FY26 Canada Proposal Outline Template FINAL.docx

After you have read the additional instructions (in italicized blue), please delete them from your proposal.

Failure to read and follow the application instructions in the NAWCA 2026 Canada Grants Proposal Instructions document will result in an ineligible proposal.

NORTH AMERICAN WETLANDS CONSERVATION ACT PROPOSAL

PROJECT OFFICER’S PAGE

Proposal Title:

Submission Date:

Applicant Information:

Organization:

Project Officer Name:

Project Officer’s Work Address:

Telephone number:

Email address:

Grantee Administrative Officer / Authorized Representative:

Additional Contacts:

Organization and Key Personnel Qualifications:

Have you confirmed that all partners, key personnel, and contractors are eligible to participate in Federal grants?

Is Other U.S. Federal match or non-match involved in the proposal?

Will any portion of any tract or activities associated with any tract be used to satisfy any mitigation requirements?

Audit Requirements: If the U.S. based applicant organization expended more than $1,000,000 of federal funds during the last calendar year, please include a copy of your most recent of SF-FAC that was submitted to the Federal Audit Clearinghouse. If your organization is not based in the U.S. or did not expend more than $1,000,000 of federal funds last year, please certify that the Single Audit (formerly A-133) was not required. Do not remove above statement. Please provide a response.

Required Overlap/Duplication Statement: Applicants must provide a statement that addresses whether there is any overlap between the proposed project and any other active anticipated projects in terms of activities, costs, or time commitment of key personnel. If any overlap exists, applicants must provide a description of the overlap in their application. Applicants must also state if the proposal submitted for consideration under the program is/is not in any way duplicative of any proposal that was/will be submitted for funding consideration to any other potential funding source (Federal or non-Federal). If such a circumstance exists, applicants must detail when the other duplicative proposal(s) were submitted, to whom (entity name and program), and when funding decisions are expected to be announced. If at any time a proposal is awarded funds that would be duplicative of the funding requested from the Service, applicants must notify the Service point of contact for this funding opportunity immediately. Do not remove above statement. Please provide a response for both overlap and duplication.

Pre-award Cost Statement: Please indicate whether pre-award costs (grant or match) are requested. Pre-award grant costs may be incurred after a Proposal is received by FWS and before a Grant Agreement is issued. Pre-award match costs may be incurred up to the beginning of the calendar year two years before the Proposal was submitted to FWS. Pre-award costs must be incurred directly in anticipation of the federal award and must be necessary and reasonable for the current project’s objectives. If approved, corresponding terms and conditions will be added to the Notice of Award. Pre-award costs are incurred at the applicant’s risk. To qualify for pre-award cost reimbursement, applicants must provide a detailed description of the costs to be incurred pre-award along with an explanation that clearly demonstrates that the pre-award activities are necessary and reasonable for accomplishing the overall program objectives. Costs must be eligible and have otherwise been approved had they occurred within the project period. FWS will not approve pre-award costs for work performed that did not have written approval to incur those costs. Do not remove above statement. Provide a response.

Applicant Indirect Cost Rate Statement: Select the most appropriate response from the instructions document and include it here.

Trafficking Statement: 2 CFR §175.15 applies to awards to private entities as defined in 2 CFR §175.25(d), and to awards to States, local governments, Indian tribes, or foreign public entities, if the recipient could provide funding under the award to a private entity subrecipient. Recipients receiving more than $500,000 for activities outside the U.S. must comply with the plan and certification requirements in 2 CFR 175.105(b) before receiving an award and submit an annual certification each year the award is in effect. Do not remove above statement. Please include the appropriate statement below in your response.

· [Organization] complies with the statutory requirement under 2 CFR175.105(b).

· [Organization] does not comply with the statutory requirement under 2 CFR175.105(b).

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. Do not remove above statement. Please include the appropriate response.

To ensure that the proposal complies with available guidelines and that partners are aware of their responsibilities, the Project Officer certifies to the following statement: I have read the 2026 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Notice of Funding Opportunity, proposal instructions, eligibility information, and applicable Canada grant administration standards and informed partners or partners have read the material themselves. To the best of my knowledge, this proposal is eligible and complies with all NAWCA, North American Wetlands Conservation Council, and Federal grant guidelines and the information submitted herein is true and correct. The work in this proposal consists of allowable and eligible work and costs associated with long-term wetlands and migratory bird habitat conservation. All proposed activities have been adequately described in the proposal. If habitat or migratory bird benefits described in the proposal are found to be missing, grossly exaggerated and / or intentionally misleading, the proposal may be declared ineligible, or any resulting awards may be fully or partially terminated.

Sign & date Do you have any comments about, or suggestions for, the NAWCA program?

Two-page limit

NORTH AMERICAN WETLANDS CONSERVATION ACT EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Project Title (2026)

PROVINCE(S):

JOINT VENTURE(S):

BIRD CONSERVATION REGION(S):

APPLICANT ORGANIZATION:

Match Funding 1

1 Act funds will only be used to pay for activities eligible under 2 CFR 200, Subpart E and the Canada Grant Administration Standards.

2Any currency exchange gains will be directed back into NAWCA projects within the project area.

WORK PLAN AND BUDGET SUMMARY:

Acres Total Grant & Match Cost ($U.S.)

Non-Match Cost ($U.S.)

Acquisition of Real Property Interests

[activity](i.e. Fee Simple Acquisition)

[activity] (i.e. Conservation Easement Perpetual)

[activity] (i.e. Conservation Easement 25 Years)

Sub-total

Restoration

Enhancement

Management

Other Eligible Costs

Endowment

Grant Administration

Closeout Costs

Indirect Costs

Based on de minimis rate or approved NICRA %

TOTAL

PROPOSAL PURPOSE AND DESCRIPTION:

PUBLIC BENEFITS / PUBLIC ACCESS:

THREATS AND SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES:

Three-page limit

NORTH AMERICAN WETLANDS CONSERVATION ACT PROPOSAL

[Project Title] (2026)

PROJECT OVERVIEW

Project Description:

Expected Benefits:

Timeline / Milestones:

FINANCIAL PLAN TABLES

ACQUISITION

Fee Acquisition

Perpetual CE Acquisition

[25 Year] CE Acquisition

RESTORATION AND ENHANCEMENT

Restoration

Enhancement

MANAGEMENT

Management

OTHER FUNCTIONS

Grant Admin

Close Out Costs

Endowment Fund

Indirect Costs

NARRATIVE BUDGET

WORK PLAN

ACQUISITION

Description:

[Activity 1] (i.e. Fee Acquisition in XX Priority Area or XX Tract) XX ac wetlands XX ac uplands Perpetual

Grant U.S. Match CAN Match Non-Match

[Activity 2] (i.e. Conservation Easement in XX Priority Area or XX Tract) XX ac wetlands XX ac uplands Perpetual

Grant U.S. Match CAN Match Non-Match

[Activity 3] (i.e. Conservation Easement in XX Priority Area or XX Tract) XX ac wetlands XX ac uplands XX Years

Grant U.S. Match CAN Match Non-Match

Summary

XX Wetland Ac XX Upland Ac Grant $ U.S. Match $ CAN Match $ Non-Match $

RESTORATION

Description:

[Restoration 1]

XX ac wetlands XX ac uplands XX Years

Grant U.S. Match CAN Match Non-Match

[Restoration 2]

XX ac wetlands XX ac uplands XX Years

Grant U.S. Match CAN Match Non-Match

Summary

XX Wetland Ac XX Upland Ac Grant $ U.S. Match $

ENHANCEMENT

Description:

[Enhancement 1]

XX ac Wetlands XX ac Uplands XX Years

Grant U.S. Match CAN Match Non-Match

[Enhancement 2]

XX ac Wetlands XX ac Uplands XX Years

Grant U.S. Match CAN Match Non-Match

Summary

XX Wetland Ac XX Upland Ac Grant $ U.S. Match $

MANAGEMENT

Description:

[Management 1]

XX ac wetlands XX ac uplands

Grant U.S. Match CAN Match

[Management 2]

XX ac wetlands XX ac uplands

Grant U.S. Match CAN Match

Summary

XX Wetland Ac XX Upland Ac Grant $ U.S. Match $

OTHER FUNCTIONS

GRANT ADMINISTRATION

U.S. Match $ CAN Match $

CLOSE OUT COSTS

U.S. Match $ CAN Match $

ENDOWMENT FUND

U.S. Match $ CAN Match $

INDIRECT COSTS

Description:

Rate(s):

Rate 1: [Name] % Start Date End Date Base Costs $ Total Indirect $

Rate 2: [Name] % Start Date End Date Base Costs $ Total Indirect $

Rate 3: [Name] % Start Date End Date Base Costs $ Total Indirect $

Grant

U.S. Match

CAN Match

FINAL TITLEHOLDER SUMMARY

ADDITIONAL WORK PLAN DETAILS:

Easement Protections: No more than 1 page per proposed easement type.

Program Income: No more than 1 page.

Pre-Award Costs: No more than 1 page.

Will any of the activities in this proposal be conducted on property on the UNESCO World Heritage List or the in-country equivalent of the U.S. National Register of Historic Places? No more than 1 page.

Other Work Plan Details: No page limit for this response.

Technical Assessment Question Section has a 14-page limit, including all text and tables.

TECHNICAL ASSESSMENT QUESTION #1

How does the proposal contribute to the conservation of waterfowl habitat?

See Appendix B in the instructions for the list of priority waterfowl. All narrative information should be within the table below.

(Identify individual tracts)

High Priority

Species (under each category, add additional rows for each applicable species)

Medium Priority

Species (under each category, add additional rows for each applicable species)

Low Priority

Species (choose up to 5 species in this category, add additional rows for each applicable species)

If tracts are not yet identified, briefly explain below what procedure will be used to ensure that high quality habitat is targeted.

TECHNICAL ASSESSMENT QUESTION #2

How does the proposal contribute to the conservation of wetland-associated migratory birds and other priority species?

All narrative information should be within the tables below.

A. Priority bird species Identify up to 10 species from the Canadian JV priority wetland-associated bird species list. See Appendix C in the proposal instructions.

If tracts are not yet identified, briefly explain what procedure will be used to ensure that high quality habitat is targeted.

B. Other wetland-associated bird species: Identify up to 10 additional bird species not included in your response to Part A.

TECHNICAL ASSESSMENT QUESTION #3

How does the proposal relate to the national and regional bird plans for wetland areas?

A. How does the proposal location relate to the North American Waterfowl Management Plan geographic wetland priorities or target areas as described by the Canadian Habitat Joint Venture Implementation Plans?

National wetland conservation priorities: Include non-additive acres in this table in parentheses.

Out (Acres)

Pacific Bird Habitat Joint Venture

Canadian Intermountain Joint Venture

Prairie Habitat Joint Venture

Western Boreal Forest

Eastern Habitat Joint Venture

Narrative:

B. Describe how the proposal location contributes to the Partners In Flight Plan, the Canadian Shorebird Conservation Plan, and/or the North American Waterbird Conservation Plan, along with any other regional conservation priorities.

Regional wetland conservation priorities: All narrative information should be within the table below.

Partners In Flight Plan

Canadian Shorebird Conservation Plan

North American Waterbird Conservation Plan

Other Regional Bird Conservation Plans (add rows as needed)

TECHNICAL ASSESSMENT QUESTION #4

How does the proposal relate to the national wetland classes?

Remove activity types not associated with the proposal. Do not include non-additive acres in this table. Wetland class definitions can be found in the proposal instructions.

(incl. Coastal)

Fee

Easement

Acquired Total

Restored

Enhanced

Class Total

Grand Total

Provide a brief narrative to describe the wetlands in this project, and how the proposed activities will address the risk factors and threats to the current wetland and upland habitats (e.g., cropland, grassland, forest). If no wetland data is available for the project area or tracts, it is very important to describe the wetlands of the area and their benefits to migratory bird conservation (i.e., reason for including in the proposal).

TECHNICAL ASSESSMENT QUESTION #5

How does the proposal contribute to long-term conservation of wetlands and associated uplands?

Remove activity types not associated with the proposal. Include non-additive acres in parentheses.

* Includes water control structures made of material other than wood.

** Includes wood water control structures and pumps.

TOTAL

ACRES

Fee

Easement

TOTAL ACQUIRED

Restoration

Enhanced

Management

TOTAL

A. Provide a brief narrative describing the habitat types (wetland and upland) and describe the significance of these habitats to:

· How the project area and tracts might be affected by changing environmental conditions within the next 30-50 years,

· How the activities proposed will address, in a resilient and adaptive manner, any effects caused by changing environmental conditions.

B. Provide a brief narrative describing any proposed management activities.

TECHNICAL ASSESSMENT QUESTION #6

How does the proposal contribute to the conservation of habitat for species listed or proposed under the U.S. Endangered Species Act (ESA); the Canadian Species At Risk Act (SARA), or other fish and wildlife that are specifically involved with the proposal?

All narrative information should be within the table below. Do not list more than ten species in each category and focus on species that are not already listed in TAQs 1 and 2.

A. ESA Species

B. SARA Species

C. Other Species

TECHNICAL ASSESSMENT QUESTION #7

How does the proposal satisfy the partnership purpose of the North American Wetlands Conservation Act?

A. Partner Participation and Financial Contributions

<$250,000 # funding partners $250,000 - $500,000 # funding partners > $500,000

State/Provincial/ Territorial agencies

Non-government conservation organizations

Local governments (e.g. county, municipality)

Private landowners

Profit-making corporations

Indigenous governments

Federal agencies

Other partner groups (e.g. Individuals, Foundations)

B. Other Important Partnership Aspects

C. Public Access / Benefits to U.S. Hunters/Recreationists Include non-additive acres in parentheses.

Fee Simple (applicant owned)

Private Landowner

Public/Crown Land

Other

MAPS

Insert maps of project area, priority areas, and individual tract map(s) if known.

OTHER APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

Have you submitted the following through GrantSolutions?

· Proposal

· SF-424 Application

· SF-424 A (Non-Construction) Budget Information Table

· SF-LLL (if applicable)

· Project Abstract Summary

· Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (if applicable)

· Signed Match Letters

· A-133 Single Audit or Most Recent Audit / Financial Statement

Have you emailed the following to dbhc@fws.gov?

· GrantSolutions Application Number

· GIS Shapefile of Project Area and Tract(s) as a .zip file

· Two to Five Photos of Proposed Project Areas and Activities that Highlight NAWCA Benefits (for FWS use in publications and documents)