oppL18AS00090-cfda15.230-instructions.docx

[Attachment B] Budget Detail Page 2

FUNDING OPPORTUNITY TITLE:

BLM Idaho – Biological Control Development

FUNDING OPPORTUNITY NUMBER:

L18AS00090

ANNOUNCEMENT TYPE:

Request for Applications Issued (Date): August 3, 2018

CFDA NUMBER & TITLE:

15.230 – Invasive & Noxious Plant Management

LEGISLATIVE AUTHORITY:

Plant Protection Act of 2000, 7 USC § 2814

DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION OF APPLICATIONS:

September 3, 2018, 4:30 p.m. MDT Time

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

FUNDING OPPORTUNITY ANNOUNCEMENT

for Federal Financial Assistance

CONTACT INFORMATION:

Karina Del Toro, Grants Management Specialist Telephone: 208-373-3881, Email: kdeltoro@blm.gov Joseph Milan, Program Officer Telephone: 208-384-3487, Email: jmilan@blm.gov

Version 6 6 2018

A. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

1. Description of Program and/or Project

a. Background: This project will support completion of testing of biological control agents for noxious and invasive plant species. Biological control of noxious and invasive species is a sustainable, cost-effective method that requires years of development in order to properly vet candidate species for release. The impacts of this program are landscape-level in scope and are essential in maintaining existing healthy landscapes for wildlife, big game, upland game, livestock forage, recreational opportunities, and supporting traditional uses of public lands that provide jobs. The partnerships and past funding for these programs have yielded promising candidate species for problematic invasives that move in to healthy landscapes on public and private lands alike in all of the western states where BLM manages land.

This project has been instrumental in continuing testing work for promising biological control agents that began over a decade ago and have yielded promising candidate species for controlling houndstongue, hoary cress, Dyer’s woad, and rush skeletonweed – all amongst the most invasive species in the West with few, if any, effective traditional control methods.

The development of biological control agents to control landscape-level infestations of noxious and invasive plant species is crucial to Putting America Back to Work by combatting the growing problem of new invaders and established noxious weeds that damage agricultural production, wildlife habitat, and healthy rangelands.

Host specificity testing is a laborious process whereby the target weed is tested along with several other closely related species to make sure the candidate biological control agent is host-specific enough to be approved for release in the United States. This process takes between 5-10 years on average. Fortunately, the past agreements have put three of the invasives being investigated (hoary cress, Dyer’s woad, and houndstongue) into the advanced stages of testing and writing petitions for their release should occur within the timeframe of this proposed project.

b. Objectives: BLM has an opportunity to work with a partner organization to assist in:

1. Releasing wood species’ natural enemies and provide land managers as well as the public with an additional tool to combat their invasive potential and mitigate their impact into natural areas by using a cost-effective method for restoring natural balance.

2. Supporting the last stages of developing biological control agents for hoary cress (Lepidium draba), Dyer’s woad (Isatis tinctoria), houndstongue (Cynoglossum officinale), and rush skeletonweed (Chondrilla juncea) in order to combat their establishment and spread on public and private lands.

c. All awards under this funding opportunity must benefit the general public: This project will provide the public and land managers with an additional tool to combat invasive potential and mitigate their impact into natural areas by using a cost-effective method for restoring natural balance.

2. Program Expected Outcomes:

a. Pre-release investigations for Ceutorhynchus cardariae, C. turbatus and C. assimilis on hoary cress and receive permission to introduce these species into the United States (September 2018);

b. Pre-release investigations for Ceutorhynchus rusticus and C. peyerimhoffi on dyer’s woad and receive permission to introduce these species into the United States (December 2018);

c. Pre-release investigations for Mogulones borraginis and post-release investigations for M. crucifer on houndstongue and receive permission to introduce these species into the United States (December 2018);

d. Conduct pre-release investigations for Sphenoptera faveola on rush skeletonweed with the goal to receive permission for introduction of this species into the United States (September 2018 – September 2021);

e. Complete testing stages (September 2018 – September 2021);

f. Submitting petition to the Technical Advisory Group (TAG), an unbiased advisory group composed of multiple governmental agencies (September 2018 – September 2021);

g. Testing for Mogulones crucifer and Sphenoptera faveola in quarantine (September 2018 2018 – September 2021).

B. FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION

1. Award Instrument

In accordance with the Legislative Authority, awards made under this FOA will be through a cooperative agreement. The recipient should expect Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to have substantial involvement in the project. Substantial involvement may include:

· Joint collaboration between the BLM and recipient in carrying out management, development, implementation, and evaluation of the proposed work;

· Review and approval by the BLM of one stage of work prior to the start of the next stage;

· The ability to immediately halt work because of failure to meet agreement objectives; and

· Close monitoring and/or operational involvement in the proposed work.

4. Total Expected Funding to be Awarded through this Announcement $350,000

5. Anticipated Period of Performance Start Date September 2018

7. Additional Funding Information Funding for this project(s) is not guaranteed and is subject to the availability of funds and evaluation of proposals is based on the criterion in this announcement. In appropriate circumstances, BLM reserves the right to partially fund proposals in discrete portions or phases of proposed projects. If BLM chooses to partially fund a proposal, it will do so in a manner that does not prejudice any applicants or affect the basis upon which the proposal, or portion thereof, was evaluated and selected for award, and therefore maintains the integrity of the competition and selection process. Funded proposals through this competition is not a guarantee of future funding.

BLM reserves the right to make additional awards under this announcement if additional funding becomes available after the original award selections are made, Any additional selections for award will be made no later than September 30, 2018.

Any additional selections must be made in accordance with the terms of this announcement and BLM policy.

Only BLM Grants Management Officers (GMO) are authorized to obligate funds for financial assistance.

C. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

•State, local government

D. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

This announcement includes all information, documents, and electronic addresses needed to submit an application through www.Grants.gov. Paper copies may be requested by contacting the individual(s) listed on the application coversheet.

b. Entity Registration in SAM: Federal law mandates that all entities applying for Federal financial assistance must have a current registration in the System for Award Management (SAM). Register in SAM online at http://www.sam.gov/. Once registered in SAM, entities must renew and revalidate their SAM registration at least every 12 months from the date previously registered. Entities are strongly urged to revalidate their registration as often as needed to ensure that their information is up to date and in synch with changes that may have been made to DUNS and IRS information.

c. Continue to maintain an active SAM registration with current information at all times during which the applicant has an active Federal award or an application or plan under consideration by a Federal awarding agency.

3. The Application Package

Applications must include all required Standard Forms (SF) shown below, a Proposal (Attachment A), a Budget Detail (Attachment B), and a copy the applicant's approved federal agency Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (NICRA), if applicable. Non-governmental organizations that have not previously received award funds or have not had an active award within 3 (three) years must complete a Financial Assistance Evaluation Questionnaire. A copy of the questionnaire may be requested by contacting the individual(s) listed on the application coversheet.

WHAT TO SUBMIT:

Form Name and Number

SF-424 Application for Federal Assistance

SF-424A Budget Information - Non-Construction Programs

SF-424B Assurances - Non-Construction Programs

Grants.gov Disclosure of Lobbying Activities Form

Project Proposal (Attachment A to this document)

Budget Detail (Attachment B to this document)

Federal Agency-approved Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (NICRA), if applicable

Financial Assistance Evaluation Questionnaire (if applicable)

a. Project Proposal (Attachment A)

1. Attachment A is a suggested project proposal template and may be used when submitting your proposal. The proposal must be no longer than 15 pages, with a type-face no smaller than 11-point, and have at least one (1) inch margins on all sides. The 15 page limit includes all text, figures, references, and vitae, but does not include the Budget Detail (Attachment B).

2. All proposals are confidential.

b. Budget Detail and Justification of costs (Attachment B- Suggested Format)

5. Required Indirect Cost Statement and Documentation:

All applicants must include in their budget justification narrative one of the following indirect cost rate statements and attach to their application any required documentation identified in the applicable statement:

We are:

All applicants are hereby notified of the following:

4. Submission Dates and Times

See announcement cover sheet for the deadline (date and time) for submission of applications. Applications must be received by the BLM prior to the posted deadline. Any application received after the deadline for submission may not be considered for award unless it can be determined the delay was caused by Federal government mishandling.

E. APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION

A total of 100 points will be used to score each proposal received. The scores assigned to each criteria in the second level evaluation correspond to their relative importance. Proposals will be evaluated, scored, and ranked by appropriate BLM Staff expert in the program's field of study.

The Government reserves the right to reject any and all proposals which do not meet the requirements of this funding opportunity announcement and which are determined to be outside the scope of the authority under which this announcement is posted.

Award will be made to responsive, responsible applicants submitting proposals which conform to the funding opportunity announcement and are most advantageous to the Government considering the evaluation factors listed below.

The evaluation process will be comprised of the following three screening levels:

1. First Level Screening --Basic Eligibility

b. Applications must satisfy basic eligibility screening requirements to be considered for further review.

2. Second Level Evaluation -- Merit Review Evaluation

a. Merit Review Evaluation. Eligible applications will be evaluated in an objective and unbiased manner using the following merit review criteria using numerical scoring based on a 100 point maximum score. Proposals must include the following information. Applicant

1) Objectives: (Maximum score 20/100 Points):

2) Technical Approach (Maximum score 40/100 Points):

3) Direct Benefit to the General Public (Maximum score 20/100 Points):

4) Qualifications and Past Performance (Maximum score 20/100 Points):

3. Third Level Review Pre-award Clearance and Approvals

Following the described review process, BLM will also complete a business evaluation and determination of responsibility. During these evaluations the Grants Management Officer will evaluate variables such as:

a. Risk Management. The BLM uses a risk-based approach to evaluate the risk posed by the supporting applicants’ projects before it awards Federal funds.

2) Budget review is based on the following:

If the results of all pre-award reviews and clearances are satisfactory, an award of funding will be made once the agreement is finalized. If the BLM determines that a Federal award will be made, special conditions that correspond to the degree of risk assessed may be applied to the Federal award

If the results of pre-award reviews and clearances are unsatisfactory, consideration of funding for the project may be withdrawn.

4. Application Selection Process

a. Applications eligible for merit review will be evaluated by an ad hoc evaluation team assembled to review, rate, rank, and recommend applications for award using the above evaluation criteria. Evaluation teams are made up of two or more qualified personnel familiar with the program and who have been certified to have no conflict of interest with any persons or organizations applying for award.

b. Reviews are treated as confidential documents. Once award decisions are made, applicants may request in writing a written summary of the evaluation of their application/proposal.

F. FEDERAL AWARD ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION

1. Federal Award Notices

a. Any award made from this announcement will be based on the application submitted to, and as approved by, the Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management, and will be regulated by OMB's Uniform Guidance, 2 CFR Part 200 Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards.

b. Award cannot be finalized until awardee finalizes their enrollment in the Department of the Treasury, Automated Standard Application for Payment (ASAP) System. See following website: http://www.fms.treas.gov/asap. If your organization is not enrolled in ASAP contact the POC on the cover-sheet of this funding opportunity.

c. Acceptance. Acceptance is defined as the start of work, drawing down of funds, or accepting the award via electronic means. Costs may not be incurred before the effective date listed on the award. Acceptance of a Federal Financial Assistance award from the Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management, carries with it the responsibility to be aware of, and comply with, the administrative and national policy requirements and terms and conditions of award.

2. Reporting

Periodic submission of Federal Financial reports (SF-425), Performance/Progress reports, and Youth Employment reports (if applicable) will be required under this financial assistance agreement. Submission of financial and performance/progress reports may be required either quarterly, semi-annually, or annually. Submission of youth employment reports (if applicable) is required quarterly.

3. Administrative and National Policy Requirements

a. Office of Management and Budget Guidance for Grants and Agreements. By accepting additional Federal funding under the current Federal assistance, your organization agrees to abide by the applicable OMB Guidance for Grants and Agreement in the expenditure of Federal funds and performance under this program. OMB guidance is available at the following web site: http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=954b81d94bf127c6de3c76a3c99d8d9f&tpl=/ecfrbrowse/Title02/2subtitleA.tpl

b. Administrative Requirements.

1) 2 CFR Part 200 Subparts A through D - Uniform Administrative Requirements and Cost Principles.

2) 2 CFR Part 200 Subpart F - Audit Requirements. Non-Federal entities that expend $750,000.00, or more, in federal awards in a single year shall have a single or program-specific audit conducted for that year in accordance with the Single Audit Act Amendments of 1996 (31 U.S.C. 7501-7507) and revised OMB Circular A-133, available at: http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/circulars_default.

3) Indirect Facilities and Administration (F&A) Costs.

(a) 2 CFR Part 200.414 - Indirect (F&A) Costs

(b) 2 CFR, Appendix III to Part 200 - Indirect (F&A) Costs Identification and Assignment, and Rate Determination for Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs)

(c) Appendix IV to Part 200 - Indirect (F&A) Costs Identification and Assignment, and Rate Determination for Nonprofit Organizations

(d) Appendix V to Part 200 - State/Local Government-wide Central Service Cost Allocation Plans

(1) The provisions of 2 CFR 200.414(c) require Federal agencies to accept federally negotiated indirect cost rates. The BLM has applied the following policies, procedures and general decision-making criteria for deviations from negotiated Indirect Cost Rates for financial assistance programs and agreements.

(2) Distribution Basis. For all deviations to the Federal negotiated indirect cost rate, including statutory, regulatory, programmatic, and voluntary, the basis of direct costs against which the indirect cost rate is applied must be:

(i) The same base identified in the recipient’s negotiated indirect cost rate agreement, if the recipient has a federally negotiated indirect cost rate agreement; or

(ii) The Modified Total Direct Cost (MTDC) base in cases where the recipient does not have a federally negotiated indirect cost rate agreement or, with prior approval of the Awarding Agency, when the recipient's federally negotiated indirect cost rate agreement base is only a subset of the MTDC (such as salaries and wages) and the use of the MTDC still results in an overall reduction in the total indirect cost recovered. MTDC is the base defined by 2 CFR 200.68, "Modified Total Direct Cost (MTDC)."

(iii) In cases where the recipient does not have a federally negotiated indirect cost rate agreement, under no circumstances will the Department use a modified rate based upon Total Direct Cost or other base not identified in the federally negotiated indirect cost rate agreement or defined within 2 CFR 200.68. The purpose of this restriction is to ensure that the reduced rate is applied against a base that does not include any potentially distorting items (such as pass-through funds, subcontracts in excess of $25,000, and participant support costs) and is based on the requirements outlined in 2 CFR 200.68; 2 CFR 200.414(f); 2 CFR 200 Appendix III, Section C.2.; 2 CFR 200 Appendix IV, Section B.3.f.; and Appendix VII, Section C.2.c.

(3) Indirect Cost Rate Reductions Used as Cost-Share. Instances where the recipient elects to use a rate lower than the federally negotiated indirect cost rate, and uses the balance of the unrecovered indirect costs to meet a cost-share or matching requirement required by the program and/or statute, are not considered a deviation from 2 CFR 200.414(c) as the federally negotiated indirect cost rate is being applied under the agreement in order to meet the terms and conditions of the award.

c. Program Legislation and/or Regulations.

4. Standard Award Terms and Conditions

a. Code of Federal Regulations/Regulatory Requirements, as applicable (contact your program officer with any questions regarding the applicability of the following):

Recipients must not require their employees or contractors seeking to report fraud, waste, or abuse to sign internal confidentiality agreements or statements prohibiting or otherwise restricting such employees or contractors from lawfully reporting such waste, fraud, or abuse to a designated investigative or law enforcement representative of a federal department or agency authorized to receive such information.

Recipients must notify their employees or contractors that existing internal confidentiality agreements covered by this condition are no longer in effect

b. Payment Mechanism. Payment will be made by draw-down reimbursement through the Department of the Treasury, Automated Standard Application for Payment (ASAP) System. See following website: http://www.fms.treas.gov/asap Treasury Circular 1075 (31 CFR 205) requires that draw-downs to a recipient organization shall be limited to the minimum amounts needed and shall be timed to be in accordance with the actual, immediate cash requirements of the recipient organization in carrying out the purposes of the approved program or project. The timing and amount of cash advances shall be as close as is administratively feasible to the actual disbursements by the recipient organization for direct program or project costs and the proportionate share of any allowable indirect costs

c. Conflicts of Interest. Applicants must notify the BLM in writing of any actual or potential conflict of interest that are known at the time of application or that may arise during the life of this awards, 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 an any other outside interest. Conflicts of interest may also include, but are not limited to, direct or indirect financial interests, close personal relationships, positions of trust in outside organizations, consideration of future employment arrangements with a different organization, or decision-making affecting the award that would cause a reasonable person with knowledge of the relevant facts to question the impartiality of the recipient and/or recipient's employees and sub-recipients in the matter. Applicants must notify the BLM in writing in their application if any key project personnel, including subrecipient and contractor personnel, are known to be related to, married to, or have a close personal relationship with any Federal employee in or associated with the program to which you are applying for funding or who otherwise may be involved in the review and selection of the applicant. Failure to resolve conflicts of interest in a manner that satisfies the government may be cause for termination of the award.

5. Special Award Terms and Conditions:

a. Liability, Insurance, and Indemnification. Recipients of awards arising from this announcement will be required to agree to the following:

1) Liability. The BLM assumes no liability for any actions or activities conducted under this agreement except to the extent that recourse or remedies are provided by Congress under the Federal Tort Claims Act, 28 USC 2671.

2) Indemnification. The recipient hereby agrees:

(a) To indemnify the federal government, Bureau of Land Management (BLM), from any act or omission of the recipient, its officers, employees, or (members, participants, agents, representatives, as appropriate) (1) against third party claims for damages arising from one or more activities carried out in connection with this financial assistance agreement and (2) for damage or loss to government property resulting from such an activity, to the extent the laws of the State where the recipient is located permit. This obligation shall survive the termination of this agreement.

(b) To pay the United States the full value for all damage to the lands or other property of the United States caused by the recipient, its officers, employees, or (members, participants, agents, representatives, agents as appropriate).

(c) To provide workers' compensation protection to the recipient’s officers, employees, and representatives.

(d) To cooperate with the BLM in the investigation and defense of any claims that may be filed with the BLM arising out of the activities of the recipient, its agents, and employees.

(e) In the event of damage to or destruction of the buildings and facilities assigned for the use of the recipient in whole or in part by any cause whatsoever, nothing herein contained shall be deemed to require the BLM to replace or repair the buildings or facilities. If the BLM determines in writing, after consultation with the recipient that damage to the buildings or portions thereof renders such buildings unsuitable for continued use by the recipient, the BLM shall assume sole control over such buildings or portions thereof. If the buildings or facilities rendered unsuitable for use are essential for conducting operations authorized under this agreement, then failure to substitute and assign other facilities acceptable to the recipient will constitute termination of this agreement by the BLM.

(f) Flow-down. For the purposes of this clause, "recipient" includes such sub-recipients, contractors, or subcontractors as, in the judgment of the recipient and subject to the Government's determination of sufficiency, have sufficient resources and/or maintain adequate and appropriate insurance to achieve the purposes of this clause.

(g) Identified Activities. All activities carried out in connection with financial assistance arising from this funding opportunity announcement.

b. Recipients must successfully complete an appropriate Defensive Driving Course before operating a Government-owned vehicle (GOV).

c. Recipients must successfully complete appropriate safety and training requirements before operating Government-owned equipment, 4-wheel all-terrain vehicles (ATV) or other Government-furnished property (GFP).

d. Recipient/Sub-recipient Personnel Security and Suitability Requirements.

1) If performance of this grant/cooperative agreement requires recipient/sub-recipient personnel to have a Federal government-issued personal identification card before being allowed unsupervised access to a DOI facility and/or information system, the Program Officer will be the sponsoring official, and will make the arrangements for personal identity verification and card issuance.

3) Recipient and sub-recipient employees are required to give, and to authorize others to give, full, frank, and truthful answers to relevant and material questions needed to reach a suitability determination. Refusal or failure to furnish or authorize provision of information may constitute grounds for denial or revocation of credentials. Government personnel may contact the recipient or sub-recipient personnel being screened or investigated in person, by telephone or in writing, and the recipient agrees to make them available for such contact.

4) Alternatively, if an individual has already been credentialed by another agency through OPM, and that credential has not yet expired, further clearance may not be necessary. Provide the sponsoring office with documentation that supports the individual’s status.

5) During performance of the grant/cooperative agreement, the recipient will keep the Program Officer apprised of changes in personnel to ensure that performance is not delayed by compliance with credentialing processes. Cards that have been lost, damaged, or stolen must be reported to the Program Officer, Grants Management Officer, and Issuing Office within 24 hours. Replacement will be at the recipient’s expense. If reissuance of expired credentials is needed, it will be coordinated through the Program Officer.

6) At the end of grant/cooperative agreement’s performance, or when a recipient/sub-recipient employee is no longer working under this grant/cooperative agreement, the recipient will ensure that all identification cards are returned to the Program Officer. Before starting work under this agreement, a National Agency Check (NAC) will be conducted to verify the identity of the individual applying for clearance. Upon successful completion of the NAC process, an identification card will be issued and access granted.

7) Simultaneously, a NAC with Inquiries (NACI) will be initiated to determine the individual’s suitability for the position. If the NACI adjudication is favorable, nothing more needs to be done. If the adjudication is unfavorable, the credentials will be revoked. In the event of a disagreement between the recipient and the Government concerning the suitability of an individual to perform work under this grant/cooperative agreement, DOI shall have the right of final determination.

8) This requirement must be incorporated into any sub-grants/cooperative agreements that require sub-recipient personnel to have unsupervised access to a Federally controlled facility for more than 180 calendar days or unsupervised access to a Federally controlled Level 3 or 4 information system.

9) Federal Information Systems Security Awareness Training. Before the recipient, or any of its employees or sub-recipients, are granted access to the BLM Federal computer system they must first successfully complete the U.S. Department of the Interior's (DOI) Federal Information Systems Security Awareness Online Course. This course was designed specifically for users of Federal computer systems. The course is a Web-based training product that explains the importance of Information Systems Security and takes approximately one hour to complete. This course is mandatory for all Department of the Interior employees, contractors, recipients, and all other users of DOI computer resources. Topics covered in the course include: threats and vulnerabilities, malicious code, user responsibilities, and new developments affecting Information Systems Security.

G. FEDERAL AWARDING AGENCY CONTACTS

For questions, contact one of the individuals listed on the front cover of this announcement.

END

FUNDING OPPORTUNITY ANNOUNCEMENT

Rev 4-2016

BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT

Financial Assistance (Cooperative Agreements)

PROJECT PROPOSAL

(Suggested Format)

Instructions: A Project Proposal must be submitted with the Standard Form (SF) 424 Application for Federal Assistance for all BLM Assistance Agreements. Complete each section below. Use additional sheets as needed.

Person Submitting Proposal:

Date:

Organization Name:

Agreement or Announcement No.:

Agreement or Announcement Title:

Estimated Period of Performance:

Proposed Project Location:

This work will occur on: ☐ Public Lands ☐ Private Lands ☐ Both Public & Private Lands

MISSION AND OBJECTIVES:

Describe your mission and objectives, particularly as it relates to the objectives and outcomes outlined in this announcement.

TECHNICAL APPROACH:

Describe the techniques, processes, methodologies to be used, particularly how you will:

1) conduct host-specificity testing of all candidate species with regard to the early alignment phase of their host selection behavior using olfactory and chemical cues;

2) develop mass-rearing technologies for rapid propagation of the biological control candidate species;

3) locate critical test plant species and will propagate them domestically and overseas for testing purposes;

4) conduct traditional host-specificity testing with the aforementioned biological control candidate species;

5) prepare petitions for the release of candidate species and submit and defend these petitions in front of the Technical Advisory Group (TAG) and USDA APHIS PPQ.

6) include host-range testing of all traditional experimental approaches including but not limited to no-choice and choice feeding, oviposition and development experiments, open-field choice tests and experimental impact experiments;

7) study behavioral responses to plant cue modalities and their electrophysiological basis be studied in order to identify whether these insects can identify or prefer any or all of non-target plant species;

8) collect data collection, analysis, and means of interpretation;

9) use the standard APHIS-PPQ data collection techniques, analysis, and means of interpretation to write quarterly reports and petition to release each candidate biological control agent.

Describe how the proposed objectives will be achieved within the proposed period of performance (POP).

How will you complete the last of the candidate biological control agent testing for hoary cress, Dyer’s woad, and houndstongue and will continue testing the biological control agents for rush skeletonweed and an additional biocontrol agent for houndstongue? Can these objectives be completed in the three-year duration of the agreement given the work that preceded this proposed agreement? Will petitions be prepared for hoary cress, Dyer’s woad, and houndstongue once the final host choice testing has been completed?

Describe significant goals or milestones and how they will be measured.

DIRECT BENEFIT TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC:

Describe how this project will impact the general public.

QUALIFICATIONS/PAST PERFORMANCE:

List key project personnel and responsibilities, along with their contact information.

Describe the time to be dedicated to the project, and how their experience and qualifications are appropriate to the success of the project.

List contractors, sub awards, consultants, if known, and their qualifications A list of federally funded assistance agreements (not contracts) that your organization performed within the last three years (no more than 5, and preferably BLM agreements), and describe how you documented and/or reported on whether you were making progress toward achieving the expected results (e.g., outputs and outcomes) under those agreements. Describe similar successful projects completed in the past and any unique qualifications your organization may possess.

LEVERAGING OF RESOURCES (Cost is not normally evaluated. However, is reviewed during the merit review and will be used as a tie breaker).

Demonstrate how you leverage funds or resources with other federal and/or non-federal sources of funds or resources to carry out the proposed project.

[Attachment B] [Attachment A]

Rev 3-2018

BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT

Financial Assistance (Cooperative Agreements)

BUDGET DETAIL and NARRATIVE (Suggested Format) Instructions: Using the estimated amounts listed on your SF-424A Budget Information form, use this worksheet to provide details of those estimated costs. In the Justification Boxes, explain the purpose of each cost and provide sufficient detail so costs may be analyzed for reasonableness.

A cost share/non-federal match of 25% is required for this NOFO. This budget must demonstrate it meets the matching requirements. Provide sources of the match and provide adequate documentation for in-kind match. The match should provide the same level of detail as the federal share outlined in this guidance; therefore, it should be broken down by object class category (personnel, fringe, travel, equipment, supplies, contractual, other, indirect costs, etc.) The non-federal share is subject to the same regulations as the federal share. (See reference under “D. 3. b. 5. Required Indirect Cost Statement and Documentation” regarding cost sharing and indirect cost reate computation).

Agreement or Funding Opportunity No.:

Date:

Organization Name:

Project Title:

A) PERSONNEL COSTS (SF-424A Object Class Category 6a.)

Provide the name of the person in each position (if known), and provide both the annual (for Multiyear awards) and total: salary/amount each position is paid; the percent of time position contributes to this award; and the number of months the employee is paid. State if any positions are vacant at the time, and if so, anticipated hire date. Also, provide a justification and description of each position (including vacant positions). Relate each position specifically to program objectives. Personnel cannot exceed 100% of their time on all active projects. Recipient should ensure the cost of living increase is built into the budget and justified.

The salaries of administrative and clerical staff should normally be treated as indirect (F&A) costs (2 CFR §200.413c). Direct charging of these costs may be appropriate only if all of the following conditions are met: (1) Administrative or clerical services are integral to a project or activity; (2) Individuals involved can be specifically identified with the project or activity; (3) Such costs are explicitly included in the approved budget or have the prior written approval of the Grants Officer; and (4) The costs are not also recovered as indirect costs.

(if applicable)

BLM

Funds

Justification: EXAMPLE - Project Coordinator - [Name]: This position directs the overall operation of the project; responsible for overseeing the implementation of project activities, coordination with other agencies, development of materials, provision of in-service and training, conducting meetings and coordinating with agencies, designs and directs the gathering, tabulating and interpreting of required data, responsible for overall program evaluation and for staff performance evaluation; and is the responsible authority for ensuring necessary reports/documentation are submitted to NOFO. This position relates to all program objectives. John Doe will provide 10 months effort for a total of $xx each year for three years (total $xx).

B)…