First awarded in fiscal year (FY) 2001, the Conservation Planning Assistance Grant program provides funding to States to support the development of new Habitat Conservation Plans (HCPs) and Conservation Benefit Agreements (CBAs; formerly referred to as Safe Harbor Agreements and Candidate Conservation Agreements with Assurances). Funding may also be used to support the renewal or amendment of existing plans and agreements. The development of HCPs that include only candidate or at-risk species (i.e., no Federally listed species covered by the HCP), such that the HCP would be in place if the species...

Only State agencies that have entered into a Cooperative Agreement pursuant to Section 6(c) of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and have provided the information necessary for the annual renewal (reconfirmation) of their Cooperative Agreement are eligible to apply for funding. Applicants that have not fulfilled both criteria will not be considered. While funding may only be awarded to States, individuals or groups such as counties or conservation organizations may work with a State agency that has a cooperative agreement on conservation efforts that are mutually beneficial, as a subgrantee.Neither the Federal funds awarded through this opportunity, nor the associated non-Federal cost share, may be used to satisfy regulatory requirements of the ESA, including complying with a biological opinion under Section 7, fulfilling Federal mitigation, minimization, and/or monitoring requirements of an HCP permitted under Section 10, or any other Federal regulatory mitigation requirement (e.g., mitigation for Clean Water Act permits).For applications involving a previously funded planning effort, funding cannot be sought to support activities to meet deliverables that were identified for completion under open prior year awards. For example, if a prior planning assistance grant was awarded to a State to complete a draft NEPA document, funding from this opportunity cannot be sought to complete a draft NEPA document. The Service will not fund work in conflict with species approved recovery plans [50 CFR 81.2]. An application cannot include U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) costs.State administrative costs must either be assumed by the State or included in the proposal in accordance with Federal requirements.Generally, only expenses incurred and budgeted during the period of performance are reimbursable; the period of performance begins with the effective date established at the time the grant is approved. However, a State may request reimbursement of pre-award costs for certain necessary expenses detailed in the grant application. Pre-award costs are those incurred prior to the approval of the grant where such costs are necessary to comply with the proposed period of performance. Such costs are allowable only if the grant is awarded, only to the extent that they would have been allowable if incurred after the date of the award, and only with the written approval of the awarding agency (2 CFR 200.458).Land acquisition is not eligible for consideration under this funding opportunity.

Kelly Niland kelly_niland@fws.gov