Opportunity Information: Apply for F12AS00340
Apply for F12AS00340
- The Fish and Wildlife Service in the community development education environment transportation sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Federal Lands Livability Initiative" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.650 Research Grants (Generic).
- This funding opportunity was created on Aug 7, 2012 and posted on Jul 25, 2012.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 8, 2012. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $217,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $217,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- There is not an application process for the Federal Lands Livability Initiative. This is a notice of intent to award a single source grand to The Conservation Fund under justication 505DM 2.14B(2).
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Opportunity Summary:
The Federal Lands Livability Initiative (Funding Opportunity Number F12AS00340) is a discretionary federal grant opportunity administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. It was structured as a cooperative agreement and categorized under several program areas that often overlap in gateway-region planning work: community development, education, environment, and transportation. The initiative was designed as a pilot research effort focused on improving how "livability" is understood and applied in communities located near or serving as access points to federal public lands, commonly described as Gateway Communities. The central idea is to build a practical approach to livability that takes transportation choices seriously while also accounting for the broader set of challenges these communities face, such as visitor-related travel demands, infrastructure constraints, environmental considerations, and the day-to-day needs of residents.
A key feature of this announcement is that it was not an open, competitive funding opportunity. The notice explicitly states there was no application process. Instead, the agency issued a notice of intent to make a single-source award to The Conservation Fund, citing a specific sole-source justification (505 DM 2.14B(2)). In effect, this means the agency had already identified the intended recipient and proceeded under authority that allows direct award when justified, rather than soliciting proposals from multiple applicants. The "Eligible Applicants" field references "Others" with clarification in additional eligibility information, but the practical takeaway is that the award was predetermined and not available for general public competition.
Funding for the initiative was relatively targeted and limited in scale, consistent with a pilot research project. The estimated total funding was $217,000, with an award ceiling of $217,000 and no stated minimum award floor. The opportunity required no cost sharing or matching funds, which typically indicates the federal funding could cover the full approved project cost under the terms negotiated in the cooperative agreement. Only one award was expected.
In terms of timing, the opportunity was posted on July 25, 2012, with an original and current closing date of August 8, 2012, and it was archived shortly after on August 10, 2012. Those dates reinforce that the announcement functioned more as a public notice of an intended sole-source award than as a traditional grant competition with a multi-week application window.
The program was associated with CFDA number 15.650 (Research Grants - Generic), signaling its research and development orientation rather than direct construction or on-the-ground implementation funding. For those seeking more information at the time, the listing referenced Grants.gov for the full announcement and provided a contact at the Fish and Wildlife Service: Tracy McCleaf (304-876-7781, TracyMcCleaf@fws.gov) for assistance accessing the materials electronically.
Federal Lands Livability Initiative (F12AS00340) - FAQs
What is the Federal Lands Livability Initiative?
The Federal Lands Livability Initiative was a discretionary federal grant opportunity administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. It was structured as a cooperative agreement and framed as a pilot research effort focused on improving how "livability" is understood and applied in communities near federal public lands.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this opportunity?
The Funding Opportunity Number (FON) is F12AS00340.
Which federal agency administered this grant opportunity?
The opportunity was administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Was this a competitive grant that anyone could apply for?
No. The notice explicitly stated there was no application process and it was not an open, competitive funding opportunity.
Was there an application process?
No. The announcement stated there was no application process.
Why was there no application process for this funding opportunity?
The agency issued a notice of intent to make a single-source award to a specific recipient and cited a sole-source justification (505 DM 2.14B(2)), allowing a direct award rather than soliciting proposals from multiple applicants.
Who was the intended recipient of the single-source award?
The intended recipient was The Conservation Fund.
How many awards were expected under this opportunity?
Only one award was expected.
What type of award instrument was used?
The opportunity was structured as a cooperative agreement.
What was the main purpose of the initiative?
The initiative was designed as a pilot research effort to develop a practical approach to livability for Gateway Communities near or serving as access points to federal public lands, with attention to transportation choices and broader community challenges.
What are Gateway Communities in the context of this opportunity?
Gateway Communities are communities located near or serving as access points to federal public lands.
What kinds of issues was the initiative intended to address in Gateway Communities?
The initiative emphasized transportation choices while also accounting for challenges such as visitor-related travel demands, infrastructure constraints, environmental considerations, and the day-to-day needs of residents.
Which program areas did the opportunity relate to?
The opportunity was categorized under program areas that often overlap in gateway-region planning work: community development, education, environment, and transportation.
Was this funding intended for research or for on-the-ground implementation?
The opportunity was associated with CFDA number 15.650 (Research Grants - Generic), indicating a research and development orientation rather than direct construction or on-the-ground implementation funding.
What was the estimated total funding amount?
The estimated total funding was $217,000.
What was the maximum award amount (ceiling)?
The award ceiling was $217,000.
Was there a minimum award amount (floor)?
No minimum award amount was stated.
Was cost sharing or matching required?
No. The opportunity required no cost sharing or matching funds.
When was the opportunity posted?
The opportunity was posted on July 25, 2012.
What was the closing date?
The original and current closing date was August 8, 2012.
When was the opportunity archived?
The opportunity was archived on August 10, 2012.
What does the short posting window suggest about the nature of the announcement?
The dates support that the announcement functioned primarily as a public notice of an intended sole-source award rather than a traditional grant competition with an application period.
What CFDA number was associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity was associated with CFDA number 15.650 (Research Grants - Generic).
Where could someone access the full announcement details?
The listing referenced Grants.gov for the full announcement.
Who was the point of contact listed for assistance?
The contact listed was Tracy McCleaf at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
What contact information was provided?
Phone: 304-876-7781. Email: TracyMcCleaf@fws.gov.
What did the "Eligible Applicants" field indicate?
The field referenced "Others" with clarification in additional eligibility information, but the practical effect described in the notice was that the award was predetermined and not open for general public competition.
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