Partners for Fish and Wildlife | F17AS00015

Opportunity Information: Apply for F17AS00015

The Partners for Fish and Wildlife (PFW) Program is a discretionary federal grant opportunity run by the U.S. Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service, that helps restore and conserve fish and wildlife habitat through voluntary partnerships. The program is designed to be incentive-based, meaning it encourages participation by offering both hands-on technical support and financial assistance. Funding is provided primarily through cooperative agreements, reflecting the program model: projects are meant to be planned and carried out collaboratively with substantial involvement from U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service field staff rather than operating as a hands-off pass-through grant.

A central feature of PFW is its focus on habitat work that benefits federal trust resources, which generally includes species and habitats for which the federal government has specific legal responsibilities. Program staff, supported by a nationwide team of more than 250 full-time employees working across all 50 states and U.S. territories, coordinate with local partners, stakeholders, and other Service programs to identify geographic focus areas. These focus areas are the places where the program intentionally concentrates resources to achieve the greatest conservation benefit for priority habitats and federal trust species. Within these focus areas, habitat conservation priorities are set, and project work plans are developed strategically with partners and with strong input from Service staff to ensure projects are practical, scientifically sound, and aligned with on-the-ground conservation needs.

Projects funded under this opportunity must support the Fish and Wildlife Service mission, promote biological diversity, and be grounded in sound scientific biological principles. The types of projects supported are guided by the program strategic plans, so applicants are expected to review the relevant strategic plan before applying. The opportunity also strongly encourages prospective applicants to contact the appropriate regional PFW Program office in advance, since regional staff can clarify priorities, focus areas, and project fit, which is especially important because the program is implemented locally and coordinated through field-based planning.

Eligibility is broad and includes state, county, and city or township governments; public and private institutions of higher education; federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations; nonprofit organizations (both 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3)); individuals; and for-profit organizations, including small businesses. While the program description emphasizes assistance to private landowners, the eligible applicant list shows that many kinds of entities can participate, often as partners, sponsors, or implementers working with landowners and the Service to complete habitat restoration and conservation activities.

Key administrative details from the opportunity listing include the funding opportunity title Partners for Fish and Wildlife and number F17AS00015. The funding instrument is a cooperative agreement, and the activity categories include community development, education, environment, and natural resources. The CFDA number is 15.631. The opportunity was created on November 3, 2016, with an original closing date of September 30, 2017. The listed award ceiling is $500,000, and the posting anticipated a very large number of awards (expected awards listed as 5,000), which aligns with the program's nationwide reach and its tendency to support many localized habitat projects.

The program is supported by multiple federal authorities, including the Partners for Fish and Wildlife Act of 2006 (16 U.S.C. 3771-3774), the Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956 (16 U.S.C. 742a-c, 742e-j), and the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act of 1958 (16 U.S.C. 661-667(e)). These statutes collectively underpin the Service's ability to work cooperatively with partners to conserve and restore habitat, particularly where such actions support federal trust species and broader conservation goals.

• The Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service in the community development, education, environment, natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Partners for Fish and Wildlife" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.631.
• This funding opportunity was created on Nov 03, 2016.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Sep 30, 2017. (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 $500,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 5,000 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, Individuals, For profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses.

Apply for F17AS00015

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