F25AS00228 Candidate Species Conservation Fund

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) administers the Candidate Species Conservation Fund under Notice of Funding Opportunity F25AS00228. This federal funding program is rooted in the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and aims to encourage proactive conservation actions for candidate and at-risk species before they warrant formal listing under the ESA. By fostering partnerships with state agencies, nonprofits, academic institutions, tribes, landowners, and other entities, the program seeks to address threats and stabilize species populations to avoid future listings. The primary objective is to implement conservation projects that provide measurable benefits to candidate and at-risk species. Eligible activities include research, habitat restoration, monitoring, educational outreach, and the collection of scientific data. Funding is prioritized for species with high Listing Priority Numbers or that are identified on the National Listing Work Plan. Projects must show how they will prevent the need for listing by reducing threats or enhancing species resilience, redundancy, or representation. However, land acquisition and projects for NMFS-managed species are not eligible. The funding opportunity is open to a wide range of applicants including governmental entities at all levels, educational institutions, nonprofits, individuals, and for-profit organizations. Applicants must have demonstrated experience and knowledge of the target species and ecosystems. While cost-sharing is not required, proposals that leverage additional funds are scored more favorably. Federal awards are made as grants or cooperative agreements, with the FWS maintaining substantial involvement in projects funded through cooperative agreements. Applications must be submitted electronically through GrantSolutions.gov by September 30, 2025. Awards will be made and obligated on a rolling basis based on regional priorities. The project start date is anticipated to be June 1, 2025, with projects required to be completed within three years. Required documentation includes the SF-424 and SF-424A forms, a detailed project narrative, a project abstract summary, budget narrative, and various statements of compliance. Projects requesting over $100,000 must also include lobbying disclosures. Evaluation criteria include program relevance, technical merit, qualifications of applicants, budget justification, and cost-sharing contributions. The merit review process scores each application out of 110 points. Applications undergo both eligibility and risk reviews. Reviewers assess the feasibility, compliance with federal requirements, and potential for overlap with other funded activities. Successful applicants will be notified electronically through GrantSolutions. Contact information for regional representatives is provided, with each FWS regional office handling inquiries based on the project's geographic location. The FWS emphasizes the importance of early coordination with regional offices and urges applicants to consult the relevant candidate species lists and prioritization tools before submission.