F27AS00008-NAWCA 2027-1 US Standard Grants

This document provides comprehensive application instructions for the FY2027 U.S. Standard Grants program under the North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA), designated as solicitation F27AS00008-NAWCA 2027-1 US. Administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) Program Office, the grant program funds long-term wetlands and migratory bird habitat conservation projects. The application deadline for Cycle 1 is September 25, 2026, with proposals submitted through GrantSolutions. The instructions outline mandatory proposal components, including a Principal Investigator's page, a two-page Proposal Summary, a detailed Financial Plan Table, a highly structured Work Plan, a Tract Table, and responses to seven Technical Assessment Questions (TAQs). Key requirements include strict adherence to formatting rules (Times New Roman, 11-point font, 1-inch margins) to avoid automatic ineligibility, and securing a Unique Entity ID (UEI) via an active SAM.gov registration. Notable updates for FY2027 include the renaming of the "Project Officer" title to "Principal Investigator," the transition of the DBHC to the "FWS Program Office," mandatory pre-award cost justification tables, and specific tract map guidelines requiring explicit activity and acreage details. Applicants are strongly encouraged to coordinate with regional Migratory Bird Joint Ventures for technical guidance and ranking support. Proposals are evaluated and scored based on their ecological benefits to waterfowl, other wetland-associated migratory birds, endangered species, and the strength of their partner match contributions.

This document provides the official application instructions and proposal guidelines for the Fiscal Year 2027 U.S. Standard Grants program under the North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA), administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) Program Office. Authorized by the North American Wetlands Conservation Act (16 USC Ch. 64), the program supports long-term wetlands and migratory bird habitat conservation. Eligible non-federal entities must submit their proposals through GrantSolutions by September 25, 2026, for Cycle 1, while federal applicants must email their submissions directly to the FWS. Key application components include the Principal Investigator’s Page, a two-page Proposal Summary, a detailed Financial Plan Table, a structured Work Plan, a Tract Table with central latitude/longitude coordinates, and responses to seven Technical Assessment Questions (subject to a strict 14-page limit). Notable updates for this cycle include renaming the "Project Officer" title to "Principal Investigator," transitioning the Division of Bird Habitat Conservation (DBHC) to the FWS Program Office, requiring detailed pre-award cost tables, and mandate of clear tract maps showing specific acreages and activities. To ensure eligibility, proposals must adhere strictly to the formatting templates, preserve standard fonts and margins, and demonstrate a minimum 1-to-1 match of non-federal funds to requested grant funds. Applicants are highly encouraged to coordinate with local Migratory Bird Joint Ventures to assist with biological data and proposal ranking.

This document provides the official application instructions and guidelines for the Fiscal Year 2027-1 U.S. Standard Grants program (Announcement F27AS00008) under the North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA). Administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) Program Office, the grant program supports long-term wetlands and migratory bird habitat conservation projects. The application deadline is September 25, 2026. Non-federal applicants must apply through GrantSolutions, while federal applicants submit proposals directly via email. The guidelines detail mandatory application components, including the Principal Investigator's Page, a two-page Proposal Summary, a detailed Financial Plan Table, and a structured Work Plan organized by discrete tract activities (e.g., acquisition, restoration, enhancement, and establishment). Key updates for FY2027 include transitioning the "Project Officer" title to "Principal Investigator," requiring a pre-award cost justification table, inserting specific indirect cost rate tables, and mandating the submission of old match property deeds at the time of application. Furthermore, applicants must complete a Tract Table with decimal-degree coordinates and answer seven Technical Assessment Questions (limited to 14 pages) to evaluate benefits to waterfowl, other migratory birds, and endangered species. FWS strongly encourages early coordination with local Migratory Bird Joint Ventures to assist with proposal development and scoring. No-cost registrations on SAM.gov and active Unique Entity IDs (UEI) are required for all applicants.

This document provides comprehensive application instructions for the FY2027 U.S. Standard Grants program under the North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA), designated as announcement F27AS00008-NAWCA 2027-1 US. Administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) Program Office, the program supports long-term wetlands and migratory bird habitat conservation. The application deadline for Cycle 1 is Friday, September 25, 2026. Eligible non-Federal entities must submit applications directly through GrantSolutions, while federal applicants submit via email. A complete application requires standard federal forms (SF-424, SF-424A, SF-LLL), a Project Abstract Summary, and a detailed project narrative formatted according to the official Proposal Outline Template. Key proposal components include: * **Principal Investigator’s Page:** Contains project metadata, conflict of interest disclosures, and pre-award cost justifications. * **Proposal Summary:** A strict two-page stand-alone narrative detailing project goals, partners, and habitat activities. * **Financial Plan and Tract Tables:** Detail project costs, matching/non-matching partner contributions, and precise tract-by-tract geographic and titleholder details. * **Work Plan:** Itemizes direct costs, timelines, acquisition disclosures, and specific management lifespans for each tract. * **Technical Assessment Questions:** A maximum 14-page section answering seven criteria questions to evaluate the proposal’s biological benefits to waterfowl and other migratory birds. Strict adherence to formatting guidelines, including font sizes, margins, and unencrypted PDF submissions, is required for eligibility. Applicants are highly encouraged to coordinate with local Migratory Bird Joint Ventures during proposal development.

This document provides comprehensive application instructions for the FY2027 U.S. Standard Grants program under the North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA), designated as announcement F27AS00008-NAWCA 2027-1 US. Administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) Program Office, the grant program supports long-term wetlands and migratory bird habitat conservation. The application deadline is September 25, 2026. Applicants must submit proposals through GrantSolutions. Non-Federal entities failing to use this portal will be deemed ineligible, while Federal applicants must email their forms. Key structural changes from previous years include renaming the "Project Officer" to "Principal Investigator" (PI), updating tract map requirements, mandating a detailed pre-award cost statement table, and requiring indirect cost rate tables below the financial plan. The proposal packages must adhere strictly to formatting limits and include: - A Principal Investigator's Page (the mandatory first page certifying eligibility and scientific integrity). - A concise, 2-page Proposal Summary detailing counties, Joint Ventures, Bird Conservation Regions, matching partners, and public benefits. - A Financial Plan Table matching all grant, old/new match, and indirect costs. - A Work Plan structured by tract-specific activities (acquisition, restoration, enhancement, or establishment) and land disclosures. - A Tract Table and Final Titleholder Summary with central tract coordinates. - Seven Technical Assessment Questions (14-page limit) evaluating habitat benefits to waterfowl and other migratory birds. Applicants are strongly encouraged to coordinate with local Migratory Bird Joint Ventures for technical assistance and proposal ranking.

This document outlines the application instructions and guidelines for the Fiscal Year 2027 U.S. Standard Grants program under the North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA), designated under funding opportunity F27AS00008-NAWCA 2027-1 US. Administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) Program Office, the grant program supports long-term wetlands and migratory bird habitat conservation projects. The application deadline for Cycle 1 is September 25, 2026, and all non-federal entities must submit their proposals through GrantSolutions. Key instructions emphasize strict formatting compliance, including mandatory margins, Times New Roman 11-point font, and a maximum 14-page limit for the seven Technical Assessment Questions (TAQs). Applications must include a Principal Investigator’s page, a two-page Proposal Summary, a Financial Plan Table, a Work Plan, and a Tract Table with decimal degree coordinates. The guidelines highlight important changes, such as renaming the "Project Officer" to "Principal Investigator," requiring a pre-award cost justification table, and mandating that deeds, easements, or fee titles for old match acquisitions be submitted at the time of application. Additionally, applicants are strongly encouraged to coordinate with regional Migratory Bird Joint Ventures to assist with scoring and proposal development. Funding proposals must detail grant and eligible partner match funds (categorized as old or new match), while entirely non-match tracts must be excluded. The document also details policies regarding scientific integrity, conflict of interest disclosures, and the submission of GIS shapefiles via email.