PKG00251743-instructions.docx

White-nose Syndrome Research Grants, 2019 Notice of Funding Opportunity Number: F19AS00231 Federal Program: Department of the Interior, United States (U.S.) Fish and Wildlife Service, Ecological Services, White-Nose Syndrome Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 15.657 Authorizing Legislation: The Service is authorized to provide this funding as described in the Service’s policy manual chapter on the Endangered Species Act (16 U.S.C. 1531-1544); and the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act (16 U.S.C. 661-667e).

Paperwork Reduction Act Statement: We are collecting this information in accordance with the authorizing legislation identified 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 Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control number. We estimate that it will take you on average about 40 hours to complete an initial application, about 3 hours to revise the terms of an award, and about 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.

OMB Control Number: 1018-0100 (Expiration Date: 7/31/2021) I. Program Description The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) is pleased to announce the availability of funding for research in 2019 to investigate issues and enact strategies related directly to the management of white-nose syndrome (WNS). The Service provides financial and technical assistance to non-governmental and university researchers, as well as state and local governments and Native American tribes, for the management of WNS and conservation of bats. Funded projects will investigate priority questions about WNS to improve our ability to manage the disease and implement management actions that will help to conserve affected and potentially vulnerable bat species.

As of June 3, 2019, WNS has been confirmed in bats in 33 states and seven Canadian provinces and the causative fungus Pseudogymnoascus destructans (Pd) has been detected in at least three additional states without confirmation of the disease. At least 18 North American and 21 Eurasian species of bats have been confirmed with WNS or detected carrying Pd. Surveys in affected areas continue to reveal population declines associated with the disease at most contaminated sites in North America. For information on WNS and previously funded projects, please see: http://www.whitenosesyndrome.org/

Funding through WNS Research Grants provides critical information and resources for maximizing conservation benefits for bats. These actions are focused on minimizing the impacts of WNS and compounding stressors on vulnerable bat species, prioritizing actions to conserve species that may be assessed for listing due to the impacts of WNS, and understanding how different species are likely to respond when exposed to the pathogen. Although WNS decimated several species of bats in eastern North America, efforts taken with the support of funding from the Service’s WNS program allowed the management community to focus efforts where there is the greatest need and benefit. In this way, these grants will support the priorities of the Department of the Interior to create a lasting conservation stewardship legacy, restore trust with local communities, and strike a regulatory balance.

The Service anticipates committing $1.5 million in internally-directed funds for this open funding opportunity, which accompanies four additional anticipated funding opportunities from the Service’s WNS Program in 2019: 1) WNS Small Grants for Communications and Research on WNS (with Wildlife Management Institute; Completed January 2019); 2) WNS Grants to States & Tribes 2019 (closed May 31: www.grants.gov, Funding Opportunity #F19AS00167); 3) WNS Prize Challenge (to be announced in Summer 2019); and 4) Bats for the Future Fund (with National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and other partners: www.nfwf.org/bats). Contact the Service WNS coordinator in your region for more information about these funding opportunities (see below).

Priorities for this funding opportunity are developed to maximize persistence of WNS-affected bat populations, minimize the spread and impacts of Pd, and inform management decisions in preparation for our collective response to WNS. Projects are considered for funding on a rolling basis; i.e., proposals may be evaluated and decided on prior to the closing date for this Notice of Funding Opportunity, if they are received early in the open period. (See Submission Dates and Times below.)

Priorities for this funding opportunity will fall into the following main categories:

1. Address important gaps in knowledge of ecological needs of bat species known or anticipated to be susceptible to WNS to inform management strategies

2. Understand patterns of survival and population dynamics within and between bat species, including sublethal effects of Pd infection and vulnerability to WNS. Underlying mechanisms may involve environmental, physiological, behavioral, genetic and/or other factors affecting host or pathogen.

3. Develop and implement strategies to improve survival and persistence of species impacted by or likely susceptible to WNS. These efforts should consider quantifying non-target effects of implementing the strategies.

II. Federal Award Information Project funding can range from $25,000 up to $250,000. We anticipate 10 to 15 projects will be funded through this opportunity, with most funded projects beginning in December, 2019. Funding is available for new projects and to continue or expand ongoing projects that have demonstrated sufficient progress toward yielding important information with wide-reaching significance. The period of performance will be up to two years and projects must be designed accordingly. Funding will be awarded as a grant.

III. Eligibility Information A. Eligible Applicants Eligible applicants for this competitive grant program include non-governmental organizations and universities, as well as state and local government agencies and Native American Tribes. Domestic and Foreign entities are eligible for funding. U.S. non-profit, non-governmental organizations with 501(c)(3) Internal Revenue Status (IRS) must provide a copy of their Section 501(c)(3) status determination letter received from the IRS.

To be eligible, the following conditions must be met:

1. Proposed projects must clearly address one or more priorities identified by the WNS program, as identified above in § I. Program Description.

2. Applicants must be in good standing on previously awarded Federal grant agreements, with no outstanding reports or obligations, and a record of successful use of funds from previous WNS grants (if applicable).

B. Cost Sharing or Matching White-nose Syndrome Research Grants, 2019 requires a match of at least 30% of the total project cost. Funds previously awarded by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service are not allowable as match. Matching funds in excess of 30% are permitted and encouraged.

C. Other Eligibility Criteria To be eligible for FY 2019 funding, applicants must not have unspent funds from previous awards for WNS research from the Service that are greater than 3 years old.

To remain in good standing on this award, grantees must inform the Service’s project officer identified on the agreement paperwork of upcoming submissions for publication and permit the Service to preview the manuscript prior to submission.

State Sponsors of Terrorism: This program will not fund projects in countries determined by the U.S. Department of State to have repeatedly provided support for acts of international terrorism and therefore are subject to sanctions restricting receipt of U.S. foreign assistance and other financial transactions.

Office of Foreign Assets Control Sanctions: This program will not fund projects in countries subject to comprehensive sanction programs administered by the U.S. Department of Treasury, Office of Foreign Asset Control without proper licenses.

In-Country Licenses, Permits, or Approvals: Entities conducting activities outside the U.S. are responsible for coordinating with appropriate U.S. and foreign government authorities as necessary to obtain all required licenses, permits, or approvals before undertaking project activities. The Service does not assume responsibility for recipient compliance with the laws, regulations, policies, or procedures of the foreign country in which they are conducting work.

Unique Entity Identifier and System for Award Management (SAM.gov) Registration: This requirement does not apply to individuals applying for funds as a private citizen (i.e., unrelated to any business or nonprofit organization you may own or operate in your name) or any entity with an exception approved by the Service under 2 CFR 25.110(d). All other applicants are required to obtain a Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number from Dun & Bradstreet and then register in SAM.gov prior to submitting a Federal award application. Federal award recipients must continue to maintain an active SAM.gov registration with current information through the life of their Federal award(s). See the “Submission Requirements” section of this document below for more information on SAM.gov registration. The Service may not make a Federal award to an applicant that has not completed the SAM.gov registration. If an applicant selected for funding has not completed their SAM.gov registration by the time the Service is ready to make an award, the program may determine that the applicant is not qualified to receive an award. The program can use that determination as a basis for making an award to another applicant.

Prohibition on Issuing Awards to Entities that Require Certain Internal Confidentiality Agreements: Domestic (U.S.) non-Federal entities requiring their employees or contractors to sign internal confidentiality agreements or statements that prohibit, or otherwise restrict, such employees or contractors from lawfully reporting waste, fraud, or abuse to a designated investigative or law enforcement representative of a Federal department or agency authorized to receive such information are not eligible to compete for or receive a Federal award. See Pub. L. 113-235, Title VII, Division E, Section 743 for more information.

Excluded Parties: The Service conducts a review of the SAM.gov Exclusions database for all applicant entities and their key project personnel prior to award. The Service cannot award funds to entities or their key project personnel identified in the SAM.gov Exclusions database as ineligible, prohibited/restricted or otherwise excluded from receiving Federal contracts, certain subcontracts, and certain Federal assistance and benefits, as their ineligibility condition applies to this Federal program.

IV. Application Requirements A. Requesting Paper Application Package Forms required for the application can be found here: https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms/sf-424-family.html or requested from the agency contact listed at the end of this document.

B. Application Form and Content Requirements The Project Narrative must be limited to no more than 10 pages for all items identified in section IV.B.3., unless otherwise indicated below. There are no page limits for required forms (e.g. SF-424). Proposals submitted with a font size less than 11 pt. or margins less than 1 inch will not be eligible.

To be considered for funding under this funding opportunity, an application must submit the following:

1. SF-424, Application for Federal Assistance Applicants must submit the appropriate Standard Form (SF)-424, Application for Federal Assistance. Applicants must complete the standard SF-424, Application for Federal Assistance. All of the required application forms are available on the “Packages” tab of this Funding Opportunity on Grants.gov. The SF-424, Application for Federal Assistance must be complete, and signed and dated. Please note: Enter only the amount requested from this Federal program in the “Federal” funding box on the SF-424 Application form. Include any other Federal sources of funding in the “Other” box, and provide details on those Federal source(s) and funding amount(s) in the required Budget Narrative (see the “Budget Narrative” section below).

2. SF 424, Assurances Applicants must submit the appropriate signed and dated Assurances form. Complete either the SF-424B, Assurances for Non-Construction Programs or the SF-424D, Assurances for Construction Programs, as applicable to your project. All of the required application forms are available on the “Packages” tab of this Funding Opportunity on Grants.gov. The SF-424 Assurances forms include a statement that some of the assurances may not be applicable to your organization and/or your project or program. Signing the required SF-424 Assurances 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.

3. Project Narrative Proposals must be accompanied by letters of support, collaboration, or coordination from all partners (e.g., State and Federal biologists, private landowners, etc.) whose contributions or cooperation are necessary for successful completion of the proposed project (e.g., commitment to collect swab samples on behalf of the Principal Investigator, etc.). Affirmation of support or collaboration of all partners will also need to be provided on the cover page of full proposals. Letters of support will not count against the 10 page limit.

Statement of need: Describe why this project is necessary (significance/value) and include supporting information. Summarize previous or on-going efforts (of you/your organization, and other organizations or individuals) that are relevant to the proposed work. Explain the successes or failures of past efforts and how your proposed project builds on them. If you have received funding previously (from the Service or any other entity) to advance the objectives in your current proposal, provide a summary of the funding, associated activities and products/outcomes.

Project Goals and Objectives: State the long-term goal(s) of the project. Objectives are the specific steps to be taken to reach the stated goals. State the objectives of the project, which must be specific, measurable, and realistic (attainable within the project’s proposed period of performance).

Expected Results and Outcomes: State the anticipated outcomes, benefits and/or management implications of the project.

Project Activities, Methods and Timetable: State the proposed project activities, and describe how they relate to the stated project objectives. Include a description of the problem and proposed research actions to address that problem, including the ways in which it addresses one or more priorities. The project narrative must be detailed enough for reviewers to make a clear connection between the proposed activities and the proposed project costs. Include proposed project locations and sites. For projects being conducted within the United States, the narrative must provide enough detail so that reviewers are able to determine project compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act, Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act, and Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act. For projects being conducted on the high seas, the narrative should provide enough detail so that reviewers are able to determine project compliance with Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act. Provide a detailed description of the method(s) to be used to carry out each activity. Provide a timetable indicating roughly when activities or project milestones are to be accomplished. The timetable should not propose specific dates but instead group activities by month for each month over the entire proposed project period.

NOTE: Some proposed WNS research, mitigation and treatment actions will entail significant workload with input from the grantee to comply with regulatory requirements of the Endangered Species Act, National Environmental Policy Act, and National Historic Preservation Act. Satisfactory completion of these requirements is needed prior to funds becoming available for the proposed actions.

Contribution to National Response to WNS:

As applicable, describe how you/your organization has coordinated with and involved other relevant organizations or individuals in planning the project, and detail if/how they will be involved in conducting project activities, disseminating project results and/or incorporating your results/products into their activities.

To maintain consistency in diagnostic reporting, all PIs must follow established diagnostic protocols accepted by the WNS Diagnostics Working Group (if applicable), or demonstrate that the protocols used in the proposed research perform equally well as published standard methods.

Proposals should include statements characterizing the contributions of the proposed research to the national response to WNS (https://www.whitenosesyndrome.org/national-plan/white-nose-syndrome-national-plans).

Proposed actions that entail acoustic monitoring for bats, or population estimates from winter or summer colony counts should identify compatibility and contribution to the North American Bat Monitoring Program (NABat).

Budget Table: Provide an itemized budget table as part of the project narrative. This table should indicate four budget categories:

a. Salaries and benefits

b. Project related expenses (such as: travel, communications, supplies, consultants etc.)

c. Equipment (purchases of tangible, personal property over $5,000.00 that will be used for a year or more);

d. Indirect costs (if any).

Expenses within each category, and total amounts requested for eligible expenses needed to achieve the proposed objectives should be itemized in general categories (example: laboratory supplies, fieldwork supplies, travel for fieldwork, research associate salary, etc.). For personnel salary costs, include the baseline salary figures and the estimates of time (as percentages) to be directly charged to the project.

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

This requirement in the project narrative is in addition to the SF-424 budget form that is also required (sections E below). Expenses and costs provided in this table should be detailed and consistent with information provided in the SF-424 table.

Description of Entities Undertaking the Project: Provide a brief description of the applicant organization and all cooperating entities and/or individuals. Identify which of the proposed activities each agency, organization, group, or individual is responsible for conducting or managing. If eligibility for funding is based in whole or in part on the qualifications of key personnel, provide brief (1 page) curricula vitae for key personnel, identifying their qualifications to meet the project objectives. Do not include Social Security numbers, the names of family members, or any other personal or sensitive information on the curricula vitae.

Permitting and Animal Care: Current permits are not required to apply for this funding opportunity. However, participants in funded projects must procure all necessary Federal, State, and local permits, and landowner permissions prior to initiation of the funded work. Existing permits and approvals may be submitted as addenda to the application if available. If permits have not been secured at the time of application, a record of communication with relevant State, Federal or other offices responsible for permitting of protected species is encouraged. Attached letters and permits do not count toward the Project Narrative page limit.

Principal Investigators (PIs) will be expected to maintain compliance with the Animal Welfare Act with satisfactory review of animal use protocols by an established Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (as appropriate). All awarded projects must comply with section 7 of the Endangered Species Act, National Environmental Policy Act, and National Historic Preservation Act.

Literature Cited (DOES NOT COUNT TOWARD THE PAGE LIMIT): Components of the project narrative must be properly cited using parenthetical documentation in name-year format. A complete bibliography of cited literature must be included and does not count toward the 10-page maximum.

4. SF-424, Budget Information Applicants must submit the appropriate SF-424 Budget Information form. Complete either the SF-424A, Budget Information for Non-Construction Programs or the SF-424C, Budget Information for Construction Programs, as applicable to your project. All of the required application forms are available on the “Packages” tab of this Funding Opportunity on Grants.gov. Federal award recipients and subrecipients are subject to Federal award cost principles as detailed in the Service’s “Financial Assistance Award Terms and Conditions”. Please note: Show funds requested from this Federal program separately from any other Federal sources of funding. In the “Budget Summary” section, use the first row for funding requested from this Federal program. Use subsequent row(s) for other Federal funding. Enter each Federal program’s CFDA number(s) in the corresponding fields on the form. The CFDA number(s) for this Federal program appears on the first page of this Funding Opportunity.

5. Budget Narrative Describe and justify requested budget items and costs. Detail how the SF-424 Budget Information, Object Class Category totals were determined. For personnel salary costs, include the baseline salary figures and the estimates of time. Describe any item of cost that requires prior approval under the Federal cost principles. See 2 CFR 200.407 “Prior written approval (prior approval)” for more information. If equipment purchased previously with Federal funds is available for the project, provide a list of that equipment and identify the Federal funding source.

6. Indirect Costs: Organizations The Federal awarding agency that provides the largest amount of direct funding to your organization is your cognizant agency for indirect costs, unless otherwise assigned by the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB). If the Department of the Interior is your organization’s cognizant agency, the Interior Business Center will negotiate your indirect cost rate. Contact the Interior Business Center by phone 916-930-3803 or using the IBC Email Submission Form. See the IBC Website for more information.

Organizations must have an active Federal award before they can submit an indirect cost rate proposal to their cognizant agency. Failure to establish an approved rate during the award period renders all costs otherwise allocable as indirect costs unallowable under the award. Recipients must have prior written approval from the Service to use amounts budgeted for direct costs to satisfy cost-share or match requirements or to cover unallowable indirect costs. Recipients shall not shift unallowable indirect costs to another Federal award unless specifically authorized to do so by legislation.

Required Indirect Cost Statement All organizations must include the applicable statement from the following list in their application to the Service, and attach to their application any documentation identified in the applicable statement:

We are:

· 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. Attached is a copy of our most recently approved rate agreement/certification.

· 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 have prepared and will retain for audit an indirect cost rate proposal and related documentation.

· 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: “Attached is a copy of our most recently approved but expired rate agreement. 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 “Attached is a copy of our current negotiated indirect cost rate agreement.”]

· 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]. If we receive an award, we will submit an indirect cost rate proposal to our cognizant agency within 90 calendar days after the award date.

· 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, if we receive an award 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%] against [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 200.68]. We understand that we must notify the Service in writing if we establish an approved rate with our cognizant agency at any point during the award period.

· 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, if we receive an award 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% to be charged against modified total direct project costs as defined in 2 CFR 200.68. We understand that we must notify the Service in writing if we establish a negotiated 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 that such changes are subject to review, negotiation, and prior approval by the Service.

· 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 we must charge indirect costs against 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 2 CFR 200 MTDC base instead of the base identified in our approved indirect cost rate agreement. We understand 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.

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

7. Conflict of Interest Disclosure Applicants must state in their application if any actual or potential conflict of interest exists at the time of submission. Conflicts of interest include any relationship or matter that might place the recipient, including their employees and subrecipients, in a position of conflict, real or apparent, between their responsibilities under the award and any other outside interests. Conflicts of interest include direct or indirect financial interests; close personal relationships; positions of trust in outside organizations; consideration of future employment arrangements with a different organization; and decision-making authority related to the proposed project. Conflicts of interest are those circumstances real or perceived that would cause a reasonable person with knowledge of the relevant facts to question the impartiality of the applicant, or the applicant’s employees or subrecipients, in matters pertaining to the proposed project. Applicants may not solicit, obtain, or use non-public information that may be of competitive interest to the entity, including information regarding the funding opportunity, evaluation, award, or administration of an award to the entity. Applicants must notify the Service in writing in their application if any employees, including subrecipient and contractor personnel, are related to, married to, or have a close personal relationship with any Federal employee in the Federal program receiving this application or who otherwise may be involved in the review and selection of their proposal. The term employee means any individual to be engaged in the performance of work pursuant to the Federal award application. Applicants may not have a former Federal employee as a key project official, or in any other substantial role for the proposed project, whose participation puts them out of compliance with the legal authorities addressing post-Government employment restrictions. See the U.S. Office of Government Ethic’s website at https://oge.gov/ for more information on these restrictions. The Service will examine each conflict of interest disclosure based on its particular facts and the nature of the proposed project and will determine whether a significant potential conflict exists. If it does, the Service may work with the applicant determine an appropriate resolution. Failure to disclose and resolve conflicts of interest in a manner that satisfies the Service may result in the rejection or disqualification of the application.

8. Single Audit Reporting Statement 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 the applicant’s fiscal year must submit a Single Audit report for that year through the Federal Audit Clearinghouse’s Internet Data Entry System. U.S. state, local government, federally recognized Indian tribal government, and non-profit applicants must state if your organization was or was not required to submit a Single Audit report for the most recently closed fiscal year. If your organization was required to submit a Single Audit report for the most recently closed fiscal year, provide the EIN associated with that report and state if it is available through the Federal Audit Clearinghouse website.

9. Certification Regarding Lobbying Applicants requesting more than $100,000 in Federal funding must certify to the statements in 43 CFR Part 18, Appendix A-Certification Regarding Lobbying. If this application requests more than $100,000 in Federal funds, the Authorized Official’s signature on the appropriate SF-424, Application for Federal Assistance form also represents the entity’s certification of the statements in 43 CFR Part 18, Appendix A.

10. Disclosure of Lobbying Activities Applicants and recipients must not use any federally appropriated funds (annually appropriated or continuing appropriations) or matching funds under a Federal award to pay any person for lobbying in connection with the award. Lobbying is influencing or attempting to influence an officer or employee of any U.S. agency, a Member of the U.S. Congress, an officer or employee of the U.S. Congress, or an employee of a Member of the U.S. Congress connection with the award. Applicants and recipients must complete and submit the SF-LLL, Disclosure of Lobbying Activities if the Federal share of the proposal or award is more than $100,000 and the applicant or recipient has made or has agreed to make any payment using non-appropriated funds for lobbying in connection with the application or award. The SF-LLL form is available on the “Packages” tab of this Funding Opportunity on Grants.gov. See 43 CFR, Subpart 18.100 for more information on when additional submission of this form is required.

11. Overlap or Duplication of Effort Statement Applicants must provide a statement indicating if there is any overlap between this Federal application and any other Federal application, or funded project, in regards to activities, costs, or time commitment of key personnel. If no such overlap or duplication exists, state, “There are no overlaps or duplication between this application and any of our other Federal applications or funded projects, including in regards to activities, costs, or time commitment of key personnel”. If any such overlap exists, provide a complete description of overlaps or duplications between this proposal and any other federally funded project or application in regards to activities, costs, and time commitment of key personnel, as applicable. Provide a copy of any overlapping or duplicative proposal submitted to any other potential funding entity and identify when that proposal was submitted, to whom (entity name and program), and when you anticipate being notified of their funding decision. When overlap exists, your statement must end with “We understand that if at any time we receive funding from another source that is duplicative of the funding we are requesting from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in this application, we will immediately notify the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service point of contact identified in this Funding Opportunity in writing.”

12. APPLICATION CHECKLIST

· SF-424, Application for Federal Assistance or Application for Federal Assistance-Individual

· SF-424B or D, Assurances

· Project Narrative with all sub-sections

· SF-424A or C, Budget Information

· Budget Narrative

· Indirect Cost Statement and related documentation (when applicable)

· Conflict of Interest Disclosure (when applicable)

· Single Audit Reporting Statement (when applicable)

· SF-LLL, Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (when applicable)

· Overlap or Duplication of Effort Statement

· Foreign Government Letter of Endorsement (when applicable) Failure to provide complete information may cause delays, postponement, or rejection of the application.

V. Submission Requirements A. Unique Entity Identifier and System for Award Management (SAM.gov) Registration These requirements do not apply to any individual applying for funds as a private citizen or any entity with an exception approved by the Federal awarding agency under 2 CFR 25.110(d). All other applicants are required to obtain a Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number from Dun & Bradstreet and provide that number in the application; complete SAM.gov registration before submitting an application; and continue to maintain an active SAM.gov registration with current information at all times when the entity has an active Federal award or application under consideration. There is NO COST to register with Dun & Bradstreet or SAM.gov. There are third-party vendors who will charge a fee in exchange for registering entities with Dun & Bradstreet and SAM.gov; please be aware you can register and request help for free.

1. Obtain a DUNS Number Request a DUNS Number through the Dun & Bradstreet website. The official website address is http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform. For technical difficulties, send an email to the D&B SAM Help Desk. Please ensure that you are able to receive emails from SAMHelp@dnb.com. The Grants.gov “Obtain a DUNS Number” webpage also provides detailed instructions. Once assigned a DUNS number, your organization must maintain up-to-date information with Dun & Bradstreet. Applicants must enter their DUNS number in the “Organizational DUNS” field on the SF-424, Application for Federal Assistance form.

2. Register with SAM Register on the SAM.gov website. The official website address is http://www.sam.gov. The “Help” tab on the website contains User Guides and other information to assist you with registration. The Grants.gov Register with SAM” webpage also provides detailed instructions. You can also contact the supporting Federal Service Desk for help registering in SAM. Once registered in SAM, entities must renew and revalidate their SAM registration at least once every 12 months from the date previously registered. Entities are strongly encouraged to revalidate their registration as often as needed to ensure their information is up to date and reflects changes that may have been to the entity’s DUNS or IRS information. Foreign entities who want to receive payment directly to a U.S. bank account must enter and maintain valid, current banking information in SAM.

B. Submission Dates and Times All proposals must be submitted no later than 11:59 PM, Eastern Daylight Time on August 6, 2019. Proposals may be submitted prior to the deadline. We anticipate that applicants will be notified by November 30, 2019, with funded work anticipated to begin as early as December 1, 2019. Early submission of proposals may allow for earlier notification and start dates.

C. Intergovernmental Review Prior to application submission, U.S. state and local government applicants should visit the OMB Office of Federal Financial Management website and view the “State Point of Contact (SPOC) List” to determine whether their application is subject to the state intergovernmental review process under Executive Order (E.O.) 12372 “Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs.” States not on the list do not participate in the intergovernmental review process, and therefore do not have a SPOC. If you are located within a State that does not have a SPOC, you may send application materials directly to a Federal awarding agency. If your state is on the list, contact the designated entity for more information on the state’s prior review requirements for Federal assistance applications.

D. Funding Restrictions White-nose Syndrome Research Grants endeavor to provide funding specifically for scientific and management activities that address the stated priorities of the funding opportunity (see § I. Program Description). Travel costs for personnel to attend conferences or meetings, other than presentation of research results and objectives at the Service's annual White-nose Syndrome Workshop, are prohibited.

E. Submission Instructions This program encourages applicants to submit their applications online through Grants.gov. Follow these steps to apply through Grants.gov.

1. Register with Grants.gov Applicants must first register an account with Grants.gov and complete all steps of the registration process before they can apply through Grants.gov. Grants.gov registration requires the entity to create an account, create an account profile, and establish authorized profile roles, including the applicant’s authorized representative. Registration can take three to five business days or longer, if you do not complete the required steps in a timely manner.

2. Grants.gov Workspace Application Grants.gov applicants apply online using Workspace. Workspace is a shared, online environment where members of a grant team may simultaneously access and edit different webforms within an application. For each funding opportunity announcement, you can create individual instances of a workspace. To apply, the applicant will create, complete, and submit a Workspace application package for this Funding Opportunity directly on Grants.gov. Grants.gov recommends submitting your application package at least 24-48 hours prior to the close date to allow time to correct any potential technical issues that may disrupt the application submission. When attaching files to the Grants.gov application, please do not assign file names longer than 20 characters, including spaces. File names longer than 20 characters will prevent your application received by Grants.gov from automatically downloading into the Service’s financial assistance management system. Applicants using slow internet, such as dial-up connections, should be aware that the transmission of the application to Grants.gov takes time. Grants.gov sends either an error message or a “successfully received” message by email to the applicant’s authorized representative once the transmission is complete. Please do not end the transmission process before receiving that message.

3. Proof of Timely Submission Grants.gov automatically generates an electronic date and time stamp in the system upon application receipt. Grants.gov sends an acknowledgement of receipt with the date and time stamp and a unique Grants.gov application tracking number to the authorized representative by email. This email from Grants.gov serves as your proof of timely submission.

Applicants may also submit an application by mail or email

To submit an application by mail:

Number all pages of your printed application. Mail one, single-sided, unbound copy (do not staple or otherwise permanently bind pages) of your complete application to:

Dr. Sadie Stevens U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Division of Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration 300 Westgate Center Drive Hadley, MA 01035-9589

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

To submit an application by e-mail:

Format all of your documents to print on Letter size (8 ½” x 11”) paper. Format all pages to display and print page numbers. Scanned documents should be scanned in Letter format, as black and white images only. Where possible, save scanned documents in .pdf format. E-mail your application to FW5FAReports@fws.gov. You will receive an automatic confirmation e-mail when your application is received.

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

VI. Application Review Information A. Criteria The following criteria will be used by the project review team to first determine eligibility and then rank all proposed projects. Proposals should be submitted with the criteria, as described below, addressed. Each proposal must meet at least the minimum criteria. The most competitive proposals will clearly address the specific ranking criteria below in an organized manner.

Minimum criteria for WNS research proposals

· Proposed project clearly addresses one or more priorities of this funding opportunity (refer to §I. Program Description).

· Applicant is in good standing on previously awarded Federal grant agreements with no outstanding reports or obligations, and a record of successful use of funds from previous WNS grants (refer to § III. Eligibility Information).

· Matching funds are at least 30% of total project cost.

Ranking criteria for proposals that meet minimum requirements Project Responsiveness (22%)

· How well does the proposed study address priorities identified for this funding opportunity?

Project Relevance (22%)

· Does the project have a high likelihood of contributing positively to bat conservation?

· How much will the anticipated products of the proposed research benefit future research and management activities for WNS?

· What is the geographic and ecological scope of the project?

Project Need (18%)

· Does the project build upon and advance our current understanding of WNS and bat conservation, or implement management strategies appropriate to the level of knowledge and current status of bats and WNS in the project location?

Study Design (12.5%)

· Does the proposal describe clear, specific, measurable objectives, robust study design and methods, and usable expected outcomes?

Budget (13%)

· Is the project budget justifiable and cost effective for the proposed actions and outcomes?

· Are funds requested for salaries allocable to completing the objectives of the project?

· What is the total past, current, and future anticipated cost for the project to complete an impactful management or scientific product?

Project Feasibility (12.5%)

· Are the proposed timeline and work schedule realistic for achieving the goal of the project in two years after receipt of funding?

· Are project key personnel experienced and well positioned to successfully complete the project and communicate the results?

· Does the proposal adequately address issues regarding regulatory requirements or permits that are necessary for the success of the project?

The review committee also may employ additional review criteria to specifically evaluate groups of proposals with similar objectives. These criteria may include prioritization of projects that increase the geographical scope, species, or topics addressed by the grant program as a whole.

Selected proposals will receive budget review in accordance with DOI-APP-0062 prior to final selection.

B. Review and Selection Process Review of applications is coordinated by the Service’s National Coordinator for White-nose Syndrome. Evaluation will be conducted by Service biologists and coordinators for the WNS program, leaders of the national working groups of the WNS national response, and the WNS Steering Committee, and other subject matter experts, as appropriate. Outside technical experts (non-agency) will augment the review team’s evaluations, as needed.

To the extent possible, the review panel will include representatives with expertise in white-nose syndrome and involved members of the white-nose syndrome national response team from:

· DOI agencies and offices (USFWS, USGS, NPS, BLM, BIA)

· other federal agencies (USFS, APHIS, EPA, DOD)

· tribes

· state wildlife agencies

· scientific and professional societies represented on the WNS stakeholder committee

Reviewers will evaluate each proposal on the criteria listed above. Each eligible proposal will be reviewed by at least four independent reviewers. Evaluations are requested to be returned within four weeks of being distributed to reviewers. All elements of review will be submitted and maintained electronically by the national assistant coordinator for the Service’s white-nose syndrome program. The Service will evaluate recommendations from the review committee and is responsible for all final decisions. The National WNS Steering Committee will be notified of the award selections by the WNS Program prior to final issuance of awards.

Prior to participating in any review or evaluation process, all staff and peer reviewers, evaluators, panel members, and advisors must sign and return to the program office point of contact the “Department of the Interior Conflict of Interest Certification” form. For a copy of this form, contact the Service point of contact identified in the Agency Contacts section below. A reviewer recuses himself or herself from commenting or scoring individual applications if they have a conflict of interest with one or few individual proposals. A reviewer declines the invitation to participate in the evaluation process as a whole for larger conflicts of interest.

Prior to award, the Service will review any applicant statement regarding potential overlap or duplication between the project to be funded and any other funded or proposed project in terms of activities, funding, or time commitment of key personnel. Depending on the circumstances, the Service may request modification to the application, other pending applications, or an active award, as needed to eliminate any duplication of effort, or the Service may choose not to fund the selected project.

The Service may not make a Federal award to an applicant that has not completed the SAM.gov registration. If an applicant selected for funding has not completed their SAM.gov registration by the time the Service is ready to make an award, the program may determine that…