Improving Habitat Quality in Western Big Game Winter Range and Migration Corridors – Spring 2021 Request for Proposals
Full Proposal Due Date: Wednesday, November 18th 2020 by 11:59 PM Eastern Time
Applicant Webinar: Tuesday, October 6th 2020 at 10:30 AM Mountain Time
OVERVIEW
The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) is soliciting proposals for projects that enhance and improve the quality of state-identified, priority big-game winter range, stopover areas, and migration corridors on federal land and/or voluntary efforts on private land. Projects will promote robust, sustainable populations of elk, mule deer and pronghorn and have positive effects on other species present. Current funding for the effort is $3.5 million, major partners include the U.S. Department of Interior Bureau of Land Management (BLM), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program (FWS-PFW), US Forest Service, Microsoft, ConocoPhillips and BNSF Railways.
GEOGRAPHIC FOCUS
Only projects proposed in the state-identified focal areas within Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming will be eligible for funding.
PROGRAM PRIORITIES
All proposals must specifically address how projects will directly address state game and fish (wildlife) department-identified priorities to conserve or restore habitat and measurably contribute to the sustainability of local and regional big-game populations and accomplishment of program priorities which include:
- Restoring degraded priority winter range, stopover areas, and migration corridors by activities identified in the state plans such as removing encroaching trees from sagebrush ecosystems, rehabilitating areas damaged by fire, or treating exotic/invasive vegetation to improve the quality and value of these areas to big game and other wildlife.
- Work cooperatively with private landowners and State highway departments to achieve permissive fencing measures, including potentially modifying (via smooth wire), removing (if no longer necessary), installing if serving to direct big game movement out of harm’s way, or seasonally adapting (seasonal lay down) fencing if proven to impede movement of big game through priority migration corridors.
- Implement measures such as conservation easements and management agreements or other actions to protect bottle necks within corridors and other areas within priority winter range or stopover areas threatened by fragmentation.
- Utilize other proven actions necessary to improve the habitat quality /or restore priority big-game winter range, stopover areas, or migration corridors across the West.
PROJECT METRICS
To better gauge progress on individual grants and to ensure greater consistency of project data provided by multiple grants, the following list of metrics will be provided in Easygrants for full proposal applicants to choose from for future reporting. We ask that applicants select only the most relevant metrics from this list for their project (all possible program metrics are shown in the table below). If you do not believe an applicable metric has been provided, please contact Seth Gallagher (seth.gallagher@nfwf.org) to discuss acceptable alternatives.
| Project Activity | Recommended Metric | Additional Guidance |
| Conservation easements | Acres protected under long-term easement (permanent or >30-yr) | Specify the number of acres protected under long-term easement (permanent or >30-yr) |
| Best Management Practices (BMP) implementation for fencing improvements | Miles of fencing improved | Specify the number of miles of fencing improved |
| BMP implementation for fencing improvements | Miles of fencing removed | |
| BMP implementation for fencing improvements | Miles of migration corridor reconnected | Specify the number of miles of migration corridor reconnected |
| BMP implementation for livestock fencing | Miles of fencing installed | Specify the number of miles of fencing installed |
| BMP implementation for prescribed burns | Acres burned | Specify the number of acres treated through prescribed fire |
| Improved management practices | Acres of private land under improved management | Specify the number of acres under improved management on private lands. |
| Improved management practices | Acres of public land under improved management | Specify the number of acres under improved management on public lands. |
| Land restoration | Acres restored on private land | Specify the number of acres restored |
| Land restoration | Acres restored on public land | Specify the number of acres restored |
| Removal of invasives | Acres restored | Specify the number of acres restored |
| Movement Success | Mule deer passage success rate | Specify pre and estimated post project movement success rates |
ELIGIBILITY
**In order to be considered for funding an application must be accompanied by a letter of support/acknowledgement from the director’s office of the respective state wildlife agency.**
Eligible Entities
- Eligible applicants include non-profit 501(c) organizations, U.S. Federal government agencies, state government agencies, local governments, municipal governments, and Tribal Governments and Organizations.
Ineligible Uses of Grant Funds
- NFWF funds and matching contributions may not be used to support political advocacy, fundraising, lobbying, litigation, terrorist activities or Foreign Corrupt Practices Act violations.
- NFWF funds may not be used to support ongoing efforts to comply with legal requirements, including permit conditions, mitigation and settlement agreements. However, grant funds may be used to support projects that enhance or improve upon existing baseline compliance efforts.
- While federal agency partners are eligible applicants, program funds cannot be applied to federal salary.
- Equipment: Applicants are encouraged to rent equipment where possible and cost-effective or use matching funds to make those purchases. NFWF acknowledges, however, that some projects may only be completed using NFWF funds to procure equipment. If this applies to your project, please contact the program staff listed in this RFP to discuss options.
FUNDING AVAILABILITY AND MATCH
The 2021 Improving Habitat Quality in Western Big Game Winter Range and Migration Corridors RFP has approximately $3.5 million available for the effort. For this round NFWF anticipates awarding six to twelve grants. Grants can range from one to three years in length. A minimum 1:1 non-federal match is required as in-kind or cash contributions. Please see the Applicant Tip Sheet for additional guidance.
Please note, the BLM and FS funds need to be spent on migration corridor projects taking place on or in proximity to BLM and FS lands. US Forest Service funds can only be allocated to projects in states with shared stewardship agreements. The FWS-PFW funds will support migration corridor activities on private and tribal lands. Providing project maps that include state identified priority areas with a general land ownership layer and legend (i.e. BLM, Forest Service, state Lands, private lands) are strongly encouraged.
EVALUATION CRITERIA
All proposals will be screened for relevance, accuracy, completeness and compliance with NFWF and funding source policies. Proposals will then be evaluated based on the extent to which they meet the following criteria.
Program Goals and Priorities – Project contributes to the Program’s overall habitat and species conservation goals, and has specific, quantifiable performance metrics to evaluate project success. Project addresses one or more of the program priorities outlined in the Request for Proposal.
Technical Merit – Project is technically sound and feasible, and the proposal sets forth a clear, logical and achievable work plan and timeline.
Funding Need – Project establishes a clear need for the funds being requested, and demonstrates that activities would not move forward absent funding.
Match – Minimum 1:1 non-federal match is required, projects will be assessed on their ability to meet this minimum criteria as well as their ability to leverage beyond the minimum requirements.
Cost-Effectiveness – Project includes a cost-effective budget that balances performance risk and efficient use of funds. Cost-effectiveness evaluation may include, but is not limited to, an assessment of either or both direct and indirect costs in the proposed budget. The federal government has determined that a de minimis 10% indirect rate is an acceptable minimum for organizations without a NICRA, as such NFWF reserves the right to scrutinize ALL proposals with indirect rates above 10% for cost-effectiveness.
Conservation Plan and Context – The project advances an existing conservation plan, specifically the individual state plan for “Improving Habitat Quality in Western Big-Game Winter Range and Migration Corridors”. Uploading a project map that includes state identified priority areas with a general land ownership layer and legend (i.e. BLM, Forest Service, state Lands, private lands) are strongly encouraged.
Monitoring – Project includes a plan for monitoring progress during and after the proposed project period to track project success and adaptively address new challenges and opportunities as they arise.
Long-term Sustainability – Project will be maintained to ensure benefits are achieved and sustained over time.
Partnership – An appropriate partnership exists to implement the project and the project is supported by a strong local partnership that leverages additional funds and will sustain it after the life of the grant. Identify proposed partners, if known (including potential or contemplated subawards to third party subrecipients of the applicant), the roles they will play in implementing the project, and how this project will build new or enhance existing partnerships. (Note: a project partner is any local community, non-profit organization, tribe, and/or local, state, and federal government agency that contributes to the project in a substantial way and is closely involved in the completion of the project.)
OTHER
Budget – Costs are allowable, reasonable and budgeted in accordance with NFWF’s Budget Instructions cost categories. Federally-funded projects must be in compliance with OMB Uniform Guidance as applicable.
Matching Contributions – Matching Contributions consist of cash, contributed goods and services, volunteer hours, and/or property raised and spent for the Project during the Period of Performance. Larger match ratios and matching fund contributions from a diversity of partners are encouraged and will be more competitive during application review.
Procurement – If the applicant chooses to specifically identify proposed Contractor(s) for Services, an award by NFWF to the applicant does not constitute NFWF’s express written authorization for the applicant to procure such specific services noncompetitively. When procuring goods and services, NFWF recipients must follow documented procurement procedures which reflect applicable laws and regulations.
Publicity and Acknowledgement of Support – Award recipients will be required to grant NFWF the right and authority to publicize the project and NFWF’s financial support for the grant in press releases, publications and other public communications. Recipients may also be asked by NFWF to provide high-resolution (minimum 300 dpi) photographs depicting the project.
Receiving Award Funds – Award payments are primarily reimbursable. Projects may request funds for reimbursement at any time after completing a signed agreement with NFWF. A request of an advance of funds must be due to an imminent need of expenditure and must detail how the funds will be used and provide justification and a timeline for expected disbursement of these funds.
Compliance Requirements – Projects selected may be subject to requirements under the National Environmental Policy Act, Endangered Species Act (state and federal), and National Historic Preservation Act. Documentation of compliance with these regulations must be approved prior to initiating activities that disturb or alter habitat or other features of the project site(s). Applicants should budget time and resources to obtain the needed approvals. As may be applicable, successful applicants may be required to comply with additional Federal, state or local requirements and obtain all necessary permits and clearances.
Permits – Successful applicants will be required to provide sufficient documentation that the project expects to receive or has received all necessary permits and clearances to comply with any Federal, state or local requirements. Where projects involve work in the waters of the United States, NFWF strongly encourages applicants to conduct a permit pre-application meeting with the Army Corps of Engineers prior to submitting their proposal. In some cases, if a permit pre-application meeting has not been completed, NFWF may require successful applicants to complete such a meeting prior to grant award.
TIMELINE
Please check the Western Big Game Program homepage of the NFWF website for the most current dates and information.
| Webinar | Tuesday, October 6th 2020 10:30 am Mountain | |
| Full Proposal Due Date | Wednesday, November 18th 2020, 11:59 PM Eastern | |
| Review Period | December 2020 - January 2021 | |
| Awards Announced | Early March 2021 |
HOW TO APPLY
All application materials must be submitted online through National Fish and Wildlife Foundation’s Easygrants system.
- Go to easygrants.nfwf.org to register in our Easygrants online system. New users to the system will be prompted to register before starting the application (if you already are a registered user, use your existing login). Enter your applicant information. Please disable the pop-up blocker on your internet browser prior to beginning the application process.
- Once on your homepage, click the “Apply for Funding” button and select this RFP’s “Funding Opportunity - Big Game Migrations” from the list of options.
- Follow the instructions in Easygrants to complete your application. Once an application has been started, it may be saved and returned to at a later time for completion and submission.
APPLICATION ASSISTANCE
A PDF version of this RFP can be downloaded here.
A Tip Sheet is available for quick reference while you are working through your application. This document can be downloaded here.
Additional information to support the application process can be accessed on the NFWF website’s Applicant Information page.
For more information or questions about this RFP, please contact:
Seth Gallagher, Program Director, Grasslands and Mountain West, seth.gallagher@nfwf.org
Daley Burns, Regional Program Coordinator, daley.burns@nfwf.org
For issues or assistance with our online Easygrants system, please contact:
Easygrants Helpdesk
Email: Easygrants@nfwf.org
Voicemail: 202-595-2497
Hours: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm ET, Monday-Friday.
Include: your name, proposal ID #, e-mail address, phone number, program you are applying to, and a description of the issue.