Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Act | F20AS00027

Opportunity Information: Apply for F20AS00027

The Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Act (GLFWRA) funding opportunity, administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Department of the Interior), supports on-the-ground restoration, applied research, and multi-jurisdictional Regional Projects that improve fish and wildlife resources and habitat across the Great Lakes Basin. The core goal is to help states, federally recognized Tribes, and other partners work together on cooperative conservation, restoration, and long-term management of Great Lakes fish and wildlife. Funding for this program is supported in part by the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, and the total amount available for the fiscal year described in the notice is expected to be about $1.38 million, subject to final Congressional appropriations.

Projects fall into three main buckets: restoration projects, research projects, and Regional Projects. Restoration and research awards are intended to directly advance recovery or management outcomes for Great Lakes Basin species and habitats, while Regional Projects are designed to address needs that cut across multiple states or Tribes with fish and wildlife management authority. A key distinction is that Regional Projects are carried out by the Service on behalf of the state and/or Tribal agencies that submit the proposal, reflecting their broader, basin-wide or multi-jurisdictional nature. The notice also sets aside capacity for Regional Projects by allowing up to 33 and one-third percent of the total annual GLFWRA appropriation to be used for that purpose.

Funding levels and timelines are fairly flexible, with past restoration and research awards ranging from roughly $2,300 to $2,000,000, and an average project size around $128,056. The Service anticipated making about 5 to 8 awards in the fiscal year referenced. Project periods are typically 1 to 4 years, allowing both shorter, targeted efforts and longer multi-year workplans. Continuation funding for previously supported efforts can be proposed, but those submissions are treated like new projects and compete through the same review process.

Applicants can come from a wide range of sectors, which is typical for Great Lakes conservation work that often relies on partnerships. Eligible applicants include state, county, city/township, and special district governments; public and private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Tribal governments and other Tribal organizations; nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status; individuals; and for-profit organizations (other than small businesses). The opportunity is listed as discretionary and can be awarded as either a grant or a cooperative agreement, depending on the level of federal involvement planned for the specific project.

A major program requirement is cost sharing. Standard restoration and research projects require a 25 percent non-federal match. Regional Projects may be exempt from cost sharing if the Service Midwest Region Director determines that the project authorization does not require a non-federal share. The notice highlights that the 2016 reauthorization of the GLFWRA broadened what can count toward match, including changes related to the eligible time period for match and the treatment of land and conservation easements, with the detailed rules contained in the formal Notice of Funding Opportunity.

The application process uses an initial screening step for most applicants. Prospective restoration and research applicants first submit a short, two-page pre-proposal to the Service. Regional Project proposals are also submitted at this stage. After review, selected restoration and research applicants are invited to submit full proposals. Full proposals are evaluated and ranked by a Proposal Review Committee, and final selections (including Regional Projects chosen for funding) result in awards that cover the approved project duration.

For awards made as cooperative agreements, the Service signals that it expects to be substantially involved in implementation rather than acting only as a pass-through funder. That involvement can include close collaboration on carrying out the scope of work; training recipient personnel or assigning federal staff to the project; staged approvals where one phase must be accepted before the next begins; review and approval of modifications or subawards; participation in selecting project staff or trainees; redirecting work to account for interrelationships with other projects; stopping activities if performance specifications are not met; and generally limiting recipient discretion through close monitoring and operational engagement during the award period.

Key administrative details in the listing include the funding opportunity number (F20AS00027), CFDA numbers 15.608 and 15.662, and a pre-proposal/Regional Project proposal deadline of January 7, 2020 at 5:00 PM Eastern. The Service indicates that proposals submitted after the deadline will not be considered and that receipt confirmation is sent by email. Awards are made available once the award letter is received, meaning applicants should plan for a formal notification and acceptance process before spending can begin.

• The Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service in the environment, natural resources, science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Act" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.608, 15.662.
• This funding opportunity was created on Oct 31, 2019.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Jan 07, 2020 Pre-proposals and Regional Project proposals are due Tuesday, January 7, 2020 by 500 PM EST. An email will be sent to confirm receipt of all proposals. Pre-proposals and Regional Project proposals received after this deadline will not be considered.. (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 $1,380,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 8 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, Individuals, For profit organizations other than small businesses.

Apply for F20AS00027

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