Opportunity Information: Apply for CESCF 09
Apply for CESCF 09
- The Fish and Wildlife Service in the environment natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.615 Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jun 22, 2009 and posted on Jul 23, 2008.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Sep 22, 2008 The due date for our Conservation Grant program is set by our Regional Offices. Contact the appropriate Regional Office using http://www.fws.gov/endangered/grants/section6/FY2009/Section6Map.html For the Recovery Land Acquisition, HCP Land Acquisition, and Habitat Conservation Planning Assistance grants, proposals are due to the appropriate Regional Office by September 22, 2008.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $6,000,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: State governments.
- Participation in the program is limited to State or Territorial agencies that have a current cooperative agreement with the Secretary of the Interior. That is, only State or Territorial agencies that have a current cooperative agreement with the Secretary of the Interior may apply directly for CESCF grant funding. However, individuals or groups (for example land conservancies, community organizations, or conservation organizations) may work with a State or Territorial agency that has a cooperative agreement, on conservation efforts that are mutually beneficial, as a subgrantee.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund (CESCF), authorized under Section 6 of the Endangered Species Act, is a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) grant program designed to help states and territories carry out on-the-ground conservation work for threatened and endangered species. The opportunity is posted as Funding Opportunity Number CESCF 09 and falls under the Environment and Natural Resources activity category (CFDA 15.615). In practical terms, it functions as a way for the federal government to share costs with state and territorial wildlife agencies so they can plan, protect, restore, and manage habitat, support species recovery actions, and advance conservation partnerships that directly contribute to ESA goals.
A key feature of this funding is that it is not a single one-size-fits-all grant. The announcement points applicants to the FWS Section 6 website because the CESCF is structured as four distinct grant opportunities, each with its own purpose and expectations. Those four program areas are typically described by FWS as: (1) Conservation Grants (often supporting a broad range of recovery-oriented conservation actions, such as habitat restoration, research supporting recovery decisions, and management actions); (2) Recovery Land Acquisition Grants (supporting the purchase of land or interests in land that are important for the recovery of listed species); (3) Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) Land Acquisition Grants (supporting land acquisition tied to approved HCPs under ESA Section 10, generally to protect habitat needed to offset impacts addressed in an HCP); and (4) Habitat Conservation Planning Assistance Grants (supporting the development of HCPs and related conservation planning efforts). The notice emphasizes that applicants should consult the program website for the complete description of each track, which generally spells out eligible activities, ranking criteria, required documentation, and review procedures.
Eligibility is limited and is tied directly to formal ESA cooperation. Only state or territorial agencies that have an active cooperative agreement with the Secretary of the Interior can apply directly for CESCF funds. That means the program is built around state and territorial fish and wildlife agencies (or equivalent agencies) as the primary applicants and grant recipients. At the same time, the announcement makes clear that other parties such as land trusts, community groups, and conservation organizations can still be involved by partnering with an eligible state or territorial agency, typically as subgrantees or project partners. In other words, non-state entities generally cannot apply on their own, but they can participate if the state or territory submits the application and administers the award.
The funding instrument is a discretionary grant, and cost sharing or matching is required. While the specific match ratios and what counts as match can vary by CESCF subprogram and year, the core takeaway from this notice is that applicants should expect to provide non-federal matching resources and document them as part of the proposal. The presence of a match requirement signals that FWS is looking for shared investment and projects that leverage federal dollars with state, local, or private contributions.
For timing, the overall closing date shown is September 22, 2008, but the notice also explains that deadlines differ depending on the specific grant track. For the Conservation Grant program, the due date is set by the relevant FWS Regional Office rather than being a single nationwide deadline. For the Recovery Land Acquisition, HCP Land Acquisition, and Habitat Conservation Planning Assistance grants, proposals are due to the appropriate Regional Office by September 22, 2008. Applicants are directed to use the Section 6 regional map webpage to identify the correct regional office and submission point, which matters because Section 6 grants are administered regionally and application procedures and internal state timelines often run through those regional channels.
The award ceiling listed for this opportunity is $6,000,000. This ceiling reflects the maximum award amount indicated in the posting, though actual award sizes can vary widely based on the subprogram, the scope of the project, and available appropriations. The posting date is July 23, 2008, and the archive date is June 22, 2009, indicating this specific notice was part of a prior funding cycle, even though the program itself continues across years through subsequent announcements.
Administration and oversight sit with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The point of contact provided is Don Morgan, Chief of the Branch of State Grants, with a listed phone number (703-358-2444). The announcement also notes that if someone has trouble accessing the full announcement electronically, they can contact the Branch of State Grants for assistance. For full program details, requirements, and the complete descriptions of the four grant opportunities, the notice repeatedly directs applicants to the FWS Section 6 grants website.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund (CESCF)?
The Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund (CESCF) is a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) grant program authorized under Section 6 of the Endangered Species Act (ESA). It is designed to help states and territories carry out on-the-ground conservation work for threatened and endangered species, including actions that contribute directly to ESA conservation and recovery goals.
What is the funding opportunity number and program identifier for this grant?
This opportunity is listed as Funding Opportunity Number CESCF 09. It falls under the Environment and Natural Resources activity category and is identified as CFDA 15.615.
Who administers CESCF grants?
The program is administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS). Section 6 grants are administered regionally through FWS Regional Offices, and applicants are directed to identify the appropriate region using the Section 6 regional map webpage.
What is the main purpose of CESCF funding?
In practical terms, CESCF functions as a cost-sharing mechanism that helps state and territorial wildlife agencies plan, protect, restore, and manage habitat, support species recovery actions, and advance conservation partnerships that contribute to Endangered Species Act goals.
Is CESCF a single grant program or multiple grant tracks?
CESCF is not presented as a single one-size-fits-all grant. The notice points applicants to the FWS Section 6 website because CESCF is structured as four distinct grant opportunities (program areas), each with its own purpose and expectations.
What are the four CESCF program areas described in the notice?
The notice describes four program areas typically listed by FWS as:
- Conservation Grants (supporting a broad range of recovery-oriented actions, such as habitat restoration, research that supports recovery decisions, and management actions)
- Recovery Land Acquisition Grants (supporting purchase of land or interests in land important for recovery of listed species)
- Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) Land Acquisition Grants (supporting land acquisition tied to approved HCPs under ESA Section 10 to protect habitat needed to offset impacts addressed in an HCP)
- Habitat Conservation Planning Assistance Grants (supporting development of HCPs and related conservation planning efforts)
Where do applicants find the complete requirements for each CESCF track?
The notice repeatedly directs applicants to the FWS Section 6 grants website for complete descriptions of each track, including eligible activities, ranking criteria, required documentation, and review procedures.
Who is eligible to apply directly for CESCF funding?
Eligibility is limited to state or territorial agencies that have an active cooperative agreement with the Secretary of the Interior. The program is built around state and territorial fish and wildlife agencies (or equivalent agencies) as the primary applicants and grant recipients.
Can non-state organizations apply directly (for example, land trusts or community groups)?
In general, non-state entities cannot apply on their own. However, the notice explains that land trusts, community groups, conservation organizations, and other partners can participate by partnering with an eligible state or territorial agency, typically as subgrantees or project partners, with the state or territory submitting the application and administering the award.
Does this opportunity require cost sharing or matching funds?
Yes. The funding instrument is a discretionary grant and cost sharing/matching is required. The notice indicates that specific match ratios and what counts as match can vary by CESCF subprogram and year, but applicants should expect to provide non-federal matching resources and document them in the proposal.
What is the application deadline for this opportunity?
The overall closing date shown is September 22, 2008. The notice also explains that deadlines differ depending on the specific grant track.
Do all CESCF tracks share the same deadline?
No. The notice states that the deadline depends on the track:
- Conservation Grants: the due date is set by the relevant FWS Regional Office (not a single nationwide deadline)
- Recovery Land Acquisition, HCP Land Acquisition, and Habitat Conservation Planning Assistance: proposals are due to the appropriate Regional Office by September 22, 2008
Where are proposals submitted?
Proposals are submitted to the appropriate FWS Regional Office. The notice directs applicants to use the Section 6 regional map webpage to identify the correct regional office and submission point.
Why does the FWS region matter for applying?
The notice emphasizes that Section 6 grants are administered regionally, and application procedures and internal state timelines often run through those regional channels. That is why applicants must route proposals to the appropriate regional office.
What is the maximum award amount listed for this opportunity?
The award ceiling listed is $6,000,000. The notice notes that actual award sizes can vary widely based on the subprogram, project scope, and available appropriations.
When was this opportunity posted and when was it archived?
The posting date is July 23, 2008. The archive date is June 22, 2009. The notice indicates this specific posting was part of a prior funding cycle, even though CESCF continues across years through later announcements.
What type of funding instrument is used?
The notice identifies the funding instrument as a discretionary grant.
Who is the point of contact for this opportunity?
The point of contact listed is Don Morgan, Chief of the Branch of State Grants (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service). The phone number provided is (703) 358-2444.
What if someone cannot access the full announcement electronically?
The notice states that if someone has trouble accessing the full announcement electronically, they can contact the Branch of State Grants for assistance.
What kinds of conservation activities does CESCF support (at a high level)?
Based on the notice, CESCF supports on-the-ground conservation work tied to threatened and endangered species, including habitat planning, protection, restoration, and management; recovery actions; conservation partnerships; research supporting recovery decisions (noted under Conservation Grants); and land acquisition efforts (noted under the land acquisition tracks).
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