Opportunity Information: Apply for F23AS00127
The Fish and Wildlife Service opportunity F23AS00127, titled Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund: Conservation Planning Assistance (CFDA 15.615), is a discretionary grant program aimed at helping state governments build the planning groundwork needed to conserve species and comply with the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The core purpose is to fund the development of conservation agreements and plans that reduce threats to species and provide a clear framework for managing impacts to wildlife and habitat over time, especially in situations where projects, land use changes, or other activities could affect protected species.
The program specifically supports states in creating new Habitat Conservation Plans (HCPs), Safe Harbor Agreements (SHAs), and Candidate Conservation Agreements with Assurances (CCAAs). It also allows funding to renew, amend, or update existing HCPs, SHAs, and CCAAs, which is important when conditions change, new data becomes available, covered activities expand, or conservation strategies need to be adjusted. A notable feature is that the grant can fund HCPs focused only on candidate or other at-risk species that are not yet federally listed. That means a state can help put a plan in place ahead of a possible listing, so conservation measures and permitting pathways are ready if the species later gains ESA protection.
Eligible costs are centered on the practical planning work required to produce these agreements and plans. This includes preparing planning and technical documents, conducting public outreach and stakeholder engagement, and completing foundational science and data collection such as baseline species surveys, habitat assessments, and habitat or resource inventories. The program also recognizes that conservation planning often triggers environmental compliance responsibilities, so it allows grant funds to be used to prepare environmental review and compliance documentation required under laws like the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA). In short, the funding is designed to cover the up-front analytical, coordination, and documentation steps needed to create defensible, implementable conservation plans and agreements.
Only state agencies are eligible applicants, and eligibility is narrower than simply being a state government entity. To apply, a state agency must have an active Cooperative Agreement under ESA Section 6(c) and must also have provided the necessary information for annual renewal or reconfirmation of that cooperative agreement. Applications from entities that do not meet both requirements are not considered. While awards can only go directly to states, the program anticipates partnerships: local governments, counties, conservation organizations, and other groups can still participate by working with an eligible state agency as subgrantees on mutually beneficial conservation planning efforts.
From the opportunity details provided, the funding instrument is a grant, the activity category is environment, and the administering agency is the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The opportunity was created on December 22, 2022, with an original closing date of March 2, 2023. The listed award ceiling is up to $1,000,000, indicating that individual awards can be substantial enough to support multi-step planning processes, technical analyses, and compliance documentation typically required for HCPs and related agreements.Apply for F23AS00127
- The Fish and Wildlife Service in the environment sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "F23AS00127 Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund: Conservation Planning Assistance" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.615.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2022-12-22.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2023-03-02. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $1,000,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: State governments.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the name and number of this grant opportunity?
The opportunity is Fish and Wildlife Service opportunity F23AS00127, titled "Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund: Conservation Planning Assistance (CFDA 15.615)."
Which federal agency administers this program?
The administering agency is the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
What type of funding instrument is used?
The funding instrument is a discretionary grant.
What is the program trying to accomplish?
The program is intended to help state governments build the conservation planning groundwork needed to conserve species and comply with the Endangered Species Act (ESA). It focuses on funding the development, renewal, amendment, or updating of conservation agreements and plans that reduce threats to species and create a clear framework for managing impacts to wildlife and habitat over time.
What kinds of conservation planning products can be funded?
The program supports states in creating new Habitat Conservation Plans (HCPs), Safe Harbor Agreements (SHAs), and Candidate Conservation Agreements with Assurances (CCAAs). It can also fund the renewal, amendment, or updating of existing HCPs, SHAs, and CCAAs.
Can this grant be used to update or amend an existing plan or agreement?
Yes. Funding may be used to renew, amend, or update existing HCPs, SHAs, and CCAAs, including when conditions change, new data becomes available, covered activities expand, or conservation strategies need to be adjusted.
Can grant funds support planning for species that are not federally listed yet?
Yes. A notable feature of this opportunity is that it can fund HCPs focused only on candidate or other at-risk species that are not yet federally listed, allowing planning to occur ahead of a potential future listing.
Why would a state plan for candidate or at-risk species before they are listed?
Based on the opportunity description, planning ahead can help put conservation measures and permitting pathways in place so the state is better prepared if a species later gains ESA protection.
What types of costs are considered eligible under this program?
Eligible costs are focused on the practical planning work needed to produce the conservation agreements and plans. This includes preparing planning and technical documents, conducting public outreach and stakeholder engagement, and completing foundational science and data collection efforts such as baseline species surveys, habitat assessments, and habitat or resource inventories.
Does the grant support public outreach and stakeholder engagement?
Yes. The opportunity explicitly includes public outreach and stakeholder engagement as eligible planning-related activities.
Can the grant pay for baseline scientific work like surveys and inventories?
Yes. The opportunity allows foundational science and data collection, including baseline species surveys, habitat assessments, and habitat or resource inventories.
Can the grant be used for NEPA or NHPA compliance documentation?
Yes. The program recognizes that conservation planning may trigger environmental compliance responsibilities and allows funds to be used to prepare environmental review and compliance documentation required under laws such as the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA).
Who is eligible to apply for this grant?
Only state agencies are eligible applicants, and they must meet specific eligibility requirements related to ESA Section 6(c).
What specific requirements must a state agency meet to be eligible?
To apply, a state agency must (1) have an active Cooperative Agreement under ESA Section 6(c) and (2) have provided the necessary information for annual renewal or reconfirmation of that cooperative agreement. Applications from entities that do not meet both requirements are not considered.
Can local governments, counties, or nonprofits apply directly?
No. Awards can only go directly to eligible state agencies. However, the program anticipates partnerships, and local governments, counties, conservation organizations, and other groups may participate by working with an eligible state agency as subgrantees on conservation planning efforts.
How can non-state partners participate if they cannot apply directly?
They can work with an eligible state agency as subgrantees on mutually beneficial conservation planning efforts, as described in the opportunity information.
What is the activity category for this opportunity?
The activity category is environment.
What is the maximum award amount?
The listed award ceiling is up to $1,000,000.
When was this opportunity created?
The opportunity was created on December 22, 2022.
What was the original closing date?
The original closing date was March 2, 2023.
What kinds of situations is this funding meant to address?
The funding is aimed at situations where projects, land use changes, or other activities could affect protected species, by supporting plans and agreements that reduce threats and provide a framework for managing impacts to wildlife and habitat over time.
What is the general focus of the funded work: implementation or planning?
Based on the description provided, the focus is on up-front conservation planning work (analysis, coordination, documentation, and compliance-related preparation) needed to create defensible, implementable conservation plans and agreements.
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