Prescott Marine Mammal Rescue Assistance

 

To provide financial assistance to eligible entities for: response, recovery, rescue, treatment, and, as appropriate, release of West Indian manatees, sea otters, Pacific walruses, and polar bears; the collection of data for scientific research associated with the health of these species; and facility operation costs for these species, as appropriate.

General information about this opportunity
Last Known Status
Active
Program Number
15.683
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 2020 In FY 20 the program received 27 applications and issued 25 awards.
Fiscal Year 2021 16 applications and issued 13 awards.
Fiscal Year 2022 Program received 15 applications and issued 15 awards.
Fiscal Year 2023 Program anticipates 20 applications and issuing 15 awards.
Fiscal Year 2024 Program anticipates 20 applications and issuing 15 awards.
Authorization
Marine Mammal Rescue Assistance Act—John H. Prescott Marine Mammal Rescue Assistance Grant Program (16 U.S.C. 1421f-I); Marine Mammal Protection Act (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.); Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 – Administrative Provisions (P.L. 117-328 [H.R. 2617-306]).
Who is eligible to apply/benefit from this assistance?
Applicant Eligibility
To be eligible, an applicant must be a current participant or researcher associated with marine mammal stranding efforts and must demonstrate they have authorization under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA; 16 U.S.C. 1361, et seq.) and the Endangered Species Act (ESA; 16 U.S.C. 1531, et seq.), if the marine mammal species is listed under the ESA. Authorization may include a permit issued under section 104(c) or an agreement under section 112(c) to take marine mammals as described in section 109(h)(1) in response to stranded marine mammals. Eligibility also includes Federal (except DOI and DOC), State, or local government employees operating in the course of their official duties as indicated under 109(h).
Beneficiary Eligibility
The recipients are the primary beneficiaries. The projects may have secondary benefits to States that have the identified marine mammal species in waters under State jurisdiction and supports Federal requirements for conservation of marine mammals, and other public resources.
Credentials/Documentation
Applicants must provide a copy of their issued permit, letter of authorization, section 112 agreement, or evidence of authorization under section 109(h) along with their application request for funding. We will also accept evidence that an applicant has applied for one of these authorization, e.g., a copy of the request for authorization; however, if proof (i.e., a copy) of the final authorization is not provided by the time the agency is ready to make an award, the applicant would be determined not qualified to receive an award.
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.
Application Procedure
2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards applies to this program. Proposals are submitted through Grants.gov. Applicants need to address the program and species-specific priorities identified in the Notices of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). The NOFO also identifies the documents that must accompany the application.
Award Procedure
Applications submitted within the identified deadline will be screened for completeness and eligibility, which includes: completed forms 424, 424A, and 424B; evidence of authorization under MMPA and ESA, if listed; submission by deadline date; signature and date by authorized representative; at least a 25% cost share; an eligible activity; at least one of the species-specific funding priorities; a budget and statement of work with milestones, and identification of the Principal Investigator. Those that pass the initial screening will be provided to the appropriate Service staff for conducting the review. The review will consider: the importance and applicability of the proposal; soundness and ability to accomplish the project; qualifications of applicants; costs; and outreach and education, as appropriate. Those applications that receive a top score will undergo further review, which will focus on the program needs and species priorities before providing recommendations for equitable funding to the Selecting Official.
Deadlines
March 30, 2023
Approval/Disapproval Decision Time
From 120 to 180 days.
Appeals
Not applicable.
Renewals
Recipients may request funding for a subsequent year/cycle of a currently funded project. However, these requests are subject to the same submission, review, and approval requirements as all new applications. This program will fund any approved renewal application as new award, not as an amendment to an existing award. Future or continued funding will be at the discretion of the Service, based on the availability of each fiscal year funding and satisfactory performance. Recipients may request approval for budget and project plan revisions of funded projects, including period of performance and reporting due date extensions, in accordance with 2 CFR 200.
How are proposals selected?
All eligible applicants must be current participants or researchers associated with marine mammal stranding efforts. Projects will be considered based on: (1) importance and applicability to the program; (2) soundness and ability to accomplish the proposed project; (3) overall qualifications of applicants; (4) project costs; and (5) outreach and education, as appropriate. Determination of priorities may consider program and species needs, any episodic stranding, anomalous mortality event, or unusual mortality event that occurred in the preceding year, data regarding average annual strandings and mortality events per year, and size and vulnerability of the marine mammal populations. The selection process may consider costs, geographical distribution, financial need, duplication with other federally funded projects, and equitable distribution of funds among the designated stranding regions and species/stocks.
How may assistance be used?
Funds will be awarded to and must be used by recipients for: response, recovery, rescue, treatment, and, as appropriate, release of marine mammals under the management jurisdiction of the Service (i.e., West Indian manatees, sea otters, Pacific walruses, and polar bears); the collection of data for scientific research associated with the health of these marine mammal species; and facility operation costs, as appropriate.
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 200.329. A final performance report is due within 120 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
Recipients will maintain records in accordance with 2 CFR 200. The recipient is required to maintain files of all records associated with funds provided under the grant, including supporting documentation, in accordance with the terms and conditions of the notice of award letter. The grantee must maintain records for three years from the date when the final expenditure report is submitted.
Other Assistance Considerations
Formula and Matching Requirements
Statutory formula is not applicable to this assistance listing.

Matching is mandatory. 25%. Per sections 408(d) and (e) of the Marine Mammal Protection Act, the program provides for a maximum Federal award for each project of up to $150,000 and a minimum non-Federal cost share of 25 percent of total project costs. The agency may apply in-kind contributions (i.e., the fair market value of property and services) to the non-Federal share. Matching requirements are mandatory.

MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
Grants are expected to be provided for a one-year time period; however, this may vary from 12 months to 3 years depending on the type of project. Program obligates funds and sends a notice of award letter to successful applicants. Award terms and conditions will be outlined in the notice of award.
Who do I contact about this opportunity?
Regional or Local Office
Please see the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) on Grants.gov for appropriate points of contact.
Headquarters Office
Patrick G. McKenney
Ecological Services Program, Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior, 5275 Leesburg Pike (MS:ES)
Falls Church, VA 22041 USA
FWS_ES_GRANTS@fws.gov
Phone: (719) 651-7961
Website Address
https://www.fws.gov/service/john-h-prescott-marine-mammal-rescue-assistance-grant-program
Financial Information
Account Identification
14-1611-0-1-302
Obligations
(Project Grants (Discretionary)) FY 22$1,137,493.00; FY 23 est $2,162,000.00; FY 24 est $2,162,000.00; FY 21$1,200,000.00; FY 20$2,040,000.00; FY 19$0.00; FY 18$0.00; - Funding to be used for species under the jurisdiction of the USFWS.
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
Range: $10,000 to $95,000. Average: $60,000.
Regulations, Guidelines and Literature
Not applicable.
Examples of Funded Projects
Fiscal Year 2019 Program has not yet selected projects for funding. Program anticipates funding projects that will provide for the response, recovery, rescue, treatment, and release of West Indian manatees, sea otters, Pacific walruses, and polar bears, the collection of data for scientific research related to stranding efforts, and facility operation costs, as appropriate.
Fiscal Year 2020 (1)Rehabilitate stranded sea otters and Pacific walruses. Projects will also collect data about the health and disease parameters associated with these species. (2)To help conserve Southern sea otters by expanding the species’ population through surrogacy and providing critical support for stranding response projects. (3) To obtain rescue vehicles and other equipment for the Florida Manatee Stranding Network.
Fiscal Year 2021 Marine mammal rescue and rehabilitation equipment, supplies, training, and/or research needs for the polar bear, Pacific walrus, northern sea otter, southern sea otter, or West Indian Manatee. Past examples of funded grants include post release monitoring, laboratory equipment for testing, purchase of both land and water vehicles, and new enclosures to increase rehabilitation capacity.
Fiscal Year 2022 Provided financial assistance to 15 eligible entities for: response, recovery, rescue, treatment, and, as appropriate, release of West Indian manatees, sea otters, Pacific walruses, and polar bears; the collection of data for scientific research associated with the health of these species; and facility operation costs for these species, as appropriate.
Fiscal Year 2023 Program anticipates funding projects that promote marine mammal rescue and rehabilitation equipment, supplies, training, and/or research needs for the polar bear, Pacific walrus, northern sea otter, southern sea otter, or West Indian Manatee.
Fiscal Year 2024 Program anticipates funding projects that promote marine mammal rescue and rehabilitation equipment, supplies, training, and/or research needs for the polar bear, Pacific walrus, northern sea otter, southern sea otter, or West Indian Manatee.

 



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