522 FW 15                                      Outreach

A. States may incorporate FA outreach into their programs as an independent grant or as a component of a grant.

B. State and Federal efforts are needed to increase public awareness and understanding of FA Programs, accomplishments, and the user-pay/user-benefit approach.

C. Outreach activities that provide opportunities for public use, understanding, and awareness of fish and wildlife restoration are encouraged.

15.2 Definition. Outreach Grants. Independent grants or components of grants that communicate information to, encourage understanding of and involvement by, or enable various publics to make informed decisions regarding FA programs, activities, or affected resources. Special conditions may apply for particular programs. For example, under the Sport Fish Restoration program, Aquatic Resources Education set aside, outreach encompasses the following activities: development, publication and distribution of print, audio and visual materials for and about the Aquatic Resources Trust Fund, particularly on the program's accomplishments; promotion of sound ethics programs; and cooperative programs with the sport fishing industry (Congressional Record 10-5-92).

15.3 Eligible Activities. Eligible outreach grants will have activities with objectives that support the above definition. Examples include:

A. Evaluating current levels of awareness, understanding, and opinions about the FA Programs.

B. Developing plans or strategies that address public awareness and understanding of the FA role in Sport Fish and Wildlife Restoration.

C. Developing and distributing materials to improve awareness of the FA Program's benefits and accomplishments.

D. Developing displays, exhibits, signs, interactive kiosks, World Wide Web products, etc., that address the role of FA in Sport Fish and Wildlife Restoration.

E. Developing cooperative programs with industry and other partners relating to use, conservation, and restoration of aquatic systems.

F. Communicating responsible and ethical fishing practices subject to the 10-percent aquatic resource education cap.

15.4 Ineligible Activities. Grants with ineligible activities have objectives that are related to one or more of the following purposes:

A. Public relations for the purpose of promoting organizations or agencies. (See 50 CFR 80.6 (b).).

B. Activities for the primary purpose of producing revenue.

C. Providing services or property of material value to individuals or groups for commercial purposes.

D. Establishment, publication, and dissemination of regulations issued by a State pertaining to the protection and utilization of fish and wildlife resources. (See 521 FW 1.7E and 521 FW 2.7E for specific program guidance.)

E. Activities designed to influence legislation. (See Restrictions on Lobbying (P. L. 101-121).)

15.5 Documentation of Proposals. Project statements for outreach grants will include the following information:

A. Need. Describe the situation that the outreach grant will address, correct, or improve.

B. Objective. Provide a concise statement of what the grant will accomplish in terms of the stated need.

C. Expected Results or Benefits. Identify and quantify, to the extent feasible, the benefits to be provided as a result of the accomplishment of the grant.

D. Approach. Describe in detail the work to be accomplished. Include the method(s) to be employed and the schedule to be followed. If the work (or any portion of the work) will be performed under an agreement with a third party, identify the third party.

E. Location. Identify where the activity will be performed.

F. Estimated Cost. Provide the estimated cost, by year, for completion of each grant objective.

15.6 Documentation to Support the Grant Proposal. Refer to 522 FW 1.4 for general information on documentation to support the Grant Proposal.

15.7 Documentation to Support Grant Agreement. Provide a schedule of work to be done and associated costs during the grant agreement period. See 522 FW 1.7 for general information on documentation to support the Grant Agreement.

15.8 Costs. General requirements related to allowable costs are in 43 CFR 12.62 and 522 FW 1.11.

15.9 Special Conditions. The following conditions are specifically applicable to outreach projects:

A. Outreach grants of an ongoing nature will be evaluated, either quantitatively or qualitatively, to measure the accomplishment of the project objectives before each renewal of the grant proposal, but not less frequently than every 6 years.

B. Outreach products will acknowledge the FA program that provided funding for the product and may display the appropriate FA symbol. (See 50 CFR 80.26.)

15.10 Performance Reports.

A. Within 90 days after the end of each grant agreement period, the State must submit a performance report on the project (see 522 FW 1.22). Include a copy(s) of outreach products or a detailed description of those products. Performance reports for outreach projects must contain the following information:

(1) A description of the progress made toward accomplishing the stated objectives through the end of the segment period. Explain any deviation that may affect accomplishment of the objective.

(2) Summary of the work completed during the segment period related to the work identified in the approach section of the grant proposal.

(3) The location of the work performed.

(4) The costs incurred during the grant agreement.

B. Performance reports may be in the form of a publication or manuscript which contains the above information and which has been submitted for publication.