Pinellas County Environmental Fund
Request for Proposals
Background
The Pinellas County Environmental Fund (PCEF) is a unique partnership
between the Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners, the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and the National Fish and
Wildlife Foundation. These three groups share the common goals of
actively pursuing the protection, restoration, and enhancement of Tampa
Bay’s natural resources. PCEF is funded by the Pinellas County
Board of County Commissioners and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration. The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation administers
all grant awards on behalf of PCEF.
PCEF provides funding through a competitive application process for
projects that will protect, restore, or enhance the natural resources of
Tampa Bay. Projects of particular interest
include those that address the on-the-ground habitat and
species conservation priorities and recommendations outlined in the
Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan (CCMP) for Tampa
Bay, Charting the Course, a plan developed through the
Tampa Bay Estuary Program and its related partnerships.
Funding Availability
Approximately $500,000 is available for 2009.
Geographic Scope
Pinellas County and the Tampa Bay Watershed.
View location eligibility map.
Eligible Applicants
Local, state, and federal government; non-profit organizations;
educational institutions; and private firms.
Grant Size
Minimum grant size is $35,000.
General Funding Priorities
Preference will be given to projects that include the following:
- Measurable conservation outcomes linked to project activities (i.e.
restore 10 acres of salt marsh);
- Activities consistent with the priorities and goals of the CCMP (Charting
the Course);
- Education, training, and public outreach components to enhance the
community benefits of the project (See the PCEF 2003 Environmental Education Survey);
- Creation of new partnerships and innovative solutions to natural
resource challenges in Tampa Bay; and
- Specific provisions for long-term maintenance, management and
protection, as appropriate.
Specific Funding Priorities
Projects will be considered under PCEF that:
- Result in direct and
measurable conservation benefits through restoration, protection, or
enhancement of the following habitats:
- Low salinity tidal
marshes, to address the CCMP goal of restoring at
least 100 acres of low-salinity tidal marsh every five
years;
- Salt marshes and
mangroves, to address the CCMP goal of preserving
and enhancing the bay’s 18,800 acres of existing mangrove/salt
marsh habitats;
- Freshwater wetlands and tidal
streams;
- Coastal upland
habitat;
- Seagrasses, to address
the CCMP goal of recovering an additional 10,976
acres of seagrass over 2004 levels, while preserving the bay’s
existing grass beds and reducing propeller scarring of
seagrasses.
- Benefit declining, threatened
or endangered species at the state or federal level or as identified in
the CCMP, through addressing long term solutions to the conservation of
a species and/or restoring associated habitat.
- Develop community stewardship
through hands-on participation/volunteerism and/or innovative education
and outreach associated with the project.
- Applied research that
will address habitat restoration or species recovery needs of the
above-listed priorities will be considered. Conservation need,
dissemination of results to on-the-ground practitioners, and
demonstration of how results will be used effectively by management
agencies must be addressed. Please note: Proposals entirely focused on
research will not be accepted.
How to Submit Application
Applicants should log on to the Foundation’s on-line application
system, Easygrants, and select the Pinellas County Environmental
Fund funding opportunity. Only electronic pre-proposals will be
considered. Upon receipt and evaluation of the pre-proposal, the
Foundation will invite successful applicants to submit a full proposal.
If invited for a full proposal, applicants will be required to solicit
peer-review of their proposal by up to five qualified and objective
reviewers. The Foundation also retains the right to require additional
peer-review of proposals by external experts.
Deadline for Application
Pre-proposals are due January 15, 2009. Late
applications will not be accepted. Only electronic pre-proposals
submitted through the Foundation’s online application will be
considered. Applicants invited to submit full proposals must submit them
through the online system by March 15, 2009.
Additional Application Information
Technical Assistance
Applicants for restoration funds are strongly encouraged to
contact Daphne
Macfarlan at NOAA to discuss their restoration projects
before submitting proposals, and to incorporate technical assistance
into your projects as appropriate.
Time Period for Project Completion
Projects should be completed within one year to 24 months upon
receipt of the grant award letter. Project start and end dates should
include the period during which all proposed work is accomplished, all
requested funds are spent, and all matching funds are spent. We
understand a grant may only cover one part of a project which has
multiple parts. However, the part of the project you are applying for
must be completed in that time period.
A recipient may choose to back-date the start date of their project
up to one year prior to NFWF’s receipt of a pre-proposal.
If the funding request is only for a phase of a larger project,
please place the portion of the project that is the subject of the
funding request in context with the larger project by stating the goals,
outcomes, and timelines for both the funding request portion and the
larger project overall (and the extent to which the funding request will
help achieve the overall project goals).
Match
Projects require a minimum 1:1 match of non-federal funds or
contributed goods and services (in-kind). The ratio of matching funds
offered by the applicant is one criterion considered during the review
process. Match raised by the grantee up to one year prior to the
pre-proposal deadline is eligible. To be eligible, matching
contributions must be:
• Raised and dedicated specifically towards the project;
• Voluntary in nature (mitigation, restitution, or other
permit or court-ordered settlements are ineligible for use as match);
and
• Applied only to the Foundation's grant to your organization
and not used for other federal matching programs.
• The cost of recent land acquisitions may also qualify as
match for a project involving work at that site. Applicants may also
include an easement put on the land, if this occurs during the award
period.
Please note, waiver of university indirect and/or general administrative
overhead costs are not eligible for match.
Monitoring
Projects are encouraged to include pre- and post- project monitoring
as part of the project plan. For monitoring guidance, see NOAA’s
monitoring planner.
Permit and NEPA Requirements
It is very important that you provide sufficient documentation that,
if appropriate, demonstrates you are pursuing, expect to receive or have
received all necessary permits and clearances for your project to comply
with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), Endangered Species
Act, and any other Federal, State, or local regulations or
ordinances. Those projects awarded NOAA funding must comply with
NEPA before NFWF will release funding. NEPA review considers all
potential impacts on the human environment. For more information
on NEPA, please visit NOAA’s website.
Restrictions
Grant funds cannot be used for political advocacy, fundraising,
lobbying or litigation activities or to support projects resulting from
legally mandated mitigation projects. The Foundation cannot
provide funds for general administrative overhead or indirect
expenses.
Additional Questions
PCEF Questions and Application Assistance
Suzanne Sessine
National Fish and Wildlife Foundation
(202) 857-0166
suzanne.sessine@nfwf.org
Technical Project Assistance
Daphne Macfarlan
NOAA Community-based Program
(727) 824-5384
daphne.macfarlan@noaa.gov
Please view the Special
Instructions for PCEF Application Narrative for more
information.
Information on previously funded projects is available in the PCEF annual report.
Related Links
Apply for a PCEF grant.
Special Instructions for PCEF Application Narrative
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