DOI Project #,EBF 37, Monitoring of nesting activities of federally threatened and state endangered beach nesting birds on Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge.

This is an announcement for issuing a single source financial assistance award to Conserve Wildlife Foundation of New Jersey (CWF). This is DOI project number EBF 37. This announcement is for notification purposes only. The intent of the award is to conduct monitoring of nesting activities of federally threatened and State endangered beach nesting birds on Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge (Refuge). Species being monitored are the piping plover (Charadrius melodus), least tern (Sterna albifrons), black skimmer (Rynchops niger) and American oystercatcher (Haematopus palliates). CWF would monitor nesting activities on a daily basis (minimum five days/week each). This project was previously vetted and approved for funding by the Department of the Interior. The appropriation for this project is the Hurricane Sandy Disaster Relief Supplemental Appropriation Act of 2013, Public Law 113-2. Criteria for funding was based on the project¿s ability to yield the greatest return on investment by taking advantage of existing science and regional planning tools for resiliency and by working with states, cities, communities, and partners who contribute to the goals of restoring and rebuilding national wildlife refuges and other federal public assets; and to increase resiliency and the capacity of coastal habitat and infrastructure and to withstand future storms and to minimize the damage incurred. This project is authorized by the Disaster Relief Appropriations Act of 2013, Public Law 113-2. Pre award costs: Until pre award costs are authorized under an approved award, the applicant has no assurance the USFWS will reimburse these costs. To potentially qualify for pre award cost reimbursement, an applicant must demonstrate in the application that some pre award activities were necessary and reasonable for accomplishing the overall program objectives.