Opportunity Information: Apply for F13AS00306
Apply for F13AS00306
- The Fish and Wildlife Service in the environment natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Bouchard Plover Restoration Projects" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.658 Natural Resource Damage Assessment, Restoration and Implementation.
- This funding opportunity was created on Oct 22, 2013 and posted on Aug 30, 2013.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Oct 28, 2013 The application due date is extended to 10/28/2013 We expect to announce awards in November 2013 and the earliest start date for funded project is anticipated to be February 2014.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $220,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $50,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 5 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility.
- All potential applicants are eligible
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Opportunity Summary:
The Bouchard Plover Restoration Projects grant is a discretionary U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) funding opportunity focused on restoring the federally threatened piping plover (Charadrius melodus) at breeding sites in Massachusetts and Rhode Island. This is described as a second round of funding tied to a larger restoration effort that was created after the Bouchard Barge 120 oil spill in Buzzards Bay. The underlying restoration money (originally $715,000) came from a natural resource damages settlement with Bouchard Transportation Co., Inc., and the work is guided by a publicly reviewed Restoration Plan and Environmental Assessment developed by the Natural Resource Trustees (USFWS, NOAA, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and the State of Rhode Island). The Restoration Plan centers on an enhanced management program meant to measurably improve plover nesting success and survival through a three-part strategy: targeted predator management, stronger enforcement of beach ordinances that protect nesting areas, and outreach/education to reduce human disturbance.
Funding is awarded as grants and/or cooperative agreements under CFDA 15.658 (Natural Resource Damage Assessment, Restoration and Implementation). The estimated total funding available for this round is $220,000, with an expected five awards. Individual awards are anticipated to range from $10,000 (floor) to $50,000 (ceiling). Cost sharing or matching funds are not required, but partnerships and added resources are encouraged and can improve competitiveness. Applicants are broadly eligible, including state and federal agencies, local governments (cities, towns, counties), non-governmental organizations, and individuals, with the key geographic limitation that projects must occur in Massachusetts or Rhode Island (projects outside MA and RI are not eligible).
Projects must directly address one or more priorities in the B-120 Plover Restoration Plan, and proposals are judged heavily on biological benefit and likelihood of success. Review criteria emphasize: preference for sites in or near the spill-impacted area (Buzzards Bay, Block Island, and the southeast coast of Rhode Island), while still allowing other MA/RI sites; the number of piping plovers expected to benefit; evidence from monitoring that reproductive success is currently depressed due to predation and/or human disturbance; and how strongly the proposed actions are expected to increase reproductive success or survival. The program also makes clear what it will not pay for: funds cannot be used to satisfy baseline legal compliance obligations or to meet mitigation requirements tied to state or federal permits. Applicants also need to demonstrate the technical and administrative capability to complete the work, and should keep overhead modest. Indirect costs above 17.5% are described as unlikely to be competitive and may not be supported.
There are several practical compliance and coordination requirements that applicants must meet to remain eligible. Projects must be completed within two years of receiving funds. Before submitting, applicants are required to contact and coordinate with relevant partners (for example, state natural resource staff, federal biologists/resource managers, and local landowners as appropriate) to confirm the project is feasible and that necessary permissions and permits can be obtained. The application must include affirmation of partner support on the cover page, and landowner permission for project sites must be secured and submitted with the proposal. All required federal, state, and local permits must be obtained prior to starting work. Predator removal has additional constraints: any predator management funded through this opportunity must follow the protocols in the Restoration Plan and must be carried out by USDA Wildlife Services or similarly qualified professionals.
The proposal package is intentionally short and structured. The narrative portion is limited to five pages total including the cover page, executive summary, tables/figures, itemized budget, and any supplemental qualification information (but this page limit does not include standard federal forms). Required sections include: a one-page cover with project title, PI and affiliations/contact details, amount requested versus total project cost, timeline, and a statement that all key collaborators agree to the proposal; a one-page executive summary suitable for public posting on the USFWS website that explains objectives, demonstrates need using past data, and summarizes the budget; a main body that covers a brief background, objectives and expected outcomes, methods/activities (including target predator species and a timeline where relevant), and an objective-based budget with justification and any outside funding (matching not required); and a qualifications section describing the experience and capacity of the PI(s) and partners. Applicants must also submit standard grants.gov forms including SF-424, SF-424A, and SF-424B, and funded organizations must have a DUNS number and be registered in SAM (noted as SAMS in the text).
Proposals are reviewed by a panel of USFWS and other federal and state agency representatives, who rank projects based on alignment with the Restoration Plan priorities and the evaluation criteria. USFWS then makes final selections, and the final award amount and detailed scope of work are negotiated with selected applicants. Applicants must be in good standing on previous federal grants to receive funding. Reporting is a continuing obligation: funded projects must submit semiannual public-facing progress summaries (about 1 to 2 pages, noting progress and any setbacks) and a final report due within 90 days after the grant ends. The final report must include an executive summary, introduction, methods, results, discussion, conclusions, and final budget details, and it must be approved by USFWS before final payment. Any significant changes from the approved proposal must be presented to and approved by USFWS before being implemented.
Key administrative details from the posting include Funding Opportunity Number F13AS00306 and the title Bouchard Plover Restoration Projects. The posting date was August 30, 2013, with an extended application deadline of October 28, 2013 (originally October 15, 2013). Awards were expected to be announced in November 2013, with the earliest project start anticipated in February 2014. The grants.gov listing is referenced for full announcement and forms, and the contact provided is Artela Jacobs (ArtelaJacobs@fws.gov, 404-679-7197) for access or assistance with the announcement.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Bouchard Plover Restoration Projects (USFWS)
What is the Bouchard Plover Restoration Projects grant?
The Bouchard Plover Restoration Projects grant is a discretionary U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) funding opportunity that supports projects to restore the federally threatened piping plover (Charadrius melodus) at breeding sites in Massachusetts and Rhode Island.
Why does this funding exist (what is the origin of the restoration money)?
This opportunity is tied to a larger restoration effort created after the Bouchard Barge 120 oil spill in Buzzards Bay. The underlying restoration funds (originally $715,000) came from a natural resource damages settlement with Bouchard Transportation Co., Inc., and the work is guided by a publicly reviewed Restoration Plan and Environmental Assessment developed by the Natural Resource Trustees (USFWS, NOAA, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and the State of Rhode Island).
Is this a new program or a continuation of an earlier effort?
The posting describes this as a second round of funding associated with the broader B-120 plover restoration effort.
What is the official funding opportunity number and title?
Funding Opportunity Number: F13AS00306. Title: Bouchard Plover Restoration Projects.
What CFDA program is this opportunity under?
Funding is awarded as grants and/or cooperative agreements under CFDA 15.658 (Natural Resource Damage Assessment, Restoration and Implementation).
How much total funding is available in this round?
The estimated total funding available for this round is $220,000.
How many awards are expected?
The opportunity anticipates about five awards.
What is the expected award size (minimum and maximum)?
Individual awards are anticipated to range from $10,000 (floor) to $50,000 (ceiling).
Are matching funds or cost share required?
No. Cost sharing or matching funds are not required.
Can partnerships or additional resources help an application?
Yes. While not required, partnerships and added resources are encouraged and may improve competitiveness.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes state and federal agencies, local governments (cities, towns, counties), non-governmental organizations, and individuals.
Where must projects be located to be eligible?
Projects must occur in Massachusetts or Rhode Island. Projects outside Massachusetts and Rhode Island are not eligible.
Are some locations preferred within Massachusetts and Rhode Island?
Yes. Review criteria show a preference for sites in or near the spill-impacted area, identified as Buzzards Bay, Block Island, and the southeast coast of Rhode Island, while still allowing other Massachusetts/Rhode Island sites.
What types of activities does the Restoration Plan emphasize?
The Restoration Plan centers on an enhanced management program intended to measurably improve plover nesting success and survival through a three-part strategy: targeted predator management, stronger enforcement of beach ordinances that protect nesting areas, and outreach/education to reduce human disturbance.
Do proposed projects have to align with a specific plan?
Yes. Projects must directly address one or more priorities in the B-120 Plover Restoration Plan.
What are the main factors used to evaluate proposals?
Proposals are judged heavily on biological benefit and likelihood of success. The review criteria emphasize: (1) preference for sites in/near spill-impacted areas while allowing other MA/RI sites; (2) the number of piping plovers expected to benefit; (3) evidence from monitoring that reproductive success is currently depressed due to predation and/or human disturbance; and (4) how strongly the proposed actions are expected to increase reproductive success or survival.
What kind of evidence should applicants provide about need for the project?
The posting indicates that proposals should use past data and monitoring evidence to demonstrate need, including evidence that reproductive success is depressed due to predation and/or human disturbance.
Are there restrictions on what the grant funds can pay for?
Yes. Funds cannot be used to satisfy baseline legal compliance obligations or to meet mitigation requirements tied to state or federal permits.
Are there guidelines about overhead/indirect costs?
Applicants are advised to keep overhead modest. Indirect costs above 17.5% are described as unlikely to be competitive and may not be supported.
How long do projects have to be completed after funding is received?
Projects must be completed within two years of receiving funds.
Do applicants need to coordinate with partners before applying?
Yes. Before submitting, applicants are required to contact and coordinate with relevant partners (for example, state natural resource staff, federal biologists/resource managers, and local landowners as appropriate) to confirm feasibility and that permissions and permits can be obtained.
What does the application need to say about partner support?
The application must include an affirmation of partner support on the cover page, stating that all key collaborators agree to the proposal.
Is landowner permission required?
Yes. Landowner permission for project sites must be secured and submitted with the proposal.
When must permits be obtained?
All required federal, state, and local permits must be obtained prior to starting work.
Are there special requirements for predator management activities?
Yes. Predator removal funded through this opportunity must follow the protocols in the Restoration Plan and must be carried out by USDA Wildlife Services or similarly qualified professionals.
How long can the proposal narrative be?
The narrative portion is limited to five pages total, including the cover page, executive summary, tables/figures, itemized budget, and any supplemental qualification information. Standard federal forms are not counted in this page limit.
What sections are required in the proposal narrative?
Required sections include: (1) a one-page cover; (2) a one-page executive summary suitable for public posting on the USFWS website; (3) a main body covering background, objectives/expected outcomes, methods/activities (including target predator species and a timeline where relevant), and an objective-based budget with justification and any outside funding; and (4) a qualifications section describing experience and capacity of the PI(s) and partners.
What must be included on the one-page cover?
The cover must include the project title, the PI and affiliations/contact details, the amount requested versus total project cost, the project timeline, and a statement that all key collaborators agree to the proposal.
What is the executive summary used for?
The executive summary must be suitable for public posting on the USFWS website and should explain objectives, demonstrate need using past data, and summarize the budget.
Which standard federal forms are required?
Applicants must submit standard grants.gov forms including SF-424, SF-424A, and SF-424B.
Are there registration requirements for funded organizations?
Yes. Funded organizations must have a DUNS number and be registered in SAM (noted as SAMS in the text).
Who reviews proposals and how are selections made?
Proposals are reviewed by a panel of USFWS and other federal and state agency representatives, who rank projects based on alignment with Restoration Plan priorities and the evaluation criteria. USFWS then makes final selections.
Is the final award amount fixed at the requested amount?
Not necessarily. The final award amount and detailed scope of work are negotiated with selected applicants.
Do applicants need to be in good standing on previous federal grants?
Yes. Applicants must be in good standing on previous federal grants to receive funding.
What reporting is required during the project?
Funded projects must submit semiannual public-facing progress summaries (about 1 to 2 pages) noting progress and any setbacks.
What is required in the final report, and when is it due?
A final report is due within 90 days after the grant ends. It must include an executive summary, introduction, methods, results, discussion, conclusions, and final budget details. The final report must be approved by USFWS before final payment.
Can a funded project change its approach after award?
Significant changes from the approved proposal must be presented to and approved by USFWS before being implemented.
What were the key dates listed in the posting?
The posting date was August 30, 2013. The application deadline was extended to October 28, 2013 (originally October 15, 2013). Awards were expected to be announced in November 2013, and the earliest project start was anticipated in February 2014.
Where do applicants get the full announcement and forms?
The grants.gov listing is referenced for the full announcement and required forms.
Who is the contact person for access or assistance with the announcement?
The contact provided is Artela Jacobs (ArtelaJacobs@fws.gov, 404-679-7197).
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