Developing a strategic decision framework for terrestrial species conservation | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the title of this grant opportunity?

The opportunity is titled "Developing a strategic decision framework for terrestrial species conservation."

What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON)?

The Funding Opportunity Number is F16AS00432.

Which agency issued this opportunity?

It was issued by the U.S. Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service.

What type of funding action is this?

It is a discretionary funding action focused on natural resources.

What is the main purpose of the project described in the announcement?

The purpose was to support a collaborative effort to create a decision support framework to guide conservation and management actions for terrestrial species in the southeastern United States, especially in situations involving multiple species, threats, objectives, and overlapping jurisdictions.

What geographic area does the project focus on?

The effort was intended to support terrestrial species conservation in the southeastern United States.

What does "strategic decision framework" mean in the context of this opportunity?

Based on the description provided, it refers to a structured decision support approach that helps managers prioritize and compare conservation actions across complex landscapes, incorporate uncertainty and changing conditions, use monitoring and learning over time (adaptive approaches), and document tradeoffs transparently.

Is this announcement a request for applications?

No. The announcement is explicitly a Notice of Intent, not a request for applications.

Can new applications be submitted for this opportunity?

No. The agency stated that no additional applications would be accepted.

Is this a competitive funding opportunity?

No. Since it was not open for competitive submissions and no additional applications were accepted, it is described as non-competitive in practice.

What funding instrument is associated with this opportunity?

The funding instrument type is a cooperative agreement.

What does a cooperative agreement imply for how the project is carried out?

A cooperative agreement generally implies substantial involvement by the Fish and Wildlife Service in carrying out the project, such as participating in method development, sharing data, coordinating with partners, and shaping deliverables, rather than simply providing funding with minimal agency involvement.

How many awards were anticipated?

The posting anticipated a single award and an expected award count of one.

What does the award ceiling of "1" indicate in the source data?

As provided in the source data, the award ceiling is listed as 1, which aligns with the expectation of a single award for this action.

When was the opportunity created (posted)?

The posting shows a creation date of August 26, 2016.

What was the original closing date listed?

The original closing date shown is September 1, 2016.

Does the closing date function as a real application deadline?

Not in the usual sense. Because the announcement was not soliciting applications, the closing date functions more as an administrative marker than a deadline for applicants.

Who was eligible to apply, according to the posting?

Eligibility is described as "unrestricted," meaning the program category itself did not limit applicants by entity type.

If eligibility was unrestricted, why were applications not accepted?

The notice states that no additional applications would be accepted, indicating the Service had already identified a specific partner or pathway to award funding under a cooperative agreement, making general eligibility effectively irrelevant for this specific action.

What CFDA program area is the effort associated with?

The announcement associates the effort with Adaptive Science. The narrative references CFDA 15.670, while the source data also references 15.678.

Why are two different CFDA numbers mentioned?

The information provided includes an inconsistency: CFDA 15.670 is cited in the narrative, and 15.678 is referenced in the source data. The description still emphasizes an adaptive science approach regardless of the numbering discrepancy.

What does "adaptive" imply for the project approach?

It signals an emphasis on structured, iterative decision-making under uncertainty, where actions, monitoring, and learning inform future decisions over time.

What kinds of conservation challenges in the Southeast does the framework aim to help address?

The description highlights complex, changing conditions and references common regional concerns such as rapid land-use change, invasive species, altered fire regimes, climate impacts, and fragmented habitats, where a shared framework can help align priorities and improve defensibility and repeatability of decisions.

Which federal laws and authorities are cited as the legal and programmatic basis for the effort?

The effort is grounded in several major federal wildlife conservation authorities: the Endangered Species Act of 1973; the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997; the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 (as amended); the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act; and the Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956 (as amended).

Why are multiple statutes cited for one project?

As described, citing these statutes indicates the framework was intended to be broadly useful across multiple conservation mandates and not limited to a single species or a single land ownership category.

Is this described as a one-time funding action?

Yes. The summary characterizes it as a one-time, cooperative, non-competitive financial assistance action intended to develop a structured decision support framework.

What is the intended practical outcome of developing this decision framework?

The intended outcome is to improve how conservation decisions are prioritized and made across a complex landscape with multiple species and overlapping partner jurisdictions, helping align actions and make conservation investments more defensible and repeatable.