Wildlife Without Borders - Latin America And The Caribbean (15.640)
Program
15.640 Wildlife Without Borders - Latin America And The Caribbean
Federal Agency
FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Authorization
Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531-43).
Program Number
15.640
Last Known Status
Active
Objectives
To address the management of fish, plant, and wildlife resources in the Western Hemisphere. Of particular interest are projects that strengthen the capacity of Latin American and Caribbean countries to conserve and use sustainably their biological resources, contribute to the integration of environmental concerns with sustained development processes, and result in specific and measurable on-the-ground management actions in agreement with the Convention on Nature Protection and Wildlife Preservation in the Western Hemisphere (also known as the Western Hemisphere Convention, 1940).
Types of Assistance
Project Grants.
Uses and Use Restrictions
Project work should be conducted in Latin America and must address one or more of the following: academic and technical training in the conservation and management of biological resources; training in management of nature reserves and other protected areas; applied research and monitoring in support of natural resource management activities; community-level conservation education; technology transfer and information exchange; and the promotion of networks, partnerships and coalitions that assist in the implementation of conventions, treaties, protocols and other international activities for the conservation and management of biological resources. If project work is to be conducted in the United States the proposal should show a clear international component to be eligible for funding. Funds provided under this program will not be used for the following activities: the purchase of firearms or ammunitions; buying of intelligence information or paying informants; gathering information by persons who conceal their true identity; law enforcement operations that prompt suspects to carry out illegal activities so they may be arrested (entrapment); or any activity that would circumvent sanctions, treaties, laws or regulations of either the U.S. or the country in which the activity would occur.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicant Eligibility
Participation is limited to Federal, State and local governments, nonprofit, non-governmental organizations; and public and private institutions of higher education.
Beneficiary Eligibility
Federal, State and local government agencies; nonprofit, non-governmental organizations; and public and private institutions of higher education.
Credentials/Documentation
None.
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 at http://international.fws.gov/grants/grants.html, or, if unable to access the website, by request from the Branch of Latin America & the Caribbean, Division of International Conservation, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 4401 N. Fairfax Drive, Room 730, Arlington, VA 22203-1622.
Award Procedure
Projects are received on an on-going basis, and review sessions are scheduled on a regular basis throughout the fiscal year. After projects are selected for funding, an Assistance Award agreement is drafted by the Division of International Conservation, which is then finalized by the Division of Contracting. Assistance Awards are mailed to fund recipients for signature. Once all required documents are returned to the Service the FWS Contracting Officer signs to fully execute the Award. Fully executed documents are mailed back to the Recipient. From this point forward, the Division of International Conservation administers the Assistance Award.
Deadlines
Proposals may be submitted throughout the year. However, applicants are encouraged to submit proposals between September and December, as the majority of grants are awarded between December and June each year. Based on funding availability, proposals received late in the fiscal year (between June and August) may not be considered for funding until the start of the next fiscal year (which begins October 1).
Range of Approval/Disapproval Time
Appeals
Not applicable.
Renewals
None. However, at the discretion of the Division of International Conservation awards can be modified, e.g.; extended for time or budget changes made.
Assistance Considerations
Formula and Matching Requirements
Applicants and/or other project partners must contribute funds to the project, which may include cash or in-kind contributions.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
Upon approval, the project may be extended or the agreement modified. Awarded funds must be spent during the period of performance indicated on the Assistance Award, and in accordance with the financial and performance reporting procedures specified in the Assistance Award.
Post Assistance Requirements
Reports
Financial and performance reports are to be submitted in accordance with the terms and conditions listed in the Assistance Award.
Audits
In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular A-133 (Revised June 27, 2003), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Nonprofit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend $500,000 in Federal awards shall have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Non-Federal entities that expend less than $500,00 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in OMB Circular A-133.
Records
Recipient will maintain records 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" and 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
In FY 03 63 proposals were received and 35 of those were funded. So far in FY 04 38 proposals have been received and it is estimated that 30 proposals in total will be selected for funding. It is estimated that 55 proposals will be received and 25 awards will be granted in FY05. Historically 25-30% of this program's funds have been awarded to U.S. organizations, with the remaining funds going to non-domestic organizations.
Financial Information
Account Identification
14-1611-0-1-303.
Obligations
(Grants) FY 03 $674,575; FY 04 est $547,000; and FY 05 est $472,000.
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
Variable amounts. In FY 03 the awards ranged from $5,000 to 50,000, with an average of about $27,000. For FY 04, the awards will range from $20,000 to $65,000, with an average of about $34,000.
Regulations, Guidelines and Literature
Grants will be administered in conformance with the "Assistance Award Guidelines" established by the Division of International Conservation, which uses as its sources the regulations found at 43 CFR Part 12 and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Administration Manual. The "Assistance Award Guidelines" can be found on-line at http://international.fws.gov/grants/grants.html or in hard copy by contacting the Division of International Conservation at (703) 358-1754.
Related Programs
15.641, Wildlife Without Borders-Mexico.
Information Contacts
Regional or Local Office
Not applicable.
Headquarters Office
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Department of the Interior. Contact: Chief, Division of International Conservation, 4401 North Fairfax Drive, Room 730, Arlington, VA 22203-1622. Telephone: (703) 358-1754. Facsimile: (703) 358-2849.
Web Site Address
Examples of Funded Projects
Conservation projects that have as their focus capacity-building through academic and technical training in the conservation and management of biological resources; training in management of nature reserves and other protected areas; applied research and monitoring in support of natural resource management activities; community-level conservation education; technology transfer and information exchange; and the promotion of networks, partnerships and coalitions that assist in the implementation of conventions, treaties, protocols and other international activities for the conservation and management of biological resources.
Criteria for Selecting Proposals
A complete list of the criteria used to select projects under this program can be found in the Wildlife Without Borders-Latin America and the Caribbean Request for Proposals, located on-line at http://international.fws.gov/grants/grants.html. Hard copies can be obtained by contacting the Division of International Conservation at (703) 358-1754.
