Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund

 

To provide Federal financial assistance to any State or Territory (hereafter, "States"), through its appropriate State or territorial agency, to assist in the development of programs for the conservation of endangered and threatened species.

General information about this opportunity
Last Known Status
Active
Program Number
15.615
Federal Agency/Office
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of The Interior
Type(s) of Assistance Offered
B - Project Grants
Program Accomplishments
Fiscal Year 2017 Assuming the average grant awards remain consistent with FY16 levels, we anticipate making 10 awards through the Habitat Conservation Planning Assistance program, 10 awards through the HCP Land Acquisition program, 18 awards through the Recovery Land Acquisition program, and providing funding to 53 states and territories through the Traditional Conservation Grants program. FY 2017 grant awards have not yet been announced. However, the Service awarded approximately $44.8 million in fiscal year 2016 to Nontraditional Program projects through the CESCF. Of that amount, approximately $5.8 million was awarded through the Habitat Conservation Planning Assistance program to fully and partially fund 7 out of 8 eligible proposals from 8 States. Approximately $22 million fully funded 11 out of 11 eligible proposals through the HCP Land Acquisition program. The Recovery Land Acquisition program awarded approximately $17.2 million in funding to 24 projects in 19 States. Information on the fiscal year 2016 grant awards can be found at: https://www.fws.gov/endangered/grants/pdf/FY16.CESCF-ProjectDescriptions.pdf An additional $10.5 million was awarded to 53 states and territories through the Traditional Conservation grants program.
Fiscal Year 2018 In FY18 the program received an estimated 230 applications and issued an estimated 200 awards under the Traditional Conservation Grant Program.
Fiscal Year 2019 In FY19 the program anticipates receiving 300 applications and issuing an estimated 250 awards.
Fiscal Year 2020 In FY20 the program anticipates receiving 275 applications and issuing an estimated 225 awards.
Authorization
Endangered Species Act, 16 U.S.C. §1531 et seq.; and Land and Water Conservation Fund Act , 54 U.S.C. §200302 et seq., 16 U.S.C. 460l(el)-4 to 460l(el)-11 (prior to 2015)
Who is eligible to apply/benefit from this assistance?
Applicant Eligibility
Participation limited to State agencies that have a cooperative agreement with the Secretary of the Interior. The annual Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), announced through www.grants.gov and posted to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Web site at http://www.fws.gov/endangered/grants/index.html, describes the criteria that must be satisfied for an application to be eligible for funding.
Beneficiary Eligibility
All States that have entered into a cooperative agreement with the Secretary of the Interior.
Credentials/Documentation
Applicants must be entered into a Cooperative Agreement pursuant to Section 6(c) of the ESA to be eligible for funding and have provided the information necessary for annual renewal (reconfirmation) of their cooperative agreement.
What is the process for applying and being award this assistance?
Pre-Application Procedure
Preapplication coordination is required. This program is eligible for coverage under E.O. 12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs." An applicant should consult the office or official designated as the single point of contact in his or her State for more information on the process the State requires to be followed in applying for assistance, if the State has selected the program for review. The standard application forms furnished by the Federal agency and required by 43 CFR Part 12, Subpart C, "Uniform Administrative requirements for Grants and Cooperative Agreements to State and Local Governments," must be used for this program. An applicant should consult the office or official designated as the single point of contact in his or her State for more information on the process the State requires to be followed in applying for assistance, if the State has selected the program for review.
Application Procedure
2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards applies to this program. An applicant must complete the Standard Form SF-424, Application for Federal Assistance and the appropriate Budget and Assurances forms (SF-424A and SF-424B - Non Construction; or SF-424C and SF-424D - Construction). The project description section of the application should address the evaluation factors identified in the annual request for proposals that will be posted at www.grants.gov and to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service website at http://www.fws.gov/endangered/grants/index.html.
Award Procedure
Final selection is made by the Secretary of the Interior, based on recommendations by the Director or Regional Directors of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Funds are obligated by an authorized signature on an award agreement.
Deadlines
May 17, 2019
Approval/Disapproval Decision Time
Information regarding approval/disapproval time frames is available in the annual Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) posted at www.grants.gov and at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service website at http://www.fws.gov/endangered/grants/index.html.
Appeals
Decisions can be appealed to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Chief, Ecological Services Division of Recovery and Restoration. Final determination rests with the Secretary of the Interior.
Renewals
Renewals can be made through submission of a project proposal and approval of a grant award document.
How are proposals selected?
Proposals for grant funding must be submitted by the State fish and wildlife agency. The State must have an approved cooperative agreement with the Secretary of the Interior which provides for sharing responsibilities for endangered species, prior to receiving Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund (section 6 of the Endangered Species Act) funds. Individual project proposals must compete with other State submissions for funding. For additional information please visit http://www.fws.gov/endangered/grants/index.html.
How may assistance be used?
The assistance provided to the State fish and wildlife agency can include animal, plant, and habitat surveys; research; planning; monitoring; habitat protection, restoration, management, and acquisition; and public education. Assistance is restricted to those State agencies with which the Fish and Wildlife Service has a current cooperative agreement for the species involved.
What are the requirements after being awarded this opportunity?
Reporting
Performance Reports: Performance reports are required. Recipients must monitor and report on project performance in accordance with the requirements in 2 CFR 200.328. Final performance reports and final SF-425, Federal Financial Reports are due within 90 calendar days of the award period of performance end date, unless the awarding program approves a due date extension. The FWS details all reporting requirements including frequency and due dates in Notices of Award.
Auditing
Not applicable.
Records
Land acquisition records and land documents must be maintained in perpetuity.
Other Assistance Considerations
Formula and Matching Requirements
Statutory formula is not applicable to this assistance listing.

Matching is voluntary. States may receive up to 75 percent of the program costs. When two or more States have a common interest in one or more endangered or threatened species and enter into a joint agreement, the Federal share of the total project cost may be increased to 90 percent.

MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
The maximum period of performance (PoP) for CESCF grants is three years. If an approved project cannot be completed within the PoP, the State Director/Commissioner may request an extension of up to 12 months from the Director of the Service provided appropriate justification. Any awarded project that will not be completed within the PoP, and from which funds are deobligated, may be eligible for funding in future competitions. Program obligates funds and sends a notice of award to successful applicants. Recipients request funds in accordance with 2 CFR 200, Subpart E-Cost Principles, unless otherwise dictated by program-specific legislation or special award terms. Program will include any special payment terms and conditions in the notice of award.
Who do I contact about this opportunity?
Regional or Local Office
Please visit http://www.fws.gov/endangered/regions/index.html to access a list of regional program contacts.
Headquarters Office
Chief, Ecological Services
Ecological Services Division of Restoration and Recovery, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 5275 Leesburg Pike, MS: ES
Falls Church, VA 22041 US
fwsgrants@fws.gov
Phone: (703) 358-2171
Website Address
http://www.fws.gov/endangered/grants/index.html
Financial Information
Account Identification
14-5143-0-2-302
Obligations
(Project Grants (Discretionary)) FY 18$12,508,000.00; FY 19 est $12,508,000.00; FY 20 est $12,508,000.00; FY 17$11,141,000.00; - Conservation Grants(Project Grants (Discretionary)) FY 18$0.00; FY 19 est $14,970,000.00; FY 20 est $7,485,000.00; FY 17$9,467,000.00; - Habitat Conservation Planning Assistance Grants(Project Grants (Discretionary)) FY 18$0.00; FY 19 est $22,324,000.00; FY 20 est $11,162,000.00; FY 17$10,508,000.00; - Species Recovery Land Acquisition Grants(Project Grants (Discretionary)) FY 18$0.00; FY 19 est $39,276,000.00; FY 20 est $19,638,000.00; FY 17$19,601,000.00; - Habitat Conservation Plan Land Acquisition Grants
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
Varies by program element.
Regulations, Guidelines and Literature
Endangered Species Act of 1973, 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq., as amended; Land and Water Conservation Fund Act of 1965, 16 U.S.C. 4601, as amended; 50 CFR 81, The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Manual Chapter 521 FW 4 (http://www.fws.gov/policy/521fw4.html); The Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program Toolkit (http://wsfrprograms.fws.gov/Subpages/ToolkitFiles/toolkit.pdf); and the annual request for proposals posted at www.grants.gov and at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service web site at http://www.fws.gov/endangered/grants/section6/index.html.
Examples of Funded Projects
Fiscal Year 2017 The program has not yet selected projects for funding. However, we expect to award over 225 grants to fund projects similar to those supported in FY16 that benefit threatened and endangered species on non-Federal lands. The program has not announced projects for funding. However, we expect to award over 225 grants to fund projects that benefit threatened and endangered species on non-Federal lands.
Fiscal Year 2018 In FY18, the Service awarded over 200 grants in support of projects with direct conservation benefits for federally listed, candidate, and at-risk species. Grants are awarded to assist States in the implementation of their respective programs for the conservation of resident threatened and endangered species of fish, wildlife, and plants and may involve activities such as species and habitat management, monitoring, research, and outreach. For example, the State of California was awarded a grant to support the development of a habitat suitability model for the central California coast and valley in conjunction with surveys to document occupancy, habitat condition, and cowbird pressure on the Federally listed least Bell’s vireo. The State of Pennsylvania was awarded a grant to support monitoring and management of federally listed Northeastern bulrush populations. The State of South Dakota was awarded a grant to survey 20 sites for the presence of the Federally listed Topeka Shiner and document current land management practices that are associated with the species presence.
Fiscal Year 2019 The program has not yet selected projects for funding. However, we expect to award over 250 grants to fund projects that benefit threatened and endangered species on non-Federal lands.
Fiscal Year 2020 The program has not yet selected projects for funding. However, we expect to award over 225 grants to fund projects that benefit threatened and endangered species on non-Federal lands.

 


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