Service Training and Technical Assistance (Generic Training) | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the name of this funding opportunity?

The opportunity is titled Service Training and Technical Assistance (Generic Training).

What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON)?

The Funding Opportunity Number is F16AS00207.

Which federal agency offered this opportunity?

This was offered by the U.S. Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service (DOI-FWS).

What type of funding mechanism was used?

The opportunity was offered as a discretionary cooperative agreement.

What does "cooperative agreement" imply for how the project would be run?

A cooperative agreement typically indicates that the Fish and Wildlife Service expected substantial involvement in the work compared to a standard grant. Based on the description provided, this often means closer coordination with the agency around items like training content, deliverables, schedules, and outcomes, particularly when training is meant to support agency priorities or compliance-related conservation work.

When was the opportunity posted?

The opportunity was posted on May 4, 2016.

When was the opportunity created?

It was created on May 4, 2016.

What was the application deadline?

There was a single application deadline of May 10, 2016.

How many deadlines were there?

The opportunity had one application deadline.

What was the maximum award amount?

The award ceiling (maximum award amount) was $50,000.

How many awards were expected to be made?

The agency anticipated making one award.

Who was eligible to apply?

Eligibility was limited to public and state-controlled institutions of higher education.

What kinds of organizations does "public and state-controlled institutions of higher education" refer to?

Based on the eligibility wording provided, this points to universities and similar public academic institutions that are publicly governed or state-controlled.

What was the overall purpose of this opportunity?

It was positioned as a training and technical assistance effort intended to support the development and implementation of activities that benefit fish and wildlife species and the habitats they depend on.

What kinds of activities might be supported under this training and technical assistance focus?

The description indicates applicants were likely expected to design and deliver items such as training sessions, workshops, curricula, or other technical assistance products related to fish and wildlife conservation and habitat management. The emphasis also suggests training could touch on coordination requirements and potentially implementation-related aspects of endangered species conservation.

What legal authorities were cited as the foundation for this award?

The opportunity cited several federal statutes as underlying authority:

• Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956
• Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act (16 U.S.C. 661 and 742 et seq.)
• Fish and Wildlife Improvement Act of 1978, as amended (16 U.S.C. 753)
• Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 to 1544)

Why does the opportunity cite the Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956 and the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act?

As described, these laws broadly support federal programs that conserve, develop, and manage fish and wildlife resources and help ensure wildlife considerations are incorporated into water-resource and other federal actions (16 U.S.C. 661 and 742 et seq.).

What does the Fish and Wildlife Improvement Act of 1978 contribute to the stated authority?

The opportunity states that the Fish and Wildlife Improvement Act of 1978 (as amended) provides additional support for improving fish and wildlife conservation efforts (16 U.S.C. 753).

How does the Endangered Species Act relate to this training opportunity?

The opportunity references the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 to 1544), signaling that training or technical assistance could include capacity-building that helps prevent species extinction and supports recovery and conservation measures for listed species and their habitats.

What funding activity categories were associated with this opportunity?

The listing placed the program within the funding activity categories of Natural Resources and Law, Justice and Legal Services.

Why would a fish and wildlife training opportunity be connected to "Law, Justice and Legal Services"?

As described, wildlife conservation training often overlaps with legal frameworks, regulatory compliance, interagency coordination, and statutory responsibilities, which aligns with that category.

What CFDA number was associated with this opportunity?

The opportunity was associated with CFDA 15.649, corresponding to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service programs in the federal assistance cataloging system used at the time.

Was this opportunity large-scale or narrowly scoped?

Based on the information provided, it was relatively small and targeted, with a $50,000 maximum award and an expectation of a single award.

Was this opportunity time-sensitive?

Yes. It was posted on May 4, 2016, with a single deadline on May 10, 2016, indicating a short application window.

What does "discretionary" mean in the context of this opportunity?

The description identifies it as a discretionary cooperative agreement, meaning the award would be made at the agency's discretion under the stated authority and program intent (as opposed to being automatically awarded by formula).

What was the intended applicant role based on the eligibility and program description?

Given eligibility was limited to public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, the intended applicants were likely expected to develop and deliver training and technical assistance products that build practical conservation capacity tied to fish and wildlife and habitat needs, including work shaped by federal conservation statutes.