NOFO_GA18_508+.pdf

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service International Affairs

Division of International Conservation

Great Ape Conservation Fund Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 15.629

Funding Opportunity Number: F18AS00091

Submission Deadline: April 30, 2018

Notice of Funding Opportunity and Application Instructions

I. Description of Funding Opportunity

In response to the decline of ape populations in Africa and Asia, the U.S. Government enacted the

Great Ape Conservation Act of 2000. The Act provides for the conservation and protection of apes by supporting conservation programs in countries within their ranges and the projects of persons and organizations with demonstrated expertise in ape conservation. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

(USFWS) works closely with national governments, U.S. agencies, and a range of other partners to ensure a strategic, results-based approach to ape conservation in Africa and Asia. This Funding opportunity aligns with the USFWS mission.

The Great Ape Conservation Fund contributes directly to the Secretary of the Department of the

Interior’s following priorities:

1. Create a conservation stewardship legacy, second only to Teddy Roosevelt;

7. Strike a regulatory balance; and

10. Achieving our goals, leading our team forward

The Great Ape Conservation Fund (GACF) is soliciting project proposals for the conservation of gorillas (Gorilla spp.), chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes), bonobos (Pan paniscus), orangutans (Pongo spp.), and gibbons (family Hylobatidae) throughout their ranges.

In addition to the above call for proposals for Africa and Asia, USFWS is soliciting the following

Africa-specific project pre-proposals to enter into cooperative agreements with eligible partners:

Conserving Grauer’s Gorillas

Description: The Grauer’s gorilla (Gorilla beringei graueri), classified Critically Endangered by the

IUCN Red List of Endangered Species, is endemic to the Albertine Rift escarpment in eastern

Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Populations are estimated to have declined by 77% over the past decade to fewer than 4,000 individuals range-wide, a large percentage of which exist outside of protected areas. The species faces intense pressures from human activity, including poaching, and habitat loss and degradation, largely linked to artisanal mining. Ongoing civil unrest and the risk of infectious disease pose additional threats to long-term survival. Priority will be given to proposals whose conservation targets and priority activities align with the IUCN’s Grauer’s Gorillas and

Chimpanzees in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (Kahuzi-Biega, Maiko, Tayna and Itombwe

Landscape): Conservation Action Plan 2012–2022.

Maldonado, et al. (2012). Grauer’s Gorillas and Chimpanzees in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (Kahuzi-Biega, Maiko, Tayna and Itombwe Landscape): Conservation Action Plan 2012–2022. IUCN/SSC Primate Specialist Group, Ministry of

Geographic Eligibility: Throughout the subspecies’ range in DRC. Proposals for work outside the subspecies’ range must justify the proposed intervention in terms of its potential impact on wildlife populations.

Conserving the Western Chimpanzee

Description: The western chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes verus), classified Critically Endangered by the IUCN Red List of Endangered Species, ranges throughout a dozen west African nations. Large numbers exist outside of protected areas. The species is estimated to have declined significantly in the past several decades as a result of human activity. The subspecies faces numerous threats, including poaching, habitat loss and degradation, the live animal trade and infectious disease. Priority will be given to proposals whose conservation targets and priority activities align with the Regional

Action Plan for the Conservation of Chimpanzee in Western Africa.

Geographic Eligibility: Throughout the subspecies’ range in Benin, Burkina Faso, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo. Proposals for work outside the subspecies’ range must justify the proposed intervention in terms of its potential impact wildlife populations.

For more information on developing a project pre-proposal please contact Ken Cameron

(kenneth_cameron@fws.gov or +1-703-358-2331).

The pre-proposal concept consists of a maximum of four (4) pages composed of a Statement of Need and a one (1) page Summary Budget. Letters of support from government agencies and curriculum vitae of key personnel are required and do not count towards the four (4) page limit. Pre-proposals may also include but are not required to include partner letters, as support for the applicant’s capacity to implement the proposed activities and/or to show past history of successful coordination with partners; these do not count towards the four (4) page limit. Applicants will be notified of the opportunity to submit a full application for a cooperative agreement by May 25, 2018 (by invitation only). The deadline for submitting full applications (including all items in the Application Checklist) is June 25, 2018. Government agencies, non-governmental organizations, institutions of higher education, and individuals are eligible to apply.

A. Eligible Activities:

The Great Ape Conservation Fund will consider projects that promote conservation through:

Development and execution of ape conservation management plans;

Reducing trade in, and consumer demand for, illegally harvested apes and ape products;

Applied research on ape populations and their habitats, including surveys and monitoring, and disease;

Conservation and management of protected areas and other ape habitat;

Strengthening local capacity to implement ape conservation programs that lead to conservation stewardship;

Compliance with applicable treaties (such as CITES) and laws that prohibit or regulate the taking or trade of apes or regulate the use and management of ape habitat;

Wildlife inspection, law enforcement and forensics skills;

Environment, Nature Conservation & Tourism, Institut Congolais pour la Conservation de la Nature & the Jane Goodall Institute, Gland, Switzerland.

Enhanced protection of at-risk ape populations;

Reduction of human-ape conflicts;

Ape-relevant conservation education and community outreach;

Transboundary ape conservation;

Emerging issues

Proposed project work should occur within the ape range or, if work is to be conducted outside of the range, the proposal should demonstrate a clear relevance to ape conservation. Applied research projects should address specific management needs and actions, and/or threats from emerging issues, such as disease, that affect the species and their habitats.

B. Ineligible Activities:

The Division of International Conservation will not fund:

the purchase of firearms or ammunition;

gathering information by persons who conceal their true identity;

buying or purchasing of intelligence, evidence or information, or paying informants;

law enforcement operations that, to arrest suspects, prompt them to carry out illegal activities

(entrapment);

any activity that would circumvent sanctions, laws or regulations of either the U.S. or the country of proposed activity;

projects in countries determined by the U.S. Department of State to have repeatedly provided support for acts of international terrorism. These countries are subject to four main categories of sanctions which include restrictions on U.S. foreign assistance, and miscellaneous financial and other restrictions. For more information visit the State Department website at http://www.state.gov/j/ct/list/c14151.htm;

projects in countries included in comprehensive sanction programs administered by the U.S.

Department of Treasury, Office of Foreign Asset Controls, without proper licenses. For more information on OFAC and specific comprehensive and non-comprehensive sanction programs go to http://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/sanctions/Pages/default.aspx.

II. Award Information

This program will use a grant or cooperative agreement as the assistance instrument. The type of assistance instrument to be used is the decision of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS).

A. 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 USFWS in carrying out the activities contemplated by the award.

B. Cooperative Agreements Under a cooperative agreement, substantial involvement by the USFWS should be expected and may include participating and collaborating jointly with the recipient or other personnel in carrying out the scope of work, including training recipient personnel or assigning 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 to select project staff or trainees; and directing or redirecting the work because of interrelationships with other projects. USFWS reserves the right to immediately halt an activity if detailed performance specifications are not met. A cooperative agreement limits the http://www.state.gov/j/ct/list/c14151.htm http://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/sanctions/Pages/default.aspx recipient’s discretion with respect to scope of work, organizational structure, staffing, mode of operations, and other management processes, and involves close monitoring or operational involvement during performance under the award. To submit a proposal for consideration as a cooperative agreement, provide a justification statement in the project proposal, detailing the type and duration of assistance requested of the USFWS and the rationale for USFWS involvement in fulfilling the project objectives.

The approximate amount of funding available under this program is approximately $3,000,000

USD for projects in Africa and $2,000,000 USD for projects in Asia. Based on program experience, it is anticipated that approximately 15 to 35 awards will be granted this fiscal year.

The amount of funding requested must match the scope of proposed activities, the anticipated results, and the requested duration of the project (period of performance).

The period of performance for projects starts on the date the award is signed by the USFWS and may be one or more years. Project proposals must be designed and budgeted accordingly. For multi-year projects, budgets and project activities should be clearly articulated by phase/year.

Support for subsequent phases/years will be contingent upon satisfactory project performance, reporting, financial management, and availability of program funds. Past and present recipients of awards under this program are eligible, but must submit new proposals to compete for funding each fiscal year.

III. Basic Eligibility Requirements:

A. Eligible Applicants

Applicants under this program can be government agencies, non-governmental organizations, institutions of higher education, and individuals. U.S. non-profit, non-governmental organizations with 501(c)(3) Internal Revenue Status (IRS) must provide a copy of their Section 501(c)(3) status determination letter received from the IRS.

Applicants must ensure that activities occurring outside of the United States are coordinated as necessary with appropriate U.S. and foreign government authorities and that any necessary licenses, permits, or approvals are obtained prior to undertaking proposed activities. The USFWS does not assume responsibility for recipient compliance with the laws and regulations of the country in which the work is to be conducted.

B. Dun & Bradstreet Data Universal Number System (DUNS)

Federal law (2 CFR Part 25, Central Contractor Registry and Data Universal Numbering System) mandates that all entities applying for Federal financial assistance must have a valid Dun &

Bradstreet Data Universal Number System (DUNS) number and have a current registration in the

System for Award Management (SAM). Exemptions: The SAM registration requirement does not apply to individuals submitting an application on their own behalf and not on behalf of a company or other for-profit entity, State, local or Tribal government, academia or other type of organization.

C. DUNS Registration Request a DUNS number online at http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform. U.S.-based entities may also request a DUNS number by telephone by calling the Dun & Bradstreet Government Customer

Response Center, Monday – Friday, 7 AM to 8 PM CST at the following numbers:

U.S. and U.S Virgin Islands: 1-866-705-5711 http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform

Alaska and Puerto Rico: 1-800-234-3867 (Select Option 2, then Option 1) For Hearing Impaired Customers Only call: 1-877-807-1679 (TTY Line)

Once assigned a DUNS number, entities are responsible for maintaining up-to-date information with Dun & Bradstreet.

D. Entity Registration in SAM

You may register in the System for Award Management (SAM) online at http://www.sam.gov/.

Once registered in SAM, entities must renew and revalidate their SAM registration at least every

12 months from the date previously registered. Entities are strongly urged to revalidate their registration as often as needed to ensure that their information is up to date and in synch with changes that may have been made to DUNS and IRS information. Foreign entities who wish to be paid directly to a United States bank account must enter and maintain valid and current banking information in SAM.

E. Excluded Entities

Applicant entities identified in the SAM.gov Exclusions database as ineligible, prohibited/restricted or excluded from receiving Federal contracts, certain subcontracts, and certain Federal assistance and benefits will not be considered for Federal funding, as applicable to the funding being requested under this Federal program.

F. Cost Sharing or Matching

Cost sharing is not required, but in determining whether to approve project proposals, preference will be given to projects for which there exists some measure of matching funds. Applicant and partner contributions included as matching funds cannot be included as contributions for any other federally assisted project or program. Funds provided by another U.S. Federal Government agency, or another Service award, cannot be reported as matching contributions, but should be noted and explained in detail. A match shown during one year may not be repeated as a match in a subsequent proposal.

IV. Application Requirements - To be considered for funding under this opportunity, an application must contain:

A. Forms to be Completed:

1. Completed, signed and dated Application for Federal Assistance form (SF-424). Do not include other Federal sources of funding, requested or approved, in the total entered in the

“Federal” funding box on the Application for Federal Assistance form. Enter only the amount being requested under this program in the “Federal” funding box. Include any other

Federal sources of funding in the total funding entered in the “Other” box.

Additional instructions for completing the SF-424 can be found at http://www.fws.gov/international/pdf/sf-424-instructions.pdf

2. Completed, signed and dated Assurances - Non-Construction form (SF-424b).

The SF-424 and SF-424b forms are located here: http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms/sf-424-family.html#sortby=1. Look for the form name - Application for Federal Assistance (SF-424) and Assurances for Non-

Construction Programs (SF-424B).

http://www.sam.gov/ http://www.fws.gov/international/pdf/sf-424-instructions.pdf http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms/sf-424-family.html#sortby=1

For U.S. recipients applying through Grants.gov, downloading and saving the Application

Package to your computer make the required government-wide standard forms fillable and printable.

For foreign recipients, your organization’s authorized official MUST sign the required forms.

B. Project Summary – 1-page limit

This section should be a stand-alone summary of your project and it may be shared with the public. The Project Summary must be submitted in English. The following format is recommended:

Briefly summarize the project, in one page or less. Include the following:

Project title. This should include the ape species being conserved and the country in which the project will take place (if applicable)

Name of the applying organization;

Proposed project duration (e.g. 1-year, 3-year)

Type of agreement being requested (i.e. grant or cooperative agreement);

Amount of funding requested and amount of matching funds, in U.S. dollars;

Primary and secondary contacts, including name, email address and telephone number;

Brief overview of the need for the project;

The project’s goal(s), objectives, specific project activities;

Anticipated outputs and outcomes.

C. Project Narrative – 10-page limit

Proposals must be submitted in English and are limited to ten pages or less, in an easily readable

11- or 12-point font. Pages should be numbered sequentially. SF424 and SF424B, project summary, literature cited, map of project area, letter(s) of endorsement, maps, curricula vitae, and required forms do not count toward the ten-page limit.

1. Statement of Need: This section should answer the question, “Why is this project necessary?” In three pages of text or less, clearly describe the project’s significance/value and provide supporting information. Clearly identify the targeted species and any existing estimates of population size, geographic range, or abundance. Provide a description of the direct threats that affect the targeted species at the project site and the specific threats the project will address. Summarize previous or ongoing efforts (of you/your organization and other organizations or individuals) that are relevant to the proposed work, and explain the successes or failures of past efforts and how your proposed project builds on them. If you have received funding previously (from the USFWS or any other donor) for this specific project work or site, provide a brief summary of the funding, associated activities, and products/outcomes.

2. Project Goals and Objectives: This section should answer the question, “What do you want to achieve and how are you going to do it?” Clearly articulate the long-term, overarching goal(s) and objectives of the project. Objectives are the specific outcomes to be accomplished in order to reach the stated goal(s). They must be specific, measurable, and realistic

(attainable within the proposed project period) and should form the basis for the project’s

Monitoring and Evaluation section. A recommended reference for identifying and developing appropriate objectives and measures of success is the Open Standards for the Practice of

Conservation.

The following format is recommended:

GOAL:

Objective 1.

Activity 1.1 Activity 1.2

Objective 2.

Activity 2.1

Objective 3.

Activity 3.1 Activity 3.2 Activity 3.3

3. Project Activities, Methods and Timetable: This section should answer the question, “How are you going to achieve your objectives?” List the proposed project activities and describe how they relate to the stated objectives. Activities are the specific actions to be undertaken to fulfill the project objectives and reach the project goal(s). The proposed project activities narrative must be detailed enough for reviewers to make a clear connection between the activities and the proposed project costs. The proposed activities should correspond with the Project Budget Table.

For any capacity building activities, describe the capacity building approach (e.g. training, talk or presentation, on-line course, demonstrations, group discussion, field work, field visit, case studies, facilitating dialogue, program development, provision of equipment or other resources); topics to be covered/curricula; skills to be learned or improved; intended audience/target group profile (e.g. number and type of people trained); duration and location of each training activity; and materials/equipment to be used. The equipment used/requested and personnel conducting the work should be clearly articulated in this section, and proposed activities should correspond with the budget request.

Provide a detailed description of the method(s) to be used to carry out each activity and a timetable indicating roughly when activities or project milestones are to be accomplished during the period of performance. 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.

For projects being conducted within the United States ONLY, the narrative must provide enough detail so that reviewers are able to determine project compliance with the National

Environmental Policy Act, Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act, and Section 106 of the

National Historic Preservation Act. For projects being conducted on the high seas, the narrative should provide enough detail so that reviewers are able to determine project compliance with Section 7 of Endangered Species Act. Provide a detailed description of the method(s) to be used to carry out each activity.

4. Stakeholder Coordination/Involvement: This section should answer the question, “Who are you going to be working with?” As applicable, describe how you/your organization has http://cmp-openstandards.org/download-os/ http://cmp-openstandards.org/download-os/ coordinated with and involved other relevant organizations or individuals in planning the project, and detail if/how they will be involved in conducting project activities, disseminating project results and/or incorporating your results/products into their activities. 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 to the proposed collaboration from each partner organization will strengthen your proposal and may be requested by reviewers.

5. Project Monitoring and Evaluation: This section should answer the question, “How will project implementation and impacts be understood?” For USFWS grants, project monitoring and evaluation involves two components:

a) Anticipated outputs that document project implementation. Identify all expected outputs

(also known as products) of key project activities. Examples include management plans, brochures, posters, training manuals, number of people trained, workshops held, hours of training provided, and equipment purchased.

b) Conservation outcomes that are the intended results of the project. Identify all conservation outcomes intended to be achieved by this project. Examples include decrease in poaching leading to less illegally harvested bushmeat, decrease in poaching for the pet trade, and more trained individuals applying their training. Outcomes should directly relate to, or even be synonymous with, your Proposal Objectives identified above. To track your progress toward achievement of each objective, identify what you will measure (i.e., indicators), and how will you will measure it (i.e., methods, sample sizes, survey tools).

The following table format is recommended:

Objective Indicator (i.e., what you will measure to track your progress toward achieving the objective)

Monitoring Method (i.e., how you will measure the indicator)

Current

Status, if known

Desired

Status

For Projects in Africa To assist applicants, USFWS and partners have identified short-term and medium-term conservation outcomes for the following conservation strategies in Central Africa: (a) patrols,

(b) protected area designation, (c) training and capacity development, (d) best practice guidelines for extractive industry, (e) partner engagement, (f) law compliance and enforcement, (g) public campaigns to change values and behavior, and (h) applied conservation research. If you are proposing one or more of the above strategies, please see the

Standard Measures of Effectiveness and Threats for Wildlife Conservation in Central Africa for a set of application questions that you are encouraged to address in the Statement of Need.

These targeted questions and indicators are designed as guidance for how the effectiveness of each strategy can be assessed. Applicants of Cooperative Agreements will have higher expectations of monitoring and evaluation of the status of species and their greatest threats.

USFWS will work with the applicant to establish these M & E criteria.

Habituating African Great Apes Habituation of great apes to close human presence for the purpose of research or tourism is a widespread practice throughout Africa. It can have positive returns for the conservation of the species and their habitat, but it poses inherent risks to the animals in question. As such, it is not an activity that should be undertaken lightly. Any African ape habituation for tourism or research that is supported by the USFWS must comply with relevant IUCN guidelines as presented in the (Elizabeth J. MacFie and Elizabeth A. Williamson (2010). IUCN Best

Practice Guidelines for Great Ape Tourism. Gland, Switzerland: IUCN/SSC Primate

Specialist Group (PSG). 78 pp.; Gilardi, K.V., Gillespie, T.R., Leendertz, F.H., Macfie, E.J., Travis, D.A., Whittier, C.A. & Williamson, E.A. (2015). Best Practice Guidelines for Health

Monitoring and Disease Control in Great Ape Populations. Gland, Switzerland: IUCN SSC

Primate Specialist Group. 56pp.). Proposals should clearly justify any significant deviations from these guidelines.

6. Description of Entities Undertaking the Project: This section should answer the question, “Who are you, and who are you going to be working with?” Provide a brief description of the applicant organization and all cooperating or coordinating organizations and agencies. State the activities for which each group or individual is responsible. Provide brief (1-2 pages) curricula vitae for key personnel, identifying their qualifications to meet the project objectives. 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.

If activities to collect data are proposed and the project can demonstrate a strong partnership with the wildlife authority that will use the data to manage the species more effectively, providing this information will strengthen the proposal.

7. Sustainability: As applicable, describe which project activities will continue beyond the proposed project period, who will continue the work or act on the results achieved, and how and at what level you expect these future activities will be funded.

8. Literature Cited.

9. Map of Project Area: This section should answer the question, “Where is this project located?” Provide a map showing the location of your project site at the regional or national level. Ensure that the sites that you have referred to in the proposal are labeled on the map.

10. Government Letter of Endorsement - 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. Where appropriate, letters of support from local communities or project beneficiaries should be provided. Endorsement letters should make specific reference to the project by its title as submitted on the applicant’s proposal. This letter must be submitted in English or an English translation provided.

11. Detailed notification of security forces. The Leahy Vetting requirement is included annually in the Foreign Assistance Appropriations Act. The Leahy Amendment prohibits assistance to individuals with human rights abuse records. It requires that military and civilian security force individuals or units receiving US Government assistance be screened for any record of human rights abuse. Conservation efforts authorized by the Foreign

Assistance Act often require work with and/or support to law enforcement personnel, including park rangers, police, customs officials, or any other “foreign security forces”

(anyone with authority to detain, confiscate, arrest, and/or use force). Training is the most frequently cited example of assistance, but any provision of materials or equipment must be vetted. If security forces are involved in any project activities, please explain in detail the specific resources that will be used to support these forces and whether the project https://portals.iucn.org/library/efiles/documents/ssc-op-038.pdf https://portals.iucn.org/library/efiles/documents/ssc-op-038.pdf https://portals.iucn.org/library/sites/library/files/documents/ssc-op-056.pdf https://portals.iucn.org/library/sites/library/files/documents/ssc-op-056.pdf participants are a unit (i.e. rangers from protected areas) or a group of individuals. If your proposal is selected for funding, a USFWS Officer will contact you with further instructions.

D. Budget Format When developing your budget, keep in mind that financial assistance awards and subawards are subject to the Federal cost principles in Title 2 of the Code of Federal Regulations Part 200 (2

CFR 200), as applicable to the recipient organization type. Links to the full text of the Federal cost principles are available on the Internet at http://www.ecfr.gov/.

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

CFDA number for this Federal program appears on the first page of this funding opportunity.

Instructions for Budget Table: Begin your project budget table on a new page. The budget table should include a column for all cost categories/items for the project. One column to show the cost calculation, a column for the total costs, one column for the requested Service funding, one or more columns for applicant and partner contributions, and, if applicable, a column for any program income that will be used to conduct project activities as demonstrated here:

Category/

Budget Item

Cost Calculation Total

Cost

Applicant Partner

X Partner

Y Program

Income (if applicable)

1. Salaries/Per Diem:

$500/month *6 months

$3,000

$x,xxx

$xxx

$xxx A. Instructor (1)

B. Trainees (30) $60/day*5 days*30 trainees

$9,000 $x,xxx $xxx $xxx $xxx $xxx

2. Lodging (11 individuals) 20 nights *11 people * $15/night

$3,300 $x,xxx $xxx $xxx $xxx $xxx

3. Transportation:

30 tickets * $20/each

$600

$xxx Bus tickets (30 individuals)

4. Production of training material:

100 manuals * $10/each

$1,000

$xxx A. Printing (100 manuals)

B. Postage 12 months * $20/month

$240 $x,xxx $xxx $xxx $xxx $xxx http://www.ecfr.gov/

Total Direct Costs $x,xxx $x,xxx $xxx $xxx $xxx $xxx

NICRA (or de minimus overhead) xx.xx% $ xxx $ xxx

Total Cost

*Present all amounts in U.S. dollars

The Budget Table should provide enough information for reviewers to be able to understand the cost basis and calculation at a glance. For example, a $3,300 line item for lodging costs should include the formula for how the cost was calculated: Lodging for 20 nights x 11 people x

$15/night = $3,300.

Wherever possible, cost calculations should be included in the Budget Table. Where necessary, additional description should be provided in the Budget Justification. If the Budget Table requires more than one page, verify that the column headings and row titles appear on all pages.

Things to consider when developing your Budget Table:

Federally Funded Equipment: If the U.S. Federal Government has paid for equipment for another award, applicants cannot claim it to be a matching or in-kind contribution and SHOULD NOT include it in the budget table. Instead, provide a separate list of any equipment paid for by the U.S. Federal Government that will be used for the project, including the name of the Federal agency that paid for the equipment.

Program Income: Your project may include activities that will generate program income. Program income earned as a result of activities supported with Federal funding includes, but is not limited to the following: income from fees for services, the use or rental of property, the sale of commodities or fabricated items, license fees and royalties on patents and copyrights, and interest on loans. Program income does not include interest earned on advances of Federal funds. Income earned during the project period of an approved award shall be retained by the recipient and used in at least one of the following ways:

1. Added to the funds requested from the USFWS for the project in addition to those committed by the recipient/other partners, and later used to conduct additional activities that will further the project objectives; OR

2. Used to finance the non-Federal share of the project.

If your project will generate program income, provide: (1) a description of how the income will be generated, (2) an estimate of how much income will be made during the project duration, and (3) a description of how the funds will be used. If the income is to be used to conduct additional activities, you must include a Program Income column in your budget table and include all cost categories/items and associated amounts that the program income will cover.

E. Budget Justification In a separate narrative titled “Budget Justification,” explain and justify all requested budget items/costs. Each budget line must demonstrate a clear connection to the project activities, and show how line item amounts were determined. For expensive items or large single purchases, provide detailed technical specifications or a pro-forma invoice. For personnel salary costs, include the base-line salary figures and the estimates of time (as percentages) to be directly charged to the project. Describe any item that under the applicable Federal Cost Principles requires the Service’s approval and estimate its cost.

F. Indirect Costs

1. Required Indirect Cost Statement: Applicants that do not have a Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate

Agreement (NICRA) cannot claim more than a flat de minimus indirect cost rate of 10% of modified total direct costs. Modified Total Direct Cost (MTDC) means all direct salaries and wages, applicable fringe benefits, materials and supplies, travel and subawards and subcontracts up to the first $25,000 of each subaward or subcontract. MTDC EXCLUDES equipment, capital expenditures, rental costs, tuition remission, scholarships and fellowships, participant support costs and the portion of each subaward and subcontract in excess of $25,000.

All applicants except individuals applying for funds separate from a business or non-profit organization he/she may operate MUST include in the budget justification one of the following statements and attach to their application any required documentation identified in the applicable statement:

“We are:

1. A U.S. state or local government entity receiving more than $35 million in direct Federal funding each year with an indirect cost rate of [insert rate]. We submit our indirect cost rate proposals to our cognizant agency. A copy of our most recently approved rate agreement/certification is attached.

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

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

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

5. A [insert your organization type] that has never submitted an indirect cost rate proposal to our cognizant agency and has an indirect cost rate that is lower than 10%. Our indirect cost rate is [insert rate; must be lower than 10%]. However, in the event an award is made, we will not be able to meet the requirement to submit and indirect cost rate proposal to our cognizant agency within 90 calendar days after award. We request as a condition of award to charge a flat indirect cost rate of [insert rate; must be lower than 10%] of [insert a clear description of the direct cost base against which your rate is charged (e.g., salaries; salaries and fringe benefits; or modified total direct costs). However, please note that our organization cannot charge indirect costs in excess of the indirect costs that would be recovered if applied against modified total direct costs as defined in 2 CFR 220.68]. We understand that we must notify the Service in writing immediately if we establish an approved rate with our cognizant agency at any point during the award period.

6. A [insert your organization type] that has never submitted an indirect cost rate proposal to our cognizant agency. Our indirect cost rate is [insert your organization’s rate; must be 10% or higher]. However, in the event an award is made, we will not be able to meet the requirement to submit an indirect cost rate proposal to our cognizant agency within 90 calendar days after award. We request as a condition of award to charge a flat de minimus indirect cost rate of 10% of modified total direct costs as defined in Title 2 of the Code of

Federal Regulations Part 200, section 200.68. We understand that the 10% de minimus rate will apply for the life of the award, including any future extensions for time, and that the rate cannot be changed even if we do establish an approved rate with our cognizant agency at any point during the award period

7. A [insert your organization type] that is submitting this proposal for consideration under the

[insert either “Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit Program” or “Cooperative

Ecosystem Studies Unit Network”], which has a Department of the Interior-approved indirect cost rate cap of [insert program rate]. If we have an approved indirect cost rate with our cognizant agency, we understand that we must apply this reduced rate against the same direct cost base as identified in our approved indirect cost rate agreement. If we do not have an approved indirect cost rate with our cognizant agency, we understand that the basis for direct costs will be the modified total direct cost base defined in 2 CFR 200.68 “Modified

Total Direct Cost (MTDC)”. We understand that we must request prior approval from the

Service to use the MTDC base instead of the base identified in our approved indirect cost rate agreement, and that Service approval of such a request will be based on: 1) a determination that our approved base is only a subset of the MTDC (such as salaries and wages); and 2) that use of the MTDC base will still result in a reduction of the total indirect costs to be charged to the award.

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

2. All applicants are hereby notified of the following:

Recipients without an approved indirect cost rate are prohibited from charging indirect costs to a Federal award greater than 10%. Accepting the 10% de minimus rate as a condition of award is an approved rate.

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

Only the indirect costs calculated against the Federal portion of the total direct costs may be charged to the Federal award. Recipients may not charge to their Service award any indirect costs calculated against the portion of total direct costs charged to themselves or charged to any other project partner, Federal and non-Federal alike.

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

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

For more information on indirect cost rates, see the Service’s Indirect Costs and Negotiated

Indirect Cost Rate Agreements guidance document on the Internet at http://www.fws.gov/grants.

Negotiating an Indirect Cost Rate with the Department of the Interior:

http://www.ecfr.gov/ http://www.fws.gov/grants/ http://www.fws.gov/grants/

For organizations without a NICRA, you must have an open, active Federal award to submit an indirect cost rate proposal to your cognizant agency. The Federal awarding agency that provides the largest amount of direct funding to your organization is your cognizant agency, unless otherwise assigned by the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB). If the

Department of the Interior is your cognizant agency, your indirect cost rate will be negotiated by the Interior Business Center (IBC). For more information, contact IBC at:

Indirect Cost Services Acquisition Services Directorate, Interior Business Center U.S. Department of the Interior 2180 Harvard Street, Suite 430 Sacramento, CA 95815 Phone: 916-566-7111; Email: ics@nbc.gov Internet address: http://www.aqd.nbc.gov/Services/ICS.aspx

G. Single Audit Reporting Statements (Foreign Applicants Excluded): As required in Title 2 of the

Code of Federal Regulations Part 200, Subpart F, all U.S. states, local governments, federally-recognized Indian tribal governments, and non-profit organizations expending $750,000 USD or more in Federal award funds in a fiscal year must submit a Single Audit report for that year through the

Federal Audit Clearinghouse’s Internet Data Entry System. All U.S. state, local government, federally-recognized Indian tribal government and non-profit applicants must provide a statement regarding if your organization was/was not required to submit a Single Audit report for the organization’s most recently closed fiscal year and, if so, state if that report is available on the Federal

Audit Clearinghouse Single Audit Database website at http://harvester.census.gov/sac/ and provide the EIN under which that report was submitted. Include these statements at the end of the Project

Narrative in a section titled “Single Audit Reporting Statements”. Do not include your audit report in the proposal or application.

H. Assurances: Include the appropriate signed and dated Assurances form available online at http://apply07.grants.gov/apply/FormLinks?family=15. Use the Assurances for Non-Construction

Programs (SF 424B). Signing this form does not mean that all items on the form are applicable. The form contains language that states that some of the assurances may not be applicable to your organization and/or your project or program.

I. Certification and Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (Foreign Applicants Excluded): Under Title

31 of the United States Code, Section 1352, an applicant or recipient must not use any federally appropriated funds (both annually appropriated and continuing appropriations) or matching funds under a grant or cooperative agreement award to pay any person for lobbying in connection with the award. Lobbying is defined as influencing or attempting to influence an officer or employee of any agency, a Member of Congress, an officer or employee of Congress, or an employee of a Member of

Congress connection with the award. Submission of an application also represents the applicant’s certification of the statements in 43 CFR Part 18, Appendix A-Certification Regarding Lobbying. If you/your organization have/has made or agrees to make any payment using non-appropriated funds for lobbying in connection with this project AND the project budget exceeds $100,000, complete and submit the SF LLL, Disclosure of Lobbying Activities form. See 43 CFR, Subpart 18.100 for more information on when additional submission of this form is required. Submission of an application also represents the applicant’s certification of the statements in 43 CFR Part 18, Appendix A-

Certification Regarding Lobbying.

mailto:ics@nbc.gov about:blank http://www.ecfr.gov/ http://www.ecfr.gov/ http://harvester.census.gov/sac/ http://apply07.grants.gov/apply/FormLinks?family=15

J. Conflict of Interest Disclosures: Applicants must notify the Service in writing of any actual or potential conflicts of interest that are known at the time of application or that may arise during the life of this award, in the event an award is made. Conflicts of interest include any relationship or matter, which might place the recipient, the recipient’s employees, or the recipient’s subrecipients in a position of conflict, real or apparent, between their responsibilities under the award and any other outside interests. Conflicts of interest may also include, but are not limited to, direct or indirect financial interests, close personal relationships, positions of trust in outside organizations, consideration of future employment arrangements with a different organization, or decision-making affecting the award that would cause a reasonable person with knowledge of the relevant facts to question the impartiality of the applicant, the applicant’s employees, or the applicant’s future subrecipients in the matter. Applicants must notify the Service in writing in their application if any key project personnel, including subrecipient and contractor personnel, are known to be related to, married to, or have a close personal relationship with any Federal employee in or associated with the program to which you are applying for funding or who otherwise may be involved in the review or selection of the applications. Upon receipt of such a notice, the Service program, in consultation with their Ethics Counselor, will determine if a conflict of interest exists and, if so, if there are any possible actions to be taken by the applicant to reduce or resolve the conflict. Failure to disclose and resolve conflicts of interest in a manner that satisfies the Service may result in the project not being selected for funding.

K. Overlap/Duplications Statement: Applicants must provide a statement that addresses if 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 this 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.

Application Checklist: Please use the checklist below to assure you have prepared all required application elements prior to submission.

SF-424 - Application for Federal Assistance SF-424B Assurances form System for Award Management (SAM) registration Project Summary (1 page) Project Narrative Budget Table (Costs need to be shown in USD) Budget justification including indirect cost statement Government Letter of Endorsement Conflict of Interest statement, when applicable A-133 Single Audit Reporting statement SF-LLL Form, when applicable Government Letter of Endorsement (applicants from India must include copy of FCRA) Evidence of non-profit status: If a non-profit organization, a copy of Section 501(c)(3) or (4) status determination letter received from the Internal Revenue Service NICRA Statement and, when applicable, a copy of the organization’s current Negotiated

Indirect Cost Rate Agreement

Leahy Vetting Requirement Duplication of Work Statement (see K. above)

V. Application Submission Instructions

SUBMISSION DEADLINE: Open from March 27, 2018 to April 30, 2018. Proposals and pre-proposals must be submitted by 11:59 PM EST on April 30, 2018. Proposals and pre-proposals must be in English. A confirmation e-mail containing an assigned proposal number beginning with

“GA18__” will be sent to applicants in 5-10 business days from the opportunity closing date. If you do not receive this email, please contact Cheryl Leonard at mscf_greatape@fws.gov.

The Division of International Conservation occasionally receives and funds proposals outside of the announced submission deadlines that are of such a critical nature that they warrant immediate consideration (e.g., projects resulting from a natural disaster, disease outbreak, other imminent threats or population crash, among others).

Please select ONE of the following submission options:

A. U.S. Applicants: U.S. applicants MUST apply through Grants.gov. If an organization does not have a Grants.gov account, you may register at http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration.html. If applying as an individual, you may register here: http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/individual-registration.html. Registration can take from three to five business days to as long as two weeks.

Please Note: To apply through Grants.gov, you must first be registered in SAM.

To begin the…