Opportunity Information: Apply for 70181AR041
Apply for 70181AR041
- The Region 7 in the environment natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "2010 Request for Proposals Seabird Monitoring Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.650 Research Grants (Generic).
- This funding opportunity was created on Jul 2, 2010 and posted on Jul 2, 2010.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 5, 2010. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $150,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $50,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility.
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Opportunity Summary:
The 2010 Request for Proposals (RFP) for the Seabird Monitoring Program is a federal financial assistance opportunity from the U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge. The refuge is seeking a partner to build and carry out a prey identification component of its long-term seabird monitoring work, focused on identifying prey remains collected during seabird diet sampling. The resulting diet information is intended to support a broader effort to understand marine ecosystem conditions and change, with practical uses that include informing commercial fisheries management and impact assessment, and improving public-facing environmental education about marine ecosystems on the refuge.
The funded work centers on developing and running a consistent, repeatable program to identify fish and plankton remains from seabird diet samples. The project scope is specific: the awardee must (1) develop a laboratory manual or protocol for handling prey samples across different seabird species, (2) maintain a reference collection of prey species expected in these samples based on the scientific literature, (3) maintain identification guides for commonly encountered prey, (4) identify prey remains annually for as many as 500 seabird samples and, when feasible, resolve identifications to species level, (5) document a data management strategy and provide data summaries in a format that supports entry into an Alaska seabird diet database that was under development at the time, and (6) provide secure, long-term storage for archived prey samples. A key expectation is that the applicant demonstrates familiarity with current scientific methods for sorting and identifying partially digested prey items and for recording results in a defensible, usable way.
The anticipated award structure is a grant or cooperative agreement, with one base period and up to four option years. Continued funding for option years depends on satisfactory progress toward objectives and the availability of future federal funding. The opportunity anticipated a single award (ExpectedAwards: 1). Funding figures listed for the announcement include an estimated total funding amount of $150,000, with an award ceiling of $50,000 and an award floor of $10,000. No cost sharing or matching requirement is indicated, and pre-award costs are not reimbursable.
Eligibility is broad and essentially unrestricted, as long as the applicant has the technical and administrative capacity to complete the work. Eligible applicants include individuals and organizations such as independent investigators, Alaska Native organizations, government agencies, academic institutions, regional fishery organizations, and for-profit firms. Applicants that appear on the federal Excluded Parties Listing System (EPLS) are not eligible to apply. Administrative requirements also include having a DUNS number and maintaining an active (or pending) registration in the Central Contractor Registry (CCR) at the time of application, with a screen print of CCR status required in the application package; failure to register could result in rejection.
Applications had to be submitted by August 5, 2010 at 5:00 PM Alaska time. The refuge required electronic submission in Microsoft Word, with proposals emailed to stevedelehanty@fws.gov. Applicants were encouraged, though not required at that time, to submit via Grants.gov, noting that Grants.gov registration could take about two weeks. The opportunity was not subject to intergovernmental review under Executive Order 12372.
Proposals were evaluated using two equally weighted review criteria. The first was Technical/Scientific Merit, emphasizing the quality of the proposed approach and demonstrated expertise in modern methods for identifying and recording fish and plankton remains from seabird prey samples, including methods suited to partially digested material. The second was Investigator Ability and Resources, requiring evidence that the investigator or organization has the training, experience, and logistical/administrative capacity to successfully deliver the work. The refuge manager and staff would review proposals and make a selection, with final processing and review involving the USFWS Contracting and General Services division, after which the selected applicant would be notified in writing.
Award administration requirements included submitting standard federal assistance forms (SF-424, SF-424A, SF-424B, and applicable certifications). Awardees were required to comply with applicable federal financial assistance administrative rules and cost principles (referenced as 43 CFR 12 and cost principles under 2 CFR parts for educational institutions, state/local/tribal governments, nonprofits, and commercial entities). Reporting expectations were clear: annual reports with data summaries were due to the refuge by November 15 each year, and late or missing reports could lead to suspension or termination of the award. The awardee also remained responsible for obtaining any necessary federal, state, and local permits and approvals, and project approval could be suspended if required permits were not in place prior to award.
For questions or additional details, the announcement directed applicants to contact Vernon Byrd, Supervisory Wildlife Biologist at Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge in Homer, Alaska (phone 907-235-6546; email vernonbyrd@fws.gov). The funding opportunity number associated with the announcement is 70181AR041, and it is listed under CFDA 15.650 (Research Grants, Generic), with an activity category of Environment and Natural Resources.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) - Seabird Monitoring Program (2010 RFP)
1) What is this funding opportunity?
This is a federal financial assistance opportunity (a grant or cooperative agreement) from the U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge. It is described as the 2010 Request for Proposals (RFP) for the Seabird Monitoring Program.
2) What is the main purpose of the project?
The refuge is seeking a partner to build and carry out a prey identification component of its long-term seabird monitoring program, focused on identifying prey remains collected during seabird diet sampling. The resulting diet information is intended to support understanding marine ecosystem conditions and change, with practical uses including informing commercial fisheries management and impact assessment, and improving public-facing environmental education about marine ecosystems on the refuge.
3) What work is the awardee expected to perform?
The scope centers on developing and operating a consistent, repeatable program to identify fish and plankton remains from seabird diet samples. The announcement lists six required elements:
- Develop a laboratory manual/protocol for handling prey samples across different seabird species.
- Maintain a reference collection of prey species expected in samples, based on scientific literature.
- Maintain identification guides for commonly encountered prey.
- Identify prey remains annually for up to 500 seabird samples, resolving to species level when feasible.
- Document a data management strategy and provide data summaries in a format that supports entry into an Alaska seabird diet database (under development at the time).
- Provide secure, long-term storage for archived prey samples.
4) How many awards were expected to be made?
The announcement anticipated a single award (ExpectedAwards: 1).
5) What is the anticipated funding amount for this opportunity?
The announcement lists an estimated total funding amount of $150,000. It also lists an award ceiling of $50,000 and an award floor of $10,000.
6) Is cost sharing or matching required?
No cost sharing or matching requirement is indicated in the opportunity description provided.
7) Are pre-award costs reimbursable?
No. The opportunity states that pre-award costs are not reimbursable.
8) What type of agreement will be used?
The anticipated award structure is a grant or cooperative agreement.
9) What is the period of performance?
The opportunity includes one base period with up to four option years. Continued funding for option years depends on satisfactory progress toward objectives and the availability of future federal funding.
10) Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is described as broad and essentially unrestricted, as long as the applicant has the technical and administrative capacity to complete the work. Examples of eligible applicants include:
- Individuals and independent investigators
- Alaska Native organizations
- Government agencies
- Academic institutions
- Regional fishery organizations
- For-profit firms
11) Who is not eligible to apply?
Applicants that appear on the federal Excluded Parties Listing System (EPLS) are not eligible to apply.
12) What registrations or identifiers are required to apply?
The administrative requirements include having a DUNS number and maintaining an active (or pending) registration in the Central Contractor Registry (CCR) at the time of application. The application package must include a screen print of CCR status. The opportunity notes that failure to register could result in rejection.
13) When was the application deadline?
Applications had to be submitted by August 5, 2010 at 5:00 PM Alaska time.
14) How were proposals required to be submitted?
The refuge required electronic submission in Microsoft Word. Proposals were to be emailed to stevedelehanty@fws.gov.
15) Was Grants.gov required for submission?
Applicants were encouraged, though not required (at that time), to submit via Grants.gov. The announcement notes that Grants.gov registration could take about two weeks.
16) Is this opportunity subject to intergovernmental review under Executive Order 12372?
No. The opportunity was not subject to intergovernmental review under Executive Order 12372.
17) What are the main evaluation criteria for proposals?
Proposals were evaluated using two equally weighted criteria:
- Technical/Scientific Merit: Quality of the proposed approach and demonstrated expertise in modern methods for identifying and recording fish and plankton remains from seabird prey samples, including methods suited to partially digested material.
- Investigator Ability and Resources: Evidence of training, experience, and logistical/administrative capacity to successfully deliver the work.
18) Who reviews proposals and makes the selection?
The refuge manager and staff would review proposals and make a selection. Final processing and review involve the USFWS Contracting and General Services division, and the selected applicant would be notified in writing.
19) What specific technical capability is emphasized by the announcement?
A key expectation is that the applicant demonstrates familiarity with current scientific methods for sorting and identifying partially digested prey items and for recording results in a defensible, usable way.
20) What reporting is required if selected?
Annual reports with data summaries are due to the refuge by November 15 each year. The announcement states that late or missing reports could lead to suspension or termination of the award.
21) What federal forms are required for award administration?
Award administration requirements include standard federal assistance forms: SF-424, SF-424A, SF-424B, and applicable certifications.
22) What administrative rules and cost principles apply?
The announcement references applicable federal financial assistance administrative rules and cost principles, including 43 CFR 12 and cost principles under 2 CFR parts for educational institutions, state/local/tribal governments, nonprofits, and commercial entities.
23) Who is responsible for permits and approvals?
The awardee is responsible for obtaining any necessary federal, state, and local permits and approvals. The announcement notes that project approval could be suspended if required permits were not in place prior to award.
24) What is the funding opportunity number and CFDA listing?
The funding opportunity number is 70181AR041. It is listed under CFDA 15.650 (Research Grants, Generic) with an activity category of Environment and Natural Resources.
25) Who should applicants contact for questions?
Applicants were directed to contact Vernon Byrd, Supervisory Wildlife Biologist at Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge in Homer, Alaska. Phone: 907-235-6546. Email: vernonbyrd@fws.gov.
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