Wildlife Without Borders - Mexico (15.641)

Program

15.641 Wildlife Without Borders - Mexico

Federal Agency

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

Authorization

Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended, 16 U.S.C. 1531-43.

Program Number

15.641

Last Known Status

Active

Objectives

To provide support for projects that build Mexico's human and institutional capacity for biodiversity conservation and management through training associated with Mexican nature reserves. Of interest are projects that provide training in biodiversity conservation or natural resource management associated with federal, state, or local nature reserves, or areas in the process of acquiring protection status, as well as other priority biodiversity areas designated by the Government of Mexico.

Types of Assistance

PROJECT GRANTS

Uses and Use Restrictions

Funding will be provided for training projects, including short-term (2-3 week) on-the-job courses certified by an educational institution (Diplomados), workshops, personnel exchanges, training provided through on-the-ground practices, among other delivery mechanisms, with the following objectives: (1) develop specific conservation/management skills of resources managers by addressing critical gaps in formal and informal training in Mexico while increasing the number of personnel trained; (2) promote training that links sound management practices in nature reserves to the creation of economic opportunities for buffer zone communities; and (3) raise the level of awareness and capacity of key stakeholder groups to deliver conservation. Applicants should be proposing work to be conducted in Mexico. If work is to be conducted in the United States, the proposal must show a clear connection to capacity building for biodiversity conservation in Mexico 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 Mexico. Funds may not be used to provide material support or resources to individuals, entities, or organizations of countries that have been identified by the U.S. Department of State as state sponsors of terrorism. The countries currently identified are: Cuba, Iran, Sudan and Syria. This program is administered in compliance with the Federal Grants and Cooperative Agreements Act of 1977, as amended. These funds may not be used towards training U.S. Federal Government personnel.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicant Eligibility

Participation is limited to Federal, State and local governments, non-profit, non-governmental organizations; public and private institutions of higher education; and any other organization or individual with demonstrated experience deemed necessary to carry out the proposed project.

Beneficiary Eligibility

Federal, State and local government; public nonprofit institution/organizations; public and private institutions of higher education; and any other organization or individual with demonstrated experience deemed necessary to carry out the proposed project.

Credentials/Documentation

No Credentials or documentation are required. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-87.

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. The program announcement and application instructions for this program can be found at http://www.grants.gov. The Notice of Funding Availability and Application Instructions are also located on this programs website at http://www.fws.gov/international/DIC/regional%20programs/mexico/mexico.html. If you are unable to access the Internet, hard copies are available upon request from the Branch of Mexico, Division of International Conservation, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 4401 N. Fairfax Drive, Room 100, Arlington, VA 22203.

Award Procedure

Projects are simultaneously reviewed by a panel convened by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and a panel convened by the Mexican Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT). Final funding decisions are made jointly by representatives of the Service and SEMARNAT based on the recommendations of the two review panels. Review criteria can be found in the application information at http://www.fws.gov/international/DICprograms/mexico.htm. Once a proposal has been selected for funding, an Assistance Award between the Fish and Wildlife Service and the Recipient is drafted by the Division of International Conservation. The draft Award is then submitted to the Division of Contracting and Facilities Management (CFM) where it is executed by an FWS Contracting Officer. Fully executed Awards are sent to the Recipient either electronically or through the mail. The Division of International Conservation then administers all other aspects of the Assistance Award.

Deadlines

Oct 01, 2009 Proposals must be submitted to both the Fish and Wildlife Service and SEMARNAT on or before October 1 each year.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time

Decisions on funding of project proposals are normally made no later than 180 days after the receipt of the project proposals.

Appeals

Not Applicable.

Renewals

Not Applicable.

Assistance Considerations

Formula and Matching Requirements

Statutory formulas are not applicable to this program.

Matching Requirements: Applicants or other project partners must contribute funds to the project, which may include cash or in-kind contributions. In determining whether to approve project proposals, preference is given to projects for which matching funds are available.

MOE requirements are not applicable to this program.

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 document. See the following for information on how assistance is awarded/released: Information not available.

Post Assistance Requirements

Reports

Performance reports are to be submitted in accordance with the terms and conditions established in the Assistance Award. Complete reporting requirements can be found at this programs web page at http://www.fws.gov/international/DIC/regional%20programs/mexico/mexico.html. Cash reports are not applicable. Progress reports are not applicable. For financial reporting, Domestic Recipients shall use the Federal Financial Report, Standard Form 425. Non-domestic Recipients shall submit a financial status report that follows the same format of the original project proposal budget table, itemizes expenditures for the reporting period any describes any deviations from the approved project budget. 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

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

Fiscal Year 2008: In FY 2008 the Service awarded 14 Assistance Awards for projects in Mexico. A summary of each of those projects can be found at the program's webpage at http://www.fws.gov/international/DICprograms/mexico.htm. Fiscal Year 2009: No Current Data Available Fiscal Year 2010: No Current Data Available

Financial Information

Account Identification

14-1611-0-1-303.

Obligations

(Project Grants) FY 08 $752,000; FY 09 est $752,000; FY 10 est $752,000

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

Variable amounts. The average grant amount is $35,000.

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 source all applicable award terms and conditions found at http://www.doi.gov/pam/TermsandConditions.html. The Assistance Award Guidelines can be found on-line at http://www.fws.gov/international/DIC/regional%20prpgrams/mexico/mexico.html or in hard copy by contacting the Division of International Conservation.

Related Programs

15.640 Wildlife Without Borders- Latin America and the Caribbean ; 15.651 Wildlife Without Borders-Africa Program

Information Contacts

Regional or Local Office

See Regional Agency Offices.

Headquarters Office

Chief Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior, Division of International Conservation, 4401 North Fairfax Drive, Room 100, Arlington, Virginia 22203-1622 Email: WWB_Mexico@fws.gov Phone: (703) 358-1754 Fax: (703) 358-2115

Web Site Address

http://www.fws.gov/international/grants/grants.html .

Examples of Funded Projects

Fiscal Year 2008: Annual summaries of the projects funded under this program can be found at http://www.fws.gov/international/DIC/regional%20programs/mexico/mexico.html. Hard copies of this information are available upon request from the Division of Division of International Conservation. Fiscal Year 2009: No Current Data Available Fiscal Year 2010: No Current Data Available

Criteria for Selecting Proposals

Due to the limited funding available and the desire to support diverse projects, preference will be given to proposals requesting less than $50,000.00. A complete list of the criteria used to select projects under this program can be found in the Wildlife Without Borders-Mexico Notice of Funding Availability and Application Instructions, located on line at http://www.fws.gov/international/DIC/regional%20programs/mexico/mexico.html. Hard copies can be obtained by contacting the Division of International Conservation at (703) 358-1754.