USDA-NRCS-NHQ-FSCP-26-NOFO0001453_final.pdf

Natural Resources

Conservation Service

Feral Swine Eradication and Control Pilot Program

Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Feral Swine Eradication and Control Pilot Program Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) No. USDA-NRCS-NHQ-FSCP-26-NOFO0001453

Table of Contents

A. BASIC INFORMATION

1. Federal Awarding Agency Name

2. Announcement Type

3. Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) Number

4. Assistance Listing

5. Funding Details

6. Key Dates

7. Executive Summary

8. Contact Information

B. ELIGIBILITY

1. Eligible Applicants

2. Other Eligibility Considerations

3. Cost Sharing

C. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

D. APPLICATION CONTENTS AND FORMAT

1. Pre-Applications and Letters of Intent

2. Content and Form of Application Submission

E. SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS AND DEADLINE

F. APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION

1. Review and Selection Process

2. Merit/Technical Criteria

3. Administrative Review and Risk Criteria

G. FEDERAL AWARD NOTICES

H. POST-AWARD REQUIREMENTS (ADMINISTRATIVE & NATIONAL POLICY)

I. OTHER INFORMATION

1. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)

2. Government Obligation

3. Award Counterparts

A. BASIC INFORMATION for Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) Title: Feral Swine Eradication and Control Pilot Program

1. Federal Awarding Agency Name

U.S. Department of Agriculture – Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)

2. Announcement Type

Initial Announcement

3. Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) Number

USDA-NRCS-NHQ-FSCP-26-NOFO0001453

4. Assistance Listing

This opportunity is included under 10.934, Feral Swine Eradication and Control Pilot Program.

5. Funding Details

The amount of Federal funding expected to be available for awards is $35,000,000.

However, the agency retains the discretion to award a larger or lesser amount.

The agency expects to make up to 25 awards.

The agency anticipates the amount of each award to range from $75,000 to $3,000,000. The agency may choose to partially fund selected projects.

Applicants should propose projects between four and five years in duration. Plan projects based on an estimated project start date of December 2026.

6. Key Dates Application deadline: Submit via Grants.gov by 11:59 pm Eastern Time on September 21, 2026.

The agency anticipates making selections by October 23, 2026, and expects to execute awards by December 2026. These dates are estimates and are subject to change.

7. Executive Summary

The purpose of the Feral Swine Eradication and Control Project (FSCP) is to respond to the threat feral swine pose to agriculture, native ecosystems, and human and animal health.

Feral swine are a destructive, non-native, invasive species and their populations have expanded across the United States since the 1980’s. Over an estimated $3.4 billion in damage, including agricultural, is caused by feral swine each year. The species can have significant negative impacts on plant and animal habitats, soils, water quality, as well as other natural and cultural resources. Livestock and humans are also susceptible to diseases carried by feral swine. The Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 directs the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to carry out the pilot program where the Secretary has determined that feral swine have been identified as such a threat and the One Big Beautiful Bill Act extended this authority. FSCP funding will be available for projects identified by USDA in conjunction with State Technical Committees in states determined by the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) Wildlife Services as having high feral swine densities. Please visit the Feral Swine Eradication and Control Pilot Program webpage (https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/feral-swine-eradication-and-control-pilot-program) to find the proposed pilot projects looking for applicants. Additional information about proposed pilot project activities in the following states Alabama, Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas will also be available on the webpage. Pilot projects will consist broadly of three coordinated components: 1) feral swine removal by APHIS, 2) restoration efforts supported by NRCS or non-federal partner, and 3) assistance to producers for feral swine control provided through grants with non-federal partners. This call for proposals is intended to address component 2 and component 3 described above for non-federal partners to provide landowner assistance for restoration and/or on-farm trapping efforts and provide related services as part of the pilot projects described above. Funding for these services will be provided through grant agreements between partners and NRCS. All projects will be a collaborative and coordinated effort between the selected partner, NRCS, and APHIS. It is required that APHIS maintains operational control of feral swine management activities.

8. Contact Information

Grants.gov issues - Contact Grants.gov Applicant Support at 1-800-518-4726 or support@grants.gov.

For all other questions, email FPAC-BC Grants and Agreements Division (GAD):

Email: sarah.trumbull@usda.gov Subject line of email: USDA-NRCS-NHQ-FSCP-26-NOFO0001453 Name: Sarah Trumbull Grants Management Specialist, FPAC Business Center (FPAC-

BC)

The agency will not address questions about a potential applicant’s eligibility nor the merits of a specific proposal.

To protect the integrity of the competitive process, applicants must not contact agency program staff with questions; contact GAD staff as directed above.

Subscribe to receive correspondence issued by GAD. Topics may highlight award-management issues, announce implementation of new policies or procedures, provide guides and tools for applying for awards, etc. To subscribe, visit https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/USDAFARMERS/subscriber/new?topic_id=USDA

FARMERS_4170

B. ELIGIBILITY

1. Eligible Applicants

The following entity types are eligible to apply

• City or township governments

• County governments

• Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized)

• Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments)

• Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS (other than institutions of higher education)

• Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS (other than institutions of higher education)

• Private institutions of higher education

• Public and State-controlled institutions of higher education

• Special district governments

• State governments

The following applicants are considered ineligible:

• For profit organizations

• Foreign organizations and foreign public entities

• “Partnerships” or other similar groupings (i.e., application must be submitted by a single entity; a partner may serve as a subrecipient).

2. Other Eligibility Considerations

Eligibility for this opportunity is limited to non-Federal entities. A non-Federal entity is a state, local government, Indian tribe, institution of higher education, for-profit or nonprofit organization that carries out a federal award as a recipient or subrecipient.

Application Eligibility Considerations:

• Applications must meet submission requirements in section E.

o For new users of Grants.gov, see section E.2. of this document for information about steps required before submitting an application via Grants.gov.

• If the agency determines more than one version or substantially the same application has been submitted, the agency will only consider the last application submitted prior to the established deadline for purposes of the competition.

• An applicant organization may submit more than one application for different projects or propose different approaches. There is no limitation on the number of applications an individual investigator or program director can submit.

Awards Eligibility Considerations:

• The agency will make awards only o to a single entity o for projects selected following the competitive review process (see section F.2.)

o for projects that meet any specified cost share requirement (see item 3 of this section) o to entities that:

meet the eligibility criteria (see section B.) by the application deadline (September 21, 2026) are not debarred, suspended, or otherwise excluded from receiving Federal awards ((2 CFR 200.206(d))) have an active System for Award Management (SAM) registration (2 CFR part 25) the agency determines does not pose an unacceptable risk related to proper management of a Federal award (2 CFR 200.206)

• Awards are not Farm Bill incentive contracts and therefore, not limited by the payment limitation in 16 USC Chapter 58.

Project Participant/Agricultural Producers Eligibility Considerations:

• Any producer receiving a payment through participation in a funded project must meet the eligibility requirements of 7 CFR Parts 12 and 1400 and have control of the land involved for the period of performance.

• Any producer receiving a payment through participation in a funded project is subject to the Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) limitation. In addition, they must have an AGI that does not exceed $900,000. If provided an award, the Recipient must self-certify and maintain records showing that participating producers receiving payments using Federal funding meet the eligibility and AGI requirements. Section 1704 (a)(3) of the 2018 Farm Bill states the Secretary may waive the AGI limit on a case-by-case basis if the Secretary determines that environmentally sensitive land of special significance would be protected as a result of such waiver. Awardees may request waivers once their project commences.

• Section 1240B(d)(6) of the Food Security Act of 1985, 16 U.S.C. 3839aa-2(6), prohibits duplicative payments. Accordingly, direct, or indirect payments cannot be made for a practice for which an individual or legal entity has already received funds or is contracted to receive funds through any USDA conservation program (e.g., Conservation Reserve Program, Environmental Quality Incentives Program, Agricultural Management Assistance, Conservation Stewardship Program). If provided an award, the recipient must self-certify that payments to producers using Federal funding are not duplicative.

3. Cost Sharing

Required Cost Share:

• 25 percent of total project costs (total project costs includes Federal and non- Federal funds)

• Not committing the required cost sharing will make the application ineligible.

• may be achieved with:

o The non-federal share of funds may be committed by the project partners and can be a combination of cash and in-kind contributions, but all projects must include some amount of cash. Examples of in-kind contributions include work done by unpaid volunteers and donations of supplies, facilities, or equipment. In-kind contributions identified in the project budget must be quantifiable, verifiable, and necessary to accomplish program activities.

o Cost sharing must be committed at the time of application submission. Cost sharing funds must meet the criteria stated at 2 CFR 200.306 and be valued in accordance with 2 CFR 200.306(d) funds from another Federal source if the Federal statute authorizing that program specifically allows for it.

• Additional details about cost sharing funds/contributions is located at 2 CFR 200.306.

• Must be met before the Federal award expires; pace of cost share may very throughout award period which will be monitored for progress

• Refer to Attachment portion of section D.2. of this NOFO for information about Letters of Support.

Additional Cost Sharing Information:

o Selected applicants may receive FSCP funding of up to 75 percent of the total project cost of activities encompassed in their proposal. FSCP recipients must provide a non-federal funding cost-share amount at least equal to 25 percent of the total proposal cost requested. For example, if an applicant requests $100,000 in total proposal funding, at least $25,000 in non-federal cost-share funds must be committed by the applicant and $75,000 may come from FSCP funding. Cost share funds may be a combination of cash and in-kind contributions, but all projects must include some amount of cash.

o All cost share funds must be identified in both the SF-424A and budget narrative components of the application. Project partners (other than the applicant) must provide commitment letters for all cash and in kind contributions. A separate commitment letter is required for each cash and/or in-kind contribution. Commitment letters must be signed by the authorized organizational representative of the contributing organization and must include: (1) the name, address, and telephone number of the project partner; (2) the name of the applicant organization; (3) the title of the project for which the contribution is made, (4) the dollar value of the contribution; and (5) a statement that the contributor commits to furnish the contribution during the grant period. A sample commitment letter is included in the Documents section of the Grants.gov opportunity.

o Applications without signed written commitments covering the full value of the cost share contribution are deemed incomplete.

o The value of applicant contributions to the project is established according to federal cost principles. Applicants should refer to 2 CFR

200.306 for additional guidance on cost share funds, in-kind contributions, and allowable costs.

C. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The authorizing statutes and regulations for this opportunity are:

FSCP was originally authorized as part of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (P.L.

115-334; Section 2408). FSCP was reauthorized with the passing of P.L. 119-21 which provided funding available through fiscal year 2031. Authority for the administration of 50% of the funds has been delegated to the Chief of the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).

Unmanned aircraft systems is an unallowable expense.

The specific activities of each project will vary based on geography, partner ability, and local concerns. In general, each project should include a trapping, monitoring and mitigation portion. Examples of project activities to receive financial assistance may include cost-share programs for traps, trap-loan programs and training events for proper trapping techniques of feral swine. Only the main partner should submit an application, and any additional partners can receive a subaward.

Proposed pilot projects and areas can be found at (https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/feral-swine-eradication-and-control-pilot-program). Please visit the webpage to find information about the partner role for the projects and the areas where work is anticipated.

Awardees will perform all work in close coordination with the applicable NRCS state staff and APHIS Wildlife Services.

NRCS financial assistance for producers and provided through grants is limited to providing financial assistance for activities that will help landowners control the feral swine population and/or recover from damages inflicted by feral swine. These activities may include, but are not limited to, training, equipment, and feral swine trapping operations that are consistent with APHIS technical standards. Subsequent actions, including dispatching and disposal, may not be funded with NRCS financial assistance and must occur consistent with all associated federal, state, and local laws. Financial assistance may not be used for landowners to hire independent, third-party trappers while participating in FSCP activities. Funds distributed by NRCS for the FSCP may not be used to provide producer financial assistance for:

• Lethal Removal including:

o Ground Shooting o Euthanasia (use of barbiturates) o Aerial gunning o Or any other form of hunting

• Unmanned aircraft systems

• Snares

• Cable Restraints

• Foot Holds

• Relocation

• Frightening devices

• Immobilization

• Repellents

• Reproductive inhibitors

• Toxicants

• Any other state or locally identified prohibited techniques or practices

NRCS is accepting proposals that address the expected partner roles in the identified pilot projects. Additional information about specific pilot projects including target areas and the roles for which partner assistance is being requested can be found here:

https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/feral-swine-eradication-and-control-pilot-program

Other Project Needs and Requirements:

All projects are expected to participate in a national damage assessment to measure the impact of feral swine damage in the pilot areas. Projects are welcome to conduct additional research specific to the pilot area and local needs. In prior years, the national damage assessment was a questionnaire regarding estimated damage that participating landowners were expected to answer throughout the project timeline. Details for the continuation of this assessment are not yet finalized, but partners should anticipate collecting damage assessment data from landowners.

FSCP is a collaborative program and all projects require APHIS operational control, participation, and oversight for trapping activities. No trapping activities can be planned or conducted without APHIS involvement. Partners cannot act independently without APHIS coordination.

Selected partners are required to collect standardized information for trapping operations in accordance with APHIS procedures. Information shall be collected using a data collection application designed by APHIS and usable on a mobile device. Examples of data collected include trap location, number of pigs trapped, location of nearby resources, etc.

D. APPLICATION CONTENTS AND FORMAT

1. Pre-Applications and Letters of Intent

This NOFO does not require pre-applications or letters of intent; do not submit a pre-application or a letter of intent.

2. Content and Form of Application Submission

Notes:

• Form instructions and any available templates are provided in the FPAC-BC Grants.gov Application Guide available in the Related Documents tab of the Grants.gov Application Package on Grants.gov. Instructions provided in this

NOFO will reference guidance as appropriate in the FPAC-BC Grants.gov Application Guide.

• To be considered for funding under this opportunity, an application must contain the documents identified below.

Document Instructions

Application for Federal Assistance (SF-424) see section V.2.*

Project Narrative Attachment Form see section V.3.*

Project Abstract see section V.4*

Budget Information for Non-Construction Programs (SF-424A) see section V.5.*

Budget Narrative Attachment Form see section V.6.*

Other Attachments Form

• Current and Pending Support

• GADSUM9, Applicant Contact(s) Information

• NICRA, as applicable see section V.7.* see section V.7.1* see section V.7.2* see section V.7.3.*

Attachments

• Subawards, as applicable

• Commitment Letters, as applicable

• Conflict of Interest, as applicable see section V.8.* see section V.8.1* see section V.8.2* see applicable section below

Grants.gov Lobbying Form see section VI.9.*

Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (SF-LLL) see section VI.10.*

*Applicable section of the FPAC-BC Grants.gov Application Guide

a. Application for Federal Assistance (SF-424)

See section V.2. of the FPAC-BC Grants.gov Application Guide for instructions.

b. Project Narrative Attachment Form

• The following instructions are in addition to those included in section V.3. of the FPAC-BC Grants.gov Application Guide.

• The Project Narrative is subject to the attachment requirements noted in section III.2.1 of the FPAC-BC Grants.gov Application Guide.

• The project narrative must not exceed fifteen (15) pages. This page limitation applies to the project narrative only.

The Project Narrative must also include the following information:

i. Project background: Describe the issue or problem driving the need for the proposed project. Provide evidence that the proposed project has a high probability for success.

ii. Project objectives: Be specific using qualitative and quantitative measures, if possible, to describe the project’s purpose, goals, and objectives. Describe the project need.

iii. Project methods: Describe clearly the methodology of the project, the tools or processes that will be used to implement the project, and the role of the partner in completing the project.

iv. Eligible producer participation: Estimate the number of eligible producers involved in the project and describe the type and extent of their involvement.

v. Project action plan and timeline: Provide a table listing project actions, timeframes, and associated milestones through project completion.

Applicants should develop their timelines based on an anticipated project start date of December 2026.

vi. Project management: Give a description of how the project will be organized and managed, including a list/description of project partners.

Include a list of key technical and administrative personnel, their experience managing federal awards, and their anticipated contributions to the project. Also, include a description of how communication will be structured within the project team to ensure effective project management. Do not include resumes or CVs.

vii. Institutional background: Describes the applicant institution in terms of its location(s), organizational structure, demographics, mission, relationship to the service area and past successes with similar type projects. A description of the capabilities to perform the terms of the cooperative agreement, including a brief description of the qualifications, employment status, current responsibilities, applicable licensures, and proposed level of effort for the project coordinator and staff responsible for implementation.

viii. Resources needed: A description of the resources of the applicant necessary to successfully perform the activities listed above including staffing capacity, equipment resources and/or support necessary to complete the identified activities.

ix. Project deliverables/products: Provide a list of specific deliverables and metrics or measures that will allow NRCS to monitor project progress and approve payments. The proposal must include a set of technical deliverables designed to evaluate outcomes, performance, and broader applicability of the project. Awardees will be required to collect and report standardized metrics in all pilot areas. These metrics will be focused on collecting information regarding damage caused by feral swine on landowner properties involved in the pilot projects.

x. Project evaluation: Describe the methodology or procedures used to evaluate the project, determine technical feasibility, quantify the results of the project, and ensure project objectives were impactful. Awardees will collect information regarding damage caused by feral swine and can collect additional measurements and data as necessary for the specific project evaluation (i.e. – water quality measurements, population estimates, etc.).

xi. Benefits or results expected and transferability: Identify the results and benefits derived from the project. Identify project beneficiaries, i.e., agricultural producers by type, region, or sector; rural communities;

and/or municipalities. Describe how the results will be communicated to others via outreach activities and how these entities will benefit.

Forecast the lasting impact of project results.

xii. Graphics: Including pictures, charts, graphs and similar items – count towards the 15-page maximum.

xiii. References: References, bibliographies, and citations do not count towards the 15-page maximum.

Note: If your proposal includes information collected from non-Federal sources, ensure the collection meets the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act. Surveys of individuals or entities are generally prohibited without prior approval from the Office of Management and Budget. For additional guidance about allowable and unallowable activities, please visit the following website: https://pra.digital.gov/do-i-need-clearance/.

c. Project Abstract

See section V.4. of the FPAC-BC Grants.gov Application Guide for instructions.

• The following instructions are in addition to those included in section V.4. of the FPAC-BC Grants.gov Application Guide.

The Project Abstract must also include the following information:

i. The applicant entity name.

ii. The duration of project in months.

iii. The amount of federal funding requested.

iv. The amount of non-federal cost-share funding committed.

v. The project title.

vi. The geographic location of the project.

vii. Other organizations, entities and agencies that would partner with the applicant in implementing the activities of the proposal.

viii. A brief project description - describe in non-technical language the issue or problem, the objectives to address the issue or problem, the approach to be employed (including the role of participating partners, if applicable), how the impact will be quantified and outcomes measured, and the predicted benefits or deliverables of the project. Outcome measures for projects may include, but are not limited to, reduction in crop damage, changes in water quality, or other foreseeable benefits of feral swine control.

ix. A technical and administrative contact for the project (if both are the same person, please note this). NRCS will use the technical and administrative contacts identified as the primary applicant contacts.

d. Budget Information for Non-Construction Programs (SF-424A)

See section V.5. of the FPAC-BC Grants.gov Application Guide for instructions.

e. Budget Narrative

• The following instructions are in addition to those included in section V.6. of the FPAC-BC Grants.gov Application Guide.

• The Budget Narrative is subject to the attachment requirements noted in section III.2.1 of the FPAC-BC Grants.gov Application Guide.

V.6. of the FPAC-BC Grants.gov Application Guide for instructions on how to determine the allowable indirect costs when a statutory limitation is applicable.

• Cost sharing – Refer to section B.3. of this NOFO to determine applicability. Include details following budget narrative instructions (see section V.6. of the FPAC-BC Grants.gov Application Guide).

• Provide a detailed narrative in support of the budget for the project broken down by each project year. Detail how the totals on the SF-424A were determined and demonstrate a clear connection between costs and the proposed project activities. Justify the project cost effectiveness and include justification for personnel and consultant salaries with a description of duties. Statement(s) of work for any subcontractors and consultants must be included as part of the application. The budget narrative should include both the federal funds requested and the applicant’s cost share funds.

• The budget narrative must be in text format with no charts, spreadsheets, or tables. It should be readable on letter-size, printable pages. The information needs to be presented in such a way that the reviewers can readily understand what expenses are incurred to support the project.

f. Other Attachments

• See section V.7. of the FPAC-BC Grants.gov Application Guide.

• Current and Pending Support- See section V.7.1 of the FPAC-BC

Grants.gov Application Guide for link to available template and instructions.

• GADSUM9, Applicant Contact(s) Information – See section V.7.2 of the FPAC-BC Grants.gov Application Guide for link to available template and instructions.

• Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate (NICRA) - See section V.7.3 of the FPAC- BC Grants.gov Application Guide for instructions.

g. Attachments

• See section V.8. of the FPAC-BC Grants.gov Application Guide.

• Subawards – if the organization intends to have subawards, see section V.8.1 of the FPAC-BC Grants.gov Application Guide for instructions.

• Commitment Letters – Commitment letters of support are required for all project receiving cost share contribution from outside their organization, please refer to section V.8.2 of the FPAC-BC Grants.gov Application Guide for instructions. The required content of the commitment letter is described in Section B.3 Cost Sharing and a sample commitment letter is included in the Documents section of the Grants.gov opportunity.

• Conflicts of Interest – see section j. of this part for further information.

h. Grants.gov Lobbying Form

See section V.9. of the FPAC-BC Grants.gov Application Guide for instructions.

i. Disclosure of Lobbying Activities

See section V.10. of the FPAC-BC Grants.gov Application Guide for instructions.

j. Disclosure of Potential Conflict of Interest

2 CFR 400.2 states that applicants must maintain written standards of conduct covering conflicts of interest and governing the performance of its employees in the selection, award, and administration of Federal awards. No employee, officer, or agent may participate in the selection, award, or administration of a Federal award if he or she has a real or apparent conflict of interest. Such a conflict of interest would arise when the employee, officer or agent, any member of his or her immediate family, his or her partner, or an organization which employs or is about to employ any of the parties referenced, has a financial or other interest in, or a tangible personal benefit from, an applicant considered for a Federal award. The standards of conduct must provide for disciplinary actions to be applied for violations of such standards by officers, employees, or agents of the applicant.

If the applicant has a parent, affiliate, or subsidiary organization that is not a state, local government, or Indian tribe, the applicant must also maintain written standards of conduct covering organizational conflicts of interest.

Organizational conflict of interest means that because of the relationships with a parent company, affiliate, or subsidiary organization, the applicant is unable or appears to be unable to be impartial in conducting a Federal award action involving a related organization.

Applicants must disclose in writing any potential conflicts of interest to the USDA awarding agency or pass-through entity. Include the name of the individual, the name of the entity with which the individual has a conflict, the nature of the financial or other interest, the value of the interest, and a description of how the interest relates to the application. Upload disclosures under Other Attachments (listed separately under Optional Forms) in Grants.gov. If no conflict exists, no submission is required.

k. Post Submission and Post Award Documentation

During the administrative review process (refer to section F.3. of this NOFO), it may be necessary to request further documentation from the applicant (e.g., organizational information as part of the risk assessment, more detail regarding proposed costs, revised documents).

E. SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS AND DEADLINE

1. Grants.gov Applications

• Applications must be submitted through Grants.gov.

• Grants.gov is a single site to find and apply for grant funding opportunities.

• All forms to prepare and submit an application are available through the funding opportunity on Grants.gov.

2. Grants.gov Requirements and General Guidance

Grants.gov has requirements (e.g., registration and software) that must be met ahead of being able to submit an application using Grants.gov. Refer to section II.1. of the FPAC-BC Grants.gov Application Guide.

• Applications must be received by Grants.gov by 11:59.59 pm Eastern Time (ET) on the established September 21, 2026 (see section A.6.); an application is considered late at 12:00 am ET and will be rejected.

• If the Apply button in the opportunity is not active (greyed out), see Unlock the Mystery of the Gray “Apply” Button: Four Scenarios. – Grants.gov Community Blog (wordpress.com) for possible scenarios.

• Grants.gov automatically records proof of submission by way of an electronic date/time stamp when the application is successfully received by Grants.gov.

• Grants.gov will send an email to the Authorized Organizational Representative (AOR) submitting an application when:

o an error prevents the transmission of the application o an application is successfully received by Grants.gov o the agency retrieves and downloads the application from

Grants.gov and download of submissions

• For trouble submitting an application to Grants.gov, contact Grants.gov Applicant Support at 1-800-518-4726 or support@grants.gov.

F. APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION

1. Review and Selection Process

The following applications will be accepted for the competitive review process:

• received by the established deadline

• meet eligibility criteria

• contains the applicable documents identified in section D.2.

• compliant with the provisions of this notice.

Applicants that do not meet the above criteria will be ineligible for consideration. The agency will send notification of elimination to applicants not meeting the above criteria.

Proposals that pass the initial screening are then evaluated using a two part process:

The agency plans to select reviewers from both national and state NRCS and APHIS offices based on their training and experience in relevant fields, considering the following factors:

• the level of relevant formal experience of the individual, as well as the extent to which an individual is engaged in relevant activities;

• the need to include experts from various areas of specialization within relevant fields;

• the need to include reviewers who can judge the effective usefulness of each application to producers and the general public.

• The Chief of NRCS in consultation with the APHIS Administrator will make the final award selections based on the recommendations of the reviewers and evaluation criteria.

Risk reviews will be conducted by the FPAC-BC, Grants and Agreements Division (GAD). The approving official will make the final award decisions. The approving official for this opportunity is the Deputy Chief for Programs.

2. Merit/Technical Criteria

Applicants will be evaluated using the following technical criteria to determine the applicant with the greatest capacity, skillset, and experience to execute this agreement efficiently and effectively. Selection will favor the applicant with the highest score based on the following Evaluation Criteria and their respective weights:

a. Activities (30 percent)

• Proposed activities contribute to the goals of the pilot project;

• Roles and responsibilities of all partners and participating parties are clearly defined, including the roles for each control technique.

b. Feasible Tools (15 percent)

• The design and implementation of the project is based on sound methodology and demonstrated technology; and

• Tools, activities, and methodologies follow APHIS guidelines and all state and local laws for the pilot project area.

c. Feasible Costs (15 percent)

• The budget is adequately explained and justified, and expenses allowable.

d. Measures of Success (10 percent)

• Both beneficial and adverse impacts are considered, and a significant level of improvement will be achieved; and

• The project outcomes are stated, measurable, and likely to be achieved.

e. Likelihood of Success (15 percent)

• Timeline and milestones are clear, reasonable, and attainable.

f. Landowner Participation and Community Interest (10 percent)

• There is potential for producers and landowners to use or participate in the project;

• The potential for successful transfer of continued control efforts, through planned project activities, to producers and communities to prevent re-establishment of feral swine; and

• Proposal includes robust partnership with entities that can substantially assist with delivery of project outcomes with clear project management structure and team communication laid out.

g. Existing Programs (5 percent)

• Projects in areas where existing state or tribal administered feral swine control programs contribute to proposed project activities

Both successful and unsuccessful applicants will be notified of the award decision via email

3. Administrative Review and Risk Criteria

The following are criteria that may be reviewed/verified prior to making an award.

• ensure applicant meets eligibility criteria,

• risk review of applicant (see 2 CFR 200.206) o review SAM to ensure the applicant is not suspended or debarred o review and consider information included in the designated integrity and performance system accessible through SAM (the Federal Awardee Performance Integrity Information System, FAPIIS) (see 41 USC 2313 and 2 CFR 200.206(a) (applies to applications to be supported with a total Federal share greater than $250,000) o assess financial stability of applicant o determine if applicant has a financial management system adequate to segregate and track federal funds o review history of Federal financial assistance award performance

• proposed costs are allowable, allocable, and necessary.

Based on risk assessment, the agency may impose specific award conditions in accordance with 2 CFR 200.208.

G. FEDERAL AWARD NOTICES

Successful Project Notification: The agency will provide notice that an application has been selected before it actually issues the Federal award. The selection notification does not authorize the applicant to begin performance. If the applicant chooses to begin project activities, it does so at its own risk; the risk that costs may not be reimbursed.

Notice of Award: The Notice of Grant and Agreement Award (ADS-093) contains information identified in 2 CFR 200.211 and is signed by the authorized agency official; it is the only authorizing document and will be provided electronically to the entity’s authorized official for signature.

Unsuccessful Project Notification: The agency will provide notice to unsuccessful applicants via an email to the individual listed as the Program Director. This notification will occur following the processing of successful applications.

H. POST-AWARD REQUIREMENTS (ADMINISTRATIVE & NATIONAL POLICY)

All project funds will be used in accordance with 2 CFR Part 200 and the General Terms and Conditions, which are available at the following website:

https://www.fpacbc.usda.gov/about/grants-and-agreements/award-terms-and-conditions/index.html. The award terms and conditions includes, but is not limited to:

• unallowable costs

• national policy requirements o If projects performed pursuant to this opportunity are subject to any of the following, the agency must work with the awardees on related matters before commencement of activities.

National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) Endangered Species Act (ESA)

• Build America, Buy America for Construction

• Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 compliance requirements

• reporting requirements o addresses financial and performance requirements and the reporting frequency, means of submission o reporting of matters related to recipient integrity and performance o Reporting subaward and executive compensation information

• 2 CFR 180 - 2 CFR 180.335 and 180.350, includes reporting requirements regarding debarment and suspension audit requirements

I. OTHER INFORMATION

1. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)

Applications are considered confidential information. Applications are not shared with individuals or entities seeking public disclosure through the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) without the consent of the applicant. More specifically, Executive Order 12600 and USDA FOIA regulation 7 CFR Part 1, Subpart A requires the awarding agency to provide notice to applicants that a third party has requested copies of their business information and requires the awarding agency to consult with applicants regarding the releasing their records.

2. Government Obligation

The Federal Government is not obligated to make any Federal award as a result of this opportunity. Only authorized federal officials can bind the Federal Government to the expenditure of funds.

3. Award Counterparts

Any award made pursuant to this NOFO may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

U.S. Department of Agriculture Non-Discrimination Statement

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Non-Discrimination Statement is incorporated by reference and can be accessed at the following location: https://www.usda.gov/non-discrimination-statement