Funding Wizard

Using appropriations to the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI), the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) anticipates providing grants to support implementation of Great Lakes State Aquatic Invasive Species Management Plans (State AIS Plans). State AIS Plans have been transmitted by state governors and then approved by the Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force. All state grants will be awarded based on a competitive process for which only Great Lakes states or their designee are eligible.Funding is provided to support implementation of State AIS Plans which helps states in preventing introduction and spread of AIS on state and surrounding lands. State environmental agencies develop the science-based plans and approaches to make sound decisions to prevent the introduction and spread of AIS and adapt to changes in state waters over time.Proposed work must either be within the Great Lakes Basin or near enough to the basin that it contributes substantially to the prevention and/or control of AIS in the Great Lakes Basin. Activities such as outreach, boat ramp inspections, and/or law enforcement are often done outside the basin but make substantial contributions when work is done in areas where people are likely to transit (and thereby potentially transfer AIS) into the Great Lakes Basin. Early detection, rapid response, and/or control efforts outside the basin must address:• Species with a substantial potential for interbasin transfer (e.g., hydrilla in a waterbody near the Great Lakes Basin that receives heavy boat use).• Species of significant concern to the Great Lakes community within a Great Lakes state.• Activities where the primary motivation is to prevent transfer of AIS into the Great Lakes Basin.In the end, we are pursuing and funding whatever actions have the greatest benefit to the Great Lakes Basin.INVASIVE CARP WORK IS ONLY ELIGIBLE FOR CONSIDERATION IF IT HAS BEEN INITIALLY SUBMITTED AND VETTED THROUGH THE ANNUAL DEVELOPMENT AND APPROVAL PROCESS FOR THE INVASIVE CARP REGIONAL COORDINATING COMMITTEE'S (ICRCC) INVASIVE CARP ACTION PLAN. Invasive carp work funded and implemented through the Action Plan is coordinated through the ICRCC. The ICRCC develops an annual work plan that is largely supported through a separate source of GLRI funding and which undergoes a separate review process that includes Office of Management and Budget (OMB) review and approval.

Using appropriations to the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI), the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) anticipates providing grants to support development and/or implementation of Great Lakes Tribal Aquatic Invasive Species Management Plans (Tribal AIS Plans). Therefore, a Tribal AIS Plan must be in place that supports the proposed work, or development of such a plan must be a part of the proposed work. All tribal grants will be awarded based on a competitive process for which only Great Lakes tribes or their designee are eligible.Proposed work must either be within the Great Lakes Basin or near enough to the basin that it contributes substantially to the prevention and/or control of AIS in the Great Lakes basin. Activities such as outreach, boat ramp inspections, and/or law enforcement are often done outside the basin but make substantial contributions when work is done in areas where people are likely to transit (and thereby potentially transfer AIS) into the Great Lakes basin. Early detection, rapid response, and/or control efforts outside the basin must address:• Species with a substantial potential for interbasin transfer (e.g., hydrilla in a waterbody near the Great Lakes basin that receives heavy boat use).• Species of significant concern to the Great Lakes community within a Great Lakes state.• Activities where the primary motivation is to prevent transfer of AIS into the Great Lakes basin.In the end, we are pursuing and funding whatever actions have the greatest benefit to the Great Lakes Basin.INVASIVE CARP WORK IS ONLY ELIGIBLE FOR CONSIDERATION IF IT HAS BEEN INITIALLY SUBMITTED AND VETTED THROUGH THE ANNUAL DEVELOPMENT AND APPROVAL PROCESS FOR THE INVASIVE CARP REGIONAL COORDINATING COMMITTEE'S (ICRCC) INVASIVE CARP ACTION PLAN. Invasive carp work funded and implemented through the Action Plan is coordinated through the ICRCC. The ICRCC develops an annual work plan that is largely supported through a separate source of GLRI funding and which undergoes a separate review process that includes Office of Management and Budget (OMB) review and approval.

Using appropriations to the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI), the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) anticipates providing grants to support implementation of interjurisdictional projects that cut across state and tribal Great Lakes Interstate Aquatic Invasive Species Management Plans (AIS Plans). Grants will be awarded based on a competitive process for which only Great Lakes states and tribes (or their designee) are eligible.Proposed work must either be within the Great Lakes Basin or near enough to the basin that it contributes substantially to the prevention and/or control of AIS in the Great Lakes basin. Activities such as outreach, boat ramp inspections, and/or law enforcement are often done outside the basin but make substantial contributions when work is done in areas where people are likely to transit (and thereby potentially transfer AIS) into the Great Lakes basin. Early detection, rapid response, and/or control efforts outside the basin must address:• Species with a substantial potential for interbasin transfer (e.g., hydrilla in a waterbody near the Great Lakes basin that receives heavy boat use).• Species of significant concern to the Great Lakes community within a Great Lakes state.• Activities where the primary motivation is the prevent transfer of AIS into the Great Lakes basin.In the end, we are pursuing and funding whatever actions have the greatest benefit to the Great Lakes Basin.INVASIVE CARP WORK IS ONLY ELIGIBLE FOR CONSIDERATION IF IT HAS BEEN INITIALLY SUBMITTED AND VETTED THROUGH THE ANNUAL DEVELOPMENT AND APPROVAL PROCESS FOR THE INVASIVE CARP REGIONAL COORDINATING COMMITTEE'S (ICRCC) INVASIVE CARP ACTION PLAN. Invasive carp work funded and implemented through the Action Plan is coordinated through the ICRCC. The ICRCC develops an annual work plan that is largely supported through a separate source of GLRI funding and which undergoes a separate review process that includes Office of Management and Budget (OMB) review and approval.

The National Fish Passage Program (NFPP) is a voluntary program that provides direct technical and financial assistance to partners to remove instream barriers and restore aquatic organism passage and aquatic connectivity for the benefit of Federal trust resources. In doing so, NFPP aims to maintain or increase fish populations to improve ecosystem resiliency and provide quality fishing experiences for the American people. Activities that restore fish passage also support the modernization of the country’s infrastructure such as road culverts, bridges, and water diversions contributing to enhanced community resilience to the impacts from climate change and other public safety hazards. NFPP funds a variety of project types including, but not limited to, dam removals, culvert replacements, floodplain restoration, and the installation of fishways. This funding is available through annual appropriations to the NFPP and is separate from NFPP funding provided through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law). The NFPP is delivered through the Fish and Aquatic Conservation Program (FAC) across all States and territories. FAC staff coordinate with project partners, stakeholders, and other Service programs to identify and collaboratively implement projects within regional priority areas. Project work plans are developed strategically, in coordination with partners, and with substantial involvement from FAC staff. Projects must be based upon sound scientific principles, advance the Service mission, and promote biological diversity. Applicants seeking funding under this program should contact the regional NFPP Coordinator that corresponds to the location of the project for additional information on regional priorities and coordination with FAC staff prior to applying for funding. Contacts are listed at end of this announcement. We use our staff and cooperative partnerships to provide: (1) information on habitat needs of fish and other aquatic species; (2) methods for fish to bypass barriers; (3) technical engineering support to develop or review project designs and recommend the most cost-effective techniques; (4) assistance to partners in planning and prioritizing fish passage projects; and (5) assistance in fulfilling environmental compliance requirements. Activities proposed under this award may include project planning and feasibility studies, engineering and design, permitting, on-the-ground fish passage restoration, near-term implementation monitoring, project outreach, and capacity to manage these project-related activities.

The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021 (Pub. L. 117-58, November 15, 2021, “Bipartisan Infrastructure Law,” or “BIL”) provided $200 million for Federal Fiscal Years (FY) 2022 to 2026 to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s (Service) National Fish Passage Program (NFPP). This funding opportunity announcement outlines the criteria and process to select projects for NFPP BIL FY2023 funding. The NFPP is a voluntary program that provides direct technical and financial assistance to partners to remove instream barriers and restore aquatic organism passage and aquatic connectivity for the benefit of Federal trust resources. In doing so, NFPP aims to maintain or increase fish populations to improve ecosystem resiliency and provide quality fishing experiences for the American people. Activities that restore fish passage also support the modernization of the country’s infrastructure such as road culverts, bridges, and water diversions contributing to enhanced community resilience to the impacts from climate change and other public safety hazards. NFPP funds a variety of project types including, but not limited to, dam removals, culvert replacements, floodplain restoration, and the installation of fishways. The NFPP is delivered through the Fish and Aquatic Conservation Program (FAC) across all States and territories. FAC staff coordinate with project partners, stakeholders, and other Service programs to identify and collaboratively implement projects within regional priority areas. Project work plans are developed strategically, in coordination with partners, and with substantial involvement from FAC staff. Projects must be based upon sound scientific principles, advance the Service mission, and promote biological diversity. Applicants seeking funding under this program should contact the regional NFPP Coordinator that corresponds to the location of the project for additional information on regional priorities and coordination with FAC staff prior to applying for funding. Contact are listed at the end of the announcement.

The principal objective of this Recovery Implementation funding opportunity is to support the implementation of priority recovery actions for federally endangered and threatened species. The ESA conveys the importance of recovery plans as a central organizing tool for guiding each species’ recovery process by requiring their development for every listed species. Recovery plans establish an overall recovery vision that, among other things: • Defines the point at which protections under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) are no longer needed, • Identifies and prioritizes the most effective and feasible suite of recovery actions that will promote species survival and recovery, • Provides the public and policy makers with an overall estimate of the time and cost to recover species, and the ability to measure success and resources needs, and • Aids the Service in working with others to improve the status for imperiled species.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) Coastal Program is a voluntary, community-based program that provides technical and financial assistance through cooperative agreements to coastal communities, conservation partners, and landowners to restore and protect fish and wildlife habitat on public and private lands. The Coastal Program staff coordinates with partners, stakeholders and other Service programs to identify geographic focus areas and develop habitat conservation goals and priorities within these focus areas. Geographic focus areas are where the Coastal Program directs resources to conserve habitat for Federal trust species. Projects are developed in collaboration with partners, and with substantial involvement from Service field staff. Coastal Program projects must support the missions of the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), and the Coastal Program, and be based on biological principles and the best available science. The Coastal Program takes an adaptive approach to designing and implementing coastal habitat protection and restoration strategies that anticipate and ameriorate the impacts of climate change and other environmental stressors. Coastal Program habitat improvement projects strive to increase coastal resiliency by improving the ability of coastal ecosystems to adapt to environmental changes and supporting natural and nature-based infrastructure projects to protect and enhance coastal habitats. Applicants seeking technical or financial assistance from the Coastal Program are requested to consult with the regional or local Coastal Program office BEFORE developing or submitting an application (Visit https://www.fws.gov/program/coastal/contact-us for regional Coastal Program contacts).

The purpose of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) is to provide a means by which the ecosystems upon which endangered and threatened species depend may be conserved, to provide a program for the conservation of such endangered species and threatened species, and to take appropriate steps to achieve the purposes of treaties and conventions set forth in the ESA. Section 2(a)(5) of the ESA authorizes the use of Federal financial assistance to encourage the states and other interested parties to develop and maintain conservation programs to safeguard the Nation’s heritage in fish, wildlife and plants for the benefit of all citizens. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) Ecological Services Program provides Federal financial assistance on a competitive basis to states, landowners, educators, non-profit organizations, researchers and other potential partners to secure information about candidate and other at-risk species to avert listing of species pursuant to the ESA, and to help conserve the ecosystems upon which these species depend. II. Program Objective The principal objective of this Candidate Species Conservation funding opportunity is to accomplish conservation tasks for high priority candidate species (based on our annual Candidate Species Assessments) or other at-risk species in the United States, such that identified threats to the species may be reduced or eliminated. These efforts are based on cooperative relationships with states, non-governmental organizations, private landowners and those interested in habitat restoration or undertaking candidate and at-risk species research, surveys and monitoring, or educational outreach efforts. III. Program Priorities This opportunity will help to support the Administration’s priorities of Build Back Better framework, integrate climate change mitigation, and advance racial justice, equity, diversity and inclusion, as well as supports America the Beautiful initiative. Projects should show a clear conservation benefit that will help prevent listing of a candidate or at-risk species, remove identified threats and improve status, or contribute information on the species’ response to changes in the environment. Priority will be given to proposals that (1) enhance partnerships with states, non-governmental organizations, private landowners, Federal agencies, and others, and (2) leverage our resources and authorities with those of our partners. Priority will be given to projects that aid in improving the conservation status of a species so as to preclude the need to list. These projects could include, but are not limited to, activities that will secure scientific information about candidate or at-risk species and their habitat, implement restoration actions that will lead to removing threats to the species, or help prevent extinction of a species. This opportunity addresses the Presidential priority articulated in Executive Order 14008: Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad by supporting biodiversity efforts. Species eligible for this funding opportunity include both candidate and at-risk species. A full list of candidate species is available through the Service’s ECOS website: https://ecos.fws.gov/ecp/report/candidate-species. Candidate species with a Listing Priority Number of 1-6 are especially important to focus on. Projects must include the purpose of conserving species that are candidates for ESA listing status (50 CFR 424.15), included in the Service National Listing work plan, or otherwise identified as priority at-risk species. At-risk species are those that have a reasonable potential to be considered for listing. Listing of at-risk species can be found on the National listing workplan, state endangered species list, and/or have a state heritage rank of G1 or G2, as a few examples. The Service has prioritized at-risk species in their national listing work plan by assigning a priority number. The at-risk species with a priority number of 3 or 4 are especially important to work on – see https://www.fws.gov/endangered/what- we-do/listing-workplan.html for a list of species on the work plan, and see https://www.fws.gov/endangered/what-we-do/listing-workplan-prioritizati… for a description of the prioritization methodology. Funds may be provided via cooperative agreements or project grants. Land acquisition or easement purchase is not allowed under this Notice of Funding Opportunity. Projects for NMFS-managed species are not included in this funding opportunity.

The Partners for Fish and Wildlife (PFW) Program is a voluntary, incentive-based program that provides direct technical assistance and financial assistance in the form of cooperative and grant agreements to private landowners to restore and conserve fish and wildlife habitat for the benefit of federal trust resources. The PFW Program is delivered through more than 250 full-time staff, active in all 50 States and territories. Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program staff coordinate with project partners, stakeholders and other Service programs to identify geographic focus areas and develop habitat conservation priorities within these focus areas. Geographic focus areas define where the program directs resources to conserve habitat for federal trust species. Project work plans are developed strategically, in coordination with partners, and with substantial involvement from Service field staff. The program has been in existence since 1987 and has over 30 years of successful delivery. Project selection will seek to align or support the Secretary’s priorities. It also advances the Department of the Interior’s mission, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s mission, and PFW’s mission, promote biological diversity, and based upon sound scientific biological principles. Program strategic plans inform the types of projects funded under this opportunity. ***Applicants seeking technical or financial assistance from the PFW Program are requested to consult with a local PFW Program office BEFORE developing or submitting an application (see Agency Contacts at the end of this announcement or visit https://www.fws.gov/program/partners-fish-and-wildlife/contact-us***

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS, Service) is committed to building and retaining a diverse and inclusive workforce that reflects the ethic, age, socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds, and language diversity of contemporary America. The Service operates a variety of programs that promote wildlife conservation and public land management under the Public Lands Corps Act (PLC, FWS Youth Corps) through engagement, employment, and education of our nation’s diverse youth and veterans. Service programs operating under the Public Lands Corps Act have been designated as covered programs under Justice40 (Executive Order 14008). The Service strives to meet the Federal Government’s goal that 40 percent of the overall benefits of certain Federal Investments flow to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized, underserved, and overburdened by pollution. The categories of investment are: climate change, clean energy and energy efficiency, clean transit, affordable and sustainable housing, training and workforce development, remediation of reduction of legacy pollution, and the development of critical clean water and wastewater infrastructure. The Service is the premier government agency dedicated to the conservation, protection, and enhancement of fish, wildlife and plants, and their habitats. We are the only agency in the federal government whose primary responsibility is the conservation and management of these important natural resources for the American public. The Service's origins date back to 1871 when Congress established the U.S. Fish Commission to study the decrease in the nation’s food fishes and recommend ways to reverse that decline. ***Applicants seeking technical or financial assistance from a Service PLC Program are requested to consult with a local Service office BEFORE developing or submitting an application (see Agency Contacts at the end of this announcement or visit U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (fws.gov) The Public Lands Corps (PLC) Program is authorized by Congress under Title 16 USC Sec. 1721-1726; Public Law 109-154, Public Lands Corps Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2005 (amends the Public Lands Corps Act of 1993)1, and all subsequent amendments. Guidance authorizes U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) HQ, Regional, and field offices to (1) establish PLC Programs (2) certify participants who meet the PLC eligibility requirements for the PLC non- competitive hiring authority status, and (3) ensure consistent program standards throughout the Service. The purpose of Service PLC Programs is to provide work and education opportunities for youth (defined as ages 16-30 inclusive, and up to age 35 for veterans) participants in the areas of natural and cultural resource conservation, development, and scientific research. Participants perform work on our nation’s public lands by providing additional, unique capacity designed to boost the impact of the Service for the conservation and management of fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats for the American people. The PLC Program allows the Service to establish partnerships with Partner organizations (Partners), generally defined as “qualified youth or conservation corps,” using financial assistance/cooperative agreements or MOUs, to employ the next generation of conservationists in paid PLC projects and internships. Partners must be designated as an official member of the FWS Youth Corps (formerly 21CSC Youth Corps) in order to certify Participants. FWS Youth Corps application information is available in the attachments to this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). The purpose of this NOFO is not to establish new partnerships. Unsolicited partnership applications or projects that are not collaboratively developed between an existing FWS Youth Corps member and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will be returned as ineligible. ***Applicants seeking technical or financial assistance from a Service PLC Program are requested to consult with a local Service office BEFORE developing or submitting an application (see Agency Contacts at the end of this announcement or visit U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (fws.gov) The PLC Program’s goals are to: Perform, in a cost-effective manner, appropriate conservation projects on eligible lands where such projects will not be performed by existing government employees. Assist governments and Indian tribes in performing research and public education tasks associated with natural and cultural resources on eligible lands. Expose young people to public service while furthering their understanding and appreciation of the Nation’s natural and cultural resources. Stimulate interest among the Nation’s youth in the Service and conservation careers by exposing them to conservation, scientific research, and other professionals in the Service, and offering them non-competitive hiring eligibility for Federal positions for which they qualify upon meeting program requirements. Allow PLC participants the opportunity to seek forbearance on Stafford loans2. Qualifying PLC participants, who have met program requirements, may become eligible for PLC non-competitive hiring authority status that is valid for up to for two (2) years and can be used to apply for permanent, temporary and term federal positions for which they qualify. The Service operates many PLC programs under the FWS Youth Corps that offer the possibility of non-competitive hiring authority status. Programs such as: Public Lands Transportation Fellows Program (PLTFP) The Public Lands Transportation Fellows program (PLTF) provides fellowships to outstanding graduates in a transportation-related field to work directly with staff of Federal Land Management Agencies on key visitor transportation issues. The PLTF program began in 2012 and was modeled after the very successful Transportation Scholars program managed by the National Park Foundation (NPF) that serves the National Park Service (NPS). The PLTF program gives recent graduates (sometimes current students) in a transportation related engineering, planning, or resource management program a unique opportunity for career development and public service. Successful applicants are placed at a federal land unit facing a transportation issue to facilitate a transportation planning or implementation project. A fellow is assigned to work directly with staff at a unit or headquarters/region/field office. The assigned projects help the land units develop transportation solutions that preserve valuable resources and enhance the visitor experience. The program has three goals, which are to: Encourage emerging transportation professionals to pursue their career serving federal lands. Provide much needed transportation expertise to FMLA units and regions to help them address critical transportation issues. Support the development, implementation, and evaluation of viable alternative transportation for visitors to FLMA’s. Youth Conservation Corps The Youth Conservation Corps (YCC) is summer youth employment program that engages young people in meaningful work experiences on public lands while developing an ethic of environmental stewardship and civic responsibility. YCC programs are generally 8 to 10 weeks long. Participants are paid the minimum wage for a 40-hour work week. Most YCC opportunities are non-residential programs that provide paid daytime work. The Service anticipates entering into cooperative agreements with multiple organizations to accomplish crew-based YCC projects in fiscal year 2022. For Service Regions that operate YCC programs through financial assistance, collaborative projects must be submitted through GrantSolutions prior to the Application Due Date of this Notice of Funding Opportunity. Youth Conservation Corps Career Discovery Internship Program Founded in 2008, the Career Discovery Internship Program (CDIP) was created in partnership with the Student Conservation Association (SCA) to help prepare the next generation of wildlife professionals and managers by: Introducing culturally and ethnically diverse college freshman and sophomores to conservation careers in the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service); Giving field staff the experience of working with culturally and ethnically diverse employee; and Increasing the diversity of the applicant pool for conservation-based jobs. These internships provide a diverse group of youth with the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in the field. Interns are paid a living wage and, in some cases, are also provided with room and board for the duration of their service. CDIP interns are assigned to Service field stations for a summer of hard work and experiential education. Before beginning their assignment, interns attend a week-long training and orientation program. During this time, interns receive a variety of training units including an introduction to the Service and SCA, cultural and intergenerational awareness training, mentor/mentee training to name a few. The interns also engage in simulations and Service challenges designed and facilitated by Service and SCA staff. Interns also meet their designated mentor for the summer, who is a Service employee. Service challenges are usually management issues common to daily life on a Service field station, with topics considering public relations, invasive species, and resource conservation. The interns close their week with a presentation on their solutions to these challenges. New and emerging Programs The Indian Youth Service Corps Program The IYSC Program is a program established within the Public Lands Corps Act that offers Tribes and other partner organizations the opportunity to enter into agreements with the Secretary of the Interior, Agriculture, or Commerce to do one or more of the following, for the benefit of Tribal members: Establish conservation crews to carry out appropriate conservation projects on eligible service lands; or Place individuals in resource assistant positions; or Place individuals in apprenticeships. The purpose of the IYSC is to: Perform, in a cost-effective manner, appropriate conservation projects on eligible service lands where such projects will not be performed by existing employees; Assist governments and Indian tribes in performing research and public education tasks associated with natural and cultural resources on eligible service lands. Expose Indian young men and women to public service while furthering their understanding and appreciation of our Nation’s natural and cultural resources. Expand educational opportunities by rewarding individuals who participate in national service with an increased ability to pursue higher education or job training; and Stimulate interest among our nation’s Indian young men and women in conservation careers by exposing them to conservation professionals in land-managing agencies. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Fire Management Program The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Fire Management Program’s goals include: Provide enough fuels work to employ a module of 6 or more for 3 or more months. Provide project leadership to introduce each treatment, present goals, objectives, ensure a safe work environment, quality control monitoring, and ensure FWS policies are being followed. Provide a short project description for each treatment including the scope of the project, objectives, required equipment, required qualifications, etc., to allow the FWS Youth Corps program to develop a cost estimate and bid, and ensure qualification compliance. Provide logistical support when logistical options are limited. Provide educational opportunities to FWS Youth Corps staff about the FWS, our refuges, ecology, wildland fire management, etc. Resource Assistant Programs In addition to PLC non-competitive hiring authority programs, the Service operates Direct Hire programs such as the Directorate Fellows Program (DFP). Under the authorization of the Public Land Corp Act, Resources Assistant Program, the Department of the Interior established policy for bureaus to implement the Direct Hire Authority, Resources Assistant Internship Program (DHA/RAIP) in 2012. The key requirements of the program are: (1) students must be enrolled in undergraduate and graduate degree programs; and (2) mandated targeted recruitment to ensure the full representation of women and participants from historically Black, Hispanic, Asian Pacific Islander and Native American schools or other schools with diverse student populations; and (3) design a rigorous project for a minimum of least 11-weeks for candidates selected to participate in the program. The DFP program is designed with the intent of creating a pipeline of diverse talented individuals who would qualify and be eligible for hiring into permanent entry level science positions. The FWS, DFP was implemented in 2014 with a focus on recruiting diverse students pursuing biological science, natural resources management or related degrees that support FWS conservation mission. The FWS, DFP has provided a cohort of well-qualified, motivated folks who are eligible for direct hiring authority. Since its inception, the DFP has provided 11-week rigorous fellowships for hundreds of students with exemplary talent, approximately 200 of whom have joined our workforce.