Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation (15.635)
Program
15.635 Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation
Federal Agency
FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Authorization
Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act of 2000, Public Law 106-247, 16 U.S.C. 6101.
Program Number
15.635
Last Known Status
Active
Objectives
To assist in the conservation of neotropical migratory birds by providing financial resources for the projects of partnerships in countries within the ranges of neotropical migratory birds.
Types of Assistance
Project Grants.
Uses and Use Restrictions
Funds may be used for approved neotropical migratory bird conservation projects. Projects must: enhance the conservation of neotropical bird species in the U.S., Latin America, or the Caribbean; ensure adequate local public participation in project development and implementation; be implemented in consultation with relevant wildlife management authorities and other appropriate government officials with jurisdiction over the resources addressed by the project; be sensitive to local historic and cultural resources and comply with applicable laws; promote sustainable effective, long-term programs to conserve neotropical migratory birds; and other requirements the Secretary considers to be necessary. The Act requires that not less than 75 percent of the amounts made available each fiscal year shall be expended for projects outside of the U.S. Projects are approved for up to a 2-year period of time.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicant Eligibility
An individual, corporation, partnership, trust, association, or other private entity; an officer, employee, agent, department, or instrumentality of the Federal Government, of any State, municipality, or political subdivision of a State, or of any foreign government; a State municipality, or political subdivision of a State; or any other entity subject to the jurisdiction of the United States or of any foreign country; or international organization with an interest in neotropical migratory bird conservation.
Beneficiary Eligibility
An individual, profit organization, other private institution/organization, public nonprofit institution/organization, an officer, employee, agent, department, or instrumentality of the Federal Government, of any State, municipality, or political subdivision of a State, or of any foreign government; a State municipality, or political subdivision of a State; or any other entity subject to the jurisdiction of the United States or of any foreign country; or international organization with an interest in neotropical migratory bird conservation.
Credentials/Documentation
None. Outside the U.S., circulars and regulations are applicable only to the extent U.S. Federal law provides.
Application and Award Process
Preapplication Coordination
None. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.
Application Procedure
Complete application information can be found on the Division's website, at http://birdhabitat.fws.gov/NMBCA/eng-instructions.htm. Or, if unable to access the website, request a proposal package, which includes specific requirement information, from the Chief, Division of Bird Habitat Conservation, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 4401 N. Fairfax Drive, Mail Stop MBSP 4075, Arlington, Virginia 22203. Instructions are available in English, Portuguese and Spanish.
Award Procedure
An advisory group, comprised of individuals representing public and private organizations actively involved in the conservation of neotropical migratory birds, will make recommendations on projects to be selected and funded according to criteria contained in the Act. After projects are selected for funding, a grant agreement between the Fish and Wildlife Service and the recipient is drafted by the Division of Bird Habitat Conservation (DBHC). The agreement is then processed by DBHC and sent to the recipient. The agreement is considered to be executed on the date of receipt by the recipient, as evidenced by return of registered mail receipt to DBHC. Other than the registered mail signature, an agreement signature is not required of the recipient. The grant is administered by the DBHC.
Deadlines
Application submittal dates are announced on a yearly basis; dates set are for the latest date that an application may be postmarked and still be accepted for funding consideration.
Range of Approval/Disapproval Time
Appeals
Not applicable.
Renewals
A grant agreement can be modified, e.g., extended, budget or acreage changes, etc., at the discretion of the Division of Bird Habitat Conservation.
Assistance Considerations
Formula and Matching Requirements
In determining whether to accept projects for funding approval, applicants must guarantee a 3:1 match amount. That is, the applicant must match each Act dollar with 3 non-Federal dollars. Federal dollars refers to U.S. Federal dollars. Federal dollars of non-U.S. governments are eligible. In the U.S., match must be in cash; outside of the U.S., match may either be in cash or in-kind.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
Unless the project is extended, awarded funds must be spent during the approved Period of Performance of the grant agreement, and in accordance with financial and reporting procedures specified in the grant agreement.
Post Assistance Requirements
Reports
Progress and final reports are to be submitted in accordance with terms and conditions 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 receive 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
Records for 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
Although the Act was signed in 2000, the 2002 budget year was the first for which dollars were appropriated for the program. In the first year of the program, 288 applications were processed and 32 of those were funded. The number of Latin American and Carribean countries represented by awards total 25. Groups in 17 States of the United States also received awards.
Financial Information
Account Identification
14-1696-0-1-303.
Obligations
(Grants) FY 02 $3,000,000; FY 03 est $2,981,000; and FY 04 est $3,000,000.
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
Variable amounts. In FY 2002, awards ranged from about $15,000 to about $242,000, with an average of about $91,000. For FY 2003, the maximum award may not exceed $250,000.
Regulations, Guidelines and Literature
Grants will be administered in conformance with the "Policies" established by DBHC, which uses as its sources the regulations at 43 CFR Part 12 and 49 CFR Part 24 and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Administrative Manual.
Related Programs
15.623, North American Wetlands Conservation Fund.
Information Contacts
Regional or Local Office
Potential applicants may obtain program information from any of the U.S. Joint Venture Coordinators listed at the web site address provided at http://birdhabiiat.fws.gov/.
Headquarters Office
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Department of the Interior. Contact: Chief, Division of Bird Habitat Conservation, Mail Stop MBSP 4075, 4401 N. Fairfax Drive, Arlington, Virginia 22203. Telephone: (703) 358-1784. Fax: (703) 358-2282.
Web Site Address
Examples of Funded Projects
Conservation projects that have as their focus enhancement and/or protection of neotropical migratory birds and their habitats, and that encourage and incorporate local jurisdictional and public participation in the project planning and execution process.
Criteria for Selecting Proposals
In addition to the criteria contained in 16 U.S.C. 6101, proposals will also be evaluated on: scope and significance of effort; importance of resource values; relationship of project to other efforts locally/regionally; feasibility and cost- effectiveness.
