Opportunity Information: Apply for G15AC00308
Apply for G15AC00308
- The Geological Survey in the environment sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Aquatic Invertebrate Life History Strategies in the Colorado River and Tributaries" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.808 U.S. Geological Survey Research and Data Collection.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jul 14, 2015 and posted on Jul 14, 2015.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 28, 2015. (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 $125,431.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Aquatic Invertebrate Life History Strategies in the Colorado River and Tributaries opportunity is a U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) notice of intent to award, meaning it is not open for competitive applications and is instead published to publicly document USGS plans to make a single-recipient cooperative agreement. The project focuses on cooperative research and data collection related to how aquatic invertebrates (especially benthic insects living on the river bottom) survive, reproduce, and recruit in highly modified, dam-regulated river systems, with a central emphasis on the Colorado River downstream of Glen Canyon Dam as well as selected tributaries and comparative reference reaches that are more free-flowing.
The intended recipient is Oregon State University (OSU), led by Dr. David Lytle (OSU) in partnership with Dr. Ted Kennedy at the Grand Canyon Monitoring and Research Center (GCMRC). The award mechanism is a cooperative agreement under CFDA 15.808 (USGS Research and Data Collection), reflecting that USGS expects substantial federal involvement during the work rather than simply issuing funds with minimal interaction. The anticipated period of performance runs from October 1, 2015 through September 30, 2020. The total anticipated award amount is listed as $125,431, with an anticipated federal amount of $25,086 noted in the announcement and no cost share requirement. Eligible applicants in the posting are described generally as public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, but this specific notice is tied to a planned noncompetitive award to OSU.
The technical scope of work centers on three linked activities. First, OSU graduate students and GCMRC scientists will work together to collect benthic aquatic invertebrate samples from sites on the Colorado River and its tributaries, emphasizing tailwater reaches below major dams (where flow regimes are heavily regulated) while also including reference sites in less regulated segments to provide comparison points. Second, OSU will process those samples with the support of a taxonomic specialist, identifying organisms to the lowest feasible taxonomic level, typically genus, and maintaining organized datasheets and databases so the resulting biological information can be used reliably in analyses and future syntheses. Third, the team will collaborate to develop and refine life history models that explicitly connect patterns of flow variability (a defining feature of dam operations) to insect recruitment strategies, essentially aiming to explain how altered hydrology influences timing, survival, and population turnover in the invertebrate community.
USGS has a hands-on role described as substantial and necessary to accomplish the objectives. USGS will take primary responsibility for collecting samples from difficult-to-sample tailwater segments below large dams and then provide those materials to OSU for laboratory processing and taxonomic work. USGS will also manage and guide collaboration between OSU personnel and USGS scientists as they evaluate and interpret findings and prepare manuscripts for publication. In addition, USGS will facilitate coordination with other participating partners mentioned in the announcement, including Utah State University and the Western Area Power Administration, to ensure the research and modeling align with broader monitoring, management, and operational interests in the basin.
The announcement also lays out why the award is being issued without full and open competition. Under Department of the Interior single-source policy, USGS justifies the noncompetitive approach primarily under the "Unique Qualifications" criterion, arguing that Professor Lytle and OSU are uniquely qualified due to specialized, internationally recognized expertise in invertebrate life history and evolution. The justification highlights Lytle's seminal publications and distinctive mathematical models for invertebrate life history and evolutionary dynamics, which USGS intends to adapt to the specific conditions created by Glen Canyon Dam operations. A second justification pathway is the use of USGS cooperative agreement authority under 43 U.S.C. 36d, which allows USGS to enter into cooperative agreements with targeted federal, state, and academic partners to support joint research and data collection activities.
Operationally, the opportunity is categorized under the environment activity area and was posted July 14, 2015, with a listed closing date of July 28, 2015, and an archive date of August 27, 2015, reflecting the administrative window for public notice rather than an application cycle. The USGS point of contact is Stewart Evans (sevans@usgs.gov), with a phone number provided for access or administrative questions. Overall, the project is designed to produce well-identified invertebrate datasets and modeling tools that help explain how flow regulation shapes aquatic insect life histories in the Colorado River system, supporting scientific understanding that can inform long-term monitoring and river management decisions.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the "Aquatic Invertebrate Life History Strategies in the Colorado River and Tributaries" opportunity?
This is a U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) notice of intent to award a cooperative agreement for cooperative research and data collection focused on aquatic invertebrate life history strategies in the Colorado River and selected tributaries. The emphasis is on understanding how insects and other benthic (river-bottom) invertebrates survive, reproduce, and recruit in dam-regulated river systems, especially downstream of Glen Canyon Dam.
Is this opportunity open for competitive applications?
No. The posting is a notice of intent to award, which means it is not a competitive funding opportunity and is not open for applications. It is published to document USGS plans to make a single-recipient award.
Who is the intended recipient of the award?
The intended recipient is Oregon State University (OSU). The work is led by Dr. David Lytle (OSU) in partnership with Dr. Ted Kennedy at the Grand Canyon Monitoring and Research Center (GCMRC).
Which agency is making the award?
The award is planned by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), including involvement from the Grand Canyon Monitoring and Research Center (GCMRC).
What type of funding mechanism is planned?
The planned mechanism is a cooperative agreement. This reflects that USGS expects substantial federal involvement during the period of performance, rather than a more hands-off relationship.
What program or assistance listing is associated with this award?
The announcement cites CFDA 15.808 (USGS Research and Data Collection).
What is the period of performance?
The anticipated project period runs from October 1, 2015 through September 30, 2020.
What is the total anticipated award amount?
The total anticipated award amount is listed as $125,431.
What federal amount is noted in the announcement?
An anticipated federal amount of $25,086 is noted in the posting.
Is cost share or matching required?
No. The announcement states there is no cost share requirement.
What is the main scientific focus of the project?
The project focuses on how aquatic invertebrates, especially benthic insects, persist and reproduce under highly modified flow regimes associated with dam operations. A central goal is to connect flow variability and hydrologic alteration to insect recruitment strategies, including timing, survival, and population turnover.
Where will the research take place?
The central emphasis is the Colorado River downstream of Glen Canyon Dam, along with selected tributaries. The work also includes comparative reference reaches that are more free-flowing (less regulated) to provide comparison points.
What organisms are being studied?
The work targets aquatic invertebrates, with an emphasis on benthic insects that live on or near the river bottom.
What are the main project activities described in the announcement?
The scope of work is organized around three linked activities: (1) field collection of benthic aquatic invertebrate samples from the Colorado River and tributaries (with emphasis on tailwaters below major dams and inclusion of reference sites), (2) laboratory processing and taxonomic identification of organisms to the lowest feasible taxonomic level (typically genus) with organized datasheets and databases, and (3) collaboration to develop and refine life history models that link flow variability to insect recruitment strategies.
What role will OSU play?
OSU graduate students and personnel will collaborate with USGS/GCMRC scientists on sampling and will be responsible for processing samples with support from a taxonomic specialist. OSU will identify organisms to the lowest feasible taxonomic level (typically genus) and maintain organized data records suitable for analysis and future synthesis. OSU will also collaborate on developing and refining life history models tied to flow variability.
What role will USGS play?
USGS has substantial involvement described as necessary to accomplish the objectives. USGS will take primary responsibility for collecting samples from difficult-to-sample tailwater segments below large dams and provide collected materials to OSU for laboratory processing and taxonomic work. USGS will also manage and guide collaboration, support evaluation and interpretation of results, and help prepare manuscripts for publication.
Why is this being issued as a noncompetitive (single-source) award?
USGS justifies the noncompetitive approach under Department of the Interior single-source policy primarily through the "Unique Qualifications" criterion. The notice states that Professor David Lytle and OSU are uniquely qualified due to specialized and internationally recognized expertise in invertebrate life history and evolution, including seminal publications and distinctive mathematical models that USGS intends to adapt to conditions influenced by Glen Canyon Dam operations.
Are there other authorities cited for using a cooperative agreement with a targeted recipient?
Yes. The announcement references USGS cooperative agreement authority under 43 U.S.C. 36d, which allows USGS to enter cooperative agreements with specific federal, state, and academic partners to support joint research and data collection activities.
Who are the collaborating partners mentioned besides OSU and USGS/GCMRC?
The announcement mentions coordination with other participating partners including Utah State University and the Western Area Power Administration.
What is meant by "tailwater" sites in this context?
In this posting, tailwater reaches refer to river segments immediately downstream of large dams where flow regimes are heavily regulated and conditions can be difficult to sample. These areas are a focus for invertebrate sampling and analysis.
How will samples be identified and what level of identification is expected?
Samples will be processed with support of a taxonomic specialist, and organisms will be identified to the lowest feasible taxonomic level, typically genus. The project also emphasizes maintaining organized datasheets and databases.
What kinds of deliverables or outputs are implied by the announcement?
The announcement emphasizes producing well-identified invertebrate datasets, organized data records suitable for reliable analysis, life history modeling tools that link flow variability to recruitment strategies, and collaborative manuscripts prepared for publication.
What is the activity area or topic category for this opportunity?
The opportunity is categorized under the environment activity area.
What were the posting dates shown, and what do they represent?
The notice was posted on July 14, 2015, with a listed closing date of July 28, 2015, and an archive date of August 27, 2015. These dates reflect the administrative window for public notice rather than an application cycle, since the award is not open for competitive applications.
Who is the USGS point of contact for this notice?
The USGS point of contact listed is Stewart Evans. The announcement provides the email address sevans@usgs.gov and also notes that a phone number is provided for access or administrative questions.
If an institution is generally eligible (for example, a public university), can it apply anyway?
The posting describes eligible applicants generally as public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, but this specific notice is tied to a planned noncompetitive single-recipient award to Oregon State University and is not open for competitive applications.
How does this project support river management or monitoring decisions?
By developing well-identified invertebrate datasets and models that explain how flow regulation shapes insect life histories, the project is intended to strengthen scientific understanding that can inform long-term monitoring and river management decisions in the Colorado River system.
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