BLM WY Chokecherry Mule Deer Collaring Study | Apply Online

FAQs: BLM WY Chokecherry Mule Deer Collaring Study (L12AS00197)

What is the name and funding opportunity number for this grant?

The opportunity is titled the BLM WY Chokecherry Mule Deer Collaring Study, and the Funding Opportunity Number is L12AS00197.

Which federal agency offered this opportunity?

This opportunity was offered by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM).

What type of funding instrument was used?

The opportunity was offered as a discretionary grant in the form of a cooperative agreement.

What CFDA program is associated with this opportunity?

The opportunity was listed under CFDA 15.231, Fish, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Resource Management.

What is the overall focus area of the project?

The project focus is natural resources and wildlife management, with a specific emphasis on mule deer winter habitat use and movement patterns in Wyoming.

Where is the study area located?

The study is in and around the Chokecherry unit in Wyoming.

Why was this study being funded (what problem was it meant to address)?

The purpose was to generate on-the-ground evidence about how mule deer use winter habitat and move across the landscape, particularly in the context of ongoing or planned wind energy development. The intent was to better understand behavior before and during wind power construction and operation.

What was the core purpose of collaring mule deer for this project?

The selected partner would collar mule deer and use location data to (1) determine winter habitat use patterns, (2) evaluate whether wind facility infrastructure changes migratory behavior, and (3) establish a baseline dataset for future comparison, management decisions, and impact assessments.

What kinds of changes in mule deer movement was the project trying to detect?

Based on the description, the baseline-and-change approach was intended to help managers distinguish normal year-to-year variation from potential shifts associated with new development, such as altered routes, reduced use of certain wintering areas, or changes in timing and duration of migration.

How would the data from collars be used?

The collar data (location information) would be used to map and analyze mule deer winter habitat use and landscape movement, and to support comparisons over time tied to wind development phases (before and during construction/operation).

Was this intended to be a baseline study?

Yes. A key stated goal was to establish a baseline dataset that could support future comparisons and help inform management and impact assessments.

How many awards were anticipated?

The opportunity anticipated a single award.

What was the estimated total funding amount?

The estimated total funding amount was $170,000.

Was there a required cost share or match?

No cost sharing or matching requirement was specified in the information provided.

What were the award ceiling and floor?

The award ceiling and floor were both listed as $0. This typically indicates that formal minimum and maximum limits were not set in the listing and that applicants were expected to propose a budget appropriate to the work described in the full announcement and application package.

Who was eligible to apply?

Eligibility was broadly open (unrestricted).

Even though eligibility was unrestricted, what kinds of qualifications did BLM emphasize?

The announcement emphasized that applicants should have relevant capacity and experience, specifically in wildlife collaring, data collection, and dissemination of results. In practical terms, this implies the ability to safely capture and collar mule deer, manage telemetry or GPS datasets, conduct defensible analyses, and communicate findings in usable forms such as reports, maps, and datasets.

What types of outputs or deliverables were implied by the opportunity description?

While specific deliverables are not listed here, the description implies outputs such as location datasets from collared animals, analyses of winter habitat use and movement, and communication products usable by managers and stakeholders (for example, reports, maps, and datasets).

When was the opportunity posted and created?

The opportunity was posted and created on July 26, 2012.

What was the closing date for applications?

The original and current closing date was August 10, 2012.

When was the opportunity archived?

The opportunity was archived on August 31, 2012.

Is this opportunity still open?

No. Based on the listed closing date (August 10, 2012) and archived date (August 31, 2012), this opportunity is closed.

Where were applicants directed to find the complete announcement and application package?

Anyone needing access to the complete announcement at the time was directed to the application package via the listing.

Who was the BLM point of contact for questions?

The contact provided was Robert J. Tichac at BLM. Phone: 307-775-6313. Email: rtichac@blm.gov.

How does wind energy development relate to the goals of this project?

The study was designed to understand mule deer winter habitat use and migration in an area with ongoing or planned wind energy development, with the goal of evaluating whether wind facility infrastructure and associated activities influence movement behavior.

What management value was expected from the results?

The results were expected to support future comparisons, management decisions, and impact assessments by providing baseline information and evidence that can help differentiate normal variation from potential development-related changes.