Opportunity Information: Apply for F18AS00257
This funding opportunity (F18AS00257) is a discretionary cooperative agreement offered by the U.S. Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service under CFDA 15.665. It is grounded in the Emergency Wetlands Resources Act of 1986, the authorizing legislation for the Fish and Wildlife Service National Wetlands Inventory (NWI) program. The core purpose of the opportunity is to support work that advances the NWI program's mission of building and maintaining a nationwide inventory of wetlands across the United States, which is a foundational tool for wetland conservation and related environmental decision-making.
The National Wetlands Inventory program exists to produce, update, and distribute wetland geospatial data, commonly delivered as mapped datasets that describe the location and characteristics of wetlands. These data are not limited to internal federal use; they are broadly shared and heavily relied upon by many different audiences. Industry uses NWI data for early-stage planning and risk screening, governments at the federal, state, tribal, and local levels use them to inform permitting and land-use decisions, and researchers and educators use them for scientific studies, curriculum, and public information. In practical terms, the value of the program is that it gives the public and decision-makers a consistent, nationwide dataset that helps identify wetland resources, supports conservation strategies, and improves the quality of environmental planning.
The instrument type is a cooperative agreement, which generally indicates the Fish and Wildlife Service expects to have substantial involvement in the funded work compared with a standard grant. While the specific statement of work is not included in the excerpt you provided, the program description makes clear that the funded activities would be tied to developing, refining, or otherwise supporting NWI wetland inventory products and the geospatial mapping information that underpins them. The funding activity category is listed as Environment, aligning the program with conservation and environmental management outcomes rather than infrastructure or direct service delivery.
Eligibility is limited to nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education) and private institutions of higher education. The opportunity anticipates a single award, with an award ceiling of $131,000. The posting shows a very short application window based on the original dates provided: it was created July 24, 2018, with an original closing date of July 27, 2018, meaning interested applicants would have needed to respond quickly with a proposal aligned to NWI program needs and cooperative agreement expectations.
In summary, this opportunity is designed to financially support a partner organization that can help the Fish and Wildlife Service carry out the National Wetlands Inventory mission: producing widely used, publicly distributed wetland mapping data that strengthens conservation planning and improves how wetlands are considered in policy, research, education, and land management decisions nationwide.Apply for F18AS00257
- The Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service in the environment sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "The Emergency Wetlands Resources Act of 1986 is the authorizing legislation for the FWS NWI program, CFDA 15.665" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.665.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jul 24, 2018.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 27, 2018. (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 $131,000.00 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, Private institutions of higher education.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the funding opportunity number for this program?
The funding opportunity number is F18AS00257.
Which federal agency is offering this opportunity?
This opportunity is offered by the U.S. Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service.
What type of funding instrument is this?
The instrument type is a discretionary cooperative agreement. This typically means the Fish and Wildlife Service expects substantial involvement in the funded work compared with a standard grant.
What CFDA program is associated with this funding?
The opportunity is listed under CFDA 15.665.
What law or authority is this opportunity based on?
The opportunity is grounded in the Emergency Wetlands Resources Act of 1986, which authorizes the Fish and Wildlife Service National Wetlands Inventory (NWI) program.
What is the core purpose of this opportunity?
The purpose is to support work that advances the National Wetlands Inventory (NWI) program's mission to build and maintain a nationwide inventory of wetlands across the United States.
What is the National Wetlands Inventory (NWI) program?
The National Wetlands Inventory program exists to produce, update, and distribute wetland geospatial data. These data are commonly delivered as mapped datasets that describe the location and characteristics of wetlands nationwide.
What kinds of activities does this funding support?
While a specific statement of work is not included in the provided description, the program information indicates funded activities would be tied to developing, refining, or otherwise supporting NWI wetland inventory products and the geospatial mapping information that underpins them.
What is the funding activity category?
The funding activity category is Environment, aligning the award with conservation and environmental management outcomes.
Who uses National Wetlands Inventory data?
NWI data are broadly shared and used by many audiences, including:
- Industry, for early-stage planning and risk screening
- Governments (federal, state, tribal, and local), to inform permitting and land-use decisions
- Researchers and educators, for scientific studies, curriculum, and public information
Why is the National Wetlands Inventory important?
The NWI provides a consistent, nationwide dataset that helps identify wetland resources, supports conservation strategies, and improves the quality of environmental planning and decision-making.
Is this data intended only for federal government use?
No. The NWI geospatial wetland data are broadly distributed and heavily relied upon by a wide range of external users, not just internal federal audiences.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is limited to:
- Nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education)
- Private institutions of higher education
Are public (government) universities eligible?
The provided eligibility list specifies private institutions of higher education and does not mention public institutions. Based on the information provided only, eligibility for public institutions is not indicated.
Are 501(c)(3) nonprofits that are also institutions of higher education eligible?
The eligibility description explicitly lists 501(c)(3) nonprofits while excluding institutions of higher education. Based on the provided text alone, a 501(c)(3) that is an institution of higher education would not fit the stated nonprofit eligibility category.
How many awards are expected to be made?
The opportunity anticipates a single award.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling is $131,000.
What were the posting and closing dates shown for the opportunity?
The opportunity was created on July 24, 2018, with an original closing date of July 27, 2018.
How long was the original application window?
Based on the dates provided (July 24, 2018 to July 27, 2018), the posting reflected a very short application window.
What does "cooperative agreement" imply for applicants?
A cooperative agreement generally indicates that the Fish and Wildlife Service expects to be substantially involved in the funded work, rather than simply issuing funds with minimal agency participation.
What kinds of outcomes is this opportunity trying to achieve?
The description emphasizes outcomes that strengthen wetland conservation and improve how wetlands are considered in environmental planning, policy, research, education, and land management decisions by supporting widely used, publicly distributed wetland mapping data.
Is the opportunity focused on creating public-facing products?
The NWI program description highlights that its wetland geospatial data are widely distributed and used by many audiences, indicating a strong emphasis on publicly shared mapping datasets and inventory products.
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