White-nose Syndrome National Response Implementation

 

To conserve and recover bats affected by the fungal disease white-nose syndrome through support to states and Tribes for their management planning and actions, coordination of research activities, and collaboration with partners. Provide for research projects that address information needs for managing white-nose syndrome and species affected by it. Develop and implement management strategies to lessen the impacts of white-nose syndrome and recover affected species. Conduct monitoring efforts to monitor status and trends of North American bat populations.

General information about this opportunity
Last Known Status
Active
Program Number
15.684
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 2019 In FY19 white-nose syndrome funding was awarded under Assistance Listing number 15.657. $1.3 million was awarded to 32 states and 3 tribes through the white-nose syndrome grants to states and tribes opportunity (41 proposals received, $1.6 million requested). Up to $1.3 million is anticipated to be awarded for the white-nose syndrome research grants funding opportunity (20 proposals received, $3.7 million requested).
Fiscal Year 2020 In FY20, depending on funding, the Service anticipates awarding up to $1.3 million through the Grants to States and Tribes opportunity, up to $1.5 million for research grants, and up to $700,000 for cooperative agreements to support implementation and coordination of the North American Bat Monitoring Program, national priorities for the white-nose syndrome response, and implementation of management strategies to mitigate the impacts of white-nose syndrome.
Fiscal Year 2021 In FY21, depending on funding, the Service anticipates awarding up to $1.3 million through the Grants to States and Tribes opportunity, up to $1.5 million for research grants, and up to $700,000 for cooperative agreements to support implementation and coordination of the North American Bat Monitoring Program, national priorities for the white-nose syndrome response, and implementation of management strategies to mitigate the impacts of white-nose syndrome.
Authorization
Endangered Species Act, 16 U.S.C. §1531 et. seq.; Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act, 16 U.S.C. §§ 661-666; Fish and Wildlife Act, 16 U.S.C. § 742 et seq.; Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2020 (H.R. 1865, 116th Cong. Div. D, Title I).
Who is eligible to apply/benefit from this assistance?
Applicant Eligibility
Eligibility varies by funding opportunity.
Beneficiary Eligibility
Not applicable.
Credentials/Documentation
Not applicable.
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. Applications are submitted through Grants.gov. Please see the Notice of Funding Opportunity for a complete list of the application requirements. The required components of proposals are specific to the different funding opportunities in this program. Specific requirements are outlined in the Notice of Funding Opportunity. In general, these will include a scope of work, budget and budget justification, the SF424 family of standard forms, letters of support and any other information identified in the Notice.
Award Procedure
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's National Coordinator for White-nose Syndrome or his or her designee recommends proposals for funding, and the Secretary of the Department of the Interior or his or her designee approves or disapproves proposed grants. Regional Offices are responsible for notification of grant approval to the grantee. Awards will be announced via letters sent directly to the applicants. No work may begin on a project until the award, and the required environmental compliance documents, have been signed by the authorized Service official, unless conditioned by the program on a case by case basis. Unsuccessful applicants will be notified either by letter, fax, email or telephone, generally within 90 days from the deadline for submission of proposals.
Deadlines
Contact the headquarters or regional location, as appropriate for application deadlines
Approval/Disapproval Decision Time
From 90 to 120 days.
Appeals
Not applicable.
Renewals
Recipients may request period of performance and/or reporting due date extensions and should submit such requests in advance of the period of performance end date or report due date. Current recipients may seek funding in subsequent years to continue similar actions or lines of research by submitting a new application in response to an open competitive Notice of Funding Opportunity. The program will evaluate such applications according to the priorities, requirements, and criteria identified in the funding opportunity.
How are proposals selected?
The criteria for selecting proposals are specific to the different funding opportunities posted to grants.gov. Specific criteria are outlined in the Notice of Funding Opportunity. In general, these criteria include project relevance and need, cost efficiency, and other criteria identified in the Notice.
How may assistance be used?
Projects must carry out actions in support of the white-nose syndrome national response plan, including priorities and efforts identified within that context. Such actions include management activities of state wildlife and natural resource agencies working to conserve and recover bats and combat white-nose syndrome. The program funds projects addressing priorities identified through the working groups of the white-nose syndrome national plan. Congress appropriated these funds to the Service to apply them in support of the National Response to White-nose Syndrome and the North American Bat Monitoring Program (Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2020, H.R. 1865, 116th Cong. Div. D, Title I).
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. The final performance report is due within 90 calendar days of the award period of performance end date, unless the awarding program approves a due date extension. The Service 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. Program-specific legislation/regulation may dictate additional records retention requirements. Program will detail all non-standard records retention requirements in the notice of award.
Other Assistance Considerations
Formula and Matching Requirements
Statutory formula is not applicable to this assistance listing.

Matching is voluntary. Voluntary committed cost sharing is encouraged, but not required.

MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
Program funding is appropriated each year and is obligated within 2 years. Specific funding opportunities may require shorter or longer timeframes for obligation. Assistance is available throughout the year depending on issuance of Notices of Funding Opportunities, which will accept applications for at least 60 calendar days from the date they are posted. Program obligates funds and sends a notice of award to successful applicants in a competitive process. Recipients request funds in accordance with 2 CFR 200, Subpart E-Cost Principles. 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
Jeremy Coleman, National Coordinator for White-Nose Syndrome US Fish and Wildlife Service, Ecological Services, 300 Westgate Center, Hadley, MA 01035 Jeremy_Coleman@fws.gov 413-253-8223. Jonathan Reichard, National Assistant Coordinator for White-Nose Syndrome US Fish and Wildlife Service, Ecological Services, 300 Westgate Center, Hadley, MA 01035 Jonathan_Reichard@fws.gov 413-253-8258. Contact information for U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service regional coordinators for white-nose syndrome are available at: https://www.whitenosesyndrome.org/contact/region
Headquarters Office
Jeremy Coleman, National Coordinator for White-Nose Syndrome
US Fish and Wildlife Service, Ecological Services, 300 Westgate Center
Hadley, MA 01035 USA
Jeremy_Coleman@fws.gov
Phone: 413-253-8223
Website Address
http://www.whitenosesyndrome.org
Financial Information
Account Identification
14-1611-0-1-302
Obligations
(Project Grants (Discretionary)) FY 19$2,500,000.00; FY 20 est $3,500,000.00; FY 21 est $3,500,000.00; - Program awards both grants and cooperative agreements.
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
Varies by funding opportunity. Project grant awards range from $2,500 to $250,000, with average awards about $140,000. Cooperative agreements of up to $1,000,000 may be awarded, with average amounts about $200,000.
Regulations, Guidelines and Literature
Not applicable.
Examples of Funded Projects
Fiscal Year 2019 White-nose Syndrome Grants to States and Tribes: Awarded to state natural resource agencies and Tribe natural resource departments to assist information gathering and management of bats. Awards support acoustic monitoring in accordance with the North American Bat Monitoring Program, surveys of caves and mines to estimate population statuses of bats, coordination of research and management focusing on white-nose-syndrome affected bats. White-nose Syndrome Research Grants: Funded critical research to address priorities of the white-nose syndrome national response. Projects address priorities identified by the working groups of the national response to white-nose syndrome for conservation and recovery, disease management, epidemiology, diagnostics, surveillance, and data management.
Fiscal Year 2020 The Service intends to administer White-nose Syndrome Grants to States and Tribes, and the White-Nose Syndrome Research Grants. Additional funding opportunities will be developed to support critical needs identified through the White-nose Syndrome National Response and the White-nose Syndrome Challenge.
Fiscal Year 2021 The Service intends to administer White-nose Syndrome Grants to States and Tribes, and the White-Nose Syndrome Research Grants. Additional funding opportunities will be developed to support critical needs identified through the White-nose Syndrome National Response and the White-nose Syndrome Challenge.

 



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