WNS-StatesTribes2021-NOFO-20210315.v2.docx

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

White-Nose Syndrome Grants to States and Tribes www.WhiteNoseSyndrome.org

Notice of Funding Opportunity - Fiscal Year 2021 Funding Opportunity Number F21AS00460

Closing Date: 06/01/2021

PAPERWORK REDUCTION ACT STATEMENT:

OMB Control Number: 1018-0100, Expiration Date: 7/31/2021 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.

A. Program Description A1. Authority Endangered Species Act, 16 U.S.C. §1531 et. seq.; Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act, 16 U.S.C. §§ 661-666; Fish and Wildlife Act, 16 U.S.C. § 742 et seq.; Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2020 (H.R. 1865, 116th Cong. Div. D, Title I).

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 15.684; White-nose Syndrome National Response Implementation

A2. Background, Purpose and Program Requirements The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) is pleased to announce the availability of financial assistance to wildlife and natural resource management agencies of states, the District of Columbia, and federally-recognized Native American Tribes for efforts related directly to the management of white-nose syndrome (WNS), a fungal disease of bats. State Agencies and Tribal natural resource or environmental management programs are encouraged to apply for this opportunity. The most competitive proposals will present actionable plans to manage WNS and bat species that are affected or potentially vulnerable to the disease.

WNS is confirmed in at least 12 bat species, including three that are federally listed as threatened or endangered. The northern long-eared bat was listed as Threatened primarily due to impacts of WNS. Concern over population declines resulting from WNS led the Service to schedule status assessments for two additional bat species: little brown bat and tricolored bat. The work funded through the WNS Grants to States and Tribes is expected to assist partners in their efforts to combat the disease and conserve affected species. In addition, the projects funded will provide information that strengthens the scientific information needed to support decisions under the Endangered Species Act.

Since 2008, funding through the WNS Grants to States has led to critical information and resources for maximizing the benefits of bat conservation efforts by States. In 2019, this funding opportunity was extended to Tribes engaged in, or seeking to engage in, bat management and conservation efforts. Although WNS has decimated several species of bats in North America, efforts taken with the support of funding from the Service’s WNS program have helped the management community to focus efforts where there is the greatest need and benefit. Through the advances made in understanding WNS over the past decade, we now have multiple tools that management agencies can consider when developing and implementing strategies to combat WNS. In this way, these grants support the actions of States and Tribes working to conserve bats in the United States.

WNS grants to states and tribes 2021 Priorities The goal of this funding opportunity is to help our State and Tribal partners fulfill information needs, implement management actions for WNS and susceptible bat species, and engage in the National Response to WNS.

We intend to award funds that support the following activities:

1. Conduct population monitoring and disease surveillance, with a focus on:

a. developing and maintaining long-term data streams through acoustic or colony count monitoring, especially through use of protocols and data archiving with NABat;

b. establishing baseline data such as occupancy, habitat usage, roost characteristics and species distribution and abundance;

c. performing disease surveillance in concert with National and State WNS management plans.

2. Implement conservation strategies for WNS-affected or WNS-vulnerable species with the goal of improving survivorship through:

a. rehabilitation, reinforcement, or improvement of significant bat roosts;

b. management or conservation agreements to protect bats from disturbance, predation, disease or other harm;

3. Participate in and provide support for WNS-related management and research projects.

4. Curtail the spread of Pd through implementing decontamination and containment strategies or managing risk at bat roosts.

5. Build and maintain local expertise for long-term capacity to advance management and monitoring of bats.

6. Engage with working groups, committees, workshops, and meetings of the WNS National Response Team

Proposals for this program will be plans of action responsive to the current status of WNS in the applicant’s location, and will address context-specific conservation needs of bats as well as the ecosystem as a whole. These priorities are intended to address relevant projects in State or Tribal jurisdictions whether WNS is already affecting resident bats or the fungus has not yet arrived.

Successful applications to this funding opportunity will:

· aim to benefit bat species that are known, assumed, or anticipated to be affected by WNS,

· directly advance the priorities of this funding opportunity and the WNS National Plan, and

· build upon or advance the current state of knowledge of bats under their management jurisdictions.

Awards are not guaranteed. Proposals will be reviewed based on the following considerations, responsiveness to described management needs, relevance to combatting WNS and conserving vulnerable species, geographic scope, project need and feasibility, cost efficiency, project design, species and colonies benefitted, degree of benefit to targeted species or habitat, and extent and importance of area monitored for population or disease status. Partial funding may be awarded.

Project Categories The proposed actions and related budget must meet the following conditions:

1. Proposed activities must be consistent with the WNS National Plan and must clearly address at least one of the “2021 Priorities” stated above. All proposed activities should represent a logical and appropriate progression of actions conducted in preparation for or in response to WNS in the action area. Applications must include clear project descriptions for how proposed activities address local and national management objectives for WNS.

a. Project descriptions must clearly articulate the activities, methods, and timetables for each identified goal and objective, as well as justification for these goals and objectives, and anticipated outcomes.

b. Proposals that seek funding for only one or a small number of the stated priorities must describe why funds are not being sought to support a more comprehensive scope of work. Justification may be that other actions are not priorities for the applicant or that these priorities are supported with other existing funds.

2. Grant proposals must be no more than $75,000 in total request of Federal funds (including direct and indirect costs).

a. Up to $50,000 may be used for fulfilling data needs to inform management decisions, such as estimating distribution and habitat requirements of WNS-affected or susceptible bats, and implementing strategies to:conduct population monitoring and disease surveillance

i. implement conservation strategies for WNS-affected or WNS-vulnerable species

ii. participate in and provide support for WNS-related projects

iii. curtail the spread of Pd

iv. build and maintain local expertise

v. engage with the WNS National Response Team.

b. Up to $25,000 may be used by Agencies and Tribes to enact conservation actions at significant bat roosts through restoration, protection, and enhancement. Note: Awards in excess of $50,000 are dependent on availability of funds. These actions may include:

i. prohibiting unauthorized entry/vandalism, gating or fencing, stabilizing entrance portals, and correcting historic airflow;

ii. improving suitability of the roost for seasonal or year-round use by bats;

iii. developing funding agreements, cooperative conservation agreements, or contracts with cave and wildlife conservation groups, land trusts, and local advocacy groups to conserve caves, mines, and other significant roost locations that fulfill important life history functions for bats; or

iv. installing signage, camera, and acoustic monitoring systems;

Collaborations are encouraged. Collaborative projects that describe the contributions of multiple partners to enact conservation strategies will be more competitive than projects conducted by a solitary organization or agency.

NOTE: As a condition of any grant award, grantees will be required to use or allow use of the data management infrastructure of NABat prior to completion of the grant reporting period. Proposed population monitoring activities are not required to occur with the specific monitoring protocols of NABat, nor in the highest priority grid cells of a state. Contribution of data entails providing locations only at the resolution of the NABat grid cell (10 km x 10 km), and not precise locations of data or descriptive site names. Standard reports including data visualization outputs generated by NABat are accepted to fulfill award reporting requirements for project activities funded through this opportunity.

Proposed projects should aim to be completed within 1 year, but may be planned for up to 2 years.

The use of grant funds requires adherence to established protocols and methodologies developed or espoused by the national WNS working groups for surveillance, diagnostics, population monitoring, conservation and recovery, and disease management (for more information contact the appropriate Service WNS coordinator), as well as the Endangered Species Act, National Historic Preservation Act, and National Environmental Policy Act. In 2021, all proposed actions must be in line with the most current guidance, policies, information related the COVID-19 pandemic and SARS-CoV-2.

Some proposed WNS mitigation and treatment actions will entail significant workload by the applicant to comply with regulatory requirements of the Endangered Species Act, National Environmental Policy Act, and National Historic Preservation Act. These requirements must be completed prior to funds becoming available for the proposed actions.

The Service anticipates committing internally directed funds for this open funding opportunity, which accompanies two additional funding opportunities from the Service’s WNS National Response in 2021: 1) WNS Research and Management Grants (Spring/Summer 2021), and 2) Bats for the Future Fund (with National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, Spring 2021), www.nfwf.org/bats. Contact the Service’s WNS coordinator in your region (below) for more information about these funding opportunities.

The Service’s White-nose Syndrome program is coordinated and funded through the branches of Ecological Services and Science Applications, and will be working with the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration program (WSFR) to administer grants to State agencies and Tribes that engage in the collaborative national response to WNS. Grants will be competitively awarded based on merit review of proposed actions for their applicability and feasibility to advance the priorities identified in this notice and for their overall contribution to meeting the objectives of the WNS national plan (White-Nose Syndrome Response Plans).

B. Federal Award Information B1. Total Funding The Service has targeted up to $1.5 million (up to $1.3 million for States and up to $300,000 for Tribes) for this funding opportunity in 2021 to help States and Tribes develop and implement strategies to conserve species of bats that are affected by or vulnerable to WNS. Available funds are from internally directed funds for Fiscal Year 2021.

B2. Expected Award Amount Maximum Award Amount: $75,000 (See section A2 for more information.)

Minimum Award Amount: $10,000 B3. Expected Award Funding and Anticipated Dates In previous years, the WNS grants to states and tribes has provided maximum awards of $75,000. In 2020, awards issued to 43 States and Tribes ranged between ~$11,000 and $75,000, with an average award of $45,600. Earliest starting dates for awarded projects will likely be August 1, although earlier starts may be possible for applications submitted prior to May 1.

The highest quality proposals that enact lasting conservation for WNS affected species will awarded pending availability of funds.

Expected Award Funding: $40,000 Expected Award Date: July 15, 2021 B4. Number of Awards Expected Number of Awards: 35 to 40 B5. Type of Award Funding Instrument Type: Grants

C. Eligibility Information C1. Eligible Applicants Eligible applicants for this competitive grant program include fish and wildlife or natural resources agencies in all States and the District of Columbia, and federally recognized Tribes.

Additional Information on Eligibility 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 awards from the Service’s WNS funding opportunities (if applicable). When an applicant is carrying two or more active WNS projects while applying for another, the Service has an administrative obligation to verify that there are no correctable problems in implementing the existing awards. The Service will review the reasons why those grants are still open before proceeding with further consideration. State agencies or Tribes that demonstrate their effective use of WNS funds will not be affected. States or Tribes that have taken no significant action on any one of their two or more preexisting awards will not be considered eligible to apply for new funds from the WNS program until the problem is resolved.

C2. Cost Sharing or Matching Matching funds and/or contributions are not required for this funding opportunity.

C3. Other Eligibility Criteria Excluded Parties: FWS conducts a review of the SAM.gov Exclusions database for all applicant entities and their key project personnel prior to award. The Bureau 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.

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.

D. Application and Submission Information D1. Address to Request Application Package

The Application Package can be found at the following locations:

GrantSolutions https://home.grantsolutions.gov/home/ - Search for the funding opportunity using the Program name and/or CFDA Number 15.684.

Forms required for the application can also be found here: https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms/sf-424-family.html or requested from Bill Perry, Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration, 413-253-8302 or Bill_Perry@fws.gov.

D2. Content and Form of Application Submission 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, 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).

SF 424B, Assurances for Non-Construction Programs When requesting support for a non-construction project, individuals applying for and receiving funds separate from a business or non-profit organization he/she may own or operate and any entity waived by the Service from the SAM.gov registration requirements must submit a signed and dated SF-424B, “Assurances for Non-Construction Programs” form. All of the required application forms are available on with this announcement on Grants.gov.

Project Narrative Proposals must not exceed 6 pages in length (excluding required forms, letters of support/collaboration, and literature cited) and must have a minimum font size of 11 pt.

The project narrative should include:

a) Statement of Need: The statement of need should be a concise paragraph describing why the State or Tribe is requesting funds and how the funds will advance the State or Tribe’s objectives for managing bats affected by or vulnerable to WNS. This section must include a summary of other non-Federally funded activities for bat conservation research and management that are being conducted by the applicant within the project period. In particular, if the applicant is using different funding to contribute to the objectives stated for this funding opportunity, those activities and funds should be described.

b) Project Goals and Objectives: State the long-term, overarching goal(s) of the program/project, and the specific objectives to be addressed with the proposed funding. Objectives are the specific outcomes to be accomplished in order to reach the stated goal(s). The project’s objectives must be clear and specific with measurable outcomes, and deliverable within the project’s proposed timeline. Include a description of how the objectives prepare for or advance implementation of strategies that address the 2021 priorities. This section should also include a description of how the proposed activities build upon previous work to advance the applicants long-term goals.

c) Species and Locations: Identify the species affected by the proposed activities. Clearly describe the geographic scope of the proposed activities.

d) Results: Anticipate the results or benefits from accomplishing the goals and objectives. If appropriate, estimate the area of habitat or number of bats/colonies affected by the proposed work.

e) Project Activities, Methods, and Timetable: Identify the proposed activities to be undertaken to fulfill the project objectives and reach the project goal(s). The proposed project activities narrative must be detailed enough for reviewers to make a clear connection between the activities and the proposed project costs. Provide a detailed description of the method(s) to be used to carry out each activity.

Provide a timetable indicating when activities will be accomplished and project milestones met. The timetable should not propose specific dates but instead group activities by month over the entire proposed project period. For applicants proposing population monitoring, state the timeline when data will be entered into the NABat database.

Proposals that seek fund for the enhancement, restoration, or protection of important bat roosts must provide the following information. This information must be presented discretely from other actions in the proposal, including the justification, actions, and budget for those activities.

i. a clear description of the species present and the conservation need or problem at hand;

ii. a clear description of the enhancement or protection measures proposed and how the action mitigates that problem;

iii. a quantified estimate of the benefit from the proposed action, e.g., linear feet of subterranean habitat restored or protected, number of bats protected, etc.;

iv. justification for cost of the project and an analysis of cost efficiency;

v. names and affiliations of the partners that will contribute to the work; and

vi. the project’s timeline and future monitoring.

Note: Bat roost conservation supported through this funding opportunity can occur on non-Federal, publicly-owned or managed land or on private property. Applicants seeking funds to meet this priority on federally owned or managed land should contact the WNS regional coordinator in their area to discuss options.

This portion of funding may not be used for land purchases, general forestry actions, fulfilling consultation and permitting requirements, offsetting costs of curtailment or construction, or development of management plans.

f) Description of Entities Undertaking the Project: Provide a brief description of the applicant’s organization and all participating entities and/or individuals collaborating to complete the project. Identify which of the proposed activities each agency, organization, group, or individual is responsible for conducting or managing. Provide complete contact information for the individual within the organization that will oversee/manage the project activities on a day-to-day basis. If subcontracting to consultants outside of the applicant’s organization is planned to complete proposed activities, explain why this approach is the most effective way to complete the work and how the agency will utilize the outcomes in the future.

g) Environmental Compliance: Provide sufficient detail about site locations, species, and methods 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.

h) Permitting: All participants working in conjunction with the proposed activities must be covered by necessary Federal, State, and local permits, and landowner permissions prior to project initiation. States or Tribes submitting proposals to support animal based experiments, whether in conjunction with universities or not, will be expected to demonstrate compliance with the Endangered Species Act and the Animal Welfare Act with satisfactory review of animal use protocols by an established Animal Care and Use Committee or related State wildlife veterinarian (as appropriate). Treatment and decontamination actions also require demonstrated compliance with FDA, EPA, and other relevant regulatory agencies.

i) Sustainability: Identify how the actions to be completed in the project period contribute to complementary or long term management objectives for bats in the jurisdiction where the project is located.

SF-424A, Budget Information for Non-Construction Program Applicants must submit the appropriate SF-424 Budget Information form and Budget Narrative. For non-construction programs or projects, applicants must complete and submit the SF-424A, “Budget Information for Non-Construction Programs” form. 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 per the Service’s General Award Terms and Conditions. Applicants must show funds requested from this Federal program separately from any other Federal sources of funding. In the “Budget Summary” section of the appropriate SF-424 budget form, use the first row for funding requested from this Federal program. Use subsequent row(s) 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 program appears on the first page of this announcement.

Budget Narrative Budgets must clearly distinguish between categories described in Project Categories 2.a. and 2.b. identified in section A2 above.

A table in the budget narrative should be used to clarify use of requested funds more specifically. This table should include at least these budget categories:

a) Salaries and benefits (include names, responsibilities, and time commitments);

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); and

d) Indirect costs (if any).

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. Identify any cash or in-kind contributions that a partner or other entity will contribute to the project and describe how the contributions directly and substantively benefit completion of the project. For in-kind contributions, include the source, the amount, and the valuation methodology used to determine the total value. See 2 CFR 200.306 “Cost sharing or matching” for more information.

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 sub recipients, 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 sub recipients.

(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.

(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. 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.”

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. 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.

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: 06/01/2021 Application Due Date Explanation The Notice of Funding Opportunity will be open for at least 60 days. All proposals submitted by 11:59 PM, Eastern Daylight Time on 06/01/2021, to be considered for funding. Proposals may be submitted prior to the deadline.

Applications submitted by 11:59 PM on May 1, 2021, will be evaluated prior to the June deadline and may be selected for awards. Highest quality proposals submitted by May 1, 2021, may be awarded prior to June 1, 2021, based on criteria identified below. A total of no more than one half of the available funds for this opportunity will be awarded prior to the final deadline. No proposals will be declined prior to the final deadline, and all proposals that are not selected for early funding will be evaluated with the remaining proposals submitted during the open period. Applicants are encouraged to notify their regional WNS coordinators when applications are submitted.

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 Most awards will be capped at $50,000. Some awards may be as high as $75,000, pending availability of funds, although information about cost limits for certain types of projects is provided in section A2. No more than $2,500 will be awarded for travel to participate in the Service’s national WNS meeting and regional bat working group meetings.

Indirect Costs: Individuals Individuals applying for and receiving funds separate from a business or non-profit organization he/she may operate are not eligible to charge indirect costs to their award. If you are an individual applying for funding, you must not include any indirect costs in your proposed budget. Individuals are not required to submit any of the following statements regarding indirect costs.

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 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, do not use this statement] 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 per 2 CFR §1402.414. 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.

D7. Other Submission Requirements If the application package is submitted in Grants.gov, Grants.gov will automatically generate 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.

If the application package is submitted in GrantSolutions the proposals status will change to submitted.

E. Application Review Information Eligible applications must clearly identify and describe all activities to be supported by these funds. The applicant must meet eligibility requirements described above and include all required components of the application. While more than one agency or division within a State may apply for this funding opportunity, cross-agency collaborations to achieve management objectives will be more competitive.

E1. Criteria Project Responsiveness (20%)

· How well does the proposed work address one or more priorities (above) for this funding opportunity?

Project Relevance (22%)

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

· To what degree will the anticipated products of the proposed actions benefit management activities for WNS?

· How well will the proposed work benefit WNS-affected and/or WNS-vulnerable species?

· Are project outcomes transferable and comparable beyond the immediate project area?

Geographic Scope (10%)

· Are the proposed actions clearly appropriate to species, habitats, and the status of WNS in the project area?

· Will the proposed actions benefit a meaningful portion of bat populations that could be or are affected by WNS in the State’s jurisdiction?

Project Need (20%)

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

· Does the project address information gaps in life history of bats relevant to WNS?

Budget (12%)

· Does the proposed budget provide sufficient information to evaluate costs?

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

Project Feasibility (16%)

· Are the proposed timeline and work schedule realistic for achieving the goals and objectives of the project within the period of performance?

· Are 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?

· Does the project utilize appropriate partnerships within the project area?

Actions that enhance restore or protect important bat roosts will be evaluated on the following criteria:

Projects will be funded by their rank based on the criteria above, with States and Tribes ranked independently in competition for available funds.

The Service may choose to fund all or part of the proposed budget.

The Service may employ additional review criteria to specifically evaluate groups of proposals. These criteria include prioritization of projects based on the following considerations.

· How many locations, species, or topics will be affected by the proposed work?

· Is there collaboration that enhances efficiency or efficacy of the work?

· What is the applicant’s ability to use partial funding?

· If an applicant indicates that a project cannot be completed with partial funding, a lower ranked project within the target funding amount may be funded instead of a higher ranked project.

· An applicant may receive less funding than requested if an activity identified in the grant has been deemed ineligible, insubstantial, or in conflict with goals of the funding opportunity. Applicants may be asked to adjust project objectives, tasks, and budgets to best utilize the reduced award amount.

· Does the project contribute to a dynamic bat conservation effort with examples of how the accomplishments of this funding will lead to progress and information that help advance the applicant’s bat conservation efforts?

· Has the applicant successfully accomplished goals funded through prior awards and completed required reports?

The Service reserves the right to reject an application in its entirety where information is uncovered that raises a significant risk with respect to the responsibility or suitability of an applicant.

E2. Review and Selection Process The review panel will include national and regional coordinators of the Service’s white-nose syndrome national response team. At least three reviewers will evaluate each proposal on the criteria listed above. 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 award, the program 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 program may request modification to the application, other pending applications, or an active award, as needed to eliminate any duplication of effort, or the Bureau may choose not to fund the selected project. The program may not make a Federal award to an applicant that has not completed the SAM.gov registration.