Opportunity Information: Apply for F15AS00087
Apply for F15AS00087
- The Fish and Wildlife Service in the environment sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "National Coastal Wetland Conservation Grant Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.614 Coastal Wetlands Planning, Protection and Restoration Program.
- This funding opportunity was created on Feb 5, 2015 and posted on Feb 5, 2015.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 24, 2015. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $16,000,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $1,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 20 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: State governments.
- Eligible applicants are any State agency or entity designated as eligible by the Governor of a coastal State. It is usually a State natural resource or fish and wildlife agency. If your agency is uncertain of its eligibility, please contact the Regional Service WSFR Office (see section VIII., Agency Contacts). The Regional WSFR Offices maintain the list of certified eligible agencies in each coastal State in the Region. Eligible coastal States are States bordering the Great Lakes (Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin) States bordering the Atlantic, Gulf (except Louisiana), and Pacific coasts (Alabama, Alaska, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia, and Washington) and American Samoa, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. Louisiana is not an eligible coastal State for this program as provided in the Coastal Wetlands Planning, Protection, and Restoration Act (16 U.S.C 3955 (b)(1)). If you would like to be a subgrantee, check with the eligible agency in your State for their deadlines and requirements to apply.
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Opportunity Summary:
The National Coastal Wetland Conservation Grant Program (NCWCGP) is a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service competitive grant program created under the Coastal Wetlands Planning, Protection, and Restoration Act (Section 305, Title III, Public Law 101-646; 16 U.S.C. 3954). Its central purpose is long-term conservation of coastal wetland ecosystems by helping coastal states protect, restore, enhance, and manage wetlands through matching grants. The program reflects the practical value of coastal wetlands as natural infrastructure that reduces flooding impacts, supports water quality, and sustains fish and wildlife habitat, while also underpinning major coastal economies tied to commercial fishing, recreation, and tourism.
Funding supports two main types of projects. First, states can use grant funds to acquire real property interests from willing sellers or partners for conservation purposes, such as purchasing land outright (fee title) or securing conservation easements. Second, funds can be used for restoration, enhancement, or management work on coastal wetland ecosystems. The program emphasizes durable outcomes: every funded project must ensure conservation for at least 20 years. Restoration activities described in the opportunity include actions that reestablish natural wetland hydrology (for example, plugging drainage ditches, breaking tile drainage systems, installing water-control structures, building dikes where appropriate, or reconnecting wetlands to historic waterways). It can also include habitat-focused work such as planting native vegetation and controlling or removing invasive plants and animals that displace native species or alter ecological conditions.
Applications are evaluated and ranked using criteria set out in federal regulations at 50 CFR 84.32, with overall program requirements established in 50 CFR 84 (final rule published July 30, 2002 at 67 FR 49264). The announcement directs applicants to review the full notice of funding opportunity and related guidance, including an attachment clarifying select ranking criteria and general program questions, because compliance with the regulatory framework is central to eligibility and scoring.
For the specific opportunity described (Funding Opportunity Number F15AS00087; CFDA 15.614), the program was offered as a discretionary grant with a cost-sharing or matching requirement. The estimated total funding available was $16,000,000, with an award ceiling of $1,000,000 and no stated minimum award floor. The anticipated number of awards was about 20. The posting date was February 5, 2015, and the application closing date was June 24, 2015 (with the opportunity archived February 5, 2016). The agency also noted an expectation in FY 2015 to fund 25 individual projects covering approximately 11,353 acres of coastal habitat, illustrating the program’s focus on measurable land and habitat outcomes.
Eligibility is limited to state governments, specifically a state agency or another entity formally designated as eligible by the governor of a coastal state. In practice, the lead applicant is often a state natural resource, fish and wildlife, or similar agency. States and territories eligible under the program include Great Lakes states (Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin), Atlantic/Gulf/Pacific coastal states (including Alabama, Alaska, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia, and Washington), and U.S. territories such as American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Louisiana is explicitly not eligible under the statute cited in the announcement (16 U.S.C. 3955(b)(1)). Organizations that want to participate but are not the designated eligible agency generally must work as subgrantees or partners through their state’s eligible applicant and should coordinate with that agency for internal deadlines and requirements.
Additional program details and the full funding announcement were provided via Fish and Wildlife Service web links, and applicants were directed to contact the Service’s Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration (WSFR) regional offices to confirm eligible state agencies. A contact person was also listed for access issues and program questions: Christy Vigfusson, Chief, Programs Branch, at 703-358-1748 and ChristyVigfusson@fws.gov.
National Coastal Wetland Conservation Grant Program (NCWCGP) - FAQs
What is the National Coastal Wetland Conservation Grant Program (NCWCGP)?
The NCWCGP is a competitive U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) grant program created under the Coastal Wetlands Planning, Protection, and Restoration Act. Its central purpose is long-term conservation of coastal wetland ecosystems by helping eligible coastal states protect, restore, enhance, and manage wetlands through matching (cost-share) grants.
What law authorizes this grant program?
The program was created under the Coastal Wetlands Planning, Protection, and Restoration Act (Section 305, Title III, Public Law 101-646; 16 U.S.C. 3954).
What are the main goals and benefits the program is designed to support?
The program is designed to deliver durable coastal wetland conservation outcomes that also reflect the practical value of wetlands as natural infrastructure. Coastal wetlands can reduce flooding impacts, support water quality, and sustain fish and wildlife habitat, while also supporting coastal economies tied to commercial fishing, recreation, and tourism.
What kinds of projects can NCWCGP funding support?
Funding supports two primary project types: (1) acquisition of real property interests from willing sellers or partners for conservation purposes (such as fee-title purchases or conservation easements), and (2) restoration, enhancement, or management activities on coastal wetland ecosystems.
What does "acquisition of real property interests" mean in this program?
It refers to obtaining conservation-oriented rights in land from willing sellers or partners. Examples provided include purchasing land outright (fee title) or securing conservation easements.
What kinds of restoration actions are described in the opportunity?
The opportunity describes restoration activities aimed at reestablishing natural wetland hydrology, such as plugging drainage ditches, breaking tile drainage systems, installing water-control structures, building dikes where appropriate, or reconnecting wetlands to historic waterways.
Does the program support habitat improvement work beyond hydrology restoration?
Yes. The opportunity also describes habitat-focused work such as planting native vegetation and controlling or removing invasive plants and animals that displace native species or alter ecological conditions.
How long must conservation outcomes last for a funded project?
Every funded project must ensure conservation for at least 20 years, reflecting the program emphasis on durable outcomes.
How are applications evaluated and ranked?
Applications are evaluated and ranked using criteria set out in federal regulations at 50 CFR 84.32, with overall program requirements established in 50 CFR 84 (final rule published July 30, 2002 at 67 FR 49264).
Why does the announcement emphasize reviewing the full notice and guidance attachments?
Because compliance with the regulatory framework in 50 CFR 84 is central to eligibility and scoring, and the opportunity specifically directs applicants to review the full notice of funding opportunity and related guidance, including an attachment clarifying select ranking criteria and general program questions.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number and CFDA number for the specific opportunity described?
The opportunity is identified as Funding Opportunity Number F15AS00087 and CFDA 15.614.
What type of grant is this and is there a match requirement?
For the opportunity described, the program was offered as a discretionary grant with a cost-sharing or matching requirement.
How much funding was estimated to be available under this opportunity?
The estimated total funding available was $16,000,000.
What was the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling was $1,000,000.
Was there a minimum award amount?
No stated minimum award floor was provided in the information given.
How many awards were anticipated?
The anticipated number of awards was about 20.
What measurable outcomes did the agency reference for FY 2015?
The agency noted an expectation in FY 2015 to fund 25 individual projects covering approximately 11,353 acres of coastal habitat, illustrating an emphasis on measurable land and habitat outcomes.
When was this opportunity posted and when did it close?
The posting date was February 5, 2015, and the application closing date was June 24, 2015.
Is this opportunity still open?
No. The opportunity was archived on February 5, 2016.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is limited to state governments, specifically a state agency or another entity formally designated as eligible by the governor of a coastal state. In practice, the lead applicant is often a state natural resource, fish and wildlife, or similar agency.
Which states and territories are eligible under the program?
Eligible applicants include Great Lakes states (Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin); Atlantic/Gulf/Pacific coastal states (including Alabama, Alaska, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia, and Washington); and U.S. territories such as American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Is Louisiana eligible?
No. Louisiana is explicitly not eligible under the statute cited in the announcement (16 U.S.C. 3955(b)(1)).
If an organization is not a state agency, can it still participate?
Organizations that are not the designated eligible agency generally must work as subgrantees or partners through their state’s eligible applicant and should coordinate with that agency for internal deadlines and requirements.
How can applicants confirm which state agency is the eligible applicant?
Applicants were directed to contact the USFWS Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration (WSFR) regional offices to confirm eligible state agencies.
Who was the listed contact for access issues and program questions?
The listed contact was Christy Vigfusson, Chief, Programs Branch. Phone: 703-358-1748. Email: ChristyVigfusson@fws.gov.
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