oppF18AS00244-cfda15.679-instructions.pdf

OMB Control Number: [1018-0123] Expiration Date: [01/31/2021]

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service International Affairs

Combating Wildlife Trafficking Strategy and Partnerships Program Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 15.679

Funding Opportunity Number: F18AS00244 Submission Deadline: July 23, 2018

Notice of Funding Opportunity and Application Instructions

I. Description of Funding Opportunity

Revising and Updating "Wildlife for Sale, an Educator’s Guide to Exploring Wildlife Trade" for the Digital Age:

Background: The illegal wildlife trade is estimated to be a multibillion-dollar business involving the unlawful harvest of and trade in live animals and plants or parts and products derived from them. Data on illegal wildlife products confiscated by U.S. officials suggests that a significant volume is trafficked into the United States for sale and personal possession. Seized products include wild-sourced meat, clothing, décor, medicinal items, souvenirs, pets, plants, and furniture. Some reports also indicate that wildlife products are sold online and within local stores throughout the country. The illegal trade negatively impacts the U.S.’s natural resources and local communities that might otherwise benefit from tourism or legal, sustainable trade.

The United States issued the National Strategy for Combating Wildlife Trafficking in 2014, which sets forth a robust, whole-of-government approach to the issue and focuses on three key pillars to counter wildlife trafficking – strengthening enforcement, reducing demand for illegally traded wildlife, and expanding international cooperation. The National Strategy was codified into law by the Eliminate, Neutralize, and Disrupt (END) Wildlife Trafficking Act. The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) seeks to complement, facilitate, and enhance existing efforts to reduce demand for illegally traded wildlife by providing formal and informal educators with targeted high-quality environmental education (EE) resources to increase awareness of the illegal wildlife trade and its impact on natural resources, Paperwork Reduction Act Statement. The Paperwork Reduction Act requires us to tell you why we are collecting this information, how we will use it, and whether or not you have to respond. A response to this Notice of Funding Opportunity is required to receive funding. A Federal agency 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.

OMB has approved this collection and assigned OMB Control No. 1018-0123, which expired on 09/30/2014. The public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average of 22 hours per application and 40 hours per performance report. These burden estimates include time for reviewing instructions and gathering data, but do not include the time needed to complete government-wide Standard Forms associated with the application and financial reporting. You may send comments regarding the burden estimate or any other aspect of this information collection to the Information Collection Clearance Officer, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 5275 Leesburg Pike, MS: BPHC Falls Church, VA 22041-3803.

https://www.fws.gov/home/feature/2014/trafficking/national-strategy-wildlife-trafficking.pdf https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/2494 https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/2494 communities, and biodiversity; engage youth and citizens in developing behaviors and skills that prevent and mitigate their own and others’ contributions to illegal trade; and increase literacy of the laws that protect wildlife and facilitate sustainable use. Environmental education is a powerful tool for increasing the impact of overall policy strategies to address specific, complex environmental or social problems. EE has positive civic outcomes such as instilling learners with a sense of personal responsibility and motivation to address community and environmental challenges. Research has shown that EE can also amplify the impact of conservation strategies as it helps spread messages and engagement in environmental and social problems beyond just the learners, creating a ripple effect to the broader community. Policymakers seeking effective ways to meet the complex social challenge of wildlife trafficking can benefit from EE as an efficient and cost-effective way to teach students about civic engagement.

This NOFO aligns with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service mission and the Secretary of the Interior’s priority (1) Creating a conservation stewardship legacy second only to Teddy Roosevelt; (2) Striking a regulatory balance, (3) Achieving our goals and leading our team forward.

Description: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service International Affairs Program (USFWS) has issued this Notice of Funding Opportunity to announce its intention to provide funding to the North American Association of Environmental Education (NAAEE) to revise and update the EE curriculum Wildlife for Sale, an Educator’s Guide to Exploring Wildlife Trade. This project will revise and update the content of Wildlife for Sale and will also develop complementary web-based resources for educators and community leaders that are appropriate for the digital age.

Wildlife for Sale, an Educator’s Guide to Exploring Wildlife Trade, is an award-winning EE curriculum that was developed with input from USFWS and has been widely used by formal and informal educators in 20 countries since its launch in 2001. The Wildlife for Sale curriculum helps learners of all ages explore what wildlife trade is, how it affects biodiversity, and how people can help ensure that it is legal. Wildlife for Sale is designed to provide ideas for integrating wildlife trade-related issues into formal and non-formal teaching, and includes a series of well-tested activities that use educational strategies known to increase knowledge, improve skill development, and encourage behavior change. Wildlife for Sale is designed for use with students in grades 6 through 9, but educators have found that many of the activities can be adapted for learners of all ages. The curriculum explores complex and controversial issues, including the difference between legal and illegal wildlife trade and the values that affect consumer choices about what to buy and what to avoid. However, the curriculum module is out of print and is not optimized for the digital age.

The proposed work will update the content and improve the design and delivery of this resource in order to maximize its reach in today’s digital age, increase its effectiveness in influencing behavior change, and improve its adaptability across a range of learning settings and among diverse global audiences. The revamped curriculum will emphasize project-based learning to engage students, educators, parents, and other community members in direct actions tailored to consumption, harvesting, trafficking, and other wildlife trade issues.

USFWS will provide funding to NAAEE to carry out the following priority activities to address the following desired results:

1. Increase public awareness of the threats of wildlife trafficking and specific actions that individuals can take to curb illegal wildlife trade through innovative education programming and outreach.

USFWS will provide funding to:

• Update, revise and redesign the environmental education curriculum module “Wildlife for Sale” based on the best available data and expertise. Building on the previous success of the Wildlife for Sale education program, revise and refresh the curriculum with focus on increasing knowledge of wildlife trafficking issues and shifting attitudes and behaviors toward reducing demand for illegally traded wildlife products.

• Develop and launch Wildlife for Sale webpages where educators can download or access the curriculum, interactive features, and training materials online, including links to social media platforms and other related websites.

• Develop options for adapting the module for diverse audiences and settings, including by updating the curriculum to complement the outreach programming of USFWS and by including translation tools and interactive maps via the module’s supplementary online materials.

• Evaluate and assess effectiveness of the revised program in increasing awareness and shifting associated behaviors and attitudes and use this information to identify barriers to using the curriculum and suggest avenues for overcoming them.

2. Reduce public demand for illegally traded wildlife and increase citizen engagement in mitigating the illegal trade through consumer choices.

USFWS will provide funding to:

• Recruit educators to implement updated activities in classrooms, nature centers, zoos, aquariums, and other educational institutions across the country.

• Include project-based learning and other community-based strategies in the curriculum to engage students, parents, and community members in actions tailored to consumption, harvesting, trafficking, and other wildlife trade issues specific to their location.

• Support work with local communities to protect wildlife and prevent wildlife trafficking at key leverage points (both demand markets and those directly involved in the illegal take and trade of wildlife) by offering adaptations and modifications to the module for different audiences operating in a range of contexts.

• Implement an evaluation strategy to determine the module’s effectiveness in helping to educate young people, educators, and community members about wildlife trade, including strategies for taking civic action to address the issues.

Please direct any questions about this Notice of Funding Opportunity to the Combating Wildlife Trafficking Program at cwt@fws.gov.

II. Award Information

This is a notice of intent to award a single source award in accordance with 516 FW 6.

mailto:cwt@fws.gov

This program will use a cooperative agreement as the assistance instrument. The type of assistance instrument to be used is the decision of the USFWS. The current amount of funding available is approximately $60,000; additional funding may become available later on in the fiscal year. The period of performance for projects starts on the date the award is signed by the USFWS. Past and present recipients of awards under this program are eligible, but must submit new proposals to compete for funding each year. The copyright holder of Wildlife for Sale is the North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE). NAAEE is a recognized leader in promoting excellence in EE throughout North America. With more than 20,000 members and supporters, including affiliations with more than 54 state and provincial EE organizations, NAAEE’s influence stretches across North America and around the world, with members in more than 30 countries.

Cooperative Agreements

Under cooperative agreements, substantial involvement by the USFWS should be expected and may include participating and collaborating jointly with the recipient or other personnel in carrying out the scope of work including training recipient personnel or detailing Federal personnel to work on the project effort; reviewing and approving one stage of work before the next stage can begin; reviewing and approving, prior to recipient action, proposed modifications or sub-awards; helping select project staff or trainees; directing or redirecting the work because of interrelationships with other projects. USFWS has power to immediately halt an activity if detailed performance specifications are not met and may limit recipient discretion with respect to scope of work, organizational structure, staffing, mode of operations and other management processes, coupled with close monitoring or operational involvement during performance under the award.

III. Basic Eligibility Requirements:

This is a notice of intent to award a single source award in accordance with 516 FW 6.

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

The USFWS International Affairs will not fund the purchase of firearms or ammunition; buying of intelligence information or paying informants; gathering information by persons who conceal their true identity; law enforcement operations that prompt suspects to carry out illegal activities so they may be arrested (entrapment); or any activity that would circumvent sanctions, laws or regulations of either the U.S. or the country in which the activity would occur.

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. Applicants must be registered in SAM at the time of pre-proposal submission. We recommend that applicants immediately begin registering as the process, depending of the type of organization, can take months to complete. Please begin by reading our General Instructions for Registering in DUNS/SAM at http://www.fws.gov/international/pdf/sam-duns-registration-instructions.pdf, and then visit www.sam.gov.

A. DUNS Registration

Request a DUNS number online at http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform. U.S.-based entities may also request a DUNS number by telephone by calling the Dun & Bradstreet Government Customer Response Center, Monday – Friday, 7 AM to 8 PM CST at the following numbers:

U.S. and U.S Virgin Islands: 1-866-705-5711

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

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

B. Entity Registration in SAM

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

C. Excluded Entities

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

D. Cost Sharing or Matching

Cost sharing is not required. If cost share or match is included, it may be in the form of cash or in-kind contributions. Only verifiable contributions should be included as a match. Applicant and partner contributions cannot be included as contributions for any other federally assisted project or program.

Funds provided by another U.S. Federal Government agency or another Service award cannot be reported as matching contributions but should be noted and explained in detail. A match shown during one year may not be repeated as a match in a subsequent proposal.

http://www.fws.gov/international/pdf/sam-duns-registration-instructions.pdf http://www.fws.gov/international/pdf/sam-duns-registration-instructions.pdf http://www.sam.gov./ http://www.sam.gov./ http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform http://www.sam.gov/ http://www.sam.gov/

IV. Application Requirements

To be considered for funding under this opportunity, an application must contain:

A. SF-424 and Assurances Forms

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

Enter only the amount being requested under this program in the “Federal” funding box. Include any other Federal sources of funding in the total funding entered in the “Other” box.

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

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

The SF-424 and SF-424b forms are located here:

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

For U.S. recipients applying through Grants.gov, downloading and saving the Application Package to your computer make the required government-wide standard forms fillable and printable.

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

B. Project Summary: 1 page maximum

This section should answer the question, “What is the purpose of this project?” Summarize your project in 300 words or less. This section should be a stand-alone summary of your project and it may be shared with the public. The summary should explicitly identify the priority addressed by the proposal.

The following 3 sentence format is recommended:

Sentence #1 identifies where the project will take place and its key intended result(s). The purpose of this project is to counter wildlife trafficking in [insert place name and country or region if applicable] by [active verb] [key intended result(s)].

Sentence #2 identifies what is the conservation target and direct threat(s). This project is intended to conserve [insert species, habitat, or other biodiversity] by addressing the impacts of [direct threats addressed by project].

Sentence #3 identifies what will be done. Specific activities include: (1) [activity 1]; (2) [activity 2]; [and so on].

http://www.fws.gov/international/pdf/sf-424-instructions.pdf http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms/sf-424-family.html#sortby%3D1 http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms/sf-424-family.html#sortby%3D1

C. Project Narrative: 8 pages maximum (from “Statement of Need” to “Literature Cited”)

1. Map of Project Area: This section should answer the question, “Where is this project located?” Provide a map showing the location of your project site at the regional or national level. Ensure that the sites that you have referred to in the proposal are labeled on the map. Provide the latitude and longitude coordinates of a representative geographic location for your project in decimal degrees format (NOT degree-minute-seconds format). For example, USFWS in Arlington, Virginia, USA, would be provided as 38.8825, -77.1145 (latitude, longitude). Please correctly enter north and east coordinates as positive values, and south and west coordinates as negative values. If the proposed project is not site-based (i.e. database analysis), please include a description of where the proposed project work will take place and any additional areas impacted.

2. Statement of Need: This section should answer the question, “Why is this project necessary?” The Statement of Need should clearly demonstrate that the applicant has a well-developed understanding of the specific problem to be addressed. Thus, as appropriate, proposals should include the best available information on reducing demand for illegally traded wildlife and increasing citizen engagement in mitigating wildlife trafficking through innovative environmental education programming.

Proposals should explicitly address the priorities identified above in Section I.

“Description of Funding Opportunity”.

This section should also explain how your proposal differs from past work, or builds upon it, including how your proposal expands upon the successes, failures, and lessons learned of past efforts. Projects with other U.S. Government (USG) funding must add a section describing the activities supported by each USG funding agency and mechanism and how the awards and activities will be coordinated. Please note how the proposal differs or builds upon funding available from other agencies.

In addition to the text, applicants are strongly encouraged to provide a table that summarizes past USFWS support, if any, to the project or applicant. This table does not count toward the eight page limit. A table should include columns for: (1) year of grant, (2) USFWS grant number, (3) amount funded in US$, and (4) bullet points of major activities, outcomes, or products. Former recipients of USFWS support should note that every proposal is expected to be a stand-alone document. Not all proposal reviewers may be familiar with past grants and a summary of activities and accomplishments helps all reviewers to better understand the proposal in context.

3. Project Goals and Objectives: This section should answer the question, “What do you want to achieve and how are you going to do it?” As an example, the following format is recommended:

GOAL:

Objective 1.

Activity 1.1

Activity 1.2

Objective 2.

Activity 2.1

Objective 3.

Activity 3.1

Activity 3.2

Activity 3.3

A goal is the long-term biological outcome that you want to achieve in order to successfully conserve the target species. The strongest goals for this funding opportunity will be directly related to a reduction of individuals removed from the wild for wildlife trafficking.

Objectives are the specific outcomes that you want to achieve in order to reach your stated goal(s), and should reflect a desired change in capacity, threat, or species status.

Your objectives must be attainable within the project period and should be specific, capable of being measured, realistic, and results-orientated. Objectives should form the basis for the project’s Monitoring and Evaluation section. A recommended reference for identifying and developing appropriate objectives and measures of success is the Open Standards for the Practice of Conservation, which are available from the following website: http://cmp-openstandards.org/download-os/.

4. Project Activities, Methods and Timetable: Activities are the specific actions that you undertake to fulfill your objectives and reach your goal. The project proposal should outline a well-developed results chain with appropriate testing and evaluation of educational methods designed to positively impact the knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors of target audiences in order to reduce demand for illegally traded wildlife and increase citizen engagement in mitigating wildlife trafficking through innovative environmental education programming. Provide a detailed description of the method(s) for each activity. The methods, including equipment used/requested and personnel conducting the work should be clearly articulated in this section. The proposed activities should correspond with the Project Budget Table and the narrative must be detailed enough for reviewers to make a clear connection between the activities and the proposed project costs. Activities in which no USFWS funds are being requested should be clearly identified as such, and described concisely.

Project Timetable. This section should answer the question, “Over what time period will project activities be implemented?” Provide a timetable indicating when activities or project milestones will be accomplished. Include any tables, spreadsheets or flowcharts within the body of the narrative (DO NOT include separate attachments).

The timetable should not propose specific dates, but rather list the activities described in Section 2, for each month over a 12-month or 24-month period.

5. Stakeholder Coordination/Involvement: This section should answer the question, “Who are you going to be working with?” Describe any coordination with local resource managers and other relevant organizations or individuals in planning your http://cmp-openstandards.org/download-os/ project, conducting project activities, or disseminating project results. Where multiple groups are working in the same site, or are listed as stakeholders in the proposal, letters of endorsement specifically referring to this proposal, and to the proposed collaboration from each partner organization, will strengthen your proposal, and may be requested by reviewers. If activities to collect data are proposed and the project can demonstrate a strong partnership with the relevant government authority, providing this information will strengthen the proposal.

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

(1) Anticipated outputs that document project implementation. Identify all expected outputs (also known as products) of key project activities. Examples include completed production of revised Wildlife for Sale curriculum and associated websites, number of printed copies produced and distributed, number of educators reached through promotion of the curriculum through networks and partners, number of educators provided with access to the curriculum through online resources, number of “train the trainers” workshop or events held and their estimated reach, and number of classrooms and informal education centers that pilot-tested the curriculum.

(2) Conservation outcomes that are the intended results of the project.

Identify all conservation outcomes intended to be achieved by this project.

Examples include percentage of students and educators that have increased their knowledge of wildlife trafficking issues through pilot-testing the curriculum, percentage of students reached through pilot-testing that successfully implement projects or outreach efforts in their communities, and percentage of people exposed to the curriculum that report intentions to change their behavior.

Outcomes should directly relate to, or even be synonymous with, your Proposal Objectives identified above. To track your progress toward achievement of each objective, identify what you will measure (i.e., indicators), and how will you will measure it (i.e., methods, sample sizes, survey tools). Applicants are encouraged to review and use the Standard Measures of Effectiveness and Measuring Efforts to Combat Wildlife Trafficking and the USAID Measuring Efforts to Combat Wildlife Crime: A Toolkit for Improving Action and Accountability for guidance on indicators.

A non-exhaustive list of examples of metrics and outcome statements include:

• Percent increase of target audience that demonstrates knowledge gain.

o Example outcome statement: Within XX months of the project’s full implementation phase, data indicated a XX% increase in the number of targeted audience members who now understood X product was derived from X species.

• Percent increase of target audience that expresses desired https://www.fws.gov/international/pdf/guidance-effectiveness-measures-central-africa.pdf https://www.fws.gov/international/pdf/guidance-effectiveness-measures-central-africa.pdf https://www.fws.gov/international/pdf/guidance-effectiveness-measures-central-africa.pdf http://pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/PA00KQR6.pdf http://pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/PA00KQR6.pdf http://pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/PA00KQR6.pdf attitudes.

o Example outcome statement: Within XX months of the project’s full implementation phase, data indicated a XX% increase in the number of targeted audience members who said they wanted to help protect X species in the wild.

• Percent decrease of target audience that expresses desired behaviors.

o Example outcome statement: Within XX months of the project’s full implementation phase, data indicated a XX% decrease in the number of targeted audience members who said they intended to buy X product in the future.

The USFWS values projects that report both the successes and failures of efforts as a means by which an applicant can improve their performance and provide lessons learned to improve our efforts to conserve wildlife. Projects have a higher likelihood of being selected that advance the practice of conservation by being designed and implemented in a way that the effectiveness of activities can be credibly assessed and shared.

7. Description of Entities Undertaking the Project: This section should answer the question, “Who are you, and who are you going to be working with?” Provide a brief description of the applicant organization and all 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. Provide brief (1-2 pages) curricula vitae for key personnel, identifying their qualifications to carry out project activities. To prevent unnecessary transmission of Personally Identifiable Information (PII), do not include Social Security numbers, the names of family members, or any other personal or sensitive information including marital status, religion or physical characteristics on the description of key personnel qualifications.

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

9. Literature Cited.

10. Letters of Endorsement: For projects implemented outside of the United States, non-governmental applicants must include a RECENT letter of support (not older than two years) from the country’s appropriate local, regional, or national government wildlife or conservation authority. Where appropriate, letters of support from local communities or project beneficiaries should be provided. Endorsement letters should make specific reference to the project by its title as submitted on the applicant’s proposal. If the project activities will take place domestically, a letter of endorsement IS NOT required from any U.S. government agency or office.

D. Budget Form

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

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

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

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

http://www.ecfr.gov/

Category/Budget Item Units Cost per Unit

(USD)

No.

Units Total Requested from FWS Applicant

Match Personnel Expense Relate to Project

Trainer Month $ xxx xx $ xxx $ xxx $ xxx Project Director Month $ xxx xx $ xxx $ xxx $ xxx Project Coordinator Month $ xxx xx $ xxx $ xxx $ xxx Personnel Subtotal $ xxx $ xxx Purchased Services Printing (Manuals) Each $ xxx xx $ xxx $ xxx $ xxx Printing (Training) Lump $ xxx xx $ xxx $ xxx $ xxx Printing (Outreach materials;

banners, stands, etc.)

Lump $ xxx xx $ xxx $ xxx $ xxx

Purchased Services Subtotal $ xxx $ xxx Travel Vehicle day use (with driver) Day $ xxx xx $ xxx $ xxx $ xxx Vehicle maintenance and repair

Lump $ xxx xx $ xxx $ xxx $ xxx

Domestic Flights (Coordination at Transit Points)

Each $ xxx xx $ xxx $ xxx $ xxx

Travel Subtotal $ xxx $ xxx Lodging and Meals Meals (4 day Training 30 ppl)

Day $ xxx xx $ xxx $ xxx $ xxx

Accommodation 4 day Training 20ppl)

Day $ xxx xx $ xxx $ xxx $ xxx

Lodging and Meals Subtotal $ xxx $ xxx Supplies Supplies (Training) Lump $ xxx xx $ xxx $ xxx $ xxx Supplies (Patrols) Month $ xxx xx $ xxx $ xxx $ xxx Supplies Subtotal $ xxx $ xxx GRAND TOTAL $ xxx $ xxx $ xxx

*Present all amounts in U.S. dollars

Things to consider when developing your Budget Table:

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

Lodging for 20 nights x 11 people x $15/night = $3,300.

For any salaries, staff time or contractors that USFWS funds are requested for, the person should be identified and their qualifications described in Section 7 (Description of Entities Undertaking the Project). For any training, a description of the training should be included in the Methods section. For any meetings, a description of participants, a draft agenda and desired outputs should be provided.

Wherever possible, cost calculations should be included in the Budget Table.

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

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

E. Budget Justification

In a separate narrative titled “Budget Justification,” explain and justify all requested budget items/costs. A thorough written justification that explains both the necessity and the basis for the proposed costs must accompany the budget. Each budget line must demonstrate a clear connection to the project activities, and show how line item amounts were determined. Each of the major costs (salaries, fringe benefits, equipment, travel, supplies other direct costs and indirect costs) must be explained (please see example below).

Example of a Budget Justification:

A. Personnel request= [insert amount] -Principal Investigator-Jane Smith- (Time=12 months) Jane’s time will be spent [insert activity and describe why it is needed for the project].

-Trainer- John Doe- (Time= 5 months) - John is responsible for the overall coordination of staff training. He will recruit staff, for 2 months and spend his time on training for the remaining 3 months.

(Continue to list other staff and explain/justify roles).

B. Services request= [insert amount] -Production and printing of 50 training manuals (100pgs) used to conduct workshops.

C. Travel request= [insert amount] -Airfare costs for three-person team (principal investigator, program manager, trainer) to travel to work sites. Travel is necessary to establish new work sites for the project and is more cost effective via air. Costs include airfare and accommodations.

-Vehicle cost with driver for XX days is requested, to conduct field patrols.

Travel and food costs to cover the annual needs of XX person patrol team including fuel and other costs related to transportation.

-Maintenance for vehicles is estimated at XX per month.

D. Other-request = [insert amount] Explain any other costs

E. Indirect Cost Indicate rate or if claiming 10% de minimus or charging directly

For expensive items or large single purchases, provide detailed technical specifications or a pro-forma invoice. For personnel salary costs, include the base-line salary figures and the estimates of time (as percentages) to be directly charged to the project. Describe any item that under the applicable Federal Cost Principles requires USFWS approval and estimate its cost.

Required Indirect Cost Statement: Applicants that do not have a Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (NICRA) cannot claim more than a flat de minimus indirect cost rate of 10% of modified total direct costs (MTDC). When calculating MTDC please ensure that these line items are NOT included in your calculation: capital expenditures, rental costs, equipment over $5,000 USD or more, fellowships, participant support costs and the portion of each sub- award in excess of $25,000 USD. All applicants except individuals applying for funds separate from a business or non-profit organization he/she may operate must include in the budget justification one of the following statements and attach to their application any required documentation identified in the applicable statement:

“We are:

1. A U.S. state or local government entity receiving more than $35 million in direct

Federal funding each year with an indirect cost rate of [insert rate]. We submit our indirect cost rate proposals to our cognizant agency. A copy of our most recently approved rate agreement/certification is attached.

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

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

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

5. A [insert your organization type] that has never submitted an indirect cost rate proposal to our cognizant agency. Our indirect cost rate is [insert rate]. However, in the event an award is made, we will not be able to meet the requirement to submit an indirect cost rate proposal to our cognizant agency within 90 calendar days after award. We request as a condition of award to charge a flat de minimus indirect cost rate of 10% of modified total direct costs as defined in Title 2 of the Code of Federal Regulations Part 200, section 200.68. We understand that the 10% de minimus rate will apply for the life of the award, including any future extensions for time, and that the rate cannot be changed even if we do establish an approved rate with our cognizant agency at any point during the award period

6. A [insert your organization type] that is submitting this proposal for consideration under the [insert either “Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit Program” or “Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit Network”], which has a Department of the Interior-approved indirect cost rate cap of [insert program rate]. If we have an approved indirect cost rate with our cognizant agency, we understand that we must apply this reduced rate against the same direct cost base as identified in our approved indirect cost rate agreement. If we do not have an approved indirect cost rate with our cognizant agency, we understand that the basis for direct costs will be the modified total direct cost base defined in 2 CFR 200.68 “Modified Total Direct Cost (MTDC)”.

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

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

All applicants are hereby notified of the following:

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

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

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

• Recipients must have prior written approval from the USFWS 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 USFWS’s Indirect Costs and Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreements guidance document at the following website: http://www.fws.gov/grants/.

Negotiating an Indirect Cost Rate with the Department of the Interior: For organizations without a NICRA, you must have an open, active Federal award to submit an indirect cost rate proposal to your cognizant agency. The Federal awarding agency that provides the largest amount of direct funding to your organization is your cognizant agency, unless otherwise assigned by the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB). If the Department of the Interior is your cognizant agency, your indirect cost rate will be negotiated by the Interior Business Center (IBC). For more information, contact IBC at:

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

F. Single Audit Reporting Statements (Foreign Applicants Excluded): As required in

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

G. Assurances: Include the appropriate signed and dated Assurances form available online at http://apply07.grants.gov/apply/FormLinks?family=15. Use the Assurances for Non- Construction Programs (SF 424B). Signing this form does not mean that all items on the form are applicable. The form contains language that states that some of the assurances may not be applicable to your organization and/or your project or program.

H. Certification and Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (Foreign Applicants

Excluded): Under Title 31 of the United States Code, Section 1352, an applicant or http://www.fws.gov/grants http://www.fws.gov/grants http://www.fws.gov/grants/ mailto:ics@nbc.gov http://www.aqd.nbc.gov/Services/ICS.aspx http://www.ecfr.gov/ http://www.ecfr.gov/ http://harvester.census.gov/sac/ http://harvester.census.gov/sac/ http://apply07.grants.gov/apply/FormLinks?family=15 recipient must not use any federally appropriated funds (both annually appropriated and continuing appropriations) or matching funds under a grant or cooperative agreement award to pay any person for lobbying in connection with the award.

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

I. Conflict of Interest Disclosures: Applicants must notify the USFWS in writing of any actual or potential conflicts of interest that are known at the time of application or that may arise during the life of this award, in the event an award is made. Conflicts of interest include any relationship or matter, which might place the recipient, the recipient’s employees, or the recipient’s subrecipients in a position of conflict, real or apparent, between their responsibilities under the award and any other outside interests.

Conflicts of interest may also include, but are not limited to, direct or indirect financial interests, close personal relationships, positions of trust in outside organizations, consideration of future employment arrangements with a different organization, or decision-making affecting the award that would cause a reasonable person with knowledge of the relevant facts to question the impartiality of the applicant, the applicant’s employees, or the applicant’s future subrecipients in the matter. Upon receipt of such a notice, the USFWS Program Officer in consultation with their Ethics Counselor will determine if a conflict of interest exists and, if so, if there are any possible actions to be taken by the applicant to reduce or resolve the conflict. Failure to resolve conflicts of interest in a manner that satisfies the USFWS 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

□ SF-424 – Signed Application for Federal Assistance

□ SF-424B – Signed Assurances form

□ System for Award Management (SAM) registration

□ Project Summary (1 page)

□ Project Narrative (8 pages maximum; see paragraph C.1-9)

□ Government Letter of Endorsement

□ Leahy Vetting (if applicable)

□ Budget Table (costs need to be shown in USD)

□ Budget justification including indirect cost statement

□ NICRA (if applicable)

□ FCRA Documentation – for applicants in India only

□ Conflict of Interest statement, when applicable

□ Brief resumes/CV for key personnel (1 page; provide full name of person (first, middle, and last name; no initials))

□ Duplication of work statement (see paragraph J.)

U.S. APPLICANTS ONLY

□ SF-LLL Form (if applicable)

□ Evidence of non-profit status: If a non-profit organization, a copy of Section

501(c)(3) or (4) status determination letter received from the IRS.

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

V. Submission…