F23AS00129 Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund: Recovery Land Acquisition Grants

Background
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) recognizes success in conserving and recovering endangered or threatened species depends largely on working cooperatively with States and Territories. Section 6 of the ESA authorizes the Service to provide Federal financial assistance to eligible State agencies to support the development and implementation of conservation programs for the benefit of resident listed species. This financial assistance, provided in the form of competitive grants, is made available through the Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund (CESCF) Grant Programs. This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) applies specifically to CESCF Recovery Land Acquisition (RLA) Grants.

Grant Details
Recovery Land Acquisition grants promote State and Federal cooperation in listed species conservation by leveraging funds to acquire specific parcels of land, through fee simple or conservation easement, in support of Service-approved recovery plans and outlines.
Only a species’ most recently approved recovery planning document will be considered under this opportunity.
To be considered for funding through this opportunity, the land proposed for acquisition must benefit at least one listed species for which habitat loss is identified as a threat and habitat protection is identified as a priority recovery action in the species’ most recently approved recovery planning document.
Projects that assist in stabilizing endangered and threatened species on the brink of extinction by implementing priority 1 and 2 recovery actions will also be given greater consideration.

Eligibility Requirements
Only State agencies that have entered into a Cooperative Agreement pursuant to Section 6(c) of the ESA and have provided the information necessary for the annual renewal (reconfirmation) of their Cooperative Agreement are eligible to apply for funding.
The minimum non-Federal cost share is 25 percent of the total project cost, unless a proposal involves the collaboration of two or more States, in which case the minimum non-Federal cost share decreases to 10 percent of the total project cost.

Period of Performance
The maximum period of performance (PoP) for a grant awarded through this opportunity is three years, beginning on the effective date established at the time of grant approval or the date of award obligation, whichever is earlier.

Grant Value
$11,162,000 is estimated as total funding with expected award amounts ranging from $10,000 to $11,162,000.
The Service expects to award up to six grants through this opportunity should the average grant amount remain consistent with previous fiscal year awards.

Place of Performance
Projects must involve voluntary conservation efforts within the United States.