Wildlife Without Borders - Mexico (15.641)
Program
15.641 Wildlife Without Borders - Mexico
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
15.641
Last Known Status
Active
Objectives
To address the conservation and sustainable use of Mexico's wildlife and plant resources by providing financial resources for projects of organizations working to strengthen Mexico's capacity to conserve and use sustainably it's biological resources.
Types of Assistance
Project Grants.
Uses and Use Restrictions
Funds may be used for approved Wildlife Without Borders-Mexico projects. Project work should be conducted in Mexico 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 Mexico's biological resources. If project work is to be conducted in the United States the proposal should show a clear Mexican 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 Mexico.
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; public nonprofit institution/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 simultaneously reviewed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Wildlife Without Borders-Mexico review panel and the Mexican Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources, Wildlife Without Borders-Mexico review panel (SEMARNAT). Once internal reviews are completed, the Service and SEMARNAT select the projects jointly. 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 must be submitted to both the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and SEMARNAT on or before October 1 each year.
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 document.
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 or more in Federal awards shall 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 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, 49 proposals were received and 18 of those were funded. In FY 04, 41 proposals were received and 13 of those have been selected for funding. It is estimated that 45 proposals will be received and 15 awards will be granted in FY 05. 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 $466,322; FY 04 est $439,326; and FY 05 est $386,000.
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
Variable amounts. In FY 03 the awards ranged from $8,630 to $75,000, 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
15.640, Wildlife Without Borders- Latin America and the Caribbean.
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 Mexico's 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-Mexico 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.
