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| 15.647 MIGRATORY BIRD CONSERVATION |
| FEDERAL AGENCY |
| FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR |
| AUTHORIZATION |
| Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956, as amended, 16 U.S.C. 742a-754; Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act of 1958, 16 U.S.C.661-667(e); Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act, 16 U.S.C. 2901-2911; and Migratory Bird Treaty Act, 16 U.S.C. 709a. |
| OBJECTIVES |
| To maintain and enhance populations and habitats of migratory bird species found in the Upper Midwest (IL, IN, IA, MI, MN, MO, OH, WI). |
| TYPES OF ASSISTANCE |
| Project Grants; Direct Payments for Specified Use. |
| USES AND USE RESTRICTIONS |
| Grants and payments may be used for the conservation of any bird species protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and occurring in the Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) Region 3 (Upper Midwest, including IL, IN, IA, MI, MN, MO, OH, and WI). Special emphasis will be placed on the bird species listed in USFWS Region 3's Fish and Wildlife Resource Conservation Priorities document (http://www.fws.gov/midwest/News/documents/priority.pdf) as these species are experiencing known or suspected population declines, are recreationally important, or are causing biological or social conflicts. Implementing national, regional, and flyway bird conservation plans, including the Partners in Flight North American Landbird Conservation Plan (http://www.partnersinflight.org), U.S. Shorebird Conservation Plan (http://shorebirdplan.fws.gov), North American Waterbird Conservation Plan (http://www.waterbirdconservation.org), North American Waterfowl Management Plan (http://www.fws.gov/birdhabitat/NAWMP/index.shtm), and Mississippi Flyway waterfowl management plans, is the FWS's highest priority, and proposals related to the priorities identified in these plans and Bird Conservation Region and state-level bird conservation planning efforts will receive the greatest funding consideration. Proposals should address one or more of the following activities: (a) Population surveys and monitoring to determine the status, trends, and distribution of bird species and groups of concern. Emphasis will be placed on landscape-level applications of standardized inventory and monitoring protocols (e.g., Breeding Bird Atlases, national marshbird call playback surveys). Local-scale monitoring (e.g., local land management units) activities will generally not be a focus of this grant program; (b) Applied research, including studies of habitat requirements, limiting factors, and population responses to habitat conservation activities; development of new monitoring techniques and programs for poorly-surveyed species; and use of Geographic Information Systems, bird habitat modeling, and similar tools to identify bird habitat focus areas and further bird conservation planning efforts; (c) Compilation of technical information, such as status reviews of bird species of concern and development of habitat management and restoration guidelines. |
| Applicant Eligibility |
| Federal, State and local government agencies; Federally-recognized Indian Tribal governments; private nonprofit institutions/organizations; and public nonprofit institutions/organizations. |
| Beneficiary Eligibility |
| Federal, State and local government agencies; Federally-recognized Indian Tribal governments; private nonprofit institutions/organizations; public nonprofit institutions/organizations; and general public. |
| Credentials/Documentation |
| None. |
| Preapplication Coordination |
| None. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372. |
| Application Procedure |
| The standard SF 424 Application for Federal Assistance is required. A written proposal should be submitted that includes: a title, justification (including relevance to the Fish and Wildlife Service's priorities as outlined above), objectives, methodology and study design, time frame, budget breakdown, and list of cooperators and their contributions. Note that the FWS may circulate proposals to others for review. |
| Award Procedure |
| The Regional Migratory Bird Program Chief convenes a committee of FWS biologists to review, rank, and select proposals for funding. Once a proposal is accepted, a grant agreement is written and work can begin. |
| Deadlines |
| Contact the Regional Office for application deadlines. Funding decisions are made at least annually. |
| Range of Approval/Disapproval Time |
| Decisions on funding of a proposal are usually made no later than 180 days after receipt of the proposal. |
| Appeals |
| Not applicable. |
| Renewals |
| A grant agreement may be modified at the discretion of the Regional Office. |
| Formula and Matching Requirements |
| This program has no statutory formula. |
| Length and Time Phasing of Assistance |
| Unless a project is extended, awarded funds must be spent during the approved Period of Performance of the grant agreement and in accordance with financial and reporting procedures specified in the agreement. Grants are normally written for a period of 1 to 5 years and payments can be made in a lump sum or on a periodic basis. |
| Reports |
| All projects and activities are monitored for progress and compliance with agreed upon scope of work. Written progress, final reports, and SF 269 Financial Status Report on the project are generally required. |
| Audits |
| None. |
| Records |
| None. |
| Account Identification |
| 14-1611-0-1-303. |
| Obligations |
| FY 07 $250,500; FY 08 est. $365,800; and FY 09 est. $200,000. |
| Range and Average of Financial Assistance |
| $7,600 to $41,800; $17,400 average in FY 08. |
| PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS |
| USFWS Region 3 has provided small grants to cooperators for migratory bird conservation projects since the late 1980s. These projects have addressed the general activities outlined under the Uses section (070) above. The number of projects funded and dollars provided varies annually, depending upon annual appropriations and other program priorities. In FY 2007, Region 3 received 30 proposals requesting $576,100 and was able to fund 9 of the proposals for $250,500. In FY 2008, Region 3 received 32 proposals requesting $583,400, and was able to fund 21 proposals for $365,800. In FY 2009, we estimate that a maximum of $200,000 will be available for small grants from the Region's migratory bird program budget. |
| REGULATIONS, GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE |
| None. |
| Regional or Local Office |
| Steve Lewis, Division of Migratory Birds, Fish and Wildlife Service, 1 Federal Drive, Fort Snelling, MN 55111-4056; Telephone: (612) 713-5473; Fax: (612) 713-5393; E-mail: steve_j_lewis@fws.gov. Sean Kelly, same address; Telephone: (612) 713-5470; Fax: (612) 713-5393; E-mail: sean_kelly@fws.gov. |
| Headquarters Office |
| None. |
| Web Site Address |
| http://www.fws.gov/midwest/midwestbird |
| RELATED PROGRAMS |
| 15.637, Migratory Bird Joint Ventures. |
| EXAMPLES OF FUNDED PROJECTS |
| Activities related to the implementation of national, regional, and flyway bird conservation plans, including the Partners in Flight North American Landbird Conservation Plan (http://www.partnersinflight.org), U.S. Shorebird Conservation Plan (http://shorebirdplan.fws.gov), North American Waterbird Conservation Plan (http://www.waterbirdconservation.org), North American Waterfowl Management Plan (http://www.fws.gov/birdhabitat/NAWMP/index.shtm), and Mississippi Flyway waterfowl management plans; population surveys and monitoring to determine the status, trends, and distribution of bird species and groups of concern; applied research, including studies of habitat requirements, limiting factors, and population responses to habitat conservation activities, development of new monitoring techniques for poorly-surveyed species, and use of Geographic Information Systems, bird habitat modeling, and similar tools to identify bird habitat focus areas; and compilation of technical information, such as status reviews and conservation plans for bird species of concern and development of habitat management and restoration guidelines. |
| CRITERIA FOR SELECTING PROPOSALS |
| Proposals will be reviewed to determine how well they address the migratory bird program priorities outlined above, including relevance to bird conservation plan priorities, Resource Conservation Priority species, and the bird conservation activities listed above. Proposals will also be evaluated for their biological and statistical soundness, feasibility, geographic scope of applicability, and cost effectiveness. Projects involving matching funds, in-kind services, materials, and equipment from other agencies and organizations will be given greater consideration for funding than similar projects without matching resources. |
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General Services Administration Office of Chief Acquisition Officer Regulatory and Federal Assistance Division (VIR) |
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