Request for Proposals is HERE!

Full proposal found here: FLPRISM_RFP_2021_Final_22March2021

2021 Request for Proposals

Finger Lakes Partnership for Regional Invasive Species Management (FL-PRISM) Subcontract Deadline for receipt of Proposals: 04/19/2021

 

Background and Purpose

The Finger Lakes Partnership for Regional Invasive Species Management (Finger Lakes-PRISM) is a network of partners in 17 counties in the Finger Lakes region of New York that brings together the resources of a diverse range of organizations to prevent, detect, control, and manage invasive species. The cost to control invasive species within the United States is estimated at $137 billion annually (Pimentel et al. 2005). The Finger Lakes-PRISM therefore seeks to share and leverage limited resources within the partnership while building a highly visible program that fosters community awareness and participation in invasive species issues/management and prevention.

 

The Finger Lakes PRISM, one of eight Partnerships for Regional Invasive Species Management (PRISMs) in New York State (NYS) is funded through the Environmental Protection Fund via contract with the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC). The Finger Lakes PRISM is hosted by Hobart and William Smith Colleges (HWS) administered by the NYSDEC and is in its second, five-year contract

 

In order to supplement invasive species work done among its partners, the Finger Lakes PRISM offers a subcontract opportunity through an RFP process to complete projects that further the goals and priorities of the 2020-21 Finger Lakes PRISM Work Plan and Strategic Plan 2025. This subcontract under the NYSDEC contract opportunity is offered through HWS, in collaboration with Finger Lakes PRISM and the NYSDEC. Subcontract awards are subject to final review and approval by NYSDEC Invasive Species Coordination Unit and HWS Office of Sponsored Programs.

 

Any questions regarding this Request for Proposals should be directed to the Finger Lakes PRISM Coordinator: Hilary R. Mosher, mosher@hws.edu

 

2020/2021 Program Objectives

 

The Finger Lakes PRISM is requesting proposals for subcontract projects that serve to advance the mission and goals of the Finger Lakes PRISM in alignment with the Finger Lakes PRISM Strategic Plan 2025 (SP25) goals and 2021 work plan. Specifically, proposals for projects that address invasive species management activities below are encouraged:

 

 

• OUTREACH (SP25 Goal 1)- Invasive species programming to enhance the public awareness

of invasive species issues with documented results such as number of events, number of participants engaged, number of people utilizing an invasive species bootbrush station, number of people trained to collect data on invasive species, etc. Bootbrush stations may be included in the work plan for funding. For more information on cost of bootbrush stations visit: https://fingerlakesinvasives.org/bootbrush-signs-2/. Bootbrush stations on public or private land must include landowner permission, any appropriate permits, and comply with local ordinances or regulations for signage.

• PREVENTION (SP25 Goal 1)- Programs focused on emerging threats such as spotted lanternfly, Japanese angelica tree, or other Tier 1 and Tier 2 species (Tier 1 and 2 species lists available on the org website) or pathways of spread are encouraged.
• EARLY DETECTION/RAPID RESPONSE (SP25 Goal 2)- Survey and monitoring for high priority invasive species at sites where species are not documented but are likely present in low abundance to evaluate the threat to conservation targets including rare species and natural areas of statewide

1. Surveys for invasive species including, but not limited to, Japanese angelica tree, wineberry, porcelain berry, stiltgrass, Hydrilla, water hyacinth, water lettuce, or other species in under-surveyed areas. NOTE: The use of iMapInvasives is mandatory for funded projects and failure to address in the proposal will result in disqualification.

• CONTROL (SP25 Goal 4)- Projects that manage early detection species or species whose abundance is regionally low or where feasibility of control is high ($10,000 max).

 

FAQ:

 

• What if a project proposal combines one or more activities?

If you are proposing a project that combines activities 1-3, these projects can be lumped together in one project proposal, scope of work, and budget sheet. Projects that combine activities 1-3 and 4 should separate the control and outreach/prevention/early detection budgets and scope of work. Control projects will be put out for bid and paid via invoice to the contractor doing the work. Activities 1-3 will go through the subaward process with Hobart and William Smith Colleges’ Sponsored Programs.

 

• If I plan to submit a proposal for a control activity, how would I document the cost of control? Ave rage cost per acre for treatment can be estimated for control Very often contractors will provide estimates for treatment and should be used if possible. Budget should include full cost estimate for services provided by the contractor and may include cost of permitting or landowner notification, and reporting as appropriate.

 

• Why is the control funding less than the other activities?

In order to support the wide range of control projects in the Finger Lakes region, we intend to fund more control activities than outreach, prevention, or early detection activities.

 

• How will these activities be paid?

Control activities will be put out for bid and paid directly through invoice. Outreach, prevention, and early detection activities will require a subaward with Hobart and William Smith Colleges. All applicants must be willing and able to accept the insurance requirements outlined in Appendix A and have the organizational capacity to successfully manage the project and properly administer the subcontract funds. Organizational capacity will be evaluated prior to issuance of subcontracts. Exceptions cannot be made to this requirement. Contract execution is subject to the applicant completing all the appropriate documentation and following institutional review. The subaward process may take several months to complete and payment may be delayed.

 

• How should I engage partners on this propo2sal?

 

Statements of support can be via email or other documentation. Projects that make a strong regional connection and impact will be ranked higher than those with only localized impact and support. Volunteer or agency involvement or support is encouraged.

 

All projects must be focused on and/or located in the seventeen counties of the Finger Lakes PRISM region (Broome, Cayuga, Chemung, Chenango, Cortland, Livingston, Madison, Monroe, Onondaga, Ontario, Schuyler, Seneca, Tompkins, Tioga, Steuben, Wayne, and Yates).

 

The project period will be 05/15/2021-12/31/2021.

 

All data collected will be uploaded to iMapInvasives.org as part of this project.

 

Evaluation Criteria

• How does your project address invasive species management activities (50%) –Priority species for this project include tier 1 and tier 2 species (tiered species lists available online at the org website). Other species in tiers 3, 4, and 5 that pose a legitimate ecological threat will also be accepted.

 

• Measurable results/outcomes expected (35%) – Include specific units of work to be accomplished (e.g., number of acres surveyed, number of species tracked over the season) and reported as a part of the project. The use of iMapInvasives is mandatory for funded projects and failure to address in the proposal will result in disqualification.

 

• Partnerships and connection to the broader region (15%) – Projects should identify partners that have demonstrated a commitment through a letter of support or added value towards project planning and implementation, including landowner permission? where work is planned. All partner recipients of Finger Lakes PRISM funds should be clearly identified in the partner section of submitted applications and should include the name of the organization and funding The work responsibilities or subcontract objectives of partner recipients should be clearly described in the project proposal. Additionally, watershed-scale impact of activities will receive a higher rank than localized invasive species management activities.

 

Eligibility

Proposals will be accepted from the following entities for projects focused on and/or located in the 17-county region of the Finger Lakes (Broome, Cayuga, Chemung, Chenango, Cortland, Livingston, Madison, Monroe, Onondaga, Ontario, Schuyler, Seneca, Tompkins, Tioga, Steuben, Wayne, and Yates)

• Not-for-profit organizations
• Local governmental or public agencies, such as municipalities and regional planning or environmental commissions;
• Educational institutions, including, but not limited to, public/private K-12 & colleges/universities;
• *New for 2021- projects from all others entities or private landowners are eligible if they show significant impact to the region and comply with insurance and institutional

Recipients of funding must be a Finger Lakes PRISM program partner and have signed a Finger Lakes PRISM Participant Pledge (https://fingerlakesinvasives.org/about/fingerlakes-partners/)

 

Awardees must present project results at a Finger Lakes PRISM event such as a working group meeting or full partner meeting and make the results available for presentations (poster or slides) by partner organizations.

 

For projects where data will be collected, awardees must sign a pledge to submit data to iMapInvasives.org.

 

All awardees must acknowledge in any any marketing materials or presentations to the public, that such funding was provided from the Environmental Protection Fund as administered by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and the Finger Lakes PRISM.

 

All applicants must be willing and able to accept the insurance requirements outlined in Appendix A and have the organizational capacity to successfully manage the project and properly administer the subcontract funds. Organizational capacity will be evaluated prior to issuance of subcontracts.

Exceptions cannot be made to this requirement.

Minimum Requirements

 

• The proposed project must lie entirely within the 17-counties of the Finger Lakes, although the applicant does not need to be housed within the FL-PRISM
• Proposals must be fully implemented and completed during the proposed period of
• A letter (or e-message) of support from identified supporters must be included in the project Projects that span ownership types will need concurrence from each relevant entity before a subcontract can be issued.
• There is no match
• A progress report will be submitted with the first invoice and progress towards goals of the project must be clearly displayed for Progress reports should be submitted with each invoice. A final report is due upon project completion or no later than 01/31/2022 and must provide updates to project metrics that are in alignment with project expenditures.
• Successful proposals will directly address elements listed in the evaluation criteria and include key metrics (areas surveys, number of people reaches, iMapInvasives utilization for reporting invasive species, etc.) Proposals should include a narrative description of the budget and a map of the project

 

Funds:

The maximum level of funding will be $20,000 per subcontract for outreach (1), prevention (2), early detection/rapid response (3) and $10,000 for control projects (4), including indirect costs. Smaller funding requests will be accepted and evaluated commensurate with measurable results/outcomes expected. The money for this program comes from the NYS Environmental Protection Fund. Funds will be made available upon completion of work and will be issued

 

Release date: 03/22/2021

upon completion of all reports and other deliverables as described in the subcontract. We expect to fund at least three projects through this RFP, but are not obligated to award all funds. Control projects will be paid through purchase order and by invoice, which should include a final report including all metrics requested.

 

Award decisions are expected to be made early May. Work should be completed no later than 12/31/2021, with final invoices submitted by 1/31/22. This program requires that reports be provided by the award recipient to the Finger Lakes-PRISM Coordinator. The progress report will be due with the submission of the first invoice and a final report by 1/31/2022.

 

Cost-Share Requirements

Cost sharing is not required.

 

Proposal Submission:

Proposals should be submitted electronically as a single PDF file attachment to FLPRISM@gmail.com by 5pm on or before 04/19/2021. Award recipients are expected to be notified by early May.

 

Proposal Review:

The Steering Committee of the Finger Lakes-PRISM will review and rank the project proposals based on the projects’ merit and the Evaluation Criteria (above), and will make the final decision regarding awards. All awards are subject to final approval by the NYS DEC.