oppF18AS00202-cidF18AS00202-instructions.docx

OMB Control Number: [1018-0109] Expiration Date: [11/30/2018]

Paperwork Reduction Act Statement. We are collecting this information in accordance with Endangered Species Act of 1973, 16 U.S.C 1531 et seq, as amended. Your response is required to obtain or retain a benefit. We will use the information you provide to conduct a competitive review 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 program about 37 hours to complete an 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.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Fiscal Year 2018 Candidate Conservation Action Funds] Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 15.660

Notice of Funding Opportunity

I. Description of Funding Opportunity The purpose of the Endangered Species Act is to provide a means by which the ecosystems upon which endangered and threatened species depend may be conserved, to provide a program for the conservation of these species, and to take appropriate steps to achieve the purposes of treaties and conventions set forth in the law.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) Ecological Services Program provides Federal financial assistance on a competitive basis to states, other Federal agencies, landowners, educators, non-profit organizations, researchers and other potential partners to secure information about candidate and other at-risk species to avert listing of species pursuant to the Endangered Species Act, and to help conserve the ecosystems upon which these species depend.

The overall goal of this Candidate Conservation funding opportunity is based on cooperative relationships with states, non-profit organizations, private landowners and those interested in habitat restoration or undertaking candidate and at-risk species research, surveys and monitoring, or educational outreach efforts. Work may be done via grant agreement, project grants, or direct payment for specified use.

This opportunity will help to address the Department of the Interior financial assistance priorities of 1) Creating a conservation stewardship legacy second only to Teddy Roosevelt by utilizing science to identify best practices to manage land and water resources and adapt to changes in the environment; and 2) Striking a regulatory balance by ensuring that Endangered Species Act decisions are based on strong science and thorough analysis.

This opportunity provides funds to accomplish high priority conservation tasks for high priority, Service-managed, candidate (based on our annual Candidate Species Assessments) and at-risk species in the United States, such that known threats to the species may be reduced or eliminated. Projects for National Marine Fisheries Service-managed species are not included in this funding opportunity.

Projects carrying out actions addressing threats described in a species’ annual Candidate Species Assessment, or projects documenting species’ response to changes in the environment are especially important. For example: securing scientific information about candidate and at-risk species and their habitat, implementing restoration actions that will lead to removing threats so as to preclude the need to list, help prevent extinction of a species, or otherwise aid in improving the conservation status of a species.

Copies of species’ approved Candidate Species Assessments are available on the Ecological Services Program’s website. Go to our Species Information website at http://www.fws.gov/endangered/index.html. Enter a species name in the blue regulatory profile query box at the top left of the page, and then hit the Submit button. If you enter a general name like the word “trout,” then a list of species names containing the word “trout” will appear. Click on the scientific name of the desired species to see the regulatory profile for that species.

Once you’re in the species’ profile, look under Lead Region to find the Service Regional Office with lead for the species. Next, scroll down to the Candidate Information section of the regulatory profile. Look for the Species Assessment Form.

In addition to candidate species, projects carrying out actions addressing threats to other at-risk species are also important. The Service has prioritized species in their national listing work plan by assigning a priority number. The at-risk species with a priority number of 3 or 4 would be especially important to work on – see https://www.fws.gov/endangered/what-we-do/listing-workplan.html for a list of species on the work plan, and see https://www.fws.gov/endangered/what-we-do/listing-workplan-prioritization.html for a description of the prioritization methodology.

II. Award Information This funding opportunity uses Service Regional and Field Office discretionary funding, if available. The amount of actual funding available will vary from year to year. Funding may not be available every year in each Regional or Field Office. Applicants are required to coordinate extensively with both the regional office and field office prior to submitting a proposal for consideration.

III. Basic Eligibility Requirements Eligible Applicants:

State and local governments/agencies; institutions of higher education, including public, private, state colleges and universities; non-profits that have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education; Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally-recognized tribal governments); city, county or township governments; individuals, Native American tribal governments (Federally-recognized); for-profit organizations; small businesses.

Applicants are expected to have demonstrated knowledge and understanding of the biology of the involved candidate or at-risk species and its ecosystem, including preferably having worked with the species in the field.

U.S. non-profit, non-governmental organizations with 501c3 Internal Revenue Status (IRS) must provide a copy of their Section 501c3 status determination letter received from the IRS.

Federal law mandates that all entities applying for Federal financial assistance must have a valid Dun & Bradstreet Data Universal Number System (DUNS) number and have a current registration in the System for Award Management (SAM). See Title 2 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Part 25 for more information. Exemptions: The SAM registration requirement does not apply to individuals submitting an application on their own behalf and not on behalf of a company or other for-profit entity, state, local or Tribal government, academia or other type of organization.

The following additional criteria apply to all Candidate Conservation funding opportunities and must be satisfied for a proposal to be considered for funding:

a. A proposal cannot include Service Full-Time-Equivalent (FTE) costs.

b. State administrative costs must either be assumed by the state or included in the proposal in accordance with Federal requirements.

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

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

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

C. Excluded Entities Applicant entities or their key project personnel identified in the SAM.gov Exclusions database as ineligible, prohibited/restricted or excluded from receiving Federal contracts, certain subcontracts, and certain Federal assistance and benefits will not be considered for Federal funding, as applicable to the funding being requested under this Federal program. The Service conducts a review of the SAM.gov Exclusions database for all applicant entities and their key project personnel prior to award.

D. Cost Sharing or Matching:

Not required, but encouraged.

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

A. A completed, signed and dated Application for Federal Assistance form (SF 424. Do not include other Federal sources of funding, requested or approved, in the total entered in the “Federal” funding box on the Application for Federal Assistance form. Enter only the amount being requested under this program in the “Federal” funding box. Include any other Federal sources of funding in the total funding entered in the “Other” box.

B. Project Summary Project Proposals should include a Project Summary Page containing the following information: Project Name; Applicant; Applicant Address and Contact Information (address, phone, email); Type of Project (Candidate Conservation). They should also include one clear and succinct paragraph summarizing the proposed project and its location; Requested Funding; and Matching Funding (if any). Goal(s), objectives, specific project activities, anticipated outputs and outcomes can also be included in this section.

C. Project Narrative

1. The application package should contain a separate document discussing the proposed project in detail. The document should include the following sections:

· Project Description, including a list of targeted species, significance of the project to the targeted species and location of proposed work;

· Project Location describing where the work will be done, habitat type(s) to be affected and relevant ecosystem/watershed characterization.

· Project Objectives clearly articulating what will be done, including how the project will:

show a clear conservation benefit that will help prevent listing of a candidate or at-risk species, or remove identified threats and improve status;

contribute information on species response to changes in the environment; or contribute to landscape level priorities (for example, Landscape Conservation Cooperatives (http://www.fws.gov/science/SHC/lcc.html), target watersheds for mussel conservation, Ecoteam or landscape level priorities, etc.);

· Methodology section describing how the proposed project will be accomplished and by whom;

· Coordination with state and/or other Federal agencies, if needed; how the proposed project leverages other funding to address high priority conservation actions needed for the species (e.g., complements a Private Stewardship Grant Program project; complements a landscape level Habitat Conservation Plan project, etc.)

· Length of proposed project (no more than 3 years maximum). For proposals involving an ongoing project, evidence of progress made to date must be provided. The proposal must involve a discrete activity(ies) (each activity included in the proposal must have an identified starting point and end point)

· Budget for the project that is detailed enough to know what are the costs of the various aspects of the project, including involved partners and their financial or in-kind contributions towards this project; contribution of partners and number of partners (also see sections D and E below).

The project proposal should also indicate whether partial funding of the project is practicable, and, if so, what specific portion(s) of the project could be implemented with what level of funding. A project proposal that is a part of a longer-term initiative will be considered; however, the proposed project’s objectives, benefits, and tasks must stand on their own, as there are no assurances that additional funding would be awarded in subsequent years for associated or complementary projects.

· Criteria for Success, i.e., the success performance criteria that will apply to this project (i.e., what will be measured to determine the success of the project, such as linear distance of stream bank restored; number of mussels successfully re-introduced); and

· Deliverables with Timeframes, including what will be provided to the Service at the close of the project.

· Supporting Information. Any additional supporting information may also be submitted (i.e., maps of project site/location, copies of relevant permits currently or previously held that authorize similar activities for the targeted species).

2. Description of Entities Undertaking the Project: Provide a brief description of the applicant organization and all participating entities and/or individuals. Identify which of the proposed activities each agency, organization, group, or individual is responsible for conducting or managing. Provide complete contact information for the individual within the organization that will oversee/manage the project activities on a day-to-day basis

D. Budget Form Complete the Budget Information for Non-Construction Programs (SF 424A) or Budget Information for Construction Programs (SF 424C) form. Use the SF 424A if your project does not include construction and the SF 424C if the project includes construction or land acquisition. The budget forms are available on the Internet at http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms/sf-424-family.html#sortby=1. When developing your budget, keep in mind that financial assistance awards and subawards are subject to the Federal cost principles in Title 2 of the Code of Federal Regulations Part 200, as applicable to the recipient organization type. Links to the full text of the Federal cost principles are available on the Internet at http://www.ecfr.gov/.

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

E. Budget Justification In a separate narrative titled “Budget Justification”, explain and justify all requested budget items/costs. Detail how the SF 424 Budget Object Class Category totals were determined and demonstrate a clear connection between costs and the proposed project activities. For personnel salary costs, include the base-line salary figures and the estimates of time (as percentages) to be directly charged to the project. Describe any item that under the applicable Federal cost principles requires the Service’s approval and estimate its cost.

If Federally-funded equipment will be used for the project, provide a list of that equipment, including the Federal funding source.

Required Indirect Cost Statement: Recipients that do not have an approved indirect cost rate cannot charge indirect costs to their Federal award. All applicants except individuals applying for funds separate from a business or non-profit organization he/she may operate must include in the budget justification narrative one of the following statements and attach to their application any required documentation identified in the applicable statement:

“We are:

1. A 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> 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 but expired rate agreement is attached. In the event an award is made, we will submit an indirect cost rate proposal to our cognizant agency within 90 calendar days after the award is made, or |_| A copy of our current, approved rate agreement(s) is attached.

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

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

6. A <insert your organization type> that has never submitted an indirect cost rate proposal to our cognizant agency and has an indirect cost rate that is 10% or higher. Our indirect cost rate is <insert indirect cost 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 we must notify the Service in writing immediately if we do establish an approved rate with our cognizant agency at any point during the award period. We understand that additional Federal funds may not be available to support an unexpected increase in indirect costs during the project period and such changes are subject to review, negotiation, and prior approval by the Service.

7. A <insert your organization type> that is submitting this proposal for consideration under the insert either "Cooperative Fish and Wildife Research Unit Program" or "Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit Network", which has a Department of the Interior-approved indirect cost rate cap of <insert indirect cost rate cap>. 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. In accordance with 2 CFR 200.405, we understand that indirect costs not recovered due to a voluntary reduction to our federally negotiated rate are not allowable for recovery via any other means.

8. A <insert your organization type> that will charge all costs directly.

All applicants are hereby notified of the following:

· Recipients without an approved indirect cost rate are prohibited from charging indirect costs to a Federal award. Accepting a flat de minimis rate as a condition of award is an approved rate.

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

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

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

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

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

For more information on indirect cost rates, see the Service’s Indirect Costs and Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreements guidance document on the Internet at https://www.fws.gov/grants/atc.html.

Negotiating an Indirect Cost Rate with the Department of the Interior: Entities that do not have a NICRA must first have an open, active Federal award before they can submit an indirect cost rate proposal to their cognizant agency. The Federal awarding agency that provides the largest amount of direct funding to your organization is your cognizant agency, unless otherwise assigned by the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB). If the Department of the Interior is your cognizant agency, your indirect cost rate will be negotiated by the Interior Business Center (IBC). For more information, contact the IBC at:

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

F. Single Audit Reporting Statements:

As required in Title 2 of the Code of Federal Regulations Part 200, Subpart F, all U.S. states, local governments, federally-recognized Indian tribal governments, and non-profit organizations expending $750,000 USD or more in Federal award funds in a fiscal year must submit a Single Audit report for that year through the Federal Audit Clearinghouse’s Internet Data Entry System. All U.S. state, local government, federally-recognized Indian tribal government and non-profit applicants must provide a statement regarding if your organization was/was not required to submit a Single Audit report for the organization’s most recently closed fiscal year and, if so, state if that report is available on the Federal Audit Clearinghouse Single Audit Database website (https://harvester.census.gov/facweb/) and provide the EIN under which that report was submitted. Include these statements at the end of the Project Narrative in a section titled “Single Audit Reporting Statements”.

G. Assurances:

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

H. Certification and Disclosure of Lobbying Activities:

Under Title 31 of the United States Code, Section 1352, an applicant or recipient must not use any federally appropriated funds (both annually appropriated and continuing appropriations) or matching funds under a grant or cooperative agreement award to pay any person for lobbying in connection with the award. Lobbying is defined as influencing or attempting to influence an officer or employee of any agency, a Member of Congress, an officer or employee of Congress, or an employee of a Member of Congress connection with the award. Submission of an application also represents the applicant’s certification of the statements in 43 CFR Part 18, Appendix A-Certification Regarding Lobbying. If you/your organization have/has made or agrees to make any payment using non-appropriated funds for lobbying in connection with this proposal AND the Federal share exceeds $100,000, complete and submit the SF LLL, Disclosure of Lobbying Activities form available at http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms/post-award-reporting-forms.html#sortby=1. See 43 CFR, Subpart 18.100 for more information on when additional submission of this form is required.

I. Conflict of Interest Disclosures:

Applicants must notify the Service in writing of any actual or potential conflicts of interest that are known at the time of application or that may arise during the life of this award, in the event an award is made. Conflicts of interest include any relationship or matter which might place the recipient, the recipient’s employees, or the recipient’s subrecipients in a position of conflict, real or apparent, between their responsibilities under the award and any other outside interests. Conflicts of interest may also include, but are not limited to, direct or indirect financial interests, close personal relationships, positions of trust in outside organizations, consideration of future employment arrangements with a different organization, or decision-making affecting the award that would cause a reasonable person with knowledge of the relevant facts to question the impartiality of the applicant, the applicant’s employees, or the applicant’s future subrecipients in the matter. 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 disclose and resolve conflicts of interest in a manner that satisfies the Service may result in the project not being select for funding.

J. Required Overlap/Duplication Statement:

Applicants must provide a statement that addresses if there is any overlap between the proposed project and any other active or anticipated projects in terms of activities, costs, or time commitment of key personnel. If any overlap exists, applicants must provide a description of the overlap in their application. Applicants must also state if the proposal submitted for consideration under this program is/is not in any way duplicative of any proposal that was/will be submitted for funding consideration to any other potential funding source (Federal or non-Federal). If such a circumstance exists, applicants must detail when the other duplicative proposal(s) were submitted, to whom (entity name and program), and when funding decisions are expected to be announced. If at any time a proposal is awarded funds that would be duplicative of the funding requested from the Service, applicants must notify the Service point of contact for this funding opportunity immediately.

Application Checklist

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

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

· Project summary

· Project narrative

· Timetable

· Description of key personnel qualifications

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

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

· Budget justification

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

· Indirect cost statement

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

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

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

· Conflict of Interest disclosure, when applicable.

· Overlap/Duplication statement

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

V. Submission Instructions SUBMISSION DEADLINE: Hard copy applications must be received at the appropriate Regional Office by August 27, 2018, at 5 P.M. (EST). A list of Service Regional Office contacts is provided below under section VIII. Agency Contacts.

Applications submitted electronically through the Grants.gov Internet site must be received by August 27, 2018. Applicants will receive notice electronically through Grants.gov to confirm receipt of the proposal.

Proposals not received by the due date will be held and may be considered for funding in the subsequent Fiscal Year if funding is available.

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

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

To submit an application by mail:

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

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

To submit an application through Grants.gov:

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

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

VI. Application Review Information Criteria:

A. To be considered for funding, projects must have the purpose of conserving species of fish, wildlife, or plants included on Federal or State lists of endangered or threatened species, those that are candidates for ESA listing status (50 CFR 424.15), included in the Service National Listing work plan, or other priority at-risk species.

B. In addition, applications must be for a project that contributes to the scientific knowledge of or addresses threats to candidate species (for a list of candidate species see https://ecos.fws.gov/ecp/report/table/candidate-species.html), other at-risk species that are included in the Service National Listing work plan (https://www.fws.gov/endangered/esa-library/pdf/Listing%207-Year%20Workplan%20Sept%202016.pdf), or other at-risk species that are a priority for the States and the Service. Although cost sharing is encouraged, it will not be used a criterion for funding.

C. The Service will consider the following questions and factors when establishing priorities for funding projects. The ranking system uses colors to indicate the degree to which the application has met the factor:

Generally:

Green: fully addresses the question (requires “yes” response) Orange: mostly addresses the question Yellow: somewhat addresses the question Red: does not address the question (a “no” response)

1. Does the proposed project address a threat to a candidate or other at-risk species or suite of species?

Green: Yes, it directly addresses a key threat to a candidate species (identified in the Service species assessment form – see Description of Funding Opportunity for how to obtain the most recent assessment) or to an at-risk species.

Orange: Yes, it directly addresses a known threat, but not a key threat, to a candidate or at-risk species Yellow: The project does not directly address specific threats to the species, but could indirectly address the threats.

Red: No, the project does not directly or indirectly address threats to the species.

2. Does the proposed project contribute to the scientific knowledge of the species or suite of species?

Green: Significantly contributes Orange: Contributes Yellow: Marginally contributes Red: Does not contribute

3. Is the plan for carrying out the proposed activities well-reasoned, well-organized, and based on a sound scientific rationale?

Green: plan is well-reasoned, well-organized and based on sound scientific rationale Orange: plan is somewhat well-reasoned and well-organized and based on sound scientific rationale Yellow: plan is not well-reasoned and well-organized but is based on sound scientific rationale.

Red: plan is not well-reasoned or well-organized and not based on sound scientific rationale

4. Does the proposed project incorporate a monitoring plan that will assess successful implementation and effectiveness and includes an adaptive management plan?

Green: Includes a well-thought out monitoring plan that will assess whether the project will be successfully implemented and how effective it will be in achieving the goals of the project and includes an adaptive management plan.

Orange: Includes a monitoring plan that will assess whether the project will be successfully implemented and how effective it will be in achieving the goals of the project and includes an adaptive management plan.

Yellow: Includes a monitoring plan that will assess whether the project will be successfully implemented and how effective it will be in achieving the goals of the project but does not include an adaptive management plan.

Red: Does not include a monitoring plan or an adaptive management plan.

5. How well qualified is the individual, team, or organization to conduct the proposed activities?

Green: Highly qualified Orange: Qualified Yellow: Somewhat qualified Red: Not qualified

In addition, in order to support the Department of Interior’s Priorities for Federal Financial Assistance, proposals are to be evaluated with the priorities highlighted in Section I. Description of Funding Opportunity, in mind. Specifically, priority should be given to projects that fund activities that will provide the States and Service with the best available science to make informed decisions on ESA listing actions. Priority should be given to projects that will reduce or eliminate threats to candidate species or other at-risk species, or undertake restoration actions that will help avert federal listing of the species, furthering the Departmental priority of striking a regulatory balance.

Review and Selection Process:

Proposals submitted for consideration for the candidate conservation action funds will be reviewed by representatives from Ecological Services Staff at Field Offices. The members of these ranking committees will then review and evaluate proposals based on the criteria outlined above and discuss regional prioritization. Award recommendations will be made by the Field Office project leader or field supervisor to the Regional Office and the Director as necessary. Please note, grants should not be considered approved until they are cleared for obligation through the Department of Interior’s financial assistance review process for approving discretionary grants and cooperative agreements effective fiscal year 2018.

The Field Offices will review the status of applicants’ administration of other grants, including Single Audit submissions, past performance, financial strength and management capabilities, and procedures and methods for monitoring subrecipients or vendors. Applicants in poor standing may not be considered for funding. Field Offices will review all proposed activities for eligibility, including consistency with the objective and purposes of the ESA, the requirements outlined in this NOFO, substantiality in character and design. Activities not eligible will be removed from consideration. This includes activities that are not considered to achieve conservation. If there are any questions about the ability of the project to be completed in compliance with Federal laws and regulations, additional information may be requested. A project may be disqualified if Service staff determine the project cannot meet Federal requirements. Incomplete applications will be returned to sender to be corrected. This “deficiency period” will allow two weeks for corrections. Applicants that do not respond within two weeks with corrected materials may be disqualified.

Prior to reviewing FY 2018 proposals, members of the ranking committee will review the current status of all applicants prior to beginning ranking. This review will include consideration of:

Status of previously awarded funds: Applicants who have more than 1 year of unobligated candidate conservation funds at the time of submission will not be awarded new funding, except in unusual circumstances and when spending of backlog can reasonably be expected to be imminent.

Risk threshold: review the status of applicants’ administration of other grants, including Single Audit submissions, past performance, financial strength and management capabilities, and procedures and methods for monitoring subrecipients or vendors. Applicants in poor standing may not be considered for funding.

Proposals received will be reviewed for completeness, including compliance with specific requests (e.g., documentation of discussions with ES Field Offices). Incomplete applications will be returned to sender to be corrected. This “deficiency period” will allow 2 weeks for corrections. Applicants that do not respond within 2 weeks with corrected materials may be disqualified.

Proposed grant activities will be reviewed for eligibility, including consistency with the objective and purposes of the Act, the requirements in the request for proposals, and substantiality in character and design. Activities not eligible will be removed from consideration. This includes activities that are not considered to achieve conservation or are not consistent with any existing conservation stategies for a species.

Proposals will be given initial compliance review – if there are any questions about the ability of the project to be completed in compliance with Federal laws and regulations, additional information may be requested from the State. A project may be disqualified if Service staff determine the project cannot be meet Federal requirements.

The evaluation team members will then select a suite of projects to recommend for funding based on the evaluative criteria outlined above. Regional Directors (or their designee) are responsible for the administration of these funds within the Regions and will make final funding recommendations to the Department of Interior. Grants should not be considered approved until they are cleared for obligation through the Department of Interior’s new review process for approving discretionary grants and cooperative agreements.

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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 Service’s Standard Award Terms and Conditions are available on the Internet at https://www.fws.gov/grants/atc.html. 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:

Final Reports: Recipients are required to submit final financial and performance reports no later than 90 calendar days after the award period of performance end date or termination date, whichever comes first. For awards lasting 12 months or less, the final reports will be the only financial and performance reports required, except in unusual circumstances or if waived.

Interim Reports: For awards that last longer than 12 months, recipients are required to submit interim financial and performance reports no less frequently than annually and no more frequently than quarterly, except in unusual circumstances or if waived. Requiring a higher frequency of reporting than annual reporting will be based on the Service’s assessment of higher or other unusual circumstance. Quarterly and semiannual interim reports are due within 30 calendar days of the reporting period end date. Annual interim reports are due within 90 calendar days of the reporting period end date.

Recipients must use the Standard Form 425, Federal Financial Report for financial reporting, available on the Internet at http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms/post-award-reporting-forms.html#sortby=1.

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…