Fish and Wildlife Management Assistance | F19AS00304

Opportunity Information: Apply for F19AS00304

The Fish and Wildlife Management Assistance opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number F19AS00304) was a U.S. Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service discretionary grant offered as a cooperative agreement under CFDA 15.608 (Natural Resources). In practical terms, it was designed to support on-the-ground fish and wildlife management work carried out in partnership with the Service, with the cooperative agreement structure signaling that the agency expected to be actively involved during the project rather than simply providing funds and stepping back. The program sits within a broad legal framework that authorizes federal assistance and coordination on fish and wildlife conservation, habitat protection, and related management activities.

The stated authorities behind the opportunity span multiple major conservation and wildlife statutes. These include the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act (16 U.S.C. 661-666), which emphasizes integrating fish and wildlife conservation into water-resource development and other federal actions; the Fish and Wildlife Act (16 U.S.C. 742 et seq.), a foundational authority for conserving and managing fish and wildlife resources; and the Sikes Act (16 U.S.C. 670a-670o), which supports conservation planning and natural resources management on military lands. It also references the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (16 U.S.C. 3101), which governs conservation and land management priorities in Alaska; the Nonindigenous Aquatic Nuisance Prevention and Control Act (16 U.S.C. 4701-4741), aimed at preventing and controlling invasive aquatic species; the Lacey Act (16 U.S.C. 3376(b)), a key enforcement tool related to illegal wildlife trade and trafficking; the Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Act (16 U.S.C. 941), focused on restoration in the Great Lakes basin; and the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation (WIIN) Act (Public Law 114-322), which includes provisions that can support aquatic ecosystem and water-related improvement efforts. Taken together, these citations indicate the funding could be used for a range of conservation and management assistance activities as long as they aligned with the Fish and Wildlife Service mission and fell within these statutory authorities.

Eligibility for this particular competition was limited to nonprofit organizations with IRS 501(c)(3) status, excluding institutions of higher education. The posting indicated an anticipated single award, with an award ceiling of $215,000. The combination of “Expected Awards: 1” and a defined ceiling suggests it was structured as a targeted, competitive selection for one partner organization to complete a defined scope of work rather than a broad open solicitation meant to fund many projects at smaller amounts.

Timing and submission requirements were specific and short-fused. The opportunity was created on July 19, 2019, with applications due no later than 4:00 p.m. Mountain Daylight Time on July 25, 2019. The preferred submission route was Grants.gov, but email submission was permitted as long as the email was date-stamped by the deadline time. This kind of tight turnaround is typical of certain federal funding actions, especially when an office is trying to align work with a near-term field season, a time-sensitive management need, or an internal obligation to award funds within a set period.

Overall, this opportunity can be understood as a focused Fish and Wildlife Service cooperative agreement intended to fund a single qualified 501(c)(3) partner for management assistance work connected to federal fish and wildlife conservation priorities. The wide range of legal authorities referenced signals flexibility in the kinds of fish and wildlife-related activities that could be supported (for example, habitat and species management, invasive species prevention and control, restoration efforts, or coordination tied to water infrastructure and development), while the cooperative agreement format underscores an expectation of close collaboration and shared implementation between the recipient and the agency.

• The Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Fish and Wildlife Management Assistance" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.608.
• This funding opportunity was created on Jul 19, 2019.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 25, 2019 Applications due NLT 4 p.m. MDT July 25, 2019, preferably via grants.gov (if sent via email, then email must be date stamped by 4 p.m. MDT July 25, 2019).. (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 $215,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education.

Apply for F19AS00304

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