Opportunity Information: Apply for F19AS00394
The National Wildlife Refuge System Enhancements grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number F19AS00394) was a discretionary funding announcement from the U.S. Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS). It was offered as a cooperative agreement, meaning the selected recipient would be expected to work closely with the federal agency during planning and implementation rather than operating entirely independently. The program sits in the Natural Resources funding activity category and is associated with CFDA number 15.654, which generally covers U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service refuge-related and conservation assistance work.
The legal authorities listed in the announcement point to the broad purpose and allowable scope of the work: improving and supporting conservation, habitat management, wildlife-dependent recreation, and stewardship activities across the National Wildlife Refuge System. The authorities include the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act and Fish and Wildlife Act (which underpin federal wildlife conservation and management activities), the Refuge Recreation Act (supporting compatible public use and recreation on refuges), and the National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act (the core statute guiding management of the refuge system and the compatibility standard for public uses). The inclusion of the Public Lands Corps Act and Youth Conservation Corps authorities signals that projects may involve engaging youth or conservation corps participants in hands-on work, workforce development, and service projects on public lands. The Archaeological Resources Protection Act reference indicates that any work intersecting with cultural or archaeological resources must follow federal protections and may support responsible stewardship. Finally, the mention of Federal Aid for Highways provisions suggests potential intersections with access, transportation, or related infrastructure elements where applicable, consistent with federal rules.
Eligibility was limited to nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education). In practice, that means the opportunity targeted charitable conservation and stewardship organizations capable of partnering with FWS to carry out on-the-ground refuge enhancement work, potentially including volunteer coordination, habitat or visitor-use improvements, youth engagement, and other refuge-supporting initiatives consistent with refuge purposes and federal requirements.
The award structure was straightforward and highly competitive: FWS expected to make one award, with a maximum (ceiling) of $200,000. Applications were required to be submitted through Grants.gov by 3:00 p.m. Mountain Daylight Time on September 18, 2019. The opportunity was posted on September 12, 2019, leaving a short application window. Overall, the funding announcement reflects a focused, partnership-based investment intended to strengthen refuge resources and visitor or stewardship outcomes through a single nonprofit-led cooperative project carried out in coordination with the Fish and Wildlife Service.Apply for F19AS00394
- The Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "National Wildlife Refuge System Enhancements" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.654.
- This funding opportunity was created on Sep 12, 2019.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Sep 18, 2019 Applications are due no later than 3 p.m. MDT on September 18, 2019, via grants.gov, with all required information.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $200,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the National Wildlife Refuge System Enhancements grant opportunity?
It is a discretionary funding opportunity from the U.S. Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) titled "National Wildlife Refuge System Enhancements" (Funding Opportunity Number F19AS00394). The opportunity supports work that improves and strengthens conservation and stewardship outcomes across the National Wildlife Refuge System.
Which federal agency is offering this funding?
The funding was offered by the U.S. Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS).
What type of award is this (grant vs. cooperative agreement)?
This opportunity was offered as a cooperative agreement. That means the selected recipient would be expected to work closely with FWS during planning and implementation, rather than operating entirely independently.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number?
The Funding Opportunity Number is F19AS00394.
What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is associated with CFDA number 15.654, which generally covers U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service refuge-related and conservation assistance work.
What funding activity category does this program fall under?
The program sits in the Natural Resources funding activity category.
What is the overall purpose of the opportunity?
Based on the legal authorities listed in the announcement, the overall purpose is to improve and support conservation, habitat management, wildlife-dependent recreation, and stewardship activities across the National Wildlife Refuge System.
What kinds of projects or activities could this funding support?
The announcement points to projects that improve and support refuge conservation and management, habitat work, wildlife-dependent recreation and compatible public use, and stewardship activities. The description also suggests potential on-the-ground refuge enhancement work that could include volunteer coordination, habitat or visitor-use improvements, and youth engagement, as long as activities align with refuge purposes and federal requirements.
Which laws and authorities were referenced in the announcement, and why do they matter?
The listed authorities indicate the scope of work that may be supported, including:
- Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act and Fish and Wildlife Act: foundational authorities for federal wildlife conservation and management activities.
- Refuge Recreation Act: supports compatible public use and recreation on refuges.
- National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act: guides management of the refuge system and the compatibility standard for public uses.
- Public Lands Corps Act and Youth Conservation Corps authorities: signal that projects may involve youth engagement or conservation corps participants in hands-on work, workforce development, and service projects on public lands.
- Archaeological Resources Protection Act: indicates that work affecting cultural or archaeological resources must follow federal protections and may include responsible stewardship elements.
- Federal Aid for Highways provisions: suggests some projects could intersect with access, transportation, or related infrastructure elements where applicable, consistent with federal rules.
Who was eligible to apply?
Eligibility was limited to nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status, excluding institutions of higher education.
Are universities or colleges eligible if they are nonprofits?
No. The eligibility criteria specifically excluded institutions of higher education.
How many awards did FWS expect to make?
FWS expected to make one award.
What was the maximum award amount?
The maximum (ceiling) amount was $200,000.
How competitive was this opportunity?
It was described as highly competitive, with only one expected award and a defined funding ceiling.
How were applications required to be submitted?
Applications were required to be submitted through Grants.gov.
What was the application deadline?
The deadline was 3:00 p.m. Mountain Daylight Time on September 18, 2019.
When was the opportunity posted?
The opportunity was posted on September 12, 2019.
How long was the application window?
From the posted date (September 12, 2019) to the deadline (September 18, 2019), the application window was very short.
Does the cooperative agreement structure change how the project would be carried out?
Yes. Because it is a cooperative agreement, the recipient would be expected to coordinate closely with FWS during planning and implementation, reflecting a partnership-based approach rather than an independent, recipient-only project model.
Is youth or conservation corps involvement allowed or encouraged?
The inclusion of the Public Lands Corps Act and Youth Conservation Corps authorities signals that projects may involve engaging youth or conservation corps participants in hands-on work, workforce development, and service projects on public lands, where consistent with the project design and refuge needs.
What if a proposed project could affect archaeological or cultural resources?
The announcement referenced the Archaeological Resources Protection Act, indicating that any work intersecting with cultural or archaeological resources must follow federal protections and applicable requirements, and may support responsible stewardship.
Could a project include access, transportation, or infrastructure elements?
The mention of Federal Aid for Highways provisions suggests there may be situations where projects intersect with access, transportation, or related infrastructure elements, where applicable and consistent with federal rules.
What does this funding opportunity appear to prioritize?
Based on the description, it reflects a focused, partnership-based investment intended to strengthen refuge resources and visitor or stewardship outcomes through a single nonprofit-led cooperative project carried out in coordination with FWS.
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