F25AC00490

Under this cooperative agreement, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) and U.S. Fish and Wildlife (FWS) will manage year four of the Americas Ecosystem Restoration Initiative (AERI, the program).

Utilizing funding authorized by Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (also known as the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act) P.L. 117-58 Section 40804(4) ecosystem restoration, NFWF will work with FWS to administer a competitive grant program with the goal of streamlining funding opportunities for new voluntary conservation and restoration projects around the United States.

NFWF has a shared mission with FWS and a longstanding commitment to successful competitive conservation grant program delivery around the country.

Funded projects will advance existing landscape conservation plans and or propose to knit together a diverse stakeholder partnership that develops and or implements new conservation plans.

AERI projects will maximize conservation and ecosystem services, bolster local economies, engage communities, expand public access to nature, and improve community resilience.

National Fish And Wildlife Foundation

WORKING WITH THE DOI AND THE USFWS TO DEVELOP PROPOSAL AND REVIEW PROCESS FOR EVALUATING AND APPROVING PROJECTS UNDER THE ECOSYSTEM RESTORATION GRANT PROGRAM THAT ARE CONSISTENT WITH SECTION 40804 OF THE H.R. 3684 INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT AND JOBS ACT AND THE CONSERVING AND RESTORING AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL PRINCIPLES E.G. DEFINE ITS GOALS PRIORITIES EVALUATION CRITERIA PERFORMANCE MEASURES SCHEDULE. PROVIDING EXTENSIVE OUTREACH AND ASSISTANCE TO POTENTIAL APPLICANTS I.E. WORKSHOPS WEBINARS WEBSITE INFORMATION TO ENSURE HIGH QUALITY PROPOSALS ARE RECEIVED AND THAT ALL STAKEHOLDERS ARE INFORMED OF THE GRANT OPPORTUNITY. ADMINISTERING A ROBUST TRANSPARENT FAIR AND EQUITABLE APPLICATION REVIEW AND SELECTION PROCESS. COORDINATING A RIGOROUS PROPOSAL REVIEW PROCESS WITH THE MERIT REVIEW TEAM FOR REVIEW AND PRIORITIZATION OF THE PROPOSALS WITH APPROVAL BY THE SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR. PROVIDING TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO SUCCESSFUL GRANTEES TO ENSURE REQUIRED PERMITS AND COMPLIANCE DOCUMENTS ARE PROVIDED TO MAKE A PRELIMINARY ASSESSMENT. PROVIDING ADMINISTRATIVE OVERSIGHT MONITORING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO GRANTEES TO ENSURE THE PROJECTS ARE COMPLETED AS PROPOSED. MEASURING AND TRACKING GRANTEE PERFORMANCE AND CONTINUALLY EVALUATING THE SUCCESS AND IMPACT OF THE ECOSYSTEM RESTORATION PROGRAM FACILITATING NETWORKING AND INFORMATION SHARING AMONG GRANTEES. SEEKING ADDITIONAL FUNDING SUPPORT FROM OTHER FEDERAL AND PRIVATE PARTNERS TO LEVERAGE DOI FUNDS INCLUDING COORDINATION AND CO FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES WITH EXISTING GRANT PROGRAMS AND PRIVATE PARTNERS.

15.669 - Cooperative Landscape Conservation

FWS Headquarters (HQ) [DOI - FWS]

Multi-State United States

Multi-State

F-FWS-SA-25-008