This grant from the Fish and Wildlife Service is for supporting the development, renewal, or amendment of Habitat Conservation Plans (HCPs) and Conservation Benefit Agreements (CBAs) for endangered, threatened, candidate, or at-risk species. Funding assists states with crucial planning activities like document preparation, public outreach, baseline species surveys, habitat assessments, and inventories. It also covers the preparation of environmental compliance documents, including National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) reviews. Additionally, for CBAs, eligible expenses now include outreach, coordination, and administrative costs associated with implementing permitted agreements. This initiative ensures proactive conservation strategies are in place to protect vulnerable species across the nation.
Opportunity ID: 357649
General Information
| Document Type: | Grants Notice |
| Funding Opportunity Number: | F25AS00184 |
| Funding Opportunity Title: | F25AS00184 FY 2025 Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund: Conservation Planning Assistance |
| Opportunity Category: | Discretionary |
| Opportunity Category Explanation: | – |
| Funding Instrument Type: | Grant |
| Category of Funding Activity: | Environment |
| Category Explanation: | – |
| Expected Number of Awards: | – |
| Assistance Listings: | 15.615 — Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund |
| Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement: | Yes |
| Version: | Synopsis 1 |
| Posted Date: | Dec 11, 2024 |
| Last Updated Date: | Dec 11, 2024 |
| Original Closing Date for Applications: | Mar 14, 2025 Electronically submitted applications must be submitted no later than 11:59 PM, ET, on the listed application due date.This program requires the submission of applications online through GrantSolutions.gov as applicants will receive an acknowledgment of application receipt. GrantSolutions automatically generates an electronic date and time stamp in the system upon application receipt. Applicants are encouraged to verify the completeness of their application package before submission using the checklist provided above. |
| Current Closing Date for Applications: | Mar 14, 2025 Electronically submitted applications must be submitted no later than 11:59 PM, ET, on the listed application due date.This program requires the submission of applications online through GrantSolutions.gov as applicants will receive an acknowledgment of application receipt. GrantSolutions automatically generates an electronic date and time stamp in the system upon application receipt. Applicants are encouraged to verify the completeness of their application package before submission using the checklist provided above. |
| Archive Date: | Sep 30, 2025 |
| Estimated Total Program Funding: | $8,740,000 |
| Award Ceiling: | $1,000,000 |
| Award Floor: | $0 |
Eligibility
| Eligible Applicants: | State governments |
| Additional Information on Eligibility: | Only State agencies that have entered into a Cooperative Agreement pursuant to Section 6(c) of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and have provided the information necessary for the annual renewal (reconfirmation) of their Cooperative Agreement are eligible to apply for funding. Applicants that have not fulfilled both criteria will not be considered. While funding may only be awarded to States, individuals or groups such as counties or conservation organizations may work with a State agency that has a cooperative agreement on conservation efforts that are mutually beneficial, as a subgrantee.Neither the Federal funds awarded through this opportunity, nor the associated non-Federal cost share, may be used to satisfy regulatory requirements of the ESA, including complying with a biological opinion under Section 7, fulfilling Federal mitigation, minimization, and/or monitoring requirements of an HCP permitted under Section 10, or any other Federal regulatory mitigation requirement (e.g., mitigation for Clean Water Act permits).For applications involving a previously funded planning effort, funding cannot be sought to support activities to meet deliverables that were identified for completion under open prior year awards. For example, if a prior planning assistance grant was awarded to a State to complete a draft NEPA document, funding from this opportunity cannot be sought to complete a draft NEPA document. The Service will not fund work in conflict with species approved recovery plans [50 CFR 81.2]. An application cannot include U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) costs.State administrative costs must either be assumed by the State or included in the proposal in accordance with Federal requirements.Generally, only expenses incurred and budgeted during the period of performance are reimbursable; the period of performance begins with the effective date established at the time the grant is approved. However, a State may request reimbursement of pre-award costs for certain necessary expenses detailed in the grant application. Pre-award costs are those incurred prior to the approval of the grant where such costs are necessary to comply with the proposed period of performance. Such costs are allowable only if the grant is awarded, only to the extent that they would have been allowable if incurred after the date of the award, and only with the written approval of the awarding agency (2 CFR 200.458).Land acquisition is not eligible for consideration under this funding opportunity. |
Additional Information
| Agency Name: | Fish and Wildlife Service |
| Description: | First awarded in fiscal year (FY) 2001, the Conservation Planning Assistance Grant program provides funding to States to support the development of new Habitat Conservation Plans (HCPs) and Conservation Benefit Agreements (CBAs; formerly referred to as Safe Harbor Agreements and Candidate Conservation Agreements with Assurances). Funding may also be used to support the renewal or amendment of existing plans and agreements. The development of HCPs that include only candidate or at-risk species (i.e., no Federally listed species covered by the HCP), such that the HCP would be in place if the species is listed, is also supported through this program. Funding may be used to support development and planning activities such as document preparation, public outreach, baseline species surveys, habitat assessments, and inventories. The preparation of environmental compliance review documents, such as National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA), is also an eligible use of grant funds. For CBAs, outreach, coordination, and administrative costs associated with the implementation of permitted agreements is also an eligible use of funds this year. |
| Link to Additional Information: | – |
| Grantor Contact Information: | If you have difficulty accessing the full announcement electronically, please contact:
Kelly Niland
kelly_niland@fws.gov Email:kelly_niland@fws.gov |
Version History
| Version | Modification Description | Updated Date |
|---|---|---|
Related Documents
Folder 357649 Full Announcement-Full Announcement -> 12.11.24 Foa_Content_of_F25AS00184.pdf
Folder 357649 Other Supporting Documents-Other Supporting Documents -> FY 2025 CESCF CPA FAQs FINAL.pdf
Folder 357649 Other Supporting Documents-Other Supporting Documents -> FY25 CESCF At-Risk Species List.pdf
Packages
| Agency Contact Information: | Kelly Niland kelly_niland@fws.gov Email: kelly_niland@fws.gov |
| Who Can Apply: | Organization Applicants |
| Assistance Listing Number | Competition ID | Competition Title | Opportunity Package ID | Opening Date | Closing Date | Actions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15.615 | F25AS00184 | F25AS00184 FY 2025 Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund: Conservation Planning Assistance | PKG00289577 | Dec 12, 2024 | Mar 14, 2025 | View |
Package 1
Mandatory forms
357649 SF424_4_0-4.0.pdf
357649 ProjectNarrativeAttachments_1_2-1.2.pdf
357649 Project_AbstractSummary_2_0-2.0.pdf
Optional forms
357649 SF424A-1.0.pdf
357649 SFLLL_2_0-2.0.pdf
357649 AttachmentForm_1_2-1.2.pdf
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