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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Practitioners Network Grant (F12AS00270)

1) What is the Practitioners Network grant opportunity (F12AS00270)?

The Practitioners Network grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number F12AS00270) was a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service discretionary funding announcement issued as a cooperative agreement. It was associated with Cooperative Landscape Conservation (CFDA 15.669) and was intended to provide targeted, short-term support for the operations and strategic direction of a Practitioners Network connected to Large Landscape Conservation Cooperative work.

2) Which federal agency issued this opportunity?

The opportunity was issued by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS).

3) What type of award was this?

This funding was issued as a cooperative agreement (a type of federal assistance agreement).

4) What program or CFDA was this opportunity tied to?

It was tied to Cooperative Landscape Conservation, CFDA 15.669.

5) What was the main purpose of the funding?

The core purpose was to help the Practitioners Network clarify what it was trying to accomplish and how it would get there. The funded work focused on strengthening the Network's strategic direction, operations, coordination, evaluation/learning, and fundraising planning so the Network could move from broad collaborative intentions to a concrete, trackable plan.

6) What was the award amount?

The award amount was fixed at $50,000. The floor and the ceiling were both $50,000, meaning the award amount was not a range.

7) How many awards were expected?

A single award was expected.

8) Was cost sharing or matching required?

No. The opportunity stated there was no cost-sharing or matching requirement.

9) What were the key deliverables expected under this grant?

The description emphasized several core deliverables and work products, including:

• Refining and securing agreement on near-term and long-term work plans for the Network.
• Clearly defining goals, measurable objectives, key activities, and milestone events within those work plans.
• Providing ongoing support to Network leadership and governance structures (coordinating committee and working groups).
• Planning, facilitating, and documenting regular meetings.
• Helping working groups implement and evaluate their work plans.
• Developing an evaluation and learning approach, including success measures, indicators, methods, and a repeatable evaluation/learning/adaptation process.
• Creating a sustained fundraising strategy to support the Network beyond this short-term award.

10) What did "refining work plans" mean in practical terms?

It meant translating broad conservation collaboration intentions into a structured plan with timelines and concrete outputs. The work plans were expected to include clearly defined goals, measurable objectives, key activities, and milestone events, and to reflect agreement across the Network about both near-term and long-term priorities.

11) What kinds of operational support were emphasized?

The funded work was expected to support the Network's day-to-day and ongoing functioning, especially leadership and governance. This included general support for the coordinating committee and working groups by planning, facilitating, and documenting regular meetings, and then helping groups implement and evaluate their work plans so progress stayed aligned to agreed priorities rather than being ad hoc.

12) What role did meeting facilitation and documentation play in the funded scope?

Meeting facilitation and documentation were specifically called out as part of supporting the coordinating committee and working groups. The intent, as described, was to strengthen coordination across participants, keep meetings productive, and ensure decisions and actions were well-recorded to support follow-through and accountability.

13) What was required related to evaluation and learning?

The opportunity highlighted building a robust evaluation and learning system. The recipient would develop an evaluation approach to track performance, learn from results, and adapt strategies over time. This included working with the coordinating committee to define overall measures of success, specific indicators, methods, and a repeatable process for routine evaluation, learning, and adaptation.

14) Was the grant only about planning and convening?

No. While planning and convening (including work planning and meeting support) were major components, the description also emphasized establishing a practical feedback loop for evaluation, learning, and adaptation, plus developing a sustained fundraising strategy for longer-term viability.

15) What was required related to fundraising?

The award required creation of a sustained fundraising strategy for the Network. This was framed as a long-term viability component, meaning the Network was expected to identify pathways to diversify or stabilize funding beyond the $50,000 award (for example, through partner support, future grants, or other aligned revenue strategies).

16) When was the opportunity posted and when did it close?

The notice was posted on August 7, 2012, and it closed on August 8, 2012.

17) When was the opportunity archived?

The archive date listed for the notice was September 7, 2012.

18) Was this an open competitive application opportunity?

No. The eligibility and competition language stated there was not an application process and that the notice served as a notice of intent for a single-source agreement justified under federal policy (505 DM 2.14 (B4)). In effect, it was a planned award to a specific entity rather than an open competition.

19) What does "single-source" mean in the context provided?

Based on the notice language, "single-source" meant the award was intended for a specific entity and was justified under federal policy, rather than being awarded through a standard competitive process with multiple applicants.

20) Who was the listed agency contact for access issues?

The listed contact for access issues was Sonja Scott, Administrative Officer. The phone number provided was 703-358-1720.