Opportunity Information: Apply for F16AS00231
Apply for F16AS00231
- The DOI-FWS in the environment, natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Bird or Animal Deformities or Reproductive Problems Beneficial Use Impairment Assessment for the State of Michigan Areas of Concern" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.662.
- This funding opportunity was created on May 18, 2016 and posted on May 18, 2016.
- Applicants must submit their applications by May 25, 2016. (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 $127,740.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Opportunity Summary:
This funding opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number F16AS00231) is a U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (DOI-FWS) discretionary grant focused on evaluating a specific Great Lakes restoration issue in Michigan: the "Bird or Animal Deformities or Reproductive Problems" Beneficial Use Impairment (often shortened to Wildlife BUI). Michigan has four designated Areas of Concern (AOCs) where this Wildlife BUI is listed, meaning these locations have historically shown, or are suspected to still show, wildlife health or reproductive problems tied to environmental contamination or degraded habitat conditions. Even though these AOCs provide critical habitat for Great Lakes birds, fish, and other wildlife, the underlying question remains whether animal health has improved enough after cleanup actions to justify removing the impairment designation. The opportunity is designed to fill key information gaps so agencies can make defensible decisions about restoration priorities and, ultimately, whether the Wildlife BUI can be removed in those Michigan AOCs.
The core purpose of the project is targeted field and laboratory research that directly addresses the kinds of evidence used to evaluate wildlife impairments: contaminant exposure and associated health effects in sentinel species, plus contaminant levels in the food web that supports them. The USFWS and state partners determined that existing studies are limited and do not adequately describe the current extent of the impairment or how much remediation has reduced risk. To close those gaps, the grant supports three main study components. First, it calls for an assessment of bald eagle health by measuring perfluorinated compounds (a class of persistent industrial chemicals that includes PFAS-related compounds) in bald eagle nestling plasma. Using nestlings helps indicate local exposure at or near nesting territories during a sensitive developmental period. Second, it calls for an assessment of mink health by measuring contaminant concentrations in mink livers and documenting lesions in mink jaws. Mink are widely used as indicators of contaminant-driven effects in aquatic food webs because they are semi-aquatic predators and can bioaccumulate pollutants through fish and other prey; liver contaminant data provides an exposure signal, while jaw lesions can serve as a biological effect endpoint that may correlate with contaminant stressors. Third, it requires assessing fish health and food source contaminant levels by measuring contaminants in forage fish. Forage fish are a key pathway for transferring contaminants up the food chain to predators such as eagles and mink, so this component helps connect wildlife health findings to the broader ecosystem and supports more complete interpretation of exposure sources.
Administratively, the USFWS states that it intends to make a single award without competition to the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) under a noncompetitive justification (505 DM 2.14.B.(4)). The rationale provided is that competition is not practical because MDEQ is considered uniquely qualified for this work: the agency already has detailed familiarity with the Wildlife BUI issues in Michigan, knows the specific AOC locations that need investigation, and can produce results that align with and are comparable to other data the State of Michigan has collected over time. Another important point in the justification is cost and efficiency: MDEQ can use state agency laboratory capacity, reducing costs to the federal government while increasing the usefulness of the dataset for long-term trend analysis and cross-project comparisons. The USFWS also notes MDEQ has delivered high-quality work on prior related research, including producing a clear report that has become a practical tool for the USFWS and other state agencies when evaluating potential Wildlife BUI removal.
The funding details indicate this is a grant instrument in the Environment and Natural Resources activity category, listed under CFDA 15.662. The anticipated award amount is capped at $127,740 (award ceiling), with one expected award. The opportunity was posted and created on May 18, 2016, with a closing date of May 25, 2016, reflecting a short window consistent with an intended noncompetitive award. Overall, the project is positioned as applied, decision-support science: it is not just general research, but a targeted assessment meant to generate credible, comparable contaminant and health-effect data in key wildlife species and their prey so Michigan and federal partners can better judge restoration progress and whether conditions meet the requirements to remove the Wildlife BUI designation in the affected Areas of Concern.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the funding opportunity number for this grant?
The Funding Opportunity Number is F16AS00231.
Which federal agency is offering this grant?
This is a discretionary grant from the U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (DOI-FWS).
What Great Lakes issue does this grant focus on?
The grant focuses on evaluating the "Bird or Animal Deformities or Reproductive Problems" Beneficial Use Impairment (BUI), often shortened to the Wildlife BUI, in Michigan Great Lakes Areas of Concern (AOCs).
What is the Wildlife BUI?
The Wildlife BUI is a Great Lakes restoration impairment category used when birds or other animals in an area have historically shown, or are suspected to still show, deformities or reproductive problems linked to environmental contamination or degraded habitat conditions.
How many Michigan Areas of Concern (AOCs) are involved?
Michigan has four designated AOCs where the Wildlife BUI is listed.
Why is this project needed if cleanup actions have already occurred?
The key question is whether wildlife health has improved enough after cleanup actions to justify removing the Wildlife BUI designation. The opportunity is designed to fill information gaps so agencies can make defensible decisions about restoration priorities and whether the impairment can be removed in the affected Michigan AOCs.
What is the main purpose of the funded work?
The core purpose is targeted field and laboratory research that supports Wildlife BUI evaluation by collecting evidence on contaminant exposure, associated health effects in sentinel species, and contaminant levels in the food web that supports those species.
Why are new studies being funded instead of relying on existing data?
According to the USFWS and state partners, existing studies are limited and do not adequately describe the current extent of the impairment or how much remediation has reduced risk. This project is meant to close those gaps.
What are the three main study components required by the grant?
The grant supports: (1) an assessment of bald eagle health using perfluorinated compound measurements in nestling plasma, (2) an assessment of mink health using contaminant measurements in mink livers and documentation of jaw lesions, and (3) an assessment of fish health and contaminant transfer by measuring contaminants in forage fish.
What work will be done related to bald eagles?
The project calls for assessing bald eagle health by measuring perfluorinated compounds in bald eagle nestling plasma. Nestlings are used to indicate local exposure at or near nesting territories during a sensitive developmental period.
Which contaminants are specifically mentioned for the bald eagle assessment?
Perfluorinated compounds are specifically mentioned, described as a class of persistent industrial chemicals that includes PFAS-related compounds.
Why use bald eagle nestlings instead of adult eagles?
Using nestlings helps indicate local exposure at or near nesting territories, and it captures exposure during a sensitive developmental period.
What work will be done related to mink?
The project calls for assessing mink health by measuring contaminant concentrations in mink livers and documenting lesions in mink jaws.
Why are mink used as an indicator species in this project?
Mink are widely used as indicators of contaminant-driven effects in aquatic food webs because they are semi-aquatic predators and can bioaccumulate pollutants through fish and other prey.
What is the role of mink liver contaminant data in the study?
Mink liver contaminant concentrations provide an exposure signal, helping indicate the degree to which contaminants are entering and accumulating in a predator tied to aquatic prey.
What is the significance of documenting jaw lesions in mink?
Jaw lesions are described as a biological effect endpoint that may correlate with contaminant stressors, providing a health-effect measure alongside contaminant exposure measurements.
What work will be done related to fish and the food web?
The project requires assessing fish health and food source contaminant levels by measuring contaminants in forage fish.
Why are forage fish included in the study design?
Forage fish are a key pathway for transferring contaminants up the food chain to predators such as eagles and mink. Measuring contaminants in forage fish helps connect wildlife health findings to ecosystem exposure sources and supports interpretation of contaminant pathways.
How does this project support decisions about removing the Wildlife BUI?
It is positioned as applied, decision-support science intended to generate credible and comparable contaminant and health-effect data in key wildlife species and their prey, so Michigan and federal partners can better judge restoration progress and whether conditions meet requirements to remove the Wildlife BUI designation.
Who is expected to receive the award?
The USFWS states it intends to make a single award without competition to the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ).
Is this a competitive funding opportunity?
No. The USFWS indicates it intends to make a single award without competition, supported by a noncompetitive justification.
What is the justification for making a noncompetitive award?
The justification states that competition is not practical because MDEQ is uniquely qualified: it has detailed familiarity with Michigan Wildlife BUI issues, knows the AOC locations that need investigation, and can produce results aligned with and comparable to historical State of Michigan data. Cost and efficiency are also cited because MDEQ can use state agency laboratory capacity, reducing costs and improving long-term comparability.
What noncompetitive justification authority is cited?
The noncompetitive justification cited is 505 DM 2.14.B.(4).
How does MDEQ's laboratory capacity factor into the project?
The USFWS notes that MDEQ can use state agency laboratory capacity, which is described as reducing costs to the federal government and increasing the usefulness of the dataset for long-term trend analysis and cross-project comparisons.
Has MDEQ worked on related Wildlife BUI research before?
Yes. The USFWS notes that MDEQ has delivered high-quality work on prior related research, including producing a clear report that has become a practical tool used by the USFWS and other state agencies when evaluating potential Wildlife BUI removal.
What type of funding instrument is this?
The funding instrument is a grant.
What is the activity category for this opportunity?
The activity category is Environment and Natural Resources.
What CFDA number is associated with this grant?
The opportunity is listed under CFDA 15.662.
How much funding is available?
The anticipated award amount is capped at $127,740 (the award ceiling).
How many awards does the agency expect to make?
One award is expected.
When was this opportunity posted and created?
It was posted and created on May 18, 2016.
What is the closing date for this opportunity?
The closing date is May 25, 2016.
Why is the application window so short?
The short window is described as consistent with the intent to make a noncompetitive award.
What broader restoration goal does this project support?
It supports Great Lakes restoration decision-making in Michigan AOCs by clarifying current contaminant exposure and wildlife health conditions, helping agencies determine restoration priorities and whether the Wildlife BUI can be removed.
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