wnsresearch2018_final04202018.docx

White-Nose Syndrome Research Grants Fiscal Year 2018 Notice of Funding Opportunity Notice Overview Federal Agency Name Department of the Interior, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), Ecological Services and Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program (WSFR) Funding Opportunity Title White-Nose Syndrome Research Grants Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number 15.657 Announcement Type Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for Federal Fiscal Year (FY) 2018 – F18AS00119 Paperwork Reduction Act Statement We are collecting this information in accordance with the Endangered Species Act of 1973, 16 U.S.C 1331 et seq, as amended. 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. We may not conduct or sponsor and you are not required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. We estimate that it will take applicants under this program about 37 hours to complete an application. We estimate it will take recipients under this program about 8 hours to prepare and submit performance reports, including time for required recordkeeping. All burden estimates include the time to review instructions, search existing data resources, gather data needed and complete and review the submission. You may send comments on the burden estimate or any other aspect of this information collection to the Information Collection Clearance Officer, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, MS BPHC, 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041-3803.

OMB Control Number 1018-019 (Expires: 11/30/2018)

Contents

I. Description of Funding Opportunity The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) is pleased to announce the availability of research funding in 2018 to investigate issues related directly to the management of white-nose syndrome (WNS). The WNS Program provides financial and technical assistance to non-governmental, university, and private researchers, as well as state and local governments, Native American tribes, and federal agencies, for the management of WNS and conservation of bats. Funded projects will investigate priority questions about WNS to improve our ability to manage the disease and implement management actions that will help to conserve affected bat species.

As of April 5, 2018, WNS has been confirmed in bats in 32 states and five Canadian provinces and the causative fungus Pseudogymnoascus destructans (Pd) has been detected in two additional states without confirmation of the disease. At least 15 North American and 21 Eurasian species of bats have been confirmed with WNS or detected carrying Pd. Surveys in affected areas continue to reveal population declines associated with the disease at most contaminated sites in North America. For information on WNS and previously funded projects, please see: whitenosesyndrome.org Funding through WNS Research Grants provides critical information and resources for maximizing the benefits of conservation efforts for bats. These actions are focused on minimizing the impacts of WNS and compounding stressors on already listed species, prioritizing actions to conserve species that may be assessed for listing due to the impacts of WNS, and understanding how different species are likely to respond when exposed to the pathogen. Although WNS has decimated several species of bats in eastern North America, efforts taken with support of funding from the Service’s WNS program has allowed the management community to focus efforts where there is the greatest need and benefit. In this way, these grants will support the priorities of the Department of the Interior to create a conservation stewardship legacy second only to Teddy Roosevelt, restore trust with local communities, and strike a regulatory balance.

The programs create a conservation stewardship legacy by helping to stem the decline of bat species in the face of WNS through funding research and monitoring efforts that improve understanding and treatment of the disease. By supporting scientific research to better understand the disease and the species affected by it, WNS Grants to States and Research grants utilize science to identify best practices to manage wildlife resources and to foster relationships with other agencies and conservation organizations. These programs complement a third, the Bats for the Future Fund, initiated in 2017 and implemented in partnership with the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and others, which expands public and private partnerships to develop and implement management solutions such as treatments for WNS while fostering innovation and action.

The programs both help restore trust with local communities. The WNS Grants to States are awarded only to State Wildlife or Natural Resource Agencies, directly helping with expanding the lines of communication with State Fish and Wildlife and Natural Resources offices. In some cases, WNS Grants to States provide the sole monetary means for states to engage in management efforts to prepare for and respond to WNS. In addition, information needs identified by state agencies determine priorities for WNS Research funding. Those agencies are partners in the majority of WNS Research proposals funded to date and are expected to be in the future as well. Agencies themselves are eligible grantees under the WNS Research Grant Program, and research funds were awarded to two state wildlife agencies last year.

WNS has been confirmed in three federally listed bat species (Indiana bat, gray bat, and northern long-eared bat) and currently poses a potential risk to two additional listed bats (the Virginia big-eared bat and the Ozark big-eared bat). The northern long-eared bat was listed as Threatened primarily due to the impacts of WNS, and 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 grant programs is expected to reduce the administrative and regulatory burden imposed on U.S. industry and the public by potentially precluding the need to list additional species. In addition, the projects funded will provide information that will ensure that Endangered Species Act decisions are based on strong science and thorough analysis.

The Service has anticipates committing $1.5 million in internally directed funds for this open funding (pending Budget approval), which accompanies three additional anticipated funding opportunities from the Service’s WNS Program in 2018: 1) Bats for the Future Fund (with National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and other partners); 2) WNS Grants to States 2018 program, and 3) WNS Small Grants for Communications and Research on WNS (with Wildlife Management Institute; application period closed 6 December 2017). The WNS Research Grants 2018 opportunity will remain open until 30 September 2018, or earlier if funds are depleted. Contact the Service WNS coordinator in your region for more information (see below).

The Service is authorized to provide this funding as described in the Service’s policy manual chapter on the Endangered Species Act (16 U.S.C. 1531-1544); and the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act (16 U.S.C. 661-667e).

II. Award Information Project funding can range from $35,000 up to $300,000. Funding is available for new projects and to continue or expand ongoing projects. The period of performance will be up to two years and projects must be designed accordingly. Funding will be awarded as grants.

III. Basic Eligibility Requirements Eligible applicants for this competitive grant program include non-governmental organizations, universities, and private researchers, as well as government agencies and Native American tribes. U.S. non-profit, non-governmental organizations with 501(c)(3) Internal Revenue Status (IRS) must provide a copy of their Section 501(c)(3) status determination letter received from the IRS.

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

To be eligible, proposed projects must clearly address one or more priorities identified by the WNS program, as identified below.

Priorities for this funding opportunity are developed to maximize persistence of WNS-affected bat populations, minimize the spread and impacts of Pd, and inform management decisions in preparation for, and in response to WNS. Priorities for funding will remain consistent through the open period of this RFP. However, because knowledge of WNS and treatments for the disease is increasing rapidly, specific research needs are likely to change during the time period this Notice of Funding Opportunity is open. We recommend applicants contact WNS coordinators in their region (see contacts at the end of this document) to ensure their project addresses current research needs before beginning their application. Projects are considered for funding throughout the year, depending on the availability of funds. (See “Application Review” below.)

Priorities will fall into the following categories:

1) Understand mechanisms and patterns of survival and persistence between and within species, and/or implement strategies to improve survival and persistence of species impacted by WNS

2) Address gaps in knowledge of bat life history as it relates to the biological and ecological needs of species heavily impacted by WNS.

3) Control the spread and persistence of pathogenic Pd and/or reduce the impacts of WNS on vulnerable bat populations.

Applicants must ensure that activities occurring outside the United States are coordinated as necessary with appropriate U.S. and foreign government authorities and that any necessary licenses, permits, or approvals are obtained prior to undertaking proposed activities. The Service does not assume responsibility for recipient compliance with the laws and regulations of the country in which the work is to be conducted.

Federal law mandates that all entities applying for Federal financial assistance must have a valid Dun & Bradstreet Data Universal Number System (DUNS) number and have a current registration in the System for Award Management (SAM). See Title 2 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Part 25 for more information. Exemptions: The SAM registration requirement does not apply to individuals submitting an application on their own behalf and not on behalf of a company or other for-profit entity, state, local or Tribal government, academia or other type of organization.

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

Entity Registration in SAM Register in SAM here. Once registered in SAM, entities must renew and revalidate their SAM registration at least every 12 months from the date previously registered. Entities are strongly urged to revalidate their registration as often as needed to ensure that their information is up to date and in synch with changes that may have been made to DUNS and IRS information. Foreign entities who wish to be paid directly to a United States bank account must enter and maintain valid and current banking information in SAM.

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

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

Cost Sharing or Matching The White-Nose Syndrome Program requires a match of at least 30% on a project by project basis. Funds previously awarded by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service are not allowable as match. Matching funds in excess of 30% are highly valued to increase effectiveness of Federal research investments.

Applicants may attribute some or all of their allowable indirect costs as cost-share/match, however recipients may only charge to the Federal award the indirect costs calculated against the allowable direct costs charged to the Federal award. Recipients may not charge to the Federal award indirect costs calculated against: 1) any portion of the recipient’s direct costs; or 2) any portion of the direct costs charged to any other Federal or non-Federal partner.

IV. Application Requirements Page limits for different required sections are identified below. There are no page limits for required forms (Example: SF-424). Proposals submitted with a font size less than 11 points or margins less than 1 inch will not be eligible.

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

Proposal Title Page (1 page)

1) Project Title

2) Full legal name of organization

3) Organization website URL

4) Lead applicant’s contact information

a) First and Last name

b) Title

c) Street address, city, state, postal code

d) Email

e) Fax/Telephone number

5) Name and affiliation of co-investigators/partners (if applicable)

6) Affirmation of support or collaboration of all partners

7) Primary WNS research or management priority addressed

8) Project start and completion dates

9) Study location: Indicate locations for all field, laboratory, and other activities required to complete the project.

10) Funding amount requested

11) Matching and in-kind funding amount offered Project Title and Executive Summary (limit 3 pages) The executive summary provides a concise description of the project.

1) Brief project justification

2) Goals and objectives

3) Overview of methods and activities

4) Anticipated outcomes

5) Budget (including matching funds): The total cost of the project with subtotals for personnel/travel, equipment/supply purchases, and indirect costs. Provide a quantitative response to each of the questions below.

a) How many species will be directly affected by the proposed work? Name them. [List species and percentages of each species’ population that will be affected].

b) How well will the proposed work advance understanding or progress toward the stated priority of i) improving our understanding of mechanisms and patterns of survival, persistence, and vulnerability between and/or within species, ii) addressing gaps in knowledge of bat life history, or iii) controlling the spread and persistence of Pd? [Rank resulting improvement in understanding or progress from 1-5 (1. Not at all, 2. Slightly, 3. Moderately, 4. A lot, 5 Completely)].

Standard Form (SF)-424 A completed, signed and dated Application for Federal Assistance form (http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms/sf-424-family.html#sortby=1). Do not include other Federal sources of funding, requested or approved, in the total entered in the “Federal” funding box on the Application for Federal Assistance form. Enter only the amount being requested under this program in the “Federal” funding box. Include any other Federal sources of funding in the total funding entered in the “Other” box.

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

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

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

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

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

Include a statement characterizing the contributions of the proposed research to the national response to WNS (WNS national plans).

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

1) Salaries and benefits.

2) Project related expenses such as travel, communications, supplies, consultants, etc.

3) Equipment (purchases of tangible, personal property over $5,000 that will be used for a year or more.

4) Indirect costs (if any).

Expenses within each category, and total amounts requested for eligible expenses needed to achieve the proposed objectives should be itemized in general categories (example: laboratory supplies, fieldwork supplies, travel for fieldwork, research associate salary, etc.). Explain and justify all requested budget items/costs. For personnel salary costs, include the baseline salary figures and the time estimates (as percentages) to be directly charged to the project. Describe any item that under the applicable Federal cost principles requires the Service’s approval and estimate its cost.

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

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

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

Project Monitoring and Evaluation Detail the monitoring and evaluation plan for the project. Building on the stated project objectives, which must be specific and measurable, identify what you will measure (i.e. quantitative/quantifiable indicators) and how you will measure (i.e. methods, sample size, survey tools). Reference the stated project timetable (i.e. process indicators) and budget information (i.e. input indicators). Identify the products/services to be delivered and how/to whom they will be delivered (i.e. output indicators). Detail the expected direct effect(s) of the project on beneficiaries (i.e. outcome indicators). Include any available questionnaires, surveys, curricula, exams/tests or other assessment tools to be used for project evaluation. Describe the resources and organizational structure available for gathering, analyzing and reporting monitoring and evaluation data. If applicable, describe how project participants and beneficiaries will participate in monitoring and evaluation activities. Describe how findings will be fed back into decision making and project activities throughout the project period.

Description of entities undertaking the project Provide a brief description of the applicant organization and all participating entities and/or individuals. 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 eligibility for funding is based in whole or in part on the qualifications of key personnel, provide brief (1 page) curricula vitae for key personnel, identifying their qualifications to meet the project objectives. Do not include Social Security Numbers, the names of family members, or any other personal or sensitive information on the curricula vitae!

Literature Cited (does not count to 10 page limit) Components of the project narrative must be properly cited using parenthetical documentation in name-year format. A complete biography of cited literature must be included.

Permitting and Animal Care All participants of funded projects must procure all necessary Federal, State, and local permits, and landowner permissions prior to project initiation. Existing permits and approvals may be submitted as addenda that do not count towards page limits. Principal investigators will be expected to maintain compliance with the Animal Welfare Act with satisfactory review of animal use protocols by an established Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (as appropriate). All awarded projects must comply with Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act, National Environmental Policy Act, and National Historic Preservation Act.

Budget Form Complete the Budget Information for Non-Construction Programs (SF 424A) or Budget Information for Construction Programs (SF 424C) form. Use the SF 424A if your project does not include construction and the SF 424C if the project includes construction or land acquisition. The budget forms are available on the Internet here. When developing your budget, keep in mind that financial assistance awards and subawards are subject to the Federal cost principles in Title 2 of the Code of Federal Regulations Part 200, as applicable to the recipient organization type. Links to the full text of the Federal cost principles are available here.

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

Budget Justification In a separate narrative titled “Budget Justification”, explain and justify all requested budget items/costs. Detail how the SF 424 Budget Object Class Category totals were determined and demonstrate a clear connection between costs and the proposed project activities. For personnel salary costs, include the base-line salary figures and the estimates of time (as percentages) to be directly charged to the project. Describe any item that under the applicable Federal cost principles requires the Service’s approval and estimate its cost.

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

Required Indirect Cost Statement Recipients that do not have an approved indirect cost rate cannot charge indirect costs to their Federal award. All applicants except individuals applying for funds separate from a business or non-profit organization he/she may operate must include in the budget justification narrative one of the following statements and attach to their application any required documentation identified in the applicable statement: “We are:

1) A U.S. state or local government entity receiving more than $35 million in direct Federal funding each year with an indirect cost rate of [insert rate]. We submit our indirect cost rate proposals to our cognizant agency. A copy of our most recently approved rate agreement/certification is attached.

2) A U.S. state or local government entity receiving less than $35 million in direct Federal funding with an indirect cost rate of [insert rate]. We are required to prepare and retain for audit an indirect cost rate proposal and related documentation to support those costs.

3) A [insert your organization type; U.S. states and local governments, please use one of the statements above or below] that has previously negotiated or currently has an approved indirect cost rate with our cognizant agency. Our indirect cost rate is [insert rate]. [Insert either: “A copy of our most recently approved but expired rate agreement is attached. In the event an award is made, we will submit an indirect cost rate proposal to our cognizant agency within 90 calendar days after the award is made.” or “A copy of our current, approved rate agreement(s) is attached.”].

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

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

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

7) A [insert your organization type] that is submitting this proposal for consideration under the [insert either “Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit Program” or “Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit Network”], which has a Department of the Interior-approved indirect cost rate cap of [insert program rate]. If we have an approved indirect cost rate with our cognizant agency, we understand that we must apply this reduced rate against the same direct cost base as identified in our approved indirect cost rate agreement. If we do not have an approved indirect cost rate with our cognizant agency, we understand that the basis for direct costs will be the modified total direct cost base defined in 2 CFR 200.68 “Modified Total Direct Cost (MTDC)”. We understand that we must request prior approval from the Service to use the MTDC base instead of the base identified in our approved indirect cost rate agreement, and that Service approval of such a request will be based on: 1) a determination that our approved base is only a subset of the MTDC (such as salaries and wages); and 2) that use of the MTDC base will still result in a reduction of the total indirect costs to be charged to the award. In accordance with 2 CFR 200.405, we understand that indirect costs not recovered due to a voluntary reduction to our federally negotiated rate are not allowable for recovery via any other means.

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

All applicants are hereby notified of the following:

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

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

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

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

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

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

For more information on indirect cost rates, see the Service’s Indirect Costs and Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreements guidance.

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

Indirect Cost Services Acquisition Services Directorate, Interior Business Center U.S. Department of the Interior 650 Capitol Mall, Suite 7-400 Sacramento, CA 95814 Phone: 916-930-3803 Email Web Single Audit Reporting Statements As required in Title 2 of the Code of Federal Regulations Part 200, Subpart F, all U.S. states, local governments, federally-recognized Indian tribal governments, and non-profit organizations expending $750,000 USD or more in Federal award funds in a fiscal year must submit a Single Audit report for that year through the Federal Audit Clearinghouse’s Internet Data Entry System. All U.S. state, local government, federally-recognized Indian tribal government and non-profit applicants must provide a statement regarding if your organization was/was not required to submit a Single Audit report for the organization’s most recently closed fiscal year and, if so, state if that report is available on the Federal Audit Clearinghouse Single Audit Database website and provide the EIN under which that report was submitted. Include these statements at the end of the Project Narrative in a section titled “Single Audit Reporting Statements”.

Assurances Include the appropriate signed and dated Assurances form available here. Use the Assurances for Construction Programs (SF 424D) for construction and land acquisition projects. Use the Assurances for Non-Construction Programs (SF 424B) for all other projects. The form includes a statement that some of the assurances may not be applicable to your organization and/or your project or program. Signing this form does not make you or your organization subject to laws that are otherwise not applicable to you or your organization. Changing, crossing out, or making notations on the form before signing has no impact on the applicability of law.

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

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

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

Application Checklist Items to Include in Grant Application

Valid DUNS number

Active SAM registration

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

Proposal title page

Project title and executive summary

SF-424, Application for Federal Assistance: A complete, signed and dated SF-424, SF-424-Mandatory, or SF-424-Individual form

Project narrative: Statement of need; Goals and objectives; Activities, methods, and timetables; Budget table; Stakeholder coordination/involvement; Project monitoring and evaluation; Description of entities; Literature cited; Permitting and animal care

SF-424 Budget form: A complete SF-424A or SF-424C Budget Information form

Budget justification

Indirect cost statement

Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (NICRA): When applicable, a copy of the organization’s current Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement

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

SF-424 Assurances form: Signed and dated SF-424B or SF-424D Assurances form.

Federally-funded equipment list: If Federally-funded equipment will be used for the project, a list of that equipment.

SF-LLL form: If applicable, completed SF-LLL Disclosure of Lobbying Activities form.

Conflict of Interest disclosure, when applicable.

Overlap/Duplication statement

Failure to provide complete information may cause delays, postponement, or rejection of the application.

V. Submission Instructions Submission Deadline Proposals will be received and continually reviewed from April 20, 2018 to September 30, 2018, or as long as funds are available.

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

Download the Application Package linked to this Funding Opportunity on Grants.gov to begin the application process. Downloading and saving the Application Package to your computer makes the required government-wide standard forms fillable and printable. Completed applications may be submitted by mail, by email, electronically through Grants.gov, or as otherwise described in the Grants.gov funding opportunity. Please select ONE of the submission options:

To submit an application through Grants.gov (PREFERRED METHOD):

Go to the Grants.gov Apply for Grants page for an overview of the process to apply through Grants.gov. You/your organization must complete the Grants.gov registration process before submitting an application through Grants.gov. Registration can take between three to five business days, or as long as two weeks if all steps are not completed in a timely manner.

Important note on Grants.gov application attachment file names: Please do not assign application attachments file names longer than 20 characters, including spaces. Assigning file names longer than 20 characters will create issues in the automatic interface between Grants.gov and the Service’s financial assistance management system.

To submit an application by e-mail:

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

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

To submit an application by mail:

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

Dr. Sadie Stevens U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Division of Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration 300 Westgate Center Drive Hadley, MA 01035-9589 The required SF 424 Application for Federal Assistance and Assurances forms and any other required standard forms MUST be signed by your organization’s authorized official. The Signature and Date fields on the standard forms downloaded from Grants.gov are pre-populated with the text “Completed by Grants.gov upon submission” or “Completed on submission to Grants.gov”. Remove this text (manually or digitally) before signing the forms.

VI. Application Review Information Schedule of Application Review Proposals may be evaluated as frequently as monthly. However, we anticipate evaluating funding decisions and program objectives at three time points during 2018.

* Pending available funds.

Review of proposals that meet basic eligibility will be conducted in a two-phase process. The first phase of review will consider only information in the executive summary. The most competitive proposals based on review of the executive summaries will advance to a second phase of review, which will consider the full proposal.

Phase 1: Evaluation of Executive Summaries Initial evaluation of proposals will consider only the project’s eligibility, title page, and executive summary. Applications will be evaluated on each of the following criteria:

1) Responsiveness to priorities for the national response to WNS

a) How well does the project address the specific needs identified by the WNS national response program?

b) Does the project build on knowledge of WNS and conservation of bats?

2) Project quality

a) Does the applicant present a robust, realistic plan to complete the necessary activities?

b) How likely is the project to produce results that advance our ability to implement management actions for WNS?

3) Relevance to management of WNS

a) How likely are the project’s results to provide information that translates to on the ground actions to manage bats affected by WNS?

4) Cost efficiency

a) Does the proposed budget represent a cost effective means of acquiring the anticipated results? (cost/benefit of the project)

5) Project metrics

a) How much does the project advance the priorities of this funding opportunity?

6) Applicants’ qualifications

a) Do investigators and key collaborators exhibit breadth and depth of expertise needed to complete the project?

b) Have relevant state, federal, and private partners contributed to the development of the proposal?

Only the most competitive proposals will advance for full evaluation. Projects that are not competitive based on evaluation of the executive summaries may or may not be encouraged to be revised and resubmitted for later consideration.

Phase 2: Evaluation of Full Proposals The most competitive applications based on review of the executive summaries will be evaluated further using the criteria below:

1) Project responsiveness

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

2) Project relevance

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

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

c) What is the geographic and ecological scope of the project?

3) Study design

a) Does the proposal have clear, specific, measurable objectives, robust study design and methods, and usable expected outcomes?

4) Project need

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

5) Budget

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

6) Project feasibility

a)…