The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) has announced a significant funding opportunity titled “Refuge System Enhancement/Infrastructure 2024” under the number F24AS00176. This discretionary grant, with a staggering award ceiling of $50,000,000, aims to bolster the National Wildlife Refuge System through crucial infrastructure enhancements. This initiative is a part of the FWS’s broader commitment to the conservation, protection, and enhancement of fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats across the United States.
The grant primarily targets a range of eligible applicants, including local and state governments, tribal organizations, various nonprofit entities, and educational institutions. A unique aspect of this grant is the requirement for applicants to contribute a minimum of 50% of the total project costs, which can be in cash or through qualified third-party in-kind contributions. This cooperative agreement intends to promote stewardship of refuge resources through habitat maintenance, restoration, improvement, and support for the operation and maintenance of the Refuge System facilities and services. The initiative is also designed to encourage local community involvement in increasing outdoor recreation opportunities on refuge lands and waters. Additionally, the projects under this grant will focus on addressing multiple FWS priorities, including economic and conservation enhancement, career training, mentoring opportunities, equity and inclusion in conservation, climate and wildlife resilience, and community health. Successful projects are expected to enhance the visitor experience, promote wildlife-dependent outdoor recreation, provide sustainable wildlife habitats, and engage communities in wildlife conservation efforts. This initiative represents a significant step towards fostering a more sustainable and community-involved approach to wildlife conservation and habitat management in the United States.
Opportunity ID: 351190
General Information
| Document Type: | Grants Notice |
| Funding Opportunity Number: | F24AS00176 |
| Funding Opportunity Title: | F24AS00176 Refuge System Enhancement/ Infrastructure 2024 |
| Opportunity Category: | Discretionary |
| Opportunity Category Explanation: | |
| Funding Instrument Type: | Cooperative Agreement |
| Category of Funding Activity: | Natural Resources |
| Category Explanation: | |
| Expected Number of Awards: | |
| CFDA Number(s): | 15.654 — National Wildlife Refuge System Enhancements |
| Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement: | Yes |
| Version: | Synopsis 2 |
| Posted Date: | Nov 28, 2023 |
| Last Updated Date: | Nov 28, 2023 |
| Original Closing Date for Applications: | May 17, 2024 Electronically submitted applications must be submitted no later than 11:59 PM., ET, on the listed application due date. |
| Current Closing Date for Applications: | May 17, 2024 Electronically submitted applications must be submitted no later than 11:59 PM., ET, on the listed application due date. |
| Archive Date: | Sep 10, 2024 |
| Estimated Total Program Funding: | $ 50,000,000 |
| Award Ceiling: | $50,000,000 |
| Award Floor: | $5,000 |
Eligibility
| Eligible Applicants: | City or township governments Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments) Private institutions of higher education Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) Independent school districts Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Public and State controlled institutions of higher education State governments Special district governments County governments Others (see text field entitled “Additional Information on Eligibility” for clarification) |
| Additional Information on Eligibility: | Be a state or local government entity, the governing body of any Indian tribe,a nonprofit organization, or an accredited institution of higher education.Have financial policies and procedures that reflect generally accepted accounting principles.Have risk management policies that reflect industry standards and are proactive and thorough in mitigating and managing risk.Contribute a minimum of 50% of the total costs of the project, either as cash or qualified third-party in-kind contributions which can include donations of items considered a reasonable expense of the project such as labor, materials, supplies, or equipment loans.Other Organizations that have an established Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with FWS such as 501(c) 4 or 501(c) 5 nonprofit organizations that are labor unions, neighborhood associations, or other types of eligible organizations, including those that reach or represent potentially underserved communities. |
Additional Information
| Agency Name: | Fish and Wildlife Service |
| Description: | The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) is the premier government agency dedicated to the conservation, protection, and enhancement of fish, wildlife and plants, and their habitats. We are the only agency in the federal government whose primary responsibility is the conservation and management of these important natural resources for the American public.FWS origins date back to 1871 when Congress established the U.S. Fish Commission to study the decrease in the nation’s food fishes and recommend ways to reverse that decline. Today, we are a diverse and largely decentralized organization, employing about 8,000 dedicated professionals working out of facilities across the country, including a headquarters office in Falls Church, Virginia, and eight Regional offices.The National Infrastructure Partnerships initiative of the US Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) encourages National Wildlife Refuge System field stations to partner with local, regional, and national nonprofit organizations, other land management groups, state and tribal partners, and others to accomplish projects that:i. promote the stewardship of Refuge System resources through habitat maintenance, restoration, and improvement, andii. support the operation and maintenance of the Refuge System through constructing, operating, maintaining, or improving the facilities and services of the Refuge System.The goals of the initiative are to enable local communities to play a more active role in increasing outdoor recreation opportunities on refuge lands and waters, to be more focused and deliberate in using partnerships to help FWS address infrastructure repair and improvement needs such as proactive maintenance and the maintenance backlog, and to enhance wildlife habitat.Additionally, this initiative can help address multiple FWS priorities as a catalyst for:Economic and Conservation EnhancementCareer Training and Mentoring Opportunities for Youth and AdultsEquity and Inclusion in Conservation and RecreationClimate and Wildlife ResilienceCommunity HealthSuccessful projects will address identified FWS priorities or projects at FWS sites that enhance the visitor experience, promote wildlife-dependent outdoor recreation, provide sustainable wildlife habitat, provide career training and mentoring opportunities, and engage the community in opportunities to participate in wildlife-dependent outdoor recreation on FWS lands and waters.See Full Announcement for additional eligibility requirements. |
| Link to Additional Information: | |
| Grantor Contact Information: | If you have difficulty accessing the full announcement electronically, please contact: Robert L. Williams
robert_l_williams@fws.gov |