Description
Using appropriations to the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (also referred to as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law), the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS/Service), in collaboration with other DOI bureaus, anticipates providing grants to support implementation of measures to prevent the introduction or spread of invasive species. Proposals are requested that advance strategic, ecologically-based, landscape-level prevention measures. Landscape-level approaches are those that bring together multiple geographies, sectors, and stakeholders to protect and conserve natural resources on a larger scale. Submitted projects should benefit invasive species prevention efforts on a national or regional context. Proposed activities should focus on either prohibiting the entry of potentially invasive species into the United States or stopping invasive species already in the United States from spreading into new watersheds or geographic areas. Submitted proposals should demonstrate: Benefits to Federal and/or Tribal lands or Insular areas (territories), although implementation efforts are not constrained to only on Federal lands and waters; An integrated management approach at the landscape-level that can benefit multiple DOI bureaus and geographic areas, particularly those areas that have been identified as high-quality, critical, core habitat, and/or having high risk of invasion; Implementation of effective, science-based tools or infrastructure that can be used for long-term invasive species prevention which may include leveraging existing knowledge and tools and/or building new capacities and capabilities; Partnership building and leveraging for collaborative conservation with other projects, programs and/or State, local, Tribal, and territorial partners; Cost-effectiveness and management efficiencies; and Ability to advance prevention priorities identified in the Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force’s National Priorities List for Research on Aquatic Invasive Species (provide link) and/or DOI’s 2021-2025 Invasive Species Strategic Plan. Proposals that service underserved or historically disadvantaged communities are also encouraged; this will be considered as one of the grant review criteria listed under the Application Review Information section later in this document. The spread of invasive species may be stopped by strategic placement of exclusion barriers. These types of management actions can be perceived as containment, yet will be considered for prevention funding if the proposed project can meet the above objectives. Proposals submitted for this award should address how the proposed project supports the above objectives and DOI’s invasive species management mission to cost-effectively protect the Nation's economy, environment, public health, infrastructure, natural resources, and cultural heritage from the harmful impacts of invasive species for the benefit of current and future generations. Multi-year projects are will be considered. It is preferred that projects be completed within 3 years, but this is negotiable based on project merit and proposed timeline.