Tribal Wildlife Grants Program (15.639)

Program

15.639 Tribal Wildlife Grants Program

Federal Agency

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

Authorization

Department of the Interior and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, FY 2004, Title I, Public Law 108-108, Land and Water Conservation Fund Act of 1965, 16 U.S.C. 4601-4 through 11.

Program Number

15.639

Last Known Status

Active

Objectives

To develop and implement programs for the benefit of wildlife and their habitat, including species that are not hunted or fished.

Types of Assistance

PROJECT GRANTS

Uses and Use Restrictions

Approved activities include those which develop and implement programs for the benefit of wildlife and their habitat, including species that are not hunted or fished.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicant Eligibility

Participation is limited to Federally recognized Indian tribal governments. For the purposes of inclusion under TLIP, tribal trust lands are treated similarly to lands under private ownership.

Beneficiary Eligibility

Anyone/General Public (While direct participation is limited to Federally recognized Indian tribal governments, the general public will ultimately benefit from these wildlife conservation measures).

Credentials/Documentation

Only Federally recognized Tribes in all parts of the United States are eligible to receive grants under this program, including Federally recognized Tribes, pueblos, rancherias, and Alaska native villages or traditional councils as defined by the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act. Federally recognized Tribes are listed in FR/Vol. 73, No. 66, p. 18553/April 4, 2008. 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. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-110. Applicant must complete the Application for Federal Assistance SF 424, and the appropriate Budget and Assurances forms, SF 424A and SF424B - Non Construction; or SF 424C and SF 424 D - Construction. Application procedures are spelled out in the "Tribal Wildlife Grant Application Kit" available electronically at: http://grants.fws.gov/tribal.html. To receive a paper copy, contact the regional Office of the Native American Liaison.

Award Procedure

The Director of the Fish and Wildlife Service or his or her designee approves or disapproves proposed projects. Regional offices are responsible for notification of grant approval to the grantee and will coordinate the development of the grant agreement.

Deadlines

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

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time

Proposals will be scored, ranked and selected approximately 90 working days after the deadline 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, Fish and Wildlife Service. Final determination rests with the Secretary of the Interior.

Renewals

Not Applicable.

Assistance Considerations

Formula and Matching Requirements

Statutory formulas are not applicable to this program.

Matching Requirements: There is no matching requirement, however, the Service will consider matching funds as an indication of tribal commitment to the program and to encourage partnerships. Matching and cost sharing requirements are discussed in 43 CFR Part 12, Section 12.64.

MOE requirements are not applicable to this program.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance

Apportioned funds are available for obligation by the tribe until expended. Reimbursements can be requested on a continuing basis as expenditures are verified. Balances remaining unobligated or unspent after the final grant closeout are returned to the Service for reapportionment. 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 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 for each grant annually within 90 days after the anniversary date or end of the grant. 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. Records, accounts, and supporting documents must be retained for three years after submission of the final Financial Status Report.

Program Accomplishments

Fiscal Year 2008: Over 300 Fish and Wildlife Conservation Partnerships with 133 federally recognized Indian Tribal governments that protect and restore. Fiscal Year 2009: No Current Data Available Fiscal Year 2010: No Current Data Available

Financial Information

Account Identification

14-5474-0-1-303.

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

$200,000 is the maximum allowable per tribe each fiscal year.

Regulations, Guidelines and Literature

Department of the Interior and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill for FY 2002, Public Law 107-63 language on State Wildlife Grants, and 43 CFR Part 12.

Related Programs

15.623 North American Wetlands Conservation Fund; 15.630 Coastal Program; 15.631 Partners for Fish and Wildlife

Information Contacts

Regional or Local Office

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

Headquarters Office

Native American Liaison Fish and Wildlife Service, Division of External Affairs, Mail Stop-3251, 1849 C Street N.W., Washington, District of Columbia 20240 Phone: (202)208-4133 Fax: (202)501-3524

Web Site Address

http://grants.fws.gov/tribal.html

Examples of Funded Projects

Fiscal Year 2008: Nooksack Cumulative Watershed Effects Assessment South Fork Nooksack In-Stream Restoration Project; Red Lake Wildlife Habitat Preservation and Maintenance, Enhancement and Evaluation Project; Habitat Use, Seasonal Movements and Stock Structure of Bearded Seals in Kotzebue Sound, Alaska. Fiscal Year 2009: No Current Data Available Fiscal Year 2010: No Current Data Available

Criteria for Selecting Proposals

The following criteria is used to select proposals: (1) Resource Benefit: What are the expected benefits to fish and wildlife resources, including species that are not hunted or fished, and their habitat if this program is successfully completed? The Service requires that the Tribe articulate how the benefits of its proposal support the goals and objectives of the TWG and Service and tribal Performance Goals in their proposal narratives. (2) Performance Measures: To what extent does the proposal provide obtainable and quantifiable performance measures and a means to monitor, evaluate, and report on these measures compared to an initial baseline? The measures should be specific and clear, and should provide demonstrable benefits to the target species of the action. These actions must support the goals and objectives of the TWG, the Service and the Tribe. (3) Work plan: Are the program activities and objectives well-designed and achievable? (4) Budget: Are all major budget items justified in relation to the program objectives and clearly explained in the narrative description? (5) Capacity Building: To what extent does the program increase the grantee's capacity to provide for the benefit of wildlife and their habitat? (6) Contributions and Partnerships: To what extent does the applicant display commitment to the project proposal through in-kind contribution or matching funds and to what extent does it incorporate contributions from other nonfederal partners in the form of either cash or in-kind services?.