PKG00265109-instructions.pdf

National Park Service

LWCF-PGL - State and Local Assistance Division

P21AS00268

Table of Contents A. Program Description

A1. Authority

A2. Background, Purpose and Program Requirements

B. Federal Award Information

B1. Total Funding

B2. Expected Award Amount

B3. Anticipated Award Funding and Dates

B4. Number of Awards

B5. Type of Award

C. Eligibility Information

C1. Eligible Applicants

C2. Cost Sharing or Matching

C3. Other

D. Application and Submission Information

D1. Address to Request Application Package

D2. Content and Form of Application Submission

D3. Unique Entity Identifier and System for Award Management (SAM)

D4. Submission Dates and Times

D5. Intergovernmental Review

D6. Funding Restrictions

D7. Other Submission Requirements

E. Application Review Information

E1. Criteria

E2. Review and Selection Process

E3. CFR – Regulatory Information

E4. Anticipated Announcement and Federal Award Dates

F. Federal Award Administration Information

F1. Federal Award Notices

F2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements

F3. Reporting

G. Federal Awarding Agency Contact(s)

G1. Program Technical Contact

G2. Program Administration Contact

G3. Application System Technical Support

H. Other Information

A. Program Description

A1. Authority Land and Water Conservation Fund Act (LWCF), (54 U.S.C. Chapter 2003); Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA), (P.L. 116-152); Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2014 (P.L. 113-76)

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number 15.916

A2. Background, Purpose and Program Requirements This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) is to advise states, territories, local units of government, and federally-recognized Indian Tribes of the availability of grants from the nationally-competitive component of the State Assistance Program. The purpose of the competitive funding is to provide grants to acquire and/or develop public lands for outdoor recreation purposes, consistent with the purposes of the LWCF.

Background on LWCF: The LWCF State and Local Assistance Program was created by the Congress in 1964 to assist in preserving, developing and assuring accessibility to present and future generations of U.S. citizens and visitors “such quality and quantity of outdoor recreation resources as may be available and are necessary and desirable for individual active participation in such recreation and to strengthen the health and vitality of the citizens of the United States….” This is accomplished in part by authorizing and providing grants to states, and through states to local units of government and federally-recognized Indian tribes, for projects that will provide outdoor recreation opportunities to the public through the acquisition of lands and waters for parks and other outdoor recreation areas, as well as through the development of new or renovation of existing outdoor recreation facilities.

Total budget authority for LWCF Stateside assistance grants was relatively stable between $40M and $50M from FY 2011 through FY 2015. Program funding grew by 500% between FY 2015 and FY 2020 and nearly doubled again in FY 2021.

Acquisition of land may be in fee simple or a lesser interest (e.g., a perpetual easement) if sufficient rights, including the right for the public to access and recreate on the site, would be provided. On the development side, LWCF assistance is available to install or construct facilities needed to support the use and enjoyment of an outdoor recreation area. To be eligible for either an acquisition or a development grant, the project must involve publicly-owned land and the project sponsor must possess sufficient legal title and control of the property to ensure that it can be managed and maintained for outdoor recreation in perpetuity and otherwise remain compliant with the conversion provisions of the LWCF Act (see 54 U.S.C. 200305(f)(3)). Outdoor https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=54+USC+2003&f=treesort&fq=true&num=365&hl=true&edition=prelim&granuleId=USC-prelim-title54-chapter2003-front https://www.congress.gov/113/plaws/publ76/PLAW-113publ76.htm https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=54+USC+200305&f=treesort&fq=true&num=9&hl=true&edition=prelim&granuleId=USC-prelim-title54-section200305 recreation areas and facilities assisted by the LWCF must be open to the general public and not limited to special groups. Chapter 3 of the LWCF Manual describes project eligibility requirements in detail.

The LWCF State and Local Assistance program is operated by the National Park Service (NPS) in partnership with designated lead agencies in each of the 50 states as well as American Samoa, the District of Columbia, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. Each fiscal year funds are made available from the LWCF for State Assistance grants, which are then allocated to the states based on a legislative formula.

To be eligible for LWCF grants, states must maintain an approved Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP) that among other things, are used to assess the supply and demand for outdoor recreation resources and set priorities for the use of LWCF funds.

Background on the LWCF/GAOA National Competition: In P.L. 113-76, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2014 and the accompanying Explanatory Statement, Congress appropriated a supplemental amount from the LWCF ($3 million) designated for a new nationally competitive grant program to be developed by the NPS. The NPS initially created the LWCF Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership Program in response. The objective of the national competitive program was to operate within the context of the traditional LWCF Program but with two main differences: nationally set priorities for projects and national selection of projects. For the first four rounds of competition the national priority was improving recreation opportunities in underserved communities in urban areas. However, with the passage of GAOA and the competitive grant dollars growing nearly 600% there is a recognized need to change the national focus to support a broader set of LWCF priorities and expand the reach of the program to include areas that had not previously been eligible for these competitive grants (American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Marianas Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands).

In Perpetuity Requirement: All prospective applicants should be aware that the LWCF Act requires that any park or other outdoor recreation area that has benefitted from assistance from the LWCF, whether for acquisition or development purposes, and regardless of the amount or extent of assistance, may not be converted to other than public outdoor recreation uses (see 54 U.S.C. § 200305(f)(3)). As a condition of the grant, the NPS requires that language be recorded against the deed of the assisted park/recreation property advising that the property was acquired and/or developed with Federal funds from the LWCF. Further, that the property must be preserved for outdoor recreation uses in perpetuity and cannot be converted to other than public outdoor recreation uses without the written approval of the Secretary of the Interior. This approval is contingent upon the conversion being found consistent with the state’s SCORP and the project sponsor replacing the area to be converted with a new recreation area involving land of at least equal fair market value and reasonably equivalent recreational utility. Before seeking an LWCF grant, project sponsors should carefully consider their ability and willingness to comply with this provision of the law.

For most projects the boundary area is presumed to be park or other recreation area being developed or expanded as a whole. Exceptions for boundaries that would apply to a lesser area may be considered when it can be shown the area is a self-sustaining outdoor recreation resource. That is, the lesser area's borders do not include other areas of the park and/or it does https://www.nps.gov/subjects/lwcf/upload/lwcf_manual.pdf https://www.congress.gov/113/plaws/publ76/PLAW-113publ76.htm https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=54+USC+200305&f=treesort&fq=true&num=9&hl=true&edition=prelim&granuleId=USC-prelim-title54-section200305 https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=54+USC+200305&f=treesort&fq=true&num=9&hl=true&edition=prelim&granuleId=USC-prelim-title54-section200305 not rely on adjoining park area for access, utilities, support facilities, etc. The NPS and state must agree that the proposed LWCF boundary is a viable public outdoor recreation area and the NPS may eliminate proposals from consideration if agreement cannot be reached on the boundary. We recommend that prospective applicants who wish to propose a project with a lesser area boundary contact the state and national program office for a determination on whether the boundary would be accepted, so as not to waste time preparing an application that will not be considered or prevent a more viable application from being put forward by the state.

The LWCF Grant Assistance Manual, v. 70 (January 17, 2021) currently establishes the eligibility, procedural, and programmatic requirements for LWCF grants. The Manual can be found at https://www.nps.gov/subjects/lwcf/upload/lwcf_manual.pdf. It outlines the criteria and process for eligible states and territories to develop a SCORP, nominate projects to the NPS, and implement grants for selected projects. Projects must be implemented in accordance with the Manual and the priorities as set forth therein, as well as the NPS Grant Agreement terms and conditions, and OMB requirements at 2 C.F.R. Part 200

Secretary of the Interior Priorities: The LWCF State Assistance competitive program prioritizes the following purposes for funding:

Acquisition of land or water, or interests therein, that, in addition to providing public outdoor recreation, also:

o Are identified as a priority recovery action in an approved recovery plan for an Endangered Species Act (ESA)-listed species;

o Reduce or eliminate a threat related to the present or threatened destruction, modification, or curtailment of habitat for an ESA-listed species or a species proposed for listing under the ESA;

o Reduce or eliminate a threat identified in a 12-month petition finding or candidate review form as contributing to designation of a species as a candidate for listing under the ESA; or o Are identified as a conservation strategy for one or more Species of Greatest Conservation Need in an established State Wildlife Action Plan.

Creation of wetlands to provide habitat for fish, waterfowl and other wildlife, improve water quality, and reduce the impact of floods and storms to communities while also providing recreation opportunities such as fishing, hunting, photography, and wildlife observation.

Increased safety in urban parks, to include facility-related security installations within or adjacent to public parks and recreation areas.

Enhanced physical connectivity between Federal and State-managed lands for recreational opportunities to include hunting, hiking, fishing, boating, camping, and wildlife observation.

Development of recreation sites such as sports shooting facilities.

Improved big-game winter range and migration corridor habitat on state lands in concert with planning efforts conducted through Secretary’s Order 3362.

Stabilize shorelines with infrastructure techniques using plants, stone, sand fill, and other structural and organic materials to stabilize shorelines providing benefits including https://www.nps.gov/subjects/lwcf/upload/lwcf_manual.pdf https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?tpl=/ecfrbrowse/Title02/2cfr200_main_02.tpl nutrient pollution remediation, fish and migratory bird habitat, and buffering of shorelines from waves and storms.

B. Federal Award Information

B1. Total Funding Estimated Total Funding $ 150,000,000

B2. Expected Award Amount Maximum Award $ 20,000,000 Minimum Award $ 500,000 As this is the first time that this level of funding has been available, averages from past years can't be applied. Depending on responses, the NPS may create “sub-competitions” of groups of proposals of similar purposes and requesting similar amounts so that projects with more comparable levels of scope/scale can compete with one another.

Current recipients of an LWCF grant may be able to apply for a grant to supplement the existing project, if the project is consistent with the Secretary priorities. They may also be able to apply for a grant for a different project at the same park or another park in their system. However, the allowability of this is contingent on each state’s open project selection process. Some states do not permit a recipient to apply for additional funding when they have a currently active grant. You should contact your state’s lead agency for information about any such restriction (https://www.nps.gov/subjects/lwcf/contact-list.htm).

B3. Anticipated Award Funding and Dates Anticipated Award Date April 01, 2022 The NPS is targeting December 31, 2021, for the initial selection of projects based on the proposals. Following this selection, project sponsors will work with their state’s lead agency to prepare a complete and final application so actual start date timing will depend on how quickly this step occurs.

B4. Number of Awards Expected Number of Awards https://www.nps.gov/subjects/lwcf/contact-list.htm

The eligible funding range translates to a minimum of 7 awards and a maximum of 300. NPS estimates that at least 50 proposals will be preliminarily selected and invited to develop and submit a final application for funding but it will be greater if there are few/no requests in the maximum range.

B5. Type of Award Funding Instrument Type G - Grant LWCF awards are given as grants. A Grant is a legal instrument of financial assistance between the National Park Service and a non-Federal entity that, consistent with 31 U.S.C. §§ 6302 and 6304:

(1) Is used to enter into a relationship the principal purpose of which is to transfer anything of value from the Federal awarding agency to the non-Federal entity to carry out a public purpose authorized by a law of the United States (see 31 U.S.C. § 6101(3)); and not to acquire property or services for the Federal awarding agency’s direct benefit or use; and

(2) Is distinguished from a cooperative agreement in that it does not provide for substantial involvement between the Federal awarding agency or pass-through entity and the non-Federal entity in carrying out the activity contemplated by the Federal award.

No substantial involvement on the part of the National Park Service is anticipated for LWCF grants.

C. Eligibility Information

C1. Eligible Applicants Eligible Applicants 00 – State governments 25 – Others (see text field entitled “Additional Information on Eligibility” for clarification) Additional Information on Eligibility In accordance with 54 U.S.C. 200305(d)(1)(A), each state has an agency designated to represent and act for the state to implement LWCF. Only this designated agency can be the applicant for an LWCF grant, however they may do so on behalf of themselves or another entity via a sub-grant. For the purposes of this competition, reference to “states” includes the 50 U.S. States plus the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Eligible subrecipients include other state agencies, local units of government (state political subdivisions such as cities, counties, and special purpose districts such as park districts), and federally-recognized Indian Tribes.

Individuals, nonprofit organizations, and other private entities are not eligible as applicants or subrecipients.

https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=6302&f=treesort&fq=true&num=68&hl=true&edition=prelim&granuleId=USC-prelim-title31-section6302 https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=6304&f=treesort&fq=true&num=59&hl=true&edition=prelim&granuleId=USC-prelim-title31-section6304 https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=31+usc+6101&f=treesort&fq=true&num=93&hl=true&edition=prelim&granuleId=USC-prelim-title31-section6101 https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=54+USC+200305&f=treesort&fq=true&num=9&hl=true&edition=prelim&granuleId=USC-prelim-title54-section200305

Applications submitted directly to the NPS by entities other than the state designated agency will automatically be rejected without consideration.

C2. Cost Sharing or Matching Cost Sharing / Matching Requirement Yes In accordance with the LWCF Act (54 U.S.C. § 200305(c)), LWCF grant projects must be cost-shared with non-federal funds at a minimum ratio of 1:1. Matching funds may be derived from state, local, non-governmental, or private sources in the form of cash or in-kind contributions of land, services, materials, etc. Further information about eligible costs, sources of match, and other cost-sharing requirements can be found in Chapter 5 of the LWCF Manual as well as at 2 C.F.R. § 200.306. The scoring criteria favor projects that involve partnerships among the public, private, and non-profit sectors that result in the leveraging of such resources (e.g., money, donations of land, supplies, services, etc.)

The following costs may not be counted toward the non-Federal matching share (not inclusive):

Project costs incurred before the grant start date unless they are an eligible pre-award cost as defined in the LWCF Manual or the sponsor gets prior written approval from the state lead agency and the NPS.

Funds or in-kind contributions such as land or services that have been used previously or will be used in the future to satisfy the matching requirements of another LWCF grant or other Federal grant.

Funds or in-kind contributions such as lands or services that were or will be acquired with other Federal funds, unless otherwise provided by Federal law.

Funding that originated from Federal sources or the value of land or services acquired with Federal funds may not be used as non-Federal match unless their enabling legislation authorizes that treatment. The best-known examples are HUD’s Community Development Block Grants and DOT-FHWA’s Recreation Trails Program, but there may be others (project sponsors should be prepared to show supporting documentation if seeking to use Federal funds from other sources as match). Other than this exception, in accordance with 54 U.S.C. § 200305(f)(1) projects seeking LWCF grants may not include funds from other Federal sources in the project’s budget, even if all programs’ match requirements are met. Projects whose budgets contain other federal funds aside from as described above will be eliminated from the competition without consideration.

C3. Other The process for a project sponsor to seek an LWCF grant will begin at the state level. There is no limit on the number of proposals a state can submit, however, each project proposal must contain at least one of the program priorities identified in Section A. Projects not containing at least one of these priorities will be eliminated from consideration.

https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=54+USC+200305&f=treesort&fq=true&num=9&hl=true&edition=prelim&granuleId=USC-prelim-title54-section200305 https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=6f6f94fa753026efdd8fe3d112929f25&mc=true&node=se2.1.200_1306&rgn=div8 https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=6f6f94fa753026efdd8fe3d112929f25&mc=true&node=se2.1.200_1306&rgn=div8 https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=54+USC+200305&f=treesort&fq=true&num=9&hl=true&edition=prelim&granuleId=USC-prelim-title54-section200305

The lead state agency will be responsible for: further soliciting project proposals from other state agencies, local units of government, and federally-recognized Indian Tribes; conducting the initial review of proposals for completeness and eligibility requirements; evaluating and prioritizing proposals according to the criteria used for this competition as well as criteria from the State’s Open Project Selection Process (OPSP), if applicable; ensuring that proposals are consistent with priorities outlined in the state’s SCORP; and selecting the proposal(s) to be nominated. If a proposal is selected for funding in the national competition, the lead agency will also be responsible for submitting the final application to the NPS. Grants will be awarded to the lead agency, which will be responsible for ensuring that allocated funds are used for the purposes of and in a manner consistent with the LWCF. The lead agency will in turn make a sub-award to the project’s sponsor, which must be the public entity that submitted the proposal. Project sponsors interested in seeking a grant must contact the lead agency to get specific details about the state’s process for identifying projects for this competition. A list of agency contacts can be found at: https://www.nps.gov/subjects/lwcf/contact-list.htm.

If a project is selected, the project cost estimate generally defines the maximum federal share that can be requested, unless the additional amount is nominal, up to the overall ceiling of $20,000,000. (Note this is a departure in policy from grants awarded under the LWCF formula program, which under some circumstances permit amendments to increase the federal share.) In general, significant changes to the project proposal after the initial selection, whether in terms of the scope of work (such as eliminating or changing proposed scope items) or the budget (such as introducing new costs or revising costs that such that they impact other costs in the budget or scope components), are discouraged as they may materially alter the circumstances under which the project was evaluated and selected. Such changes can lead to the federal share of the grant offer being reduced or the grant offer being withdrawn entirely.

Excluded Parties: NPS conducts a review of the SAM.gov Exclusions database for all applicant entities and their key project personnel prior to award. The NPS 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.

D. Application and Submission Information

D1. Address to Request Application Package The full NOFO is available to be accessed and downloaded from the Synopsis page of the announcement in Grants.gov. Project sponsors should check with their state’s lead agency to determine if the state has any other requirements for submitting proposals at the state level. You may also contact the NPS for assistance (see Section G for contact information).

D2. Content and Form of Application Submission Project Narrative For the purposes of the competition, project proposals will be reviewed and evaluated based on a pre-application. The pre-application must include all five Required Elements, listed in a. to e.

below. Pre-applications submitted without all of the required elements will be eliminated from the competition without consideration. Project proposals will be scored and ranked based on an evaluation of how well the project meets the Secretary priorities, the review and selection criteria for the competition, and LWCF Act requirements. It is recommended that applicants follow the outline provided below for the narratives to ensure each criterion is addressed.

Project sponsors should understand that they are submitting pre-applications that are not considered a complete and final application and that if a project is selected, one will need to be submitted. Notably, the pre-application does not include important documentation needed to substantiate the project’s compliance with environmental and historic/cultural resources laws (i.e., NEPA, NHPA), which will be required if the project is selected. Further, an offer of grant funding could be withdrawn if development of these documents reveals a previously unknown issue that materially affects the project’s eligibility or feasibility of completion. If this occurs, the NPS will move to the next project on the ranked list.

Please also note that the electronic application system (grants.gov) has an overall application size limit of 25 megabytes, above which the application will not be sent to the NPS. Check the file sizes of individual attachments and do not submit extraneous material. Overall, the pre-application should not exceed 40 pages total in length and fewer than 25 is preferred.

Required Proposal Elements

a. Letter of recommendation from the state

The state lead agency should highlight why and how the project was selected, including concurring with or supplementing the sub-applicant’s explanation for how the project helps to advance the Secretary priorities and the state’s SCORP.

b. Standard forms for federal grant applications, including the Application for Federal Assistance (SF-424) and Budget Information for Construction Programs (SF-424C)

c. Project narrative (maximum length: 10 pages) – see format and content below

We recommend that the narrative be outlined in the order of the 7 criteria (headers provided below) to ensure that the project (and budget) narratives directly address each criterion.

d. Budget narrative (maximum length: 5 pages, including tables)

e. Site maps/plans and exact project location(s)

The pre-application must include: 1) a small-scale map showing the general location of the project and any other relevant resources in the vicinity of the project site; 2) a large-scale map or aerial photo delineating the area to be acquired and/or developed through the project, as well as the proposed boundary for the park/recreation area that will be subject to the protection provisions of 54 U.S.C. § 200305(f)(3), and 3) a plan or sketch of the site that depicts the likely https://www.nps.gov/subjects/lwcf/lwcf-forms.htm https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=54+USC+200305&f=treesort&fq=true&num=9&hl=true&edition=prelim&granuleId=USC-prelim-title54-section200305 location of planned recreational or other improvements and other features such as where the public will access the site, parking, etc.

Project narrative (maximum length: 10 pages)

Project Overview: Provide a brief overview of the project describing the type of project (acquisition, development, and/or renovation), overall scope of work, expected benefits from project activities, and any other useful information to summarize the proposal.

Acquisition Projects: provide a street address sufficient to provide at least a general location for the property, a description of the property, and an explanation of the need for its acquisition. Explain whether the acquisition would create a new public park or recreation area or is to expand an existing site. Describe and quantify the types of resources and features on the property as well as any constraints (e.g., existing development; hazardous materials/contamination history; or restrictions such as institutional controls, easements, rights-of-way, reversionary interests, above ground/underground utilities; etc.). Describe the plans for developing the property after acquisition and the timeframe, including when the site is expected to be open and accessible for public use. Describe the current status of the acquisition, such as negotiations with the landowner or development of due diligence materials such as title work and appraisal.

Development Projects: provide a street address sufficient to provide at least a general location for the property, a description of the planned physical improvements and/or facilities, and the reason(s) such development is needed. Explain whether the work involves new development or rehabilitation or replacement of existing facilities. Describe and quantify the types of resources and features available on the site as well as any constraints. Describe the current status of planning for the development and the timeframe for completing the project, including when the site will be open (or reopened) and accessible for public use.

“Combination” Projects (comprising both acquisition and development, including projects where the land acquisition is being used as in-kind match): provide an overview that combines the acquisition and development elements above.

Secretary of the Interior Priorities

Identify which Secretary priority or priorities the project will fulfill and how the project meets or furthers the priority. Describe the project’s planned outcomes and the expected benefits to outdoor recreation and/or habitat as applicable. Explain if these will be new, expanded, or rehabilitated features. Describe how the public currently or will be able to use and access the site and what types of recreation opportunities will be available due to the project.

Project Engagement and Participation

Describe the process that led to the development of this proposal. In particular, focus on efforts to engage the public and other interested/affected entities such as corporations, trade groups, and non-governmental organizations. Describe their participation in the project’s development. Describe any partnerships or other collaborative efforts that have helped or will help facilitate the project. Describe or provide evidence of support for the project, particularly from local residents.

Project’s Alignment with SCORP and other applicable plans

Describe how the project will advance, implement, or meet a priority recreation need and/or goal of the state’s SCORP and other comprehensive park and recreation plans. Depending on the nature of the project, credit can also be received for aligning with or advancing priorities of other relevant plans such as recovery plans, State Wildlife Action Plans, or any other applicable plan.

Project Readiness:

Describe the status of the planning for the grant project and its readiness to be implemented, including any site assessment or reviews, and permits or clearances initiated or completed.

Describe the timeline for the planned scope of work and a proposed period of performance, including due dates for discrete benchmarks of significant work elements that will support the grant project’s implementation to completion. Describe the current use (if any) or disposition of the property targeted for the project if uses will need to be discontinued or the site rehabilitated. If there are any existing non-outdoor recreation or other non-public uses that are intended to continue on the property on an interim or permanent basis and/or proposed in the future, these should be explained.

Applicant and Partner Capacity

Describe the project sponsor’s experience in completing similar projects. If partners are or will be involved in the grant project’s implementation, their role(s) should also be described. Describe who holds or will hold title to the property and how the area will be managed and maintained to assure permanent use for public outdoor recreation. Describe the funding resources available to support the operation and maintenance. If partners will be involved with long-term management of the property, this should be described. If applicable, the project sponsor’s past experience with managing grant funds, particularly from the LWCF or other federal awards, should be characterized.

1. SF-424, Application for Federal Assistance

Applicants must submit the appropriate Standard Form (SF)-424, Application for Federal Assistance. Individuals applying as a private citizen (i.e., unrelated to any business or nonprofit organization you may own or operate in your name), must complete the SF-424, Application for Federal Assistance-Individual form. All other applicants must complete the standard SF-424, Application for Federal Assistance. The required application forms are available with this announcement on Grants.gov. The SF-424, Application for Federal Assistance must be complete, signed, and dated. Do not include any proprietary or personally identifiable information. 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).

Applicants must submit the appropriate SF-424 Budget Information form and Budget Narrative. For construction programs or projects, applicants must complete and submit the SF- 424C, “Budget Information for Construction Programs”. All of the required application forms are available with this announcement on Grants.gov. Federal award recipients and subrecipients are subject to Federal award cost principles in 2 CFR 200.

Any applicant organization that has not completed the financial assistance certifications and representations within their SAM.gov registration must submit the appropriate signed and dated Assurances form. All required application forms are available with this announcement on Grants.gov.

Detailed Budget Narrative The project budget shall include detailed information on all cost categories and must clearly identify all estimated project costs. Unit costs shall be provided for all budget items including the cost of work to be provided by contractors or sub-recipients. In addition, applicants shall include a narrative description of the items included in the project budget, including the value of in-kind contributions of goods and services provided to complete the project when cost share is identified to be included (reference section C of this announcement). Cost categories can include, but are not limited to, those costs items included on the SF424A or SF424C.

Viability and reasonableness of the project’s budget

This section should explain how the requested LWCF assistance will be used and how the match requirement will be met. Break down, describe, and justify the proposed costs, which should clearly correspond to the details of the work activities outlined in the project narrative. Project sponsors are encouraged to provide budget information in both narrative and tabular forms to ensure sufficient detail so the budget can be clearly understood, particularly in terms of what costs are proposed for reimbursement by the LWCF grant and what costs will be used to satisfy the 1:1 match.

Project sponsors are encouraged to review Chapters 3 and 5 of the LWCF Manual to ensure understanding about eligible costs. Of note: Land acquisition costs should be based on an appraisal or other estimate of fair market value (explain the basis). In accord with 54 U.S.C. § 200305(e)(2), incidental costs relating to acquisition are not eligible. On the development side, up to 25% of the total project budget may be for project management/administration expenses, design/engineering fees, and contingencies. These must be included in the proposed budget and cannot be introduced at the final application stage. If indirect costs are planned (by the state lead agency) this should be reflected in the budget and a copy of the current Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (NICRA) should be included.

Match contributions can consist of cash, land donation, and in-kind contributions of supplies or services needed to implement the project. Describe the availability or firmness of commitments for funds to meet the 1:1 match and if applicable, for the full amount of funds needed to complete the project. Sufficient funding to meet the match requirement must be in hand or firmly committed at the time of application. Project sponsors should also ensure costs are reasonable and that it’s clear why they are being included in the project budget.

As noted in Section C.2, other federal funds may not be included in a project budget unless being used as a match for the LWCF grant when specifically authorized by the source’s enabling legislation. Project sponsors should be prepared to show supporting documentation if requested. Project sponsors are not permitted to also seek LWCF formula funding to support the project (except as an alternate grant source if not selected).

If the LWCF grant-funded project is part of a larger project, please be sure the LWCF-related components of the budget can be clearly discerned. It can be difficult for reviewers to evaluate and score a budget when it’s not clear how the grant funds will be used or what specific costs are being provided as match, and project sponsors risk having the requested federal share reduced if it appears ineligible costs are proposed to be charged to the grant or used as match. Note that the grant-based element(s) of the project must still result in a viable recreation opportunity that is not reliant on other funding even in the context of a larger planned project.

Partner Support and Leveraging

Describe how the project is or will be supported by partnerships with the public, private, and/or non-profit sectors specifically through contributions of money, land, supplies, services, etc.

In addition to the types of contributions and amounts, be sure to describe the source(s) of the contributions proposed for the match, particularly if they are from non-public partners in the project, and whether they are already available or still being secured. If applicable, describe how and to what extent the LWCF grant will play a role in leveraging funding for the project from non-federal public, private, and/or non-profit resources.

Conflict of Interest Disclosure Per the Financial Assistance Interior Regulation (FAIR), 2 CFR §1402.112, applicants must state in their application if any actual or potential conflict of interest exists at the time of submission.

(a) Applicability.

(1) This section intends to ensure that non-Federal entities and their employees take appropriate steps to avoid conflicts of interest in their responsibilities under or with respect to Federal financial assistance agreements.

(2) In the procurement of supplies, equipment, construction, and services by recipients and by subrecipients, the conflict of interest provisions in 2 CFR 200.318 apply.

(b) Notification.

(1) Non-Federal entities, including applicants for financial assistance awards, must disclose in writing any conflict of interest to the DOI awarding agency or pass-through entity in accordance with 2 CFR 200.112.

(2) Recipients must establish internal controls that include, at a minimum, procedures to identify, disclose, and mitigate or eliminate identified conflicts of interest. The recipient is responsible for notifying the Financial Assistance Officer in writing of any conflicts of interest that may arise during the life of the award, including those that have been reported by subrecipients.

(c) Restrictions on lobbying. Non-Federal entities are strictly prohibited from using funds under a grant or cooperative agreement for lobbying activities and must provide the required certifications and disclosures pursuant to 43 CFR part 18 and 31 U.S.C. 1352.

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(d) Review procedures. The Financial Assistance Officer will examine each conflict of interest disclosure on the basis of its particular facts and the nature of the proposed grant or cooperative agreement, and will determine whether a significant potential conflict exists and, if it does, develop an appropriate means for resolving it.

(e) Enforcement. Failure to resolve conflicts of interest in a manner that satisfies the government may be cause for termination of the award. Failure to make required disclosures may result in any of the remedies described in 2 CFR 200.338, Remedies for noncompliance, including suspension or debarment (see also 2 CFR part 180).

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.

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.

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. The statement and the description of overlap or duplication, when applicable, may be provided within the proposal or as a separate attachment to the application. If at any time a proposal is awarded funds that would be overlapping or duplicative of the funding requested from NPS, the applicant must immediately notify the NPS point of contact. Any overlap or duplication of funding between the proposed project and other active or anticipated projects may impact selection and/or funding amount.

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D3. Unique Entity Identifier and System for Award Management (SAM) Identifier and System for Award Management (SAM.gov) Registration: This requirement does not apply to individuals applying for funds as individual (i.e., unrelated to any business or nonprofit organization you may own or operate) or any entity with an exception approved by the funding bureau or office in accordance with bureau or office policy. 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. We 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 program 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. 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.

Obtain a DUNS Number

Request a DUNS Number through the Dun & Bradstreet website. 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.

Register with the System for Award Management (SAM)

Register on the SAM.gov website. “Help” tab on the website contains User Guides and other information to assist you with registration. The Grants.gov Register with SAM page 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.

D4. Submission Dates and Times Due Date for Applications 08/20/2021 Application Due Date Explanation The state LWCF lead agencies are responsible for pre-applications being submitted to the National Park Service. Pre-applications are due to the NPS via Grants.gov by 10pm ET on Friday, August 20, 2021. The LWCF lead agencies may establish earlier deadlines for project sponsors to submit their proposals for review for nomination to the national competition. Applications must be submitted electronically through Grants.gov. Applications mailto:SAMHelp@dnb.com sent by facsimile, email, or mail delivery will not be accepted. Applications that are not received by the deadline will not be considered. The NPS will accept pre-applications that: 1) were accepted in Grants.gov by the stipulated time, based on the time/date stamp in Grants.gov and 2) have reached the validated stage, even if they are not forwarded to the DOI’s grant management system before the deadline.

You are encouraged to submit the application well before the deadline and not wait until the last minute. The uploading and transfer process can take a while, especially when Grants.gov is getting heavy use. In addition, after the application is submitted it gets validated before it is forwarded to the NPS. Normally this happens within a few minutes to a couple of hours, but it can take Grants.gov up to a day or two to validate or reject an application. You can monitor your application’s status by email. You will receive four (4) emails from Grants.gov in the submittal process: the first confirms successful receipt and contains a Grants.gov tracking number; the second confirms that the application has been validated; the third confirms the application was “received” by the agency, and the fourth assigns an NPS tracking number. If you do not get the first email, you should assume the application did not even successfully submit to Grants.gov. If you do not receive all four emails, you should assume the application was not actually forwarded to NPS, notwithstanding the email about receipt, in which case you should let your NPS program officer know. Sometimes there are glitches that prevent actual transmission, for example, applications that exceed 25 megabytes in size do not get forwarded to the DOI system. Most problems occur at the validation step so you should always check the second email; if there was a problem it should be described in this email. Technical difficulties with application submittal should be directed to the Grants.gov help desk. NPS staff can confirm receipt of submission but cannot resolve issues with Grants.gov or extend the application deadline due to difficulties with submission via Grants.gov.

D5. 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.

D6. Funding Restrictions 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 https://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/management/office-federal-financial-management/ https://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/management/office-federal-financial-management/ https://www.doi.gov/ibc/contactus/icsfeedback

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.