State Wildlife Grants Request for Proposals - Submittal Guidelines December 2024

The Wildlife Diversity Program of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) is requesting proposals from organizations and agencies interested in partnering with the TPWD to implement high-priority portions of the State Wildlife Action Plan for Texas (SWAP). TPWD will make funding available to support cooperative, cost-share projects that will further the conservation of wildlife species designated as “Species of Greatest Conservation Need” in the SWAP. The origin of this funding is the State Wildlife Grants (SWG) program, which is a federal assistance program for state wildlife conservation agencies. The purpose of the SWG program is to support proactive conservation efforts for animal species that are rare or declining and considered to be at risk of endangerment. Due to restrictions in the program’s authorizing language, proposals for law enforcement, education, recreation, and plant conservation activities are not eligible for SWG funding unless otherwise stated in a Request for Proposals (RFP) topic. Unsolicited proposals for topics other than those explicitly listed within this RFP will not be considered for funding.

Topics of interest for this funding cycle:

1. Activity Patterns of Black-spotted Newt (Notophthalmus meridionalis)
   RFP Contact: Paul Crump
   Black-spotted Newts are an SGCN with a S3 status and are under review for ESA protection. There are significant knowledge gaps for this species. We lack an understanding of the condition of any population, know little about what individuals and populations need to persist, and we do not understand the specific threats that might be the cause for the real or perceived decline in occupancy and abundance. Previous studies have failed to detect populations at historically occupied sites, but low detection probabilities and a lack of understanding of phenology and specific environmental triggers and thresholds for surface and breeding activity likely result in false negative survey results and an underestimation of occupancy rates.
   
   TPWD is seeking proposals that aim, primarily, to better understand breeding and surface activity patterns and, secondarily, the non-breeding habitat needs of the Black-spotted Newt. The goal of the work is to collect data that will enable a more accurate estimate of the condition of populations and the needs of individuals and populations.
   
   The successful proposal is expected to select at least 3 sites across the range where newts are known to occur and conduct a year-round monitoring program at those sites to collect data on activity and movement. That monitoring may include the use of traditional human surveys with minnow traps, seining, and dip netting, the use of novel but validated techniques such as eDNA or automated tracking technology, or a combination of both, to detect the onset and duration of breeding activity and surface movements.
   
   Project deliverables include, but may not be limited to, a 1) specific geographic information about the location of the study sites, 2) survey methods used, effort, and capture/detection probabilities as a function of environmental covariates known to affect amphibian activity and reproduction, 3) specific locations of all Black-spotted Newts detected, with demographic and morphological data, along with information regarding any permanent marks made to facilitate recapture, and 4) habitat information about the study site and locations the newts were observed at.
   
   The maximum total federal budget is $200,000 (65%) which would require a matching contribution of at least $107,693 (35%) under the State Wildlife Grant program, for a total project budget of $307,693. The project is expected to be completed within three years of the start date.
   
2. Reintroduction of Brazos Watersnakes (Nerodia harteri)
   RFP Contact: Paul Crump
   Brazos Watersnakes are an endemic aquatic SGCN snake in Texas with a S1 status. The species has a current active research program funded by both the Texas Comptrollers Natural Resource Program and the Brazos River Authority. While there are some knowledge gaps about the condition of populations of this species, most research gaps have been filled, and we are at the point where a well-monitored conservation program would benefit the status of this species. In 2024, the Houston Zoo collected 4 pairs of Brazos Watersnakes from across the range to start a captive colony from which we can produce individuals for release into the wild to create new or augment existing populations.
   
   TPWD is seeking proposals for a release and post release monitoring program where the goal is to establish or augment Brazos Watersnake populations. This proposal should be framed as a conservation project with an associated monitoring and adaptive management program. The duration of the funding will limit a full and complete assessment of the release program, but the expectation is this project will initiate the program.
   
   The successful proposal is expected to create a framework for evaluating candidate release sites, which should include desktop and field assessments, pre-release biological surveys and include key stakeholders in the final site selection. Release sites may include historically occupied sites where snakes no longer exist, creating new habitats in reservoirs, or looking for areas of suitable habitat outside of the known historical range. Proposals are also expected to support Houston Zoo in captive colony management and release preparations, release captive bred snakes into the wild and implement a post-release monitoring and adaptive management program that seeks to assess the outcomes and make adjust the program to improve those outcomes.
   
   Project deliverables include, but may not be limited to, 1) an evaluation of candidate release sites, the results of pre-release monitoring, and justification for final site decisions, 2) a captive propagation management plan, 3) pre-release health assessment protocols, 4) release procedures, release dates, numbers of snakes released and associated demographic and morphological data, along with information regarding any permanent marks made to facilitate recapture, and specific geographic information about the release locations, 5) details of post-release monitoring results including survey locations, survey methods, effort, and capture/detection probabilities as a function of environmental covariates known to affect snake activity, specific locations of all snakes detected, with demographic and morphological data, 6) habitat information about the study site and locations the snakes were released and observed at, and 7) an assessment of the outcomes and recommendations to improve outcomes.
   
   The maximum total federal budget is $300,000 (65%) which would require a matching contribution of $161,539 (35%) under the State Wildlife Grant program, for a total project budget of $461,539. The project is expected to be completed within four years of the start date.
   
3. Occurrence Surveys for Tamaulipan Spot-tailed Earless Lizard (Holbrookia subcaudalis)
   RFP Contact: Paul Crump
   Tamaulipan Spot-tailed Earless Lizards (henceforth referred to as TSTEL) are an SGCN lizard with a S2 status. The species is under review for federal ESA protection. The species appears to have declined significantly across its south Texas range but irruptive population cycles and challenges in accessing high quality habitat create uncertainty in the true status. Individuals are infrequently seen and posted to iNaturalist by casual observers at locations where they were not previously detected. More information is required about the current extant distribution and the condition of populations to enable an accurate conservation status assessment.
   
   TPWD is seeking proposals to conduct additional occurrence surveys in counties that contain suitable habitat, were historically occupied, but where no verifiable observations have been made in at least 25 years. This project is field based, and proposals will be evaluated on the quality and quantity of the survey data generated.
   
   The successful proposal would optimally provide probabilistic estimates of true absences at sites in counties where TSTEL has not been detected in decades to disentangle the appearance of false negative surveys from true extirpations. The proposal should utilize, reference, and preferably demonstrate experience with advances in the understanding of the species distribution, habitat requirements, peak abundance and activity periods, and effective survey methods in the design of the project.
   
   Project deliverables may include 1) specific geographic information about the location of the survey sites, 2) survey methods used, effort, and capture/detection probabilities as a function of environmental covariates known to affect lizard activity and abundance, 3) specific locations of all TSTEL detected, with demographic and morphological data, along with information regarding any permanent marks made to facilitate recapture, and 4) habitat information about the survey sites and locations the TSTEL were observed at.
   
   The maximum total federal budget is $150,000 (65%) which would require a matching contribution of $80,770 (35%) under the State Wildlife Grant program, for a total project budget of $230,770. The project is expected to be completed within two years of the start date.
   
4. Breeding population and habitat status of Mountain Plover (Anarhynchus montanus) in Texas
   RFP Contact: Tania Homayoun
   The Mountain Plover (MOPL) is a shortgrass prairie specialist whose breeding and wintering range both extend into Texas. This SGCN has experienced long-term declines of more than 78% range wide and has been designated as a Red Watch List species by Partners in Flight, a Tipping Point species by Road to Recovery, and as Near Threatened by IUCN. Additionally, MOPL has been proposed for ESA listing three times in the last 25 years. While a 2019-2020 USGS survey has provided updated data on wintering population and habitat for this species, recent data on breeding MOPL population, distribution, and habitat in Texas is lacking.
   
   Texas Parks and Wildlife is seeking proposals to fill information gaps on the current breeding population status and breeding habitat condition of the Mountain Plover within Texas counties with known current occurrence and those which were historically occupied (nesting records from the last 25 years).
   
   The successful proposal should detail a strategic approach to field survey design to assess bird density and breeding population estimates for MOPL in the study area, as well as a strategic assessment of the habitat condition, focusing both on general land cover type and specific factors known to influence breeding habitat suitability, at current and historic nesting locations. The proposal should demonstrate familiarity with the species’ nesting ecology and survey techniques for breeding season monitoring. Proposals will also be evaluated on the quality and quantity of the bird and habitat data generated.
   
   Project deliverables include, but may not be limited to 1) specific geographic information for known/historical and potential MOPL breeding locations in Texas; 2) documentation of currently active nesting locations and (if able) success rate for nests found; 3) bird density and breeding population estimate for MOPL in Texas; 4) site-specific metrics for breeding habitat conditions at both current and historical MOPL nesting areas to evaluate current and likely future suitability.
   
   The maximum total federal budget is $125,000 (65%) which would require a matching contribution of at least $67,308 (35%) under the State Wildlife Grant program, for a total project budget of $192,308. The project is expected to be completed within two years of the start date.

Background

The SWG program is a federal cost-share program that supports proactive conservation and management activities that benefit rare and declining wildlife species - those that are in the greatest need of additional conservation attention. As the statutory fish and wildlife management agency for Texas, the TPWD is our state's approved recipient for these funds. TPWD is responsible for requesting and administering SWG to support the implementation of the State Wildlife Action Plan for Texas (SWAP). State Wildlife Grants are distributed specifically for the protection and management of Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN) identified in the SWAP.

Our desire is to fund well-designed projects that provide conservation benefits for one or more species of greatest conservation need and that address one or more of the conservation issues outlined in the SWAP. The SWAP is a strategic conservation plan that was developed by TPWD that identifies the species of greatest conservation need, the habitats with which they are associated, and the factors that most substantially affect their populations. Beneficial conservation actions include habitat restoration or enhancement activities, and field studies that seek to fill information gaps that will enable Texas to develop more effective conservation programs for rare and declining species. The SWAP is the guiding document for how SWG funding may be spent in Texas and applicants should review the relevant sections of this strategic plan before preparing their proposal, see the SWAP.

Eligibility of Prospective Applicants

TPWD will only issue contracts to the following entities:

• Institutions of Higher Education, such as colleges or universities (private or public; see "Higher Education Coordinating Act of 1965" Sec. 61.003).
• Non-profit organizations [501c(3)].
• Federal (except Dept Interior), State, Local (County, City) offices, (see "Professional Services Procurement Act" Sec. 2254.002).

TPWD will no longer issue contracts directly to consultants or consulting agencies (see State of Texas "Professional Services Procurement Act" Sec. 2254.021).

It is imperative that the applicant agency/institution possess thorough knowledge of State of Texas purchasing rules and Federal regulations (e.g., 2 CFR 200), and have the administrative expertise and infrastructure to be able to manage federally funded state contracts.

Connection to the SWAP for Texas

All proposals must be consistent with the purpose of the SWG program in that they must contribute to the conservation of SGCN and proposals that address one of the topics listed above in the Statement of Work section will receive priority for funding. Additionally, all proposals must cite at least one page, species, or section of the SWAP to demonstrate their connection to this planning document. The most current version of this strategic conservation plan is attached with this announcement, see the SWAP for Texas.

Matching Requirements and Funding Limitations

The funding awarded through this Request for Proposals originates from the SWG program, which is described above in the Background section of this RFP. SWG is a cost-share program that requires a non-federal match to the funding that is awarded. The current cost-ratio for SWG is 65:35 meaning that all grants require non-federal matching funds that are equal to 35% of the grant’s total cost. Funds will be made available to the grantee on a reimbursement basis.

All funding recipients under this Request for Proposals will be required to provide the non-federal matching funds for their grant (35% of the grant’s total cost). Sources of matching funds can include, but are not limited to, cash match of state or private dollars, in-kind services, the contribution of a portion of the recipient’s indirect costs, or the contribution of a portion of the salary of the Principal Investigator(s) (PI). No federal funds, including funds from other federal grant programs, can be used as matching funds for the SWG program.

Because the funding pool is relatively limited, the time frame for each proposal may not exceed four years.

Proposal Format and Proposal Preparation Guidance

All proposals submitted in response to this RFP must be written in the format described in Appendices I and II. Proposals should contain a thorough description of the activities to be performed and the data that will be collected and provided with the project’s Interim Performance Reports and Final Report. Prior to submittal, we suggest that investigators contact the taxa-specific Nongame and Rare Species Program biologist to discuss and refine potential proposals.

Proposals must be submitted in electronic format (e.g., Word), and budgets must be submitted on the provided Excel template. Complete proposals, not including the itemized budget, are limited in length to ten single-spaced, 8-1/2 x 11-inch pages, using 11-point font or greater with one-inch margins. Proposals exceeding this length will not be considered. The project title in the separate Excel budget form should match exactly the narrative (text) title for the project. The proposal may include up to six additional pages for needed attachments and/or appendices that may present data tables, graphs or maps that support the proposal’s narrative section. Before formal submission of a signed budget to TPWD, make sure the project POC has reviewed and provided feedback on the proposal and budget. Additionally, the proposal must be accompanied by a brief biographic summary for each Principal Investigator (PI) working on the project. The biographic summary should be a brief description (not more than one page) of each applicant’s experience and knowledge as it relates to the activities included in the proposal and is not expected to be a complete resume. (The biographic information does not count against the ten-page proposal maximum size limit.) Total electronic file size for all materials submitted should not exceed 25 MB. We will send an email within 2 business days confirming receipt of your application. Application materials will not be returned following evaluations and awards.

Compliance with Federal and State Law

Congress funds the SWG program through the annual appropriations process as a line-item addition (i.e., SWG is not included in the programmatic budget of any federal agency). Because the SWG program’s funds are federal dollars, all activities funded through the program must be in compliance with all federal laws.

Successful grant recipients will be considered sub-recipients of TPWD and will be required to comply with applicable federal and state laws and regulations including the provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act and the Endangered Species Act. If handling endangered species, the PI will be required to provide his or her federal scientific collecting permit number or indicate if the PI will obtain a federal scientific collecting permit before contract approval. Additionally, the grant recipient is required to obtain a state scientific collector's permit if any non-threatened or endangered species will be captured, held in possession temporarily, or collected as part of the project.

Projects that involve construction or soil-disturbing activities must be prepared to address their potential effect on archaeological and cultural resources as well as historic preservation. Projects that involve the capture or collection of any vertebrate species may require Animal Welfare compliance (e.g., Laboratory Animal Welfare Act of 1966 and Health Research Extension Act of 1985).

As a condition of accepting federal funds through the SWG program, grant recipients must agree to adhere to all Federal Assistance compliance requirements including a thorough written assessment of the project’s Environmental Compliance in Section P of the proposal (see Appendix I for details) and the timely submission of financial and project performance reports. The recipient’s organization must have a system to track and document all expenses claimed toward the grant.

Any work to be performed on private lands in Texas using these funds requires, as a matter of state statute (TPW 12.103) and TPWD policy grantees to secure written permission from the private landowner(s) for the purposes of (1) access to the land, and (2) use of data collected on that land. If your project will include reporting results from specifically identified private lands, written permission from applicable private landowners will be required to be provided to TPWD before the contract can be approved. Complete and attach form PWD 0153a Landowner Permission for Wildlife Research including landowner(s) signature and date to this application packet to verify that they have read, understood, and agreed to your proposal, will grant access to their land to specified individuals, and will grant permission to use data obtained from the project for scientific and/or environmental consultation purposes (e.g., reports, maps, databases). Or, if the project has not specifically identified private lands at the time of proposal submission, a form PWD 0153a Landowner Permission for Wildlife Research must be provided later before contract approval. If such action becomes necessary after the contract has been signed, then documentation, as specified above, will be required before work can begin on identified private lands study sites. Copies of all completed and signed PWD 0153a Landowner Permission for Wildlife Research forms must be provided to the contract manager no later than the deadline specified in the contract for the final report.

Performance Reporting Requirements

All successful applicants will be required to provide annual reports of their project’s activities to satisfy federal project monitoring requirements.

An Interim Report will be due to TPWD within 30 days of the annual reporting period end date of the grant as listed in the contract. A Final Report will be due to TPWD within 30 days of the completion of the grant. Interim and Final reports are critically important and must be submitted on time to process grant invoices. Invoice payments may be delayed because of untimely or deficient report submissions and invoices may be returned. Each Interim Report and the Final Report must be provided in Microsoft Word format using the template provided by the TPWD Project Coordinator; reports submitted in any other format will be rejected. PIs are encouraged to submit digital images/photos with their reports that depict various aspects of their project including procedures employed in the field, their study site, and the species involved in the project. Performance reports must contain a comparison of the actual accomplishments during that grant segment with the objectives of the grant as written in the proposal/scope of work. If applicable, an explanation must be provided describing why the objectives were not met and any other pertinent information relevant to the project results.

Duration of Grants

Proposals will be considered for projects that cover one, two, three or four-year periods. A fifth year may be added to restoration projects for monitoring purposes (see part 8 below for details). Grants must start at the beginning of a quarter and for this RFP, we will accept proposals that have a starting date of either November 1, 2025, or January 1, 2026.

Budget Preparation

The necessary funding for the entire project should be included in the proposal. The budget also should identify the source(s) of the non-federal matching funds that will be provided by the grant recipient. The budget shall be prepared by the institution’s fiscal, budget, or grant staff, and signed by this individual. Once the contract is developed between TPWD and the grant recipient’s institution, TPWD will reimburse the grant recipient for up to 65.00% of its approved invoiced costs. Please submit both an Excel version and a signed PDF version of the budget completed using the provided Excel template; the budget/budget narrative should not be included in the text body of your proposal.

A detailed, itemized budget should be prepared using the budget template provided that describes how the project’s funding will be used/allocated. Funds not spent in a fiscal year may roll to the following year within the contract grant period. Any request to roll funds will require a budget amendment.

The budget also should identify the source(s) of the 35% non-federal matching funds that will be provided by the grant recipient. Please note that for multi-year proposals, the budget for the total project must have at least 35% non-federal match.

The itemized budget must include estimated costs (rounded to the nearest whole dollar) for salary and wages, fringe benefits, travel costs (tips or gratuities and purchase of alcohol are not reimbursable expenses), supplies, miscellaneous, and indirect costs. Also include contractual services if applicable to the project. Modified Total Direct cost (MTDC) must be calculated on the provided budget template, to which indirect costs should be applied. MTDC excludes equipment, capital expenditures, charges for patient care, rental costs, tuition remission (stipend), scholarships and fellowships, participant support costs, and the portion of each sub-award and subcontract in excess of $25,000. Please note that if you intend to subcontract/sub-award work that exceeds $25,000 in total, only the first $25,000 of that subcontract/sub-award amount may be included in the MTDC for the overall project budget. Therefore, only up to $25,000 for a subcontract/sub-award can be included when calculating MTDC over the entire life of the project. An example budget table and an example budget narrative are provided in Appendix II.

Determining Allowability of Costs

When determining how a subrecipient will spend its grant funds, the proposed cost must be reviewed to determine whether it is an allowable use of federal grant funds before obligating and spending those funds on the proposed good or service. All costs supported by federal funds must meet the standards outlined in 2 CFR Part 200, Subpart E, which are generally described in the bulleted list below. Subrecipients must consider these factors when making an allowability determination.

• Be Necessary and Reasonable for the performance of the federal award. Subrecipients must consider these elements when determining the reasonableness of a cost. A cost is reasonable if it, in its nature and amount, does not exceed that which would be incurred by a prudent person under the circumstances prevailing at the time the decision to incur the cost was made. For example, reasonable means that sound business practices were followed, and purchases were comparable to market prices.
  
  When determining reasonableness of a cost, consideration must be given to:
  • Whether the cost is a type generally recognized as ordinary and necessary for the operation of the non-federal entity or the proper and efficient performance of the federal award.
  • The restraints or requirements imposed by factors such as: sound business practices; arm’s-length bargaining; federal, state and other laws and regulations; and terms and conditions of the federal award.
  • Market prices for comparable goods or services for the geographic area.
  • Whether the individuals concerned acted with prudence in the circumstances considering their responsibilities to the non-federal entity, its employees, the public at large, and the federal government.
  • Whether the non-federal entity significantly deviates from its established practices and policies regarding the incurrence of costs, which may unjustifiably increase the federal award’s cost. 2 CFR §200.404.
    
    Necessity is determined based on the needs of the grant program. Specifically, the expenditure must be necessary to achieve an important program objective related to the award. A key aspect in determining whether a cost is necessary is whether the non-federal entity can demonstrate that the cost addresses an existing need and can prove it.
    
    To determine whether a cost is necessary for the proper and efficient performance of the federal award, consideration should be given to:
  • Whether the cost is identified in the approved budget or application.
  • Whether there is a benefit associated with the cost.
  • Whether the cost aligns with identified needs based on results and findings from a needs assessment.
  • Whether the cost addresses program goals and objectives and is based on program data.
    
• Allocable to the federal award. A cost is allocable to the federal award if the goods or services involved are chargeable or assignable to the federal award in accordance with the relative benefit received. This means that the federal grant program derived a benefit in proportion to the funds charged to the program. 2 CFR §200.405. For example, if 50% of a technician’s salary is paid with grant funds, then that technician must spend at least 50% of his or her time on the grant program.
  
• Consistent with policies and procedures that apply uniformly to both federally financed and other activities of the subrecipient. State and TPWD requirements and policies regarding expenditures must be followed as well. For example, State of Texas and/or TPWD policies relating to travel or equipment may be narrower than the federal rules, and the more stringent state and/or agency policies must be followed.
  
• Conform to any limitations or exclusions set forth as cost principles in 2 CFR Part 200 or in the terms and conditions of the federal award.
  
• Consistent treatment. A cost cannot be assigned to a federal award as a direct cost if any other cost incurred for the same purpose in like circumstances has been assigned as an indirect cost under another award.
  
• Adequately documented. All expenditures must be properly documented.
  
• Be determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), unless provided otherwise in 2 CFR Part 200.
  
• Be the net of all applicable credits. The term “applicable credits” refers to those receipts or reduction of expenditures that operate to offset or reduce expense items allocable to the federal award. Typical examples of such transactions are purchase discounts; rebates or allowances; recoveries or indemnities on losses; and adjustments of overpayments or erroneous charges. To the extent that such credits accruing to or received by the state relate to the federal award, they shall be credited to the federal award, either as a cost reduction or a cash refund, as appropriate.

Effectiveness Monitoring

Those proposals that involve some form of habitat restoration or enhancement must include a monitoring component. To accommodate effectiveness monitoring, these project proposals may add one additional year to their duration for a maximum duration of five years. Monitoring measures should be relevant to the conservation of specific species or habitats and may include vegetation condition or animal population response.

Pre-Award Meeting

Successful grant applicants and their relevant fiscal staff shall participate in a pre-award meeting with relevant TPWD program, Texas Natural Diversity Database staff and Federal Assistance staff to discuss reporting requirements, data formatting and submission, as well as financial aspects of the grant process.

Proposal Submission Deadline and Contact

The deadline for the submission of proposals is the close of business (4:30 p.m.) on March 16, 2025.

Applicants must submit an electronic copy (Microsoft Word/Excel files) of their proposal in the format described in the attachment to TPWD by this deadline. Email proposals to Wildlife.Research@tpwd.texas.gov.

Proposals that are received after this date and time will not be considered for selection.

Questions regarding the content of this RFP may be directed to the appropriate taxa-specific Nongame and Rare Species Program biologist or to Wildlife.Research@tpwd.texas.gov.

Other Considerations

At all times, grantees shall be considered cooperators or independent contractors and not agents or representatives of the TPWD.

Grantees shall be subject to potential audit by the Texas State Auditor’s Office and the U.S. Department of the Interior. Because of the origin of this funding, grantees will be considered to be sub-recipients of both TPWD and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

TPWD reserves the right to terminate a cooperative agreement for failure to perform obligations under the contract.

TPWD reserves the right not to select a proposal in each of these topic areas (see Statement of Work on pages 1 and 2) due to funding limitations, insufficient proposal quality, or any other factors deemed appropriate.

Each proposal must follow this format and must include all sections below to be considered.

A. Proposal Title

Should be clear, concise, and 12 words or less.

B. Proposal Period (starting and ending dates of the proposed project)

In consideration of the time required for full processing by both TPWD and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, grants may have starting dates of either November 1, 2025, or January 1, 2026.

C. Principal Investigator(S) Name and Affiliation

Current contact information for the principal investigator (PI) and any co-investigator(s) (co-PIs): in priority order. Provide name, affiliation, work address, work telephone number, and email address. A TPWD Project Coordinator (PC) must be identified in this section. This person may serve as co-author on any publications resulting from this research, as long as mutual agreement and discretion is documented in writing. Provide documentation of PC's written approval to function as project coordinator and/or co-author as an attachment to this proposal. If no PC has been identified, write “No PC identified, please assign one” at the end of this section if you have not identified a PC for the project and TPWD will assign a PC for this project.

D. Description

Essentially an executive summary or abstract of the project; should not be more than a paragraph.

E. Geographic Location

Identify as explicitly as possible the bounds of the study area including amount and number of public and private properties (e.g., Site or ranch name or street address if you have written landowner permission to disclose; county; region, municipality, or township; other description or information related to location). Include GPS Coordinates in degrees, minutes, and seconds, if available. If administrative/office activities are proposed, provide the address(s) where the work will occur. Provide a map of all field location(s) as an attachment. If ground disturbing activities will be conducted, provide a 7.5-minute USGS topographic map with the specific location of these activities, and include photos of the site. Please provide the congressional district and TPWD Wildlife Division administrative district and region.

F. Need

Describe why the project is being proposed and provide an assessment of the need that will be met or the problem to be solved by the project. This section should contain the necessary background information, historical perspective, and other supporting information that will help the reader understand the importance of the project. It should cite appropriate references and must include at least one reference to pertinent sections of the State Wildlife Action Plan for Texas as updated in 2023.

G. Purpose

State the purpose of the project based upon the need. This is a short and broad statement that states the desired outcome of the proposed project in general terms. This section is usually one or two sentences.

H. Objective(s)

This is comprised of one or a few short, concise statements that list the things that will be accomplished through the project to address the need(s) listed above. The Objective section is typically one to three sentences. The objectives of the grant should be specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time- and space-bounded. Please provide a rough deadline for each objective.

I. Approaches

This section describes the activities, methods, or procedures that will be used to accomplish the objective(s) of the project. The activities, methods and procedures should be described in a logical sequence of events and should describe the data that will be collected and provided in each Report. The level of detail should be commensurate with the nature and complexity of the project and the level of funding requested. Provide specific references to support the activities, methods or procedures proposed. Note: A detailed approach describes all field activities (e.g., habitat manipulation, ground disturbance, off-road vehicle use, etc.) and identifies the majority of information needed to document environmental compliance.

This section must also clearly describe the data analysis methods to be used. Identify any assumptions made; the sampling or experimental units; minimum sample size; and any controls, treatments, and replication. Include experimental design and statistics to be used. Approaches must specifically correspond to each objective.

J. Expected Results or Benefits

This section should describe the anticipated or desired benefits or management implications of accomplishing the project objectives. It should explain the limits to which results are applicable over space and time. It should define what would constitute project success. In most cases, this includes the expected benefits to the public, species, and/or habitat. It should include a clear and complete description of the data that will be collected during the project and the data that will be provided in the Interim and Final Reports for the project. Anticipated publications may also be noted.

K. Useful Life

Any grant that involves a capital improvement that has a cost or value of $10,000 or more must include a statement of the anticipated useful life of that capital improvement. If this section is not applicable, provide a statement such as “No capital improvements will be made using grant funds.”

A capital improvement, per 50 CFR 80.2, means:

(i) A structure that costs at least $10,000 to build; or

(ii) The alteration, renovation, or repair of a structure if it increases the structure's useful life or its market value by at least $10,000.

L. Program Income

In one or two sentences, state whether the proposed project will generate any outside income because of the grant’s activities. In nearly all cases we expect that program income will not be generated. If this section is not applicable, make a statement indicating as such.

M. Equipment

Federal regulation (2 CFR 200.33) identifies equipment as tangible personal property (including information technology systems) having a useful life of more than one year and a per-unit acquisition cost which equals or exceeds the lesser of the capitalization level established by the non-Federal entity for financial statement purposes, or $10,000. Any equipment that is anticipated to be purchased using federal grant funds must be identified in this section for pre-approval of the expenditure, along with a projection of the equipment's useful life and a source supporting the useful life determination. Any item purchased using federal funds, which meets the federal definition of equipment, shall become the property of TPWD for tracking and auditing purposes. If the PI does not plan to purchase any equipment meeting the above definition, then a simple statement such as “No equipment will be purchased using grant funds.” may be written in this Section.

N. Relationship with Other Grants

Describe any relationship between this project and other work funded by Federal grants that is planned, anticipated, or underway. Please note that this is not a criterion upon which the proposal will be evaluated. Whether or not related work is being funded under other federal grant programs will not affect whether a proposal is selected for funding. This is simply an information item that federal agencies require when preparing grant awards.

O. Timeline

Provide a brief outline or approximate timeline for the activities that will be carried out under the grant. Where applicable, please include project milestones or significant dates/deadlines in the timeline. Do not include reporting dates.

Example:

January 1, 2026: Official project start date
January 2026 - April 2026: hire and enroll MS student to complete the project, purchase supplies
April - August 2026: perform fieldwork as per Approach
September - December 2026: analyze data
April - August 2027: perform fieldwork as per Approach
September - December 2027: data analysis
December 31, 2027: Official project end date

P. Environmental Compliance

If selected, PI will be required to provide compliance documents based on the proposed work. This will typically include an informal Section 7 to comply with the Endangered Species Act. Provide a statement if federally threatened or endangered species may be impacted by this project. For information regarding potential impacts on federally threatened and endangered species in your proposed project area, please refer to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Information, Planning and Conservation System (IPaC) for the most current range maps and other information. The link can be found at ipac.ecosphere.fws.gov/.

If there will be ground disturbing activities as part of the project, then the applicant must comply with Section 106 of the National Historical Preservation Act. Applicants should also provide statements that explain whether or not the proposed grant activities are likely to affect water quality or wetlands (Clean Water Act), air quality (Clean Air Act).

Q. Literature Cited

A list of the citations and relevant, recent literature used to develop the proposal.

R. Biographical Sketch

A brief biographical sketch must be prepared for each Principal Investigator and Co-Investigator. Each biographical sketch is limited to one page for each individual. The biographical sketch is not intended to be a full Curriculum Vitae or Resume; it only needs to provide an overview of his or her educational background, relevant experience, and relevant publications. It may also include any relevant professional affiliations and collaborating entities (e.g. museums, biological field stations, research labs). This information does not count against the ten-page proposal maximum size limit.

S. Checklist

Please include the following documents/information to ensure a complete RFP application package. These items will not count against the ten-page proposal maximum size limit:

(i) Are all sections listed in the project narrative guidelines (items A through S) included? _______ Yes_______ No.

(ii) Does the budget format follow the state fiscal year (Sept 1 through Aug 31) and have you had your grants or financial office review and sign off on the budget? Is the federal reimbursement request of your total project cost 65.00% or less?
_______ Yes_______ No.

(iii) Please list the name, mailing address, phone number, and e-mail address of the likely point of contact for this project in your grants or financial office (the person with whom we would coordinate on the development of the Contractual Agreement and grant purchase order):
Name: _____________________
Mailing Address: ____________________
E-mail: _____________________
Phone: _____________________

(iv) If the project budget includes the use of an indirect cost rate (F&A), please provide a copy of (or a link to) your current Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (NICRA). Note that, if selected, it is up to the sub-recipient to submit their entity’s updated NICRA to TPWD as they are approved on an annual basis for the duration of the contract.

Include the SAM Unique Entity ID (UEI), Employer Identification Number (EIN), and Texas Identification Number (TIN) for your organization (your grants or financial office should have these):
SAM UEI: ____________________________
EIN: ________________
TIN: ______________________________

(v) Do you anticipate that any soil-disturbing activities will be required as a part of this project? If so, this may trigger the need for TPWD and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to consider the potential impact to cultural resources under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act or potential Tribal Consultation.
_________ Yes_________ No

(vi) Is the PWD 0153a Landowner Permission for Wildlife Research form attached? _______ Yes_______ This work will not take place on private lands

(vii) In order for TPWD to complete the required risk assessment of your entity if selected as a sub-recipient, please provide information regarding the following:
a) Does your organization have prior financial experience with similar awards (i.e., projects funded by Sport Fish Restoration, Wildlife Restoration, State Wildlife Grants, Endangered Species Section 6, or similar.) Were past awards from TPWD successfully completed? Significant financial problems or concerns?

b) Do you have prior programmatic experience with similar awards (i.e., projects funded by Sport Fish Restoration, Wildlife Restoration, State Wildlife Grants, Endangered Species Section 6, or similar.) Were past awards from TPWD successfully completed? Significant performance problems or concerns?

c) Does your organization have substantially changed systems, i.e. new, programmatic personnel, new fiscal personnel, or a new financial management system?

(ii) Is this project considered Research & Development? As per the Texas Comptroller, "Research and Development (R&D)" means all research activities (both basic and applied) and all development activities performed by a non-federal entity.

"Research" is defined as a systematic study directed toward fuller scientific knowledge or understanding of the subject studied. The term also pertains to training individuals in research techniques when these activities use the same facilities as other research and development activities and are not included in the instruction function.

"Development" is the systematic use of knowledge and understanding gained from research directed toward the production of useful materials, devices, systems or methods — including design and development of prototypes and processes. (Uniform Guidance [2 CFR 200.1])
_________ Yes_________ No

Example Budget Table and Budget Narrative
Note: WSFR verifies the cost share ratio to two decimals.