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FAQs: BLM WY Buffalo Field Office Raptor Database Analysis (L10AS00240)

What is the BLM WY Buffalo Field Office Raptor Database Analysis opportunity?

This opportunity was a Bureau of Land Management (BLM) cooperative agreement focused on analyzing six years of existing raptor nest survey and monitoring records collected by the Buffalo Field Office (BFO) in Wyoming. The intent was to turn previously collected database records into practical, species-specific management guidance that could be used for on-the-ground decisions.

Who was the project intended to work with?

The work described in the notice was intended to be carried out by the Wyoming Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit (the Co Op), which was tasked with conducting the analysis and producing management recommendations based on the BFO dataset.

Was this a competitive grant where anyone could apply?

No. Although eligibility was described as unrestricted in general terms, the notice explicitly stated it was not a request for applications. It served as public notice of BLM's intent to fund the described work without full and open competition, indicating a pre-identified partner arrangement for the project activities.

What funding instrument was used for this opportunity?

The funding instrument was a cooperative agreement.

What program or CFDA number was associated with this funding?

The opportunity was a discretionary funding action under CFDA 15.231, titled Fish, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Resource Management.

How much funding was available?

Total funding was set at $13,000. The funding floor and ceiling were both $13,000, meaning the award amount was fixed at that level for the single anticipated award.

How many awards were expected?

Only one award was anticipated.

Was cost sharing or matching required?

No. There was no cost sharing or matching requirement stated for this opportunity.

What was the main purpose of the project?

The central purpose was to evaluate whether and how coal bed natural gas (CBNG) development patterns on the landscape correlate with where raptors choose to nest, using the existing six-year monitoring dataset from the Powder River Basin, Wyoming.

Why did BLM want this analysis done?

BFO wildlife staff had been consistently collecting and storing raptor nest monitoring information, but they did not have the capacity to fully analyze the dataset. Because many of the raptors involved are considered species of special management concern, BLM wanted the data interpreted in a way that directly supported management decisions rather than remaining as unexamined monitoring records.

Where was the data collected?

The dataset came from raptor nest monitoring conducted in the Powder River Basin in Wyoming.

What activity was the monitoring largely tied to?

The raptor nest monitoring records were largely tied to environmental review and approvals of coal bed natural gas (CBNG) plans of development.

What specific hypotheses was the analysis expected to test?

The announcement expected the analysis to test at least three hypotheses about raptor nest-site selection in relation to CBNG development:

• Whether raptors select nest sites based on the density of wells within a defined surrounding distance.
• Whether nest selection is influenced by the distance to the nearest well.
• Whether nest selection relates to the amount of landscape change within a certain distance of the nest site.

Could the partner test additional hypotheses beyond the three listed?

Yes. The notice left room for the Co Op to develop and test additional hypotheses if the data suggested other meaningful relationships worth examining.

What kinds of deliverables or outcomes were expected?

The expected outcome was more than statistical outputs. The project aimed to produce clear, species-specific management recommendations that BFO could apply in decision-making. In addition, the Co Op was tasked with recommending improvements to the monitoring protocol and identifying additional research needs related to CBNG development effects on nesting raptors.

How did BLM expect to use the project findings?

BLM intended to incorporate the findings into its Resource Management Plan (RMP) revision process and apply the results to future project planning. The notice also indicated findings could inform guidance such as buffers, siting considerations, timing limitations, or monitoring triggers, shaped by evidence from the existing dataset.

Did the project include recommendations about future monitoring?

Yes. Alongside the analysis, the Co Op was responsible for recommending improvements to the current monitoring protocol so future data collection would be more consistent, more informative, and more useful for trend analysis.

Did the project include identifying future research needs?

Yes. The project was meant to identify additional research needs that could clarify how CBNG development affects nesting raptors beyond what could be concluded from the existing six-year dataset.

What was the period of performance for the agreement?

The agreement period ran from July 2010 through August 2011.

What was the funding opportunity number?

The funding opportunity number was L10AS00240.

When was the opportunity posted and when did it close?

It was posted on August 2, 2010, and it closed on August 16, 2010.

When was the opportunity archived?

The notice was later archived on November 15, 2010.

Who was the contact listed for access issues?

The contact for access issues was Ilze J. Karklins Powers, Grants Management Officer. Phone: 307-775-6293. Email: ipowers@blm.gov.

What was distinctive about the administrative notice for this opportunity?

The notice functioned as public notice of intent to fund a specific set of activities without full and open competition, rather than as a typical open call for applications.

What management context made this work especially relevant?

Because many of the raptors involved were described as species of special management concern, BLM emphasized producing interpretations and recommendations that could be directly used in management and planning decisions.