Species Recovery Grants to Tribes | NOAA NMFS PRPO 2021 2006473

Opportunity Information: Apply for NOAA NMFS PRPO 2021 2006473

The Species Recovery Grants to Tribes opportunity is a discretionary funding program run by the Department of Commerce through NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS). Its purpose is to provide federal financial assistance to tribal nations for conserving and recovering marine and anadromous species that are protected under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). NMFS frames the program around the idea that many ESA-listed species hold unique cultural, subsistence, and ecological importance to tribes, and that tribes have an established track record of stewardship and conservation. Funding is offered through either grants or cooperative agreements, depending on the level of federal involvement anticipated in the work.

The program supports a broad range of conservation activities tied to species under NMFS jurisdiction that are endangered, threatened, candidates for listing, or proposed for listing. It also allows funding for post-delisting monitoring when a species has recovered enough to be removed from the ESA list, recognizing that continued monitoring can be critical to preventing a relapse. Typical project types include developing or implementing species management or recovery plans, conducting scientific research and monitoring that fills key data gaps, and carrying out public education and outreach efforts that help communities understand and support recovery actions.

NMFS also highlights that proposals benefiting certain high-profile endangered species are especially encouraged under its Species in the Spotlight initiative. Those focal species include the Gulf of Maine distinct population segment of Atlantic salmon, white abalone, the Cook Inlet distinct population segment of beluga whales, Hawaiian monk seals, Pacific leatherback sea turtles, North Atlantic right whales, and the southern resident distinct population segment of killer whales. While projects do not have to target these species to be eligible, NMFS explicitly signals that work supporting their recovery aligns strongly with agency priorities.

Eligibility is limited to federally recognized tribes and to organizations of federally recognized tribes that have delegated authority to represent a tribe on matters involving ESA-listed, candidate, or proposed species. The opportunity text gives an example of such an organization in the Alaska Eskimo Whaling Commission. This means the program is not open broadly to state governments, universities, nonprofits without tribal authorization, or private entities unless they are applying through an eligible tribal applicant consistent with the delegation and representation requirements described.

One important restriction is that projects focused on listed, candidate, or proposed species of Pacific salmon or steelhead are not considered under this program. NMFS directs those efforts instead to the Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund, indicating that salmon and steelhead recovery in the Pacific region is handled through a separate, dedicated funding stream. Applicants need to ensure their proposal does not fall into that excluded category or it will be deemed ineligible for this particular competition.

For the FY 2021 cycle referenced in the notice, the funding opportunity number is NOAA NMFS PRPO 2021 2006473 and the CFDA number is 11.472. The anticipated maximum award amount (award ceiling) is $100,000, with an expected three awards. The original posting lists a creation date of July 31, 2020 and an original closing date of October 29, 2020. The announcement emphasizes that applicants should read the full guidance closely because proposal preparation and evaluation details may differ from prior years, and NMFS will use the criteria in the document to decide which proposals receive funding.

• The Department of Commerce in the environment, natural resources, science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Species Recovery Grants to Tribes" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 11.472.
• This funding opportunity was created on Jul 31, 2020.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Oct 29, 2020. (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 $100,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 3 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

Apply for NOAA NMFS PRPO 2021 2006473

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