F--Alaska's National Wildlife Refuge System, Notice of Availability of Federal Assistance: 2004 Request for Challenge Cost Share and Science Camp Proposals.

This special notice seeks proposals only under and specific to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Region 7 (Alaska) based Challenge Cost Share & Science Camp Program. This is not an announcement any other Region's challenge cost share and science camp program. This fulfills the public announcement and synopsis requirement for this program in Region 7 (Alaska) only. The Department of the Interior, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), National Wildlife Refuge System, administers the Service's Challenge Cost Share program. Challenge Cost Share (CCS) funds are congressionally appropriated monies designated for the protection and conservation of wildlife resources. This is a federal matching funds program which leverages federal dollars with non-federal sources. In addition to money, these federal dollars can be matched with in-kind valuation assigned to non-federal contributions such as labor, equipment use, material and supplies. The non-federal matches may be contributed by State and local governments, private individuals, private organizations, business enterprises, and charitable groups. Service policy dictates that no more than 50 percent of the total cost to implement the project may come from federally funded sources. Explicit funding for the CCS program has been authorized by Congress since 1988. The Refuge System Administration Act authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to administer this program. The CCS program encompasses awards made through both federal assistance and procurement instruments (contracts). This "call for proposals" is the single designated annual competition through which multiple awards will be made. A twin posting of this call for proposals # 701814R005 has been posted on http://www.grants.gov and on http://www.r7.fws.gov/nwr/visitor/grants.htm Alaska's National Wildlife Refuge System Office manages Alaska's Fish and Wildlife Service CCS program. The Alaska National Wildlife Refuge System invites the submission of new proposals in support of natural resource management and local science camps, both are components of the 2004 CCS program. This is the initial announcement for these funding opportunities. The CCS program is an annual funding source set up on the federal fiscal year schedule; therefore, the objectives and work identified in the proposals selected for award under this announcement must be completed no later than September 30, 2004. Proposals must be delivered to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Office at 1011 East Tudor Road, Anchorage, AK by 4:00 PM on January 9, 2004. Proposals may be mailed to the address below and must display a postmark earlier than January 10, 2004: Challenge Cost Share Coordinator Alaska's National Wildlife Refuge System 1011 East Tudor Road, MS#235 Anchorage, AK 99503 The Service's solicitation package and proposal guidance is available on line at this time. The solicitation period is presently open. Obtain it now from http://www.r7.fws.gov/nwr/visitor/grants.htm Please direct questions and inquiries to contact@example.gov