Opportunity Information: Apply for F24AS00053
F24AS00053, titled "Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund: Conservation Planning Assistance," is a discretionary grant opportunity from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (CFDA 15.615) aimed at helping states build the planning foundation needed to conserve species and their habitats under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The program focuses on funding the development of conservation planning tools that reduce threats to wildlife and improve long-term management outcomes, especially by supporting structured agreements and plans that guide how conservation and development can move forward together.
The core purpose of the grant is to support states as they develop or improve three main types of conservation planning instruments: Habitat Conservation Plans (HCPs), Safe Harbor Agreements (SHAs), and Candidate Conservation Agreements with Assurances (CCAAs). Funding can be used both for creating new plans and for renewing, amending, or updating existing HCPs, SHAs, and CCAAs. A notable emphasis is that the program also supports HCPs that cover only candidate or other at-risk species (meaning the plan would not include federally listed species). This is meant to encourage proactive planning so that, if a species becomes listed in the future, an established conservation framework is already in place rather than starting from scratch.
Eligible uses of funds are largely the practical, on-the-ground and administrative activities needed to produce a defensible conservation plan or agreement. This includes drafting and preparing documents, conducting public outreach and coordination, carrying out baseline species surveys, completing habitat assessments, and performing inventories that help quantify existing conditions and conservation needs. The grant also explicitly allows funding for environmental compliance documentation, including reviews and analyses required under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA), which are often necessary steps before plans can be finalized or implemented.
Eligibility is limited to state governments, and more specifically to state agencies that have an active Cooperative Agreement under ESA Section 6(c). In addition to having that cooperative agreement in place, the state must also have provided the required information for the annual renewal (reconfirmation) of the agreement. Applications from entities that have not met both of these requirements are not considered. Even though only states can receive awards directly, the opportunity recognizes that conservation planning is often collaborative. Counties, local governments, conservation organizations, and other partners can participate by working with an eligible state agency and may be supported as subgrantees when the work aligns with shared conservation goals.
Administratively, the opportunity is listed as a grant with an award ceiling of $1,000,000. The original closing date for the opportunity was January 5, 2024, and the notice was created on September 26, 2023. Overall, this funding is designed to help states do the front-end technical and compliance work that makes conservation plans credible, implementable, and ready to support permitting and conservation outcomes over time.Apply for F24AS00053
- The Fish and Wildlife Service in the environment sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "F24AS00053 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 2023-09-26.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-01-05. (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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FAQs: F24AS00053 - Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund: Conservation Planning Assistance (CFDA 15.615)
What is grant opportunity F24AS00053?
F24AS00053 is a discretionary grant opportunity from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service under the Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund (CFDA 15.615). It supports states in building the planning foundation needed to conserve species and habitats under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), primarily by funding conservation planning tools and agreements that reduce threats to wildlife and improve long-term management outcomes.
What is the main purpose of this funding?
The main purpose is to help states develop or improve conservation planning instruments that guide how conservation and development can move forward together. The funding targets front-end technical, administrative, and compliance work that makes conservation plans and agreements defensible, credible, and ready to support permitting and long-term conservation results.
Which conservation planning instruments does the program support?
The program focuses on three primary instruments: Habitat Conservation Plans (HCPs), Safe Harbor Agreements (SHAs), and Candidate Conservation Agreements with Assurances (CCAAs).
Can funds be used to create new plans as well as update existing plans?
Yes. Funding can be used both to create new HCPs, SHAs, and CCAAs and to renew, amend, or update existing HCPs, SHAs, and CCAAs.
Does the grant support Habitat Conservation Plans that do not include federally listed species?
Yes. A notable emphasis of this opportunity is that it supports HCPs that cover only candidate species or other at-risk species (meaning the HCP does not include federally listed species). The intent is to encourage proactive planning so a conservation framework is already in place if a species becomes listed in the future.
What kinds of activities are considered eligible uses of funds?
Eligible activities include the practical and administrative steps needed to produce a defensible conservation plan or agreement. Examples listed for this opportunity include drafting and preparing documents, public outreach and coordination, baseline species surveys, habitat assessments, and inventories to quantify existing conditions and conservation needs.
Are baseline species surveys and habitat assessments allowable costs?
Yes. The opportunity explicitly includes baseline species surveys, habitat assessments, and inventories as eligible activities when they support development or improvement of HCPs, SHAs, or CCAAs.
Is public outreach and coordination an eligible activity?
Yes. The opportunity includes conducting public outreach and coordination as an eligible use of funds as part of developing or improving the supported conservation planning instruments.
Can grant funds be used for environmental compliance documentation (NEPA/NHPA)?
Yes. The opportunity explicitly allows funding for environmental compliance documentation, including reviews and analyses required under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA).
Who is eligible to apply for this grant?
Eligibility is limited to state governments, specifically state agencies that have an active Cooperative Agreement under ESA Section 6(c).
Are there additional eligibility requirements beyond being a state agency?
Yes. In addition to having an active ESA Section 6(c) Cooperative Agreement, the state must have provided the required information for the annual renewal (reconfirmation) of that agreement. Applications from entities that have not met both requirements are not considered.
Can counties, local governments, or conservation organizations apply directly?
No. Only eligible state agencies can receive awards directly under this opportunity. However, the program recognizes that conservation planning is collaborative, and other entities may participate by working with an eligible state agency.
Can non-state partners be included as subgrantees?
Yes. The opportunity indicates that counties, local governments, conservation organizations, and other partners may be supported as subgrantees when working with an eligible state agency and when the work aligns with shared conservation goals.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling for this opportunity is $1,000,000.
What type of funding opportunity is this?
This opportunity is listed as a grant and is described as a discretionary grant opportunity.
When was the notice created and what was the closing date?
The notice was created on September 26, 2023. The original closing date was January 5, 2024.
How does this funding help with long-term conservation and management outcomes?
By funding the development and improvement of structured plans and agreements (HCPs, SHAs, and CCAAs), the program helps states complete key planning, scientific, coordination, and compliance steps that reduce threats to wildlife and strengthen the long-term implementability of conservation actions.
What is the overall program emphasis in plain terms?
The overall emphasis is on supporting the up-front planning work that makes conservation strategies workable in the real world: clear documentation, sound baseline data, coordination with stakeholders, and required environmental and historic preservation reviews, so conservation and development can proceed with a defined framework.
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