401 N. Fairfax Drive, MS 2042-PDM, Arlington, VA 22203.