Arctic Migratory Birds Initiative (AMBI) Administration Assistance | F18AS00088

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the Arctic Migratory Birds Initiative (AMBI) Administration Assistance opportunity?

The AMBI Administration Assistance opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number F18AS00088) is a discretionary funding program from the U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. It is offered through a cooperative agreement to support the administrative and coordination functions that keep AMBI organized, documented, and moving forward.

Who is the federal sponsor and what type of award is this?

The sponsor is the U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The award mechanism is a cooperative agreement under a discretionary funding program.

What is AMBI and how does it relate to the Arctic Council?

AMBI is an Arctic Council initiative under the Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna (CAFF) Working Group. This funding supports administrative and implementation assistance tied to established Arctic Council and CAFF mandates.

What is the main purpose of this funding opportunity?

The purpose is to fund the administrative backbone of AMBI work, with an emphasis on the Americas Flyway. The award is intended to support coordination, documentation, reporting, and implementation support so the initiative produces usable outputs that advance conservation and management outcomes for Arctic migratory birds and the people who depend on them.

Is this grant meant to fund a single field project or research study?

Based on the description provided, the focus is less on conducting a single field project and more on ensuring the broader AMBI program is implemented effectively across partners and geographies through coordination, reporting, performance tracking, and follow-through.

Which flyway is emphasized in this opportunity?

The opportunity places a clear emphasis on the Americas Flyway and includes flyway coordination as a central deliverable.

What are the key activities the recipient is expected to carry out?

Key expected activities include coordinating flyway participants, convening regular meetings (the notice suggests monthly teleconferences), documenting meetings through minutes, providing timely reporting, developing performance metrics, conducting evaluations related to implementation, tracking action items and follow-through, supporting fundraising for flyway activities, and engaging with multiple stakeholders including local communities.

What does “flyway coordination” mean in practice for this award?

Flyway coordination includes organizing and hosting regular meetings among flyway group participants (including observers), keeping participants aligned, documenting discussions and decisions via meeting minutes, and producing timely reporting tied to implementation progress and outcomes.

How often are coordination meetings expected to occur?

The opportunity suggests regular meetings and specifically references monthly teleconferences as an example of the expected cadence.

Are meeting minutes and documentation required deliverables?

Yes. Documenting meetings through minutes is explicitly listed as part of the coordinator’s responsibilities, along with timely reporting.

What does the opportunity mean by “performance metrics” and “evaluations”?

The recipient is expected to help drive accountability and performance by developing performance metrics and conducting evaluations related to implementing the AMBI work plan. In context, this means tracking what is happening across partners and assessing progress against the work plan and agreed actions.

What kind of “reporting” is expected under this cooperative agreement?

The description emphasizes timely and reliable reporting connected to AMBI work plan implementation. Reporting is tied to coordination activities, documentation (like minutes), tracking actions, and communicating progress and outputs to support effective program delivery.

Does the award include responsibility for tracking action items and follow-through?

Yes. The coordinator is expected to track action items that come out of implementation meetings, ensure next steps are pursued, and help maintain momentum among diverse stakeholders.

Is fundraising support part of the scope of work?

Yes. A notable expectation is fundraising support for flyway activities, including helping identify or pursue additional resources to carry out flyway-related work and sustain implementation.

How important is local and community engagement in this opportunity?

Community-level and local engagement is clearly valued. The program frames success partly around cooperation with multiple stakeholders, including local communities, and around improving understanding and management using best available science and long-term sustainability principles.

What work plan governs the activities supported by this award?

The agreement supports administration, implementation support, and reporting tied to Arctic Council and CAFF mandates, specifically the AMBI Work Plan 2015-2019.

Does the opportunity support planning beyond the AMBI Work Plan 2015-2019?

Yes. The opportunity anticipates transition and planning beyond the 2015-2019 work plan. Recipients are expected to support development of a new AMBI work plan after 2019 under the direction of the AMBI Steering Committee and the CAFF Working Group.

Who provides direction for developing the post-2019 AMBI work plan?

The description indicates that work to support development of the new AMBI work plan after 2019 is to be carried out under the direction of the AMBI Steering Committee and the CAFF Working Group.

How is this opportunity positioned relative to future AMBI work?

It is positioned as part of a new five-year program of work that continues some existing AMBI activities while also introducing new focus areas and targeted funding opportunities aligned with U.S. priorities under the initiative.

What are the stated conservation and human dimensions this work supports?

The award aims to support conservation outcomes for Arctic migratory birds and the people who depend on them for food, cultural practices, recreation, and inspiration.

What is the maximum funding amount (award ceiling) for this opportunity?

The award ceiling is listed as $50,000.

How many awards are expected?

The opportunity indicates an expected five awards.

When was this funding opportunity created and what were the original closing details?

The program was created March 27, 2018, with an original closing date of May 26, 2018.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is listed as unrestricted, meaning it is open to any type of entity, subject to any clarifications in the full notice.

What does “unrestricted eligibility” mean here?

Based on the provided information, it means any type of entity may be eligible to apply, though applicants should check the full notice for any additional clarifications or conditions.

What factors are emphasized for selection and success?

Selection and success are framed around practical execution, including timely and reliable reporting, strong collaboration across partners and communities, effective coordination across flyways, and demonstrable contributions to better-informed stewardship and management consistent with AMBI priorities.

What makes this opportunity different from typical project-based grants?

This opportunity is designed to fund the administrative backbone of a broader initiative. It emphasizes coordination, documentation, performance tracking, implementation support, and planning across multiple partners and geographies rather than funding a single discrete on-the-ground project.

Is the work limited to administration, or does it also include implementation support?

It includes both. The agreement supports administration as well as implementation support and reporting tied to AMBI mandates and the AMBI Work Plan 2015-2019.

Does the scope include working with observers as well as participants?

Yes. The coordinator is expected to convene meetings among flyway group participants, including observers.

What kinds of outcomes is the program trying to achieve through this administrative support?

The program aims to keep AMBI organized and coordinated so that partners remain aligned, actions are tracked and completed, and outputs are produced that improve understanding and management of Arctic migratory birds using best available science and long-term sustainability principles.