oppF18AS00161-cfda15.622-instructions.pdf

Boating Infrastructure Grant Program - Tier 2 Fiscal Year 2019 Notice of Funding Opportunity

Notice Overview

Federal Agency Name U.S. Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program (WSFR)

Funding Opportunity Title Boating Infrastructure Grant (BIG) Program - Tier 2

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number 15.622

Announcement Type Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for Federal Fiscal Year (FY) 2019

Funding Opportunity Number

F18AS00161

Paperwork Reduction Act Statement We are collecting this information in accordance with the Sportfishing and Boating Safety Act, Title VII, Subtitle D, Section 7404, Public Law 105178, 16 U.S.C. 777g-1, Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act, Public Law 109059, and the Fixing America's Surface Transportation (FAST) Act (Public Law 114-94). Your response is required to obtain or retain a benefit. We will use the information you provide to conduct a review, which may be competitive, and select projects for funding. We may not conduct or sponsor and you are not required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. We estimate that it will take applicants under this NOFO about 37 hours to complete a Tier 2 application. We estimate it will take recipients under this program about 8 hours to complete required reporting and recordkeeping. All burden estimates include the time to review instructions, search existing data resources, gather data needed and complete and review the submission. You may send comments on the burden estimate or any other aspect of this information collection to the Information Collection Clearance Officer, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, MS BPHC, 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041-3803.

OMB Control Number 1018-0109 (Expires: 11/30/2018)

Dates State agency applicants must submit applications through Grants.gov Workspace by the deadline. The deadline for receipt is September 10, 2018, 11:59 p.m. PDT. The Service recommends that you submit your application early enough to address any unforeseen http://www.grants.gov/ technical complications. We also recommend that you verify that all documents have been received through Grants.gov with your Regional WSFR Office before the deadline. The Service will not consider applications received after the deadline.

Applicants requesting comments or assistance with their applications are encouraged to submit applications to the Service Regional WSFR Office (see Section IX., Agency Contacts) approximately 4 weeks prior to the due date. Although there is no guarantee that the Regional WSFR Office will provide comments, feedback may include recommendations to improve the application.

If you would like to be a subrecipient, check with your State agency for their application deadlines and requirements. If you are not sure which state agency to contact your Regional WSFR contact in Section IX will be able to provide assistance.

Contents Notice Overview

Federal Agency Name

Funding Opportunity Title

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number

Announcement Type

Funding Opportunity Number

Paperwork Reduction Act Statement

OMB Control Number

Dates

I. Description of Funding Opportunity

II. Award Information

III. Basic Eligibility Requirements

Eligible Applicants

DUNS Registration

Entity Registration in SAM

Excluded Entities

Cost Sharing or Matching

IV. Funding Restrictions

V. Application Requirements

Application for Federal Assistance

Project Summary

Project Statement (10 pages maximum)

Need

Purpose

Objectives

Results or benefits expected

Approach

Relationship with other grants

Budget Form

Budget Narrative

Match and other partner contributions

Contingency Costs

Proration

Program Income

Equipment

Useful life

Required Indirect Cost Statement

Negotiating an Indirect Cost Rate with the Department of the Interior

Single Audit Reporting Statements

Assurances

Certification and Disclosure of Lobbying Activities

Conflict of Interest Disclosures

Response to Ranking Criteria (optional; 12 pages maximum)

Geographic Location/Drawings/ Maps/Photographs (20 page limit)

Required Overlap/Duplication Statement

Application Checklist

VI. Submission Instructions

Intergovernmental Review

VII. Application Review

Criteria

Meet a Documented Need, Improve Eligible Boater Access, and Demonstrate Cost Efficiency

Meet Match Requirements and Demonstrate Partnerships

Demonstrate Innovation and Environmental Stewardship

Review and Selection Process

Application acceptance

Pre-Ranking review

Application ranking

Application selection

Risk Assessment

Award Notification

VIII. Award Administration

Award Notices

Administrative and National Policy Requirements

Transmittal of Sensitive Data

Award Terms and Conditions

Financial and Performance Reports

Significant Deviations Reports

Other Mandatory Disclosures

IX. Agency Contacts

Region 1 – OR, WA, ID

Region 1 – Insular Jurisdictions

Region 2 – AZ, NM, OK, TX

Region 3 – IL, IN, IA, MI, MN, MO, OH, WI

Region 4 – AL, AR, FL, GA, KY, LA, MS, NC, PR, SC, TN, VI

Region 5 – CT, DE, DC, ME, MD, MA, NH, NJ, NY, PA, RI, VT, VA, WV

Region 6 – CO, KS, NE, MT, ND, SD, UT, WY

Region 7 – AK

Region 8 – CA, NV

Attachment A: Boating Infrastructure Grant Program Questions and Answers

How can I use BIG funds for dredging? Does it have to be only for dredging in the direct route from open water to the slips?

May I use BIG funds in the future for maintenance dredging?

Are services such as food service, retail, or lodging considered eligible boating infrastructure facilities for this program?

Are parking lots and access roads adjacent to boating facilities for transient, recreational vessels eligible costs?

I want to “get the word out” about my BIG-funded facility. Can I do anything using BIG funds?

Can I fund a pumpout or floating restroom with BIG funds?

What does it mean to record the Federal Interest on my property? Does this put a lien on my property?

Are applications that propose to fund only engineering studies and other planning efforts eligible for BIG funds?

May I purchase land, or an interest in land, with BIG funds?

May I use the value of existing boating infrastructure as non-Federal match?

May real property serve as the State match? May I use BIG funds for leasing land, buying an easement, or other real property transactions?

What do we consider real property?

How do I allocate (prorate) costs between eligible and ineligible uses?

What about not having to prorate for secondary benefits?

What if a component has a low value as discussed in 50 CFR 86.19(c)(3)? Do I need to allocate (prorate) costs?

What parts of the application may I discuss/negotiate/change after the due date?

How long do I have to finish my project?

How much detail must I give for useful life in the application?

What if there is a component of my project that costs less than $25,000? How do I assign a useful life?

Must my project display the Sport Fish Restoration symbol and/or credit the program some other way?

I want to charge more than the closest marina does for user fees. This is because I will have more amenities and the higher fees will help us maintain the facility

I’m required to give public access. Does this mean that once the project is completed, I can let anyone use it?

Who should I contact if I have additional questions?

I. Description of Funding Opportunity

Recreational boating is a popular activity; there are approximately 12 million registered boats in the United States. Of this total, an estimated 560,000 are at least 26 feet long. The Sportfishing and Boating Safety Act of 1998 (Public Law 105-178) established the BIG Program (16 U.S.C.

777g-1) to provide funding to the 50 States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealths of Puerto Rico and the Northern Mariana Islands, and the territories of Guam, American Samoa, and the U.S. Virgin Islands (hereafter States) for the construction, renovation, and maintenance of boating infrastructure facilities for transient recreational vessels at least 26 feet long that are operated, leased, rented, or chartered primarily for pleasure. The Act amended the Dingell- Johnson Sport Fish Restoration Act (16 U.S.C. 777). Subsequent reauthorizations of the Act allow expenditures from the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund and the continuation of the BIG Program.

Boating infrastructure means the structures, equipment, accessories, and services that are necessary or desirable for a facility to accommodate eligible vessels. Transient vessels are those passing through or by a place, staying up to 15 days. Projects completed using BIG funds must provide public access, but may be publicly or privately owned. Some examples of potentially eligible activities include but are not limited to the following (See Section IV, Funding Restrictions for additional information):

a) Boat slips, piers, mooring buoys, dinghy or courtesy docks, day docks, and gangways;

b) Fuel stations, restrooms, showers, utilities, laundry facilities, and similar amenities;

c) Lighting, communications, buoys, beacons, signals, markers, signs, security features;

d) Floating or fixed breakwaters, wave attenuators, sea walls, and other improvements that provide a harbor of safe refuge;

e) Planning, permitting, engineering, cultural, historic, and environmental studies or assessments necessary to construct boating infrastructure;

f) Equipment and structures for collecting, disposing of, or recycling liquid or solid waste from eligible vessels or for eligible users;

g) Retaining walls, bulkheads, pilings, and living shorelines;

h) Debris deflection structures, water hazard removal;

i) Dredging necessary to fulfill the purpose and objectives of the project;

j) Maintenance of facilities during the project period;

k) Repair or restoration of roads, parking lots, walkways, or other surface areas damaged as a direct result of BIG-funded construction;

l) Information and education materials specific to BIG or a BIG-funded project that credits BIG as a source of funding;

m) Recording the Federal interest in BIG-funded real property; and

n) Administration, coordination, and monitoring of the proposed BIG award during the period of performance.

Additional information on BIG, including application requirements, eligible activities, and grants is in the BIG regulation published on May 6, 2015 (50 CFR 86), throughout this document, and in the Question and Answer attachment at the end of this document. You may also find information about the BIG program online at: Boating Infrastructure Grant Program Information.

This document is the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for Fiscal Year (FY) 2019 BIG Tier 2

– National grants. You can locate it by doing an advanced search for “Funding Opportunity Number F18AS00161” at Grants.gov. The NOFO for FY 2019 BIG Tier 1 – State grants (F18AS00160) is a separate announcement at Grants.gov. Note that the FY2019 BIG Tier 1 – State NOFO may be published at a later date.

References to “you” in this NOFO refer to the State agency completing the application and any potential subrecipient, if applicable. References to “we” or “us” in this NOFO refer to the Service.

WSFR’s mission is to work through partnerships to conserve and manage fish and wildlife and their habitats for the use and enjoyment of current and future generations. WSFR’s vision is of healthy, diverse, and accessible fish and wildlife populations that offer recreation, economic activity, and other societal benefits, in addition to sustainable ecological functions. WSFR’s guiding principle is that society benefits from conservation-based management of fish and wildlife and their habitats and opportunities to use and enjoy them. The BIG Program aligns with WSFR’s mission, vision, and guiding principle, and supports three of the Department of the Interior’s priorities including:

1) Creating a conservation stewardship legacy second only to Teddy Roosevelt;

2) Utilizing our natural resources; and

3) Restoring trust with our local communities.

http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2015-05-06/pdf/2015-09961.pdf http://wsfrprograms.fws.gov/Subpages/GrantPrograms/BIG/BIG.htm http://wsfrprograms.fws.gov/Subpages/GrantPrograms/BIG/BIG.htm

II. Award Information

WSFR annually administers nationally competitive grants through the Tier 2 – National BIG Program. The maximum Federal share for FY 2019 Tier 2 – National grants is $1.5 million per application. You may propose to construct new boating infrastructure and supporting facilities where none existed before, or propose a major renovation to existing infrastructure.

Applications for major renovation or projects that supplement previously-funded BIG projects are eligible to compete with applications for new awards. Applications for BIG Tier 2 – National grants are reviewed and scored based on the ranking criteria given in Section VII.

We funded more than $9.7 million in BIG Tier 2 – National grants in FY 2018 to 7 States for boating infrastructure projects across the United States. We anticipate awarding an estimated $8 million in BIG Tier 2 – National funding in FY 2019.

You must submit applications through Grants.gov Workspace by September 10, 2018, 11:59 p.m. PDT. Due to the highly competitive nature of the BIG Program, you are encouraged to submit applications at least 4 weeks prior to the deadline to have the best chance to receive WSFR comments and/or suggestions on applications. You are not allowed to make changes or additions to applications after the application deadline except as requested by a WSFR official for purposes of clarifying useful life estimates, negotiating proposed cost allocation methods, correcting limited errors in your proposal or as otherwise described in 50 CFR 86.46. Contact WSFR for more information (see Section IX, Agency Contacts).

Although only State agencies can apply for and receive grants from this program, we encourage partnering with Tribes, Federal agencies, other State agencies, local governments, non-governmental organizations, private marinas, and others as subrecipients and cooperators. If you would like to be a subrecipient, check with your State agency for their deadlines and requirements to apply.

We expect to announce the grant selections by the end of March 2019.

III. Basic Eligibility Requirements

Eligible Applicants Eligible applicants are the Governor-designated State agencies in the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealths of Puerto Rico and the Northern Mariana Islands, and the territories of Guam, American Samoa, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. If you are uncertain of your eligibility, please contact WSFR (see Section IX, Agency Contacts).

Many States provide BIG subgrants to private marinas, local municipalities, other State agencies, or other non-State entities though they are not required to do so and that it is entirely up to the State if they want to utilize this approach to meet their boating needs. There may be a separate application process for potential subrecipients managed by your State agency responsible for administering BIG Tier 2 – National grants. Parties interested in being a subrecipient must contact the appropriate State agency representative for detailed information on possible eligibility and application instructions. If you are not directly eligible for BIG funds but are interested in receiving an award from your eligible State agency, please contact the Service (see Section IX, Agency Contacts) for your WSFR Region contact, who may be able to provide information about your state-level application procedure and applicable deadline.

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 2 CFR 25 for more information.

DUNS Registration Request a DUNS number online at Dun & Bradstreet Registration. 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.

Entity Registration in SAM Register in SAM online at the SAM website. 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.

Note: The official U.S. government website address for SAM is www.sam.gov. There is no cost to register in or access SAM. 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.

Excluded Entities Applicant entities or their key project personnel identified in the SAM 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 Exclusions database for all applicant entities and their key project personnel prior to award.

Cost Sharing or Matching The maximum Federal award under BIG Tier 2 – National is 75 percent of the total allowable project cost up to $1.5 million. American Samoa, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands are exempt from match requirements up to $200,000 per application. The overall Federal cost share is a factor used in ranking applications.

Therefore, applicants are encouraged to provide more than the minimum cost share required.

In-kind services, materials, and other contributions may be used to satisfy the required http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform http://www.sam.gov/ file://ifw-hqskyfs1/homeFA/Brad%20Gunn/BIG/BIG%202019/Tier%202/www.sam.gov minimum match of 25 percent of total project costs. However, in scoring your proposal we will only consider cash contributions beyond the required minimum match (see 50 CFR 86.56).

You may meet your minimum required cost share or match through contributions from a third party. A third party is any individual or organization other than the State applicant, such as a partner or subrecipient. Match provided must be necessary and reasonable for accomplishing the proposed project objective(s). As the primary State recipient, you are responsible for the full amount of the non-Federal match proposed, if your application is selected, including any amount provided by one or more third parties as listed on the Standard Form 424, Application for Federal Assistance.

Applicants may attribute some or all of their allowable indirect costs as voluntary committed cost-share/match, however recipients may only charge to the Federal award the indirect costs calculated against the allowable direct costs charged to the Federal award.

• 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.

Letters of commitment from third parties are not required nor disallowed; however, you must adequately describe the nature of all proposed partnerships in the project narrative to allow reviewers to evaluate the proposed project against the criteria given in 50 CFR 86.51.

IV. Funding Restrictions

Unless the following features are already part of a facility, or are funded through another source, at project completion a Tier 2 – National BIG-funded facility must:

a. Limit use of overnight docks and moorings to eligible boats that are 26 feet or more in length staying no more than 15 consecutive days;

b. Serve its intended purpose for its useful life as originally proposed or as extended pursuant to 50 CFR 86.14(b)(2), except in the case of a catastrophic event (for guidance on determining useful life, see 50 CFR 86.74);

c. Clearly designate eligible uses and inform the public of restrictions;

d. Offer security, safety, and service for eligible users and vessels;

e. Be open and accessible to eligible vessels on navigable waters that are at least 6 feet deep at the lowest tide or fluctuation, unless you can show that the facility will still serve its intended purpose for typical eligible users that visit that location;

f. Allow public access as described at 50 CFR 86.92;

g. If you allow overnight stays, or as required by State or local laws, provide pumpout service where such service is not located within 2 nautical miles (this restriction may be waived as described in 50 CFR 86.13 (b); if we deny your request to waive this requirement, you may appeal to the Assistant Director, Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration).

Applicants for Tier 2 – National BIG funds are subject to the following administrative conditions or restrictions:

a. You may request BIG funds for facility maintenance only if you will complete the maintenance action during the period of performance, and only if it directly benefits eligible users and is directly related to the proposed BIG project;

b. You are responsible for all maintenance costs after the period of performance, although you may apply user fees collected at the BIG-funded facility after the period of performance to the maintenance of the facility;

c. If you use BIG funds for maintenance at a facility that has received a BIG grant in the past, you must extend the useful life of each affected capital improvement accordingly;

d. You may limit or exclude BIG funding for maintenance or other costs that you make available to subrecipients;

e. Dredging that is needed to fulfill the purpose and objectives of the proposed project can qualify as an eligible action only if all dredging-related actions do not exceed $200,000 in Federal funds, and you have allocated the dredging costs between the expected use by eligible and ineligible vessels (if applicable; for guidance on allocating or prorating costs, see 50 CFR 86.19);

f. You must maintain the dredged area at the approved width and depth for the useful life of the BIG-funded facility, unless you are awarded BIG funds in the future that provide for maintenance dredging;

g. You or another entity approved by us must own or have legal right to operate the BIG-funded facility, or you must demonstrate in your proposal that the owner of the facility will use the BIG-funded facility for its authorized purpose for its useful life;

h. Pre-award costs are not guaranteed and may only be eligible if they are necessary and reasonable for completion of project objectives and are approved in writing by the WSFR Regional Office;

i. You may be required to record the Federal interest in real property that includes a BIG-funded capital improvement and/or you may be required to direct your subrecipient(s) to record such interest (see 50 CFR 86.18);

j. If boats other than transient recreational boats at least 26 feet in length will use or benefit from an eligible BIG project, you must prorate the costs according to 50 CFR 86.19;

k. You must give clear information using signs or other methods that direct eligible users to BIG-funded facilities and inform users of restrictions and operating periods (see 50 CFR 86.94).

An application is ineligible for funding if you propose to:

a. Complete a project that does not provide public benefits, for instance, a project that is not open for use by the public;

b. Implement or support law enforcement activities;

c. Significantly degrade or destroy valuable natural resources or alter the cultural or historic nature of the area;

d. Support operations of a BIG-funded facility including routine custodial activities, service worker salaries, facility administration, utilities, rent, taxes, or insurance;

e. Develop a State program plan to construct, renovate, or maintain boating infrastructure;

f. Acquire land or any interest in land;

g. Construct, renovate, or maintain roads or parking lots, except as described at 50 CFR 86.11(a)(1);

h. Construct, renovate, or maintain boating infrastructure for: stores, food service or other retail businesses, lodging, facility administration or management;

i. Construct, renovate, or maintain facilities for boat transportation, storage, repair or other services;

j. Purchase or operate service boats to transport boaters to and from mooring areas;

k. Conduct certain marketing activities that do not focus on BIG or the BIG-funded facility (see 50 CFR 86.16(a)(8);

l. Purchase supplies and other expendable personal property not directly related to achieving the project objectives; or

m. Support other activities that are inconsistent with the purposes of BIG or that are inconsistent with Federal Cost Principles (see 2 CFR part 200, subpart F).

V. Application Requirements

To be considered for funding under this funding opportunity, an application must contain the following information. Applications must be formatted to fit on 8.5” X 11” paper, with 1” margins at the top, bottom, and both sides, and page numbers at the bottom of the page. Fonts must be no less than 12 point Arial, Times New Roman, or other commonly used font.

In accepting Federal funds, you must comply with all applicable Federal laws, regulations, and policies. If we select the application for award, you will need to provide evidence of compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Endangered Species Act (ESA), the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA), and other Federal laws as part of the post-award approval process.

Application for Federal Assistance Submit a completed, signed and dated Application for Federal Assistance form (Standard Form 424). Note that the proper forms are part of the Grants.gov application package for this NOFO.

The forms are also available at this Application Forms link. 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.

Project Summary Briefly summarize the project, in one page or less. Include the title of the project, geographic location, and a brief overview of the need for the project. Goal(s), objectives, specific project activities, anticipated outputs and outcomes should also be included in this section.

Project Statement (10 pages maximum) A concise project statement that addresses the following elements must be included in the application. In general, the project statement must provide sufficient information so reviewers may verify that the proposed activities are eligible for funding and substantial in character and design. Please see the WSFR Standard Project Statement Wiki for general examples and guidance.

http://apply07.grants.gov/apply/FormLinks?family=15 https://fawiki.fws.gov/display/WSFR/Standard+Project+Statements+-+WSFR

Images that show existing structures and facilities, the proposed BIG-funded facility, and relevant details, such as the number of transient slips or the amenities for eligible users should be appended rather than included within the narrative project statement.

Need Explain why the project is necessary and how it fulfills the purpose of BIG.

a. Describe existing facilities available for eligible vessels at your location and near the proposed project;

b. Describe how the proposed project fills a need or offers a benefit not offered by existing facilities;

c. Give information to support the number of transient boats expected to use the facilities in the proposed project area and demonstrate why existing facilities are insufficient to meet demand.

Purpose State the ultimate purpose for the proposed project and link the purpose to the demonstrated need.

Objectives Identify specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) objectives to be accomplished during the project period. Please see the WSFR Standard Project Statement Wiki for examples.

Results or benefits expected Describe the expected results or benefits from accomplishing the objectives.

a) Describe each capital improvement (see 50 CFR 86.3), service or other product that will result from the project;

b) Describe how the structures, service, or other products will address the need(s) and benefits for eligible users.

Approach Describe the approach to be used in meeting the objectives.

a) Describe the methods, designs, and/or procedures to be used to achieve the objectives, providing enough information on the status of required permits or other compliance requirements (National Environmental Policy Act, Section 7 of Endangered Species Act, and Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act) for us to make a preliminary assessment;

https://fawiki.fws.gov/display/WSFR/Standard+Project+Statements+-+WSFR

b) Identify the project officer who has or will have detailed knowledge of the project, state whether she or he is the Federal Aid Coordinator for the State agency, give the contact information, and state whether he or she has signatory authority for committing the grantee to a course of action;

c) Give the name, contact information, qualifications, and role of each known concessioner or subrecipient;

d) Explain how you will exercise control to ensure the BIG-funded facility continues to achieve its authorized purpose during the useful life of the facility;

e) Provide a timeline of activities.

Relationship with other grants Describe any relationship between the proposed project and other related work funded by Federal grants that is planned, anticipated, or underway.

Budget Form Complete the Budget Information for Non-Construction Programs (SF 424A) form, or the Budget Information for Construction Programs (SF 424C) form, or provide a budget spreadsheet that provides a similar or greater level of budget detail. The SF 424A and SF 424C budget forms, should you choose to use them, are published along with this NOFO at Grants.gov. When developing your budget, keep in mind that financial assistance awards and subawards are subject to the Federal cost principles in 2 CFR 200, as applicable to the recipient organization type. Links to the full text of the Federal cost principles are available on the Internet at the Code of Federal Regulations website. 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 or 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.

Budget Narrative In a separate narrative titled “Budget Narrative”, explain and justify all requested budget items/costs. Demonstrate a clear connection between costs and the proposed project activities.

Describe resources you used to develop cost estimates for your project. Describe any item that under the applicable Federal cost principles requires WSFR’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. Please also address the following:

https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=4660914b867f0f098e13fcad2bcf0559&mc=true&tpl=/ecfrbrowse/Title02/2cfrv1_02.tpl#200 https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=4660914b867f0f098e13fcad2bcf0559&mc=true&tpl=/ecfrbrowse/Title02/2cfrv1_02.tpl#200

Match and other partner contributions Identify the cash and in-kind contributions that you, a partner, or other entity contribute to the project and describe how the contributions directly and substantively benefits completion of the project. See 50 CFR 86.32 and 50 CFR 86.33 for more information.

Contingency Costs Contingency costs estimated using broadly-accepted cost estimating methodologies are permissible but must be separately identified in your budget, they must comply with federal cost principles, they must be necessary and reasonable for proper and efficient accomplishment of project or program objectives, and they must be verifiable from your financial records (2 CFR 200.433). Explain how any contingency costs were calculated and why they are necessary to improve the precision of your budget estimates.

Proration Costs for facilities that will benefit operators of boats other than transient recreational vessels at least 26 feet long must be prorated. Common examples of costs that often must be prorated include fuel docks, restrooms and showers, retaining walls, bulkheads and breakwaters, pumpout stations, dredging, and other features that are expected to partially benefit ineligible users. You do not need to allocate costs between user groups when you propose to construct, renovate, or maintain facilities solely for eligible users, or when you propose to produce information and education materials. This list is not exhaustive; therefore, contact your Regional Office if you are unsure of the need to prorate a cost, or if you believe proration is not required based on the following information. For each discrete project component or element, clearly state:

a. The basis or method you used to allocate costs between eligible and ineligible users. For example: Your facility has slips for 100 vessels, and 20 are dedicated for transient recreational vessels. Your prorating basis would be 20 percent. If you propose to construct a wave attenuator that will benefit the entire facility, you may only charge 20 percent of the construction costs of the wave attenuator to the project.

b. Your reasoning and evidence supporting use of this method. Include relevant documentation to validate your basis for allocating costs between eligible and ineligible users, such as facility use records or trends.

c. When prorating is not necessary. If a proposed facility, component, or element which is primarily designed to benefit eligible users happens to provide a secondary, tangential benefit to ineligible users, or if the value of a project component or element is $5,000 or less, you do not have to prorate costs. For more guidance, see 50 CFR 86.19. However, we recommend that you fully explain your approach in the application as uncertainty regarding how you prorate costs can negatively impact your score.

Note: After you submit your proposal, we may contact you to clarify your proration basis or method, or to negotiate a more equitable allocation prior to award.

http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=b146bb0c549b27a8ad7728166ba3713e&mc=true&node=se2.1.200_1433&rgn=div8

Program Income Program income is gross income earned by you or your subrecipient that is directly generated by a supported activity, or earned as a result of the grant, during the grant period. Estimate the amount of program income that the project is likely to generate (see 50 CFR 86.90). If necessary, indicate the method or combination of methods (deduction or addition) of applying your expected program income (see 50 CFR 86.77 and 50 CFR 86.78 for more information). You should request the Regional Director's approval for the additive method prior to the deadline and include documentation of your method and approval in this section and in attachments.

Note that program income that is not approved for use as additive prior to the obligation of BIG funds will be applied using the deductive method.

Equipment Equipment means tangible personal property (including information technology systems) having a useful life of more than one year and a per-unit acquisition cost which equals or exceeds the lesser of the capitalization level established by the non-Federal entity for financial statement purposes, or $5,000.

Useful life Estimate the useful life in years of each capital improvement for the proposed project. A capital improvement is typically a structure that costs at least $25,000 to build, or a repair or renovation of a structure costing at least $25,000 that increases the structure’s useful life by 10 years or more (see 50 CFR 86.3). If awarded funds, you will be required to explain how you estimated the useful life of each capital improvement. You must reference a generally accepted method used to determine useful life of a capital improvement; however, your estimates do not need to be certified by a licensed engineer or other professional. You may be required to revise or adjust useful life estimates during the approval process. See 50 CFR 86.73 and 50 CFR 86.74.

Required Indirect Cost Statement You must include in the budget justification narrative one of the following statements and attach any required documentation identified in the applicable statement: “We are:

a. A U.S. state agency 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.

b. A U.S. state agency 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.

c. A U.S. state agency 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.

d. A U.S. state agency 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 minimis indirect cost rate of 10% of modified total direct costs as defined in 2 CFR 200.68. We understand that the 10% de minimis 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

e. A U.S. state agency that will charge all costs directly.

Please take note of the following:

• Recipients without an approved indirect cost rate are prohibited from charging indirect costs to a Federal award. Accepting the 10% 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.

• Only the indirect costs calculated against the Federal portion of the total direct costs may be charged to the Federal award.

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

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

For more information on indirect cost rates, see the Service’s Indirect Costs and Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreements guidance document on the Internet at the Service's Financial Assistance webpage.

Negotiating an Indirect Cost Rate with the Department of the Interior Entities that do not have a Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (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 https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=4a474331c98ed01a0272c6bff20842ae&mc=true&node=se2.1.200_168&rgn=div8 http://www.fws.gov/grants/ 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 this email web form.

Internet address: Link to Indirect Cost Services Webpage.

Single Audit Reporting Statements As required in 2 CFR 200, Subpart F, all U.S. States 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 applicants must provide a statement regarding whether your organization was or was not required to submit a Single Audit report for the State’s most recently closed fiscal year and, if so, state if that report is available on the Federal Audit Clearinghouse Single Audit Database website and provide the EIN under which that report was submitted. Include these statements at the end of the Project Statement in a section titled “Single Audit Reporting Statements.”

Assurances Include the appropriate signed and dated Assurances form. The form is available online and published with this NOFO at Grants.gov. Use the Assurances for Construction Programs (SF 424D) for construction 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.

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 the Grants.gov Workspace or WSFR’s Financial Assistance Wiki Forms Page. See 43 CFR, Subpart 18.100 for more information on when additional submission of this form is required.

https://www.doi.gov/ibc/contactus/ibcfeedback https://www.doi.gov/ibc/services/finance/indirect-cost-services https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/retrieveECFR?gp=&SID=159cc482c5aa33ed504fd15fbfd1be48&mc=true&n=pt2.1.200&r=PART&ty=HTML#sp2.1.200.f https://harvester.census.gov/facweb/ http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=683823273fc0da6a1060883eda593fb8&mc=true&node=pt43.1.18&rgn=div5 http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=683823273fc0da6a1060883eda593fb8&mc=true&node=pt43.1.18&rgn=div5 https://www.fws.gov/grants/ https://fawiki.fws.gov/display/WTK/Forms https://fawiki.fws.gov/display/WTK/Forms http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?tpl=/ecfrbrowse/Title43/43cfr18_main_02.tpl

Conflict of Interest Disclosures You 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 organization, the recipient organization’s employees, or the recipient organization’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 organization, the applicant organization’s employees, or the applicant organization’s future subrecipients in the matter.

Applicants must notify the Service in writing in their application if any key project personnel, including subrecipient and contractor personnel, are known to be related to, married to, or have a close personal relationship with any Federal employee in or associated with the program to which you are applying for funding or who otherwise may be involved in the review and selection of the application. Upon receipt of such a notice, the Service program in consultation with their Ethics Counselor will determine if a conflict of interest exists and, if so, if there are any possible actions to be taken by the applicant to reduce or resolve the conflict. Failure to resolve conflicts of interest in a manner that satisfies the Service may result in the project not being selected for funding.

Response to Ranking Criteria (optional; 12 pages maximum) You may either address the ranking criteria in the Project Statement (see Section V.B.) or you may attach a separate response. If you choose to address the criteria within the Project Statement, please attach a table with page numbers showing where each of the criteria is addressed within the Project Statement. If you choose to attach a separate response to the criteria, provide descriptions with appropriate documentation of how the proposed project addresses each of the ranking criteria found in Section VII below and at 50 CFR 86.51. Please do not rank your own proposal, as this information will be disregarded.

Geographic Location/Drawings/ Maps/Photographs (20 page limit) Your proposal will be scored, in part, on the quality of the access you provide for eligible vessels to significant destinations, services, and other amenities. In addition to addressing the project location generally in the Project Statement, please provide additional context by visually depicting the following:

1. The location of the project site using Global Positioning System (GPS) coordinates in the following format: degrees:minutes:seconds;

2. All existing structures, facilities, and amenities;

http://wsfrprograms.fws.gov/subpages/toolkitfiles/BIGfinal.pdf

3. All proposed project components;

4. Clearly marked areas that are for (1) eligible transient recreational vessels, (2) areas that are for others, and (3) areas that are for shared use;

5. Water depths (before and after planned dredging, if applicable);

6. If dredging is proposed, you must include an aerial photograph or schematic drawing to indicate the specific area(s) you intend to dredge;

7. Measurements for all docks, bulkheads, breakwaters, and other features where boats will be accommodated;

8. Any other information that will assist reviewers to identify project components, prorating criteria, or other factors involved with ranking.

9. A small State map that shows the general location of the project;

10. A local map that shows the facility location and the nearest community, public road, and navigable water body;

11. Maps or images that show proximity or distances to significant destinations, services that support eligible users, terrain considerations, access, or other information applicable to your project;

12. Any other map that supports the information in the project statement.

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.