Opportunity Information: Apply for 93261 1 0069
Apply for 93261 1 0069
- The Fish and Wildlife Service in the community development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Friends Initiative" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.649 Service Training and Technical Assistance (Generic Training).
- This funding opportunity was created on Jul 29, 2011 and posted on Aug 30, 2011.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Sep 2, 2011. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $150,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $150,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education.
- This opportunity is not a request for applications. The determination not to compete is based on Department policy (505 DM 2.14,B(4) Unique Qualifications The applicant is uniquely qualified to perform the activity based upon a variety of demonstrable factors such as location, property ownership, voluntary support capacity, cost sharing ability, if applicable, technical expertise, or other such unique qualificationsand is within the discretion of the Agency. See Notice of Intent justification under Full Announcement.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Friends Initiative is a Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) discretionary funding opportunity structured as a cooperative agreement to strengthen and expand the capacity of "Friends" groups that support units of the National Wildlife Refuge System. The project is centered on training and technical assistance, with the intent of helping refuge partner organizations improve their effectiveness through activities such as conferences, workshops, and ongoing support programs. The underlying rationale is that stronger Friends groups translate into better on-the-ground support for refuges, improved visitor services, and more resilient community engagement around refuge priorities.
A key feature of this opportunity is that it is not a typical open competition. The agency explicitly states it is not a request for applications, and the decision not to compete is justified under Department policy for "unique qualifications." In practice, this means the FWS determined a specific organization is uniquely positioned to carry out the work based on demonstrable factors such as specialized technical expertise and a proven track record supporting refuge Friends organizations at a national scale. The description identifies the National Wildlife Refuge Association (NWRA) as the only national non-governmental conservation organization whose mission is to directly support the National Wildlife Refuge System, and it emphasizes NWRA's decades-long experience working with hundreds of Friends groups nationwide. This history, established relationships, and institutional knowledge are presented as the reason NWRA is the intended partner for the cooperative effort.
In terms of funding specifics, the opportunity is listed under Funding Opportunity Number 93261 1 0069 and the title "Friends Initiative." It falls under the Community Development activity category, and it is associated with CFDA number 15.649, described as Service Training and Technical Assistance (Generic Training). The total estimated funding is $150,000, and the award ceiling and floor are both $150,000, indicating an expected single award in that exact amount. The listing shows an expected number of awards as 1, reinforcing that this was designed as a single, specific partnership rather than a program expecting multiple grantees.
The posting timeline indicates it was posted on August 30, 2011, with a closing date of September 2, 2011, and archived on October 2, 2011. A cost sharing or matching requirement is noted as "Yes," meaning the recipient would be expected to contribute non-federal resources or match funds in some form, although the details of the match (percentage, allowable sources, and documentation expectations) would typically be laid out in the full announcement or agreement terms.
Eligibility is listed as "Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education," but because this notice is explicitly not competed, the practical implication is that eligibility language is largely procedural while the agency proceeds with a designated partner under the unique qualifications justification. For anyone seeking more detail but unable to access the announcement electronically, the provided contact is Kevin Kilcullen in the Division of Visitor Services and Communications, with a listed work phone number of 703-358-2832.
Friends Initiative (FWS) Grant Opportunity FAQs
What is the Friends Initiative?
The Friends Initiative is a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) discretionary funding opportunity structured as a cooperative agreement. Its purpose is to strengthen and expand the capacity of "Friends" groups that support units of the National Wildlife Refuge System.
What is the main goal of this cooperative agreement?
The project focuses on training and technical assistance intended to help refuge partner organizations improve their effectiveness. The overall rationale is that stronger Friends groups provide better on-the-ground support for refuges, improve visitor services, and build more resilient community engagement around refuge priorities.
What kinds of activities are supported under this project?
Activities described include training and technical assistance delivered through conferences, workshops, and ongoing support programs designed to improve the effectiveness of Friends groups supporting National Wildlife Refuge System units.
Is this a competitive grant opportunity open to multiple applicants?
No. The agency explicitly states this is not a request for applications and that it is not being competed. The decision not to compete is justified under Department policy for "unique qualifications."
What does "unique qualifications" mean in this context?
In this notice, "unique qualifications" refers to the agency determining that a specific organization is uniquely positioned to carry out the work due to factors such as specialized technical expertise and a proven national-level track record supporting refuge Friends organizations.
Who is identified as the intended partner for this cooperative effort?
The description identifies the National Wildlife Refuge Association (NWRA) as the intended partner. The notice emphasizes NWRA's decades-long experience working with hundreds of Friends groups nationwide and describes it as the only national non-governmental conservation organization whose mission is to directly support the National Wildlife Refuge System.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number and title?
The Funding Opportunity Number is 93261 1 0069, and the title is "Friends Initiative."
What program category and CFDA number are associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is listed under the Community Development activity category. It is associated with CFDA number 15.649, described as Service Training and Technical Assistance (Generic Training).
How much funding is available?
The total estimated funding is $150,000.
What are the award ceiling and award floor?
Both the award ceiling and the award floor are $150,000. This indicates the expected single award amount is exactly $150,000.
How many awards does the agency expect to make?
The expected number of awards is 1, reinforcing that the opportunity was designed as a single, specific partnership rather than a program anticipating multiple grantees.
When was this opportunity posted, and what were the closing and archive dates?
It was posted on August 30, 2011. The closing date was September 2, 2011. It was archived on October 2, 2011.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
Yes. The notice indicates a cost sharing or matching requirement. The specific details (such as the percentage, allowable sources, and documentation expectations) are not provided in the summarized information and would typically be addressed in the full announcement or the agreement terms.
Who is listed as eligible?
Eligibility is listed as "Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education."
If eligibility is listed, can other organizations apply anyway?
Based on the information provided, this notice is explicitly not competed and is not a request for applications. In practical terms, the eligibility language appears procedural while the agency proceeds with a designated partner under the unique qualifications justification.
What type of agreement is used for this funding?
The funding opportunity is structured as a cooperative agreement.
What is the intended impact on National Wildlife Refuge System units?
The intended impact is improved on-the-ground support for refuges, improved visitor services, and stronger, more resilient community engagement aligned with refuge priorities, driven by more capable and effective Friends groups.
Who can be contacted for more information if the announcement cannot be accessed electronically?
The contact listed is Kevin Kilcullen in the Division of Visitor Services and Communications.
What is the contact phone number provided?
The listed work phone number is 703-358-2832.
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