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FedGrants COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT ANNOUNCEMENTWILDLIFE HABITAT INCENTIVE PROGRAM FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE Action Code: Grant Notice Type of Instrument: Cooperative Agreement Funding Activity Category: Agriculture Agency Mailing Address for Additional Information: USDA, Natural Resources Conservation Service, 101 SW Main, Ste 1300, Portland, Oregon 97204 Funding Opportunity Title: FY2005 Oregon Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP) Request for Proposals Funding Opportunity Number: NRCS-05-OR-006 Applications Due Date: April 15, 2005 Application Due Date Explanation: Applications must be received not later than 4:00 p.m. Pacific Standard Time on the closing date. Applications received after that time will not be considered. Proposals will not be accepted by facsimile. Point of Contact: William B. White, Assistant State Conservationist - Programs, USDA, NRCS, 101 SW Main, Ste 1300, Portland, Oregon 97204 ; (503) 414-3085; Chris Martin, Contract Specialist, USDA, NRCS (503) 414-3213 Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance: 10.914—Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program Eligible Applicants: State governments, County governments, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Nonprofits other than institutions of higher education (includes community action agencies and other organizations having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS), State controlled institutions of higher education, and private entities. Is Cost Sharing Required: Yes, this RFP is offering financial assistance funding only. Funding Opportunity Description: The Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program (WHIP) is a voluntary conservation program that promotes wildlife habitat and environmental quality. WHIP assists landowners in maintaining and/or enhancing these habitats while protecting natural resources. WHIP funds in Oregon for FY05 will be used to fund projects / proposals for the protection and enhancement of habitats for declining populations of species of concern, including state and federal threatened and endangered species on agricultural lands. The FY05 WHIP financial assistance funds will be managed as listed: • Distribution goal is 15% tribal and 85% non-tribal. Adjustments will be made if the goal cannot be met. • Will be awarded in a statewide competition consistent with the FY05 Oregon WHIP priorities. • At least $180,000 of the WHIP-FA will fund salmonid habitat restoration and enhancement proposals. • Per proposal maximum cap of $150,000. FY05 Oregon habitat priorities are sage grouse habitat, salmonid habitat and “other at-risk species and habitats”. Oregon NRCS is requesting proposals for the following priorities listed below: 1. FY05 Oregon WHIP Sage Grouse Habitat Priority: The FY05 OR WHIP priorities for sage grouse habitat conservation, restoration and enhancement proposals are those proposing: • Sage grouse habitat conservation and improvement projects on private lands for maintaining current populations through maintenance and enhancement of sage grouse habitat. The primary habitats of emphasis are Sage Grouse in their current range, located in Baker, Crook, Deschutes, and Lake Counties. Proposals for other counties within the current range will be considered if habitat is in danger of being converted or lost. The current range areas for those counties are shown on the attached map from the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Greater Sage-Grouse Conservation Assessment and Strategy for Oregon, dated Dec 30, 2004. • Emphasis will be on proposals with existing partnership/planning efforts seeking to implement plans/projects for improving sage grouse habitats. Such efforts are currently being developed in Baker, Deschutes, Crook and Lake Counties. Proposals are to be based on the biological needs of sage-grouse and the conservation and improvement of their habitats. 2. FY05 WHIP Salmon Habitat Priority: The FY05 OR WHIP priorities for salmonid habitat restoration and enhancement proposals are those proposing: • Salmonid habitat improvement projects that directly benefit the health of salmonid habitats through conservation actions in upland and related riparian areas. The proposals must be located in relation to “small streams” (i.e., second to fourth order streams) with recognized critical areas and show benefits directly for salmon habitats. These projects may, for example, include plantings (herbaceous, woody), increased buffer size, livestock exclusion, off-stream livestock/wildlife watering, fencing, and plantings. Upland improvements may involve, for example, juniper-clearing, range planting, etc. that benefits the health of riparian areas, water quantity and quality. • Streambank restoration projects in areas that show benefits directly for salmon habitats will be considered provided project design and implementation is covered by a programmatic consultation, such as the Corp of Engineer’s biological opinion for Standard Local Operating Procedures for Endangered Species (SLOPES) or consultation is done by a third party. 3. FY05 WHIP Other At-Risk Species and Habitats Priority: • The FY05 OR WHIP priorities for “Other At-Risk Species and Habitats” restoration and enhancement proposals are those addressing: • Essential plant and animal habitats designated under federal or state law and locations of listed or candidate species that can be improved or particularly rare and unique habitats that could support at-risk species. The “Other At-Risk Species and Habitats” proposals are to address these habitats with respect to agricultural lands. Suggested habitats are native and wet prairie, grasslands, oak woodlands and savanna, and shrub-steppe habitats. The selected WHIP proposals will be funded through cooperative agreements. A cooperative agreement will be entered into between the United States Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service, (NRCS); and the selected partner. This cooperative agreement assists both NRCS and the partner with the implementation of common objectives and mutual interests in restoring and protecting fish and wildlife habitat within the state of Oregon. In the agreement NRCS and partner agree to combine their resources to ensure that wildlife habitat in the State of Oregon is restored and maintained. Upon execution of this agreement, NRCS shall obligate WHIP funds for the implementation of wildlife habitat activities. This cooperative agreement is the authorizing document to obligate NRCS funds for habitat development activities as proposed in the selected WHIP proposals. Each selected proposal will result in WHIP contracts with the respective landowners. WHIP contracts are generally 5 to 10 year agreements to provide restoration cost share funding at a 75% federal cost share payment. NRCS will provide the partner with sufficient information to perform the tasks outlined in this agreement. Specifically, NRCS will provide technical and other assistance required to develop and implement wildlife habitat development plans under this cooperative agreement. NRCS will also provide training and information to partners as it deems necessary to ensure program requirements are performed in accordance with current up-to-date information. NRCS will review the development of an O&M agreement in accordance with WHIP regulations and policies for the project prior to performance of work or award of a contract for which NRCS will provide reimbursement under this agreement. The applicant shall report to NRCS the appropriate data elements associated with the technical services provided to the Department or program participant so that the data can be entered into the conservation accomplishment tracking system. Partner will design treatments to create the conditions necessary to develop and maintain the habitat functions of the project area. This assistance will include activities associated with developing the preliminary and final Wildlife Habitat Development Plans (WHDP) addressing the participant's identified wildlife resource needs. The WHDP will be developed in accordance with WHIP regulations, policies, and NRCS Field Office Technical Guide (FOTG) standards. The plan must contain all conservation practices needed to meet FOTG Quality Criteria for conservation management systems and National Planning Procedures Handbook (NPPH) planning policy specifically as it relates to the participant's wildlife resources. Practices approved for cost share in FY2005 are identified in Attachment 1. All WHIP agreements and contracts shall be entered and recorded in Protracts with SCIMS information, AD 1155 denoting practices, number of units, cost share rate and total obligation. As well, progress shall be recorded in the NRCS Progress Reporting System. Procedures for Applying for Assistance: The prioritization and funding of proposals will be completed in the following manner: • Applicant must submit one original and two (2) copies of their proposal to Chris Martin, Contract Specialist, USDA, NRCS 101 SW Main, Ste 1300; Portland, Oregon 97204 • A budget is required for each proposal. • Applicants are encouraged to visit with NRCS at the respective local USDA Service Center to discuss local wildlife habitat concerns and priorities. • Eligible projects must be voluntary efforts that benefit species or their habitat on lands controlled by private landowners, state and local governmental entities, or Tribes. • Projects in partnership with other persons or entities are a higher funding priority. • Proposals will be competitively ranked and selected based on a point system consistent with FY05 Oregon State Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP) Ranking Criteria (attached). • NRCS will select the proposals to be funded. • WHIP participants are required to be in compliance with the conservation provisions of the Food Security Act of 1985, as amended, in order to receive WHIP cost-share payments. Therefore, WHIP participants who do not participate in other USDA programs will be required to complete an AD-1026 and comply with the Highly Erodible Land Conservation / Wetland Conservation provisions. WHIP applicants who need to complete an AD-1026 should contact the respective Farm Service Agency office. Available Funding: • Oregon NRCS is offering approximately $600,000 of FY05 WHIP financial assistance funds. Funding amount is subject to change. Any additional funding received in Oregon will be added to this announcement. Authority: • Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002, P.L. 107-171; Federal Improvement and Reform Act of 1996, P. L. 104-127; Food Security Act of 1985, as amended, 16 U.S.C. 3830 et seq. OREGON APPROVED PRACTICE LIST FOR WHIP – FY05 PRIORITY PRACTICES LIST (minimum of one in each Wildlife Habitat Development Plan (WHDP). These management practices will not be cost-shared) 645 M Upland Wildlife Habitat Management 644 M Wetland Wildlife Habitat Management 395 M Stream Habitat Improvement And Management 647 M Early Successional Habitat Development/Mgt 643 M Restoration And Management Of Declining Habitats 646 M Shallow Water Management for Wildlife ASSOCIATED PRACTICES 314 A Brush Management 322 A Channel Vegetation 327 A Conservation Cover 332 A Contour Buffer Strips 342 A Critical Area Planting 362 A Diversion 380 A Windbreak/Shelterbelt Establishment S 382 A Fence S 386 A Field Border 390 A Riparian Herbaceous Cover 393 A Filter Strip 391 A Riparian Forest Buffer 396 A Fish Passage 410 A Grade Stabilization Structure 412 A Grassed Waterway 422 A Hedgerow Planting 430 A Irrigation Pipeline 442 A Irrigation Sprinkler System 472 A Use Exclusion 490 A Forest Site Preparation 550 A Range Planting 574 A Spring Development 580 A Streambank and Shoreline Protection 603 A Herbaceous Wind Barriers 612 A Tree/Shrub Establishment 648 A Wildlife Watering Facility 650 A Windbreak/Shelterbelt Renovation 657 A Wetland Restoration S 659 A Wetland Enhancement S 666 A Forest Stand Improvement FACILITATING PRACTICES 430 S 430 Irrigation pipeline 442 S 442 Irrigation sprinkler system 587 S 587 Structure for water control 533 S 533 Pumping plant 378 S 378 Pond 516 S 516 Pipeline 614 S 614 watering facility 356 S 356 Dike 362 S 362 Diversion 382 S 382 Fence M = Priority management practices (Not Cost-Shared) A = Associated practice S = Facilitating practice to facilitate the implementation of the associated practice FY2005 Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP) Applicant Budget Applicant Cost-Share (minimum 25%) Practice Code Practice Name Unit Measurement (acres, each, etc.) Cost per Unit Total Cost Dollars In-kind Planned Year