FY2024 Bushmeat NOFO F24AS00433.pdf

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

FWS - International Conservation https://www.fws.gov/program/international-affairs

F24AS00433 Central Africa Regional Program Bushmeat Notice of Funding Opportunity

Fiscal Year: 2024

F24AS00433

Due Date for Applications: 11/18/2024

Table of Contents

A. Program Description

A1. Authority

A2. Assistance Listing Number

A3. Background, Purpose and Program Requirements

A4. Funding Opportunity Goals

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

A1. Authority

Endangered Species Act—International cooperation (16 U.S.C. §1537)

Applications awarded under this announcement will be funded through a Participating Agency

Program Agreement (PAPA) between the US Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) and the United

States Agency for International Development (USAID), Central Africa Regional Program for the

Environment (CARPE). The Activity Title of the Agreement is Strengthening Conservation

Management in Central Africa, signed on May 17, 2021. Section 632(b) of the Foreign

Assistance Act of 1961, as amended (FAA), 22 U.S.C section 2392 (b).

A2. Assistance Listing Number

Assistance Listing Number

15.651

A3. Background, Purpose and Program Requirements

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s (FWS) 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 International Affairs Program (IA) delivers this mission through its financial assistance programs by supporting strategic projects that deliver measurable conservation results for priority species and their habitats around the world. The Central Africa Program is administered by the Africa Branch of FWS/IA and focuses on developing the capacity of protected area and conservation managers, at multiple levels of implementation, to sustain healthy wildlife populations and benefit those communities with which they co-exist.

One of the greatest threats to the wildlife populations in Central Africa is the unsustainable commercialization and trafficking of meat illegally harvested from wild populations of protected species for trade and consumption in cities. Within the context of the issue of what is more widely referred to as “wild meat”, FWS/IA distinguishes bushmeat as meat illegally and commercially derived from wildlife, including the illegal hunting of protected species for the commercial trade, as opposed to that which is derived for subsistence or controlled and regulated trade using legal means by those with legal rights to access [1]. Bushmeat is a complex international issue that threatens the health of wildlife populations and the local people and ecosystems that depend on them. A lack of clear evidence-based policies, awareness, and enforcement regarding the illegal versus legal use of wild meat further contributes to this risk. To address this threat, FWS/IA aims to eliminate protected species from the commercial trade in wild meat by focusing on the illegal bushmeat trade. This long-term goal is consistent with the

Federal authorizing legislation for the FWS international activities, including conservation assistance for threatened and endangered foreign species as encouraged by Section 8 of the

Endangered Species Act. This also supports the FWS/IA administration of Convention on

International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), which strives to ensure that international trade does not threaten the survival of wildlife species. Leading conservationists from Central Africa and the academic community have identified a need for information (e.g., scientific data, traditional knowledge, assessments of interventions) so that stakeholders and policy makers can effectively monitor and manage use of wild meat from hunting at the village level to consumption in urban areas.

In support of the overall Central Africa Program goal and in combination with other strategies, the purpose of this Notice of Funding Opportunity is to address the threat of the unsustainable and illegal urban trade of protected species and target three objectives to inform overall wild meat governance to improve wildlife outcomes in Central Africa:

(1) Wild meat governance at national, regional, and international levels, informed by the best available evidence in Central Africa.

Desired results may include, as appropriate, (1a) increased access and availability of evidence bases, toolkits, libraries and databases for stakeholders and decision makers, and (1b) stakeholders and decision makers are knowledgeable of these resources.

(2) A growing evidence base for researchers, practitioners, and policy makers, including a better understanding of intervention effectiveness regarding reducing the illegal bushmeat trade.

Desired results may include, as appropriate, (2a) improved evidence databases with online data visualizations, (2b) expansion into different regions and data types, and (2c) additional data on the monitoring, evaluation, and effectiveness of wild meat interventions.

(3) Increasing individual capacity in Central Africa for governance and evidence-building activities focused on reducing the illegal bushmeat trade.

Desired results may include, as appropriate, (3a) stakeholders and decisions makers have the skill sets to use on-line evidence bases, toolkits, libraries and databases, (3b) data contributors have the financial resources and technical support needed to collect data and the skills set to contribute clean and valid data to the evidence database, i.e., direct support to field researchers, (3c) government officials and major constituents (civil society, rights-holders and stakeholders) recognize research databases as a valid source of information for policy decisions, and (3d), international bodies such as the Convention on

Biological Diversity (CBD), Congo Basin Forest Partnership, regional institutions such as the Central African Forest Commission (Commission des Forêts d'Afrique Centrale;

COMIFAC), and national governments in Central Africa use evidence databases for policy decisions.

FWS/IA invites proposals for projects that will provide support to stakeholders and decision makers to convene, exchange information, develop skills, and build partner networks to help meet the desired results. Applicants may collaborate with other organizations to fulfill these activities.

Proposals should plan and budget activities to include several key stakeholders and decisions makers in Central Africa to strengthen individual capacity. For example, activities including virtual or in-person workshops should include all costs for facilitating in addition to hosting participants (e.g., travel, lodging, per diem, admin costs for processing reimbursements).

Applications will be evaluated based on likelihood to achieve conservation results in support of these objectives and overall goal.

Applicants may choose to include additional objectives or are welcome to use different terminology or framing to describe proposal goals and objectives that align with a project’s existing strategic planning or local context. All proposed outcomes and activities, however, should collectively facilitate the delivery of meaningful results consistent with the Service’s previously mentioned program goal and objectives. Proposed project work should occur within

Central Africa, or, if work is to be conducted outside of Central Africa, the proposal must explain how the work will benefit stakeholders in Central Africa, e.g., government staff, NGO staff, Central Africa graduate students and university faculty, and local communities.

Applications will be evaluated based on likelihood to achieve conservation results in support of these objectives and overall goal.

This funding opportunity will award up to two awards of two to five years in duration, for a range of $200,000 to $400,000 USD/per year for each project.

[1] Mainka, S.A and Trivedi, M, (eds) (2002). Links between Biodiversity Conservation, Livelihoods and Food Security: The sustainable use of wild species for meat. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK. iV+135pp.

A4. Funding Opportunity Goals

• The goal of the FWS/IA Central Africa Program is to strengthen the long-term capacity for conservation in the region's wildlife strongholds. We broadly define capacity to include 1) the capacity of habitat to support healthy wildlife populations, 2) the capacity of people and local and national institutions to lead conservation, and 3) the capacity of institutions to support and sustain improvements in governance that benefit the species and people that occur in and around regional wildlife strongholds. These strongholds include endangered species identified as priorities for FWS/IA (Africa elephants, great apes, marine turtles), as well as additional populations of threatened, endemic, and regionally important populations (e.g., okapi, pangolin, slender-snouted crocodile).

Funding opportunities address three priority programmatic themes 1) conservation areas and wildlife strongholds, 2) systematic capacity development, and 3) addressing selected regional pressures on wildlife, including the unsustainable trade in bushmeat, the intersection of transhumance and protected areas, and zoonotic diseases that could decimate populations of threatened, endemic, and regionally important wildlife species.

This Notice of Funding Opportunity targets the programmatic theme of unsustainable trade in bushmeat.

B. Federal Award Information

B1. Total Funding

Estimated Total Funding

$2,000,000 https://portals.iucn.org/library/sites/library/files/documents/SSC-OP-024.pdf https://portals.iucn.org/library/sites/library/files/documents/SSC-OP-024.pdf https://portals.iucn.org/library/sites/library/files/documents/SSC-OP-024.pdf

B2. Expected Award Amount

Maximum Award

$2,000,000

Minimum Award

$400,000

B3. Expected Award Funding and Anticipated Dates

Expected Award Funding

Expected Award Date

April 28, 2025

B4. Number of Awards

Expected Number of Awards

A total of one or two awards are anticipated. The maximum for any single award is $2,000,000 over a five-year period. Actual award amounts are contingent upon the number of awards and funds availability.

Proposals should be two to five-year projects with a range of $200,000 to $400,000 per year for no more than $2,000,000 total over five years. The amount of funding requested must be clearly justified by the scope of the activities, anticipated results, and length of the project period. For multi-year projects, budgets and activities should be clearly articulated by year.

FWS/IA may obligate all funds upfront, or the funds may be obligated in incremental funding year-by-year. Support for subsequent years will be contingent upon satisfactory project performance, reporting, financial management, and availability of program funds.

FWS/IA may issue future and non-competitive renewal funding for the projects funded from this

NOFO. Requests for renewal funding will be solicited by FWS/IA and will be based on satisfactory project performance, reporting, financial management, and availability of program funds.

FWS/IA reserves the right to fund any or none of the applications submitted and will determine the resulting level of funding for the award.

B5. Type of Award

Funding Instrument Type

G - Grant

CA - Cooperative Agreement

In a cooperative agreement, the Service will be substantially involved in projects under this funding opportunity.

FWS/IA Central Africa Program has built a portfolio of projects and partners that are developing new and innovative tools to respond to emerging pressures. As part of its role in a cooperative agreement, FWS/IA may coordinate specific technical input, tools and expertise being developed in interrelated projects receiving FWS/IA support to maximize conservation impact across the region, contingent on available financial and staff resources.

In addition, FWS/IA will engage, as appropriate, the governments of the Central Africa Forest

Commission (Commission des Forêts d'Afrique Centrale; COMIFAC), i.e., Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo, Republic of Congo, Central African Republic, Chad, Equatorial

Guinea, and Gabon, as well as the donor community, to advance wildlife conservation.

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 may be multi-national secretariats, U.S. and foreign non-profits, non-governmental organizations, community and Indigenous organizations, and U.S. and foreign public and private institutions of higher education.

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 voluntarily. Voluntary Committed Cost Share (See 2

CFR 200.1) is not an eligibility factor, and contributions will not result in a more favorable competitive ranking. Cost share 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 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 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

Funds provided under this program may not be used for assistance to government, parts of government, or government employees in countries that USAID notifies the Service to be ineligible for assistance.

Awards are contingent on funding eligibility and policy circumstances in each country and may be subject to special coordination or communication with USAID and/or its partners. In limited cases, the Service may request that applicants remove certain activities from the project to meet funding or policy requirements.

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

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 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 https://www.fws.gov/program/international-affairs

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". For instructions on completing the SF-424, please reference the Instructional Video: Completing the SF424.

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 and expected outcomes, intended beneficiaries, and subrecipient activities, if known at the time of submission.

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 https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZb5DyVcCk973cI_AVHushgcEmEMS6aUH

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

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, including the location and country, 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); 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 ongoing 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, and how the applicant plans to expand upon the successes, failures, and lessons learned from past efforts.

It is important for applicants to show that conservation project proposals are based on the best available evidence. Applicants are encouraged to describe and cite the evidence base for the most important conservation activities within a proposal. For example, applicants should describe the existing evidence that suggests proposed activities will be effective, with a focus on activities that may have substantial or sensitive consequences or activities that are considered high risk by the project. To identify evidence for conservation activities, applicants are encouraged to search and cite the Conservation Evidence database (https://www.conservationevidence.com/). The evidence base may also include published or grey literature, previous personal experience, Indigenous and/or traditional knowledge, evidence review and synthesis libraries (e.g., CEEDER, Evidence for Nature and People Data Portal), or species assessments published under the Endangered Species

Act and the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. If a proposed activity is considered sensitive or high risk but has little to no existing evidence base among these information sources, applicants are encouraged to discuss where new evidence is needed to understand effectiveness. Further guidance and examples are available in Parks et al.

(2022) Funding Evidence-Based Conservation and its supplementary materials.

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 for reviewers 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 https://www.conservationevidence.com/

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 described 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 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 and Capacity Development:

5.1 Stakeholder Engagement: This section should answer the question, “Who is impacted by this project and how will they be incorporated into the project (e.g.

consultation mechanism, inclusion in governance system, outreach etc.)?” As applicable, describe how you/your organization has coordinated with and involved other relevant organizations, indigenous peoples and local communities, 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 the proposed collaboration from each partner organization will strengthen your proposal and may be requested by reviewers. If the project impacts changes in access to resources by indigenous peoples and local communities, letters of support or documentation of consultation may be requested by the reviewers.

5.2 In-Country Capacity Development and Implementation

Please detail the way(s) in which the project builds conservation capacity within the community or country where work is proposed. State clearly how capacity will extend beyond the period of performance of the project. If student support is proposed for the project, make a clear case for why this approach is an optimal form of capacity building in the given conservation/country context.

6. Support for Protected Areas: Projects with activities taking place in a protected area must address the following questions regarding social safeguards. Technical support documents for implementing these safeguards are available at https://biodiversitylinks.org/library/key-resources#parks to help applicants and recipients of USAID-funded projects apply these requirements and avoid or mitigate social risks associated with conservation activities for parks and protected areas. If the applicant believes that any of these items are not applicable, an explanation for this determination must be provided:

o How will information detailing the proposed project and potential impacts be shared with local communities and the free, prior, and informed consent of affected indigenous communities be obtained in accordance with USAID’s

Policy on Promoting the Rights of Indigenous Peoples?;

o How will the potential impacts of the proposed project on existing land or resource claims by affected local communities or indigenous peoples be considered and addressed in a management plan?;

o What is the plan for providing proper training and monitoring to any eco-guards, park rangers, and other law enforcement personnel regarding safe and fair application of the law, including respect for human rights and avoiding intimidation or unnecessary use of force?; and o Do effective grievance and redress mechanisms for reporting human rights abuse, misconduct, and other grievances exist? If not, what are the plans for their establishment?

7. 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. 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 except for the relevant standard indicators identified for

USAID-funded project, 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 following table format is recommended:

Objective Indicator

(i.e., what you will measure to track your

Monitoring

Method

Current Status

(if known)

Desired Status

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 lessons learned to improve our efforts to conserve wildlife.

In addition to project-specific indicators, projects funded under this announcement will be required to report progress against USAID’s standard indicators for biodiversity projects. If one or more of the following indicators are relevant to the project, include them in your monitoring plan.

• EG 10.2-1 Number of hectares of biologically significant areas showing improved biophysical conditions as a result of USG assistance

• EG 10.2-2 Number of hectares of biologically significant areas under improved natural resource management as a result of USG assistance

• EG 10.2-3 Number of people with improved economic benefits derived from sustainable natural resource management and/or biodiversity conservation as a result of USG assistance

• EG 10.2-4 Number of people trained in sustainable natural resources management and/or biodiversity conservation as a result of USG assistance

• EG 10.2-5 Number of laws, policies, or regulations that address biodiversity conservation and/or other environmental themes officially proposed, adopted, or implemented as a result of USG assistance

• EG 10.2-6 Number of people that apply improved conservation law enforcement practices as a result of USG assistance

8. 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.

Based on the activities involved, reviewers may request additional information regarding institutional policies and codes of conduct that demonstrate such measures are in place. 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. Provide brief (1-page) curricula vitae for key personnel, identifying progress toward achieving the objective)

(i.e., how you will measure the indicator) 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 in the description of personnel qualifications.

9. 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.

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

11. 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. Label any protected areas.

12. Government Letter of Endorsement: For projects implemented outside of the

United States, non-governmental applicants must include a recent letter of support (no older than two years) from the appropriate local, regional, or national government wildlife or conservation authority. A current Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the applicant and the government authority may be accepted as long as the

MOU references the proposed work. Where appropriate, letters of support from local communities or project beneficiaries should be provided. Endorsement letters should be in English and make specific reference to the Service and the proposed work. If a support or endorsement letter is not in English, applicants must also provide an

English translation of the letter. For projects where Indigenous Peoples are present in or have a collective attachment to the project area and there are either: (i) risks of possible adverse impacts on their human rights, livelihoods, and/or culture; (ii) the potential for adverse impacts on their lands and territories, natural resources, or sacred sites (whether the land is under traditional ownership title or based on customary use and occupation); or (iii) threats that might result in physical relocation from those lands, letters should explain the planned or completed process for how the project will obtain/has obtained free, prior, and informed consent (FPIC) in line with USAID’s

Policy on Promoting the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, in addition to national and international laws, regarding proposed project activities. Technical support documents for implementing FPIC are available at https://biodiversitylinks.org/library/key-resources#parks.

SF-424A, Budget Information for Non-Construction Programs

Applicants must complete and submit the SF-424A Budget Information form for Non-

Construction Programs or Projects. All required application forms are available with this announcement on Grants.gov or in GrantSolutions. Federal award recipients and subrecipients are subject to Federal award cost principles in Title 2 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) part 200. Applicants must show funds requested from this Federal program separately from any other Federal sources of funding. In “Section A – Budget Summary” on the SF-424A form enter the funding requested from this Federal program in the first row. Identify any other Federal funding sources and amounts in the required Budget Narrative (see below). In “Section B –

Budget Categories” on the SF-424A form enter the funding requested for each Object Class

Category. For the SF-424A “Contractual” category enter estimated contractual costs only. Do not include subaward costs in the “Contractual” category. Enter estimated subaward costs in the

SF-424A “Other” category. Provide a separate description and total estimated costs for both contractual and subaward costs in the required Budget Narrative (see below). For more information about subrecipient and contractor determinations, see 2 CFR §200.331. For instructions on completing the SF-424A, please reference: Instructional Video: Completing the

SF424.

Budget Table

Applicants must include an itemized Budget arranged by Objective Class Categories (See SF 424

A, section B). Budgets should not be arranged by activities. An example budget spreadsheet and budget narrative are available on our website. These are optional documents to serve as an example of what information applicants must include in their budget and budget narrative and how to convey that information.

If the proposed project is a component of a larger program, identify leveraged funds and other resources available and/or needed to accomplish the desired objectives (leveraged funds are funds that run parallel to or outside of the proposed SERVICE project budget). Include the specific funding amount to be provided by those sources and the relevant activities they will contribute to. In addition, it is recommended that the Budget Narrative address the overall cost-effectiveness and feasibility of the proposal, including leveraging institutional or other resources.

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 (e.g., 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 (e.g., 50% time on project).

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.

https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200/subpart-D/subject-group-ECFR031321e29ac5bbd/section-200.331 https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZb5DyVcCk973cI_AVHushgcEmEMS6aUH https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZb5DyVcCk973cI_AVHushgcEmEMS6aUH https://www.fws.gov/asian-elephant-conservation-fund-example-budget-spreadsheet https://www.fws.gov/asian-elephant-conservation-fund/example-budget-narrative 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

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. If an item does not meet these criteria, it should be considered a supply and listed under cost category E. Justify any equipment purchase/rental in the budget narrative. If equipment previously purchased with Federal funds is available for the project, provide a list of that equipment and identify the Federal funding source. For expensive items or large single purchases, provide detailed technical specifications or a pro forma invoice.

Supplies: List items separately using unit costs and the percentage of each unit cost being charged to the award for photocopying, postage, telephone/fax, printing, and office supplies

(e.g., Telephone: $50/month x 50% = $25/month x 12 months).

Contractual:

1. Subawards: For each subaward, provide a detailed line-item breakdown explaining specific services in a separate tab in the Budget and Narrative. Subaward budgets should include the same level of detail for personnel, fringe benefits, travel, equipment, supplies, other direct costs, and indirect costs required of the direct applicant. If indirect costs are charged on a subaward budget, include the subrecipient’s NICRA.

2. Consultant Fees: For example, lecture fees, honoraria, travel, and per diem for outside speakers or independent evaluators: list number of people and rates per day (e.g., 2 x $150/day x

2 days). Consultant/outside expert fees/honoraria should be consistent with the level of experience and based on a fair market value.

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. Include a complete description of each cost category. 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 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 known at the time of application, include an estimated number of subawards and the dollar amount anticipated for each subaward. 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. Please note the prohibitions on certain telecommunications and video surveillance services or equipment in 2 CFR 200.216. Recipients may not earn, make, or keep any profit resulting from any financial assistance awards. These costs are not allowable and should not be included in any proposed costs.

Conflict of Interest Disclosure

Per the Financial Assistance Interior Regulation (FAIR), 2 CFR §1402.112, applicants must state in their application if any actual or potential conflict of interest exists at the time of submission.

a. Applicability.

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/subpart-C/section-200.216 https://ecfr.federalregister.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-B/chapter-XIV/part-1402/subpart-B https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-B/chapter-XIV/part-1402/subpart-B/section-1402.112

1. This section intends to ensure that non-Federal entities and their employees take appropriate steps to avoid conflicts of interest in their responsibilities under or with respect to Federal financial assistance agreements.

2. In the procurement of supplies, equipment, construction, and services by recipients and by sub recipients, the conflict of interest provisions in 2

CFR§200.318 apply.

b. Notification.

1. Non-Federal entities, including applicants for financial assistance awards, must disclose in writing any conflict of interest to the DOI awarding agency or pass- through entity in accordance with 2 CFR §200.112.

2. Recipients must establish internal controls that include, at a minimum, procedures to identify, disclose, and mitigate or eliminate identified conflicts of interest. The recipient is responsible for notifying the

Financial Assistance Officer in writing of any conflicts of interest that may arise during the life of the award, including those that have been reported by sub recipients.

c. Restrictions on lobbying. Non-Federal entities are strictly prohibited from using funds under a grant or cooperative agreement for lobbying activities and must provide the required certifications and disclosures pursuant to 43 CFR §18 and 31

USC §1352.

d. Review procedures. The Financial Assistance Officer will examine each conflict of interest disclosure on the basis of its particular facts and the nature of the proposed grant or cooperative agreement, and will determine whether a significant potential conflict exists and, if it does, develop an appropriate means for resolving it.

Enforcement. Failure to resolve conflicts of interest in a manner that satisfies the government may be cause for termination of the award. Failure to make required disclosures may result in any of the remedies described in 2 CFR §200.339, Remedies for noncompliance, including suspension or debarment (see also 2 CFR §180).

Uniform Audit Reporting Statement

All U.S. states, local governments, Indian tribes, institutions of higher education, 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, in accordance with 2 CFR 200 subpart F. U.S. state, local government, Indian tribes, institutions of higher education, and non- profit applicants must state if your organization was or was…