NOFO_F24AS00017_FINAL.pdf

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

FWS - International Conservation https://www.fws.gov/service/species-conservation-catalyst-fund

F24AS00017 - Species Conservation Catalyst Fund on Songbird Trade Fiscal Year: 2024

F24AS00017

Due Date for Applications: 12/08/2023

Table of Contents A. Program Description

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

Authority:

U. S. Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531-43)

15.679 - Combating Wildlife Trafficking

Assistance Listing Number:

15.679 Background, Purpose and Program Requirements:

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s (Service or 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 delivers on this mission through its technical expertise, international conservation experience, and financial assistance by supporting strategic projects that deliver measurable conservation results for priority species and their habitats around the world.

Wildlife trafficking is estimated to be a multibillion-dollar business involving the unlawful harvest and trade of animals and plants. Illegal wildlife trade has broad security implications, with corruption and sophisticated transnational crime syndicates often at the center of these illicit activities. Wildlife trafficking can place stressed animals in unsanitary conditions while evading disease surveillance, increasing the risks of disease spillover and spread. Illegal wildlife trade removes hundreds of thousands of animals and plants from wild populations each year and increases the extinction risk for threatened and endangered species, which are often the target of wildlife crime because of their rarity and value.

Species Conservation Catalyst Fund

The Combating Wildlife Trafficking Program’s Species Conservation Catalyst Fund (SCCF) is an initiative that aims to reduce wildlife trafficking for selected species within the complex social-ecological systems across a species’ trade chain. The fund focuses on specific species or species groups primarily threatened by illegal trade and supports work that catalyzes significant and sustained change in both demand and range countries.

The SCCF is envisioned as a ‘conservation accelerator’ fund that enables award recipients to launch or grow projects, build skills relevant to their work, and develop networks of researchers and practitioners. The SCCF advances an evidence-based approach to combating wildlife trafficking, by supporting recipients to provide an empirical understanding of the contexts in which species are trafficked and develop, implement, and evaluate activities that reduce the threat of trafficking to species populations. Projects supported through the SCCF will help build a body of evidence to guide future conservation and counter-trafficking efforts. The SCCF is also designed to develop capacity for award recipients to sustain conservation impact by attracting additional funding, attention, and other resources for future work on the species. In service of these holistic goals, the SCCF also builds in support to convene and coordinate award recipients for activities like strategic planning, communications, and networking.

This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) launches the SCCF’s third species group, songbirds (suborder Passeri or Oscines, order Passeriformes) native to the Guiana Shield and Caribbean. In total, up to $5 million is expected to be available for the SCCF Songbird initiative through several funding opportunities over the next few years. The expected funding amount for this current NOFO is $1,400,000.

See below for more details on this funding opportunity. Please be sure to read this entire document and related attachments, as updated information has been added to section D.

Application and Submission Information and section E. Criteria to clarify requirements, expectations, and funding criteria.

Funding Opportunity

The purpose of this NOFO is to support new or existing strategies to reduce the illegal, unsustainable international trade of songbirds native to the Guiana Shield and Caribbean traded for singing competitions. This NOFO aligns with the missions of the Service and the Department of the Interior and reflects the priorities of the Biden-Harris Administration, including Administration policies articulated by Executive Orders 14008, 13985, and 14005.

SONGBIRD TRADE FOR SINGING COMPETITIONS

A distinct market within the widespread caged bird trade of Latin America and the Caribbean is the trade of songbirds for singing competitions (Mirin and Klinck 2021; Roldán-Clarà et al.

2014). Popular in the Guiana Shield of South America and the Caribbean, this sport consists of “racing” male songbirds to assess which bird can sing a specific song the most in a given time.

Singing competitions can be high stakes events; songbirds can sell for US$500-10,000 (Neme 2015) and owners of champion birds earn monetary prizes and social prestige. The sport can also play a significant socio-cultural and economic role as an opportunity for: intergenerational knowledge transfer of bird trapping, training, and care skills; socializing across class, race, and ethnicity; personal development as a discipline-oriented hobby for birdkeepers; connecting with cultural roots and identity; and sport-associated economic opportunities for lower income groups in urban and non-urban areas, including some rural Indigenous communities (Gupta 2014; Mirin and Klinck 2021).

Evidence suggests that current singing competition trade practices appear to be driving the decline of some species. Potentially 15 wild bird species native to the Guiana Shield and Caribbean – primarily seed-finches, seedeaters, buntings and grosbeaks – may be experiencing local or range-wide declines due to wild harvest for singing competitions (according to FWS consultations with field experts and Juergens et al. 2021; see SCCF Songbird Priority Species below). Four SCCF Songbird Priority Species are formally recognized as in decline: the great-billed seed-finch (Sporophila maximiliani) is Endangered and the Cuban bullfinch (Melopyrrha nigra) is Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (Red List), and the rose-breasted grosbeak (Pheucticus ludovicianus) and painted bunting (Passerina ciris) are listed as FWS Birds of Conservation Concern (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 2021). The Service includes 15 species as Songbird Priority Species under the SCCF Songbird initiative with the understanding that the suite shares similar trade pressures and may likewise benefit from similar conservation interventions to result in force-multiplying impacts.

The international trade of these songbird species for singing competitions is suspected to be a primary driver of declines, in part because songbirds are typically trafficked with high mortality.

For example, in the United States, nearly all live singing competition songbirds are imported illegally without being declared. Hundreds of birds are seized each year, yet this is estimated by the Service to be a small fraction of the true number trafficked into the country. Likewise, in Trinidad and Tobago, where 4% of people keep songbirds for singing competitions and most of the birds used for singing competitions are foreign-sourced, songbirds are commonly imported illegally without the permits required by law (Gibson 2022). Trafficked birds are subject to inhumane transport conditions (carried in small cages or confined in hair curlers under clothing) and death rates are notoriously high due to stress or injury (Gibson 2022). Smuggled birds also move in association with other illegal activities and evade regulatory, quota, and disease monitoring (Gibson 2022; Rueb 2015). Even when birds are seized, repatriation and reintroduction back to the wild is challenging and rarely occurs. Most of the songbirds used in singing competitions from the Guiana Shield or Caribbean are not included in the Appendices to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES;

see Appendix I. SCCF Songbird Priority Species in the NOFO Supplemental Document), and therefore are not protected under an international regulatory mechanism such as the system of permits and certificates required for CITES-listed species. This leaves the capture and trade in songbirds from the region subject to a patchwork of domestic laws and regulations, which vary between countries.

While songbird singing competitions are celebrated and promoted via contemporary news and social media, little empirical research has been conducted on the socio-ecological aspects or sustainable management of the trade (Mirin & Klinck 2021, Gibson 2022). Likewise, global awareness among the conservation community about the illegal, unsustainable trade of songbirds in the Guiana Shield and Caribbean is limited and focused on the “Asian songbird crisis” (e.g., Lees & Yuda 2022; IUCN Species Survival Commission Asian Songbird Trade Specialist Group).

This funding opportunity solicits projects to reduce the illegal, unsustainable international trade of native songbirds from the Guiana Shield and Caribbean for singing competitions.

Proposals are invited for two broad Objectives: (1) addressing the illegal, unsustainable trade of songbirds or (2) convening and coordinating SCCF Songbird award recipients for projects aimed at meeting Objective 1.

Note: For definitions of terms used in this NOFO, see Appendix II. NOFO Definitions of the NOFO Supplemental Document.

Objective 1. Addressing the illegal, unsustainable trade of songbirds

Proposed projects contributing to this objective should implement activities that address the trade of songbirds. Projects should achieve one or more of the following outcomes. Applicants do not need to complete all of the sub-outcomes under an outcome.

Outcome 1.1. System(s) for ensuring legal and biologically sustainably sourced songbirds for singing competitions are assessed, piloted, and evaluated, while supporting sustainable community livelihoods.

1.1.1. Songbird supply is better understood and informed by social science research on:

a. the social, cultural, economic, political, and situational factors that drive markets, human behavior, or policies related to sourcing songbirds,

b. rates and trends of songbird supply,

c. differences in supply for domestic versus international songbird trade, or

d. barriers to having a fully legal and sustainably sourced trade system.

1.1.2. The current, historical, and future effects of singing competition trade on songbird species populations, distribution, and habitat are better understood and informed by research, and used to inform sustainable sourcing and wild bird conservation and management planning.

1.1.3. Wild bird conservation and management approaches are developed and implemented by or with people involved in supplying songbirds.

1.1.4. Sustainable sourcing system(s) is (are) explored, studied, designed, piloted, and evaluated. Potential unintended social and ecological consequences and tradeoffs of proposed system(s) are considered.

1.1.5. Songbird trade system(s) is (are) strengthened to reduce disease occurrence and ensure ethical transport and captivity conditions for birds along the trade chain.

1.1.6. Songbird trade system(s) is (are) strengthened to enable economically fair livelihood benefits and culturally appropriate practices for people along the trade chain, including lower-income groups.

Outcome 1.2. Demand for songbirds for singing competitions is understood and the people involved in trade reduce illegal, unsustainable trade and, as appropriate, transition to legal, sustainable trade.

1.2.1. Songbird demand is better understood and informed by social science research on:

a. the social, cultural, economic, political, and situational factors that drive markets, human behavior, policies, or practices related to consumer demand for songbirds,

b. rates and trends of songbird demand, or

c. differences in demand for domestic versus international songbird trade.

1.2.2. Effective strategies to reduce illegal, sustainable trade (and as appropriate, transition to legal, sustainable trade) are developed and implemented by or with songbird keepers and buyers/sellers.

1.2.3. Songbird keepers and buyers/sellers have increased understanding, capacity, and motivation to reduce demand for trafficked birds and/or advocate for and comply with laws, policies, and practices that lower barriers to legal, sustainable trade.

1.2.4. Songbird keepers and buyers/sellers have increased understanding, capacity, and motivation to develop and follow ethical handling and transport practices that ensure healthy, disease-free songbirds in captivity and the wild.

Outcome 1.3. Local, national, and international authority capacity is strengthened to protect birds and regulate songbird trade.

1.3.1. Robust and practical laws, policies, and systems are established or strengthened to regulate and encourage compliance with legal, sustainable songbird trade for singing competitions.

1.3.2. Regulatory, law enforcement, and judiciary needs (e.g., resources, training, community monitoring) are identified and addressed to strengthen capacity to manage songbird trade.

1.3.3. Communication, coordination, and opportunities for learning exchanges among authorities within and between source and demand countries are established and maintained.

Note: Award recipients selected to contribute to Objective 1 will be expected (and financially supported) to attend events and coordination efforts facilitated by the entity selected to implement Objective 2. These activities are intended to advance systems thinking and a well-connected, collaborative conservation network that will enable the effective, long-term conservation of songbirds.

Objective 2. Convening and coordinating SCCF Songbird award recipients

Multisectoral, cross-disciplinary exchange of actors working across the trade chain is necessary to holistically understand and address the complexity of wildlife trafficking (Browne et al. 2021).

As such, the Service aims to ensure that SCCF Songbird Objective 1 award recipients (hereafter referred to as “award recipients”) work in collaboration and/or coordination to ensure their collective efforts achieve effective, sustainable reductions in the illegal, unsustainable trade of songbirds for singing competitions.

The Service invites proposals for a single cooperative agreement award that would provide support to award recipients to convene, exchange information, develop skills, and build partner networks to help meet the goals of the SCCF Songbird initiative. Although only one award will be given, applicants may collaborate with other organizations to fulfill the activities for Objective 2.

Proposals should plan and budget activities to include several key personnel from each award recipient (likely two to six awards lasting between two and five years). For example, 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).

Projects must achieve both Outcome 2.1 and 2.2 (including all sub-outcomes) and may additionally include Outcome 2.3 or any sub-outcomes of Outcome 2.3.

Outcome 2.1. SCCF Songbird award recipients share a common vision for reducing illegal, unsustainable songbird trade for singing competitions.

2.1.1. Recipients collaboratively build a model for systems thinking by developing a theory of change and indicators of success that capture how projects advance outcomes from Objective 1.

2.1.2. Recipients pursue synergies and avoid duplication in projects by coordinating on project progress and identifying opportunities for complementing other songbird trade or conservation projects and initiatives.

Outcome 2.2. SCCF Songbird award recipients strengthen their skills and capacity to advance effectiveness and enable long-term sustainability.

2.2.1. Recipients engage in a community of practice by sharing resources and supporting co-learning.

2.2.2. Recipients collectively advance relevant skills to improve project implementation by receiving trainings and other capacity-building activities.

Outcome 2.3. SCCF Songbird award recipients inform and engage appropriate audiences to reduce illegal, unsustainable international songbird trade.

2.3.1. Recipients collaboratively develop a communications plan and outreach materials to strategically raise awareness about the songbird trade problem and solutions.

2.3.2. Recipients strategize on the appropriate need and timing for broader regional/global coordination with other songbird trade and conservation actors.

General guidance

Trade focus: Projects must ultimately aim to impact the international songbird trade for singing competitions (i.e., not focus on trade in songbirds for the caged bird trade generally). Activities may also help combat the illegal, unsustainable trade of birds or wildlife more broadly, but projects must primarily benefit the trade of songbirds sourced from the Guiana Shield and Caribbean for singing competitions. Projects may focus on the domestic trade (whereby birds are sourced from the wild and sold to an end-user within the same country) if activities are clearly linked to reducing the illegal, unsustainable international trade (whereby birds are sourced from the wild in a different country than where they are sold to an end-user).

SCCF Songbird Priority Species: Project activities should benefit one or more of the following 15 species of songbirds. These species were selected because they are either 1) commonly traded for singing competitions domestically and, in some cases, internationally and show evidence of species or population declines due to trade for singing competitions or 2) Threatened or Endangered species at risk of becoming a substitute species for singing competitions (according to Juergens et al 2021 and FWS consultation with field experts). See Appendix I. SCCF Songbird Priority Species in the NOFO Supplemental Document for more species information.

SCCF Songbird Priority Species:

Chestnut-bellied seedeater (Sporophila castaneiventris) Chestnut-bellied seed-finch (Sporophila angolensis) Cuban bullfinch (Melopyrrha nigra) Great-billed seed-finch (Sporophila maximiliani) Grey seedeater (Sporophila intermedia) Large-billed seed-finch (Sporophila crassirostris) Lined seedeater (Sporophila lineola) Painted bunting (Passerina ciris) Plumbeous seedeater (Sporophila plumbea) Red siskin (Spinus cucullatus) Rose-breasted grosbeak (Pheucticus ludovicianus) Ruddy-breasted seedeater (Sporophila minuta)

Slate-colored seedeater (Sporophila schistacea) Wing-barred seedeater (Sporophila americana) Yellow-bellied seedeater (Sporophila nigricollis)

Priority geographic areas: Project activities should take place in:

Guiana Shield and Caribbean range countries for priority songbird species, including Guyana, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, and Brazil, and/or

Transit or consumer demand countries where priority songbird species are being traded for singing competitions, including Guyana, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Brazil, the United States, Canada, and the Netherlands.

Please note that this program will not fund projects in countries that have supported terrorism or that are subject to U.S. sanctions (see section C3. Other for specific countries).

Important considerations: Project activities should be developed and implemented in coordination, collaboration and/or consultation with relevant authorities and community members who will be affected by or engaged in activities (e.g., communities living in or near songbird habitat; bird dealers and transporters; bird keepers or singing competition bird clubs).

Empirical research should be clearly tied to interventions. Activities should also enable trade that follows best practices for bird health care and welfare. All approaches and interventions should be culturally appropriate and ethical. Finally, we encourage applicants to follow best practices of inclusive science and conservation, such as by conducting project activities in local language(s), prioritizing values of the local region, and centering local people and practitioners in leadership, planning and implementation (e.g., Soares et al. 2023).

LITERATURE CITED

Links to the following documents are provided to applicants as reference only. The inclusion of these documents should not be viewed as an official endorsement of a particular approach or strategy in responding to this NOFO.

Browne C, Ronis EM, Miller JRB, Kapetanakos Y, Gibbs S, Hendrix T, Carlson Bremer D (2021). Systems approaches to combating wildlife trafficking: Expanding existing frameworks to facilitate cross-disciplinary collaboration. Frontiers in Conservation Science 2:1–8.

Gupta, G (2014). Amazon songbirds compete in Guyana ‘races.’ Reuters.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-guyana-birds-idUSKCN0JF3D520141202

Juergens J, Brusland S, Staerk J, Oegelund Nielsen R, Shepherd CR, Leupen B, Krishnasamy K, Chng SCL, Jackson J, de Silva R, Bagott A, Alves RRN, Conde DA (2021). A standardized dataset for conservation prioritization of songbirds to support CITES. Data in Brief 36:107093.

Lees AC, Yuda P (2022). The Asian songbird crisis. Current Biology 32:R1063-R1064.

Mirin BH, Klinck H (2021). Bird singing contests: Looking back on thirty years of research on a global conservation concern. Global Ecology and Conservation 30: e01812.

Neme L (2015). Latin American illegal wildlife trade exploding in scope and scale. Mongabay.

https://news.mongabay.com/2015/11/latin-american-illegal-wildlife-trade-exploding-in-scope-and-scale/

Ortize-von Halle, B (2018). Bird’s-eye view: Lessons from 50 years of bird trade regulation & conservation in Amazon countries. WWF and TRAFFIC.

https://www.traffic.org/site/assets/files/11517/birds-eye-view.pdf

Roldán-Clarà B, López-Medellín X, Espejel I, Arellano E (2014). Literature review of the use of birds as pets in Latin-America, with a detailed perspective on Mexico. Ethnobiology and Conservation 3.

Rueb ES (2015). Tiny Birds, Big Drama: Inside the World of the Birdmen of Queens. New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/02/nyregion/tiny-birds-big-drama-inside-the-world-of-the-birdmen-of-queens.html

Soares L, Cockle KL, Inzunza ER, Ibarra JT, Miño CI, Zuluaga S, Bonaccorso E, Ríos-Orjuela JC, Montaño-Centellas FA, Freile JF, Echeverry-Galvis MA, Bonaparte EB, Diele-Viegas LM, Speziale K, Cabrera-Cruz SA, Acevedo-Charry O, Velarde E, Lima CC, Ojeda VS,…Martins PVR (2023). Neotropical ornithology: Reckoning with historical assumptions, removing systemic barriers, and reimagining the future. Ornithological Applications 125:1–31.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (2021). Birds of Conservation Concern 2021. United States Department of the Interior, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Migratory Birds, Falls Church, Virginia. https://www.fws.gov/media/birds-conservation-concern-2021

B. Federal Award Information

B1. Total Funding

Estimated Total Funding $1,400,000

B2. Expected Award Amount

Maximum Award $1,000,000 Minimum Award $100,000 Proposals should be two to five-year projects with a range of $50,000 to $200,000 per year for no more than $1,000,000 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.

The Service 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.

https://news.mongabay.com/2015/11/latin-american-illegal-wildlife-trade-exploding-in-scope-and-scale/ https://news.mongabay.com/2015/11/latin-american-illegal-wildlife-trade-exploding-in-scope-and-scale/

The Service may issue future and non-competitive renewal funding for the projects funded from this NOFO. Requests for renewal funding will be solicited by the Service and will be based on satisfactory project performance, reporting, financial management, and availability of program funds.

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

B3. Expected Award Funding and Anticipated Dates

Expected Award Funding $100,000 Expected Award Date June 05, 2024 The expected award funding will range from $100,000 - $1,000,000. The standard period of performance for projects is two to five years. The proposal, budget, and timetable should describe activities for the entire proposed period of performance. The period of performance for projects starts on the date the award is signed by the Service and may be one or more years duration. If the applicant wishes to request a shorter or longer period of performance, it should be noted and the proposal, budget, and timetable should describe activities for the entire proposed period of performance. For multi-year projects, budgets and activities should be clearly articulated by year. Support for subsequent years will be contingent upon satisfactory project performance, reporting, financial management, and availability of program funds. The Service reserves the right to fund any or none of the applications submitted and will determine the resulting level of funding for the award.

B4. Number of Awards

Expected Number of Awards The total anticipated number of awards is three to seven.

B5. Type of Award

Funding Instrument Type G - Grant CA - Cooperative Agreement Grants A grant agreement is a legal instrument of financial assistance and is distinguished from a cooperative agreement in that it does not provide for substantial involvement from Service in carrying out the activities contemplated by the award.

Cooperative Agreements

The Service may be substantially involved in projects under this funding opportunity. To submit a proposal for consideration as a cooperative agreement, provide a justification statement in the project proposal as to the type and duration of assistance requested by the Service and a rationale for why involvement of Service is needed to fulfill the project objectives. If the Service determines that its involvement could contribute significant value to a project, the Service Program Officer will approach the recipient following proposal review to discuss whether a cooperative agreement would be mutually beneficial.

Under cooperative agreements, substantial involvement by the Service should be expected and could include one or more of the following: participating and collaborating jointly with the recipient or other personnel in refining and carrying out the scope of work, including training recipient personnel or detailing Federal personnel to work on the project effort; reviewing and approving one stage of work before the next stage can begin; reviewing and approving, prior to recipient action, proposed modifications or sub-awards; helping select project staff or trainees;

and directing or redirecting the work because of interrelationships with other projects.

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 can be individuals, multi-national secretariats, foreign, national, and local government agencies, non-profit non-governmental organizations, for-profit organizations, and 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.

https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=38753b18f54182883b86b0bb0eede07b&mc=true&node=pt2.1.200&rgn=div5#se2.1.200_11 https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=38753b18f54182883b86b0bb0eede07b&mc=true&node=pt2.1.200&rgn=div5#se2.1.200_11 https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=38753b18f54182883b86b0bb0eede07b&mc=true&node=pt2.1.200&rgn=div5#sp2.1.200.e

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

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 cwt@fws.gov.

Program Website Link https://www.fws.gov/service/species-conservation-catalyst-fund 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

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".

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.

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 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

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 Project narratives should be ten pages or fewer and pages should be numbered. Project figures, data tables, maps, curriculum vitae, additional detailed information, partner organizations or government letters of endorsement, financial materials, and required standard forms do not count toward the ten-page limit.

Detailed guidance and examples for completing the Project Narrative are provided in Appendix III. Project Narrative in the NOFO Supplemental Document.

The following sections must be included in your Project Narrative:

1. Project Title

2. Statement of Need

3. Project Goal, Objectives, Activities, and Methods

4. Relevant Party Engagement and Capacity Development

5. Project Monitoring, Evaluation, and Adaptation

6. Project Learning and Sharing

7. Ethics Standards

8. Project Timetable

9. Description of Entities Undertaking the Project

10. Sustainability Include as an addendum (not included in 10-page limit):

11. Literature Cited (include as an addendum)

12. Project Location

13. Partner Organization or Government Letter of Endorsement

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 the SF-424A “Contractual” category total, do not combine estimated subawards and contractual costs. Use the

“Contractual” category to reflect estimated contractual costs only. 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).

Budget Table

Applicants must include an itemized Budget Table following the table format below. If your Budget Table requires more than one page, verify that the column headings and row titles appear on all pages. For multi-year or multi-phase projects, please include a separate budget table and narrative for each year/phase with subtotals.

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.

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:

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1. Subawards: For each subaward, provide a detailed line-item breakdown explaining specific services in a separate tab in the Budget Table 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.

Go to http://www.fws.gov/international/pdf/sample-budget.pdf to view a sample project budget table.

Category/Budget Item Units Cost per Unit

No. of Units

Total USFWS Recipient

Personnel

Trainer month $xxx xx $ xxx $xxx $XXX

Project Director month $ xxx xx $ xxx $ xxx

Project Coordinator month $ xxx xx $ xxx $ xxx

Personnel Subtotal $xxx $ xxx

Fringe Benefits

% rate lump $ xxx xx $ xxx $xxx $XXX

Fringe Benefits Subtotal $ xxx $ xxx

Travel

Vehicle day-use (with driver)

Day $ xxx xx $ xxx

Vehicle maintenance and repair lump $ xxx xx $ xxx $xxx

Domestic Flights (Coordination at Transit Points)

Each $ xxx xx $ xxx $xxx

Meals (4 day Training 30 ppl)

Day $ xxx xx $ xxx $xxx

Accommodation (4 day Training 20ppl)

Day $ xxx xx $ xxx $xxx

Travel Subtotal

Equipment xxx Each $ xxx xx $ xxx $xxx xxx Each $ xxx xx $ xxx $xxx

Equipment Subtotal $ xxx $ xxx

Supplies xxx Each $ xxx xx $ xxx $xxx xxx Each $ xxx xx $ xxx $xxx

Supplies Subtotal $ xxx $ xxx

Contractual xxx lump $ xxx xx $ xxx $xxx xxx month $ xxx xx $ xxx $xxx

Contractual Subtotal $ xxx $ xxx

Other xxx lump $ xxx xx $ xxx $xxx xxx month $ xxx xx $ xxx $xxx

Other Subtotal $ xxx $ xxx $ xxx

TOTAL DIRECT

CHARGES

$ xxx $ xxx $ xxx

INDIRECT CHARGES $ xxx $ xxx $ xxx

GRAND TOTAL $xxx $xxx

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. 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 any 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. Provide a separate description and total estimated costs for both contractual and subaward costs. 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 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#200.407 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200#subpart-E 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. The Department of the Interior’s Unmanned Aircraft web page provides a list of approved unmanned aircraft and related equipment and software.

Although not a requirement, the following types of activities may be included in applications:

Open-access publication charges, for institutions/organizations that cannot cover costs otherwise.

Skills and professional development training. Applicants are encouraged to budget up to $20,000 per year for skills and professional development training opportunities for project staff. If specific sessions are not named, we request applicants to identify the general skill(s) they aim to develop. We encourage applicants to consider building skills in fundraising, strategic planning, adaptive management, social and behavioral science research and application, and other relevant topics consistent with the approach of the SCCF and that will help sustain the project goals and team growth in the long-term.

Costs associated with convening and coordinating partners and any other collaborative processes such as meetings (space, lodging, travel), web and print communications, relevant party outreach activities, strategic planning, and conservation prioritization.

Dedicated staffing or other activities (e.g., workshops, meetings) to strengthen conservation outcomes and enable the work to continue beyond the period of performance, such as monitoring and evaluation, fundraising, communications and storytelling, and strategic planning and adaptive management.

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.

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.

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