Opportunity Information: Apply for F18AS00201
The Polar Bear Patrols grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number F18AS00201) is a US Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), Region 7 action to support a focused, on-the-ground safety and conservation program in Alaska's North Slope communities. It is structured as a discretionary cooperative agreement under CFDA 15.608, with an anticipated single award up to $210,000. The notice makes clear that this is not a competitive solicitation: USFWS intends to make a single-source financial assistance award, authorized under 505 DM 2.14(B), specifically to the North Slope Borough Department of Wildlife Management. Although the eligibility category is listed broadly as county governments, the agency states it does not intend to accept or review proposals from other applicants.
At the core of the project is implementation of a polar bear detection and deterrence effort known as Polar Bear Patrols in North Slope villages where polar bears periodically enter or approach inhabited areas. The overall purpose is to reduce human-bear conflicts by improving early detection of bears and applying non-lethal deterrence methods to prevent dangerous encounters. The program is framed as both a public safety initiative and a conservation strategy, aiming to protect residents while also reducing the likelihood that bears are harmed or destroyed in response to conflict incidents.
The stated project objectives cover five main outcomes. First, the patrols are intended to improve public safety in communities visited by polar bears by creating a dedicated, organized response capability that can spot bears early, warn residents, and manage situations before they escalate. Second, the project is designed to provide local employment opportunities, meaning community members can be hired and trained to carry out patrol duties and related activities, keeping capacity and economic benefits local. Third, it supports polar bear conservation by emphasizing non-lethal responses to bear encounters, which helps reduce the need for lethal removal and encourages coexistence approaches. Fourth, it advances conservation through public education and work to reduce bear attractants, recognizing that unsecured food, waste, and other attractants often draw bears into town and increase the risk of conflict. Fifth, it explicitly involves Alaska Natives in polar bear co-management, aligning with Section 119 of the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) and the USFWS Native American Policy, and reinforcing the Department of the Interior mission language referenced in the notice about ensuring tribal sovereignty has real meaning in practice.
Administratively, the opportunity was created June 26, 2018, with an original closing date of July 27, 2018, and an expectation of one award. The broad funding activity categories attached to the notice (including environment, natural resources, education, employment and training, health, and regional development) reflect the program's mixed public-safety, workforce, and wildlife-management goals. In practical terms, the grant supports a community-based system for monitoring polar bear presence, safely deterring bears without killing them, educating residents on prevention, and formalizing local participation in co-management efforts that connect village priorities with federal wildlife stewardship responsibilities.Apply for F18AS00201
- The Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service in the business and commerce, education, employment, labor and training, environment, health, information and statistics, natural resources, other (see text field entitled explanation of other category of funding activity for clarification), regional development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Polar Bear Patrols" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.608.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jun 26, 2018.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 27, 2018. (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 $210,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: County governments.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Polar Bear Patrols (F18AS00201)
What is the Polar Bear Patrols grant opportunity?
The Polar Bear Patrols grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number F18AS00201) is a U.S. Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), Region 7 funding action to support a focused, on-the-ground safety and conservation program in Alaska's North Slope communities where polar bears periodically enter or approach inhabited areas.
What is the main purpose of this grant?
The purpose is to reduce human-bear conflicts by improving early detection of polar bears and using non-lethal deterrence methods to prevent dangerous encounters. The program is framed as both a public safety initiative (protecting residents) and a conservation strategy (reducing the likelihood that bears are harmed or destroyed in response to conflict incidents).
What type of award is being offered?
This opportunity is structured as a discretionary cooperative agreement.
What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is listed under CFDA 15.608.
How much funding is available?
The notice anticipates a single award up to $210,000.
How many awards does USFWS expect to make?
The notice indicates an expectation of one award.
Is this a competitive grant opportunity?
No. The notice states this is not a competitive solicitation. USFWS intends to make a single-source financial assistance award and does not intend to accept or review proposals from other applicants.
Who is the intended recipient of the award?
USFWS intends to make the single-source award specifically to the North Slope Borough Department of Wildlife Management.
Why does the listing show an eligibility category if it is single-source?
The eligibility category is listed broadly as county governments; however, the agency explicitly states it does not intend to accept or review proposals from other applicants beyond the identified recipient.
What is the legal/administrative basis for issuing this as a single-source award?
The notice states the award is authorized under 505 DM 2.14(B).
When was this funding opportunity created?
The opportunity was created on June 26, 2018.
What was the original closing date?
The original closing date was July 27, 2018.
What are "Polar Bear Patrols" in practical terms?
Polar Bear Patrols are a community-based detection and deterrence effort in North Slope villages. In practical terms, the program supports monitoring polar bear presence near communities, spotting bears early, warning residents, and using non-lethal actions to deter bears and prevent situations from escalating into dangerous encounters.
What problems is the program designed to address?
The program targets situations where polar bears approach or enter inhabited areas, increasing the risk of human injury, property impacts, and bear mortality if conflicts lead to lethal response. The patrol model is intended to lower conflict risk for both people and bears.
What are the primary objectives or outcomes of the project?
The notice describes five main outcomes: (1) improving public safety through an organized response capability that can detect bears early, warn residents, and manage incidents; (2) providing local employment opportunities by hiring and training community members; (3) supporting polar bear conservation through non-lethal responses; (4) advancing conservation through public education and efforts to reduce bear attractants; and (5) involving Alaska Natives in polar bear co-management consistent with federal policy and statutory alignment described in the notice.
How does the project improve public safety?
By creating a dedicated, organized community response that focuses on early detection of bears, timely warning to residents, and management of bear encounters before they escalate into dangerous situations.
How does the grant support local employment?
The project is designed to create local employment opportunities by hiring and training community members to carry out patrol duties and related activities, keeping capacity and benefits within the community.
What conservation approach does the program emphasize?
The program emphasizes non-lethal deterrence and other non-lethal responses to bear encounters, aiming to reduce the need for lethal removal and support coexistence approaches.
What does "reducing bear attractants" mean in this notice?
The notice recognizes that unsecured food, waste, and other attractants can draw bears into town and increase conflict risk. The project includes public education and work aimed at reducing those attractants as part of prevention.
How are education and outreach reflected in the grant goals?
Public education is explicitly included as a conservation outcome, paired with attractant reduction efforts, to help prevent bears from being drawn into inhabited areas and to reduce conflict incidents.
What role do Alaska Natives play in this project?
The notice states the project explicitly involves Alaska Natives in polar bear co-management, aligning with Section 119 of the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) and the USFWS Native American Policy.
How does this project connect to federal co-management policy?
The notice frames the effort as reinforcing local participation in co-management in line with Section 119 of the MMPA and the USFWS Native American Policy, and it references Department of the Interior mission language about ensuring tribal sovereignty has real meaning in practice.
What general funding activity categories are associated with the notice?
The notice attaches broad activity categories including environment, natural resources, education, employment and training, health, and regional development, reflecting the program's mixed public-safety, workforce, and wildlife-management goals.
What geographic area is the program focused on?
The program is focused on Alaska's North Slope communities, particularly North Slope villages that experience periodic polar bear visits or incursions into inhabited areas.
What does the grant ultimately support at the community level?
The grant supports a community-based system for monitoring polar bear presence, safely deterring bears without killing them, educating residents on prevention, reducing attractants, and formalizing local participation in co-management efforts that connect village priorities with federal wildlife stewardship responsibilities.
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