Alaska Subsistence Management (15.636)

 

Program

15.636 Alaska Subsistence Management

 

Federal Agency

FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

 

Authorization

Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA) of 1980, Title VIII, Public Law 96-487, 16 U.S.C. 3101-3233, Sec. 809.

 

Program Number

15.636

 

Last Known Status

Active

 

Objectives

To assist in the management of fish and wildlife, on federal lands in Alaska, for subsistence use by providing for projects of partnership within the ranges of those fish and wildlife species as designated by ANILCA.

 

Types of Assistance

Project Grants.

 

Uses and Use Restrictions

Funds may be used for approved fish and wildlife subsistence management, fisheries monitoring and traditional ecological knowledge projects.

 

Eligibility Requirements

Applicant Eligibility

An individual/family, profit organization, other private institution/organization, public nonprofit institution/organization; an officer, employee, agent, department or instrumentality of the Federal government, of the State of Alaska, municipality or political subdivision of the State of Alaska; Federally recognized Indian Tribal Government (including any Native village as defined in the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act).

Beneficiary Eligibility

An individual/Family, profit organization, other private institution/organization, public nonprofit institution/organization; an officer, employee, agent, department, or instrumentality of the Federal government, of the State of Alaska, municipality or political subdivision of the State of Alaska, or of any foreign government.

Credentials/Documentation

None.

 

Application and Award Process

Preapplication Coordination

None. 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

Complete application information can be found on the Office of Subsistence Management website at: http://alaska.fws.gov/asm/home.html or, if unable to access the website a proposal package containing specific requirement information can be requested from Attn: Kathy Orzechowski, Program Specialist, Office of Subsistence Management, Fisheries Information Service Division, 3601 C Street, Suite 1030, Anchorage, Alaska 99503.

Award Procedure

Study proposals are reviewed and evaluated by staff and an interagency technical review committee. This committee is comprised of representatives from each of five Federal agencies involved with subsistence management, and the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. Once a project is selected for funding, an agreement between Fish and Wildlife Service and the recipient is drafted by the Office of Subsistence Management (OSM). The agreement is processed by OSM through the contracting office and sent to the recipient for signature. The agreement is considered executed when signed copies of the agreement are received from the recipient and Contracting has obligated funds to the agreement. The agreements are administered by OSM.

Deadlines

Application submittal and deadline dates are announced yearly in the Request for Study Proposals. Generally, study proposals are due by February 1 and investigation plans are due by June 1. Complete application information can be found on the Office of Subsistence Management website at: http://alaska.fws.gov/asm/home.html or, if unable to access the website, a proposal package containing the specific requirement information can be requested from Attn: Kathy Orzechowski, Program Specialist, Office of Subsistence Management, Fisheries Information Service Division, 3601 C Street, Suite 1030, Anchorage, Alaska 99503.

 

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time

Appeals

Not applicable.

Renewals

None. However, at the discretion of the Office of Subsistence Management (OSM), awards can be modified, e.g., extended, budget changes, changes to period of performance, etc.

 

Assistance Considerations

Formula and Matching Requirements

Not applicable. Awarded funds must be spent during the approved Period of Performance of the cooperative agreement, and in accordance with financial and reporting procedures specified in the cooperative agreement. Upon approval, the project may be extended or the agreement modified.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance: Upon approval, the project may be extended or the agreement modified. Awarded funds must be spent during the approved Period of Performance of the cooperative agreement, and in accordance with financial and reporting procedures specified in the cooperative agreement.

 

Post Assistance Requirements

Reports

Progress and final reports are to be submitted in accordance with terms and conditions of the cooperative agreement. Financial reports (SF-269) are required a minimum of annually in accordance with 43 CFR 12.

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, non-federal entities that receive financial assistance of $500,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program specific audit conducted for that year. Non-Federal entities that expend less than $500,000 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 cooperative agreements 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 cooperative agreements 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."

 

Program Accomplishments

The Office of Subsistence Management provides information needed for management of Alaska's subsistence resources, as directed by the ANILCA. These projects include studies to determine the status of fish and wildlife populations, subsistence harvest surveys, and the gathering of traditional ecological knowledge from those who subsist on Alaska's wild foods. Successful partnerships among government, Alaska Native, and other organizations have promoted more effective information collection and improved local understanding and support for the subsistence management program.

 

Financial Information

Account Identification

14-1611-0-1-303.

Obligations

FY 03 $5,000,000; FY 04 est $4,200,000; and FY 05 est $5,400,000.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

Variable amounts. In FY 2003, awards ranged from $10,000 to $600,000. In FY 2004, awards range from $3,000 to $513,000.

 

Regulations, Guidelines and Literature

Cooperative agreements/project grants will be administered in conformance with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Administrative Manual and 43 CFR 12.

 

Related Programs

None.

 

Information Contacts

Regional or Local Office

Kathy Orzechowski, Program Specialist, Office of Subsistence Management, Fisheries Information Service Division, 3601 C Street, Suite 1030, Anchorage, Alaska 99503. Telephone: (907) 786-3645 kathleen_orzechowski@fws.gov.

Headquarters Office

Nancy L. Beres, Administrative Specialist, Office of Subsistence Management, 3601 C Street, Suite 1030, Anchorage, Alaska 99503. Telephone: (907) 786-3387, nancy_beres@fws.gov.

Web Site Address

http://alaska.fws.gov/asm/home.html

 

Examples of Funded Projects

An accurate estimation of chinook salmon abundance in the Copper River was obtained by successfully implementing an innovative tagging study. This project is significant in that assessment of subsistence resources was significantly improved, and accomplished by an Alaska Native organization. An accurate estimation of chinook salmon abundance in the Copper River was obtained by successfully implementing an innovative tagging study. This project is significant in that assessment of subsistence resources was significantly improved, and accomplished by an Alaska Native organization.

 

Criteria for Selecting Proposals

Each proposal is evaluated using the following four criteria. 1. Strategic Priorities- Studies must be responsive to identified issues and information needs. All projects must fully meet the first criteria, Federal nexus, to be eligible for funding. 2. Technical quality of the study design must meet accepted standards for information collection, compilation, analysis, and reporting. Studies must have clear objectives, appropriate sampling design, correct analytical procedures, and specified progress and final reports. 3. Past Performance-Administrative Expertise- Investigators and their organizations should have demonstrated technical and administrative expertise to complete prior studies, or have co-investigators or appropriate partnerships with other organizations to meet all requirements of the study. 4. Partnership-Capacity Building- Studies must include appropriate partners and contribute to building capacities of rural organizations, local communities, and residents to participate in fisheries resource management. Investigators and their organizations should be able to demonstrate the ability to maintain effective local relationships and a commitment to capacity building.