FY2020 MS NOFO (1).docx

Multistate Conservation Grant Program Fiscal Year 2020 Notice of Funding Opportunity Notice Overview Federal Agency Name Department of the Interior, United States Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program (WSFR) Funding Opportunity Title Multistate Conservation Grant Program (MSCGP) Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number 15.628 Announcement Type Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for Federal Fiscal Year (FY) 2020 Funding Opportunity Number

F19AS00177

Paperwork Reduction Act Statement We are collecting this information in accordance with the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Programs Improvement Act of 2000, Public Law 106-408, as amended; the Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish Restoration Act, 64 Stat. 430 as amended, 16 U.S.C. 777m and the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act, 50 Stat. 917 as amended, 16 U.S.C. 669h-2. Your response is required to obtain or retain a benefit. We will use the information you provide to evaluate your application for potential award of Federal funding through this program and, if awarded, to evaluate performance. We may not conduct or sponsor and you are not required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control number. We estimate that it will take you about 40 hours to complete an initial application, three hours to review the terms of an award, and eight hours to prepare and submit performance reports, including time to maintain records, and gather information. You may send comments on the burden estimate or any other aspect of this information collection to the Information Collection Clearance Officer, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, MS BPHC, 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041-3803.

OMB Control Number 1018-0100 (Exp.: 07/31/2021) Submission Deadline and Other Information Applying for funding through the MSCGP requires a two-part process that is managed in partnership with the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (Association). In part one, applicants submit a Letter of Intent (LOI) package. In part two, if an applicant’s LOI is selected, they are invited to submit a full grant proposal package, which includes Federal grant forms. LOIs must be submitted to the Association or through Grants.gov by 5:00 PM EDT, April 12, 2019. Full grant proposal packages must be submitted to the Association or through Grants.gov by 5:00 pm EDT, July 26, 2019.

Contents

Budget……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..……13

Need……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..15

Negotiating an Indirect Cost Rate with the Department of the Interior…………………………………18 Required Indirect Cost Statement 19 Conflict of Interest Disclosure……………………………………………………………………………………………….20 Single Audit Reporting Statement.….……….……..………….……………………….……………….……………...20 Certification of Lobbying Activities 21 Overlap/Duplication Certification Statement………….……………………………….……………………………21

Obtain a DUNS number………………………………………………………………………………………………………...22 Register Register with SAM. 23 Submission Dates and Times………………………………………………………………………………….……………..23 Intergovernmental Review………………………………………………………………………………………………..….23 Funding Restrictions……………………………………………………………………………………………………………..24 Full Proposal Electronic Submission Instructions…………………………………………………………………..24

B. Review and Selection Process……………………………………………………………………………….………..…29

Payments…………..…………………………………………………………………………………….……………….……….…31 Reporting Requirements……………………………………………………………………………………….…………………31 Financial Reports………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...31 Performance Reports……………………………………………………………………………………………………….….32 Significant Development Reports…………………………………………………………………………………… Real Property Reports Conflict of Interest Disclosures…………………………………………………………………………………….….…..33 Other Mandatory Disclosures…………………………………………….…………………………………………..……33 VIII. Agency Contacts 33 Attachment A: DOI Award Provisions……..……………….…………………………….………………………………..34 I. Program Description The Sport Fish Restoration Act and the Wildlife Restoration Act, as amended by the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Programs Improvement Act of 2000 (Pub. L. 106-408) authorize the Secretary of the Interior to make up to $6,000,000 available annually under the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program (WSFR) to fund multistate conservation project grants. The primary goal of the MSCGP is to provide grant funds to address regional or national priority needs (National Conservation Needs or NCNs) of the State fish and wildlife agencies (States) and their partners that are beyond the scope and capabilities of a single State. Projects awarded funding are published annually in the Federal Register. Lists of past awards are also available from the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program or the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies contacts listed below (Section VIII, Agency Contacts).

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 MSCGP aligns with WSFR’s mission, vision, and guiding principle, and support three of the Department of the Interior’s priorities including, “Creating a conservation stewardship legacy second only to Teddy Roosevelt; Utilizing our natural resources; and Restoring trust with our local communities.” Projects funded through the MSCGP provide grant funds to address regional or national level priority needs of the States that are beyond the scope and capabilities of a single State.

II. Federal Award Information The Association and the Service work cooperatively to manage the MSCGP. The Association manages the grant application process, providing oversight, coordination, and guidance. The Service awards and manages the grants. The MSCGP is a competitive grant program. Eligible LOIs and full grant proposals are submitted to the Association’s National Grants Committee (NGC) for review and ranking to aid in the selection process. LOIs and proposals must address one or more of the Association’s NCNs to be eligible. NCNs are annually solicited and selected by the Association to establish the States’ conservation priorities, and they are used to guide proposal development and grant selection for the MSCGP.

FY 2020 NCNs Selected by the Association

NCN 1

Improve Benefits for Fish, Wildlife, and their Habitats through Farm Bill Implementation (Submitted by the Agricultural Conservation Committee).

NCN 2

Enable State Fish and Wildlife Agencies to Communicate and Implement Strategies to Increase Awareness and Better Engage Our Constituents Regarding the Benefits of State Wildlife Agencies, Wildlife, and Wildlife Management (Submitted by the Education, Outreach and Diversity Committee).

NCN 3

Incorporating Fish, Wildlife, and Habitat Considerations into Energy Development (Submitted by the Energy and Wildlife Policy Committee).

NCN 4

Enabling State Fish and Wildlife Agencies to Coordinate and Implement Large Scale Conservation Initiatives (Submitted by the Executive Committee).

NCN 5

Strengthening Fish and Wildlife Health Capacity through the National Fish and Wildlife Health Initiative (Submitted by the Fish and Wildlife Health Committee and Science and Research Committee).

NCN 6

Recruitment, Retention, and Reactivation in Hunting, Fishing, Boating, and Conservation-Related Recreation; Enhanced Relations among State Agencies and Related Industries (Submitted by the Hunting & Shooting Sports Participation Committee & Angler and Boater R3 Committee).

NCN 7

Coordination of State Fish and Wildlife Agencies’ Authority to Manage Wildlife Resources in Concert with Federal Actions Required by International Treaties, Conventions, Partnerships, and Initiatives (Submitted by the International Relations Committee).

NCN 8

Combating Trafficking by Strengthening Communication and Coordination among State and National Conservation Agencies’ Law Enforcement Investigations and Intelligence Sections (Submitted by: Law Enforcement Committee).

NCN 9

Increase Leadership Capacity and Agency Effectiveness within State Fish and Wildlife Agencies (SFWA) and the Conservation Community through Leadership and Professional Development Initiatives, Training, Consulting, and Support of the National Conservation Leadership Institute (NCLI) (Submitted by the Leadership and Professional Development Committee).

NCN 10

Sustaining the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation and the Public Trust Doctrine through Outreach to Law Schools, and Reviewing and Communicating to State Agency Members New Developments in Conservation Law and Policy (Submitted by the AFWA Legal Committee).

NCN 11

Binational Notification System for Chronic Wasting Disease Carcass Risk Management (Submitted by MAFWA Health Committee Committee).

NCN 12

Multistate Conservation Grant Program Coordination (Submitted by the National Grants Committee).

NCN 13

Proactive Communications on Sustainable Use of Wildlife to Maintain Authority to Manage Fish and Wildlife (Submitted by the Sustainable Use of Wildlife Committee).

NCN 14

Implementation and Coordination of the 2021 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-Associated Recreation (National Survey) (Submitted by the Fish and Wildlife Trust Funds Committee).

NCN 15

Implementation of the Fish and Wildlife Relevancy Roadmap (Submitted by Wildlife Diversity Conservation and Funding Committee).

NCN 16

Develop and Support Science Informed Aquatic Resource Management through Research and Collaboration (Submitted by the Fisheries and Water Resources Policy Committee /Ocean Resources Policy Committee).

Detailed information regarding the Association’s NCNs can be found at the Association’s website here. A final Priority List of projects will be approved by the Association’s National Grants Committee and State Directors at the Association’s Annual Meeting in September 2019. The Priority List will be forwarded to the Service by October 1, 2019 as mandated by the Fish and Wildlife Programs Improvement and National Wildlife Refuge System Centennial Act of 2000. The Service selects projects to fund from the Priority List and awards grants, then manages the grants to ensure grantees adhere to the terms of their grants. Applications for renewal or supplementation of existing projects are eligible to compete with applications for new awards. Grants are the assistance instrument for this program. The MSCGP expects to award approximately 35 grants. The following are examples of past funded projects:

1. Coordination of Farm Bill Program Implementation to Optimize On-the-Ground Fish and Wildlife Benefits to the States;

2. Track Participation Trends and Retention, Recruitment, and Reactivation Effectiveness via License Sales Dashboards;

3. Improving Recruitment of New Hunters and Recreational Shooters;

4. Improving Local Angler Recruitment Events;

5. Conservation Collaboration Across the U.S. Through the National Fish Habitat Partnership; and

6. Chronic Wasting Disease Management in the West.

III. Eligibility Information A. Eligible Applicants Eligibility is limited to:

1) Agencies with lead management responsibility for fish and wildlife resources in each of the 50 States, the District of Columbia, Commonwealths of Puerto Rico and the Northern Mariana Islands, and the territories of American Samoa, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, or a group of these agencies;

2) The Service, only for the purpose of carrying out the National Survey; or

3) Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) with and without 501(c) status. United States non-profit NGOs with 501(c) Internal Revenue Service (IRS) status must provide a copy of their Section 501(c) status determination letter received from the IRS. In addition, NGOs including educational institutions that are invited to submit full proposals must submit a certification that their organization will not use grant funds to fund, in whole or in part, any activity that promotes or encourages opposition to the regulated hunting or trapping of wildlife, or the regulated taking of fish in their application.

Only projects that propose benefits to sport fish, wild birds and/or mammals are eligible. Proposed projects must also benefit:

1) At least 26 States; or

2) A majority of the States in a Service Region; or

3) A regional association of State fish and wildlife agencies. Federal law mandates that all entities applying for Federal financial assistance must have a valid Dun & Bradstreet Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number and have a current registration in the System for Award Management (SAM). See Title 2 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Part 25 for more information.

B. Cost Sharing or Matching Although there is no required cost sharing or matching for the MSCGP, applicants receive additional points from the Association during their scoring/ranking process if they provide match. Applicants may attribute some, or all, of their allowable indirect costs as voluntary committed cost share or match. The Association encourages applicants to leverage additional funds (from within their organization and/or other partner organizations). In-kind and cash contributions that are quantified in the budget and identified as match will be used by the Association to award bonus points during the review process. In order to receive bonus points for matching funds, indicate clearly in the proposal the percentage of the Federal grant request that is matched from 5% to 100%. In an effort to provide more accountability for these funds, applicants providing matching funds are required to include a certification in their proposal (see Section VI, Application Review Information).

C. Other Eligibility Criteria

Unique Entity Identifier and System for Award Management (SAM.gov) Registration: This requirement does not apply to individuals applying for funds as a private citizen (i.e., unrelated to any business or nonprofit organization you may own or operate in your name) or any entity with an exception approved by the Service under 2 CFR 25.110(d). All other applicants are required to obtain a Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number from Dun & Bradstreet and then register in SAM.gov prior to submitting a Federal award application. Federal award recipients must continue to maintain an active SAM.gov registration with current information through the life of their Federal award(s). See the “Submission Requirements” section of this document below for more information on SAM.gov registration. The Service may not make a Federal award to an applicant that has not completed the SAM.gov registration. If an applicant selected for funding has not completed their SAM.gov registration by the time the Service is ready to make an award, the program may determine that the applicant is not qualified to receive an award. The program can use that determination as a basis for making an award to another applicant.

Prohibition on Issuing Awards to Entities that Require Certain Internal Confidentiality Agreements: Domestic (U.S.) non-Federal entities requiring their employees or contractors to sign internal confidentiality agreements or statements that prohibit, or otherwise restrict, such employees or contractors from lawfully reporting waste, fraud, or abuse to a designated investigative or law enforcement representative of a Federal department or agency authorized to receive such information are not eligible to compete for or receive a Federal award. See Pub. L. 113-235, Title VII, Division E, Section 743 for more information.

Excluded Entities Applicant entities or their key project personnel identified in SAM as ineligible, prohibited/restricted or excluded from receiving Federal contracts, certain subcontracts, and certain Federal assistance and benefits will not be considered for Federal funding, as applicable to the funding being requested under this Federal program. The Service conducts a review of the exclusions database in SAM for all applicant entities and their key project personnel prior to award.

IV. Application Requirements The MSCGP utilizes a two-part selection process developed by the Association. Submission of a LOI (Part 1) is the first stage followed by (Part 2) the submission of a full grant proposal package (if invited) including a Project Statement and all the required Federal forms and statements.

Specific LOI submission requirements are available in this NOFO and from the Association’s MSCGP webpage. Applicants who have submitted a LOI and who are invited to submit a full proposal can obtain application forms from the Grants.gov website.

Submission Deadline The LOI must be submitted directly to the Association or through Grants.gov or no later than 5:00 PM (EDT) on April 12, 2019. LOIs received after the deadline will not be considered. The following LOI format is required.

Required LOI Format for Part 1 The LOI consists of the following:

1. Executive Summary (Limit – two pages)

2. Project Narrative and Budget (Limit – three pages)

3. Qualifications (Limit – one page) Please note: Images and literature references are discouraged in a LOI. Also, due to the page limit, cover letters, letters of support, and any additional materials submitted as part of a LOI will not be accepted.

Executive Summary (Limit – 2 pages) The Executive Summary provides background information on the applicant and the proposed project. Please use the following outline:

Applicant Information

1. Full Legal Name of Organization

2. Brief Description of Organization

3. Organization Website URL

4. Lead Applicant’s Contact Information

a. Title

b. First Name

c. Last Name

d. Street Address

e. City

f. State

g. Postal Code

h. Email Address

i. Fax Number

j. Phone Number

5. Name and Affiliation of Co-Investigators(s)/Partner(s) (if applicable)

6. Have you applied for MSCGP funding before?

7. If yes, was/were your previous proposal(s) funded?

8. Date(s) of Previous Applications(s) (if applicable) Program Eligibility

1. Organization Information. Please indicate the appropriate classification of your organization. If you are a NGO, please indicate the type:

a. Applicant Classification:

1) A State or a group of States,

2) a State instrumentality (such as a State university),

3) U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service to carry out the National Survey, or

4) NGO.

b. NGO Classification (if applicable):

1) 501(c) status,

2) Public or Private Institution of Higher Education.

2. Beneficiary Information. Please choose any of the following categories that best describes the geographic scope of the project:

a. Project benefits all 50 States.

b. Project benefits at least 26 States. Using State abbreviations, please list all States that will benefit.

c. Project benefits a majority (over 50%) of the States in a U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Region. Please indicate the Service Region(s) that will benefit and list the States in each Region that will benefit (use State abbreviations).

d. Project benefits a majority (over 50%) of the States belonging to a regional association of State fish and wildlife agencies. Please indicate the regional fish and wildlife association that will benefit and list the States in each Region that will benefit (use State abbreviations).

e. Primary NCN Addressed. Please list one primary NCN that the project addresses.

3. Terms and Conditions. All applicants must ensure that their proposed project does not fund, in whole or in part, an activity that promotes or encourages opposition to the regulated hunting or trapping of wildlife or taking of sport fish. If you accept these terms, please state “I agree with the above terms and conditions.”

Project Information

1. Project Title. Please provide a short, descriptive name of the proposed project (≤20 words).

2. Project Length. Please indicate whether the project performance period will be one, two, or three years.

3. Funding Source. The MSCGP can be funded with Wildlife Restoration (WR) funds, Sport Fish Restoration (SFR) funds, or both. If your proposed project benefits wild birds/mammals only, please indicate “100% WR.” If your proposal benefits sport fish only, please indicate “100% SFR.” If your proposal benefits both, please indicate the appropriate percentage of WR and SFR funds based on your assessment of the benefits to wildlife versus sport fish.

a. Funding Source

b. Percent WR

c. Percent SFR

4. Funding Requested.

a. Total Amount: $

b. Year 1 Amount: $

c. Year 2 Amount (if applicable): $

5. Estimate of matching funds to be leveraged (if applicable).

6. One paragraph description of project (main objectives and anticipated outcomes).

Project Narrative and Budget (Limit – 3 pages) This is the substance of the LOI and addresses how the applicant will approach the project. The following items should be addressed:

Objectives/Goals

1. How will this project address the NCN?

2. What States, Service Region(s), and/or regional association are targeted?

3. What are the goals of this project?

4. What activities or actions will this project undertake to achieve the stated goals?

5. Provide a specific timeline of the project activities.

Outcomes/Benefits

1. What are the measurable outcomes or products that will result from this project?

2. How will these outcomes/products benefit State fish and wildlife agencies?

3. What strategies will be adopted to enhance the usefulness, quality, and communication of the project’s results?

4. Summarize the most important strength of your proposal.

Budget A detailed budget is not necessary; only a general budget is required. The preferred format is a Microsoft Word or Microsoft Excel table. Please be sure to include the total cost of the project broken into four general categories:

1. Salaries and benefits;

2. Project-related expenses (such as: travel, communications, supplies, consultants etc.); Equipment (purchases of tangible, personal property over $5,000.00 that will be used for a year or more); and

3. Indirect costs (if any) (Note: There is a 20% cap on indirect costs for the MSCGP).

Qualifications (Limit – 1 page) Provide a brief abstract of relevant qualifications for the Primary Investigator/Project Coordinator and key team members.

Evaluation of LOIs The Association judges a LOI only on its merits and how well it addresses one or more of the NCNs for a given year. The following items should be addressed in the Project Statement and/or supporting budget information:

Responsiveness to NCN

1. How well does the LOI address the specific needs of the NCN and the overall MSCGP?

2. Does the proposed project address the desired outcomes described in the NCN under which this LOI was submitted, and does the LOI clearly explain the project’s anticipated successes?

3. How clearly does the LOI define proposed deliverables and useful outputs/results relevant to a NCN?

Project Quality

1. What is the geographic scope of the LOI and its subsequent impacts/benefits?

2. Are the project objectives clearly defined, achievable, measurable, and connected to specific goals, milestones/deliverables, and timelines (i.e., a work plan) for completion?

3. Will/can the proposed objectives and methodology produce the desired outcomes identified in the NCN under which this LOI was submitted?

4. What is the anticipated, extended use/life of the project’s results/products/services after the project is completed, and are they clearly stated in the LOI?

Practical Relevance to State Fish and Wildlife Agencies Will the objectives/goals of the project benefit the State fish and wildlife agencies?

Project Value Is the project budget reasonable and does the applicant leverage any matching funds?

Applicant's Qualifications

1. What are the qualifications of project personnel (project team, project leader, principal investigator)?

2. How well-suited are the project team’s experience and background to successfully conduct this project?

Please note: Any attempt to discuss a LOI with a National Grants Committee member outside of a committee meeting is considered lobbying and is strictly prohibited.

Application Requirements for Part Two If a recipient has been invited to submit a full grant application package, an application must contain:

Standard Form (SF)-424 Submit a completed SF-424. Do not include other Federal sources of funding, requested or approved, in the total entered in the “Federal” funding box on the SF-424. Enter only the amount being requested under this Program in the “Federal” funding box. Include any other Federal sources of funding in the total funding entered in the “Other” box.

Project Summary Briefly summarize the project, in one page or less. Include the title of the project, geographic location, and a brief overview of the need for the project. Goal(s), objectives, specific project activities, anticipated outputs and outcomes can also be included in this section.

Project Statement Please address all the following items/elements and include this information within your proposal when following the specific format required by the Association.

Need Describe why this project is necessary (significance/value) and include supporting information.

Objectives State the long-term, overarching goal(s) of the program/project. State the objectives of the project. Objectives are the specific outcomes to be accomplished in order to reach the stated goal(s). The project objectives must be specific, measurable, and realistic (attainable within the project’s proposed performance period).

Approach List the proposed project activities and describe how they relate to the stated objectives. Activities are the specific actions to be undertaken to fulfill the project objectives and reach the project goal(s). Information must be detailed enough for reviewers to make a clear connection between the activities and the proposed project costs. For projects conducted within the United States, the narrative must provide enough detail so that reviewers are able to determine project compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act (ESA), and Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA). For projects conducted on the high seas, the narrative should provide enough detail so that reviewers are able to determine project compliance with Section 7 of the ESA. Provide a detailed description of the method(s) to be used to carry out each activity. 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.

Expected Results or Benefits What will be gained by funding this proposed project, and why is it important? Explain how the successful completion of the project meets all or part of the NCN and how the results/products benefit States.

1. Benefits should be expressed in measurable outcomes when possible (i.e., number of participants likely to continue the learned outdoor activity and purchase licenses in the future), not just desired outputs (i.e., number of event participants or number of workshops conducted).

2. Explain how this project addresses the desired outcomes described in the NCN under which this proposal was submitted and clearly explain its anticipated benefits to the State(s).

3. Proposals should clearly address in specific detail how grant products/materials/programs will be used, by whom, and the initial and continuing benefits beyond the life of the grant.

Stakeholder Coordination/Involvement As applicable, describe how you/your organization has coordinated with and involved other relevant organizations 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.

Project Monitoring and Evaluation Detail the monitoring and evaluation plan for the project. 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 (e.g., methods, sample size, survey tools). Reference the stated project timetable and budget information. Identify the products/services to be delivered and how/to whom they will be delivered. Detail the expected direct effect(s) of the project on beneficiaries (i.e., outcome indicators). Include any available questionnaires, surveys, curricula, exams/tests or other assessment tools to be used for project evaluation. Describe the resources and organizational structure available for gathering, analyzing and reporting, monitoring and evaluation data. If applicable, describe how project participants and beneficiaries will participate in monitoring and evaluation activities. Describe how findings will be fed back into decision-making and project activities throughout the project period.

Description of Entities Undertaking the Project Provide a brief description of the applicant organization and all participating entities and/or individuals. Identify which of the proposed activities each agency, organization, group, or individual is responsible for conducting or managing. 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 in whole or in part on the qualifications of key personnel, provide for each key person a brief but descriptive overview of their education, experience and other skills that make them qualified to carry out the proposed project. 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.

Sustainability 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.

Literature Cited List any sources of literature thought necessary in support of the project.

Map of Project Area If project activities will occur within a specific area, a map should clearly delineate the project area and be large enough to be legible. Label any sites referenced in the project statement.

Relationship with other grants Enter title, year of award and Federal grant number of any appropriate grants.

Budget Form Complete the Budget Information for Non-Construction Programs (SF-424A) or Budget Information for Construction Programs (SF-424C) form, or submit the equivalent or greater level of information in another format. Use the SF-424A if your project does not include construction or land acquisition and the SF-424C if the project includes construction or land acquisition. The budget forms are available on the Internet here. When developing your budget, keep in mind that financial assistance awards and subawards are subject to the Federal cost principles in Title 2 of the Code of Federal Regulations Part 200, as applicable to the recipient organization type.

Note on Multiple Federal Funding Sources: If the project budget includes multiple Federal funding sources, you must show the funds being requested from this Federal program separately from any other requested/secured Federal sources of funding on the budget form. For example, enter the funds being requested from this Federal program in the first row of the Budget Summary section of the form and then enter funding related to other Federal programs in the subsequent row(s). Be sure to enter each Federal program’s CFDA number in the corresponding fields on the form. The CFDA number for this Federal program is 15.628.

Budget Narrative In a separate narrative titled “Budget Narrative,” explain and justify all requested budget items/costs. Detail how the SF-424 Budget Object Class Category totals were determined and demonstrate a clear connection between costs and the proposed project activities. The justification for each budget category should be a brief general description of the costs that make up that category, yet provide enough detail to demonstrate that the applicant has a financial plan for implementation of the proposed objectives. For example, under personnel costs include the total number of staff and the various job titles (classifications) anticipated to be charged to the project. Describe any item that under the applicable Federal cost principles requires the Service’s approval and estimate its cost. Also include:

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;

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

d. If federally-funded equipment will be used for the project, provide a list of that equipment, including the Federal funding source; and

e. When applicable, for any organization charging indirectly, a copy of a current Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (NICRA).

All applicants are hereby notified of the following:

1. Recipients without an approved indirect cost rate are prohibited from charging indirect costs to a Federal award. Accepting a flat de minimis rate as a condition of award is an approved rate.

2. Failure to establish an approved rate during the award period renders all costs otherwise allocable as indirect costs unallowable under the award.

3. There is a 20% cap imposed by the Association on indirect costs for the MSCGP. Applicants can only request a maximum of 20% indirect cost rate based on awarded funds (this also applies to all sub-recipients and contractors). However, if the organization’s approved rate is higher than 20%, you may count any difference between the rate approved in your NICRA and the maximum MSCGP rate as matching funds.

4. Recipients may not charge to their Service award any indirect costs calculated against the portion of total direct project costs paid by any other Federal funding source or non-Federal partner.

5. Recipients must have prior written approval from the Service to transfer unallowable indirect costs to amounts budgeted for direct costs or to satisfy any matching requirements under the award.

6. Recipients are prohibited from shifting unallowable indirect costs to another Federal award unless specifically authorized to do so by legislation.

For more information on indirect cost rates, see the Service’s NICRA guidance document. Negotiating an Indirect Cost Rate with the Department of the Interior: Entities that do not have a NICRA must first have an open, active Federal award before they can submit an indirect cost rate proposal to their cognizant agency. The Federal awarding agency that provides the largest amount of direct funding to your organization is your cognizant agency, unless otherwise assigned by OMB. If the Department of the Interior is your cognizant agency, your indirect cost rate will be negotiated by the Interior Business Center (IBC). For more information, contact the IBC at:

Indirect Cost Services Acquisition Services Directorate, Interior Business Center U.S. Department of the Interior 650 Capitol Mall, Suite 7-400 Sacramento, CA 95814 Phone: 916-930-3803 Email: Through Link to the Interior Business Center email address web form Internet address: Link to the Interior Business Center's internet address Required Indirect Cost Statement All organizations must include the applicable statement from the following list in their application to the Service, and attach to their application any documentation identified in the applicable statement:

“We are:

1. A United States State or local government entity receiving more than $35 million in direct Federal funding each year with an indirect cost rate of [insert rate]. We submit our indirect cost rate proposals to our cognizant agency. A copy of our most recently approved NICRA is attached;

2. A United States State or local government entity receiving less than $35 million in direct Federal funding with an indirect cost rate of [insert rate]. We are required to prepare and retain for audit an indirect cost rate proposal and related documentation to support those costs;

3. A [insert your organization type; United States State and local governments, please use one of the statements above or below] that has previously negotiated or currently has an approved NICRA with our cognizant agency. Our indirect cost rate is [insert rate]. A copy of our most recently approved NICRA is attached;

4. A [insert your organization type] that has never submitted an indirect cost rate proposal to our cognizant agency. Our indirect cost rate is [insert rate]. In the event an award is made, we will submit an indirect cost rate proposal to our cognizant agency within 90 calendar days after the award is made;

5. A [insert your organization type] that has never submitted an indirect cost rate proposal to our cognizant agency. Our indirect cost rate is [insert rate]. However, in the event an award is made, we will not be able to meet the requirement to submit an indirect cost rate proposal to our cognizant agency within 90 calendar days after award. We request as a condition of award to charge a flat de minimis indirect cost rate of 10% of modified total direct costs as defined in 2 CFR 200.68. We understand that the 10% de minimis rate will apply for the life of the award, including any future extensions for time, and that the rate cannot be changed even if we do establish an approved rate with our cognizant agency at any point during the award period;

6. A [insert your organization type] that is submitting this proposal for consideration under this Grant Program, which has an imposed indirect cost rate cap of 20%. We understand that we must apply this reduced rate against the same direct cost base as identified in our approved indirect cost rate agreement. If we do not have an approved indirect cost rate with our cognizant agency, we understand that the basis for direct costs will be the modified total direct cost base defined in 2 CFR 200.68 “Modified Total Direct Cost (MTDC)”. We understand that we must request prior approval from the Service to use the MTDC base instead of the base identified in our approved indirect cost rate agreement, and that Service approval of such a request will be based on: 1) a determination that our approved base is only a subset of the MTDC (such as salaries and wages); and 2) that use of the MTDC base will still result in a reduction of the total indirect costs to be charged to the award. In accordance with 2 CFR 200.405, we understand that indirect costs not recovered due to a voluntary reduction to our federally negotiated rate are not allowable for recovery via any other means; or

7. A [insert your organization type] that will charge all costs directly.”

Conflict of Interest Disclosure Applicants must state in their application if any actual or potential conflict of interest exists at the time of submission. Conflicts of interest include any relationship or matter that might place the recipient, including their employees and subrecipients, in a position of conflict, real or apparent, between their responsibilities under the award and any other outside interests. Conflicts of interest include direct or indirect financial interests; close personal relationships; positions of trust in outside organizations; consideration of future employment arrangements with a different organization; and decision-making authority related to the proposed project. Conflicts of interest are those circumstances real or perceived that would cause a reasonable person with knowledge of the relevant facts to question the impartiality of the applicant, or the applicant’s employees or subrecipients, in matters pertaining to the proposed project. Applicants may not solicit, obtain, or use non-public information that may be of competitive interest to the entity, including information regarding the funding opportunity, evaluation, award, or administration of an award to the entity. Applicants must notify the Service in writing in their application if any employees, including subrecipient and contractor personnel, are related to, married to, or have a close personal relationship with any Federal employee in the Federal program receiving this application or who otherwise may be involved in the review and selection of their proposal. The term employee means any individual to be engaged in the performance of work pursuant to the Federal award application. Applicants may not have a former Federal employee as a key project official, or in any other substantial role for the proposed project, whose participation puts them out of compliance with the legal authorities addressing post-Government employment restrictions. See the U.S. Office of Government Ethic’s website at https://oge.gov/ for more information on these restrictions. The Service will examine each conflict of interest disclosure based on its particular facts and the nature of the proposed project and will determine whether a significant potential conflict exists. If it does, the Service may work with the applicant determine an appropriate resolution. Failure to disclose and resolve conflicts of interest in a manner that satisfies the Service may result in the rejection or disqualification of the application.

Single Audit Reporting Statement All U.S. states, local governments, federally recognized Indian tribal governments, and non-profit organizations expending $750,000 USD or more in Federal award funds in the applicant’s fiscal year must submit a Single Audit report for that year through the Federal Audit Clearinghouse’s Internet Data Entry System. U.S. state, local government, federally recognized Indian tribal government, and non-profit applicants must state if your organization was or was not required to submit a Single Audit report for the most recently closed fiscal year. If your organization was required to submit a Single Audit report for the most recently closed fiscal year, provide the EIN associated with that report and state if it is available through the Federal Audit Clearinghouse website.

Certification Regarding Lobbying Applicants requesting more than $100,000 in Federal funding must certify to the statements in 43 CFR Part 18, Appendix A-Certification Regarding Lobbying. If this application requests more than $100,000 in Federal funds, the Authorized Official’s signature on the appropriate SF-424, Application for Federal Assistance form also represents the entity’s certification of the statements in 43 CFR Part 18, Appendix A.

Disclosure of Lobbying Activities Applicants and recipients must not use any federally appropriated funds (annually appropriated or continuing appropriations) or matching funds under a Federal award to pay any person for lobbying in connection with the award. Lobbying is influencing or attempting to influence an officer or employee of any U.S. agency, a Member of the U.S. Congress, an officer or employee of the U.S. Congress, or an employee of a Member of the U.S. Congress connection with the award. Applicants and recipients must complete and submit the SF-LLL, Disclosure of Lobbying Activities if the Federal share of the proposal or award is more than $100,000 and the applicant or recipient has made or has agreed to make any payment using non-appropriated funds for lobbying in connection with the application or award. The SF-LLL form is available on the “Packages” tab of this Funding Opportunity on Grants.gov. See 43 CFR, Subpart 18.100 for more information on when additional submission of this form is required.

Overlap or Duplication of Effort Statement Applicants must provide a statement indicating if there is any overlap between this Federal application and any other Federal application, or funded project, in regards to activities, costs, or time commitment of key personnel. If no such overlap or duplication exists, state, “There are no overlaps or duplication between this application and any of our other Federal applications or funded projects, including in regards to activities, costs, or time commitment of key personnel”. If any such overlap exists, provide a complete description of overlaps or duplications between this proposal and any other federally funded project or application in regards to activities, costs, and time commitment of key personnel, as applicable. Provide a copy of any overlapping or duplicative proposal submitted to any other potential funding entity and identify when that proposal was submitted, to whom (entity name and program), and when you anticipate being notified of their funding decision. When overlap exists, your statement must end with “We understand that if at any time we receive funding from another source that is duplicative of the funding we are requesting from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in this application, we will immediately notify the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service point of contact identified in this Funding Opportunity in writing.”

Certification Regarding Fishing/Hunting All proposals must include a fishing/hunting certification as required by law (16 U.S.C. 669h-2 and 16 U.S.C. 777m). It is recommended that you use the following certification statement: “By submitting this proposal, the organization’s primary contact and/or authorized representative identified in this grant application certifies that the (insert name of organization) (1) will not use the grant funds to fund, in whole or in part, any activity that promotes or encourages opposition to the regulated hunting or trapping of wildlife or the regulated taking of fish; and (2) that the grant funds will not be used, in whole or in part, for an activity, project, or program that promotes or encourages opposition to the regulated hunting and trapping of wildlife or the regulated taking of fish.”

Application Checklist

· SF-424, Application for Federal Assistance or Application for Federal Assistance-Individual

· SF-424B or D, Assurances

· Project Narrative

· SF-424A or C, Budget Information

· Budget Narrative

· Indirect Cost Statement and related documentation (when applicable)

· Conflict of Interest Disclosure (when applicable)

· Single Audit Reporting Statement (when applicable)

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

· Overlap or Duplication of Effort Statement

Failure to provide complete information may cause delays, postponement, or rejection of the application.

V. Submission Requirements A. Unique Entity Identifier and System for Award Management (SAM.gov) Registration These requirements do not apply to any individual applying for funds as a private citizen or any entity with an exception approved by the Federal awarding agency under 2 CFR 25.110(d).