Opportunity Information: Apply for F24AS00298
F24AS00298, titled "Cooperative Agriculture," is a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service opportunity that supports habitat and wildlife management goals on lands within the National Wildlife Refuge System (NWRS) by allowing agricultural activities that directly advance refuge conservation objectives. The core purpose is not traditional farm production for profit alone, but the use of farming practices as a management tool to create or modify habitat conditions, produce wildlife food resources, and maintain, rehabilitate, or restore natural habitats. Examples include planting or managing crops in ways that benefit target species with established refuge objectives, such as improving feeding and nesting conditions for waterfowl or other priority wildlife.
The program operates through Cooperative Agriculture Agreements (CAAs), which are cooperative agreements that formalize a working relationship between the refuge (the Service) and a selected participant. A defining feature is "substantial involvement" by the Service, meaning the refuge is actively engaged in planning, oversight, or implementation rather than simply leasing land. The specifics are tailored to each refuge unit and its management needs, so the agricultural methods, cover types, timing, and required habitat outcomes can vary widely depending on local goals and species priorities.
Instead of providing cash grant funding, the opportunity is structured as nonfinancial assistance: no federal funds are obligated or awarded to participants, and the listed award ceiling is $0. The value to the cooperator generally comes through access and use arrangements, such as permission to farm refuge lands, potential access to Service water, equipment, or staff support, and sometimes an agreed-upon share of resulting crop yield. In return, the cooperator typically contributes labor, equipment, materials, and/or a share of crop yield, and must carry out practices that produce specific habitat conditions or improvements identified by the refuge. In some situations, the Service may also accept bids where the participant pays for the right to conduct certain uses (such as haying or grazing) on refuge lands, consistent with the Refuge Revenue Sharing Act. In other words, participation may involve cost-sharing through in-kind contributions, crop-sharing, and in some cases payments to the Service, depending on the refuge and the arrangement.
Eligibility is limited to private individuals and small business entities, and the program requires pre-application coordination, meaning prospective participants should communicate with the refuge or relevant Service contacts before submitting anything formal. Environmental impact information is stated as not required for this program in the opportunity posting. The program is also listed as eligible for review under Executive Order 12372 (Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs), so applicants may need to consult their state single point of contact if their state has chosen to review this program.
From an administrative standpoint, because a Cooperative Agriculture Agreement is not considered a financial assistance award, it is not governed by the federal financial assistance rules in 2 CFR 200, nor by certain Fish and Wildlife Service manual policies referenced in the notice (parts 515 and 516). The opportunity is categorized under Agriculture (CFDA 15.681), is issued by the Fish and Wildlife Service, and has an original closing date of March 7, 2029, indicating an extended window in which refuges may run or renew cooperative agriculture arrangements as needs arise.Apply for F24AS00298
- The Fish and Wildlife Service in the agriculture sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "F24AS00298 Cooperative Agriculture" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.681.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2024-03-06.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2029-03-07.
- Eligible applicants include: Individuals, Small businesses.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - F24AS00298 "Cooperative Agriculture" (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)
What is the F24AS00298 "Cooperative Agriculture" opportunity?
F24AS00298, titled "Cooperative Agriculture," is a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) opportunity that supports habitat and wildlife management goals on lands within the National Wildlife Refuge System (NWRS). It allows agricultural activities on refuge lands when those activities directly advance refuge conservation objectives.
Is this program meant to support traditional farming for profit?
No. The core purpose is not farm production for profit alone. Farming practices are used as a management tool to create or modify habitat conditions, produce wildlife food resources, and maintain, rehabilitate, or restore natural habitats consistent with established refuge objectives.
How does agriculture support refuge conservation objectives under this program?
Agricultural practices may be planned and carried out specifically to benefit target species and refuge goals. Examples described in the notice include planting or managing crops in ways that improve feeding and nesting conditions for waterfowl or other priority wildlife, and producing habitat outcomes identified by the refuge.
What kind of agreement is used for participation?
The program operates through Cooperative Agriculture Agreements (CAAs). These are cooperative agreements that formalize a working relationship between the refuge (the Service) and a selected participant.
What does "substantial involvement" by the Service mean?
"Substantial involvement" means the Service is actively engaged in planning, oversight, and/or implementation of the work. The arrangement is not simply a land lease; the refuge is involved in ensuring agricultural activities achieve specific habitat and wildlife management outcomes.
Do agricultural methods and requirements stay the same across all refuges?
No. The specifics are tailored to each refuge unit and its management needs. Agricultural methods, cover types, timing, and required habitat outcomes can vary widely depending on local goals and species priorities.
Does this opportunity provide cash grant funding to participants?
No. This opportunity is structured as nonfinancial assistance. No federal funds are obligated or awarded to participants, and the listed award ceiling is $0.
If there is no cash award, what is the benefit to the participant?
The value to the cooperator generally comes through access and use arrangements. This can include permission to farm refuge lands, potential access to Service water, equipment, or staff support, and sometimes an agreed-upon share of the resulting crop yield (depending on the specific refuge arrangement).
What does the participant (cooperator) typically contribute?
The cooperator typically contributes labor, equipment, materials, and/or a share of crop yield, and must carry out practices that produce the specific habitat conditions or improvements identified by the refuge.
Could participation require payment to the Service?
In some situations, yes. The notice states the Service may accept bids where the participant pays for the right to conduct certain uses (such as haying or grazing) on refuge lands, consistent with the Refuge Revenue Sharing Act. Whether payment is involved depends on the refuge and the arrangement.
How are costs and benefits typically shared in these arrangements?
The notice describes several possible structures, including in-kind contributions (labor, equipment, materials), crop-sharing, and in some cases payments to the Service. The specific cost-sharing or crop-sharing approach depends on the refuge and the agreed terms in the Cooperative Agriculture Agreement.
Who is eligible to participate?
Eligibility is limited to private individuals and small business entities.
Is pre-application coordination required?
Yes. The program requires pre-application coordination, meaning prospective participants should communicate with the refuge or relevant Service contacts before submitting anything formal.
Is environmental impact information required as part of the opportunity posting?
The opportunity posting states that environmental impact information is not required for this program.
Is this opportunity subject to Executive Order 12372 (Intergovernmental Review)?
Yes. The program is listed as eligible for review under Executive Order 12372. Applicants may need to consult their state single point of contact if their state has chosen to review this program.
Is a Cooperative Agriculture Agreement treated like a federal financial assistance award under 2 CFR 200?
No. The notice explains that because a Cooperative Agriculture Agreement is not considered a financial assistance award, it is not governed by the federal financial assistance rules in 2 CFR 200.
Does the notice mention any Fish and Wildlife Service manual policies that do not apply?
Yes. The notice states that the agreement is not governed by certain Fish and Wildlife Service manual policies referenced in the posting (parts 515 and 516).
What is the program category and CFDA number listed in the notice?
The opportunity is categorized under Agriculture and is listed with CFDA 15.681.
Who is the issuing agency?
The opportunity is issued by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
What is the closing date for this opportunity?
The notice lists an original closing date of March 7, 2029, indicating an extended window in which refuges may run or renew cooperative agriculture arrangements as needs arise.
Does the closing date mean every refuge will accept participants until that date?
The notice indicates an extended window for the opportunity overall, and that refuges may run or renew cooperative agriculture arrangements as needs arise. Specific timing and availability can vary by refuge unit based on local needs and planning.
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