National Wildlife Refuge System Enhancements

 

To provide technical and financial assistance to identify, conserve, manage, and enhance the natural, historical, and cultural resources and physical infrastructure of the National Wildlife Refuge System (NWRS); deliver public access and high-quality outdoor recreational opportunities; build a volunteer cadre, and inspire the next generation of hunters, anglers and wildlife enthusiasts through work on and off NWRS managed lands and waters. This program also encourages coordination and integration of efforts between U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) programs and interested parties to accomplish successful prevention or management of invasive species. Projects must conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife and plants on and off NWRS managed lands for the continuing benefit of the American people.

Active 15.654 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of The Interior B - Project Grants Fiscal Year 2017 Estimated 200 awards Program issued 61 awards.
Fiscal Year 2018 In FY18 the program issued 28 new awards.
Fiscal Year 2019 In FY19 the program funded 54 projects.
Fiscal Year 2020 In FY20 the program issued 58 awards.
Fiscal Year 2021 In FY21 the program issued 98 awards.
Fiscal Year 2022 Program received 79 applications and made 77 awards.
Fiscal Year 2023 Program anticipates receiving 80-90 applications.
Fiscal Year 2024 Program anticipates receiving 80-90 applications. Fish and Wildlife Act—Community partnership enhancement; Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act—Cooperation of agencies; Fish and Wildlife Act—Refuge education program enhancement; National Wildlife Refuge System Admin Act—Administration. Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 – Administrative Provisions (P.L. 117-328 [H.R. 2617-306]); Inflation Reduction Act - Weather Events (Pub. L. 117-169 [H.R. 5376], §60302, 136 STAT. 2079) Applicants may be State and local governments, private, public, nonprofit organizations, institutions and private individuals, which support the mission of the Service. Not applicable. Not applicable. Preapplication coordination is required. This program is eligible for coverage under E.O. 12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs." An applicant should consult the office or official designated as the single point of contact in his or her State for more information on the process the State requires to be followed in applying for assistance, if the State has selected the program for review. 2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards applies to this program. Applications must be submitted through an applicable GrantSolutions Directed Announcement or competitive Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) posted to Grants.gov. Notice of Grant Award (NGA) will be sent electronically to the recipient by GrantSolutions. October 1, 2022 to July 1, 2023 From 60 to 90 days. Awards should be issued within 90 days of application receipt in GrantSolutions. Contact the headquarters or regional office. Not applicable. Applications will be scored and selected based on the following criteria: 1) Cost: demonstrated through cost presentation in Project Narrative and Budget; 2) Organizational Capacity: demonstrated ability/capacity to work cooperatively with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to identify, conserve, manage and enhance the physical and ecological infrastructure of the NWRS; 3) Unique qualifications: Demonstration of unique qualifications to engage in this partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Additional application criteria will be available in the applicable Directed Announcement in GrantSolutions. Funds may be used for approved activities that support the objectives of the Department of the Interior (DOI) and the National Wildlife Refuge System (NWRS). Awards issued under this program will support NWRS efforts to effectively engage with the visiting public, enhance visitor services, improve facilities, manage invasive species on and off NWRS managed lands, and support priority public uses such as hiking, fishing, boating, wildlife observation, and photography. Program awards endeavor to leverage funds with local industries and community organizations to conduct on-the-ground projects that support shared conservation goals and reduce barriers to outdoor recreation. Performance Reports: Performance reports are required. Recipients must monitor and report on project performance in accordance with the requirements in 2 CFR 200.329. The final performance report is due within 120 calendar days of the award period of performance end date, unless the awarding program approves a due date extension. The FWS details all reporting requirements including frequency and due dates in Notices of Award. Not applicable. Recipients will maintain records in accordance with 2 CFR 200. Program-specific legislation/regulation may dictate additional records retention requirements. Program will detail all non-standard records retention requirements in the notice of award. Statutory formula is not applicable to this assistance listing.

Matching is voluntary. No matching is required; however, matching funds are encouraged.

MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing. The release of assistance funds may vary depending upon the recipient. Regional Office staff can explain procedures for requiring either lump sum or quarterly payment methods. Typically funding will be spent within 1-3 years. Program obligates funds and sends a notice of award to successful applicants. Recipients request funds in accordance with 2 CFR 200, Subpart E-Cost Principles, unless otherwise dictated by program-specific legislation or special award terms. Program will include any special payment terms and conditions in the notice of award. Please visit www.fws.gov/refuges to locate the Regional and Local Office contacts. Robert Williams, Facility Operations Specialist
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior, 5275 Leesburg Pike, MS: NWRS
Falls Church, VA 22041 US
robert_williams@fws.gov
Phone: (703) 358-2249 https://www.fws.gov/program/national-wildlife-refuge-system 14-1611-0-1-302 (Project Grants (Discretionary)) FY 22$24,663,617.00; FY 23 est $24,999,998.00; FY 24 est $26,000,000.00; FY 21$22,000,000.00; FY 20$36,496,000.00; FY 19$78,000,000.00; FY 18$4,100,000.00; FY 17$3,914,671.00; - $2,500 - $26,000,000 Not applicable. Fiscal Year 2017 We will continue these types of partnerships and address other needs supporting wilderness stewardship and the control of invasive species with the support of youth conservation crew and other partners. Program supported partnerships that conducted a key critical inventory and habitat protection for monarchs and pollinators; supported visitor services and recreational programs on national wildlife refuges improving visitor facilities and public access with the support of youth and veterans organizations.
Fiscal Year 2018 Projects funded in FY18 included support for the Urban Waters Urban Refuge Partnership, the NWR System Friends Program, invasive species inventory and monitoring at the Mid-Columbia Refuge Complex, and several trail maintenance and outreach support awards.
Fiscal Year 2019 Program funded projects that supported National Wildlife Refuge System (NWRS) efforts to more effectively engage with the visiting public, improve facilities, manage invasive species, increase access and supports priority uses of NWRS managed land. In addition, this grant program funded disaster recovery projects to restore NWRS infrastructure.
Fiscal Year 2020 Fiscal Year 2020: Program anticipates funding projects that support National Wildlife Refuge System (NWRS) efforts to more effectively engage with the visiting public, improve facilities, manage invasive species, increase access and supports priority uses on and off NWRS managed land.
Fiscal Year 2021 Program has selected projects for funding. Program funded projects that supported National Wildlife Refuge System (NWRS) efforts to effectively engage with the visiting public, improve facilities, manage invasive species, and increased access to priority uses of NWRS managed land.
Fiscal Year 2022 Program selected projects that effectively engaged with the visiting public, promoted stewardship of refuge resources through habitat maintenance, restoration and improvement, biological monitoring, refuge operations and maintenance, supported Urban Refuge community engagement, construction and improvement of refuge facilities, and the publication and distribution of educational materials and products.
Fiscal Year 2023 Program is currently selecting projects for funding. Selected projects will promote engagement with the visiting public, promote stewardship of refuge resources through habitat maintenance, restoration and improvement, biological monitoring, refuge operations and maintenance, support Urban Refuge community engagement, construction and improvement of refuge facilities, and the facilitate the publication and distribution of educational materials and products.
Fiscal Year 2024 Program will select projects for funding. Program anticipates funding projects that will promote engagement with the visiting public, promote stewardship of refuge resources through habitat maintenance, restoration and improvement, biological monitoring, refuge operations and maintenance, support Urban Refuge community engagement, construction and improvement of refuge facilities, and the facilitate the publication and distribution of educational materials and products.