Conservation Grants Private Stewardship for Imperiled Species (15.632)
Program
15.632 Conservation Grants Private Stewardship for Imperiled Species
Federal Agency
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.
Program Number
15.632
Last Known Status
Active
Objectives
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.
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.
Application and Award Process
Preapplication 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
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."
Program Accomplishments
It is anticipated that 500 applications will be received and 50 awards will be granted in fiscal year 2002.
Financial Information
Account Identification
14-5495-0-1-303.
Obligations
(Grants) FY 02 $10,000,000; FY 03 est $9,935,000; and FY 04 est $10,000,000.
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
$1,000 to $500,000.
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.
Related Programs
15.605, Sport Fish Restoration; 15.611, Wildlife Restoration; 15.618, Administrative Grants for Federal Aid in Sport Fish and Wildlife Restoration; 15.615, Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund; 15.633, Landowner Incentive.
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
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).
