PKG00249285-instructions.doc

Webless Migratory Game Bird Program Request for Proposals 2019 KEY DATE: Proposal deadline is 11:59 pm (ET) April 22, 2019

OVERVIEW INFORMATION

Federal Agency Name: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Headquarters Opportunity Title: Webless Migratory Game Bird Program Request for Proposals 2019 Opportunity Number: F19AS00155 CFDA Number: 15.655, Migratory Bird Monitoring, Assessment and Conservation Announcement Type: This is an annual request for proposals from the Webless Migratory Game Bird Program

FULL TEXT OF ANNOUNCEMENT

I. Description of Funding Opportunity Program Description This announcement serves as a Request for Proposals for the Webless Migratory Game Bird Program (WMGBP) for Fiscal Year 2019 (FY2019). The primary purpose of the WMGBP is to support activities that will improve management of the 16 species of webless migratory game birds (WMGBs) in North America. The Migratory Shore and Upland Game Bird Support Task Force, organized through the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, developed a set of priority information needs by convening a series of workshops. The workshops included broad representation (i.e., federal and state agencies, conservation organizations, and university researchers) familiar with the research and management needs for WMGBs. Priorities identified at the workshops must be used to guide proposal development and will be used by the review committee to select projects that address these priority information needs. Priorities are available below and in full at <https://www.fws.gov/birds/surveys-and-data/webless-migratory-game-birds/priority-information-needs.php> or by contacting the program manager listed in Section IV. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will oversee the WMGBP including administration of grants, purchase orders, and contracts for projects.

The USFWS is authorized to support the WMGBP through the Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956, as amended (16 U.S.C. 742a–754); Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act of 1958 (16 U.S.C. 661–667e); Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act (16 U.S.C, 2901-2911); Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. 709a).

Department of Interior Priorities

Financial assistance awards through the WMGBP directly support Department of Interior (DOI) priorities:

1. creating a conservation stewardship legacy second only to Teddy Roosevelt;

2. sustainably develop our natural resources; and

3. generating additional revenues to support DOI & National Interests.

1. Creating a conservation stewardship legacy second only to Teddy Roosevelt:

The WMGBP began as the Accelerated Research Program (1967-1982), and was continued in 1994 under the Webless Migratory Game Bird Research Program, with additional funds added in 2006 to support management. The two streams of money were merged into what we have now, the WMGBP. Since 2007 more than 50 research and management projects have been funded or partially funded by the WMGBP and have greatly improved conservation for the webless migratory game bird species. For example, funds have gone to improve population monitoring and status assessment of mourning doves (initiated a national banding program, and parts collection program), American woodcock (improvements to the singing ground survey), Sandhill cranes (development of counting methods), and most of the secretive marshbird species. Other examples include habitat conservation projects that have examined how Sandhill cranes use rural landscapes, and how young forests are integral to American woodcock.

2. Utilizing our natural resources: The goal of the WMGBP is to support improved knowledge and management of migratory upland game bird species. The WMGBP has developed priority information needs and funded projects that have directly benefited harvest management. Development of the harvest management plans for the mourning dove, Sandhill crane, and American woodcock all benefited greatly from WMGBP funded projects. Other WMGBP funded projects have provided valuable distributional and population information on hunted species that are lesser known, such as marshbird species and white-tipped and white-winged doves.

3. Generating additional revenues to support DOI & National Interests: The DOI does not fund the entire scope of WMGBP projects. To be competitive, proposed projects should provide match of at least one-third of the total project cost, and it is further recommended this be a non-federal source of funds. This is a cost effective approach to support research and monitoring activities necessary for the DOI and USFWS. In addition, the importance human dimensions in wildlife management is growing. New priority information for mourning doves include examining hunter recruitment and barriers to hunting, and the economic impact of dove hunting on local communities. These issues support DOI and national interests in maintaining hunting traditions in the U.S.

WMGBP Priority Information Needs Management and Research information needs for the WMGBP have been identified over the past 10 years, and are updated as new needs arise and old needs have been satisfied. The WMGBP covers the following species:

(1) mourning and white-winged doves,

(2) hunted rails and snipe,

(3) Sandhill cranes,

(4) American woodcock,

(5) American coots, purple gallinules, and common moorhens, and

(6) band-tailed pigeons, Zenaida Doves, white-tipped doves and scaly-naped pigeons.

The priority information needs are listed below for each of the above groups. A detailed account of each information need for each group can be found at: https://www.fws.gov/birds/surveys-and-data/webless-migratory-game-birds/priority-information-needs.php. PLEASE NOTE: a new list of needs has been developed for mourning and white-winged doves and is not yet on the above website. The new needs for mourning and white-winged doves are listed below, and for further information please contact the program manager listed in Section IV.

Mourning and White‐winged Dove Priorities:

1) Improve Harvest Information Program

2) Complete integrated population models for mourning dove

3) Reevaluate necessary sample sizes for mourning dove banding program

4) Assess landscape level changes in dove demographics

5) Better understand hunter recruitment/identifying barriers to hunting

6) Assessing the economic impact of dove hunting on local communities and how this directs state resources for wildlife management Sandhill Crane Priorities:

1) Assessing finer scale management of the mid-continent population

2) Assessing effects of habitat changes on the Rocky Mountain population

3) Improving the monitoring of eastern population greater Sandhill cranes

4) Improving population abundance estimates of the mid-continent population Hunted Rails and Wilson’s Snipe Priorities:

1) Implement a national monitoring program

2) Continue to improve the Harvest Information Program sampling frame

3) Improve the rails and snipe parts collection survey

4) Estimate vital rates to support population modeling American Woodcock Priorities:

1) Develop a demographic‐based model for assessing American woodcock population response to harvest and habitat management

2) Develop communication strategies to increase support for policies and practices that benefit American woodcock and other wildlife of young forests

3) Improve understanding of migration, breeding, and wintering habitat quality for American woodcock

4) Improve the American Woodcock Singing‐Ground Survey

American Coot, Common Moorhen, and Purple Gallinule Priorities:

1) Implement a national marshbird monitoring program

2) Support National Wetlands Inventory updates and improvements

3) Continue to improve the Harvest Information Program sampling frame

4) Determine the origin of harvest in select high harvest states in order to help inform monitoring programs

Band‐tailed Pigeon, Zenaida Dove, White‐tipped Dove, and Scaly‐naped Pigeon:

1) Reliable demographics of band‐tailed pigeons

2) Association of food availability with abundance and distribution of band‐tailed pigeons

3) Status assessment of white‐tipped doves in south Texas to determine distribution, population abundance, and biology

4) Population and harvest data collected annually for Zenaida doves and scaly‐naped pigeons

5) Adaptive harvest strategy for Zenaida doves and scaly‐naped pigeons

II. Award Information

The WMGBP expects to have up to $100,000 USD available to support projects. Multiple awards may be issued in the form of Cooperative Agreements, Grants, or Intra-agency Agreements. Although individual awards can range up to the maximum available, the WMGBP encourages modest funding requests. To be competitive for funding proposals must address at least one of the Priority Information Needs for WMGBs listed in the previous section.

To be competitive for funding, proposals should provide at least one-third of total project cost, preferably from non-federal sources. A substantial portion of project funding supported by real dollars will be considered favorably, however, in-kind services, such as salaries of permanent employees and vehicle expenses, are acceptable as matching funds. Proposals with less than a one-third match will be considered, but will be ranked lower than comparable projects with at least one-third match. Investigators are not allowed to request WMGBP funds for salaries of existing permanent staff; however, WMGBP funds can be used for project temporary labor. Also, matching dollars must constitute an actual and real contribution to the proposed project, and not administrative cost savings. In other words, dollars saved from reduced university overhead compared to what is normally charged soft money grants (e.g., National Science Foundation grants) do not qualify as WMGBP match.

Multi-year projects will need to demonstrate that the project components identified in the proposal for WMGBP funds can either 1) be completed within the period of performance of these funds (i.e., within 3 years from when the purchase order is signed [likely 2019]) or 2) that additional partner funding will allow for the completion of project components that span multiple years. Multi-year projects have special reporting requirements that must be addressed in both the proposal and in annual summary reports. In the proposal, results that will be attained annually and at the conclusion of the project need to be clearly defined (e.g., sample sizes, progress of analyses, reports and publications).

If WMGBP funding is requested as part of a large, multi-faceted study or program with multiple, diverse research objectives and projects, the proposal and budget should focus on the specific project(s) that seek WMGBP funding. General proposals including non-WMGBP research priorities will not be considered. The specific project(s) and outcomes from the use of WMGBP funding need to be clearly identifiable.

USFWS agency personnel have different responsibilities for Cooperative Agreements versus Grants (additional information available at https://www.fws.gov/grants/index.html). If a Cooperative Agreement award is made, then substantial involvement on the part of the USFWS is required for the successful completion of the activities to be funded. USFWS substantial involvement would need to be determined before the official award is executed.

III. Basic Eligibility Requirements Eligible Applicants All potential applicants are eligible. Applications are encouraged from nonprofit organizations, public and private educational organizations, federal, state, provincial, local, and tribal governments and organizations, foreign governments, and individual companies. See below for application requirements for Federal applicants.

U.S. non-profit, non-governmental organizations must provide a copy of their Section 501(c)(3) or (4) status determination letter received from the Internal Revenue Service.

Applicants must ensure that activities occurring outside the U.S. 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.

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.

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

B. Entity Registration in SAM

Register www.sam.govin SAM at . 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 U.S. bank account must enter and maintain valid and current banking information in SAM.

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

C. Excluded Entities

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

D. Cost Sharing or Matching To be competitive for funding, proposals should provide at least one-third of project funds. The match contribution may include cash or in-kind costs directly associated with the proposed work. Proposals with less than a one-third match will be considered, but will be ranked lower than comparable projects with a full match. Additionally, proposals using a match contribution which has its origin from other U.S. Government Federal funds will be ranked lower than proposals citing a match funded through non-U.S. Government Federal funds.

IV. Application Requirements To be considered for funding under this funding opportunity, an application must contain the following parts. Federal applicants applying for Inter-agency Agreements only need to submit Parts B, C, and E (and H, I, and J, if applicable) directly to the contact person below.

A. Application for Federal Assistance Form – Standard Form (SF) 424

Individuals applying on their own (unrelated to any business or non-profit organization s/he may own or operate in his/her own name) must use the SF 424, Application for Federal Assistance-Individual Form (http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms/sf-424-individual-family.html#sortby=1). All other applicants must use the SF 424, Application for Federal Assistance form (http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms/sf-424-family.html#sortby=1). Do not include other Federal sources of funding, requested or approved, in the total entered in the “Federal” funding box on the Application for Federal Assistance form. Enter only the amount being requested under this program in the “Federal” funding box. Include any other Federal sources of funding in the total funding entered in the “Other” box.

B & C. Project Proposal with WMGBP Budget Form The WMGBP will receive proposals that address Priority Information Needs noted above. Project proposals should follow the format described below and be no more than 10 pages in length.

1. Cover Page: Project Title, Principal Investigator name(s) and affiliation, key words, proposal date. Indicate the amount of funding requested.

2. Problem/Issue Statement: What is the problem or issue addressed by the proposed work, in relation to the WMGBP Priority Information needs? (see above and WMGBP Priority Information needs strategies at <https://www.fws.gov/birds/surveys-and-data/webless-migratory-game-birds/priority-information-needs.php>).

3. WMGB Species and Population(s) Targeted: The proposal must address one or more WMGBP species (see above and strategies at <https://www.fws.gov/birds/surveys-and-data/webless-migratory-game-birds/priority-information-needs.php>).

4. Justification: Explain why the study is needed and cite literature as appropriate. What is the pertinence of the proposal range-wide? What new information will be generated? How will your work contribute to the overall management or conservation of the population(s)? Maximum 1 page.

5. Objectives or Hypotheses: The proposal should have specific and concise objectives or hypotheses to be tested.

a. If WMGBP funding is requested for only a specific component of a larger study or program, describe how that specific element(s) relates to the larger effort, but do not write a proposal that encompasses the objectives and budget of a much larger program. The proposal and budget should focus on the project component(s) that seek WMGBP funding.

6. Study Area: If appropriate, provide a description of the proposed study area boundaries, proposed camp locations, and staging locations.

7. Experimental Design: Planned methods including statistical treatments. This section is critical to determining scientific soundness. Describe all principal field and laboratory methods, specify sample sizes, and provide power analyses if applicable. Also note whether your agency or organization requires that your project be reviewed by your respective Animal Care and Use Committee (ACUC).

8. Anticipated Output: List products or data sets expected to be generated.

9. Management Implications: What is the significance of the work to management of the populations concerned? Be as specific as possible.

10. Literature Cited: As appropriate.

11. Personnel: Briefly describe the role and background of each staff position in the study (<1 paragraph) and include a list of recent publications of the principal investigator(s). Maximum 2 pages.

12. Logistical Requirements: If applicable, state needs for camp facilities, aircraft support, or other special resources, including dates needed (for assessment of potential cooperative efforts and shared support).

13. Timing: Beginning, milestone, and completion dates of project activities.

14. Budget: Use the budget format provided below. Include personnel, travel, equipment/capital, contractual, and indirect costs, total annual costs, and total project costs (for multi-year projects). List all funds currently secured for the project, funds applied for, and cooperators.

15. The WMGBP will not consider a proposed project that is partially funded and not likely to achieve project objectives, or engage in negotiating a reduced or increased funding request. The evaluation team will scrutinize budgets in detail and will recommend either funding the request as submitted or not funding the project. Therefore, give a complete and accurate assessment of the costs directly related to the proposed project.

16. Matching funds: Match requirements suggest a minimum of one-third of project cost from non-WMGBP funds. Include matching contributions ONLY if there is a high likelihood you will indeed receive them. If part of a larger study, include ONLY the costs directly relevant to the study element being considered for WMGBP funding. Acceptable matching contributions include real purchases as well as in-kind costs (e.g., full time agency staff or tenured professor's salaries, student or technician salaries covered by other sources) provided they are reasonable and commensurate with the particular study element. For example, if the proposal is to add or augment an element to an existing study, you may pro-rate a portion of the total costs for, say, maintaining a field camp. Requests for salaries of principal investigators, students or technicians are acceptable provided they are reasonable and commensurate with the person’s involvement in the particular study element. Indicate the actual time the person will spend on the project (e.g., 4 weeks @ $800/wk).

17. Letters of commitment: Attach any letters of commitment from funding cooperators, endorsements, or other documentation in support of the proposal.

Note: The entire proposal should be submitted as one file in MS Word Format, not multiple files. The budget table should be incorporated into the proposal document, not submitted as a separate attachment.

Annual summary reports and contribution and expenditure reports are required annually for all projects endorsed by the WMGBP. A form with the required information will be made available from the WMGBP Coordinator.

Sample Budget Table

BUDGET (US Dollars) for FY19 (multi-year proposals repeat for each year that funds are requested)

Funding Sources --- Indicate in-kind contributions in italics

Personnel

TOTAL

PI salary (name: xx weeks @ $xxx/wk)

Technician salaries (xx weeks @ $xxx/wk)

Graduate Students ($xxxx/year)

Travel/accommodations

Commercial travel

Chartered aircraft (xx hrs @ $/hr)

Lodging (xx days @ $/day)

Freight

Mileage (mileage rate $/mile)

Materials/equipment

Transmitters and telemetry equipment

Surgical supplies

Camping gear

Fuel

Food

Boats/motors

Capture gear

Contractual

Veterinary services

ARGOS data acquisition and processing

Vehicle/vessel charter

Laboratory analyses

Administrative overhead

Is this overhead required by your agency? Indicate yes or no, or explain under #16, Budget Justification

TOTALS by funding source

RATIO of matching contributions to requested WMGBRMP funds =

RATIO of non-US-Federal matching contributions to requested WMGBRMP funds =

FOR MULTI-YEAR REQUESTS ONLY (this should include in-kind costs noted in above table)

WMGBRMP

Other

Other

Other

Other

Annual totals

D. Budget Form – SF 424A

In addition to the WMGBP Budget Form (above), complete the Budget Information for Non-Construction Programs (SF 424A). The SF 424A budget form is available at http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms/sf-424-family.html#sortby=1. When developing your budget, keep in mind that financial assistance awards and subawards are subject to the Federal cost principles in Title 2 of the Code of Federal Regulations Part 200, as applicable to the recipient organization type. Links to the full text of the Federal cost principles are available on the Internet at http://www.ecfr.gov/.

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

E. Budget Justification

If applicable:

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

2. Indirect costs may be requested only if they are beyond the control of the applicant; for example, mandatory agency overhead charges (indicate as “YES” in WMGBP Budget Form and provide justification as described below in “Required Indirect Cost Statement”).

Required Indirect Cost Statement Recipients that do not have an approved indirect cost rate cannot charge indirect costs to their Federal award. All applicants except individuals applying for funds separate from a business or non-profit organization he/she may operate must include 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]. [Insert either: “A copy of our most recently approved but expired rate agreement is attached. In the event an award is made, we will submit an indirect cost rate proposal to our cognizant agency within 90 calendar days after the award is made.” or “A copy of our current, approved rate agreement(s) is attached.”]

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

5. A [insert your organization type] that has never submitted an indirect cost rate proposal to our cognizant agency and has an indirect cost rate that is lower than 10%. Our indirect cost rate is [insert rate; must be lower than 10%]. However, in the event an award is made, we will not be able to meet the requirement to submit an indirect cost rate proposal to our cognizant agency within 90 calendar days after award. We request as a condition of award to charge a flat indirect cost rate of [insert rate; must be lower than 10%] of [insert a clear description of the direct cost base against which your rate is charged (e.g., salaries; salaries and fringe benefits; or modified total direct costs). However, please note that your organization cannot charge indirect costs in excess of the indirect costs that would be recovered if applied against modified total direct costs as defined in 2 CFR 220.68]. We understand that we must notify the Service in writing immediately if we establish an approved rate with our cognizant agency at any point during the award period.

6. A [insert your organization type] that has never submitted an indirect cost rate proposal to our cognizant agency and has an indirect cost rate that is 10% or higher. Our indirect cost rate is [insert your organization’s indirect rate; must be 10% or higher]. However, in the event an award is made, we will not be able to meet the requirement to submit an indirect cost rate proposal to our cognizant agency within 90 calendar days after award. We request as a condition of award to charge a flat de minimis indirect cost rate of 10% of modified total direct costs as defined in 2 CFR 200.68. We understand that we must notify the Service in writing immediately if we do establish an approved rate with our cognizant agency at any point during the award period. We understand that additional Federal funds may not be available to support an unexpected increase in indirect costs during the project period and such changes are subject to review, negotiation, and prior approval by the Service.

7. A [insert your organization type] that is submitting this proposal for consideration under the [insert either “Cooperative Fish and 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 Service to use the MTDC base instead of the base identified in our approved indirect cost rate agreement, and that Service approval of such a request will be based on: 1) a determination that our approved base is only a subset of the MTDC (such as salaries and wages); and 2) that use of the MTDC base will still result in a reduction of the total indirect costs to be charged to the award. In accordance with 2 CFR 200.405, we understand that indirect costs not recovered due to a voluntary reduction to our federally negotiated rate are not allowable for recovery via any other means.

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

All applicants are hereby notified of the following:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Indirect Cost Services

Acquisition Services Directorate, Interior Business Center

U.S. Department of the Interior

650 Capitol Mall, Suite 7-400

Sacramento, CA 95814

Phone: 916-930-3803

Email: Through https://www.doi.gov/ibc/contactus/ibcfeedback web form

Internet address: https://www.doi.gov/ibc/services/finance/indirect-cost-services

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

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

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

I. Conflict of Interest Disclosures

Applicants must notify the Service in writing of any actual or potential conflicts of interest that are known at the time of application or that may arise during the life of this award, in the event an award is made. Conflicts of interest include any relationship or matter which might place the recipient, the recipient’s employees, or the recipient’s subrecipients in a position of conflict, real or apparent, between their responsibilities under the award and any other outside interests. Conflicts of interest may also include, but are not limited to, direct or indirect financial interests, close personal relationships, positions of trust in outside organizations, consideration of future employment arrangements with a different organization, or decision-making affecting the award that would cause a reasonable person with knowledge of the relevant facts to question the impartiality of the applicant, the applicant’s employees, or the applicant’s future subrecipients in the matter. Applicants must notify the Service in writing in their application if any key project personnel, including subrecipient and contractor personnel, are known to be related to, married to, or have a close personal relationship with any Federal employee in or associated with the program to which you are applying for funding or who otherwise may be involved in the review and selection of the application. Upon receipt of such a notice, the Service program, in consultation with their Ethics Counselor, will determine if a conflict of interest exists and, if so, if there are any possible actions to be taken by the applicant to reduce or resolve the conflict. Failure to disclose and resolve conflicts of interest in a manner that satisfies the Service may result in the project not being select for funding.

J. Required Overlap/Duplication Statement

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

Application Checklist

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

· IV-A. SF 424, Application for Federal Assistance

· IV-B & C. Project Proposal with WMGBP Budget Form

· IV-D. SF 424A, Budget Form

· IV-G. SF 424B, Assurances Form

AND IF APPLICABLE:

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

· IV-E. Budget Justification

· IV-E. Federally-funded equipment list

· IV-E. Indirect cost statement

· IV-E. NICRA: A copy of the organization’s current Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement.

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

· IV-H. SF LLL form: Disclosure of Lobbying Activities form.

· IV-I. Conflict of Interest disclosure

· IV-J. Overlap/Duplication statement

V. Submission Instructions

Submission Deadline

Proposals must be submitted to the contacts below by 11:59 pm (ET) April 22, 2019.

To Submit an Application

The recommended proposal submission process is via email to the contact below. Applicants should send application via email with an automatic notification of delivery receipt to confirm that they are received. We recognize that some applicants may not have access to email and in those cases we will accept proposals by fax or mail. Should you wish to submit a proposal via fax or mail, you must call the contact below to inform them that you have submitted a proposal by fax or mail. Proposals submitted after the specified deadline will not be considered for evaluation. It is the responsibility of the recipient to ensure receipt of their proposal by the deadline. The Service bears no responsibility for misplaced or mishandled proposals when the recipient did not alert the contact to the incoming proposal and method of transmission prior to the submission deadline.

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

Intergovernmental Review

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

Submit proposal applications to (email preferred):

Mark Seamans U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Division of Migratory Bird Management

755 Parfet St, Suite 235 Lakewood, CO 80439 Phone: 303-275-2386 Fax: 303-275-2386 Email: mark_seamans@fws.gov

VI. Application Review Information Criteria It is important for applicants to review the evaluation criteria that will be used to score proposals received as well as the reasons for rejection or low scores (see below). Proposals will be evaluated and ranked based on how well the proposal addresses the priorities identified for the 16 species of Migratory Shore and Upland Game Birds (see above). Additionally, projects with proven methodology and a high likelihood of success will likely score higher than projects with untested methodology and high risk factors (e.g., unsecured funding, unproven technology, dependent on certain weather conditions, etc.).

Webless Migratory Game Bird Program Proposal Evaluation Criteria Possible Points

I. Existing information related to the policy/management question

30 pts.

Little information available; Project would greatly improve management.

20 pts.

Moderate information available but uncertainty exists about policy/management question.

10 pts.

Extensive information available; it needs to be assembled in a usable format (needs to be assembled to begin asking more defined questions).

0 pts.

Policy/management decision outcome depends on factors beyond the inputs of reliable information.

II. Policy/management question and application of resulting information

30 pts.

Project addresses an immediate information or management need required to inform a pending policy or management decision.

20 pts.

Project addresses a future or anticipated information or management need required to inform a pending policy or management decision.

10 pts.

Project addresses a need identified only in the proposal.

0 pts.

Long-term or short-term policy/management application poorly defined; e.g., “we don’t know much about the species, so we should study them.”

III. Scientific Merit

30 pts.

Objectives are clearly stated, procedures are well designed, results are attainable, quantifiable estimates will be statistically reliable and comparable to other studies, staffing and budget are adequate.

15 pts.

Most objectives are well stated, some design flaws or some procedures do not speak to objectives, some results may not be attainable with current budget/personnel estimates.

0 pts.

Objectives fuzzy, poor design or results not attainable, results will not be statistically reliable or will be difficult to compare, budget and manpower are inadequate (zero automatically kills the proposal).

IV. Funding

10 pts.

> 75% of funding from other sources.

5 pts.

50 - 75% of funding from other sources. 3 pts.

33 - 49% of funding from other sources. 0 pts.

0 – 32% of funding from other sources.

TOTAL

Review and Selection Process All proposals will be ranked by four regional review committees that follow the boundaries of the North American Flyways. The Flyway-based committees are composed of individuals with knowledge of the research and management needs for WMGBs. They will use the criteria presented in above to help rank projects. The chairperson of each Flyway-based review committee will serve on a National Review Committee (NRC), which will make the final project selections based on input from each Flyway-based committee. The NRC will be composed of the Flyway-based Chairs, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Program Manager, and Representatives from the Migratory Shore and Upland Game Bird Support Task Force. The NRC will make a recommendation to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will make the final funding decisions.

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

Transmittal of Sensitive Data

Recipients are responsible for ensuring any sensitive data being sent to the Service is protected during its transmission/delivery. The Service strongly recommends that recipients use the most secure transmission/delivery method available. The Service recommends the following digital transmission methods: secure digital faxing; encrypted emails; emailing a password protected zipped/compressed file attachment in one email followed by the password in a second email; or emailing a zipped/compressed file attachment. The Service strongly encourages recipients sending sensitive data in paper copy to use a courier mail service. Recipients may also contact their Service Project Officer and provide any sensitive data over the telephone.

Award Terms and Conditions

Acceptance of a financial assistance award from the Service carries with it the responsibility to be aware of and comply with the terms and conditions applicable to the award. Acceptance is defined as the start of work, drawing down funds, or accepting the award via electronic means. Awards are based on the application submitted to and approved by the Service and are subject to the terms and conditions incorporated into the notice of award either by direct citation or by reference to the following: Federal regulations; program legislation or regulation; and special award terms and conditions. The Service’s Standard Award Terms and Conditions are available on the Internet at https://www.fws.gov/grants/atc.html. If you do not have access to the Internet and require a full text copy of the award terms and conditions, contact the Service point of contact identified in the Agency Contacts section below.

VIII. Agency Contact Contact the following individual for questions about the application process:

Mark Seamans U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Division of Migratory Bird Management

755 Parfet St, Suite 235 Lakewood, CO 80439 Phone: 303-275-2386 Fax: 303-275-2386 Email: mark_seamans@fws.gov

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