Opportunity Information: Apply for F13AS00361
Apply for F13AS00361
- The Fish and Wildlife Service in the education environment natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Nature of Learning and Friends Grants" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.654 Visitor Facility Enhancements Refuges and Wildlife.
- This funding opportunity was created on Sep 20, 2013 and posted on Sep 13, 2013.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Sep 23, 2013. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $113,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $113,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility.
- This is a notice of intent to award a single source grant to the Nature of Learning and Friends Grants under justification 505 DM 2.14(B4) and is within the discretion of the Agency. This opportunity is not a request for applications
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Opportunity Summary:
The Nature of Learning and Friends Grants (Funding Opportunity Number F13AS00361) is a discretionary funding opportunity administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) as a cooperative agreement focused on education, the environment, and natural resources. The program is tied to CFDA 15.654, Visitor Facility Enhancements: Refuges and Wildlife, which generally supports improvements and activities that enhance visitor experiences and public engagement on or connected to national wildlife refuges and related wildlife-focused sites. The total estimated funding for this action is $113,000, and the structure is unusual compared to typical competitive grant programs because the award ceiling and floor are both set at $113,000, indicating a single, fixed-size award rather than multiple varying awards.
A central feature of this opportunity is the partnership-driven management model. Oversight of the Nature of Learning and Friends programs is handled through a steering committee made up of staff from both FWS and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF). This committee is responsible for guiding the program and collaboratively handling the grantmaking process, including requesting proposals, reviewing them, and selecting projects for funding. The source description also notes practical administrative collaboration: the two organizations jointly solicit and process proposals, maintain program web pages, dedicate staff time to evaluate and select projects, and respond to public and applicant inquiries. In effect, the grantmaking is managed as a coordinated effort between a federal agency and a foundation partner, with shared responsibilities throughout the proposal lifecycle.
Eligibility is listed as "unrestricted" in the technical fields, but the accompanying eligibility statement clarifies that this posting is a notice of intent to make a single-source award under a specific justification authority (505 DM 2.14(B4)) and that it is within the agency's discretion. This is an important distinction: despite appearing open on the surface, the announcement explicitly states it is not a request for applications. In practical terms, it functions as a public notice that the agency intends to award funding to a specific recipient or through a single-source mechanism rather than run an open competition. The expected number of awards is one, reinforcing that this is not a broad call for applicants.
The opportunity includes a cost-sharing or matching requirement, meaning the funded project would need to include non-federal contributions (cash or eligible in-kind support) consistent with the award terms. While the notice does not specify the match percentage in the provided text, applicants or the intended recipient would typically confirm the exact requirement in the full announcement or award documents. Key dates show the opportunity was posted on September 13, 2013, with an original closing date of September 16, 2013, later extended to September 23, 2013, and archived on October 4, 2013. The short window is consistent with a notice of intent or single-source action rather than a competitive funding round that would normally allow more time for proposal development.
For further details, the announcement points to Grants.gov and provides a contact for access issues: Gerri Watkins, Management Analyst, at GerriWatkins@fws.gov.
FAQs: Nature of Learning and Friends Grants (F13AS00361)
What is the Nature of Learning and Friends Grants opportunity (F13AS00361)?
It is a discretionary funding opportunity administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) as a cooperative agreement. The stated focus is on education, the environment, and natural resources, with activities connected to enhancing visitor experiences and public engagement related to national wildlife refuges and other wildlife-focused sites.
Which agency administers this funding?
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) administers the opportunity, and it is managed in collaboration with the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) through a shared program oversight model.
What type of award is expected (grant, contract, cooperative agreement)?
The funding is described as a cooperative agreement, which indicates an arrangement where the agency anticipates substantial involvement with the funded work compared to a typical grant.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON)?
The Funding Opportunity Number is F13AS00361.
What CFDA program is this tied to, and what does that imply?
This opportunity is tied to CFDA 15.654, Visitor Facility Enhancements: Refuges and Wildlife. Based on the description provided, that program generally supports improvements and activities that enhance visitor experiences and public engagement on or connected to national wildlife refuges and related wildlife-focused sites.
How much total funding is available under this opportunity?
The total estimated funding for this action is $113,000.
What are the award floor and award ceiling?
Both the award floor and the award ceiling are set at $113,000, which signals a fixed-size award rather than a range of award amounts.
How many awards does the agency expect to make?
The expected number of awards is one.
Is this a competitive grant opportunity that anyone can apply to?
No. Although the technical eligibility field is listed as "unrestricted," the accompanying eligibility statement clarifies that this posting is a notice of intent to make a single-source award under a specific justification authority (505 DM 2.14(B4)). It explicitly states it is not a request for applications.
What does "notice of intent to make a single-source award" mean in practical terms?
Based on the information provided, it means the agency is publicly announcing its intent to fund through a single-source mechanism (rather than running an open competition). The announcement functions as a notice, not as an open call for proposals.
Who oversees the Nature of Learning and Friends programs for this opportunity?
Oversight is handled through a steering committee made up of staff from both FWS and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF).
What does the steering committee do?
The steering committee guides the program and collaboratively handles the grantmaking process. The description states responsibilities include requesting proposals, reviewing them, and selecting projects for funding.
How do FWS and NFWF share administrative responsibilities?
According to the description, the two organizations jointly solicit and process proposals, maintain program web pages, dedicate staff time to evaluate and select projects, and respond to public and applicant inquiries.
Is there a cost-share or matching requirement?
Yes. The opportunity includes a cost-sharing or matching requirement, meaning the funded project would need non-federal contributions (cash or eligible in-kind support) consistent with the award terms.
Does the provided information specify the match percentage?
No. The provided text states that a match is required but does not specify the percentage. It notes that the exact requirement would typically be confirmed in the full announcement or award documents.
When was the opportunity posted?
The opportunity was posted on September 13, 2013.
What was the original closing date and was it extended?
The original closing date was September 16, 2013, and it was later extended to September 23, 2013.
When was the opportunity archived?
The opportunity was archived on October 4, 2013.
What do the short dates suggest about the nature of this posting?
The short open window is described as being consistent with a notice of intent or single-source action, rather than a typical competitive funding round that would normally allow more time for proposal development.
Where are applicants directed for additional details?
For further details, the announcement points to Grants.gov.
Who should be contacted for access issues related to this opportunity?
The contact listed for access issues is Gerri Watkins, Management Analyst, at GerriWatkins@fws.gov.
Does the eligibility language create any confusion?
Yes. The technical field indicates "unrestricted" eligibility, but the narrative eligibility statement clarifies the posting is not a request for applications and is instead a notice of intent to make a single-source award. The narrative statement is the key practical limitation described in the provided information.
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| BLM New Mexico Integrated Noxious Weed Control Program Apply for L14AS00307 Funding Number: L14AS00307 Agency: Bureau of Land Management Category: Education Environment Natural Resources Funding Amount: $200,000 |
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