Prescott Marine Mammal Rescue Assistance

To provide financial assistance to eligible entities for: response, recovery, rescue, treatment, and, as appropriate, release of West Indian manatees, sea otters, Pacific walruses, and polar bears; the collection of data for scientific research associated with the health of these species; and facility operation costs for these species, as appropriate.

To be eligible, an applicant must be a current participant or researcher associated with marine mammal stranding efforts and must demonstrate they have authorization under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA; 16 U.S.C. 1361, et seq.) and the Endangered Species Act (ESA; 16 U.S.C. 1531, et seq.), if the marine mammal species is listed under the ESA. Authorization may include a permit issued under section 104(c) or an agreement under section 112(c) to take marine mammals as described in section 109(h)(1) in response to stranded marine mammals. Eligibility also includes Federal (except DOI and DOC), State, or local government employees operating in the course of their official duties as indicated under 109(h).

Proposals are submitted through Grants.gov. Applicants need to address the program and species-specific priorities identified in the Notices of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). The NOFO also identifies the documents that must accompany the application.

Applications submitted within the identified deadline will be screened for completeness and eligibility, which includes: completed forms 424, 424A, and 424B; evidence of authorization under MMPA and ESA, if listed; submission by deadline date; signature and date by authorized representative; at least a 25% cost share; an eligible activity; at least one of the species-specific funding priorities; a budget and statement of work with milestones, and identification of the Principal Investigator. Those that pass the initial screening will be provided to the appropriate Service staff for conducting the review. The review will consider: the importance and applicability of the proposal; soundness and ability to accomplish the project; qualifications of applicants; costs; and outreach and education, as appropriate. Those applications that receive a top score will undergo further review, which will focus on the program needs and species priorities before providing recommendations for funding to the Selecting Official.