Multi-State Conservation Grants (15.628)

Program

15.628 Multi-State Conservation Grants

Federal Agency

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

Authorization

The Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Programs Improvement Act of 2000, Public Law 106-408, as amended; the Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish Restoration Act, 64 Stat. 430 as amended, 16 U.S.C. 777m and the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act, 50 Stat. 917 as amended, 16 U.S.C. 669h-2.

Program Number

15.628

Last Known Status

Active

Objectives

This program provides funding for sport fish and wildlife restoration projects identified by the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies.

Types of Assistance

PROJECT GRANTS

Uses and Use Restrictions

Project types that are generally selected for funding are education and training, analysis and focus on the values and use of sport fish and wildlife programs and new technologies, and evaluation in restoration, recreation, enhancement, or protection of sport fish and wildlife and their habitats.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicant Eligibility

States, group of States, and non-governmental organizations. By October 1st of each year the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (AFWA) provides the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service a priority list of projects recommended for funding. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director may only fund project proposals on the priority list.

Beneficiary Eligibility

Projects must benefit at least 26 States, a majority of States in a Region of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, or a Regional association of State fish and game departments.

Credentials/Documentation

Costs for grants to States or group of States will be determined in accordance with 2 CFR Part 225, Cost Principles for State, Local, and Indian Tribal Governments (OMB Circular A-87). Cost for grants to non-governmental groups who are nonprofit organizations will be determined according to 2 CFR Part 230, Cost Principles for Non-Profit Organizations (OMB Circular A-122). Cost principles for non-governmental groups which are commercial will be determined the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) 31.2. Non-government applicants must certify that they will not use grant funds for activities, projects, or programs that promote or encourage opposition to regulated hunting or trapping of wildlife, or to the regulated taking of fish. OMB Circular No. A-87 applies to this program.

Application and Award Process

Preapplication Coordination

An applicant should consult the office or official designated as the single point of contact in his or her State, the District of Columbia, Commonwealth, or territory for more information on this process when applying for assistance. Environmental impact information is not required for this program. 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

OMB Circular No. A-102 applies to this program. OMB Circular No. A-110 applies to this program. Applicants will use standard Federal Application and Assurances forms approved by OMB, as well as proposal formatting requirements established by the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies in their requests for Multi-State Conservation Grant project proposals. Grantees submit a grant proposal that includes a narrative statement describing the need, objectives, benefits, approach, and estimated cost for the proposed grant along with the standard application forms furnished by the Federal agency and required by 43 CFR Part 12, Subpart C, "Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and Cooperative Agreements to State and Local Governments," and the Fish and Wildlife Service Manual. Specific application procedures for Nonprofits are described in 43 CFR Part 12, Subpart F, Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and Agreements with Institutions of Higher Educations, Hospitals, and Other Nonprofit Organizations. Specific application procedures for commercial applicants and Fish and Wildlife Service applicants are described in th FAR, Subpart 311.2, Contracts with Commerical Organizations, and 50 CFR 80. For further instructions and forms go to http://wsfrprograms.fws.gov/subpages/toolkitfiles/toolkit.pdf or www.grants.gov

Award Procedure

The Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will select projects for funding from a priority list developed by the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (AFWA) based on established criteria.

Deadlines

Contact the headquarters or regional office, as appropriate, for application deadlines.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time

Approximately 6 to 9 months from the deadline established by AFWA for submitting proposals.

Appeals

Any differences of opinion over the eligibility of proposed activities or differences arising over the conduct of work may be appealed to the Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Renewals

Not Applicable.

Assistance Considerations

Formula and Matching Requirements

This program has no statutory formula.
Matching requirements are not applicable to this program.
MOE requirements are not applicable to this program.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance

Projects may be approved for up to three years with funding dependant on annual competition. See the following for information on how assistance is awarded/released: Information not available.

Post Assistance Requirements

Reports

A Performance Report is required for each grant award annually within 90 days after the anniversary date or end of the grant. Cash reports are not applicable. Progress reports are not applicable. A Federal Financial Report SF 425 is required. 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

Cost records must be maintained separately for each project for three years after submission of the final Financial Status Report. Record keeping requirements for grants to States are described in 43 CFR 12, Subpart C, and OMB Circular A-102. Record keeping requirements for grants to nonprofit organizations are described in 43 CFR 12, Subpart F, and OMB Circular A-110. For Commercial grantee and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service grantees must use record keeping procedures described in 43 CFR 12, Subpart C, and OMB Circular A-110.

Program Accomplishments

Fiscal Year 2009: No Current Data Available Fiscal Year 2010: No Current Data Available Fiscal Year 2011: No Current Data Available

Financial Information

Account Identification

14-5029-0-2-303; 14-8151-0-7-303.

Obligations

(Project Grants) FY 08 $6,000,000; FY 09 est $6,000,000; FY 10 est $6,000,000

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

Range is $25,000 to $500,000; Average $140,000.

Regulations, Guidelines and Literature

43 CFR 12; 50 CFR 80; Sections 521, 522, and 523 of the Fish and Wildlife Service Manual.

Related Programs

15.605 Sport Fish Restoration Program; 15.611 Wildlife Restoration

Information Contacts

Regional or Local Office

See Regional Agency Offices. See Catalog Appendix IV for Regional U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Offices.

Headquarters Office

Policy and Programs Director U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program- Policy and Programs, 4401 North Fairfax Drive, WSFR-4020, Arlington, Virginia 22203 Phone: (703)358-2156

Web Site Address

http://wsfrprograms.fws.gov/ or http://www.fishwildlife.org/multistate_grants.html.

Examples of Funded Projects

Fiscal Year 2009: No Current Data Available Fiscal Year 2010: No Current Data Available Fiscal Year 2011: No Current Data Available

Criteria for Selecting Proposals

Projects will be reviewed and evaluated for scope, significance, feasibility, and cost effectiveness. In addition, projects must address one or more focus areas as described in the National Conservation Needs established annually by the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (AFWA).