F25AS00286 FY 2025 Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund Traditional Conservation Grants Program Region 5

Only State agencies that have entered into a cooperative agreement with FWS pursuant to section 6(c) of the ESA or enters into/reconfirms such an agreement within 30 days of the application deadline are eligible to apply under this Funding Opportunity. FWS requires a complete, signed cooperative agreement before it can obligate Federal funds to a project [50 CFR 81.3, 50 CFR 81.5, 43 CFR 12.50(b)(3)]. While funding can only be granted to States, individuals or groups (for example counties or conservation organizations) may work with a State agency that has a cooperative agreement on conservation efforts that are mutually beneficial, as a subgrantee.To be eligible for consideration, applicants must seek funding to conduct conservation work on federally listed resident species currently included in the State"s section 6 cooperative agreement. States may also apply for funding to monitor any species that has become a candidate or eligible unlisted species by the application deadline or has been delisted due to recovery within the last five years.Projects must involve voluntary conservation efforts within the United States. Projects within a grant must be consistent with approved or draft species recovery plans. In no case will proposed work be in conflict with approved recovery plans [50 CFR 81.2].A permit from the Regional Director may be required if a project within a grant involves taking, transporting across State lines, introduction into an area beyond its historical range, or holding wildlife in captivity for more than 45 days. If you anticipate any of these activities, you must submit an Environmental Assessment to the Regional Director before we will grant a permit [50 CFR 81.9, 43 CFR 12.50(b)(3)].Neither the Federal funds awarded through this Funding Opportunity, nor the associated non-Federal cost share, may be used to satisfy regulatory requirements of the ESA, including complying with a biological opinion under section 7, fulfilling Federal mitigation, minimization, and/or monitoring requirements of a habitat conservation plan permitted under section 10, or any other Federal regulatory mitigation requirement (e.g., mitigation for Clean Water Act permits).An application cannot include FWS Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) costs.State administrative costs must either be assumed by the State or included in the proposal in accordance with Federal requirements.Generally, only expenses incurred and budgeted during the period of performance are reimbursable; the period of performance begins with the effective date established at the time the grant is approved. However, a State may request reimbursement of pre-award costs for certain necessary expenses detailed in the grant application. Pre-award costs are those incurred prior to the approval of the grant where such costs are necessary to comply with the proposed period of performance. Such costs are allowable only if the grant is awarded, only to the extent that they would have been allowable if incurred after the date of the award, and only with the written approval of the awarding agency (2 CFR 200.458).Applications may address new or ongoing species conservation work. Projects supporting ongoing work in which the scope, objectives, and expected outcomes remain consistent over time are considered continuation projects. Applications for continuation projects must include a brief discussion of accomplishments to date and a justification for the continuation in the Project Narrative.Land acquisition is not eligible for consideration under this Funding Opportunity.