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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is this funding opportunity?

This is a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) funding notice stating an intent to make discretionary awards through cooperative agreements for work connected to the Ecological Services Wolf Program within the U.S. Department of the Interior. The Funding Opportunity Number is F14AS00051.

What is the program area or topic focus?

The focus is applied conservation work that supports the Ecological Services Wolf Program and broader endangered species recovery objectives under the Service's Ecological Services mission. The notice describes support for research, technical assistance, and related work that advances wolf program priorities and endangered species recovery implementation.

Which CFDA number is associated with this notice?

The notice is tied to CFDA 15.657, Endangered Species Conservation - Recovery Implementation Funds.

Is this a competitive, open grant solicitation?

No. The notice is not described as a typical open, competitive solicitation. Instead, it describes a sole source approach using task agreements issued under the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Units (CESU) network.

What is the CESU network and how does it relate to this opportunity?

The opportunity is structured around sole source task agreements under the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Units (CESU) network. In this notice, CESU is presented as the mechanism through which cooperative agreements may be awarded for relevant wolf program and endangered species recovery work.

What does "sole source task agreements" mean in this notice?

In the context of this announcement, it means awards may be made noncompetitively to specific eligible institutions through CESU task agreements, rather than through an open competition among all applicants.

What is the authority cited for making these awards?

The notice references Department of the Interior authority at 505 DM 2.14(1) for unsolicited proposals as the basis for issuing these sole source CESU task agreements.

Does this notice involve unsolicited proposals?

Yes. The notice indicates the Service may fund proposals submitted on an unsolicited basis when they present a unique or innovative idea, method, or approach that the agency is not already pursuing through an existing or planned contract or assistance award, and when the agency determines the work will meaningfully benefit program objectives.

What kinds of proposed work appear most relevant under this notice?

Work described as relevant includes research, technical assistance, and related applied conservation efforts tied to the wolf program and endangered species recovery implementation, particularly where proposals bring a distinct and advantageous approach rather than duplicating work already underway or planned.

Who is eligible to receive an award under this opportunity?

Eligibility is not open to all organizations. Potential recipients are universities or institutions that are members of a CESU for which the Fish and Wildlife Service is a cooperating partner.

The eligible applicants field says "Others." What does that mean here?

While the record labels Eligible Applicants as "Others," the detailed eligibility language indicates the main eligibility requirement is CESU membership (for a CESU where FWS is a cooperating partner) and alignment with particular Service needs.

Are there additional factors beyond CESU membership that affect whether an institution may be selected?

Yes. The notice indicates awards are intended for institutions that can meet particular Service needs, such as expertise aligned with a specific biogeographic area, an ecosystem type, a management regime, or a combination of those themes. The notice also highlights capacity considerations such as specialized expertise and the ability to deliver work within required timeframes to meet regional or program priorities.

Is cost sharing or matching required?

No. The notice indicates there is no cost sharing or matching requirement.

How much funding is available?

The public-facing funding fields in this record list the estimated total funding, award ceiling, and award floor as 0. As described in the notice summary, this typically signals the posting functions as an announcement of intent and an award mechanism (sole source CESU task agreements) rather than a commitment to a fixed funding amount or a defined award size range in the public synopsis.

Why would the award ceiling, award floor, and total funding be listed as 0?

Based on the information provided in the notice summary, the 0 values appear to reflect that this is an intent-to-award style posting describing how FWS may issue sole source CESU task agreements, rather than a traditional competitive grant with a stated funding pool and set minimum/maximum award sizes in the public listing.

What is the funding category for this opportunity?

The opportunity is placed in the Science and Technology and other Research and Development category.

When was this opportunity posted and when was it archived?

The posting date and creation date are January 9, 2014, and the archive date is January 24, 2014.

Does the short posting window imply anything about how applications are handled?

The information provided suggests it was available for a short window as an informational notice rather than an extended competitive application period, consistent with the intent-to-award and sole source CESU task agreement approach described.

Where can someone find the full announcement materials?

The additional information link points to Grants.gov for the full announcement materials and any related instructions tied to this intent-to-award notice.

Who is the point of contact for questions or access issues?

The listed point of contact is Adrian Lopez at the Fish and Wildlife Service. Phone: 505-248-6477. Email: AdrianLopez@fws.gov.

What should someone do if they cannot access the full announcement on Grants.gov?

The notice specifically provides a point of contact (Adrian Lopez) for those seeking more information or who have trouble accessing the full announcement through Grants.gov.

What type of award instrument is described?

The notice describes discretionary awards made through cooperative agreements, implemented via sole source task agreements under the CESU network.