oppF18AS00330-cfda15.635-instructions.pdf

OMB Control No. 1018‐0100 Expiration Date: July 31, 2021

How to Apply for a NMBCA Grant (updated 5 September 2018) Page 1

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act

2019 Proposal Application Instructions Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) #15.635

PROPOSAL DEADLINE: NOVEMBER 6, 2018

PROGRAM AUTHORIZING LEGISLATION: Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act, 16 U.S.C.

§6101 et seq.

PAPERWORK REDUCTION ACT STATEMENT: OMB Control No. 1018‐0100 Expires: 07/31/2021 We are collecting this information in accordance with the legislative authority listed above. 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 and, if awarded, to evaluate performance. 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 you on average about 60 hours to complete an initial application, 3 hours to revise the terms of an award, and 8 hours per report to prepare and submit financial and performance reports, including time to maintain records, and gather information. Actual time for these activities will vary depending on program-specific requirements. 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.

SCIENTIFIC INTEGRITY POLICY: Effective 1/28/2011, the Department of Interior (DOI) established a policy to ensure and maintain the integrity of scientific and scholarly activities used to inform management and public policy decisions: DOI Policy 305 DM 3, "Integrity of Scientific and Scholarly Activities”. The Scientific Integrity Policy applies to the DOI employees as well as its contractors, grant recipients and volunteers when they analyze or share scientific information with the public or use the DOI information to make policy or regulatory decisions. This policy now applies to all funding applications received by the Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act grant program. Essentially, the use of false data to leverage grant funds is a direct violation of DOI's Scientific Integrity Policy and requires the refund of any associated Federal assistance.

SOLICITATIONS: The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) program does not use social media or contact individuals by phone to solicit, review, or make awards. Government staff will NOT call or message you requesting money in order to be eligible for an award. Please report any information and documentation that you have related to such incidents to the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Internet Crime Complaint Center (https://www.ic3.gov) and your local law enforcement authorities.

https://www.doi.gov/sites/doi.gov/files/elips/documents/305%20DM%203_%20Handbook%20-%20Scientific%20Integrity%20Procedures.pdf https://www.ic3.gov/

How to Apply for a NMBCA Grant (updated 5 September 2018) Page 2

How to Apply for a NMBCA Grant Notice of Funding Opportunity and Application Instructions

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 15.635

Funding Opportunity Number: F18AS00330 Submission Deadline: November 6, 2018

Description of Funding Opportunity: Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act grant program Program Authorizing Statute: Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act of 2000, Public Law 106-247, 16 U.S.C. 6101.

This Notice of Funding Opportunity and Application Instructions can be found online here.

New for Fiscal Year 2019 and reminders of changes from 2018 and 2017 programs

• Application Deadline is November 6, 2018.

• The program’s Fiscal Year 2019 funding may not be appropriated by Congress before your proposal is submitted;

therefore any grant selections are contingent on the availability of funds.

Important changes from recent years

• Presentation available on “Writing a NMBCA Proposal”.

• Cover page no longer counts towards your proposal narrative 12-page limit.

• Proposal Narrative Section 13 was removed and is now a required appendix and required statement see Appendix A.

• Applications must be submitted in English. However, if you feel the proposal translation to English may affect your ability to effectively communicate your proposal, you may submit a second version of your application in Spanish or Portuguese. We must receive an English version of your proposal.

• To successfully submit your application in Grants.gov, you must add your Proposal Narrative document as an Adobe Acrobat .pdf file on the “Project Narrative Attachment Form” of your Grant Opportunity Package from Grants.gov. Go to the Project Narrative Attachment Form and select “Add Mandatory Project Narrative File”, then browse for the .pdf of your Proposal Narrative and Open it to add it to your Grant Opportunity Package.

• In the Budget and Budget Justification section of the Proposal Narrative there are now required statements pertaining to Negotiated Indirect Cost Rates.

• Phased projects must evaluate their progress towards long-term goals with measurable indicators and provide those measures to justify continued funding (see Proposal Narrative: Section 3e and Section 9).

APPLYING FOR A NMBCA GRANT: OVERVIEW

Description of Funding Opportunity In 2000, recognizing the significant threats Neotropical migratory birds face in their annual migrations between the United States (U.S.) and Latin America and the Caribbean, the U.S. Congress enacted the Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act. The Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act grant program solicits project proposals for the conservation of Neotropical migratory birds throughout their range. This funding opportunity aligns with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service mission and three of the priorities of the Secretary of the Department of the Interior:

• Create a conservation stewardship legacy second only to Teddy Roosevelt. Utilize science to identify best practices to manage land and water resources and adapt to changes in the environment by protecting birds throughout their range;

• Restore trust and be a good neighbor. Expand the lines of communication with Governors, state natural resource offices, Fish and Wildlife offices, water authorities, county commissioners, Tribes, and local communities by protecting bird conservation investments of state, federal, and other U.S. partners. Projects protect those investments by complementary conservation in places where birds migrate and overwinter outside the country, helping maintain healthy populations that will return to the U.S.;

• Increase revenues to support the Department and national interests. Ensure that the public receives the full market value for the natural resources produced on federal lands by requiring a 3:1 match, ensuring a significant return on our investment.

All applicants (except offices of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service) must apply through Grants.gov, which provides an online form that you must fill out completely and correctly. However, before you begin filling out the online form, you should familiarize yourself with the guidance on this page. If you understand the guidance before you begin, the application process will likely be easier. In addition, you should review the management and reporting pages as well as the following grant administration standards to understand https://www.fws.gov/birds/grants/neotropical-migratory-bird-conservation-act/how-to-apply.php https://www.fws.gov/migratorybirds/pdf/grants/NAOCnmbcaworkshop2016.pdf http://www.grants.gov/ http://www.fws.gov/birds/grants/neotropical-migratory-bird-conservation-act/information-for-nmbca-grantees/managing-your-grant.php http://www.fws.gov/birds/grants/neotropical-migratory-bird-conservation-act/information-for-nmbca-grantees/annual-reporting-obligations.php

How to Apply for a NMBCA Grant (updated 5 September 2018) Page 3 your commitments before writing a proposal; if you are selected and accept an award, you will agree to comply with these standards.

(Nonprofit organizations based outside the U.S. are legally required to comply with 2 CFR 200. Public international organizations retain their privileges, but are encouraged to address this OMB Circular.)

• For projects with field activities located exclusively within the United States: U.S. Grant Administration Standards.

• For projects with field activities located exclusively outside of the United States: Grant Administration Guidelines for

Projects Outside of the U.S.

• For projects with field activities located both inside and outside the United States: both the U.S. Grant Administration

Standards and Grant Administration Guidelines for Projects Outside of the U.S. apply.

For foreign applicants, should you be unable to successfully apply through Grants.gov, you must make sure to email your complete application with all required forms to neotropical@fws.gov before the deadline. All applicants are welcome to submit their application to this email as a backup to their Grants.gov submission.

Your application will consist of five parts: a Proposal Narrative, Partner Contribution Statements, a Standard Form 424 (“Application for Federal Assistance”), a second Standard Form 424b (“Assurances”) and a GIS shapefile (or Google Earth .kmz file) of your project area. Each is described in the steps and instructions below.

You may find it useful to browse through the presentation the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service gave at the 2016 North American Ornithological Conference before beginning the application process.

APPLYING FOR A NMBCA GRANT: STEPS

1. Register in Grants.gov. You should start this very early in the process! Registering in Grants.gov requires several preliminary steps. First, your organization must have a current Dun and Bradstreet number (DUNS). Organizations that do not have a DUNS number will need to go to the Dun & Bradstreet website at http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform to obtain the number. This generally takes 12 business days. After acquiring a DUNS number, you will then need to register in the System for Award Management (SAM) or update your previous registration. You must have an active System for Award Management (SAM) registration to apply through Grants.gov, to receive an award, and to be able to receive funds. (We recommend that you read the steps to register an organization in Grants.gov.) We strongly encourage applicants to initiate this process at least 6 weeks before our deadline, because it can be a complex process. If your organization is registered with SAM.gov but your status is not listed as “active”, you must update your registration prior to submitting an application through grants.gov. You must renew and revalidate the SAM registration at least every 12 months and ensure that all information is up to date. NOTE: There is NO FEE to register or maintain your SAM.gov registration. Additional information in Spanish can be found at http://www.fws.gov/international/pdf/guia-introductoria-para-inscripcion-en-duns-ncage-y-sam.pdf.

a. If your organization is based outside the U.S., you will need to go through additional steps in SAM, which could take additional time. You must have a SAM registration before you can register in Grants.gov. For organizations outside the U.S., NATO Commercial and Governmental Entity (NCAGE) Codes are required prior to starting a SAM registration.

The organization’s name, address, and email information used to request your NCAGE Code must match exactly what you used to request your DUNS Number. Otherwise, you will receive error messages when applying for the NCAGE code. You can submit your request for an NCAGE Code using the NCAGE Request Tool at https://eportal.nspa.nato.int/AC135Public/scage/CageList.aspx. Detailed instructions are posted at that site. For additional information, call 1.269.961-4623 or send an email message to NCAGE@dlis.dla.mil. If you are not based in U.S. and wish to be paid directly to a U.S. bank account you must enter and maintain valid and current banking information in SAM. (Click here to see a more detailed overview of the Grants.gov application process and SAM.)

b. If you are an office of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, you do not need to apply through Grants.gov, follow the instructions for the Proposal Narrative and submit your Proposal Narrative to neotropical@fws.gov.

c. If you encounter problems with SAM, DUNS or Grants.gov, go to the NMBCA application page at http://www.fws.gov/birds/grants/neotropical-migratory-bird-conservation-act/how-to-apply.php and click on the link for Troubleshooting DUNS, SAM, and Grants.gov issues.

d. 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.

2. Your application will consist of a Proposal Narrative, Partner Contribution Statements, a Standard Form 424 (“Application for Federal Assistance”), another Standard Form: SF-424B “Assurances”, and a project area shapefile or .kmz file. Each is described below.

3. Write the Proposal Narrative, as described below. If you are applying through the IMPACT Program, you also need to follow the instructions in the second pdf, “How to Apply for a NMBCA IMPACT Program Grant”, to include additional IMPACT Program proposal information. You will attach the Proposal Narrative to your grants.gov application.

https://www.fws.gov/migratorybirds/pdf/grants/USGrantStandards.pdf http://www.fws.gov/migratorybirds/pdf/grants/neograntLAC.pdf http://www.fws.gov/migratorybirds/pdf/grants/neograntLAC.pdf https://www.fws.gov/migratorybirds/pdf/grants/USGrantStandards.pdf https://www.fws.gov/migratorybirds/pdf/grants/USGrantStandards.pdf http://www.fws.gov/migratorybirds/pdf/grants/neograntLAC.pdf mailto:neotropical@fws.gov https://www.fws.gov/migratorybirds/pdf/grants/NAOCnmbcaworkshop2016.pdf https://www.fws.gov/migratorybirds/pdf/grants/NAOCnmbcaworkshop2016.pdf http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration.html http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration.html http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform/displayHomePage.do http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform https://www.sam.gov/portal/public/SAM/ https://www.sam.gov/portal/public/SAM/ http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration.html;jsessionid=h6FNSGjcGLR7HJwThgM0K0M40J5c8F32kJD1LWzPswck1M6ppQJ6 http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration.html;jsessionid=h6FNSGjcGLR7HJwThgM0K0M40J5c8F32kJD1LWzPswck1M6ppQJ6 http://www.fws.gov/international/pdf/guia-introductoria-para-inscripcion-en-duns-ncage-y-sam.pdf mailto:NCAGE@dlis.dla.mil http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/apply-for-grants.html mailto:neotropical@fws.gov http://www.fws.gov/birds/grants/neotropical-migratory-bird-conservation-act/how-to-apply.php https://www.fws.gov/migratorybirds/pdf/grants/nmbcaIMPACTProgramInstructions.pdf https://www.fws.gov/migratorybirds/pdf/grants/nmbcaIMPACTProgramInstructions.pdf

How to Apply for a NMBCA Grant (updated 5 September 2018) Page 4

4. Obtain signed Partner Contribution Statements. You will attach these to your grants.gov application.

5. Make your project area shapefile using a GIS or create a .kmz file using Google Earth. For instructions, go here:

http://www.fws.gov/migratorybirds/pdf/grants/InstructionsforSubmittingDataviaGoogleEarth.pdf

6. Start your online application in Grants.gov and fill out all required fields. Go to http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/search-grants.html. In the “Search by CFDA Number” insert “15.635”. This is the CFDA number for the Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act. Your Grants.gov Grant Opportunity Package is a Standard Form (SF) 424 and should include the SF424B and your Proposal Narrative that must be added on the “Project Narrative Attachment Form”. To successfully submit your application in Grants.gov, you must add your Proposal Narrative document as an Adobe Acrobat .pdf file on the “Project Narrative Attachment Form” of your Grant Opportunity Package from Grants.gov. Go to the Project Narrative Attachment Form and select “Add Mandatory Project Narrative File”, then browse for the .pdf of your Proposal Narrative and Open it to add it to your Grant Opportunity Package. You can then check for errors, save the package and submit it. If there is a Grants.gov system outage on the application deadline, you must submit your complete application, including a SF-424 with assurances (SF-424B) to us via an email to neotropical@fws.gov before the deadline.

7. If you are unable to complete the Assurances via Grants.gov, fill out the SF-424B Assurances separately by going to Assurances Non-construction Programs: SF-424B.

8. In box 15 of your Grants.gov application package, use the “Add Attachments” button to upload your 12-page Proposal Narrative, your signed Partner Contribution Statements, your SF-424B Assurances if not digitally signed (Assurances Non-construction Programs: SF-424B) and your project area shapefile or .kmz files.

9. We recommend that you also submit all application materials as one single PDF file (except the Project Area GIS Shapefile/Google Earth .kmz, which should be attached separately) to: neotropical@fws.gov. Please include the complete proposal title (identical to that in your Grants.gov application) in the subject line of this email. Your official application, however, is the package submitted through Grants.gov.

10. Applications must be submitted to Grants.gov, and emailed to neotropical@fws.gov, no later than November 6, 2018.

GENERAL GUIDELINES FOR SUBMITTING AN APPLICATION

Read these instructions carefully before writing your Proposal Narrative. Proposal Narratives that do not follow the instructions may be determined to be ineligible for funding. Before contacting us with questions, please read the FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) and the document “Troubleshooting DUNS, SAM, and Grants.gov issues when applying to the NMBCA Program” available from the NMBCA application page, http://www.fws.gov/birds/grants/neotropical-migratory-bird-conservation-act/how-to-apply.php. They provide suggestions that may improve the competitiveness of your proposal, will help you plan your project and may facilitate the application process.

There are two programs that you can apply to under the NMBCA. One is the Core (traditional) Program benefitting any eligible Neotropical migratory bird. The other is the IMPACT (Identifying Measures of Performance and Achieving Conservation Targets) Program, which is designed to focus resources to a specific set of Neotropical migratory bird species or needs. Proposals not selected under the IMPACT Program are automatically considered for funding under the Core Program. The instructions in this document apply to both the Core program and the IMPACT Program. If you are applying to the IMPACT program, first finish reading this document, then also read the instructions that are specific to the IMPACT Program, available as a link from the NMBCA application page, http://www.fws.gov/birds/grants/neotropical-migratory-bird-conservation-act/how-to-apply.php.

What is a Neotropical migratory bird?

For the purposes of the NMBCA, a Neotropical migratory bird is one that breeds in the continental United States or Canada and spends the boreal winter in Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean, or South America. Birds from all taxa are included, so proposals may benefit land birds, waterbirds, shorebirds, waterfowl, raptors, and others. Go to http://www.fws.gov/birds/grants/neotropical-migratory-bird-conservation-act/nmbca-bird-list.php for a list of these birds. NOTE: Non-migratory subpopulations of a species that is listed as an eligible Neotropical migratory bird are a lower conservation priority for the program.

Who may apply?

• An individual, corporation, partnership, trust, association, or other private entity;

• An officer, employee, agent, department, or instrumentality of the Federal Government, state, municipality, or political subdivision of a state, or of any foreign government;

• A state, municipality, or political subdivision of a state;

• Any other entity subject to the jurisdiction of the U.S. or of any foreign country; or

• An international organization.

Where may a project be located?

Project activities may be carried out in the U.S., in Canada, or in any country or territory in Latin America and the Caribbean.

http://www.fws.gov/migratorybirds/pdf/grants/InstructionsforSubmittingDataviaGoogleEarth.pdf http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/search-grants.html http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/search-grants.html https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms/sf-424-family.html#sortby=1 https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms/sf-424-family.html#sortby=1 https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms/sf-424-family.html#sortby=1 https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms/sf-424-family.html#sortby=1 mailto:neotropical@fws.gov http://www.fws.gov/birds/grants/neotropical-migratory-bird-conservation-act/information-for-nmbca-grantees/faq.php http://www.fws.gov/birds/grants/neotropical-migratory-bird-conservation-act/how-to-apply.php https://www.fws.gov/migratorybirds/pdf/grants/nmbcaIMPACTProgramInstructions.pdf https://www.fws.gov/migratorybirds/pdf/grants/nmbcaIMPACTProgramInstructions.pdf https://www.fws.gov/migratorybirds/pdf/grants/nmbcaIMPACTProgramInstructions.pdf http://www.fws.gov/birds/grants/neotropical-migratory-bird-conservation-act/how-to-apply.php http://www.fws.gov/birds/grants/neotropical-migratory-bird-conservation-act/nmbca-bird-list.php

How to Apply for a NMBCA Grant (updated 5 September 2018) Page 5

Should projects with activities in the U.S. coordinate with a Migratory Bird Joint Venture?

For projects with activities in the U.S., applicants should contact the Migratory Bird Joint Venture (JV) where the project activities are planned. Proposals with activities that are coordinated with a JV and specifically address JV needs and priorities will be more competitive. We strongly recommend that you share your project Proposal Narrative with the appropriate JV Coordinator before submitting it for review; however you may also copy the JV coordinator on your email submission to neotropical@fws.gov. Check the JV Map and Directory to find the JV appropriate for your project area.

Is there a maximum or minimum grant amount for which I can apply?

The maximum request per proposal is US$200,000 for a two-year project. Projects of one year in duration are limited to a request of $100,000. The average award is about US$100,000. Requests under US$10,000 are discouraged; please contact us if you are planning such a proposal. Requests at or near $200,000 (or $100,000 for a one-year project) will likely receive additional scrutiny during review to make sure the investment is fully justified and reasonable.

What is the duration of a grant?

The applicant may choose a funding period of either one or two years. A grant project period starts on the date on which the grant is awarded, which typically occurs about 1-3 months after the announcement of selected projects. The official award announcement may occur anytime from May to July.

What kinds of projects are eligible?

• Protection and management of Neotropical migratory bird populations;

• Maintenance, management, protection, and restoration of Neotropical migratory bird habitat;

• Research and monitoring;

• Law enforcement; and

• Community outreach and education.

Because NMBCA funds are limited, please note that:

• Proposals for wetland habitat conservation in the U.S. and Canada should be directed to the North American Wetlands Conservation Council. Go to http://www.fws.gov/birds/grants/north-american-wetland-conservation-act.php.

• Proposals involving NAWCA priority wetlands in Mexico should be submitted to the North American Wetlands Conservation Council. See http://www.fws.gov/birds/grants/north-american-wetland-conservation-act/standard-grants/mexico.php. (Priority wetlands are described in the Application Instructions here.)

• Proposals for species on the Endangered Species Act (ESA) List, seeking funds for domestic conservation work, must explain why NMBCA funding is needed in addition to available ESA funding.

What activities are ineligible?

We cannot pay salaries or travel expenses for permanent, full-time U.S. Federal employees. We will not fund or accept as match any activity that would circumvent the laws or regulations of either the U.S. or the country in which the activity would occur. Any activities that do not comply with the applicable NMBCA Grant Administration Guidelines are ineligible. In addition, the following categories are ineligible for grant funding or matching contributions:

1. General contingency costs

2. Principal contributed to endowment funds

3. Financing

4. Costs for activities that were not preapproved by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service/Division of Bird Habitat Conservation or that are not in the application

5. Proposed (or preapproved) costs that remain unexpended at the end of the project

If ineligible activities are part of your proposal, we may reduce the match and grant requested accordingly if the change is less than 5% of the total proposal cost, in which case your proposal will remain eligible. Should you be funded you would need to provide a revised Summary, Budget Table, and Budget Narrative that reflect the reduced grant amount. If the ineligible activities are more than 5%, your proposal is ineligible.

Can grant funds be used to purchase a vehicle?

Generally, we discourage the purchase of vehicles with grant funding. However, in certain circumstances the purchase of a vehicle might be justified. The vehicle must be used only for the project as long as it is needed, whether or not the project continues to be supported with U.S. Federal funding in the future. Any vehicle purchased with grant funding is subject to our regulations for the purchase of equipment; please review the applicable guidance here.

http://www.fws.gov/birds/management/bird-conservation-partnership-and-initiatives/migratory-bird-joint-ventures/map-products.php http://www.fws.gov/birds/management/bird-conservation-partnership-and-initiatives/migratory-bird-joint-ventures/joint-venture-directory.php http://www.fws.gov/birds/grants/north-american-wetland-conservation-act.php http://www.fws.gov/birds/grants/north-american-wetland-conservation-act/standard-grants/mexico.php http://www.fws.gov/birds/grants/north-american-wetland-conservation-act/standard-grants/mexico.php http://www.fws.gov/birds/grants/north-american-wetland-conservation-act/how-to-apply-for-a-nawca-grant.php#mexico http://www.fws.gov/birds/grants/neotropical-migratory-bird-conservation-act/how-to-apply.php http://www.fws.gov/migratorybirds/pdf/grants/USGrantStandards.pdf

How to Apply for a NMBCA Grant (updated 5 September 2018) Page 6

Can project funds be used for environmental mitigation?

While eligible, a proposal for such work would be considered a lower priority. The NMBCA program is interested in funding new conservation work that results in a net gain for conservation.

What compliance reviews are required for projects in the U.S.?

All projects occurring in the U.S. require National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) and Endangered Species Act (ESA Section 7) compliance consultations. Activities involving habitat restoration, research and monitoring involving the capture and possible take of migratory birds, and activities that could affect species threatened or endangered under the ESA usually require more intensive compliance review. In particular to facilitate NEPA review, if your project involves prescribed burning or the use of herbicides/pesticides, please provide the prescribed burn plan and the exact chemicals (pesticides/herbicides) to be used. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service must approved these plans and products. It is preferred that these plans and pesticides by vetted with your regional U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service office before proposal submission. (Please provide documentation of these consultations). For NHPA, if your project involves disturbance of habitat or earthwork as a result of restoration activities (such as dirt work, hole digging, stump grinding) such that compliance with NHPA might require surveying and other NHPA consultation costs to obtain NHPA clearance, you may include a line item for this in your budget, either as grant or match, or both. If you have already consulted with the appropriate U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Regional Historic Preservation Officer, and have completed a NHPA consultation for these project activities, please include documentation of this with your proposal. If your project will potentially impact a species listed as threatened or endangered under the ESA, and Section 7 compliance might require a Biological Opinion or other significant compliance review, you may include a line item for this in your budget, as either grant or match, or both. If you have already consulted with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on Section 7 compliance for these project activities, please include documentation of this with your proposal.

Are there special rules for land acquisition (fee simple or easement purchase) outside of the U.S.?

If your project will acquire land (all property rights in fee title) or partial property rights (easements or similar arrangements) outside the U.S. with Federal (U.S.) funds, the title holder (owner) or easement holder must be an in-country organization and you must clearly state this in your proposal and identify the future title holder. You will also need to provide proof (e.g., correspondence in the form of an email or letter) with your proposal that you have communicated your intention to acquire land during this project to the appropriate government agency in the country. Additionally, if possible, include correspondence from the government agency acknowledging or endorsing the proposed acquisitions. (The correspondence must reference your NMBCA proposal). As soon as an acquisition is completed, you will need to submit copies of legal and other documentation (settlement statements, appraisals, deeds, maps, and GIS shape files) showing that all acquisitions were completed within the project period. As soon as possible, you will need to submit similar documentation for land acquisitions provided as match, even if the match was donated and the acquisition occurred before the beginning of the project period.

Should I provide governmental letters of support?

Non-governmental organizations working in a foreign country are encouraged to include a recent (no older than two years) letter of support from the appropriate local, regional, or national government wildlife or conservation authority or other appropriate government agency with jurisdiction over the resources addressed by the project. Where appropriate, letters of support from local communities or project beneficiaries should also be provided. These letters should make specific reference to the project by its title, as submitted on the applicant’s proposal. These governmental letters will factor into the evaluation of your project, see section 5 of the Proposal Narrative.

What are the match requirements?

Federal funds (i.e., funds from the U.S. government) requested under the Act must be matched 3:1 by non-Federal funds. That is, for every NMBCA grant dollar, a minimum of three non-Federal dollars are required. Match contributions must not have been used (or be used) to match another project funded by the Federal government of the U.S., under any assistance program! For example, if you included the purchase of a particular tract of land or a vehicle as match in a previous phase that was funded in part through NMBCA, you may not include the purchase cost of this tract or vehicle again. All match contributions must be committed in Partner Contribution Statements (also called “match confirmation letters”) from the contributing partner or from the applicant.

Please note that -

• For project activities in the U.S. (except Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands) and Canada, the 3:1 non-Federal share must be in cash.

• For project activities in Latin America and the Caribbean, including Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, the 3:1 non- Federal share may be cash or in-kind contributions.

• For contributions from multinational funds (i.e. Global Environmental Facility (GEF) or Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC)) that include US Federal funding participation, please contact us prior to submission. We likely will need to evaluate the US Government participation in the fund and determine an appropriate percentage with which to discount the contribution, unless the funds are specifically authorized by those institutions to match US Federal funding.

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“Cash” in this context means the recipient's cash outlay (including the outlay of money contributed to the recipient by third parties) to be expended after the date the application is submitted and during the project period. (Note that equipment depreciation and volunteer labor are not considered cash.) Contributions that have been expended up to two years prior to the date the application is submitted may be considered in-kind contributions; however, contributions made after the application is submitted are preferred. Contributions made more than two years before proposal submission are not eligible as match.

Match contributions must be directly related to the proposed project and the types of activities eligible under NMBCA and occur within the proposed project area. All match activities (cash and in kind) must be: 1) necessary and reasonable for accomplishing the project objectives, 2) described in the objectives and evaluation section of the Proposal Narrative, and 3) listed in the approved proposal budget. The importance to Neotropical migratory bird conservation of the activities funded with match must be clearly explained in the Proposal Narrative, budget table and budget justification. It is important to note that proposal reviewers consider match-funded activities to be an integral part of the project. All project activities should result in tangible, “on-the-ground” accomplishments. For instance, unused financing or product sales, or other unused funds are not acceptable forms of match.

Our reporting and documentation requirements apply to all match funded activities. For example, if you propose to provide a 1,000-acre easement as in-kind match (which is only allowed as match for grant funded activities outside the U.S.) you will need to send us copies of all required property documentation (deed, settlement statement, appraisal, map, GIS shape file). Grantees must maintain detailed accounting of receipts and expenditures of their own and of all partner organizations’ matching funds and in-kind match. All match records must identify the specific NMBCA grant to which they contributed. Reports summarizing these accounting records must be maintained by the grantee, and must be submitted as part of the final report. Detailed records (including all supporting documentation) may be requested for review at any time, up to three years after the final report was received by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; therefore, grantees must keep all project records for at least 3 years after the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service acknowledges receipt of the complete final report. Any match that is not supported by adequate documentation may be disallowed.

Records for in-kind match must explain and show how the values of in-kind contributions were determined (for example, number of hours of volunteer time contributed, basis on which the hourly rate was calculated, rental rates for meeting space and vehicles, records of actual calculations for valuing in-kind contributions). The rates for volunteer or staff services must be consistent with those paid for similar work in the labor market in which the grantee competes for the type of service and skill. The value of donated equipment cannot exceed the fair market value of equipment of the same age and condition at the time of donation. The value of loaned equipment cannot exceed its fair rental value. The value of donated facilities cannot exceed the fair rental value of comparable facilities in the same locality.

Can partner contributions provided in one country (country A) be used to match grant supported activities in another country (country B)?

Yes, but only if the migratory bird species benefitting from the matching contributions supported work in country A is also benefitting from the grant supported activities in country B. Your proposal will be even stronger if you show evidence (for example from band recoveries or satellite tracking data) that the same individual birds that depend on the conservation sites in country A also depend on the sites in country B.

Should I submit Partner Contributions Statements (match confirmation letters)?

To confirm match contributions, we require that the applicant include, with the application, letters verifying each partner’s (including the applicant) committed dollar amount. We prefer to see a statement from each partner listed in the Proposal Narrative. If a particular partner cannot commit to the funds by the application submission date, we will accept a letter from the applicant committing to that uncommitted partner’s match contribution; however, the applicant then incurs the obligation to provide this match if the partner cannot. A proposal with letters from multiple partners committing funds will be more competitive. If you want to show support from non-funding sources, unless otherwise requested in this guidance (i.e. letters of governmental support), do not send letters, but instead include a description in the Proposal Narrative. For example, "To illustrate the overwhelming support for this proposal, we have 37 letters on file from landowners in the project area.”

What must be included in a Partner Contribution Statement for a proposal to the Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act?

Partner Contribution Statements must comply with the following:

• Each statement must be submitted with the proposal before the deadline date.

• The statements must be dated and signed by the partner.

• All matching contributions must be shown in U.S. dollars, and, if applicable, the conversion rate from the local currency on a specific date should be shown.

• Make sure that the contribution from each partner on the statement is the same as the amount shown in the Proposal Narrative and budget table. If there is a difference in the amounts contributed either in the Proposal Narrative or between the Proposal Narrative and the partner statement, the lowest amount will be considered that partner’s contribution. (If there are excessive inconsistencies in the Proposal Narrative, it will be returned as ineligible.)

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We will only accept properly formatted Partner Contribution Statements as verification of partner match. Submitting partner letters that do not include answers to the following questions will have an adverse effect on your proposal.

1. What is the title of the proposal?

2. What is the name of your organization (private individuals may indicate “Private”)?

3. When will you make the contribution?

4. What is the value of your contribution in U.S. dollars (with conversion rate used) and how did you determine the value?

5. If your contribution is based on a fund-raising event or other future action and that future action fails, will you still provide the same contribution amount?

6. Does the contribution have a non-Federal origin? Has the contribution not been matched with any past, current or future U.S.

Government grant funds, including previous phases of NMBCA projects?

7. What long-term Neotropical migratory bird conservation work will the contribution support?

8. Does the proposal correctly describe the amount and nature of your contribution?

9. If applicable, is your organization competent to hold title to, and manage, land or easements acquired with grant or match funds?

10. Can you affirm that all proposed match activities (cash and in-kind) are necessary and reasonable for accomplishing the project objectives, are described in the objectives and evaluation section of the proposal, and are listed in the approved proposal budget?

11. For the letter from the applicant only, can you affirm the following? a) Your organization will maintain a detailed accounting of receipts and expenditures of your own and of all your partner organizations’ matching funds and in-kind match, and this accounting will identify the specific NMBCA grant to which each match was contributed. b) You understand that you must be able to show how values of in-kind contributions were determined. c) If selected, you will submit reports summarizing these accounting records as part of the final report, and will keep all records (including supporting documents) for at least 3 years after the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service acknowledges receipt of the complete final report. d) You understand that any match that is not supported by adequate documentation may be disallowed. e) You have verified and filed copies of source documentation for all match already contributed, either by your organization or by your partners, before the time the proposal was submitted.

12. Do you have any additional comments?

13. Did you include the required signatures?

14. Did you include your Name (printed), Organization, and Title?

15. Did you include the date signed?

Who chooses the proposals to be funded?

After an eligibility review, a panel of experts reviews the eligible project proposals and makes recommendations for funding to the Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, who selects the projects for funding. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service may solicit advice from qualified experts during the technical review of your Proposal Narrative. We also may contact past and proposed partners about the costs included in your proposal.

Will prior performance influence future selection?

Yes, during the selection phase, reviewers will take into consideration an applicant’s prior performance in past and current projects with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. On-time submission of all required reports and documentation is an important performance component.

Can I apply for a second or third phase of a project?

Yes, but you must explain the results and progress from your prior phases and how this current proposed phase builds upon those results and any lessons you learned from previous phases. You may use an additional page (for a total of 13 pages) to explain this previous work and your progress to date, but only phased projects are allowed 13 pages.

How can I improve my chances of receiving a grant?

The Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act (NMBCA) grants program is very competitive and good proposals are turned down every year because, unfortunately, we cannot fund all of the projects that are proposing high priority conservation activities to help Neotropical migratory birds. We have put together a list of FAQs to help you submit the strongest possible application here: FAQs for NMBCA Grant Proposals.

What criteria are used in selecting projects?

To facilitate review, each proposal will be scored and ranked on how well it addresses all of the selection criteria listed in the table.

Proposal reviewers will consider all of the information requested in this document. Within the Proposal Narrative, sections relevant to particular selection criteria are referenced, for example by a [Q1] notation. The scores determine a preliminary ranking that is used to direct additional review and discussion leading to a final ranked recommendation to the Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

http://www.fws.gov/birds/grants/neotropical-migratory-bird-conservation-act/information-for-nmbca-grantees/faq.php http://www.fws.gov/birds/grants/neotropical-migratory-bird-conservation-act/information-for-nmbca-grantees/faq.php

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Additional factors may be evaluated, depending on programmatic considerations to achieve an effective conservation portfolio;

examples of factors considered in the final portfolio include geographic distribution, total funding amounts to applicants, conservation needs not adequately addressed by existing efforts, new applicants, diversity of organizational size and capacity and capability of an organization to execute all of its current projects and submitted proposals.

How does the proposal address the requested elements and program priorities? Points Q1. Does the project address Neotropical Migratory Birds (NMBs) identified as a conservation priority by a government agency or bird conservation initiative?

Example: Two of the NMB species that are the focus of the project are Birds of Conservation Concern (a publication of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service). See our list for marked high priority species:

http://www.fws.gov/birds/grants/neotropical-migratory-bird-conservation-act/nmbca-bird-list.php

Q2. Does the project satisfy other important national or local conservation objectives, in addition to NMB conservation?

For research and monitoring, are new and innovative technologies or techniques being tested or deployed? Is the research and monitoring beneficial to other suites of species or will it improve understanding of the ecosystem and its management?

Example: The project supports other biodiversity conservation goals, such as habitat improvement for endemic bird species.

Example: The research project requires training of local biologists, which will improve their research capacity and contribute to capacity building goals of the local government.

Q3. Is the project located in important breeding or nonbreeding areas for NMBs or does the project further our knowledge of these sites?

Example: Area 1 in this project is located in an Important Bird Area and is a Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network Site.

Q4. Are natural resources (i.e., habitat or species) in the project area under immediate and significant threat? For research and monitoring, does the lack of knowledge pose a significant threat to conservation of the species?

Example: Timber is being harvested in an unsustainable manner in the project area, reducing its value to an NMB, which consequently could be locally extirpated within 10 years.

Q5. Will the project contribute to a direct or indirect benefit to this population of NMB? How important is this benefit?

Does this benefit apply locally, regionally, or population-wide?

Example: The species population is known to be limited by food availability on its wintering grounds and the project addresses this major population bottleneck (limiting factor).

Example: Residents of communities near important NMB habitats are informed about the value of the birds, and take actions to conserve them.

Example: The project will increase wintering habitat availability and quality and consequently increase over wintering survival of the target species.

Q6. Does the project contribute to achieving goals and objectives of an international bird conservation plan?

Example: The project delivers high priority actions as identified in the species’ conservation investment strategy, conservation business plan or conservation action plan.

Q7. Does the project provide good benefits to NMBs for the costs?

Example: The budget table clearly lays out budget items and costs (for both grant and match funds) in enough detail and with enough explanation to determine what actions are being taken to achieve the project goals and whether they are reasonably priced and overall provide good conservation benefit for the cost.

Q8. How will conservation activities continue after the project is completed? Is the project sustainable?

Example: After land acquisition, NMB habitat will be managed for conservation as part of a private reserve network that has a dedicated endowment fund for management.

Q9. Does the proposal represent a partnership among public, private and/or other organizations with appropriate local involvement?

Example: The local community is engaged in the proposal development and integrally involved in the delivery of project activities. The appropriate governmental agencies support the project and are committed to participate in the project or use project results to improve their resource management.

Q10. Are the implementers capable and qualified to deliver the objectives for which they are responsible? Are there risk factors for the grantee or contributing partners? Have they effectively delivered and demonstrated conservation outcomes in previous work?

Example: The applicant has received previous NMBCA awards, delivered on objectives and measured project outcomes as well as met all administrative requirements such as on-time and complete reporting.

Q11. Is the proposal well written, does it have clear objectives, and are the desired conservation outcomes measurable? 5 https://www.fws.gov/birds/management/managed-species/birds-of-conservation-concern.php http://www.fws.gov/birds/grants/neotropical-migratory-bird-conservation-act/nmbca-bird-list.php http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/site https://www.whsrn.org/ https://www.whsrn.org/

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Example: Objectives are specific, measurable, practical and results-oriented.

Q12. Is the project designed well? Is your methodology clearly explained and logical for your project goals?