Opportunity Information: Apply for F18AS00168
The National Wildlife Refuge System Enhancements opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number F18AS00168) is a U.S. Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service discretionary grant offered as a cooperative agreement under CFDA 15.654. Its purpose is to support enhancement work connected to the National Wildlife Refuge System, generally aimed at improving refuge resources, public use, and related conservation and recreation outcomes. The legal authority for the work is drawn from several federal statutes that collectively cover fish and wildlife conservation and management, refuge administration and recreation, youth and public lands conservation corps activities, protection of archaeological resources, and certain highway-related authorities that can apply to access or infrastructure. In plain terms, these authorities signal that projects under this opportunity can involve on-the-ground conservation and habitat work, visitor and recreation improvements consistent with refuge purposes, organized conservation crews (including youth corps) performing stewardship tasks, and compliance-minded protection of cultural and archaeological resources where applicable.
This particular posting is not a broad, open competition. It is explicitly a Notice of Intent to Single Source to an organization named Rio Grande Return, meaning the agency indicated it planned to make one award to a specific recipient rather than solicit proposals from the wider public. Even though the eligible applicant category is listed as nonprofits with IRS 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education), the single-source notice effectively narrows the practical eligibility for this specific award action. The opportunity anticipates one award, with an award ceiling of $80,000, and it was created on June 8, 2018 with an original closing date of June 15, 2018, reflecting a short window consistent with single-source intent notices and administrative timelines.
Because the instrument is a cooperative agreement rather than a standard grant, the Fish and Wildlife Service would typically expect to have substantial involvement during the project period. That can include collaboration on planning, technical review, coordination with refuge staff, alignment with refuge priorities and schedules, and oversight to ensure the work meets refuge policies and legal requirements. Applicants (in this case, the intended recipient) are directed to address all activities and stipulations described in Section I of the funding opportunity announcement and to follow the application checklist referenced in the Notice of Funding Opportunity, which implies that the agency expected a complete, compliance-ready submission that maps directly to the listed project tasks, deliverables, and any special conditions.
Overall, the opportunity is best understood as a targeted, refuge-focused enhancement effort administered by the Fish and Wildlife Service, backed by a bundle of conservation, recreation, public lands workforce, and resource protection authorities. It is structured to fund a single project up to $80,000 through a cooperative agreement, with a clear emphasis on completing specified refuge-related activities under close coordination with the federal partner.Apply for F18AS00168
- The Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service in the community development, education, environment, natural resources, regional development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "National Wildlife Refuge System Enhancements" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.654.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jun 08, 2018.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 15, 2018 This is a Notice of Intent to Single Source to Rio Grande Return. Applications must address all activities amp stipulations in Section I, Description of Funding Opportunity amp the Application Checklist (via Notice of Funding Opportunity).. (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 $80,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the name of this funding opportunity?
The opportunity is titled National Wildlife Refuge System Enhancements.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON)?
The Funding Opportunity Number is F18AS00168.
Which federal agency is offering this opportunity?
This is a U.S. Department of the Interior opportunity administered by the Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS).
Is this funding a grant or something else?
The award instrument is a cooperative agreement, which generally means the Fish and Wildlife Service expects to have substantial involvement during the project period (for example, coordination with refuge staff, technical review, and oversight to ensure compliance with refuge policies and legal requirements).
What is the CFDA number for this program?
The opportunity is listed under CFDA 15.654.
What is the main purpose of the opportunity?
Its purpose is to support enhancement work connected to the National Wildlife Refuge System, generally aimed at improving refuge resources, public use, and related conservation and recreation outcomes.
What kinds of projects or activities does this opportunity support?
Based on the description provided, projects can include:
- On-the-ground conservation and habitat enhancement work tied to refuge needs
- Visitor and recreation improvements that are consistent with refuge purposes
- Stewardship work performed by organized conservation crews, including youth and public lands conservation corps-style activities
- Work that includes compliance-minded protection of cultural and archaeological resources, where applicable
- In some cases, access or infrastructure-related work where certain highway-related authorities apply
What legal authorities support this opportunity?
The opportunity cites multiple federal statutes that collectively cover fish and wildlife conservation and management, refuge administration and recreation, youth and public lands conservation corps activities, protection of archaeological resources, and certain highway-related authorities that can apply to access or infrastructure.
Is this an open, competitive funding opportunity?
No. This posting is explicitly a Notice of Intent to Single Source, meaning the agency indicated it planned to make one award to a specific organization rather than solicit proposals from the broader public.
Who is the intended recipient for this single-source action?
The notice identifies Rio Grande Return as the organization to which the agency intended to make the single-source award.
Who is listed as eligible to apply (in general)?
The eligible applicant category is listed as nonprofits with IRS 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education).
If nonprofits are eligible, can any 501(c)(3) apply to this specific posting?
In practical terms, no. Even though the category is listed as eligible nonprofits, the posting is a single-source notice and therefore effectively narrows eligibility for this specific award action to the intended recipient named in the notice.
How many awards are anticipated?
The opportunity anticipates one award.
What is the maximum award amount?
The award ceiling is $80,000.
When was this opportunity created?
The posting was created on June 8, 2018.
What was the original closing date?
The original closing date was June 15, 2018.
Why is the application window so short?
The short window aligns with how single-source intent notices are commonly posted and processed, often reflecting administrative timelines rather than a long open competition period.
What does "substantial involvement" by FWS typically mean in a cooperative agreement?
For this opportunity, it can include collaboration on planning, technical review, coordination with National Wildlife Refuge System staff, aligning work with refuge priorities and schedules, and oversight to ensure the work meets refuge policies and legal requirements.
What instructions are applicants expected to follow?
The intended applicant is directed to address all activities and stipulations described in Section I of the funding opportunity announcement and to follow the application checklist referenced in the Notice of Funding Opportunity.
What does it mean to submit a "compliance-ready" application for this opportunity?
Based on the description, it means submitting a complete application that directly maps to the listed project tasks, deliverables, and any special conditions, and that supports close coordination with the federal partner under a cooperative agreement structure.
What is the overall takeaway about this opportunity?
This is best understood as a targeted, refuge-focused enhancement effort administered by the Fish and Wildlife Service, structured as a single project (one award) up to $80,000 through a cooperative agreement, with an emphasis on completing specified refuge-related activities under close coordination with FWS.
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