To Build human and institutional capacity for biodiversity conservation and management in Mexico through training.

Of interest are projects that provide direct and significant training to Mexican personnel in terms of number of individuals trained, strategic or innovative nature of the training,

credit: Photo by Urban League of Rochester Economic Development Corp. via democratandchronicle

and impact of the training on the conservation of biodiversity.

Selected Recipients for this Program

Fiscal Year 2017: In FY17 the program received 74 applications and issued 10 awards. Fiscal Year 2018: N/A. Fiscal Year 2019: N/A.

Uses and Use Restrictions

To be considered, projects must fall into one or more of the following three strategic categories: (1) Managing for Excellence: Training in natural resource conservation and management for Mexican Government personnel, including policy-makers, federal, state, and municipal-level resource managers, and reserve guards.

This includes short-term (2-3 weeks) on-the-job courses certified by an educational institution (Diplomados), workshops, exchanges of personnel, etc. (2) Stewards of the Land: Training in natural resource conservation/management for resource owners and/or direct users, including local communities, rural peasant farmer organizations, and indigenous peoples.

This includes training provided through on-the-ground practices, workshops, exchanges of personnel, and other delivery mechanisms appropriate to the training needs of these target groups. (3) Voices for Nature: Training in environmental education and/or public outreach for targeted society stakeholder groups, including teachers, school children, journalists, tourists, legislators, nongovernmental organizations, and private sector organizations or businesses.

This includes workshops, educational programs, production of educational and training material, etc. Applicants should be proposing work to be conducted in Mexico.

If work is to be conducted in the United States, the proposal must show a clear connection to capacity building for biodiversity conservation in Mexico to be eligible for funding.

Funds provided under this program will not be used for the following activities: the purchase of firearms or ammunitions; buying of intelligence information or paying informants; gathering information by persons who conceal their true identity; law enforcement operations that prompt suspects to carry out illegal activities so they may be arrested (entrapment); or any activity that would circumvent sanctions, treaties, laws or regulations of either the U. S. or Mexico.

Funds may not be used to provide material support or resources to individuals, entities, or organizations of countries that have been identified by the U. S. Department of State as state sponsors of terrorism.

The countries currently identified are: Cuba, Iran, Sudan and Syria.

This program is administered in compliance with the Federal Grants and Cooperative Agreements Act of 1977, as amended.

These funds may not be used towards training U. S. Federal Government personnel.

For further information, please contact the regional office.

100% of funding is discretionary.

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Eligibility Requirements

Applicant Eligibility

Participation is limited to Federal, State and local governments, non-profit, non-governmental organizations; public and private institutions of higher education; and any other organization or individual with demonstrated experience deemed necessary to carry out the proposed project.

Beneficiary Eligibility

Federal, State and local government; public nonprofit institution/organizations; public and private institutions of higher education; and any other organization or individual with demonstrated experience deemed necessary to carry out the proposed project.

Credentials/Documentation

Yes. 2 CFR 200, Subpart E - Cost Principles applies to this program.

Aplication and Award Process

Preapplication Coordination

Preapplication coordination is not applicable.

Environmental impact information is not required for this program.

This program is excluded from coverage under E.O.

12372.

Application Procedures

2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards applies to this program. The program announcement and application instructions for this program can be found at http://www.grants.gov. The Notice of Funding Availability and Application Instructions are also located on this programs website at http://www.fws.gov/international/wildlife-without-borders/mexico/index.html. If you are unable to access the Internet, hard copies are available upon request from the Branch of Mexico, Division of International Conservation, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041.

Award Procedures

Projects are simultaneously reviewed by a panel convened by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and a panel convened by the Mexican Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT). Final funding decisions are made jointly by representatives of the Service and SEMARNAT based on the recommendations of the two review panels. Review criteria can be found in the application information at http://www.fws.gov/international/DIC/howtoapply.html. Once a proposal has been selected for funding, an Assistance Award between the Fish and Wildlife Service and the Recipient is executed by an FWS approving official. Fully executed Awards are sent to the Recipient either electronically or through the mail. The Division of International Conservation then administers all other aspects of the Assistance Award.

Deadlines

Contact the headquarters or regional office, as appropriate, for application deadlines.

Authorization

Endangered Species Act?International Cooperation, 16 U.S.C. §1537.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time

Decisions on funding of project proposals are normally made no later than 180 days after the receipt of the project proposals.

Appeals

Not Applicable.

Renewals

None. However, at the discretion of the Division of International Conservation awards can be modified, e.g.; extended for time or budget changes made.

Assistance Considerations

Formula and Matching Requirements

Statutory formulas are not applicable to this program. This program has no matching requirements. No, to the extent possible, grant funds are matched by nonfederal funds. MOE requirements are not applicable to this program.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance

Upon approval, the project may be extended or the agreement modified. Awarded funds must be spent during the period of performance that is approved for each Assistance Award, and in accordance with the program financial and performance reporting procedures specified in the Assistance Award document. Upon approval, the project may be extended or the agreement modified. Awarded funds must be spent during the period of performance that is approved for each Assistance Award, and in accordance with the program financial and performance reporting procedures specified in the Assistance Award document. See the following for information on how assistance is awarded/released: Funds are disbursed to recipients as requested and in accordance with 2 CFR 200, Subpart E-Cost Principles, unless otherwise prescribed in program-specific legislation or special award terms.

Post Assistance Requirements

Reports

Program reports are not applicable.

Cash reports are not applicable.

Recipients must submit a final performance report no later than 90 calendar days after the award end date.

Recipients of awards with performance periods longer than 12 months will be required to submit interim reports.

Program may require recipients to submit interim reports annually, semiannually, or quarterly.

Program will detail all performance reporting requirements, including frequency and due dates, in the notice of award letter.

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Recipients are responsible for monitoring performance for each award and sub-award under this program in accordance with 2 CFR 200.

Complete reporting requirements can be found at this program's web page at http://www.fws.gov/international/pdf/assistance-award-guidelines.pdf.

Audits

In accordance with the provisions of 2 CFR 200, Subpart F - Audit Requirements, non-Federal entities that expend financial assistance of $750,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Non-Federal entities that expend less than $750,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in 2 CFR 200.503.

Records

Recipient will maintain records in accordance with 2 CFR 200. Program-specific legislation/regulation may dictate additional records retention requirements. Program will detail all non-standard records retention requirements in the notice of award.

Financial Information

Account Identification

14-1611-0-1-302.

Obigations

(Project Grants (Discretionary)) FY 17 $612,166; FY 18 est $0; and FY 19 est $0 - Project Grants (Discretionary): FY17 $612,166.50; FY18 $0; FY19 $0 This program is inactive. The CFDA will remain open to allow the FWS to close all currently open awards and report any associated amendments to government-wide systems that require the identification of an open CFDA number as a key reporting element.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

Variable amounts. The average grant amount is $35,000.

Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature

Grants will be administered in conformance with the Assistance Award Guidelines established by the Division of International Conservation, which uses as its source all applicable award terms and conditions found at http://www.doi.gov/pam/TermsandConditions.html. The Assistance Award Guidelines can be found on-line at http://www.fws.gov/international/DIC/pdf/NOFA-AAG/AAG.pdf or in hard copy by contacting the Division of International Conservation.

Information Contacts

Regional or Local Office

See Regional Agency Offices.

Headquarters Office

Chief, Division of International Conservation U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Department of the Interior, 5275 Leesburg Pike, MS:IA Falls Church, VA 22041-3803 , Falls Church, Virginia 22041-3803 Email: WWB_Mexico@fws.gov Phone: (703) 358-1754 Fax: (703) 358-2115.

Criteria for Selecting Proposals

A complete list of the criteria used to select projects under this program can be found in the Mexico Program Notice of Funding Availability and Application Instructions located on line at http://www.fws.gov/international/DIC/howtoapply.html. Hard copies are available upon request from the Division of International Conservation at (703) 358-1754.