Opportunity Information: Apply for F15AS00241
Apply for F15AS00241
- The Fish and Wildlife Service in the environment sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Building Relevance for the National Wildlife Refuge System" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.654 Visitor Facility Enhancements Refuges and Wildlife.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jun 19, 2015 and posted on May 26, 2015.
- Applicants must submit their applications by This is a single source award recipient has been selected.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $951,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- This is not an application process.
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Opportunity Summary:
Building Relevance for the National Wildlife Refuge System (Funding Opportunity Number F15AS00241) is a US Fish and Wildlife Service funding action designed to strengthen the connection between urban communities and units of the National Wildlife Refuge System. The agency’s intent is to make targeted investments that help refuges become more visible, welcoming, and relevant to people living in and around major metropolitan areas, primarily by improving planning, outreach, and on-the-ground program delivery tied to the Refuge System’s Urban Wildlife Conservation efforts.
This opportunity is structured as a discretionary cooperative agreement, but it is not open for competition and does not function like a typical grant application process. The Fish and Wildlife Service announced that it intends to make a single-source award to a specific organization, the National Wildlife Refuge Association, meaning the recipient was pre-selected and there was no public application window. The posting and archive details reflect that approach: it was posted May 26, 2015, created June 19, 2015, and archived June 25, 2015, with the closing language explicitly stating the awardee/recipient had already been selected.
The estimated total funding for the effort is $951,000, with no cost sharing or matching requirement. The funding activity area is Environment, and it is associated with CFDA 15.654 (Visitor Facility Enhancements - Refuges and Wildlife). While the award ceiling and floor are listed as $0 in the summary fields, the narrative and estimated total funding indicate the planned investment amount is $951,000 as part of this cooperative agreement.
Programmatically, the National Wildlife Refuge Association’s role is to work directly with the National Wildlife Refuge System to build capacity and deliver urban-focused initiatives at multiple refuges across the country. The core work includes planning and vision-setting, community outreach, and implementation support for programs intended to serve urban audiences and broaden participation. A major emphasis is helping refuges clarify programmatic goals and objectives, identify and recruit partners that can support delivery, and strengthen local "Friends" groups so they are better equipped to engage diverse urban constituencies and sustain community-facing activities over time.
The cooperative agreement targets several named Urban Refuge initiatives for immediate investment and support. These include Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge (Denver, Colorado), Valle de Oro National Wildlife Refuge (Albuquerque, New Mexico), Bayou Sauvage National Wildlife Refuge (New Orleans, Louisiana), Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge (Detroit, Michigan), John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania), A.R.M. Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge (West Palm Beach, Florida), and the South Texas Refuge Complex (Harlingen and McAllen, Texas). These locations reflect a geographic spread and a clear focus on refuges situated within or adjacent to large urban population centers, where outreach and programming can reach new and historically underrepresented audiences.
In addition to the refuges listed above, the announcement notes that, as needs and priorities are identified during the project period, the Refuge Association will also collaborate with the Refuge System’s Urban Wildlife Conservation Program to develop proposals and programs at other sites. Those potential additional locations include Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge (Seattle, Washington), Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge (San Francisco, California), Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge (Salt Lake City, Utah), and Patuxent National Research Refuge (Laurel, Maryland). The wording signals flexibility: the work at these sites may be developed over time as part of broader urban conservation planning and partnership-building, rather than being fully defined at the outset.
Because this is a cooperative agreement rather than a standard grant, the Fish and Wildlife Service is indicating an expectation of close coordination between the federal program leadership and the recipient. The Refuge Association is expected to work with the leadership of the Urban Wildlife Conservation Programs and staff at each refuge, suggesting shared planning, ongoing communication, and joint problem-solving as projects are scoped and delivered. The intended outcome is increased local capacity, more durable community partnerships, and stronger Friends groups that can help refuges better serve urban communities and build long-term public support for refuge conservation missions.
The public notice includes a general reference to Grants.gov as the additional information link, but the essential point for potential applicants is that eligibility is not broadly available here. The listing’s eligibility language is explicit that it is not an application process and that the single-source recipient was selected. A contact name is provided for access issues related to the full announcement: Cameron Matthews at cameronmatthews@fws.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the "Building Relevance for the National Wildlife Refuge System" opportunity (F15AS00241)?
Building Relevance for the National Wildlife Refuge System (Funding Opportunity Number F15AS00241) is a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service funding action intended to strengthen connections between urban communities and units of the National Wildlife Refuge System. The effort focuses on making refuges more visible, welcoming, and relevant to people living in and around major metropolitan areas, primarily through improved planning, community outreach, and on-the-ground program delivery aligned with Urban Wildlife Conservation efforts.
Which federal agency is offering this funding action?
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) is the agency behind this funding action.
Is this a competitive grant that organizations can apply for?
No. This opportunity is described as a discretionary cooperative agreement that is not open for competition and does not function like a typical grant application process. The notice states there was no public application window because the recipient had already been selected.
Who was selected to receive the award?
The Fish and Wildlife Service announced its intent to make a single-source award to the National Wildlife Refuge Association, meaning the organization was pre-selected as the recipient.
What does "single-source award" mean in this announcement?
In this context, "single-source award" means the Fish and Wildlife Service planned to fund one specific organization (the National Wildlife Refuge Association) rather than run a competitive process where multiple applicants submit proposals.
What type of funding instrument is being used?
The opportunity is structured as a discretionary cooperative agreement. The announcement also indicates that close coordination is expected between the federal program leadership and the recipient.
What is the estimated total funding amount?
The estimated total funding for the effort is $951,000.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. The notice states there is no cost sharing or matching requirement.
Why do the award ceiling and award floor show $0 if funding is estimated at $951,000?
The summary fields list an award ceiling and floor of $0, but the narrative and estimated total funding describe the planned investment as $951,000 as part of the cooperative agreement.
What is the funding activity area for this opportunity?
The funding activity area is Environment.
What CFDA program is associated with this funding action?
This opportunity is associated with CFDA 15.654, titled Visitor Facility Enhancements - Refuges and Wildlife.
What is the main purpose of the project work funded under this cooperative agreement?
The central purpose is to build capacity and deliver urban-focused initiatives at multiple refuges across the country. The work includes planning and vision-setting, community outreach, and implementation support for programs designed to serve urban audiences and broaden participation.
What kinds of activities are emphasized?
The announcement highlights several emphasis areas: helping refuges clarify programmatic goals and objectives; identifying and recruiting partners that can support program delivery; and strengthening local Friends groups so they are better equipped to engage diverse urban constituencies and sustain community-facing activities over time.
Which organization is expected to carry out the work?
The National Wildlife Refuge Association is expected to work directly with the National Wildlife Refuge System to build capacity and support urban-focused initiatives.
Which refuges are specifically named for immediate investment and support?
The cooperative agreement targets the following Urban Refuge initiatives for immediate investment and support:
- Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge (Denver, Colorado)
- Valle de Oro National Wildlife Refuge (Albuquerque, New Mexico)
- Bayou Sauvage National Wildlife Refuge (New Orleans, Louisiana)
- Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge (Detroit, Michigan)
- John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
- A.R.M. Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge (West Palm Beach, Florida)
- South Texas Refuge Complex (Harlingen and McAllen, Texas)
Are additional refuge sites included beyond the main list?
Yes. The announcement notes that, as needs and priorities are identified during the project period, the Refuge Association will collaborate with the Refuge System's Urban Wildlife Conservation Program to develop proposals and programs at other sites.
Which additional sites are mentioned as potential locations for later work?
The potential additional locations mentioned are:
- Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge (Seattle, Washington)
- Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge (San Francisco, California)
- Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge (Salt Lake City, Utah)
- Patuxent National Research Refuge (Laurel, Maryland)
Does the announcement indicate flexibility in where and how projects will be developed?
Yes. The wording signals flexibility by noting that work at additional sites may be developed over time as needs and priorities are identified, rather than being fully defined at the outset.
What does the cooperative agreement structure imply about how FWS and the recipient will work together?
It implies close coordination. The notice indicates the Refuge Association is expected to work with the leadership of the Urban Wildlife Conservation Programs and staff at each refuge, involving shared planning, ongoing communication, and joint problem-solving as projects are scoped and delivered.
What outcomes are expected from this effort?
The intended outcomes include increased local capacity, more durable community partnerships, and stronger Friends groups that can help refuges better serve urban communities and build long-term public support for refuge conservation missions.
When was this opportunity posted and when was it archived?
The posting and archive details reflect the single-source approach: it was posted May 26, 2015, created June 19, 2015, and archived June 25, 2015.
Is there a closing date or application deadline for the public?
The notice language indicates it was not an application process and that the awardee/recipient had already been selected, so it did not function as a public application opportunity with an open deadline.
Where does the notice point people for additional information?
The public notice includes a general reference to Grants.gov as the additional information link, while also making clear that this listing is not broadly eligible for applicants.
Who can be contacted for access issues related to the full announcement?
The contact provided for access issues related to the full announcement is Cameron Matthews at cameronmatthews@fws.gov.
Does the opportunity focus on urban communities specifically?
Yes. The stated intent is to strengthen the connection between urban communities and refuges, with a clear focus on refuges situated within or adjacent to large urban population centers.
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