Desert Landscape Conservation Cooperative CMQ #3 | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - Desert LCC CMQ #3 Grant (F14AS00183)

What is the Desert Landscape Conservation Cooperative (Desert LCC) CMQ #3 funding opportunity?

This opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number F14AS00183) is a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service discretionary cooperative agreement intended to support applied science that helps conserve and restore native desert grassland and shrubland ecosystems across the Desert LCC region, with a specific focus on the U.S. and Mexico portion of that geography.

What is the main purpose of this grant?

The grant is designed to fund applied, decision-relevant science that helps land managers and partners better conserve and restore desert grassland and shrubland habitats. The solicitation targets an element of the Desert LCC Critical Management Question 3 (CMQ #3), focused on identifying major threats to key conservation targets and improving how habitat conservation and restoration are prioritized and carried out.

What does "CMQ #3" focus on?

CMQ #3 centers on understanding major threats to key conservation targets in desert grassland and shrubland ecosystems, identifying where threats are most severe, determining where habitats are resilient or have high restoration potential, and providing practical guidance on appropriate management and restoration techniques based on local site conditions and real-world constraints.

What kinds of ecosystems are the focus of this solicitation?

The solicitation focuses on native desert grassland and shrubland ecosystems within the Desert LCC region, specifically in the U.S. and Mexico portion of that geography.

What are the three main needs or questions this solicitation is trying to address?

Based on the information provided, CMQ #3 is framed around three closely related needs:

• Clarifying the biggest threats to desert grassland and shrubland conservation targets and identifying where those threats are most severe.
• Identifying where habitats are resilient and where there are priority areas with high restoration potential.
• Producing practical guidance on the most appropriate management and restoration techniques, taking into account local site conditions and socio-economic constraints.

What are considered "conservation targets" under this opportunity?

Conservation targets explicitly include endangered species, migratory birds, and other species of concern. Proposals are expected to connect habitat conditions and pressures to biological outcomes that matter to agencies and partners.

What does the opportunity mean by identifying "major threats" and "where those threats are most severe"?

The solicitation is looking for work that helps determine what the biggest pressures are on desert grassland and shrubland conservation targets and where, across the Desert LCC geography (U.S. and Mexico portion), those pressures are most intense or most consequential for habitat condition and species outcomes.

What does "resilient habitats" and "high restoration potential" mean in this context?

In this solicitation, resilience and restoration potential refer to distinguishing places likely to persist or recover under stress (including climate and land use pressures) from places that may be less viable without intervention. The project is expected to help identify priority areas where restoration is more likely to succeed or provide meaningful conservation returns.

What kinds of management and restoration guidance is the solicitation looking for?

The solicitation emphasizes practical guidance on appropriate management and restoration techniques that account for local site conditions such as soils, precipitation patterns, elevation, slope, and invasive species issues. It also emphasizes considering socio-economic constraints that can limit what is feasible for implementation on the ground.

What is meant by "applied science" in this opportunity?

Based on the description provided, applied science in this opportunity refers to research and analysis intended to produce decision-relevant outputs that can be translated into on-the-ground conservation and restoration actions, rather than purely academic research.

How many awards are expected to be made under this funding opportunity?

One award is expected (Expected Awards: 1).

What is the total funding amount available?

The total award amount is $100,000.

Is the award amount flexible, or is it a fixed amount?

It is described as a single fixed-size award: the award ceiling is $100,000 and the award floor is $100,000.

Is cost sharing or matching funding required?

No. The opportunity does not require cost sharing or matching funds.

What type of funding instrument is used for this opportunity?

The opportunity is a discretionary cooperative agreement administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

What program areas or categories does this opportunity align with?

The activity aligns with categories including Environment and Natural Resources, Regional Development, and Science and Technology/Research and Development.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is listed as unrestricted, meaning it is open to a broad set of applicants (for example, universities, nonprofits, tribes, government entities, or other organizations), subject to any additional clarifications in the full announcement.

Does the opportunity specify a geographic focus for the work?

Yes. The work is tied to the Desert LCC region and specifically focuses on the U.S. and Mexico portion of that geography.

How is this solicitation connected to Desert LCC priorities?

The work is tied to the Desert LCC Steering Committee's set of six science priorities, and this solicitation targets an element of Critical Management Question 3 within that priority framework.

When was the funding opportunity posted and when did it close?

The posting timeline shows it was posted on May 12, 2014, created on May 14, 2014, and closed on June 13, 2014.

When was the opportunity archived?

The archive date is listed as September 30, 2016.

What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this grant?

The Funding Opportunity Number is F14AS00183.

Who can be contacted for questions or access issues?

The listed contact is Timothy Uding at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Phone: 505-248-6411. Email: timothyuding@fws.gov.