Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act Grant Applications (Indiv)

Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act - Proposal Application Instructions

In 2000, the Congress of the United States passed the Neotropical Migratory Bird
Conservation Act (Act). The purposes of the Act are to
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perpetuate healthy populations of Neotropical migratory birds,
assist in the conservation of Neotropical migratory birds by supporting
conservation initiatives in the United States, Canada, Latin America, and the
Caribbean, and
provide financial resources and to foster international cooperation for those
initiatives.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, with assistance from an Advisory Group, manages a
grants program to implement the terms of this legislation. Potential applicants are invited
to prepare a Grant Application for funding, following the format shown.
Who may apply?
• An individual, corporation, partnership, trust, association, or other private entity;
• An officer, employee, agent, department, or instrumentality of the Federal
Government, state, municipality, or political subdivision of a state, or of any
foreign government;
• A state, municipality, or political subdivision of a state;
• Any other entity subject to the jurisdiction of the United States or of any foreign
country; or
• An international organization.
Where may a project be located?
In the United States, Canada, and in all countries of Latin America and the Caribbean.
What kinds of projects are eligible?
• Protection and management of Neotropical migratory bird populations;
• Maintenance, management, protection, and restoration of Neotropical migratory
bird habitat;
• Research and monitoring;
• Law enforcement; and
• Community outreach and education.
Can project funds be used for mitigation?
While eligible, a proposal for such work would likely be considered lower priority, unless
there are wider benefits from the work. For example, research on avian mortality at
communication towers can be applied to tower design in a wider region.
What is the duration of a project?
Projects may be up to two years in duration.

What is a Neotropical migratory bird?

For the purposes of this program, a Neotropical migratory bird is one that breeds in or
migrates through the United States, at least to some extent, and spends the nonbreeding
season in Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean and/or South America. Birds from all
taxa are included, so that proposals may benefit landbirds, waterbirds, shorebirds,
waterfowl, raptors, and others. See
http://www.fws.gov/birdhabitat/Grants/NMBCA/BirdList.shtm for a list of these birds.
What are the match requirements?
Federal funds requested under the Act must be matched 3:1 by non-Federal funds. That
is, for every Federal dollar, three non-Federal dollars are required.
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For projects in the United States and Canada, the non-Federal share must be in
cash.
For projects in Latin America and the Caribbean, including Puerto Rico and the
U.S. Virgin Islands, the non-Federal share may be cash or in-kind contributions.

Cash means the recipient's cash outlay, including the outlay of money contributed to the
recipient by third parties, to be expended after the date the proposal is submitted.
Eligible in-kind contributions may have been expended up to two years prior to the date
the proposal is submitted, however, contributions made after the proposal is submitted are
preferred.
Match contributions must be directly related to the proposed project and the types of
activities eligible under the Act. Match contributions must not have been used
previously to match a U.S. Federal project.
How much can I apply for?
The maximum award for FY2008 will be US$250,000. The average award has been
about US$95,000, with a range of US$9,000 to US$250,000. Requests under US$15,000
are discouraged; please contact us if you are planning such a proposal.
In what languages may I submit proposals?
English, Spanish, and Portuguese. All proposals must have an English summary.
What format can I use?
Use only Microsoft Word. Do not use any other formats. Do not include photos within
the document. Do not send a file larger than 5 MB.
How long can the proposal be?
No more than 10 pages, including maps and the budget.
When is the deadline?
Project proposals must be sent no later than November 15, 2007.
May I send a preproposal?

Yes, applicants are encouraged, but not required, to send a preproposal (no more than 1
page in length) to the email address shown below for review prior to the deadline.
Where do I send the proposal?
Send it as an electronic mail attachment to neotropical@fws.gov.
Or, send it on a computer disk to:
NMBCA Program
Division of Bird Habitat Conservation
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
MAIL STOP MBSP - 4075
4401 North Fairfax Drive
Arlington, Virginia USA 22203
Do not send printed materials. Receipt of your proposal will be acknowledged by email.
What criteria will be used in selecting projects? (Not necessarily in order of
importance or of equal weight.)
1. Is the project located in important breeding and nonbreeding areas for Neotropical
migrants? Example: A Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network
International Site.
2. Does the project address Neotropical migrants identified as a conservation priority
by a government agency or conservation initiative? Example: Birds of
Conservation Concern 2002 (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service).
3. Are natural resources in the project area under threat? Example: Timber is being
harvested in an unsustainable manner in the project area, reducing its value to
Neotropical migrants.
4. What is the conservation value of the project to Neotropical migrants? When the
project is completed, how will the birds benefit? Example: Residents of
communities near Neotropical migrants’ habitats are informed about the value of
the birds, and take actions to conserve them.
5. How will conservation activities continue after the project has been completed?
Example: After land acquisition, Neotropical migrant habitat will be managed for
conservation as part of a private reserve network.
6. Is the project coordinated with an international bird conservation plan? Example:
Partners in Flight.
7. Does the proposal represent a partnership or is it coordinated among public,
private and/or other organizations? Example: Prairie Pothole Joint Venture.
8. Is the proposal well written, with clear objectives? Does it follow the correct
format?
9. Is the budget accurate, with reasonable requests for overhead and personnel? Does
the project provide good benefits for the costs? Example: The budget clearly lays
out budget items and costs in enough detail and with enough
explanation/justification to determine what actions are being taken to achieve the
project goals and that they are reasonably priced. Budget example

10. Does the project satisfy other important national or local objectives, in addition to
Neotropical migratory bird conservation? Example: biodiversity conservation.
In the United States and Canada, proposals for habitat conservation located in wetlands
should be directed to the North American Wetlands Conservation Council. See
http://www.fws.gov/birdhabitat/Grants/NAWCA/index.shtm.
In Mexico, proposals involving priority wetlands should be submitted to the North
American Wetlands Conservation Council. See
http://www.fws.gov/birdhabitat/Grants/NAWCA/Standard/Mexico/grantsENG.shtm.
Priority wetlands in Mexico are described in the Application Instructions at
http://www.fws.gov/birdhabitat/Grants/NAWCA/Standard/Mexico/instructionsSPA.shtm.
Who selects the projects for funding?
The Director of the Fish and Wildlife Service selects the projects.
When will funding be available?
Projects will likely be approved by April 2008, and funds for these projects should be
available by June 2008.
What reporting requirements are there?
At a minimum, each grant recipient is required to submit a final report that describes the
success of meeting objectives as stated in the proposal, and an annual financial report.
Who do I contact for further information?
Division of Bird Habitat Conservation
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
E-mail: neotropical@fws.gov
Telephone: 703-358-1784
Fax: 703-358-2282
(hablamos español)
NEOTROPICAL MIGRATORY BIRD CONSERVATION ACT
2008 GRANT APPLICATION
1. Cover Page (1 page) (Provide all information listed below).
a. Project Title (limit to 10 words)
b. Project Location (State/Province, Country)
c. Latitude/Longitude
d. Ecoregion (see nationalgeographic.com/wildworld/terrestrial.html)
e. Name of Person Responsible for Project
f. Name of Organization
g. Type of Organization (Federal, State/Provincial, Non-government, University,
Private, Other)
h. Dun and Bradstreet Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) Number (to

obtain a DUNS number, see “Smart Link” on the opening page of our website)
i. Mailing Address
j. Street Address, State/Province, Postal Code, Country
k. Telephone Number
l. Fax Number
m. Email Address
n. Duration of this proposal (up to 2 years)
o. For projects in the United States: County and Congressional District
p. For projects in North America: Bird Conservation Region(s) in which the
project is located (see http://www.nabci-us.org/map.html).
q. Summary (in English)
r. Indicate which of the following eligible activities are included:
(i) protection, management of bird populations;
(ii) maintenance, management, protection, restoration of bird habitat
(provide the area involved for each activity in acres or hectares);
(iii) research, monitoring;
(iv) law enforcement;
(v) community outreach, education.
s. Total Funding Requested and Total Matching Funds (in U.S. Dollars)
t. List of partners contributing match (include each partner name, organization
type and contribution amount)
2. Qualifications of Individuals Conducting the Project (Maximum 1 page)
3. Project Description
a. Demonstrate that the project will enhance the conservation of Neotropical
migratory bird species in the United States, Canada, Latin America, or the
Caribbean.
b. Describe the project activities, including those funded with matching
contributions.
c. For habitat protection projects, note that land rights should be acquired with
grant funds only by host country organizations.
d. For research and monitoring projects, how will the information be used for
conservation and by whom?
4. Local Participation
a. Describe the mechanisms included to ensure adequate local public participation
in project development and implementation.
5. Agency Consultation
a. Describe the assurances contained that the project will be implemented in
consultation with relevant wildlife management authorities and other appropriate
government officials with jurisdiction over the resources addressed by the project.
NOTE: For land acquisition projects outside of the United States, grant
applicants will be asked to provide documentation of this consultation.

6. Historic and Cultural Resources
a. Demonstrate how the project is sensitive to local historic and cultural resources
and complies with applicable laws.
b. Will the project affect a property that is on the World Heritage List or a
national register of historic places?
7. Sustainability
a. Describe how the project will promote sustainable, effective, long-term
programs to conserve Neotropical migratory birds.
8. Other Information
a. Provide any other information helpful in evaluating the proposal. You may
address any of the 10 criteria shown in the Application Instructions under “What
criteria will be used in selecting projects?”
9. Evaluation
a. Describe how the success of project activities will be evaluated. What outcomes
will be measured?
10. Budget
a. Include an itemized budget table within the text of the proposal (not in a
separate file), having one column for Neotropical Act funding and one or more
columns for each partner contribution. The budget should clearly lay out budget
items and costs in enough detail and with enough explanation/justification to
determine what is needed to achieve the project goals and that they are reasonably
priced. Please organize items in relation to the eligible activities of the program
(see section 1.r. above).
b. All activities taking place in the United States must clearly have at least a 3:1
(match:grant) cash match represented in the budget to be eligible for funding.
Please see the definition of cash match in the question above. Funds from U.S.
Federal sources, although not eligible as match, may be listed in a separate
column.
c. Partner contributions must exceed the amount requested by at least 3:1. Indicate
cash or in-kind contributions. Budget items may be justified in footnotes under
the budget table. Please prepare the budget in U.S. dollars, and round all figures
to the nearest dollar (do not use cents).
d. More competitive proposals will generally have requested overhead or
administrative costs less than 20%. These overhead or administrative costs must
be directly attributable to the project. If your organization has a negotiated
indirect cost rate agreement with a US federal cognizant agency you may use your
indirect rate, but more competitive proposals will have lower indirect costs.
e. Applicants may be asked to submit letters confirming the commitment of

matching funds from each contributing partner. Please wait for instructions before
submitting these letters.
11. Map
a. Include a map of the project area, along with a map showing the location within
the country. Place these within the text of the proposal, not in a separate file.
12. Application for Federal Assistance (SF 424)
a. Applicants located in the United States, regardless of where the project
activities are located, may be asked to submit the "Application for Federal
Assistance", Standard Forms 424, 424B, and/or 424D (see
http://www.gsa.gov/forms/). Please wait for instructions before submitting these
forms.
13. For Proposals Located in the United States
a. Please address the following additional questions in your proposal application:
(i) How does the project contribute to the conservation of priority bird
species assemblages that depend on upland habitat
(see http://www.blm.gov/wildlife/pifplans.htm)?
(ii) How does the project contribute to the goals, objectives, and
recommendations in the appropriate Bird Conservation Plan(s)
(see http://www.fws.gov/birdhabitat/Plans/index.shtm)?