Opportunity Information: Apply for F17AS00184
The Department of the Interior, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) announced a discretionary funding opportunity called "Combating Wildlife Trafficking" (Funding Opportunity Number F17AS00184) to support projects that strengthen how countries implement and enforce the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). The core purpose is to improve the global ability to stop illegal trade in protected wildlife and plants, recognizing that trafficking threatens biodiversity and also affects U.S. national interests. The opportunity is designed to align with a broader, whole-of-government U.S. approach to countering wildlife trafficking, as reflected in the Eliminate, Neutralize, and Disrupt Wildlife Trafficking Act of 2016 and the National Strategy referenced in that law.
A central theme in the notice is that strong international rules only work when countries have solid domestic systems to carry them out. USFWS highlights its primary role in providing support and technical assistance to CITES Parties so they can adopt and maintain the right domestic measures to implement the treaty effectively. In practical terms, the grant is aimed at projects that help countries strengthen their legal frameworks, administrative processes, and enforcement capacity so CITES requirements are not just written down but actually applied. By focusing on CITES implementation, the program targets one of the key mechanisms used globally to regulate and control international trade in endangered and threatened species.
Funding is offered through a cooperative agreement, meaning recipients should expect a more active partnership with the federal government than a typical grant, often including coordination, shared planning, or ongoing involvement by USFWS during project implementation. The award ceiling listed is $250,000. The notice was created on April 4, 2017, with an original closing date of June 3, 2017. The listing shows "ExpectedAwards: 0," which can indicate the number was not specified in the public summary or was subject to change based on available funds, merit, and program priorities.
Eligible applicants are broad and include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private colleges and universities, nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status, individuals, for-profit organizations other than small businesses, and other applicants as clarified in the full eligibility section of the notice. The activity sits at the intersection of environment, natural resources, and enforcement-related fields (including law, justice, and legal services), and it is associated with CFDA number 15.679. Overall, the opportunity is best understood as targeted capacity-building support: it is not simply about wildlife conservation in the abstract, but about improving the policies, institutions, and enforcement tools that make international wildlife trade controls credible and effective.
The legal and policy authorities cited in the notice underscore how the program fits into established U.S. directives. These include Executive Order 13648 (July 5, 2013) establishing the National Strategy for Combating Wildlife Trafficking, the Implementation Plan for that Strategy (February 11, 2014), and the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531-1543). Taken together, these authorities frame wildlife trafficking as both a conservation crisis and a governance and security challenge, and they justify USFWS using financial and technical assistance to help strengthen international arrangements and domestic implementation systems that protect species from illegal trade.Apply for F17AS00184
- The Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service in the environment, law, justice and legal services, natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Combating Wildlife Trafficking" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.679.
- This funding opportunity was created on Apr 04, 2017.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 03, 2017. (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 $250,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, Individuals, For profit organizations other than small businesses, Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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FAQs: Combating Wildlife Trafficking (USFWS) - Funding Opportunity Number F17AS00184
What is this funding opportunity?
This is a discretionary funding opportunity from the Department of the Interior, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) titled "Combating Wildlife Trafficking" (Funding Opportunity Number F17AS00184). It supports projects intended to strengthen how countries implement and enforce the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
What is the main goal of the program?
The core purpose is to improve global ability to stop illegal trade in protected wildlife and plants by strengthening the domestic systems countries use to carry out CITES. The focus is on making CITES requirements workable in practice through stronger laws, better administrative processes, and improved enforcement capacity.
How does this program relate to CITES?
The grant is aimed at projects that help countries adopt, maintain, and effectively apply domestic measures needed to implement CITES. The notice emphasizes that international rules only work when countries have strong internal systems to carry them out.
What kinds of projects does this opportunity support?
Based on the notice description, projects are expected to strengthen a country’s capacity to implement and enforce CITES. This can include efforts focused on legal frameworks, administrative processes, and enforcement capacity so that wildlife trade controls are credible and effective in real-world application.
Is this opportunity only about wildlife conservation?
No. While it is closely tied to biodiversity protection, the program is described as targeted capacity-building for CITES implementation and enforcement. The notice frames wildlife trafficking as affecting biodiversity and U.S. national interests, and it positions the work at the intersection of conservation, governance, and enforcement.
What type of award will be used?
Funding is offered through a cooperative agreement. This means recipients should expect a more active partnership with the federal government than a typical grant, potentially including coordination, shared planning, or ongoing involvement by USFWS during project implementation.
What is the maximum award amount?
The award ceiling listed in the notice is $250,000.
How many awards will be made?
The public listing shows "ExpectedAwards: 0." This can indicate that the number of awards was not specified in the summary or could change depending on available funds, merit review outcomes, and program priorities.
When was the opportunity posted, and what was the closing date?
The notice was created on April 4, 2017, and the original closing date shown was June 3, 2017.
Who is the federal agency behind this opportunity?
The funding opportunity is issued by the Department of the Interior, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS).
Who is eligible to apply?
The eligibility description is broad and includes: public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private colleges and universities; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status; individuals; for-profit organizations other than small businesses; and other applicants as clarified in the full eligibility section of the notice.
Are nonprofits required to have 501(c)(3) status to be eligible?
No. The notice explicitly includes nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status among eligible applicants.
Are individuals allowed to apply?
Yes. Individuals are included in the list of eligible applicants.
Are for-profit organizations eligible?
Yes, the notice includes for-profit organizations other than small businesses as eligible applicants, along with other categories described in the eligibility section.
What program area(s) does this opportunity fall under?
The activity sits at the intersection of environment and natural resources and enforcement-related fields, including law, justice, and legal services.
What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The notice associates the opportunity with CFDA number 15.679.
Why does the notice emphasize domestic implementation systems?
The notice highlights that strong international rules are only effective if countries have solid domestic systems to implement them. The funding is intended to strengthen those domestic measures so CITES requirements are not only adopted on paper but also enforced and applied.
How does this opportunity fit into U.S. policy on wildlife trafficking?
The notice states the opportunity aligns with a whole-of-government U.S. approach to countering wildlife trafficking, including the Eliminate, Neutralize, and Disrupt Wildlife Trafficking Act of 2016 and the National Strategy referenced in that law.
What laws, strategies, or directives are cited as authority for the program?
The notice cites Executive Order 13648 (July 5, 2013) establishing the National Strategy for Combating Wildlife Trafficking, the Implementation Plan for that Strategy (February 11, 2014), and the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531-1543).
How does USFWS describe its role in this work?
USFWS describes its primary role as providing support and technical assistance to CITES Parties to help them adopt and maintain appropriate domestic measures to implement the treaty effectively.
What problem is this funding intended to address?
The funding is intended to address illegal trade in protected wildlife and plants. The notice describes trafficking as a threat to biodiversity and as an issue that also affects U.S. national interests.
Is this a discretionary funding opportunity?
Yes. The notice describes it as a discretionary funding opportunity.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON)?
The Funding Opportunity Number listed is F17AS00184.
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