Opportunity Information: Apply for F20AS00072
The Recovery Challenge is a discretionary federal grant and cooperative agreement opportunity offered by the U.S. Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) to support high-priority recovery work for species protected under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Its central purpose is to strengthen and expand partnerships among agencies, organizations, and other stakeholders that are actively carrying out the most urgent recovery actions for federally listed endangered and threatened species. A major emphasis of this opportunity is on genetically sound conservation efforts, especially breeding, rearing, and reintroduction programs that are designed to rebuild populations in a way that maintains or improves genetic diversity and long-term viability.
The program is grounded in Section 2(a)(5) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1535), which authorizes federal financial assistance to encourage states and other interested parties to develop and maintain conservation programs. In practical terms, this authority supports collaborative, on-the-ground conservation work meant to safeguard the nation’s fish, wildlife, and plant heritage for public benefit. Beyond the ESA’s standing authority, the opportunity also cites the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2019 (H.J. Res. 31, 116th Congress, Division E, Title I), which specifically provided funding to support the Recovery Challenge, signaling congressional intent to direct resources toward targeted recovery implementation.
From an administrative and eligibility standpoint, the opportunity is listed under Funding Opportunity Number F20AS00072 and is associated with CFDA number 15.657, a program area focused on environment and natural resources. The eligible applicant pool is described as unrestricted, meaning it is open to any type of entity, although applicants are expected to pay attention to any additional eligibility details or clarifications that may appear in the full notice. The maximum award amount (award ceiling) is listed as $1,000,000, indicating the program can support relatively substantial projects when they align with the highest priority recovery needs identified for listed species.
The timeline information in the notice shows it was created on April 3, 2020, with an original closing date of September 4, 2020. While the listing shows “Expected Awards: 0” in the provided data, the overall structure still reflects a standard competitive grant/cooperative agreement opportunity intended to fund partnership-driven recovery actions. In short, the Recovery Challenge is designed to channel federal funds into high-impact, collaborative recovery work, with particular attention to scientifically sound population rebuilding efforts such as captive propagation, rearing, and reintroduction that can measurably advance the recovery of ESA-listed species.Apply for F20AS00072
- The Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service in the environment, natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Recovery Challenge" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.657.
- This funding opportunity was created on Apr 03, 2020.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Sep 04, 2020. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $1,000,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility.
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Recovery Challenge (FWS) FAQ
What is the Recovery Challenge?
The Recovery Challenge is a discretionary federal grant and cooperative agreement opportunity offered by the U.S. Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS). It supports high-priority recovery work for species protected under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), with a focus on urgent recovery actions that measurably advance the recovery of federally listed endangered and threatened species.
What is the main purpose of this funding opportunity?
The central purpose is to strengthen and expand partnerships among agencies, organizations, and other stakeholders that are actively implementing the most urgent recovery actions for ESA-listed species. The program is designed to direct federal resources toward targeted recovery implementation work.
Which federal agency is offering this opportunity?
This opportunity is offered by the U.S. Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS).
Is this a grant, a cooperative agreement, or both?
It is described as a discretionary federal grant and cooperative agreement opportunity, meaning awards may be made under either assistance mechanism depending on the specific project and federal involvement.
What types of projects are emphasized?
A major emphasis is on genetically sound conservation efforts, especially breeding, rearing, and reintroduction programs intended to rebuild populations while maintaining or improving genetic diversity and long-term viability. The opportunity also broadly supports on-the-ground, partnership-driven recovery actions that address the highest priority recovery needs for listed species.
What does "genetically sound conservation efforts" mean in the context of this opportunity?
Based on the notice summary, it refers to conservation actions (notably breeding, rearing, and reintroduction) that are designed to rebuild populations in ways that maintain or improve genetic diversity and support long-term population viability.
Which species are eligible to benefit from funded work?
The opportunity is intended to support recovery work for species protected under the Endangered Species Act, specifically federally listed endangered and threatened species.
What legal authority supports the Recovery Challenge?
The program is grounded in Section 2(a)(5) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1535), which authorizes federal financial assistance to encourage states and other interested parties to develop and maintain conservation programs.
Is there any appropriations language cited for this program?
Yes. The opportunity cites the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2019 (H.J. Res. 31, 116th Congress, Division E, Title I), which provided funding to support the Recovery Challenge.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number?
The Funding Opportunity Number listed for this opportunity is F20AS00072.
What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is associated with CFDA number 15.657, within an environment and natural resources program area.
Who is eligible to apply?
The eligible applicant pool is described as unrestricted, meaning it is open to any type of entity. Applicants are still expected to review the full notice for any additional eligibility details or clarifications.
What is the maximum award amount?
The award ceiling (maximum award amount) listed is $1,000,000.
When was this opportunity created?
The notice indicates it was created on April 3, 2020.
What was the application closing date?
The original closing date shown in the notice was September 4, 2020.
The listing shows "Expected Awards: 0." What does that mean?
In the provided data, the listing shows "Expected Awards: 0." At the same time, the opportunity is presented as a standard competitive grant/cooperative agreement intended to fund partnership-driven recovery actions. The summary does not explain why the expected awards field is shown as zero.
What is the broader conservation goal of this program?
In practical terms, the authority described supports collaborative, on-the-ground conservation work intended to safeguard the nation’s fish, wildlife, and plant heritage for public benefit, while directing resources toward high-impact recovery implementation for ESA-listed species.
Does the program prioritize partnerships?
Yes. A central feature of the Recovery Challenge is strengthening and expanding partnerships among agencies, organizations, and other stakeholders engaged in urgent recovery actions.
Does the opportunity focus on short-term actions or long-term recovery outcomes?
The emphasis is on urgent, high-priority recovery actions, particularly those that rebuild populations with attention to genetic diversity and long-term viability, which ties immediate implementation to long-term recovery outcomes.
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