nofo template.pdf

Last Updated: February 20, 2015

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

National Wildlife Refuge System

Natural Resource Program Center Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 15.650

Notice of Funding Opportunity

I. Description of Funding Opportunity The award is being awarded under a CESU network recipient. The CESU for this award is Rocky Mountain. The agreement is for the Longevity of Voluntary Conservation Actions research project that will include a literature review, interviews, and a survey. This funding opportunity will fund the following activities.

A literature review Literature review analysis Literature review reporting Assistance with the development of interview protocols Assistance with the analysis of interview data Survey development Survey administration Survey analysis Survey reporting

II. Award Information This award is being awarded to Colorado State University (CSU) thorough the CESU network in accordance with DOI Policy 505 2 selection criteria (1) (Unsolicited Proposal) and (4) (Unique Qualifications). This is going to be a cooperative agreement.

Total amount of expected award: $95,078 Total number of awards (including modification in the future): 2 Ceiling amount: $25,000 Floor amount: $1,000

The Service’s substantial involvement in the project will involve performing the following tasks:

Interview protocol development Interview data collection Significant input on survey development Significant input on survey reporting

III. Basic Eligibility Requirements Cost Sharing or Matching:

Cost sharing or matching funds are not required. However, it is expected that the awardee will enhance the Service’s mission through provision of access to information and expertise held by the awardee’s member institution.

A. 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 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.

B. Entity Registration in SAM

Register in 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.

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.

D. Cost Sharing or Matching: N/A

IV. Application Requirements This is a single source cooperative agreement being awarded to Colorado State University through the CESU network in accordance with DOI Policy 505 DM 2 (1) Unsolicited Proposal and (4) Unique Qualifications.

A. A completed, signed and dated Application for Federal Assistance form (SF424), Budget

Information – Non-Construction Programs form (SF424A), Assurances – Non-Construction Programs form (SF424B), and a Disclosure of Lobbying Activities form (SFLLL).

B. Project Summary The purpose of the Longevity of Voluntary Conservation Actions project (project) is to explore the long-term influence of the USFWS Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program (Partners Program) on conservation behaviors and the longevity of voluntary conservation practices over time. The project’s geographic scope encompasses a portion of the sage step ecosystem of the Western United States. The need for this project comes from the fact that there is only anecdotal information about whether Landowner Cooperators, those who have engaged in cost sharing conservation practices with the Partners Program, retain the practices past their contractual obligations (most contracts are for 10 years).

The specific project activities include a review of the scientific literature on the subject of private land conservation longevity, interviews with past Landowner Cooperators and Partners Program Staff, and a comprehensive survey of past Landowner Cooperators. Output will include a database and report of the literature, a database and report on staff and past Landowner Cooperator interviews, and a survey database, analysis, and report. Through this research we anticipate discovering the following. 1) The percent of Landowner Cooperators who retain cost shared practices beyond the duration of the landowner agreement. 2) The return on investment of the Partners Program. 3) Whether or not Landowner Cooperators are more likely to engage in further conservation practices (renew agreement, pursue easements etc.) post agreement. 4) The factors that encourage landowners to participate in voluntary conservation through the Partners Program. 5) The factors that encourage landowners to work with the Partners Program as opposed to other land conservation organizations. 6) How the longevity of Partners Program activities compare to that of other agencies/organizations.

This information will help the Partners Program refine it operating procedures, identify landowners who are more likely to engage in conservation practices long-term, calculate return on investment of the program, and develop a case for program effectiveness and funding.

C. Project Narrative

1. Statement of Need: The Partners Program works with Landowner Cooperators on cost shared conservation activities. For instance, the Program and a Cooperator may sign a contract where both parties pay a certain amount of money for stream restoration on the Cooperator’s property. These cost share practices are completely voluntary and the Cooperator is not paid for implementing the conservation practice. Each project has a contract length outlining how long the Landowner Cooperator must keep the cost shared practice in place; these contracts are typically 10 years in length.

Anecdotal evidence from Partners Program staff indicate that many past Landowner Cooperators continue the cost shared practice after their contractual obligation has ended, however there is not concrete evidence to support this. Among other goals and objectives outlined in #2 below this study aims to determine the percentage of past Landowner Cooperators who maintain their cost shared conservation practices past the expiration of their contract with the Partners Program.

Answering the question of the longevity of voluntary conservation practices will have three main benefits to the Partners Program and its conservation mission. First, knowing the longevity of Partners Program contracts will allow the Program to measure its effectiveness beyond contract durations, it will allow the Program to measure its return on investment to the broader Service thereby offering a better metric for potential investment opportunity, and it will help the Program identify those potential Landowner Cooperators who will be more likely to continue conservation practices past the contract end date thereby increasing program effectiveness and value.

To the best of the research teams’ (Service and CSU) knowledge there has been very little to nothing studied on the longevity of voluntary conservation actions within the

Service, among other government entities or non-profit conservation organizations. This pioneering study is needed even more-so because there are no other studies or projects that are easy to draw upon for information.

2. Project Goals and Objectives: The goal of the Longevity of Voluntary Conservation

Actions project is to explore the long-term influence of the Service Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program on the longevity of voluntary conservation practices over time and on conservation behaviors as they relate to Partners Program activities. Specifically, the project seeks to answer the following questions. 1) What percent of Landowner Cooperators retain cost shared practices beyond the duration of the landowner agreement? 2) What is the return on investment of the Partners Program? 3) Are Landowner Cooperators more likely to engage in further conservation practices (renew agreement, pursue easements etc.) post agreement? 4) What factors encourage landowners to participate in voluntary conservation through the Partners Program? 5) What factors encourage landowners to work with the Partners Program as opposed to other land conservation organizations? 6) How does the longevity of Partners Program activities compare to that of other agencies/organizations?

In order to answer the above questions the following objectives/outcomes must be completed. Each outcome will be analyzed using best practice scientific methods including qualitative statistical analysis (literature review and interviews) and quantitative statistical analysis (survey). 1) A literature review report summarizing the current state of the scientific literature on the topic. This literature review will serve to inform the survey and interview development. 2) Interview Report from interviews of Partners Program staff and past Landowner Cooperators will be conducted in order to ascertain motivations, attitudes and conservation practices post-contract expiration. The interviews will also inform survey development. 3) A comprehensive survey of past Landowner Cooperators with a final report. The survey will address the entire list of project goals identified above and will serve as the main report of findings for this project.

3. Project Activities, Methods and Timetable: The project will consist of the following activities. 1) A literature review summarizing the current state of scientific literature. 2) Voluntary phone interviews with Partners Program staff and past Landowner Cooperators. 3) A voluntary mail-back survey of past Landowner Cooperators. Each task will involve the time of a graduate research assistant and a full professor at Colorado State University. The survey will require funds for development, administration (printing, postage and data entry), and analysis. All correspondence and activities will be done remotely with no impact on the landscape, ocean, historic sites, or wildlife. The following timeline outlines the phased approach we propose for this project.

Phase 1: September 1, 2015 – August 31, 2016 (12 Months) Tasks:

Literature review, analysis and report (due October 31, 2015)

Interview protocol design (September 2015 through October 2015) Survey development (September 2015 through January 1, 2016) Conduct interviews (November 2015 through December 2015) Report on interviews (December 2015)

Phase 2: September 1, 2016 – August 31, 2017 (12 Months) Tasks:

Survey implementation (November 2016) Survey analysis (February 2017) Survey reporting (April 2017)

4. Stakeholder Coordination/Involvement: The Human Dimensions Branch of the

Natural Resource Program Center has worked directly with the Partner Program in developing this project. The Partner Program and the Branch have collaborated on the proposed research in order for the proposed project to offer the most valuable information to the Partners Program. The Partners Program will be key in results dissemination and use as they intend to share results with both internal (Service) and external (private land conservation community) partners. The Partners Program also plans to use all project information to refine best practices (which landowners to engage with, how to cultivate relationships the have the most conservation impact, etc.) and calculate the Program’s return on investment for budget justification.

5. Project Monitoring and Evaluation:

Literature Review Monitoring and Evaluation:

The Service will work with CSU to design the literature review protocol – what search terms are to be used, journals and databases to be searched, format for reporting, database structure for further analysis. During the literature review process CSU will check in with the Service as needed for clarification. The report will be evaluated by the Service and sent back to CSU for revisions as needed. The Service will continue to work with CSU until a final report is completed.

Timetable:

The literature review will begin at the start of the project (September 2015) and is expected to take two months (report completed by October 31, 2015).

Budget:

The budget for this portion of the project is for staff time of a graduate research assistance and full professor at CSU. No other costs (such as materials) are anticipated.

Products/Services:

The final product will be a report on the literature review finding as well as a searchable and sortable database of discovered literature.

Direct Effects:

The literature review will identify whether or not other entities have conducted longevity research and what lessons have been learned. These finding will help inform not only the Partners Program operating procedures, but the development of the interview and survey as well.

Interview (Internal and External)

Monitoring and Evaluation:

The Service will work directly with CSU on interview protocol for both internal (Partners Program staff) and external (past Landowner Cooperators) target populations. Both Service and CSU will use lessons learned for the literature review to inform interview protocol development.

Actual interview data collection will be conducted by the Service with its own internal oversight. Final reporting will be a collaborative effort between the Service and CSU.

Timetable:

Interview protocol design will begin in September of 2015 and will continue through the end of October 2015. Interviews will be conducted in November and December of 2015. Interview reporting will occur in December 2015.

Budget:

Staff time at CSU for protocol development assistance. Staff time at CSU for reporting assistance.

Products/Services:

A final report on interview findings.

Direct Effects:

The interview findings will provide valuable information to the Partners Program on motivation of landowners engaging in conservation practices, and motivations for, or for not, continuing conservation practices beyond the duration of the contract. Internal interviews will help the Partners Program understand the other side of the conservation story that is what internal practices help maximize the conservation return on investment.

Survey Monitoring and Evaluation:

CSU will lead the survey development, implementation and analysis. The Service and CSU will work collaboratively on survey reporting.

Throughout the survey process (from design to reporting) the Service will review CSU’s methods. This review will be done through regular meetings between the two entities where CSU will present on the status of each survey step and will incorporate feedback in each stage. The final report and database will be reviewed by the Service and sent back for revisions until a final product is reached.

Timetable:

Survey development will begin in September of 2015 and will be completed (submitted for OMB approval) by January 1, 2016. OMB approval can take between 6 to 9 months. After OMB approval, survey implementation will begin (targeted for November 2016). Implementation will take serval months and will be followed by analysis and reporting.

Budget:

Survey implementation and design represents a significant portion of the budget as it requires printing and postage for over a 1,000 surveys with multiple waves of mailings. CSU staff time will also be devoted to this effort.

Products/Services:

A final survey, survey implementation, survey dataset, and a survey report. Additionally, a scientific journal article based on the results of this survey will likely be submitted for publication.

Direct Effects:

The findings of the survey will answer the following questions which will help the partners program refine its best practices and justify its activities by demonstrating its return on investment. What percent of Landowner Cooperators retain cost shared practices beyond the duration of the landowner agreement? What is the return on investment of the Partners Program? Are Landowner Cooperators more likely to engage in further conservation practices (renew agreement, pursue easements etc.) post agreement? What factors encourage landowners to participate in voluntary conservation through the Partners Program? What factors encourage landowners to work with the Partners Program as opposed to other land conservation organizations? How does the longevity of Partners Program activities compare to that of other agencies/organizations?

6. Description of Entities Undertaking the Project: Jerry Vaske, lead researcher and professor at CSU has an online curriculum vitae that can be found here:

http://warnercnr.colostate.edu/~jerryv/

7. Sustainability: N/A

8. Literature Cited: N/A

8. Map of Project Area: The project will take place in the sage-step ecosystem of the

Western United States. The actual states (or portions thereof) have not yet been selected as this will be part of the survey development phase of the project. As such, creating a map of the project area is not yet possible.

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://apply07.grants.gov/apply/FormLinks?family=15. 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/.

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.

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.

Required Indirect Cost Statement: 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 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. Our indirect cost rate is [insert rate]. 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

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

7. 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 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.”

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

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 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

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 (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”.

G. Assurances: Include the appropriate signed and dated Assurances form available online at http://apply07.grants.gov/apply/FormLinks?family=15. 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. 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.

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 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.

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.

Application Checklist

□ 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

□ 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.

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

V. Submission Instructions SUBMISSION DEADLINE: July 27, 2015

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.

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.

VI. Application Review Criteria: The decision process for whom to engage with on this single source award consisted of finding an individual/entity who has demonstrated the following.

A history of academic rigor Research in areas similar to those being studied in this project A history of publishing scientific literature Proximity to the Natural Resource Program Center in Fort Collins, CO so as to allow for a graduate student to be co-located between the Service and CSU

Review and Selection Process: Recipient selection was led by Natalie Sexton and Brad Milley of the Service’s Natural Resource Program Center Human Dimensions Branch. Colorado State University’s (CSU) Human Dimensions of Natural Resources Program (http://warnercnr.colostate.edu/hdnr-home) was identified as a university of interest because of its reputation as being a leader in human dimensions research pertaining to land use, conservation, wildlife and theory. Professor’s within the program share a broad base of experience both nationally and internationally. Of the professors in the program, Jerry Vaske was identified a candidate for this project. Through meetings with Professor Vaske, Sexton and Milley identified the following qualifications that made Vaske the Service’s choice for this project.

A history of academic rigor o Professor Vaske has been conducting research for the past 30 on the application of social science theory and methodology to the concerns of tourism/natural resource managers and policy makers. Professor Vaske is the co-editor of the Human Dimensions of Wildlife International Journal.

Research in areas similar to those being studied in this project o Most recently Professor Vaske has been engaged in a private land use study in

Illinois that will have direct applicability to the project proposed in this document. It is expect that the Illinois study will be used to inform this studies’ literature review and survey development.

A history of publishing scientific literature o Professor Vaske has published over 130 articles in scientific journals and authored or co-authored 20 book chapters and eight books.

Proximity to the Natural Resource Program Center in Fort Collins, CO so as to allow for a graduate student to be co-located between the Service and CSU o Professor Vaske is located in Fort Collins, CO.

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.

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. The Service’s risk assessment form is available on the Internet at http://www.fws.gov/forms/3-2462.pdf.

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.

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. Awards are based on the application submitted to and approved by the Service and are subject to the terms and conditions incorporated into the notice of award either by direct citation or by reference to the following: Federal regulations; program legislation or regulation; and special award terms and conditions. The Federal regulations applicable to Service awards are available on the Internet at http://www.fws.gov/grants/. If you do not have access to the Internet and require a full text copy of the award terms and conditions, contact the Service point of contact identified in the Agency Contacts section below.

Recipient Reporting Requirements:

Financial and Performance Reports: Interim financial reports and performance reports may be required. Interim reports will be required no more frequently than quarterly, and no less frequently than annually. A final financial report and a final performance report will be required and are due within 90 calendar days of the end date of the award. Performance reports must contain: 1) a comparison of actual accomplishments with the goals and objectives of the award as detailed in the approved scope of work; 2) a description of reasons why established goals were not met, if appropriate; and 3) any other pertinent information relevant to the project results.

Significant Developments Reports: Events may occur between the scheduled performance reporting dates that have significant impact upon the supported activity. In such cases, recipients are required to notify the Service in writing as soon as the following types of conditions become known:

Problems, delays, or adverse conditions that will materially impair the ability to meet the objective of the Federal award. This disclosure must include a statement of any corrective action(s) taken or contemplated, and any assistance needed to resolve the situation.

Favorable developments that enable meeting time schedules and objectives sooner or at less cost than anticipated or producing more or different beneficial results than originally planned.

The Service will specify in the notice of award document the reporting and reporting frequency applicable to the award.

Conflict of Interest Disclosures: Recipients are responsible for notifying the Service Project Officer in writing of any actual or potential conflicts of interest that may arise during the life of this award. 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 this 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 Recipient, the Recipient’s employees, or the Recipient’s 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 Recipient, the Recipient’s employee(s), or the Recipient’s Subrecipient(s) that could reduce or resolve the conflict. Failure to resolve conflicts of interest in a manner that satisfies the Service may result in any of the remedies described in 2 CFR 200.338, Remedies for Noncompliance, including termination of this award.

Other Mandatory Disclosures: Recipients and their subrecipients must disclose, in a timely manner and in writing, to the Service or pass-through entity all violations of Federal criminal law involving fraud, bribery, or gratuity violations potentially affecting this award. Failure to make required disclosures can result in any of the remedies described in 2 CFR 200.338, Remedies for noncompliance, including suspension or debarment (See 2 CFR 200.113, 2 CFR Part 180, and 31 U.S.C. 3321).

VIII. Agency Contacts The points of contact for this funding opportunity are:

Natalie Sexton (Project Lead), natalie_sexton@fws.gov, 970.266.2935 Leisa N. Davis (Administrative Officer), leisa_davis@fws.gov, 970-266-2920