FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
AUTHORIZATION:
Endangered Species Act of 1973, 16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.,
as amended; Department of the Interior and Related Agencies Appropriations Act
of 2002, H.R. 2217; Public Law 107-63.
To provide Federal financial and other assistance to
individuals and groups engaged in local, private, and voluntary conservation
efforts to be carried out on private lands that benefit species listed or
proposed as endangered or threatened under the U.S. Endangered Species Act,
candidate species, or other at-risk species.
TYPES OF ASSISTANCE:
Project Grants. Place Cursor Here for Definition
USES AND USE RESTRICTIONS:
Assistance is provided to individuals and groups to fund the voluntary
restoration, management, or enhancement of habitat on private lands for
endangered, threatened, proposed, candidate, or other at-risk species.
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:
Applicant Eligibility: Sponsored organizations,
individual/family, specialized group, public nonprofit
institution/organization, private nonprofit institution/organization, small
business, profit organization, or other private institution/organization. The
annual Request for Proposals published in the Federal Register will describe
the criteria that must be satisfied for a proposal to be eligible for funding.
Beneficiary Eligibility: Anyone/General Public.
Credentials/Documentation: 43 CFR Part 12
establishes requirements for grants awarded by agencies of the U.S. Department
of the Interior.
Pre-application Coordination: This program is
eligible for coverage under E.O. 12372, "Intergovernmental Review of
Federal Programs." An applicant should consult the office or official
designated as the single point of contact in his or her State for more
information on the process the State requires to be followed in applying for
assistance, if the State has selected the program for review.
Application Procedure: A Request for Proposals is
published annually in the Federal Register. Additional information and
instructions are printed and distributed annually. The standard application
for Federal Assistance is submitted. The project title/description section of
the application will address the evaluation factors identified in the annual
Request for Proposals published in the Federal Register. Submit a request for
a proposal package, which includes specific information on requirements, to
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Regional Office.
Award Procedure: Final selection is made by the
Secretary of the Interior, based on recommendations by the Director or
Regional Director of the Fish and Wildlife Service. Funds are obligated by
signature on a project agreement.
Deadlines: Information regarding deadline dates
will be made available annually in the request for proposals published in the
Federal Register.
Range of Approval/Disapproval Time: Information
regarding approval/disapproval time frames will be made available annually in
the request for proposals published in the Federal Register.
Appeals: None. Proposals not funded may be
resubmitted.
Renewals: Proposals are funded on a one-time
basis. Requests for future funding must compete with other requests for
funding.
ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS:
Formula and Matching Requirements: A 10 percent cost
share on the part of the landowner or other nonfederal partner is required.
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
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 Nonprofit Organizations," nonfederal entities that
expend 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: 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: 14-5495-0-1-303.
Obligations: (Grants) FY 01 $0; FY 02 est
$10,000,000; and FY 03 est $10,000,000.
Range and Average of Financial Assistance: $1,000
to $500,000.
It is anticipated that 500 applications will be received and 50 awards will be
granted in fiscal year 2002.
REGULATIONS, GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE:
Endangered Species Act; 43 CFR 12, United States Standard Grants Application
Instructions, and the annual Request for Proposals published in the Federal
Register.
INFORMATION CONTACTS:
Regional or Local Office: See Catalog Appendix IV
for addresses.
Headquarters Office: Fish and Wildlife Service,
Department of the Interior, 1849 C Street, NW (MS-420 ARLSQ), Washington, DC
20240. Contact: Chief, Endangered Species: Division of Consultation, HCPs,
Recovery and State Grants. Fax: (703) 358-1735, Telephone: (703) 358- 2171.
Use the same number for FTS.
Web Site Address: http://www.endangered.fws.gov.
EXAMPLES OF FUNDED PROJECTS:
Examples of the types of projects that may be funded include using prescribed
burning to restore grasslands that support imperiled species, fencing to
exclude animals from sensitive habitats, or planting native vegetation to
restore degraded habitat.
CRITERIA FOR SELECTING PROPOSALS:
The Request for Proposals published annually in the Federal Register describes
the selection criteria. Factors used to evaluate the merit of the proposals
may include: (1) the number of endangered or threatened species, species
proposed or candidates for such listing, and at-risk species that will benefit
from the project; (2) the importance of the project to the conservation of
those species, including the duration of the benefits, the magnitude of the
benefits, and the urgency of the project; (3) the amount of nonfederal
cost-sharing involved in the project; and (4) other proposal merits, such as
whether the project complements other conservation projects in the area, the
project's unique qualities, or any other appropriate justifications, including
particular strengths in the above categories (e.g., extraordinary benefits or
extraordinary cost share).
