Opportunity Information: Apply for FWS R5 MB 09 024
Apply for FWS R5 MB 09 024
- The Fish and Wildlife Service in the environment sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Bicknells Thrush Monitoring, Research and Planning" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.655 Migratory Bird Monitoring, Assessment and Conservation.
- This funding opportunity was created on Sep 2, 2009 and posted on Sep 2, 2009.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Sep 7, 2009. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $30,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $30,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education.
[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal:
Opportunity Summary:
The Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) grant opportunity titled "Bicknells Thrush Monitoring, Research and Planning" (Funding Opportunity Number FWS R5 MB 09 024) is a discretionary environmental grant under CFDA 15.655, Migratory Bird Monitoring, Assessment and Conservation. It was posted on September 2, 2009, with an original and current closing date of September 7, 2009, and archived on September 8, 2009. The total funding anticipated for this action is up to $30,000, with an award ceiling of $30,000 and an award floor of $1,000. There is no cost sharing or matching requirement listed. While the eligibility category is broadly described as nonprofit organizations (including 501(c)(3) and certain non-501(c)(3) nonprofits, excluding institutions of higher education), the notice makes clear that this is not an open competition.
This announcement is explicitly not a request for proposals. Instead, it is a Notice of Intent to Award up to $30,000 to the Vermont Center for Ecostudies (VCE) under a sole-source style justification referenced as 505 DM 2.14 (B4). The legal underpinning cited for the work is the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. 703 712), which authorizes federal appropriations to carry out the purposes of migratory bird conventions with Canada, Mexico, Japan, and the Soviet Union. In practical terms, the agency is signaling that it plans to fund a specific organization because the work supports federal migratory bird conservation responsibilities and because VCE is viewed as uniquely qualified to deliver the required services.
The rationale for selecting VCE centers on its long-standing leadership on Bicknells Thrush research and monitoring in the United States. The notice states that VCE has been the primary organization conducting monitoring and research on the species distribution and ecology across its full annual migratory cycle since 1992, and that it has already managed related cooperative agreement work with FWS. VCE staff are described as widely recognized experts on Bicknells Thrush, with no other U.S. organization having comparable depth of experience and knowledge for this species. The notice also highlights VCEs role in coordinating and operating Mountain Birdwatch, a high-elevation bird monitoring program in the northeastern United States, and its leadership in convening the International Bicknells Thrush Conservation Group (IBTCG), a coalition working to identify threats and implement conservation actions. Overall, the agency argues that VCE has the staff capacity, institutional infrastructure, and specialized expertise to complete the project efficiently and on schedule.
The purpose of the proposed grant is to advance Bicknells Thrush monitoring, research, and conservation planning, primarily by coordinating and implementing Mountain Birdwatch in the northeastern U.S. The scope of work is detailed and operational. First, the grantee is expected to coordinate field implementation of the Mountain Birdwatch monitoring protocol using a combination of volunteers and paid technicians, following established manuals and standard operating procedures, with an emphasis on implementing Mountain Birdwatch 2.0 to the extent feasible given partner funding through the IBTCG. Second, the grantee must oversee data handling, including supervising data entry, conducting quality assurance checks, and submitting finalized seasonal datasets to the Avian Knowledge Network for long-term archiving after each field season. Third, the project includes training responsibilities, specifically preparing volunteer observers in bird identification skills and the survey methods used by Mountain Birdwatch, so that field data are collected consistently and reliably across sites and observers.
In addition to volunteer coordination, the grant anticipates direct supervision of paid technicians, with special emphasis on the field season when new Mountain Birdwatch 2.0 survey locations are established and surveyed for the first time (the notice references an anticipated 2010 field season for this expansion). The grantee must also produce synthesis products that translate monitoring into usable conservation information, including summarizing data and delivering annual results reports to FWS and the IBTCG. Finally, the notice calls for a more formal scientific deliverable: preparation of a peer-reviewed publication covering 2000 to 2010 results and population trend analyses from Mountain Birdwatch 1.0, which is intended to document long-term avian population patterns and provide an evidence base for conservation planning.
For administrative support or issues accessing the full announcement, the notice lists a contact: Christal Cutler, Contract Specialist, at 413 253 8233, identified as the point of contact for electronic errors.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the title of this grant opportunity?
The grant opportunity is titled "Bicknells Thrush Monitoring, Research and Planning".
Which federal agency is offering this grant?
The opportunity is offered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS).
What is the Funding Opportunity Number?
The Funding Opportunity Number is FWS R5 MB 09 024.
What program or CFDA number is this associated with?
This opportunity is listed under CFDA 15.655, Migratory Bird Monitoring, Assessment and Conservation.
Is this a competitive funding opportunity?
No. The notice states that it is not an open competition and is explicitly not a request for proposals. It is a Notice of Intent to Award to a specific organization.
Is this announcement a Request for Proposals (RFP)?
No. The announcement is explicitly not a request for proposals. It functions as a Notice of Intent to Award.
Who does FWS intend to fund under this notice?
FWS indicates an intent to award up to $30,000 to the Vermont Center for Ecostudies (VCE).
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling is $30,000.
What is the minimum award amount (award floor)?
The award floor is $1,000.
How much total funding is anticipated for this action?
The total funding anticipated is up to $30,000.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No cost sharing or matching requirement is listed in the provided notice.
When was this opportunity posted?
The opportunity was posted on September 2, 2009.
What was the closing date for this opportunity?
The original and current closing date was September 7, 2009.
When was the opportunity archived?
The opportunity was archived on September 8, 2009.
What type of grant is this?
It is described as a discretionary environmental grant.
What eligibility category is listed in the notice?
The eligibility category is broadly described as nonprofit organizations, including 501(c)(3) and certain non-501(c)(3) nonprofits, while excluding institutions of higher education. However, the notice also makes clear that the action is not an open competition.
Why is FWS planning a sole-source style award to VCE?
The notice cites a sole-source style justification referenced as 505 DM 2.14 (B4) and explains that VCE is viewed as uniquely qualified due to its long-standing leadership and specialized expertise in Bicknells Thrush monitoring and research.
What legal authority is cited for this work?
The notice cites the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. 703 712) as the legal underpinning, describing it as authorizing appropriations to carry out the purposes of migratory bird conventions with Canada, Mexico, Japan, and the Soviet Union.
What is the overall purpose of the proposed grant?
The purpose is to advance Bicknells Thrush monitoring, research, and conservation planning, primarily through coordination and implementation of the Mountain Birdwatch program in the northeastern United States.
What is Mountain Birdwatch in the context of this grant?
Mountain Birdwatch is described as a high-elevation bird monitoring program in the northeastern United States that VCE coordinates and operates. This grant supports implementing its monitoring protocol, managing data, training observers, and reporting results.
What are the main activities the grantee is expected to carry out?
Key activities described in the scope of work include:
- Coordinating field implementation of the Mountain Birdwatch monitoring protocol using volunteers and paid technicians, following established manuals and standard operating procedures.
- Implementing Mountain Birdwatch 2.0 to the extent feasible given partner funding through the International Bicknells Thrush Conservation Group (IBTCG).
- Overseeing data handling (data entry supervision, quality assurance checks, and seasonal dataset finalization).
- Submitting finalized seasonal datasets to the Avian Knowledge Network for long-term archiving after each field season.
- Training volunteer observers in bird identification and Mountain Birdwatch survey methods to support consistent data collection.
- Supervising paid technicians, particularly during the season when new Mountain Birdwatch 2.0 survey locations are established and surveyed.
- Summarizing monitoring data and delivering annual results reports to FWS and the IBTCG.
- Preparing a peer-reviewed publication covering 2000 to 2010 results and population trend analyses from Mountain Birdwatch 1.0.
What is the role of volunteers under this project?
The project anticipates using a combination of volunteers and paid technicians to implement the Mountain Birdwatch monitoring protocol. The grantee is responsible for coordinating volunteers and preparing them through training in identification skills and survey methods.
What is the role of paid technicians under this project?
The notice anticipates direct supervision of paid technicians, with particular emphasis during the field season when new Mountain Birdwatch 2.0 survey locations are being established and surveyed for the first time.
What data management and archiving tasks are required?
The grantee is expected to supervise data entry, conduct quality assurance checks, finalize seasonal datasets, and submit finalized datasets to the Avian Knowledge Network for long-term archiving after each field season.
What training responsibilities are included?
The project includes preparing volunteer observers in bird identification skills and Mountain Birdwatch survey methods so that monitoring data are collected consistently and reliably across sites and observers.
What reports or written deliverables are expected?
The notice describes deliverables that include:
- Annual results reports provided to FWS and the IBTCG.
- A peer-reviewed publication analyzing 2000 to 2010 Mountain Birdwatch 1.0 results and population trends.
What is the International Bicknells Thrush Conservation Group (IBTCG)?
The notice describes the IBTCG as a coalition convened with leadership from VCE to identify threats and implement conservation actions for Bicknells Thrush, and as a partner relevant to Mountain Birdwatch 2.0 funding and coordination.
How does this work support federal migratory bird responsibilities?
The notice frames the project as supporting federal migratory bird conservation responsibilities under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, and it emphasizes that Bicknells Thrush monitoring and planning contribute to conservation actions tied to migratory bird conventions.
Why does the notice say VCE is uniquely qualified?
The notice states that VCE has been the primary organization conducting Bicknells Thrush monitoring and research on the species distribution and ecology across its full annual migratory cycle since 1992, has managed related cooperative agreement work with FWS, and has staff recognized as leading experts, with no other U.S. organization described as having comparable depth of experience for this species.
Does the notice mention a specific timeframe for expanded survey work?
Yes. The notice references an anticipated 2010 field season in connection with establishing and surveying new Mountain Birdwatch 2.0 survey locations.
Who is the listed point of contact for administrative support or electronic access issues?
The notice lists Christal Cutler, Contract Specialist, as the point of contact for electronic errors. The phone number provided is 413 253 8233.
Browse more opportunities from the same category: Environment
Next opportunity: Plan and Implement Bird Conservation Projects
Previous opportunity: Development and Maintenance of the Compliance Assistance Center Platform
USGrants.org Applicant Portal:
Are you interested in learning about about how to apply for this government funding opportunity? You can create a free applicant account and receive instant access to our applicant portal that many business owners like you have benefited from.
Apply for FWS R5 MB 09 024
[Watch] how do funding administrators access proposals?
Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (FWS R5 MB 09 024) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| Plan and Implement Bird Conservation Projects Apply for FWS R5 MB 09 025 Funding Number: FWS R5 MB 09 025 Agency: Fish and Wildlife Service Category: Environment Funding Amount: $350,000 |
| BLM CO Cultural Clearances for Mine Safety Closure Projects Apply for BLMCO NOI09 1220 Funding Number: BLMCO NOI09 1220 Agency: Department of the Interior Category: Environment Funding Amount: $50,000 |
| Species Conservation Apply for FWS R4 MB 09 026 Funding Number: FWS R4 MB 09 026 Agency: Fish and Wildlife Service Category: Environment Funding Amount: $77,500 |
| Species Conservation Apply for FWS R4 MB 09 027 Funding Number: FWS R4 MB 09 027 Agency: Fish and Wildlife Service Category: Environment Funding Amount: $77,500 |
| Taneum CreekFish Passage and Water Delivery Apply for 09SP1U1450 Funding Number: 09SP1U1450 Agency: Bureau of Reclamation Pacific Northwest Region Category: Environment Funding Amount: $59,500 |
| Horning Native Plant Development Cooperative Project (Oregon) Apply for BLM OR RFA 09 1230 Funding Number: BLM OR RFA 09 1230 Agency: Department of the Interior Category: Environment Funding Amount: $150,000 |
| Central Valley Project Conservation Program and Central Valley Project Improvement Act Habitat Restoration Program Apply for R10AF20001 Funding Number: R10AF20001 Agency: Bureau of Reclamation Mid Pacific Region Category: Environment Funding Amount: $1,000,000 |
| Challenge Cost Share for planning and restoration activities on Broad Canyon Ranch, New Mexico Apply for NWRS R2 22521 02 Funding Number: NWRS R2 22521 02 Agency: Region 2 Category: Environment Funding Amount: $40,000 |
| BLM Coos Bay District and Oregon Parks and Recreation Cooperative Recreation Management Apply for BLM OR NOI 09 1398 Funding Number: BLM OR NOI 09 1398 Agency: Department of the Interior Category: Environment Funding Amount: $80,000 |
| Youth employment Opportunities for Resource Managment and Enhaancement of Federal Lands Apply for BLM OR RFA 09 1699 Funding Number: BLM OR RFA 09 1699 Agency: Department of the Interior Category: Environment Funding Amount: $35,000 |
| BLM OR/WA Noxious Weed Eradication Malheur County, Oregon Apply for BLM OR RFA 09 1535 Funding Number: BLM OR RFA 09 1535 Agency: Department of the Interior Category: Environment Funding Amount: $81,000 |
| BLM OR/WA Watershed Restoration and Infrastructure Safety Apply for BLM OR RFA 09 1363 Funding Number: BLM OR RFA 09 1363 Agency: Department of the Interior Category: Environment Funding Amount: $43,000 |
| Water Conservation Program Technology Transfer Grants Apply for R10AF20002 Funding Number: R10AF20002 Agency: Bureau of Reclamation Mid Pacific Region Category: Environment Funding Amount: $400,000 |
| BROWNFIELDS JOB TRAINING GRANTS Apply for EPA OSWER OBLR 09 07 Funding Number: EPA OSWER OBLR 09 07 Agency: Environmental Protection Agency Category: Environment Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Region 10 Request for Initial Proposals (RFIP) for EPA Dedicated Water Apply for EPA R10 10 OWW WU Funding Number: EPA R10 10 OWW WU Agency: Environmental Protection Agency Category: Environment Funding Amount: $80,000 |
| Approaches to Assessing Potential Food Allergy from Genetically Engineered Plants Apply for EPA G2009 STAR H1 Funding Number: EPA G2009 STAR H1 Agency: Environmental Protection Agency Category: Environment Funding Amount: $425,000 |
| National Clean Diesel Funding Assistance Program, FY 2009/2010 Request for Proposals (RFP) Apply for EPA OAR OTAQ 09 10 Funding Number: EPA OAR OTAQ 09 10 Agency: Environmental Protection Agency Category: Environment Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Clean Diesel Emerging Technologies Funding Assistance Program, FY2009/2010 Request for Proposals (RFP) Apply for EPA OAR OTAQ 09 12 Funding Number: EPA OAR OTAQ 09 12 Agency: Environmental Protection Agency Category: Environment Funding Amount: $1,500,000 |
| SmartWay Clean Diesel Finance Program FY 2009/2010 Request for Proposals (RFP) Apply for EPA OAR OTAQ 09 13 Funding Number: EPA OAR OTAQ 09 13 Agency: Environmental Protection Agency Category: Environment Funding Amount: $12,000,000 |
| Wildlife Without Borders Latin America and the Caribbean Apply for WWBLAC2010 Funding Number: WWBLAC2010 Agency: Fish and Wildlife Service Category: Environment Funding Amount: $50,000 |
Grant application guides and resources
It is always free to apply for government grants. However the process may be very complex depending on the funding opportunity you are applying for. Let us help you!
Apply for Grants
Premium leads for funding administrators, grant writers, and loan issuers
Thousands of people visit our website for their funding needs every day. When a user creates a grant proposal and files for submission, we pass the information on to funding administrators, grant writers, and government loan issuers.
If you manage government grant programs, provide grant writing services, or issue personal or government loans, we can help you reach your audience.
Subscribe to Leads
Request more information:
Would you like to learn more about this funding opportunity, similar opportunities to "FWS R5 MB 09 024", eligibility, application service, and/or application tips? Submit an inquiry below:
Don't forget to subscribe to our grant alerts mailing list to receive weekly alerts on new and updated grant funding opportunities like this one in your email.