Migratory Bird Joint Ventures (15.637)

Program

15.637 Migratory Bird Joint Ventures

Federal Agency

Agency: Department of the Interior
Office: Fish and Wildlife Service

Authorization

Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956, as amended, 16 U.S.C. 742a-754; Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act of 1958, 16 U.S.C.661-667(e); Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act, 16 U.S.C, 2901-2911; and Migratory Bird Treaty Act, (16U.S.C. 709a).

Program Number

15.637

Last Known Status

Active

Objectives

To protect, restore and enhance wetland and upland ecosystems for the conservation of migratory birds.

Types of Assistance

Cooperative Agreements

Uses and Use Restrictions

Joint Ventures are public/private partnerships, are guided by a Management Board of public/private representatives and use a Fish and Wildlife Service approved Implementation Plan that establishes conservation goals, priorities, and strategies. The Implementation Plan typically includes stepped down goals and objectives from a variety of national and international bird planning efforts. A Joint Venture Coordinator facilitates the coordination and implementation of the Joint Venture. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service provides basic administrative funding to Joint Ventures to cover costs associated with coordination; planning; monitoring, evaluation and applied research; communications and outreach; and project development and implementation. Joint Ventures may provide federal assistance to partners within these categories to achieve the goals of the Joint Venture. The FWS does not fund the entire scope of Joint Venture operations. Joint Venture partners are expected to contribute funding towards one or more of these categories. Non-federal match is not required, but leveraging FWS dollars provided for Joint Venture administration is a critical component of the Joint Venture program.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicant Eligibility

Federal, State and local government agencies, Federally recognized Indian Tribal governments, private nonprofit institutions/organizations; public nonprofit institutions/organizations; profit organizations, interstate and intrastate entities, and individuals or families who are also private landowners.

Beneficiary Eligibility

General Public.

Credentials/Documentation

Must participate or intend to participate in strategic conservation planning, implementation and evaluation activities designed to meet Joint Venture objectives as identified in an approved Implementation Plan and all related plans. OMB Circular No. A-87 applies to this program.

Application and Award Process

Preapplication Coordination

Preapplication coordination is not applicable. Environmental impact information is not required for this program. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.

Application Procedure

OMB Circular No. A-102 applies to this program. OMB Circular No. A-110 applies to this program. Joint venture partner/potential partner contact Joint Venture Coordinator to discuss Joint Venture (JV) needs and objectives, or JV Coordinator may initiate the contact. Coordinators work with partners/potential partners to design projects and discuss cost-share programs/activities that will contribute to meeting Joint Venture goals. Preparation of Environmental Impact Statements is not a prerequisite for receiving federal assistance/funding. State Plans are not required.

Award Procedure

Applicant must complete the Standard Form (SF) 424, and the appropriate Budget and Assurances forms (SF 424A and SF 424B - Non Construction; or SF 424C and SF 424D - Construction). Once the project is designed and either fits within an approved Implementation Plan or is reviewed and approved by a Joint Venture Management Board, a cooperative agreement or grant agreement is written and work can begin.

Deadlines

Not Applicable.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time

180 Days.

Appeals

Not Applicable.

Renewals

Not Applicable.

Assistance Considerations

Formula and Matching Requirements

Statutory formulas are not applicable to this program.

Matching requirements are not applicable to this program.

MOE requirements are not applicable to this program.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance: Cooperative agreements are normally written for a 1 to 5 year period. For project cost-share grants, a 2 year period for expenditure of funds is the norm. Payments are generally made on a quarterly basis. See the following for information on how assistance is awarded/released: Information not available.

Post Assistance Requirements

Reports

Program reports are not applicable. Cash reports are not applicable. All projects and activities are monitored for progress and compliance with agreed on scope of work. Written reports on completion of the project are generally required. Recipients are required to submit annual Federal Financial Report SF 425 within 90 calendar days after the grant year (i.e., 12 months after the approved effective date of the assistance agreement and every 12 months thereafter until the expiration date of the assistance agreement). A final Federal Financial Report SF 425 is required 90 calendar days after the expiration or termination of the assistance agreement. Performance monitoring is not applicable.

Audits

In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 27, 2003), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $500,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $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

The Recipient shall maintain a complete, detailed accounting system to report expenditures of grant funds and accomplishments achieved under the award. Records, accounts, and supporting documents must be retained for 3 years after submission of the final Financial Status Report.

Program Accomplishments

Fiscal Year 2008: Six original Joint Ventures were formed in 1987 to implement the North American Waterfowl Management Plan. As of 2008, there are 18 joint ventures that focus on regions containing critical habitats and 3 that focus on individual species in the US, Canada, and Mexico. Joint venture partners have invested more than $2.2 billion to protect, restore or enhance more than 10 million acres of wetlands, grasslands, forests and riparian habitats in the U.S. alone. Joint ventures adapt program principles to their own geographic and cultural conditions and pool limited resources to successful conservation actions that involve a variety of public and private stakeholders. Fiscal Year 2009: No Current Data Available Fiscal Year 2010: No Current Data Available

Financial Information

Account Identification

14-1611-0-1-303.

Obligations

(Cooperative Agreements) FY 08 $4,067,545; FY 09 est $4,100,000; FY 10 est $4,100,000

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

Range is $2,400 to $900,000; Average $225,000.

Regulations, Guidelines and Literature

Fish and Wildlife Service Policy 721 FW6, Joint Venture Implementation Plans, Joint Venture Accomplishment Reports.

Related Programs

15.623 North American Wetlands Conservation Fund; 15.631 Partners for Fish and Wildlife; 15.635 Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation ; 15.647 Migratory Bird Conservation

Information Contacts

Regional or Local Office

See Regional Agency Offices. See Catalog Appendix IV for addresses.

Headquarters Office

Joint Venture Liaison Officer U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Division of Bird Habitat Conservation, Joint Venture Liaison Officer, Mail Stop MBSP 4075, 4401 N. Fairfax Drive, Arlington, Virginia 22203 Email: DBHC@fws.gov Phone: (703)358-1784 Fax: (703)358-2282

Web Site Address

www.grants.gov; http://www.fws.gov/birdhabitat/JointVentures/index.shtm.

Examples of Funded Projects

Fiscal Year 2008: Administration, coordination and assessment of management practices necessary to ensure the effective operation and implementation of a joint venture. Develop integrated migratory bird habitat landscape planning, including development of biological models, spatial analysis and Geographic Information systems to develop joint venture objectives. Monitoring, evaluation and applied research including testing planning assumptions, management uncertainties, development of baseline data and data bases, biological assessments, species and habitat surveys and research projects necessary to assess biological performance; socio-economic surveys to better understand economic and cultural issues affecting conservation in the Joint Venture. Habitat conservation, such as protection, restoration and enhancement of wetland, riparian, grassland, forest, coastal and estuarine habitats, including work with private landowners, to achieve joint venture objectives. Communications and outreach efforts include newsletters, educational pamphlets, web sites, technical assistance, workshops and training for joint venture partners. Fiscal Year 2009: No Current Data Available Fiscal Year 2010: No Current Data Available

Criteria for Selecting Proposals

Applicants must be an existing or potential partner of a Joint Venture, and must agree to support Joint Venture goals and objectives. Project must fall within scope of a Management Board approved Joint Venture Implementation Plan and related conservation plans. Projects must contribute to overall Joint Venture goals and objectives. Project must be cost-effective. Projects that leverage grant funds with partner funds or in-kind services will receive preference.