Opportunity Information: Apply for L10AS00361
Apply for L10AS00361
- The Bureau of Land Management in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "BLM CA AUGMENTING NATURAL DESERT TORTOISE POPULATION FERTILE ADULTS" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.231 Fish, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Resource Management.
- This funding opportunity was created on Sep 17, 2010 and posted on Sep 17, 2010.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Oct 27, 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 $900,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $90,000.00 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.
- APPLICANTS MUST BE A PARTNER WITH THE DESERT SOUTHWEST COOPERATIVE ECOSYSTEM STUDIES UNIT
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Opportunity Summary:
The grant opportunity titled "BLM CA Augmenting Natural Desert Tortoise Population Fertile Adults" (Funding Opportunity Number L10AS00361) is a Bureau of Land Management (BLM) cooperative agreement focused on practical, field-oriented conservation work for the desert tortoise in California. The central aim is to strengthen and rebuild tortoise populations by improving hatchery-based rearing methods, understanding how hatchery conditions may influence biological outcomes like sex ratios and maturity timing, and then using those hatchery-raised animals to help restore depleted wild populations. In other words, it is structured around moving from controlled rearing techniques to measurable on-the-ground population support.
The project has three main technical objectives. First, it seeks to develop and test methods that can accelerate the growth of hatchery-raised juvenile tortoises. The description points to a specific approach: extending food availability by irrigating native plants within protected rearing pens. These pens are designed to reduce predation risk while juveniles are small and vulnerable, and the irrigation component is meant to keep forage available for longer periods than would naturally occur in desert conditions. Alongside the growth-acceleration work, the project also calls for documenting the size and age at which hatchery-raised tortoises reach sexual maturity, which is a key performance indicator for any effort meant to eventually produce fertile adults that can contribute to wild reproduction.
Second, the opportunity prioritizes evaluating whether hatchery production methods unintentionally affect hatchling sex ratios. Desert tortoises have temperature-dependent sex determination, meaning incubation or nest temperatures during development can bias offspring toward male or female. Because hatchery pens can alter nest microclimates compared to natural settings, the program specifically flags the possibility that hatchery nesting conditions could skew the gender balance. Understanding and correcting any such bias matters for long-term population viability, since a restoration effort that consistently produces uneven sex ratios could undermine recruitment and breeding potential in the wild.
Third, the funding supports using hatchery-raised tortoises as a reliable source of juveniles for two complementary conservation actions: restocking areas where wild tortoise numbers have been depleted and augmenting existing populations that are currently persisting but may be below resilient levels. This implies a focus on producing juveniles suitable for release and applying them strategically to bolster population recovery, rather than keeping the work confined to captive or semi-captive settings.
Administratively, this is a discretionary funding opportunity under the Natural Resources activity category, offered as a cooperative agreement, which generally indicates substantial federal involvement or collaboration during project performance compared to a more hands-off grant. The program anticipated a single award. The posting date was September 17, 2010, with an original and final closing date of October 27, 2010, and an archive date of November 30, 2010. The estimated total funding listed is $900,000, while the award ceiling is $90,000 and the floor is $1,000, suggesting either multiple funding actions over time or an overall program estimate paired with a per-award cap for this specific announcement.
Eligibility is broadly described as unrestricted (open to any entity type), but with a key condition: applicants must be a partner with the Desert Southwest Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU). That requirement effectively narrows eligibility to organizations able to participate through that partnership framework. There is no cost sharing or matching requirement, which reduces barriers for applicants that might not have cash match available.
The opportunity is associated with CFDA number 15.231, Fish, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Resource Management. For access issues or questions, the listed contact was Traci D. Thaler, Grants and Agreements Specialist at BLM (916-978-4529, tthaler@blm.gov). The announcement referenced Grants.gov as the source for full details.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What is the name of this grant opportunity?
The opportunity is titled "BLM CA Augmenting Natural Desert Tortoise Population Fertile Adults."
2. What is the Funding Opportunity Number?
The Funding Opportunity Number (FON) is L10AS00361.
3. Which federal agency is offering this opportunity?
This opportunity is offered by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM).
4. What type of funding instrument is being used?
The opportunity is offered as a cooperative agreement.
5. What does it mean that this is a cooperative agreement?
Based on the announcement, a cooperative agreement generally indicates substantial federal involvement or collaboration during project performance, compared to a more hands-off grant.
6. What is the activity category for this opportunity?
The activity category is Natural Resources.
7. Is this a discretionary or non-discretionary opportunity?
This is described as a discretionary funding opportunity.
8. What is the central goal of the project?
The central goal is practical, field-oriented conservation work to strengthen and rebuild desert tortoise populations in California. The work is designed to improve hatchery-based rearing methods, evaluate how hatchery conditions influence outcomes (including sex ratios and maturity timing), and then use hatchery-raised tortoises to help restore depleted wild populations and support existing populations.
9. What species is the focus of this funding opportunity?
The project focuses on the desert tortoise.
10. What geographic area is referenced?
The opportunity is specifically framed around work in California ("BLM CA").
11. What are the main technical objectives of the project?
The project is described as having three main technical objectives:
- Developing and testing methods to accelerate the growth of hatchery-raised juvenile tortoises, and documenting the size and age at which hatchery-raised tortoises reach sexual maturity.
- Evaluating whether hatchery production methods unintentionally affect hatchling sex ratios (given temperature-dependent sex determination in desert tortoises).
- Using hatchery-raised tortoises as a reliable source of juveniles for restocking depleted areas and augmenting existing but potentially vulnerable populations.
12. What approach is specifically mentioned to help accelerate juvenile tortoise growth?
The description points to extending food availability by irrigating native plants within protected rearing pens. The pens are intended to reduce predation risk while juveniles are small, and irrigation is intended to keep forage available longer than would naturally occur in desert conditions.
13. Why are protected rearing pens part of the project design?
Protected rearing pens are described as a way to reduce predation risk for juvenile tortoises while they are small and vulnerable.
14. Why does the opportunity emphasize documenting sexual maturity?
Documenting the size and age at which hatchery-raised tortoises reach sexual maturity is described as a key performance indicator for efforts aimed at producing fertile adults that can contribute to reproduction in the wild.
15. What is meant by concerns about hatchling sex ratios?
Desert tortoises have temperature-dependent sex determination, meaning temperatures during development can bias offspring toward male or female. The opportunity highlights that hatchery nesting conditions (including microclimates in hatchery pens) may differ from natural conditions and could unintentionally skew sex ratios.
16. Why does a sex-ratio bias matter for conservation outcomes?
The announcement notes that consistently uneven sex ratios could undermine long-term population viability by affecting recruitment and breeding potential in restored or augmented wild populations.
17. How are hatchery-raised tortoises expected to be used under this project?
The funding supports using hatchery-raised tortoises as a reliable juvenile source for two related actions: restocking areas where wild tortoise numbers have been depleted and augmenting existing populations that are persisting but may be below resilient levels.
18. Is the project only focused on captive rearing, or does it include field outcomes?
The project is structured around moving from controlled rearing techniques to measurable, on-the-ground population support, including releases to restock or augment wild populations.
19. How many awards were anticipated?
The program anticipated a single award.
20. What are the key dates for this opportunity?
- Posting date: September 17, 2010
- Closing date (original and final): October 27, 2010
- Archive date: November 30, 2010
21. What is the estimated total funding amount listed?
The estimated total funding listed is $900,000.
22. What is the award ceiling and award floor?
The award ceiling is $90,000 and the award floor is $1,000.
23. Why might the estimated total funding and award ceiling appear different?
The information provided suggests the difference could reflect either multiple funding actions over time or an overall program estimate paired with a per-award cap for this specific announcement.
24. Is there a cost sharing or matching requirement?
No. The opportunity states there is no cost sharing or matching requirement.
25. Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is described as unrestricted (open to any entity type), with an important condition: applicants must be a partner with the Desert Southwest Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU).
26. Does the CESU partnership requirement limit eligibility in practice?
Yes. While eligibility is described as unrestricted, the requirement to be a partner with the Desert Southwest CESU effectively narrows eligibility to organizations able to participate through that partnership framework.
27. What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is associated with CFDA number 15.231, Fish, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Resource Management.
28. Where were full details referenced as being available?
The announcement referenced Grants.gov as the source for full details.
29. Who is the listed contact for questions or access issues?
The listed contact is Traci D. Thaler, Grants and Agreements Specialist at BLM.
30. What contact information was provided for the listed point of contact?
Phone: 916-978-4529
Email: tthaler@blm.gov
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