Challenge Cost Share Program | Apply Online

Opportunity Summary:

The Challenge Cost Share (CCS) Program in the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Northeast Region (Region 5) is a discretionary federal funding opportunity designed to support on-the-ground natural resource management work through partnerships. The program is aimed at practical conservation projects, with a strong emphasis on invasive species inventory and control, habitat restoration, and conservation-focused outreach and education (often described as visitor services). A key feature of this opportunity is that projects are meant to be jointly developed and carried out with a USFWS field office, such as a National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) or a Partners for Fish and Wildlife office, so the work directly aligns with refuge and regional conservation priorities.

Projects funded under this announcement must take place on National Wildlife Refuge System (NWRS) lands or in nearby areas that directly support refuge lands. In other words, the project location and benefits need to clearly connect back to refuge purposes and outcomes, rather than being broad or unrelated conservation work elsewhere. The program supports both habitat and wildlife conservation actions and public-facing efforts like outreach, interpretation, and education, as long as they advance refuge-related conservation goals.

Cost sharing is central to eligibility and competitiveness. Successful proposals must cover at least 50 percent of total project costs with non-federal contributions, meaning at minimum a 1:1 match (for every federal dollar requested, at least one non-federal dollar or equivalent must be contributed). The non-federal match can include cash as well as eligible in-kind support such as labor, equipment use, and donated materials. This structure is intended to stretch federal dollars and reward partnerships that can bring significant local, state, nonprofit, academic, or private resources to the table.

This opportunity is offered through cooperative agreements, reflecting the collaborative nature of the program and the expectation of substantial involvement by USFWS partners during project implementation. The funding activity category is Environment, and the CFDA number listed for the program is 15.642 (Challenge Cost Share). The announcement anticipates a relatively large number of awards (about 70), suggesting the program is structured to fund many smaller-to-midsize projects across the region rather than a few large awards.

Funding levels for this announcement range from an award floor of $5,000 to an award ceiling of $80,000, with an estimated total funding amount of $900,000. The opportunity is aligned with the federal fiscal year cycle and is described as an annual funding source, with an explicit note that partnerships can be developed throughout the year as shared conservation needs are identified. Even though this notice is framed as an initial announcement, it signals an ongoing programmatic approach where project ideas often emerge from continuing relationships with refuges and field offices.

Eligibility is broad and includes many entity types that commonly participate in conservation and public service work. Eligible applicants include state governments, county and city or township governments, public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education), and for-profit organizations (including small businesses). The practical takeaway is that many organizations can participate, but they must do so in partnership with a Region 5 USFWS field office, and the proposal submission pathway runs through that USFWS partner rather than being sent directly by the applicant alone.

The application process is relationship-driven: proposals must be developed in partnership with a Region 5 field office and then forwarded by the partnering USFWS office to the Northeast Regional Challenge Cost Share Coordinator. For guidance on the call for proposals and to identify the appropriate local USFWS contacts, the listed regional coordinator is Virginia Rettig, Region 5 Challenge Cost Share Coordinator, reachable by phone at (413) 253-8559 or by email at VirginiaRettig@fws.gov. For issues specifically related to accessing the full announcement electronically, the contact provided is Christal Cutler, Contract Specialist, at (413) 253-8233.

Key administrative details in the source listing include Funding Opportunity Number FWS-R5-RW-10-046, a posted and created date of March 29, 2010, and a closing date of September 30, 2010 (with an archive date of October 1, 2011). Applicants looking to confirm which refuges fall under the Northeast Region can use the refuge listing referenced in the announcement at http://www.fws.gov/northeast/refuges/default.cfm.

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