FEDERAL AGENCY:

FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

AUTHORIZATION:

Asian Elephant Conservation Act, Public Law 105- 96, 111 Stat. 2150, 16 U.S.C. 4261-4266.

To provide financial assistance to any organization or individual responsible for Asian elephant conservation, and any organization or individual with experience in Asian elephant conservation, for approved elephant conservation projects to support research, conservation, management and protection of Asian elephants.

TYPES OF ASSISTANCE:

Project Grants. Place Cursor Here for Definition

USES AND USE RESTRICTIONS:

Funds may be used for approved Asian elephant conservation projects. Proposed projects should have the support of the local government(s) and have matching funds (cash) or in- kind support (salaries, equipment, etc.) provided by the organization receiving the grant or other partners. All non-governmental or private sector project proposals must contain evidence of support by local government entities of countries where the project is to be conducted.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

Applicant Eligibility:   Applicants may be any Federal, State and local government agencies, public or private organizations, non- governmental nonprofit organizations, public an private institutions of higher education, or any other entity with experience in conservation. Projects must provide direct benefits to support research, conservation, management and protection of Asian elephants.

Beneficiary Eligibility:   Applicants may be any Federal, State, and local government agencies, public or private organizations, non- governmental nonprofit organizations, public and private institutions of higher education, or any other entity with experience in Asian elephant conservation.

Credentials/Documentation:   None.

Pre-application Coordination:   None. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.

Application Procedure:   Submit a request for proposal package, which includes specific information on requirements, to the Chief, Division of International Conservation, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 4401 N. Fairfax Drive, Room 730, Arlington, Virginia 22203.

Award Procedure:   The Chief, Division of International Conservation (DIC),will select projects to be funded based on established criteria contained in 16 U.S.C. 4261-4266. A graant agreement between the Fish and Wildlife Service and the grantee is drafted by DIC. The agreement is then submitted to the Office of Contracting and General Services (CGS) for processing. CGS then sends the grant agreement to the grantee for signature. Upon return to CGS, the grant agreement is signed by CGS, and is effective on the date of CGS signature.

Deadlines:   None.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time:   Decisions on funding of project proposals must be made no later than 6 months after the receipt of the project proposal.

Appeals:   None.

Renewals:   A grant agreement can be modified, extended, or renewed at the discretion of the Chief of DIC and the CGS Contracting Officer.

ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS:

Formula and Matching Requirements:   To the extent possible, grant funds are matched by nonfederal funds. This program has no statutory formula.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance:   Awarded funds must be spent during the approved Period of Performance of the grant agreement, and in accordance with DOI/FWS financial and reporting procedures.

POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:

Reports:   Progress and final reports are to be submitted in accordance with terms and conditions of the grant agreement and must all be submitted within the Period of Performance of the grant agreement.

Audits:   In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A- 133 (Revised, June 24, 1997, "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations," nonfederal entities that receive financial assistance of $300,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $300,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133.

Records:   Records for grants awarded to State and Local Governments will be maintained in accordance with the provisions of 43 CFR Part 12, Subpart C, "Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and Cooperative Agreements to State and Local Governments." Records for grants awarded to institutions of higher education and other nonprofit organizations will be maintained in accordance with the provisions of 43 CFR Part 12, Subpart F, "Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and Agreements With Institutions of Higher Education, Hospitals, and Other Nonprofit Organizations."

FINANCIAL INFORMATION:

Account Identification:   14-1652-0-1-303.

Obligations:   (Grants) FY 01 $725,000; FY 02 est $970,000; and FY 03 est $920,000.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance:   Variable amounts. Due to the limited funding available and the desire to support diverse projects, preference will be given to proposals requesting $30,000 or less; however, higher amounts may be requested.

During 2001, the Service awarded 21 grants in 9 range countries, highlights include: assessing the distribution, abundance, seasonal movements, and conflicts with man in a river region of Malaysia; establishing monitoring systems for elephants in numerous countries; educational materials for teachers/students in India; training of survey techniques for local park rangers in numerous countries; illegal ivory trade/poaching information for the range of the Asian elephant; and testing of specific deterrents, fencing, repellants, etc., for conflict resolutions in southern India.

REGULATIONS, GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE:

50 CFR Parts 13, 14, 17, 24, 7 CFR Part 355.

INFORMATION CONTACTS:

Regional or Local Office:   Not applicable.

Headquarters Office:   U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Department of the Interior. Contact: Chief, Division of International Conservation, Room 730, 4401 N. Fairfax Drive, Arlington, Virginia 22203. Telephone: (703) 358-1754. Fax: (703) 358-2849.

Web Site Address:   http://www.international.fws.gov/grants/grants.html.

EXAMPLES OF FUNDED PROJECTS:

Projects have included anti-poaching assistance in the form of training and equipment, advanced training for Asian wildlife biologists, exploring ways to reduce human/elephant conflicts, applied genetics studies to manage and conserve elephant populations, community conservation support, and habitat utilization studies.

CRITERIA FOR SELECTING PROPOSALS:

Proposals will be reviewed on the basis of criteria contained in 16 U.S.C. 4261-4266, and evaluated for scope, significance, feasibility and cost effectiveness.