F25AS00288 FY 2025 Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund Traditional Conservation Grants Program Region 4

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), under the Department of the Interior, is offering the FY 2025 Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund Traditional Conservation Grants Program for Region 4 through Notice of Funding Opportunity F25AS00288. This grant program aims to support state-led efforts for the conservation and recovery of threatened and endangered species under the jurisdiction of the FWS. The Traditional Conservation Grant Program, authorized under Section 6 of the Endangered Species Act (ESA), is a key mechanism for FWS to provide financial assistance to states and territories that have entered into cooperative agreements with the federal agency to develop and implement conservation programs for resident species listed under the ESA. The program offers approximately $3,366,779 in funding for FY 2025, with individual awards ranging from $1,000 to the full program ceiling, depending on the scope and merit of the project proposals. Around 75 awards are expected to be made. Eligible applicants are limited to state agencies that have established a cooperative agreement with FWS under section 6(c) of the ESA or who will do so within 30 days of the application deadline. Projects must focus on species currently included in the state’s cooperative agreement or that are newly listed as candidates, eligible unlisted species, or species delisted within the past five years due to recovery. The program will fund activities such as habitat restoration, species propagation, genetic research, population surveys, and outreach efforts. Projects should be consistent with approved or draft species recovery plans and demonstrate clear, direct benefits to listed species or their habitats. All projects must take place in the United States and involve voluntary conservation efforts. Projects involving regulated actions such as transportation of species across state lines or holding wildlife in captivity for extended periods may require additional permitting and environmental compliance documentation. Applications must be submitted electronically via GrantSolutions.gov by 11:59 PM Eastern Time on October 20, 2025. Before applying, applicants must complete registrations in SAM.gov and obtain a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI). The required application package includes SF-424, SF-424A, SF-LLL (if applicable), a Project Abstract Summary, and a Project Narrative addressing objectives, methods, expected outcomes, budget, environmental compliance, and potential overlap with other funding sources. A detailed budget narrative explaining all costs and cost-share contributions is also required. Pre-award costs may be reimbursed if justified and approved. The application will undergo an eligibility screening and then a merit-based review. Applications will be evaluated based on species listing status and recovery actions (35 points), relevance to program goals (35 points), technical merit (20 points), and budget clarity (10 points). Final award decisions will be made by the Regional Director, who may consider additional factors such as geographic distribution, duplication of effort, and previous grant performance. Funding is awarded through grants and is subject to reporting and compliance requirements. The anticipated project start date is October 30, 2025, with a project duration of up to three years. A one-time extension of up to 12 months may be requested. The primary contact for this funding opportunity is Victoria Davis, who can be reached at victoria_davis@fws.gov or 404-679-4176. Full application instructions and compliance guidance can be found in the funding announcement and related resources hosted by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Coordinate early with the program contact and ensure cooperative agreements are in place before submission. Provide detailed responses to budget and technical merit criteria to facilitate scoring.