Description
Headquarters National Wildlife Refuge System (NWRS) is posting this Notification of Intent to award a single source cooperative agreement to American Trails for the American Trails Strategic Planning and Capacity Building project. Awards issued under this program will support Department of the Interior (DOI) Priorities for Financial Assistance (see attachment A) and support NWRS efforts to identify, conserve, manage and enhance the physical and ecological infrastructure of public lands managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service). This project contributes to the Service conservation stewardship legacy by providing funding for grants that support conservation projects focused on building stewardship relationships with community neighbors to National Wildlife Refuges and Fish and Wildlife Service offices. As a result of providing technical assistance and funding, these grants restore trust with the communities, States, and tribal partners. Some of the grants awarded under this Notice of Funding Opportunity will restore habitats and infrastructures, and thus address maintenance needs of the National Wildlife Refuge System (NWRS). Projects that restore habitat assist species recovery and support the acceleration of delisting. Projects are awarded to partnerships, some with the private sector, and will provide increased opportunities for hunting, fishing and outdoor recreation.Legal Authorities: Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act of 1934 (16 U.S.C. 2901-2911); Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956 (16 U.S.C. 742(a)-754); Refuge Recreation Act of 1962 (16 U.S.C. 460k-460k(4)); National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966 (16 U.S.C. 668dd); Youth Conservation Corps Act of 1972 (16 U.S.C. 1701-1706); Archaeological Resources Protection Act of 1979 (16 U.S.C. 470aa-47011); The National Wildlife Refuge System Act of 1997 (Public Law 105-57); National Wildlife Refuge System Volunteer and Community Partnership Act of 2004 (Public Law 108-327); Public Lands Corps Act of 1993, as amended 2005 (16 U.S.C. 1721-1726, P.L. 109-154) and Public Law No: 114-289 (National Park Service Centennial Act) Federal Aid for Highways, HR 4348 (23 U.S.C. 201-204 and 206, Public Law 112-14. This Notice of Funding Opportunity is a Notice of Intent to award a single source cooperative agreement in the amount of $200,000 to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation for the FY18 FWS Urban Waters Urban Refuge Partnership. The period of performance for this project will be August 24, 2018 through December 31, 2021. The purpose of the FY18 FWS Urban Waters Urban Refuge Partnership is to provide $200,000 in FWS funds to continue support of the Five Star and Urban Waters Restoration Grant Program, managed by NFWF. This funding is utilized by NFWF to support an Urban Refuge focal area in the highly competitive Five Star and Urban Waters Restoration Grant Program. Funding from FWS is leveraged with dollars received from Southern Company, FedEx, a private foundation as well as U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Forest Service (USFS), and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). NFWF's design and management of the Five Star and Urban Waters Restoration Grant Program offers flexibility to ensure funds for federal and private partners are focuses on specific mission-based priorities. NFWF solicits projects from state and local governments, non-profit organizations, Tribes and academic institutions to work with local communities to improve and protect fish and wildlife and their habitats. These projects address watershed priorities including promoting access and interest in outdoor recreational experiences. Projects shall involve urban, suburban, or rural residents in place-based outdoor experiences that foster connections with fish, wildlife, and their habitats and must meet at least one of the eight Standards of Excellence for Urban Wildlife Refuges and Partnerships:1) Know and relate to the community;2) Connect urban people with nature via stepping stones of engagement;3) Build partnerships;4) Be a community asset;5) Ensure adequate long-term resources;6) Provide equitable access;7) Ensure visitors feel safe and welcome; and 8) Model sustainability.The Five Star and Urban Waters Restoration Grant Program, a unique public-private partnership, invests in urban, suburban and rural community-based conservation efforts that result in measurable conservation outcomes, engage the public and provide a better understanding of how fish and wildlife conservation contributes to community well-being. All projects selected for FWS Urban Refuge funding will be in proximity of FWS lands or offices or in locations where there are existing FWS urban partnerships.The objectives of the Five Star and Urban Waters Restoration Grant Program include: Partnerships: Project proposals include at least five partner organizations (public and private) with the demonstrated ability or articulated strategy to work with specifically identified urban cultures and communities. Proposals will describe how the partnership with FWS staff can help achieve common goals of connecting people with nature. Measurable Benefits: Projects result in measurable outcomes that document greater participation in fish and wildlife related activities among diverse urban, suburban and rural audiences and a better understanding of how fish and wildlife conservation contributes to community well-being. Community Capacity: Projects reflect a commitment to neighborhood and community strength and long-term capacity to remain engaged as a Service partner beyond the life of the grant. Community Assets: Projects articulate tangible ways the Service can become an asset to the urban community. Examples of asset building would include, providing technical assistance in fish and wildlife issues, providing pathways for youth employment, supporting recreation, or community education and recreational enjoyment. Listed below is the planned annual schedule for administering the program over the life of the cooperative agreement. This timeline includes outreach activities, Five Star partner and review meetings. October 2018 Begin conducting outreach to potential applicantsNovember 2018 RFP and Application published on program websites and Wildlife Habitat Council Symposium November 2018 Webinar for applicantsFebruary 2019 Proposals DueMid-Feb to Late-March 2019 Proposal Review April 2019 Review Committee Meeting (NFWF, FWS and other partners) May-June 2019 Final slate approval by all funders Congressional Notification Early/Mid-July 2019 Press releases developed; award letters sent to granteesMid-July to August 2019 Negotiation grant agreements with grantees August 2019 NLT September 2021 Monitor progress, track results of funded projects December 2021 End of FWS-NFWF award The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will be substantially involved in this project. Specifically, the Service will: Review and approve the RFP language to ensure that Service priorities are clearly and accurately represented. Review, and/or assists in the coordination of the internal review of, grant applications that meet the criteria related to Urban Wildlife Refuges. Feedback is provided to NFWF. The Service may meet with NFWF and other Five Star and Urban Waters Restoration Grant Program partners to review and discuss project proposals. The Service ensures proposals selected for funding involve residents in place-based outdoor experiences that foster connections with fish, wildlife and their habitats and must meet at least one of the eight Standards of Excellence for Urban Wildlife Refuges and Partnerships. The Service approves the final slate of projects receiving FWS funds.