New England Forests and Rivers Fund

Transcription

1 New England Forests and Rivers Fund Restoring and sustaining healthy forests and rivers that provide habitat for diverse native bird and fish populations.

2 AGENDA 10:00 AM 11:30 AM 1. Staff Roles 2. Introduction to NFWF (10:05) 3. Overview of New England Forests and River Fund (10:15) 4. Review of Request for Proposals (10:25) 5. Calculating Indirect Costs and Budgeting Best Practices (10:55) 6. Using EasyGrants (11:05) 7. Questions (11:15) 8. Adjourn

3 1. NFWF Staff Roles Amanda Bassow, Director, Northeastern Regional Office John Wright, Coordinator, Northeastern Regional Office Scott Hall, Senior Scientist, Bird Conservation Kristen Byler, Staff Scientist, Marine Conservation

4 Who We Are Chartered by Congress in member Board appointed by Secretary of the Interior, Includes FWS Director and NOAA Administrator What We Do Sustain, restore, enhance the nation s natural heritage Bring collaboration among federal agencies and private sector Create common ground among diverse interests Bald eagle How We Do It Leverage public funding with private money average 3:1 On-the-ground conservation projects through grant making

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6 OUR RESULTS Overview of NFWF Funds Invested FY 2015 FY 2016 FY 1984 FY 2016 Federal Funds $ 88 million $ 65.9 million $ 1.02 billion Non-Federal Funds $ 171 million $ 161 million $ 1.02 billion Grantee Matching Funds $ 119 million $ 127 million $ 1.83 billion Total Funds Invested $ 378 million $ million $ 3.87 billion # of Projects Awarded ,318 $800 $700 $ in millions $600 $500 $400 $300 $200 NFWF Conservation Investments FY 1984 FY 2016 $100 $ Federal Funds Non-Federal and Grantee Matching Funds

7 16,318 Investments 4,500 organizations All 50 states

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10 Ann and Gordon Getty Foundation Harte Charitable Foundation Ishiyama Family Foundation Jeniam Foundation Long Island Sound Funders Collaborative Marisla Foundation, Inc. The David and Lucile Packard Foundation The Moore Charitable Foundation

11 3. Program Overview Grants of $50,000 - $200,000 each 1:1 match required Competitively awarded Nonprofits, state and local governments, tribes, and educational institutions eligible to apply In order to Restore and sustain healthy forests and rivers that provide habitat for diverse native bird populations, as well as and freshwater and diadromous fish populations.

12 2017 Funding Available/Geography Approximately $1.5 million Eversource s Partners for New Hampshire s Fish and Wildlife American Forest Foundation Forest Service Natural Resources Conservation Service Fish and Wildlife Service Throughout New England Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, Rhode Island and Connecticut Especially projects in New Hampshire

13 Additional Geographic Priorities Projects that involve stewardship of family-owned woodlands are encouraged to target efforts in the following fifteen watersheds: the Upper Adroscoggin, Saco, Merrimack and Middle Connecticut watersheds; the Maine Coastal, Piscataquis, Lower Kennebec, Upper Kennebec, Mattawamkeag, Lower Penobscot, Passamaquoddy Bay-Bay of Fundy, Aroostook, St. Croix, Lake Champlain, and the Upper Hudson watersheds. These watersheds have been identified by the American Forest Foundation as the greatest opportunities to work with family woodland owners to protect and improve wildlife habitats in their woods. See map AFF s Target Watersheds. For more information refer to AFF s report Hidden in Plain Sight -

14 January-March: RFP development and issuance May: Grant proposals due 4. Grant Making Process Mid-May to Mid-June: Technical Review NFWF Review Subject matter experts from state and Federal agencies, academia and NGOs NFWF synthesizes reviews and makes awards decisions Mid-June to Mid-August: Congressional Notification Congress is notified of recommended grants. 30 days to comment. September: Grant awards announced

15 5. REVIEW OF REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS Goals 2017 Priorities Metrics Evaluation Criteria Timeline Important Reminders

16 Conservation Goals Strengthen the health of forest systems by improving the management of public and private forestlands and create a mosaic of mixed age forests in the region; Provide incentives to strengthen habitat conservation on working forests through flexible technical assistance that is appropriate for the forest stage(s) being targeted; Improve the quality of river and stream systems through targeted riparian and stream restoration; Reduce barriers to fish passage and increase fish access to high quality habitat, thereby increasing overall aquatic connectivity; and Enhance biodiversity of forest and river systems and increase populations of species representative of system health, such as New England cottontail, American woodcock, bay-breasted warbler, Canada warbler, wood thrush, black-throated blue warbler, river herring and Eastern brook trout.

17 2017 Priorities (on pages 2-5 of RFP)

18 1. Healthy Forest Systems Forest management on public and private lands. Assessment/planning Early successional(young) forests Mature and late successional forests Pollinator habitat in NH Economic incentives Technical assistance to landowners SIGNAGE!

19 2. Healthy River Systems Restore river function, water quality, and long term persistence of native aquatic species including resident native trout and diadromous fishes. Projects that reconnect and expand habitat for existing brook trout populations. Restore connectivity Restore riparian and in-stream habitat, water quality Technical assistance to landowners Protect high quality and diverse EBT habitat Assess trout population status Promote sustainable river herring fisheries Identify opportunities to create multi-species benefits for diadromous fish

20 3. Healthy Forests AND Rivers Projects that demonstrate the connection between healthy forest and river systems. Demonstrate forest management prescriptions that minimize impacts on water and maximize benefits to aquatic and upland species Demonstrate synergistic restoration opportunities that use wood products from forest management activities to create in-stream habitat structure Target opportunities to restore forested riparian and wetland buffers to maximize benefits for both aquatic species and riparian-dwelling birds

21 Working with family-owned woodlands Projects that work with non-industrial private landowners.

22 Working with family-owned woodlands Projects that work with non-industrial private landowners. Reach family and individuallyowned woodlands as project component in target geography Engage these woodland owners in stewardship to improve wildlife habitat Establish sustained communications/engagement strategy for the long-term

23 Working with family-owned woodlands: How can AFF help? Project planning Outcome and metrics development Marketing and sustained communications strategy Landowner database for tracking and evaluation Project analysis and evaluation Fundraising for the long-term Contact: Christine Cadigan Director, Northeastern Woodland Conservation

24 Project Activity Recommended Metric Additional Guidance Culvert replacement, dam removal and other fish passage projects Wetland restoration Number of passage barriers rectified Miles of stream opened Acres restored Metrics In NOTES section, indicate what type of barrier is being removed and/or installed (i.e. dam, culvert, bridge etc.) Instream habitat restoration Miles restored In NOTES section, indicate types of changes to stream channel (e.g., raising/lowering stream bed, changes in direction of stream flow, grading stream banks, adding in-stream structures such as woody material). Forest management activities Riparian forest restoration Installation of livestock exclusion fencing Road improvement BMPs Practices to reduce nutrient and sediment runoff Fee acquisition and/or conservation easement Habitat improvement projects Acres under improved management Miles restored Miles of fencing installed Miles of road improved Acres with BMPs Lbs sediment avoided (annually) Acres protected Miles protected Number of habitat units improved Acres occupied by the species Miles of habitat occupied by species In NOTES section, indicate the type of forest habitat and target species (e.g., early successional for New England Cottontail, mature forest for Black-Throated Blue Warbler) In NOTES section, indicate the buffer width (e.g., 35, 100 ). In NOTES section, indicate the type of BMP(s) (e.g., continuous notill, enhanced nutrient management, rain garden/bioretention). In NOTES section, indicate the type of habitat(s) protected. In NOTES section, indicate target species and type of habitat. Wildlife population monitoring Acres monitored In NOTES section, indicate the species being monitored. Outreach to targeted audiences Behavior change programs and campaigns Engaging volunteers in restoration activities Number of people reached Number of people with changed behavior Number of volunteers participating In NOTES section, indicate target audience(s) (farmers, landowners, municipalities, etc.) Example: Enter number of landowners who demonstrated changed behavior by applying land management recommendations from a professional.

25 National Environmental Policy Act NEPA 2017 funding is a mix of federal and nonfederal sources Grantees receiving USFWS funds will need to comply Who receives those funds will not be decided until award decisions are made Local USFWS Office is grantee contact

26 Evaluation Criteria Program Goals and Priorities Technical Merit Budget Transferability Communication Conservation Plan and Context Monitoring Long-term Sustainability

27 TIMELINE RFP Issued - 3/14/17 Applicant Webinar - 10:00 am Proposals Due - 11:59 pm Review Period - May July Awards Announced - September 2017 Cycle will repeat in 2018!

28 Reminders Projects must start within 6 months and be completed two years from award. If you haven t thought about permits yet, START NOW!! Start collecting your letters of support. Combine them in one PDF and upload them. 1:1 non-federal match is required. If you re coming up short, call us. Federal agencies, for-profits and individuals are not eligible. With new OMB rules, indirect costs are allowed. Review the policy on our website. Read, and then re-read the RFP and Tip Sheet. Use the Help feature in Easygrants, and call us if you re confused.

29 7. CALCULATING INDIRECT COSTS AND BUDGETING BEST PRACTICES

30 Indirect Cost Policy Under the Unified Guidance 1. NFWF will accept approved federal negotiated indirect cost rate agreements (NICRAs). 2. If an approved NICRA does not exist, subrecipients may elect to negotiate a rate with NFWF. The rate and base NFWF will negotiate is 10% of Modified Total Direct Costs (MTDC) as defined in sections B.2 and B.3 of NFWF s Indirect Cost Policy 3. If an entity has never had a NICRA, they may elect to take a de minimis rate The de minimis rate is 10% of MTDC as defined in section B.4 of NFWF s Indirect Cost Policy in accordance with of the Uniform Guidance 4. NICRAs must be in place at the point of NFWF s fiscal review process or the default rate will be options 2 or 3 above. See NFWF s Indirect Cost Policy for more details. 30

31 NICRA Example NICRA = Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate/Recovery Agreement EIN 1234XX ACME International **This sample NICRA is for illustrative purposes only.** Represents the agreed upon indirect cost rate that recipients of federal funds may use to recoup administrative and overhead costs. Identifies the negotiated *base upon which indirect costs may be calculated (a.k.a. Modified Total Direct Costs - MTDC) *The base indicated in the NICRA will vary by organization. 31

32 Budget Development Example SALARIES UNITS UNIT COST TOTAL Program Director (units = hours) $48, Program Scientist1 (units = hours) $7, Total Salaries $55, Program Director will focus 100% of his time for 1 year on this project. Program Scientist will focus 384 hours over 6 months working on this project. Fringe benefits are listed separately in the Benefits category of the budget. See NFWF s Detailed Budget Instructions for additional budgeting guidelines. Apply for a Grant Applicant Information Budget Instructions Detailed Budget Instructions 32

33 Budget Development B U D G E T C A T E G O R I E S Salaries $55, % 13, Equipment 5, Contractual 4, Supplies Travel Other 1, Indirect 11.59% 9, Total Budget $90, For EVERY BUDGET CATEGORY, itemize costs and provide a detailed narrative of the purpose/use of the proposed expenditure. 2. Budget narratives should be detailed enough so that someone not closely associated with the project can easily understand the estimated costs. 3. For each narrative section of the budget, specify the type of cost, unit (hours, days, count, etc.), unit cost and total costs. Also include any assumptions that have been made to come up with the unit costs for each budget line item. 4. Lump figures without detailed explanations will be referred back to the applicant and may delay the review and awarding process. 33

34 8. USING EASYGRANTS

35 Tips: How to Apply to NFWF easygrants.nfwf.org 1. Log in with an existing and password. Or create an account now this will give you time to familiarize yourself with the system. If you have trouble logging in, use the help feature. 2. Turn off your pop-up blockers. For Internet Explorer, turn them off again and again You can also use Chrome, Firefox or Safari. 3. Download and use the tip sheet available on the program webpage. 4. You can work on the narrative offline just download the Word document and upload it when you re finished. 5. There is a new mapping feature please be as specific as possible with mapping AND providing location information on your project. 6. Click save frequently. Do not click SUBMIT until all sections are complete Make sure all your check marks on the Review and Submit page are green.

36 Final Tips for Applicants 1. Re-read the RFP and reference the information provided through the links. Call us if you re confused. 2. These are competitive grants. Projects should address all criteria and have a wow factor. 3. Include lots of context and details don t assume we know your plan, partnership or watershed. 4. Be strategic first, opportunistic second. 5. Submit your proposal ON OR BEFORE May 11 th. 6. Note that NFWF staff will not be in the office at 11:59 pm on May 11 th!

37 QUESTIONS?

38 For Assistance 38 RFP and program questions: Amanda Bassow, Director, Northeastern Regional Office (202) Scott Hall, Senior Scientist, Bird Conservation (207) Kristen Byler, Staff Scientist, Marine Conservation (202) Christine Cadigan, Director, Northeastern Woodland Conservation, AFF (202) Proposals are Due Thursday, May 11, 2017 by 11:59 PM Eastern Time Awards will be announced in September Easygrants and other application questions: John Wright Coordinator, Northeastern Regional Office (202)