NOFO_OPNWR_Bat_Telemetry_28Aug2017.docx

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service National Wildlife Refuge System Ozark Plateau National Wildlife Refuge

Habitat Use and Distribution of Northern Long-eared Bats And Tri-colored Bats During Fall Swarming at a Hibernaculum on the Ozark Plateau National Wildlife Refuge, Adair County Oklahoma

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 15.650

Notice of Funding Opportunity

I. Description of Funding Opportunity The goal of this award is to implement a radio-telemetry study that will examine the distribution and habitat use during the fall swarming period of the federally threatened northern long-eared bat (Myotis septentrionalis, MYSE) and tri-colored bat (Perimyotis subflavus, PESU), a species of special concern that is under consideration for federal listing. The hibernaculum site for this MYSE and tri-colored bat study is located at Duncan Field Cave, a large multi-entrance cave system with over nine miles of passage on the Ozark Plateau National Wildlife Refuge (OPNWR) in Adair County, Oklahoma.

The authorizing statute for this agreement is: Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956, as amended, 16 U.S.C. (742f (a)(4); Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act, as amended, 16 U.S.C. 661.; Fish and Wildlife Improvement Act of 1978, as amended (16 U.S.C. 753), Land and Water Conservation Fund Act of 1965, as amended (16 U.S.C. 4601-4 through 11), and the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531-1543).

II. Award Information The U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) intends to award a Cooperative Agreement to Environmental Solutions and Innovations, Inc. (ESI) in the amount of up to $300,000 (contingent on the availability of funds) up to 5 years. The Service will be substantially involved in the project under this funding opportunity. In particular, the Service will be responsible for the following: 1) providing timely access to the study sites; 2) field work to identify the cave entrances where netting and trapping will occur; 3) assisting with selection of the most appropriate placement of mist-nets and harp traps; 4) assisting with selection of telemetry receiver tower sites; and 5) assisting with obtaining landowner permission for placement of towers. ESI will implement mist netting and trapping at the selected cave entrances in the fall of 2018 and in the spring of 2019. ESI will band each northern long-eared and tri-colored bat captured and record the following data for all bats captured: species, sex, age class, reproductive condition, right forearm length, weight, and wing condition. ESI will apply transmitters to 10 MYSE and 10 PESU at the beginning of the fall swarming period and again approximately 10 days later. ESI will check and move receiver towers when necessary to better sample the habitat around the hibernaculum. Receiver towers will be placed in forested and forest edge habitats around the hibernaculum and moved as necessary to maximize reception and document habitat use and areas of activities. During the spring, ESI will monitor hibernacula entrances (at least three) using harp traps and mist-nets to continue analyses of species abundance and demographic makeup of each species. ESI will provide annual report(s) and a final report at the end of the project. The anticipated starting date is September 25th, 2017. This project is anticipated to conclude within 2 to 5 years from the date the award initially is signed by the Service.

III. Basic Eligibility Requirements Eligible Applicants:

Federal, State and local government agencies; federally-recognized Tribal governments; private nonprofit institutions/organizations; public nonprofit institutions/ organizations; and for profit organizations are eligible to apply. This is intended to be a Single Source Award awarded in accordance with Department of the Interior Policy 505 DM 2.14 B 2 Unique Qualifications and Service Policy 516 FW 6 Issuing Discretionary Grant and Cooperative Agreement Awards without Competition.

Bat biologists with ESI are uniquely qualified to accomplish the project. The project involves trapping bats at three cave entrances concurrently and therefore will require teams to carry out the field work. The cave where trapping will occur is remotely located on the Sally Bull Hollow Unit of the refuge, and is used by three federally-listed bat species. A target species of the study are the federally-listed threatened northern long-eared bat. The federally-listed endangered Ozark big-eared bat and gray bat also utilize the cave and are likely to be captured. The project, therefore, must be implemented by experienced bat researchers with a current Section 10 Research and Recovery Permit that authorizes the capture and handling of these federally-listed bat species in Oklahoma. Dr. Lynn Robbins and Kory Armstrong of ESI have considerable experience trapping and netting for bats, and expertise in studying bats and their habitat in the Ozark Highlands. Dr. Robbins and Mr. Armstrong also possess the appropriate Section 10 permit. Many of Dr. Robbins previous projects also involved the northern long-eared bat, the target species of this project. Dr. Robbins recently has led a bat banding study on this unit of the refuge, and is one of only a few bat researchers familiar with the remotely located Sally Bull Hollow Unit of the refuge and the cave entrances on the unit. Although refuge staff will assist with certain aspects of the project, such as selection of cave entrances to perform trapping, selecting telemetry tower sites, netting, private landowner contact, etc., his previous experience working on this refuge unit will facilitate his team’s ability to work independently when needed without continued oversight and assistance by refuge staff. There are other bat researchers in the United States that also possess the appropriate permit, but few are familiar with this remote unit of the refuge. ESI is unique in that they can provide two lead bat researchers that have the appropriate permit and previous experience working on this remote refuge unit, and a team of researchers that can carry out concurrent netting/trapping at multiple locations.

Federal law 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). See Title 2 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Part 25 for more information. 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.

A. DUNS Registration Request a DUNS number at http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform. For technical difficulties, contact Dun & Bradstreet by email at: govt@dnb.com, or by calling the Government Customer Resource Center at voice phone: 866-705-5711 or TTY line: 877-807-1679 (hearing impaired customers only). Once assigned a DUNS number, entities are responsible for maintaining up-to-date information with Dun & Bradstreet.

B. Entity Registration in SAM Register in SAM at 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.

Note: The official U.S. government website address for SAM is www.sam.gov. There is NO COST to register in or access SAM.gov. There are third-party vendors who charge a fee in exchange for registering entities in SAM; please be aware that you can register to do business with the U.S. government FOR FREE directly in SAM at www.sam.gov.

C. Excluded Entities Applicant entities or their key project personnel 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. The Service conducts a review of the SAM.gov Exclusions database for all applicant entities and their key project personnel prior to award.

D. Cost Sharing or Matching: Cost-sharing or matching is not required.

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

A. A completed, signed and dated Application for Federal Assistance form. Applicants must use the SF 424, Application for Federal Assistance form (http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms/sf-424-family.html#sortby=1). 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.

B. Project Summary This project will examine the distribution and habitat use during the fall swarming period of the federally threatened northern long-eared bat MYSE and tri-colored bat PESU, a species of special concern that is under consideration for Federal listing. The hibernaculum site for this MYSE and tri-colored bat study is located at Duncan Field Cave, a large multi-entrance cave system with over nine miles of passage on OPNWR in Adair County, Oklahoma.

The current regulations for MYSE prohibit tree removal or similar disturbance within 0.25 miles of a hibernaculum during hibernation or at an entrance during fall swarming or spring emergence. This 0.25-mile buffer has become the accepted protected area around known MYSE hibernacula. There is scientific information about habitat use and distribution of the Indiana bat (Myotis sodalis) at or near hibernacula, and these distances range from 3.0 miles (Kurta and Kennedy 2002) to 20.0 miles (Service 2011). Comparable data are needed for MYSE and PESU (covered species for this proposal) in order to adequately describe important habitat requirements for these two species during this critical time in their life histories. Information obtained from this study will be used to describe the characteristics of important habitat and foraging distances around hibernacula and to inform the development and application of protective measures needed for the maintenance and recovery of these two species across their range. Information collected also can be used to determine changes in MYSE and PESU populations as the fungus that causes white-nose syndrome (WNS) becomes more prevalent within the hibernaculum that was first detected in the winter of 2006-2007. Although it is likely that WNS will reduce the numbers of each species, especially MYSE, sufficient numbers should still be available at this cave to fulfill the goals. The results of studies on these species are essential to informing decisions on necessary and appropriate minimization measures, particularly around occupied covered species hibernacula and maternity caves. In order to do so, it is essential to understand the distribution of bat species during the active season.

This study will provide a better understanding of covered species fall habitat use patterns and how they pertain to their use of similar habitats where populations have declined due to WNS. These data can then be used in the development of protection measures across the range of both MYSE and PESU.

C. Project Narrative

1. Statement of Need: Forty-five species of bats occur in the United States and Canada, and bats represent more than 10 percent of mammalian species diversity in the region (U.S. Geological Survey, 2010). More than half of the species of insectivorous bats that occur in the U.S. rely on hibernation as a primary strategy for surviving the winter when insect prey is not available. The emergence and spread of WNS has the potential to undermine the basic survival strategy of more than half the bat species in the U.S., including MYSE and PESU.

Forest management or removal can negatively affect cave-dwelling bats at multiple spatial scales and during all stages of its life history, from foraging habitat to maternity and day roosts to hibernacula and fall swarming and spring staging habitat (Silvis et al., 2016). Forest management can also provide edge habitat that is frequently used by bats for commuting and foraging, and can strongly influence both short- and long-term prey availability in a given area.

Documenting bat species occurrence and distribution around hibernacula for the covered species is essential to inform the application of necessary and appropriate species avoidance and minimization measures around these important areas. Information obtained in this study can be used to describe the characteristics of essential habitat and foraging distances around hibernacula. These data can then be used in the development of protection measures across the range of these species.

ESI previously was awarded a cooperative agreement with the Service to conduct a bat banding study at this cave. Two fall swarming surveys (2015, 2016) and two spring emergence surveys (2016, 2017) yielded 819 MYSE and 722 PESU (See Table below). Results of these efforts indicate the cave is a very important hibernacula.

Table 1. Fall and Spring Emergence Survey Results at Ozark Plateau National Wildlife Refuge

Spring 2017 Banded

2.

2. Project Goals and Objectives:

· Collect information that can be used to describe the foraging areas, habitat use patterns and foraging distances of MYSE and PESU at a known hibernaculum during the fall swarming period using radio transmitters and stationary and mobile receiving units at different distances from the hibernaculum and in different habitats.

· Continue to collect information at the hibernaculum during spring emergence and fall swarming in 2018 that can be used to determine changes and demography of MYSE and PESU as the fungus that causes WNS becomes more prevalent and as fungal loads increase within the hibernaculum. Previous surveys have been conducted during these periods starting in the fall of 2015. See Previous Studies section below.

· Describe essential/important habitat to facilitate and enhance protective measures required by the Endangered Species Act.

3. Project Activities, Methods and Timetable:

Fall 2018 – Planning at the hibernaculum to determine location of survey points and available roads and trails for mobile units, obtain landowner permission where needed, locate sources of equipment and supplies, and organization of personnel. Survey locations (tracking stations) will be located to insure coverage from various directions and desirable angles around the hibernaculum. Tracking stations will take synchronized azimuths of individual bats, gathering locations for later analysis of individual and aggregate home ranges/core use areas as outlined in Moore et al. (2017). We will transmits a maximum of 10 MYSE and 10 PESU at the beginning of the fall swarming period (e.g., September 20 – 30) and additional transmitters will be applied over the next 12-15 day period depending on nightly results and available vehicles and personnel. Distances from the hibernacula will be plotted and triangulation during the foraging bouts will be used to determine habitat use, employing habitat delineations using supervised classifications and available stand data at 1-meter resolution. Efforts will be made during the day to locate and describe any roosting locations away from the hibernaculum.

The small, radio transmitters (0.31 g; LB-2X Holohil Systems with 14-day battery life or similar brand/model) with boosted signal strength for greater detection will be deployed. Information obtained from the first 5-7 days will determine subsequent locations for recording stations if needed. Tracking stations will be mobile as needed to acquire at least three azimuths per synchronized reading.

Bat biologists with ESI have current State permits and a Federal Section 10 Research and Recovery Permit that authorizes all proposed activities involved in this project (e.g., capture and handling of these federally-listed bat species in Oklahoma). The Service and permit holders will be present at all capture sites, will be responsible for the attachment of all transmitters, and will supervise all operations. Qualified and experienced individuals will be involved in all phases of Studies and Investigations.

Timetable of Activities by Month

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4. Stakeholder Coordination/Involvement: The Service and ESI have discussed the proposed project with other bat biologists regarding the importance of the proposed project. We have discussed the cave entrances where netting would likely be most productive based on previous survey efforts. Partners that the Service works with on cave and bat research in the Ozarks and elsewhere support the project and have provided important information and recommendations. Documenting bat species occurrence and distribution around hibernacula for the covered species is essential to inform the application of necessary and appropriate species avoidance and minimization measures around these important areas. Information obtained in this study can be used to describe the characteristics of essential habitat and foraging distances around hibernacula. These data can then be used in the development of protection measures across the range of these species.

5. Project Monitoring and Evaluation: ESI will mist net and/or trap at three selected cave entrances in the fall and spring just before and after bats enter and emerge from hibernation over a two year period. Should few or no bats be captured at any of the three originally selected entrances, alternate entrances will be chosen for the next survey effort during that season (fall or spring). Tracking stations will take synchronized azimuths of individual bats, gathering locations for later analysis of individual and aggregate home ranges/core use areas as outlined in Moore et al. (2017). We will transmit a maximum of 10 MYSE and 10 PESU at the beginning of the fall swarming period (e.g., September 20 – 30) and additional transmitters will be applied over the next 12 to 15 day period depending on nightly results and available vehicles and personnel. Distances from the hibernacula will be plotted and triangulation during the foraging bouts will be used to determine habitat use, employing habitat delineations using supervised classifications and available stand data at 1-meter resolution. Efforts will be made during the day to locate and describe any roosting locations away from the hibernaculum. Information obtained from the first 5-7 days will determine subsequent locations for recording stations if needed. Tracking stations will be mobile as needed to acquire at least three azimuths per synchronized reading. ESI will provide an annual report(s) and a final report at the end of the project. Results of this study can be used to help develop necessary and appropriate species avoidance and minimization measures around hibernacula. Information obtained in this study can be used to describe the characteristics of essential habitat and foraging distances around hibernacula. These data can then be used in the development of protection measures across the range of these species. This study will influence future similar survey efforts for the northern long-eared bat and other bat species at this cave.

6. Description of Entities Undertaking the Project: ESI is an environmental firm that conducts field studies including surveys and biological assessments. Dr. Lynn Robbins and Kory Armstrong work for ESI and will be responsible for the project. Dr. Robbins is a wildlife biologist with extensive experience studying bats and their habitats. He has considerable experience implementing various field survey techniques for bats including utilizing mist-nets and harp traps. Many of his projects involve federally-listed bats including the northern long-eared and gray bats. Mr. Kory Armstrong is an environmental scientist and regional manager for ESI with a specialty in bat ecology. He leads field surveys for ESI on projects involving federally-listed bats. He is experienced with the use of mist nets, bat handling, and identification and morphometric processing. The project involves trapping bats at three cave entrances concurrently, and therefore will require teams to carry out the field work. ESI is unique in that they can provide lead bat researchers that have the appropriate federal permit and previous experience working on this remote refuge unit (Dr. Robbins), and a team of experienced field personnel that can carry out concurrent netting/trapping at multiple locations.

Dr. Lynn Robbins Project Manager Environmental Solutions and Innovations, Inc.

3851 S. Jefferson Avenue Springfield, Missouri 65807 513-591-4317 Email: lrobbins@envsi.com

Kory Armstrong Regional Manager Environmental Solutions and Innovations, Inc.

3851 S. Jefferson Avenue Springfield, Missouri 65807 513-591-4319 Email: karmstrong@envsi.com

7. Sustainability: The results of this study will be useful in future conservation planning efforts for MYSE and PESU by the Service and our partners. Results will influence future similar study efforts by the Service/ OPNWR and our partners for these and other bat species at this cave. Results of this study can be used to help develop necessary and appropriate species avoidance and minimization measures around hibernacula. Information obtained in this study can be used to describe the characteristics of essential habitat and foraging distances around hibernacula. These data can then be used in the development of protection measures across the range of these species. The study also will provide very valuable information on the impact of WNS on the MYSE, PESU, and other bats that occur in the cave. The data collected will help the Service and other researchers understand the impact of WNS on bats in Oklahoma. Funding of similar future activities would be anticipated to occur at a similar level.

8. Literature Cited

Center for Biological Diversity and Defenders of Wildlife. 2016. Petition to List the Tricolored Bat Perimyotis subflavus as Threatened or Endangered under the Endangered Species Act. 76 pp.

Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service. 2015. Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Threatened Species Status for the Northern Long-Eared Bat With 4(d) Rule; Final Rule and Interim Rule. Federal Register/Vol. 80, No. 63/Thursday, April 2, 2015/Rules and Regulations. P. 17974-18033

Final 4(d) rule for the Northern Long-Eared Bat. 2016. https://www.fws.gov/Midwest/endangered/mammals/nleb/FAQsFinal4dRuleNLEB.html

Frick, W. F., T. L. Cheng, K. E. Langwig, J. R. Hoyt, A. F. Janicki, K. L. Parise, J. T. Foster, and A.

M. Kilpatrick. 2017. Pathogen dynamics during invasion and establishment of white-nose syndrome explain mechanisms of host persistence. Ecology, 98(3) pp. 624-631.

Kurta, A. and J. Kennedy. 2002. The Indiana bat: Biology and Management of an Endangered Species. Austin, TX: Bat Conservation International.

Moore, P. M., Risch, T. S., Morris, D. K., Rolland, V. 2017. Habitat use of female gray bats assessed using aerial telemetry. Journal of Wildlife Management. DOI: 10.1002

Silvis, A., R. W. Perry, and W.M. Ford. 2016. Relationships of Three Species of Bats Impacted by White-Nose Syndrome to Forest Condition and Management. Forest Service Research & Development Southern Research Station, General Technical Report SRS-214. 57 pp.

Tinsley, K. 2016. Status Review for the Eastern Subspecies of the Little Brown Bat (Myotis lucifugus lucifugus). USFWS Region 3. 150 pp.

9. Map of Project Area:

D. Budget Form Complete the Budget Information for Non-Construction Programs (SF 424A) or Budget Information for Construction Programs (SF 424C) form. Use the SF 424A if your project does not include construction and the SF 424C if the project includes construction or land acquisition. The budget forms are available on the Internet at http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms/sf-424-family.html#sortby=1. 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, 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/.

Note on Multiple Federal Funding Sources: If the project budget includes multiple Federal funding sources, you must show the funds being requested from this Federal program on the budget form separately from any other requested/secured Federal sources of funding. 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.

E. Budget Justification In a separate narrative titled “Budget Justification”, explain and justify all requested budget items/costs. Detail how the SF 424 Budget Object Class Category totals were determined and demonstrate a clear connection between costs and the proposed project activities. 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.

If Federally-funded equipment will be used for the project, provide a list of that equipment, including the Federal funding source. The Service will provide certain pieces of equipment and supplies for use during the study. The refuge will provide data tables for field work, disposable gloves, and bat bands. Refuge vehicles also will be utilized to transport field personnel to and from study sites.

Required Indirect Cost Statement: Recipients that do not have an approved indirect cost rate cannot charge indirect costs to their Federal award. 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 narrative one of the following statements and attach to their application any required documentation identified in the applicable statement:

“We are:

1. 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]. [Insert either: “A copy of our most recently approved but expired rate agreement is attached. 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.” or “A copy of our current, approved rate agreement(s) is attached.”]

2. 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.

3. 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 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 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 your 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.

4. 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 10% or higher. Our indirect cost rate is [insert your organization’s indirect 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 minimis indirect cost rate of 10% of modified total direct costs as defined in 2 CFR 200.68. We understand that we must notify the Service in writing immediately if we do establish an approved rate with our cognizant agency at any point during the award period. We understand that additional Federal funds may not be available to support an unexpected increase in indirect costs during the project period and such changes are subject to review, negotiation, and prior approval by the Service.

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

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. Accepting a flat de minimis 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.

· Recipients may not charge to their Service award any indirect costs calculated against the portion of total direct project costs paid by any other Federal funding source or non-Federal partner.

· 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.

Applicants who are individuals applying for funds separate from a business or non-profit organization he/she may operate are not eligible to charge indirect costs to their award. If you are an individual applying for funding, do not include any indirect costs in your proposed budget.

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 https://www.fws.gov/grants/atc.html.

Negotiating an Indirect Cost Rate with the Department of the Interior: Entities that do not have a NICRA must first have an open, active Federal award before they can submit an indirect cost rate proposal to their 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 the IBC at:

Indirect Cost Services Acquisition Services Directorate, Interior Business Center U.S. Department of the Interior 650 Capitol Mall, Suite 7-400 Sacramento, CA 95814 Phone: 916-930-3803 Email: Through https://www.doi.gov/ibc/contactus/ibcfeedback web form Internet address: https://www.doi.gov/ibc/services/finance/indirect-cost-services

F. Single Audit Reporting Statements: 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 (https://harvester.census.gov/facweb/) 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”.

G. Assurances: Include the appropriate signed and dated Assurances form available at http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms/sf-424-family.html#sortby=1. Use the Assurances for Construction Programs (SF 424D) for construction and land acquisition projects. Use the Assurances for Non-Construction Programs (SF 424B) for all other projects. The form includes a statement that some of the assurances may not be applicable to your organization and/or your project or program. Signing this form does not make you or your organization subject to laws that are otherwise not applicable to you or your organization. Changing, crossing out, or making notations on the form before signing has no impact on the applicability of law.

H. Certification and Disclosure of Lobbying Activities: 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 proposal AND the Federal share exceeds $100,000, complete and submit the SF LLL, Disclosure of Lobbying Activities form available at http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms/post-award-reporting-forms.html#sortby=1. See 43 CFR, Subpart 18.100 for more information on when additional submission of this form is required.

I. 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. Upon receipt of such a notice, the Service Project Officer 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 resolve conflicts of interest in a manner that satisfies the Service may result in the project not being select for funding.

J. Required Overlap/Duplication 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

· Evidence of non-profit status: If a non-profit organization, a copy of their Section 501(c)(3) or (4) status determination letter received from the Internal Revenue Service.

· SF 424, Application for Federal Assistance: A complete, signed and dated SF 424, SF 424-Mandatory, or SF 424-Individual form.

· Project summary

· Project narrative

· Timetable

· Description of key personnel qualifications

· Single Audit Reporting statement: If a U.S. state, local government, federally-recognized Indian tribal government, or non-profit organization, statements regarding applicability of and compliance with Single Audit reporting requirements.

· SF 424 budget form: A complete SF 424A or SF 424C Budget Information form.

· Budget justification

· Federally-funded equipment list: If Federally-funded equipment will be used for the project, a list of that equipment.

· Indirect cost statement

· NICRA: When applicable, a copy of the organization’s current Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement.

· SF 424 Assurances form: Signed and dated SF 424B or SF 424D Assurances form.

· SF LLL form: If applicable, completed SF-LLL Disclosure of Lobbying Activities form.

· Conflict of Interest disclosure, when applicable.

· Overlap/Duplication statement

Failure to provide complete information may cause delays, postponement, or rejection of the application.

V. Submission Instructions SUBMISSION DEADLINE: September 8, 2017, by 4 p.m. MDT

Intergovernmental Review: Before submitting an application, U.S. state and local government applicants should visit the following website (http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants_spoc/) to determine whether their application is subject to the state intergovernmental review process under Executive Order (E.O.) 12372 “Intergovernmental review of Federal Programs.” E.O. 12372 was issued to foster the intergovernmental partnership and strengthen federalism by relying on state and local processes for the coordination and review of proposed Federal financial assistance and direct Federal development. The E.O. allows each state to designate an entity to perform this function. The official list of designated entities is posted on the website. Contact your state’s designated entity for more information on the process the state requires to be followed when applying for assistance. States that do not have a designated entity listed on the website have chosen not to participate in the review process.

Download the Application Package linked to this Funding Opportunity on Grants.gov to begin the application process. Downloading and saving the Application Package to your computer makes the required government-wide standard forms fillable and printable. Completed applications may be submitted by mail, by email, electronically through Grants.gov, or as otherwise described in the Grants.gov funding opportunity. Please select ONE of the submission options:

To submit an application by mail:

Number all pages of your printed application. Mail one, single-sided, unbound copy (do not staple or otherwise permanently bind pages) of your complete application to the Service program point of contact identified in the Grants.gov funding opportunity.

The required SF 424 Application for Federal Assistance and Assurances forms and any other required standard forms MUST be signed by your organization’s authorized official. The Signature and Date fields on the standard forms downloaded from Grants.gov are pre-populated with the text “Completed by Grants.gov upon submission” or “Completed on submission to Grants.gov”. Remove this text (manually or digitally) before signing the forms.

To submit an application by e-mail:

Format all of your documents to print on Letter size (8 ½” x 11”) paper. Format all pages to display and print page numbers. Scanned documents should be scanned in Letter format, as black and white images only. Where possible, save scanned documents in .pdf format. E-mail your application to the Service program point of contact identified in the Grants.gov funding opportunity.

The required SF 424 Application for Federal Assistance and Assurances forms and any other required standard forms MUST be signed by your organization’s authorized official. The Signature and Date fields on the standard forms downloaded from Grants.gov are pre-populated with the text “Completed by Grants.gov upon submission” or “Completed on submission to Grants.gov”. Remove this text (manually or digitally) before signing the forms.

To submit an application through Grants.gov:

Go to the Grants.gov Apply for Grants page (http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/apply-for-grants.html) for an overview of the process to apply through Grants.gov. You/your organization must complete the Grants.gov registration process before submitting an application through Grants.gov. Registration can take between three to five business days, or as long as two weeks if all steps are not completed in a timely manner.

Important note on Grants.gov application attachment file names: Please do not assign application attachments file names longer than 20 characters, including spaces. Assigning file names longer than 20 characters will create issues in the automatic interface between Grants.gov and the Service’s financial assistance management system.

VI. Application Review Information Criteria: This is intended to be a Single Source Award awarded in accordance with Department of the Interior Policy 505 DM 2.14 B(4). See Additional Information of Eligibility Section. To be considered for funding, applicants must possess considerable experience studying and surveying for bats, including the federally-listed northern long-eared bat, Ozark big-eared bat, and gray bat. Applicants must be able to provide teams of experienced bat researchers that can utilize mist-nets and harp traps to capture bats, band bats, radio-tag bats, correctly identify bats that occur in Oklahoma, and take standard measurements, so that at least three cave entrances could be surveyed concurrently. A valid and current Research and Recovery Section 10 permit that authorizes work on the federally-listed northern long-eared, gray, and Ozark big-eared bat in Oklahoma will be required for this project. Cost-sharing will not be considered in the review process.

Review and Selection Process: This is intended to be a Single Source Award awarded in accordance with Department of the Interior Policy 505 DM 2.14 B(4) and Service Policy 516 FW 6. See Additional Information of Eligibility Section.

Prior to participating in any review or evaluation process, all staff and peer reviewers, evaluators, panel members, and advisors must sign and return to the program office point of contact the “Department of the Interior Conflict of Interest Certification” form. For a copy of this form, contact the Service point of contact identified in the Agency Contacts section below.

Prior to award, the Service reviews the selected applicant’s statement regarding potential overlap or duplication in terms of activities, funding, or time commitment of key personnel and makes a determination regarding Service funding. Depending on the circumstances, modification of the application, other pending applications, or an active award may be necessary, or the Service might choose to not fund the proposed project.

Each fiscal year, for every entity receiving one or more awards in that fiscal year, the Service conducts a risk assessment based on eight risk categories. The result of this risk assessment is used to establish a monitoring plan for all awards to the entity in that fiscal year. For a copy of the Service’s risk assessment form, go to https://www.fws.gov/grants/atc.html.

Prior to approving an award with a Federal funding amount that exceeds or is expected to exceed the simplified acquisition threshold, as adjusted (see 2 CFR 200.88), the Service must review and consider any information about the applicant that is in the designated integrity and performance system accessible through SAM (currently FAPIIS; https://www.fapiis.gov/fapiis/index.action) to determine if, at a minimum, the information found in the system for the applicant demonstrates a satisfactory record of Federal award performance and integrity and business ethics (see 2 CFR 200.205(a)(2)). The Service must also report to FAPIIS if an applicant subject to this review is found not qualified for a particular award due to its prior record of integrity or performance under Federal awards (see 2 CFR 200.212).

VII. Award Administration Award Notices: Following review, applicants may be requested to revise the project scope and/or budget before an award is made. Successful applicants will receive written notice in the form of a notice of award document. Notices of award are typically sent to recipients by e-mail. If e-mail notification is unsuccessful, the documents will be sent by courier mail (e.g., FedEx, DHL or UPS). Award recipients are not required to sign/return the Notice of Award document. Acceptance of an award is defined as starting work, drawing down funds, or accepting the award via electronic means. Awards are based on the application submitted to, and as approved by, the Service. The notice of award document will include instructions specific to each recipient on how to request payment. If applicable, the instructions will detail any additional information/forms required and where to submit payment requests. Applicants whose projects are not selected for funding will receive written notice, most often by e-mail, within 30 days of the final review decision.

Domestic Recipient Payments: Prior to award, the Service program office will contact you/your organization to either enroll in the U.S. Treasury’s Automated Standard Application for Payments (ASAP) system or, if eligible, obtain approval from the Department of the Interior to be waived from using ASAP.

Domestic applicants subject to the SAM registration requirement (see Section III B.) who receive a waiver from receiving funds through ASAP must maintain current banking information in SAM. Domestic applicants exempt from the SAM registration requirement who receive a waiver from receiving funds through ASAP will be required to submit their banking information directly to the Service program. However, do NOT submit any banking information to the Service until it is requested from you by the Service program!

Transmittal of Sensitive Data: Recipients are responsible for ensuring any sensitive data being sent to the Service is protected during its transmission/delivery. The Service strongly recommends that recipients use the most secure transmission/delivery method available. The Service recommends the following digital transmission methods: secure digital faxing; encrypted emails; emailing a password protected zipped/compressed file attachment in one email followed by the password in a second email; or emailing a zipped/compressed file attachment. The Service strongly encourages recipients sending sensitive data in paper copy to use a courier mail service. Recipients may also contact their Service Project Officer and provide any sensitive data over the telephone.

Award Terms and Conditions: Acceptance of a financial assistance award (i.e., grant or cooperative agreement) from the Service carries with it the responsibility to be aware of and comply with the terms and conditions applicable to the award. Acceptance is defined as the start of work, drawing down funds, or accepting the award via electronic means.