Emphasis this year will be on invasive species, habitat restoration monitoring and management, invasive species control, effects of climate change, increasing youth participation in nature conservation, plus outreach and visitor services projects.
Submit proposals and agreements to the CCS Program Coordinator at james_graves@fws.gov.
Only use templates supplied on this website to ensure currency.
Reference: The Service Directives on Challenge Cost Share are located at: http://policy.fws.gov/055fw6.html
Proposals:
The CCS proposal is submitted on a one-page form. A signature line is provided for the Project Leader to ensure that they concur with the proposal.
Be certain the proposal is for one year; all work can be completed and funding expended in that time frame.
All proposals will be ranked by a committee comprised of both Regional Office (RO) employees and field representatives.
All stations will be notified of the status of their proposal after the ranking process is completed.
Proposals that are ranked by the committee but unfunded will be held in the event that a funded proposal is cancelled during the year or other funding becomes available. If this occurs, funds will be used for the next available ranked project.
Agreements:
After you receive notification that your project has been approved, submit the CCS Agreement (CCSA) using the template provided on this website within 30 days.
After submitting your CCSA, the CCS Coordinator will review and make any necessary changes or editions if required. If information is missing, the CCSA will be returned to the field station to complete. The Contracting and General Services (CGS) office and the CCS coordinator are committed to identifying all changes at one time and keep changes to a minimum.
Once a CCSA has been reviewed for sufficiency and receives the CGS signature, it is returned to the station. The station has 30 calendar days from the time of emailing out this agreement to obtain the Cooperator's signature and return the CCSA to the RO. After the ARD has signed the CCSA, it is routed to the Regional Director (RD) for the final signature and then a copy is returned to the Station. Stations must forward copies to the Cooperator(s), the Project Officer, and other appropriate staff.
A completely signed CCSA will trigger the fund target advice and allow CCS funds to be obligated and/or spent. As a reminder, stations are not authorized to spend or obligate funds for CCS projects until the CCSA is finalized (signed by the RD).
If a Cooperator(s) withdraws from a project, please inform the CCS Coordinator as soon as possible.
Have one or more Refuge staff members proofread the document.
In Block #10 of the CCSA, enter the Cooperator's Dun and Bradstreet Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) code only if funds will be obligated to the cooperator. The Cooperator should be able to supply this unique nine digit number; however, if they are unable,
please see your station Administrative professional. You may also contact Susan Reimer within the Regional Office for assistance.
The Project Officer on the CCSA should be the person most acquainted with the project who has been working with the cooperators (not necessarily the Project Leader). The Project Officer is responsible for contacts with the Cooperator. The Cooperator should be advised to contact the Project Officer for information, details, explanations and/or any changes requested.
Changes requiring a modification (Standard Form 30) will be done in the RO by the CGS office, in coordination with the CCS Coordinator. Signatures of the Cooperator will be obtained by the Field Station and submitted to the RO for authorized signatures. Do not contact the Regional Contracting Officer unless referred by the CCS Coordinator.
Please direct any comments or questions to the CCS Coordinator at 303-236-4376
or James_Graves@fws.gov
