FY26 US Small Proposal Outline Template draft_March 2026.docx

Do NOT submit a separate cover/transmittal letter with the proposal. After you have read the additional instructions (in italicized blue), please delete them from your proposal. Do NOT edit or delete required statements/questions when providing responses.

FY2026 SMALL GRANTS PROPOSAL APPLICATION

PROJECT OFFICER’S PAGE

Project Officer’s Page is required to have a 1-inch margin with Times New Roman size 11 font.

What is the proposal title? Do not include private landowner names. Limit to 80 characters (including spaces).

What is the date you are submitting the proposal?

Project Officer Information:

1. Name: The Project Officer MUST be the primary point of contact for the project and must be affiliated with/employed by the grantee’s organization. List the person who will be managing the project activities, filing reports, and communicating with DBHC.

2. Organization: Full, legal name of Applicant Organization. If the organization entered here is not the grantee organization, please explain. (See the most recent Eligibility Criteria and Processes)

3. Project Officer’s Work Address: City, State, Zip+4 where available (No P.O. Box Address)

4. Telephone number: List the numbers at which the Project Officer can be reached, including work and cell numbers.

5. Email address:

6. Additional contacts: We require a single Project Officer, but please list another contact who may communicate with us pre- or post- award about the project if the Project Officer is unavailable. The Project Officer must be fully engaged in the proposal and project process. Provide name(s), email(s), and phone number(s).

Will any of the NAWCA funds requested as part of this proposal be received or spent by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service or another Federal agency? Yes/No If yes, which agency(ies) will receive these funds and what is the fund amount:

Agency_______________________ Amount______________

Is Federal non-match involved in your proposal? Yes/No DBHC will need to ensure the Federal program approves of NAWCA claiming an interest in the total achievements. The proposal MUST clearly identify why these acres are non-federal. Non-match cannot be claimed for a portion of the acres. Please provide contact information for the Federal non-match program in order to confirm that the two Federal programs are compatible to pool costs and achievements. See the U.S. Eligibility Criteria and Processes document for further information regarding pooling of non-federal funds.

Does this proposal include acquisition activities that will add to the National Wildlife Refuge System (NWRS)? Yes/No If yes, please indicate which NWRS program the acquisition(s) will be added to: National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) and which one(s), Waterfowl Production Area (WPA) and which one(s), or Small Wetland Acquisition Program (SWAP).

Will any portion of any tract or activities associated with any tract be used to satisfy wetland or habitat mitigation requirements under Clean Water Act, Rivers and Harbors Act, Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act, Water Resources Development Act, ecological service credits or other related statutes now or in the future? Yes/No If yes, please highlight and provide details in the appropriate financial plan narrative/work plan section.

Have you confirmed that all partners, key personnel, and contractors are eligible to participate in Federal grants? Yes/No

Briefly describe qualifications and experience of key personnel (1-2 sentences per individual) who will be providing project implementation assistance (e.g., financial officer, project officer, key field staff, etc.):

Please verify that you understand that as a condition of receiving NAWCA funds you will be required to maintain the match to grant ratio as outlined within your selected proposal and detailed within your award. Yes, I understand/No, I do not understand

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 FY2026 Small Grant proposal instructions, eligibility information, and applicable U.S. grant administration policies 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.

Sign & date

Audit reports. If the applicant organization expended more than $750,000 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 did not expend more than $750,000 of federal funds last year, please certify that the Single Audit (formerly A-133) was not required. 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 or 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: Pre-award costs are defined as costs that were incurred after a Proposal is received by the FWS Program Office and before a Grant Agreement is issued, and therefore they are incurred at the applicant’s risk. Please indicate whether or not pre-award costs are requested. To qualify for pre-award cost reimbursement, recipients must clearly demonstrate that the pre-award activities are necessary and reasonable for accomplishing the overall program objectives. Costs must have otherwise been approved had they occurred within the project period. DBHC will not approve pre-award costs for work performed that did not receive DBHC written approval to incur those costs or requires compliance documentation. Provide a detailed description of what requested costs will cover for each tract (e.g., permitting, project design, staff time, etc.).

In order to request approval for pre-award costs please provide the following information:

· A detailed description of costs covered by tract and activity (e.g., permitting, project design, staff time, etc.).

· An explanation for the need for pre-award costs.

· The amount of funding requested for specified pre-award activities.

· The start and completion dates for all pre-award activities.

· Add or delete activity rows as necessary.

*Requested costs must reflect information provided within the Work Plan.

Please provide a response.

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

NORTH AMERICAN WETLANDS CONSERVATION ACT PROPOSAL SUMMARY

Proposal Title, State(s) Proposal Summary is required to have a 1-inch margin with Times New Roman size 11 font. One-page limit.

COUNTY(IES), STATE(S), CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT(S): In alphabetical order

JOINT VENTURE(S):

BIRD CONSERVATION REGION(S):

GRANT AMOUNT $Total Request Specify organization and/or Federal entity receiving grant funds Allocation: $

MATCHING PARTNERS $Total Match List all partners that will provide match, beginning with the grantee organization (if applicable).

GRANT AND MATCH - ACTIVITIES, COSTS, AND ACRES $Total Cost/Total acres Remove activity types not associated with the proposal

NON-MATCHING PARTNERS (remove if not applicable) $Total Non-match List all non-match partners and contributions in the same format as the matching partners Grantee/Partner: $

PROPOSAL PURPOSE AND DESCRIPTION:

Include Financial Table here. NOTE: A Word table is given below. If you prefer to use an Excel table, one is available on the NAWCA website. 3-page limit. Remove activity types and costs not associated with the proposal.

PROPOSAL FINANCIAL PLAN TABLE

MATCH $

NEW

MATCH $

TOTAL GRANT + MATCH $

G. TOTAL ACQUIRED

(Sum of A, B, C, D, E, F)

L. GRAND TOTAL DIRECT

(Sum of G and H, I, J, K)

GRAND TOTAL

(Sum of L and M)

MACH $

ABBREVIATED

PARTNER NAME

OLD

MATCH $

NEW

MATCH $

TOTAL

GRANT +

MATCH $

Explain any abbreviations in the Financial Plan Table here. Indirect costs can be lumped in the above financial table. Insert the following table for each tract or Grant Administration with associated indirect costs.

Tract # or Grant Administration

Indirect Cost

WORK PLAN

Work Plan is required to be in Times New Roman size 11 font. Before completing this section, refer to the Work Plan section instructions of the US Small Instructions for pre-award cost reimbursements.

TRACT #- Name

OVERALL ACRES AFFECTED:

STATE/FEDERAL AGENCIES HOLDING INTERESTS:

Acreage Summary of Grant/Match Activities on the Tract:

Acquisition

Restoration

Enhancement

Establishment

Describe all grant/match activities occurring on the tract here:

Tract #-Name: Acquisition Financial Plan Justification - $_______ and _____ acres Grant - $_________ Match - $_________ Non-Match - $_________ Completion:

LAND ACQUISITION DISCLOSURE

Does the fee title include building envelope(s)? If so, how many acres? Note: Acres under a building envelope cannot be claimed with total acres for the fee title within this proposal.

Are mineral rights severed or included? If severed, explain.

Are water rights severed or included? If severed, explain.

EASEMENTS:

Does the easement include or allow for cultivated agriculture? If so, how would the allowed agricultural activities impact the habitat value of the land? (e.g., short-term vs long-term transitional agricultural use activities).

Has the easement holder adopted the “Land Trust Standards and Practices” developed by the Land Trust Alliance? If so, provide the date of that action. If not, describe the standards used to ensure adequate easement management and monitoring.

List all other allowed activities, allowed structures, building areas, or reserved rights not described above.

LEASES:

(month, year) Funding Source (Grant or Partner name)

LAND COSTS

APPRAISALS and OTHER ACQUISITION COSTS

NON-CONTRACT PERSONNEL and TRAVEL

Tract #-Name: Restoration Financial Plan Justification - $_________ and ______ acres Grant - $________ Match - $________ Non-Match - $________ Completion:

(month, year) Funding Source

CONTRACTS

MATERIALS and EQUIPMENT

NON-CONTRACT PERSONNEL and TRAVEL

Tract #-Name: Enhancement Financial Plan Justification - $_________ and _______ acres Grant - $________ Match - $________ Non-Match - $________ Completion:

(month, year) Funding Source

CONTRACTS

MATERIALS and EQUIPMENT

NON-CONTRACT PERSONNEL and TRAVEL

Tract #-Name: Establishment Financial Plan Justification – $_______ and ______ acres Grant - $________ Match - $________ Non-Match - $________ Completion:

(month, year) Funding Source

CONTRACTS

MATERIALS and EQUIPMENT

NON-CONTRACT PERSONNEL and TRAVEL

OTHER DIRECT GRANT/MATCH ACTIVITIES FINANCIAL TABLE

JUSTIFICATION – $________

Grant - $________ Match - $________ Non-Match - $_________

Describe in detail other activities associated with implementing the grant that cannot be assigned to one or more tracts. Costs under this section may be disallowed if such costs appear to be unnecessary, unreasonable, duplicative, or allocable to a particular tract.

(month, year) Funding Source

TRACT TABLE

Holder

Tract

# Open Acres

Tract

# Open Acres

Tract

# Open Acres

Total Acres

Funding Categories: (G = Grant, OM = Old Match, NM = New Match, NO = Non-Match)

FINAL TITLEHOLDER SUMMARY:

The Evaluation Question section has a 5-page limit, including all text and tables. Margins must be 1 inch with Times New Roman Size 11 font throughout (not including tables).

EVALUATION QUESTION A

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

See Appendix A 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 what procedure will be used to ensure that high quality habitat is targeted.

EVALUATION QUESTION B

How does the proposal relate to the national status and trends of wetlands types?

Provide a brief narrative to describe upland habitats and the relationship to wetlands and migratory bird conservation:

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

STATUS, TYPES, AND ACRES OF WETLANDS

Note: Types subsidiary to types listed below have the same status.

SECTION A

Fee

Easement

Lease

ACQUIRED TOTAL

RESTORED

ENHANCED

ESTABLISHED

TYPE TOTALS

STATUS TOTALS

GRAND TOTALS

SECTION B

Tract ID

Tract ID

Tract ID

EVALUATION QUESTION C

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

All narrative information should be within the tables below.

A. Priority bird species: Identify up to 5 species in Appendix B of the instructions.

B. Other wetland-associated bird species: Identify up to 5 non-waterfowl species not in part A.

EVALUATION QUESTION D

How does the proposal contribute to the conservation of habitat for wetland associated, Federally listed or proposed endangered species; wetland-dependent Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN) from the appropriate State Wildlife Action Plan (SWAP); and other wetland-associated fish and wildlife that are specifically involved with the proposal?

All narrative information should be within the tables below.

A. Federally Threatened, Endangered, or Proposed candidate species: Identify up to 5 species.

B. Wetland-dependent species of greatest conservation need (SGCN) from the appropriate State Wildlife Action Plan (SWAP): Identify up to 5 species not in part A, Evaluation Question A, or Evaluation Question C.

EVALUATION QUESTION E

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

A. Partner Categories (includes non-match): Funding partners only. Remove partner categories not associated with the proposal State agency(ies):

Non-governmental conservation organization(s):

Local government(s), county(ies), or municipality(ies):

Private landowner(s):

Profit-making corporation(s):

Native American government(s) or association(s):

Federal agency(ies):

Other partner group(s):

B. Important Partnership Aspects (new grant recipient, significant new partners, unique partners, large numbers of partners under any category in A above, non-financial contributions):

EVALUATION QUESTION F

How does the proposal contribute to long-term conservation of wetlands and associated habitats and changing environmental conditions? Are there any considerations not previously mentioned in the other Evaluation Questions that should be factored into the evaluation of the proposal?

Remove activity types not associated with the proposal. Non-additive acres can be included in this table.

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

** Includes wood water control structures and pumps.

TOTAL

ACRES

SECTION A

Fee

Easement

Lease

TOTAL ACQUIRED

RESTORED

ENHANCED

ESTABLISHED

TOTAL

SECTION B

Tract ID

Tract ID

Tract ID

Tract ID

Provide a brief narrative describing the significance of the proposal 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; and

· Provide any considerations not previously mentioned in the other Evaluation Questions that should be factored into the evaluation of the proposal.

EVALUATION QUESTION G

To what degree does the proposal allow public access? Is hunting and fishing allowed on all tracts?

Narrative:

ATTACHMENTS

Partner contribution letter template Note: Begin each partner letter on a new page.

NAWCA SMALL GRANT PARTNER CONTRIBUTION STATEMENT

What is the title of the proposal?

What is the name of your organization (private landowners/individuals indicate “Private”)?

When will you make the contribution?

What is the value of your contribution and how did you determine the value? Does the contribution have a non-Federal origin? If this is based on a fund-raising event or other future action, if that future action fails, will you still provide the contribution amount?

What long-term migratory bird and wetlands conservation work will the contribution cover?

Does the proposal correctly describe your contribution, especially the amount?

If applicable to the proposal, is your organization competent to hold title to, and manage, land acquired with grant funds and are you willing to apply a Notice of Grant Agreement or other recordable document to the property?

Please confirm that your contribution has not been used to meet any other federal programs match or cost share requirements.

Will the project benefit tribal hunting and fishing treaty rights and if so, how?

Do you have any additional comments?

Signature:

Name (printed), Title, and Affiliation:

Date Signed:

MAPS OF PROJECT AREA AND TRACT(S)

Provide at least one map of the project area and all of the individual tract map(s). See Proposal Instructions for more details.

PROPOSAL EMAIL ATTACHMENTS:

Have you sent the following to nawca_smallgrant@fws.gov?

· Copies of Deeds, Easements, Leases

· Applicant Indirect Cost Rate Statement choose the most appropriate statement below

· We are an organization with a current negotiated indirect cost rate. In the event we receive an award, we will charge indirect costs per our current negotiated rate agreement. Attached is a copy of our current rate agreement.

· We are an organization with a negotiated indirect cost rate that has expired. Attached is copy of our most recently negotiated rate agreement. If we receive an award, we will submit an indirect cost rate proposal to our cognizant agency within 90 calendar days after the award date. We understand we must provide the Service a copy of our approved rate agreement before charging indirect costs to the Federal award.

· We are an organization that has never negotiated an indirect cost rate with our cognizant agency. Our indirect cost rate is [insert rate], which is charged against [insert a complete description of the direct cost base used to distribute indirect costs to the award]. If we receive an award, we will submit an indirect cost rate proposal to our cognizant agency within 90 calendar days after the award date. We understand we must provide the Service a copy of our approved rate agreement before charging indirect costs to the Federal award.

· We are an organization that does not have a current negotiated (including provisional) rate. In the event an award is made, we elect to charge the 15% de minimis rate of Modified Total Direct Costs as defined in 2 CFR 200.414. We understand we must use this methodology consistently for all Federal awards until such time as we negotiate a different rate with our cognizant agency. We understand that we must notify the Service in writing if during the award period we establish a rate that changes the methodology used to charge indirect costs to the award. We understand that additional Federal funds may not be available to support an unexpected increase in indirect costs and that such changes are subject to review, negotiation, and prior approval by the Service.

· We are an organization submitting a [insert either “Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit Program” or “Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit Network”] project proposal, which has an indirect cost rate cap of [insert rate; CRU is currently 15%; CESU is currently 17.5%]. In the event we receive an award, we understand that if we have a current negotiated (including provisional) rate we must charge the program’s capped indirect cost rate to the same base identified in our approved indirect cost rate agreement, per 2 CFR §1402.414. If we do not have current negotiated (including provisional) rate, we understand we must charge the capped indirect cost rate against Modified Total Direct Costs (MTDC) as defined in 2 CFR 200.1.

· SF-FAC Single Audit Reporting Statement, if applicable

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