F25AS00286 FY 2025 Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund Traditional Conservation Grants Program Region 5

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), a bureau within the U.S. Department of the Interior, has released a Notice of Funding Opportunity for the FY 2025 Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund Traditional Conservation Grants Program for Region 5 under opportunity number F25AS00286. This grant program, also known as the Traditional Conservation Grant Program, provides financial assistance to State agencies for the conservation of federally listed species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), as well as candidate, eligible unlisted, and recently delisted species. The anticipated total funding for this cycle is $818,529, with a maximum award ceiling of the same amount and a minimum of $1,000. Up to 10 grants are expected to be awarded. This funding opportunity is designed specifically for State agencies that either have an existing cooperative agreement under section 6(c) of the ESA with FWS or can execute or reconfirm one within 30 days of the application deadline. While only State agencies are eligible to receive the funds directly, they may work with other entities—such as counties or conservation organizations—via subawards to implement project components. To be eligible, proposed projects must benefit federally listed resident species, or candidate/unlisted/delisted species included in the cooperative agreement. The grant cannot be used to meet regulatory requirements under sections 7 or 10 of the ESA, nor can funds be used for land acquisition. Eligible activities include habitat enhancement or restoration, species surveys, genetic studies, propagation efforts, monitoring, and public education or outreach efforts. Projects must clearly demonstrate direct conservation benefits. Applications must be submitted online via GrantSolutions.gov, and a number of standard forms are required, including SF-424, SF-424A, and SF-LLL (if lobbying is applicable), along with a detailed project narrative and budget narrative. Indirect costs must be identified, and applicants may choose to apply a de minimis rate or an existing negotiated rate. Applicants must also disclose any potential conflicts of interest and indicate if the proposed work overlaps with any other federal funding sources. Applications will undergo an eligibility screening and a rigorous merit review process based on criteria such as species listing status, recovery plan implementation, relevance to program goals, technical merit, and cost realism. The deadline for submitting completed applications is September 19, 2025, by 11:59 PM ET. Awards are anticipated to be announced by the end of September 2025, with a typical project period extending three years. Cost sharing is required—25% for single-state applications and 10% for multi-state collaborations. Special conditions apply for U.S. territories, where the match requirement may be waived. Contact for this opportunity is Kyle Welsh, reachable via email at kyle_welsh@fws.gov or by phone at 413-253-8709. The program's overarching objective is to enhance and implement high-priority recovery actions for ESA-listed species and prevent species extinction or listing under the ESA by working collaboratively with States in Region 5, which includes Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, and West Virginia. Projects must align with recovery plans or equivalent conservation strategies and be supported by sound conservation science and methodology.

Address species recovery plans explicitly. Detail cost estimates thoroughly. Provide full documentation of indirect cost rates and match commitments.