Opportunity Information: Apply for L16AS00111
Apply for L16AS00111
- The DOI-BLM in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "BLM-MT, West Nile Virus Threats Surveillance in the Sagebrush Focal Area of North Central Montana, HiLine/Central Districts" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.231.
- This funding opportunity was created on May 20, 2016 and posted on May 20, 2016.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 18, 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 $75,000.00 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.
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Opportunity Summary:
This Bureau of Land Management (BLM) funding opportunity focuses on building a West Nile virus (WNv) surveillance and research program to better protect Greater sage-grouse (GSG) within a newly designated Sagebrush Focal Area (SFA) in north central Montana. The SFA was created following the 2015 Record of Decision for the HiLine Resource Management Plan and the Lewistown Sage Grouse Amendment, recognizing especially high-quality sage-grouse habitat in Valley, Phillips, Petroleum, and Fergus Counties. In practical terms, the project area covers about 1.87 million acres of BLM-administered surface lands managed primarily through the Glasgow (about 994,398 acres), Malta (about 638,575 acres), and Lewistown (about 233,219 acres) field offices.
The grant is driven by concern that WNv can be a serious stressor on sage-grouse populations, with outbreaks already documented in Montana and within the SFA. A 2015 pilot effort in Valley County, done through a partnership between the Glasgow Field Office and universities, demonstrated that the mosquito species Culex tarsalis (Ct), the primary WNv vector of concern in this system, can occur at high densities across portions of the SFA. While no WNv was detected in the 2015 mosquito collections, the pilot underscored that the vector is present in numbers that could support transmission if the virus is introduced or begins circulating. The new effort is meant to move beyond a one-year snapshot by establishing repeated, annual monitoring and by turning surveillance data into management-ready tools.
The core objectives are twofold: ongoing surveillance and applied research tied directly to land management decisions. On the surveillance side, the study is intended to provide annual assessments of WNv prevalence within the SFA, filling a monitoring gap because, as described, neither BLM nor other agencies were tracking this threat in the focal area at the time. On the applied research side, the project aims to evaluate how different kinds of water developments and water bodies influence Ct breeding potential. The opportunity highlights that BLM and other land users have constructed a range of livestock-related water features across the landscape, including large reservoirs, waterfowl breeding ponds, and livestock watering pits, and the study will examine which of these are more likely to create the shallow, warm, or stagnant conditions that promote Ct production.
A central deliverable implied by the announcement is a refined, SFA-specific threats model. Universities already developed a broader statewide model, and this project is intended to sharpen that work to better identify the key places within the SFA that consistently produce high densities of Ct and therefore carry higher outbreak risk. By pinpointing where and under what conditions Ct production is highest, the model is meant to guide future on-the-ground actions designed to reduce mosquito breeding habitat in priority sage-grouse areas. The announcement lists examples of potential management responses, such as changing reservoir storage and release practices to avoid creating prime breeding conditions, removing or modifying water structures that promote Ct production, installing livestock watering designs that are less mosquito-friendly, and using wetland vegetation treatments or biological controls where appropriate.
The public benefit case is framed around better decision-making and earlier warning. With routine surveillance, agencies and private landowners would have improved notice of rising WNv risk, rather than reacting after an outbreak is underway. With the research and modeling components, land managers would gain clearer scientific guidance for Best Management Practices (BMPs) related to water development and maintenance, helping balance livestock water needs with wildlife conservation goals. The intended conservation outcome is a reduction in Ct breeding habitat in or near important sage-grouse habitats, thereby lowering the likelihood or severity of WNv impacts on GSG populations.
Administratively, this is a discretionary opportunity from the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management (DOI-BLM), offered as a cooperative agreement under CFDA 15.231 (natural resources). Eligibility is listed as unrestricted (open to any type of entity, subject to any additional eligibility notes in the full announcement). The funding opportunity number is L16AS00111, with one expected award up to an award ceiling of $75,000. The posting and creation dates are May 20, 2016, and the closing date is July 18, 2016.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is this BLM funding opportunity about?
This Bureau of Land Management (BLM) grant opportunity supports building a West Nile virus (WNv) surveillance and research program intended to better protect Greater sage-grouse (GSG) within a newly designated Sagebrush Focal Area (SFA) in north central Montana.
Why is West Nile virus a concern for Greater sage-grouse in this area?
The opportunity is driven by concerns that WNv can be a serious stressor on sage-grouse populations. Outbreaks have been documented in Montana and within the SFA, and the mosquito vector of concern (Culex tarsalis) has been found at high densities in parts of the SFA.
What is the Sagebrush Focal Area (SFA) and why was it designated?
The SFA was created following the 2015 Record of Decision for the HiLine Resource Management Plan and the Lewistown Sage Grouse Amendment. It recognizes especially high-quality sage-grouse habitat in Valley, Phillips, Petroleum, and Fergus Counties, Montana.
Where is the project area located?
The project focuses on a Sagebrush Focal Area in north central Montana, spanning Valley, Phillips, Petroleum, and Fergus Counties.
How large is the project area and which BLM offices manage it?
The project area covers about 1.87 million acres of BLM-administered surface lands. These lands are managed primarily through the Glasgow Field Office (about 994,398 acres), the Malta Field Office (about 638,575 acres), and the Lewistown Field Office (about 233,219 acres).
What mosquito species is the main focus of the surveillance and research work?
The opportunity highlights Culex tarsalis (Ct) as the primary West Nile virus vector of concern in this system.
What did the prior pilot effort in 2015 find?
A 2015 pilot effort in Valley County, conducted through a partnership between the Glasgow Field Office and universities, found that Culex tarsalis can occur at high densities across portions of the SFA. West Nile virus was not detected in the 2015 mosquito collections, but the pilot demonstrated that the vector is present in numbers that could support transmission if the virus is introduced or begins circulating.
What are the main objectives of the project?
The core objectives are (1) ongoing surveillance and (2) applied research tied directly to land management decisions. Surveillance is intended to provide annual assessments of WNv prevalence within the SFA. Applied research is intended to evaluate how different kinds of water developments and water bodies influence Culex tarsalis breeding potential.
What does "ongoing surveillance" mean in the context of this opportunity?
In this opportunity, ongoing surveillance refers to repeated, annual monitoring designed to move beyond a one-year snapshot and provide annual assessments of West Nile virus prevalence within the SFA.
What monitoring gap is this project trying to fill?
The announcement states that, at the time described, neither BLM nor other agencies were tracking West Nile virus threats in the focal area. The project is intended to fill that gap through annual assessments.
What kinds of water features will the research examine?
The project will examine livestock-related and other water features constructed across the landscape, including large reservoirs, waterfowl breeding ponds, and livestock watering pits, to determine which are more likely to create shallow, warm, or stagnant conditions that promote Culex tarsalis production.
Why does the opportunity focus on water developments?
The opportunity links West Nile virus risk to mosquito breeding conditions and highlights that certain water bodies or management practices can create shallow, warm, or stagnant water that promotes Culex tarsalis production. Understanding which water developments contribute most to breeding potential is meant to support practical management responses.
What is the intended modeling deliverable mentioned in the announcement?
A central implied deliverable is a refined, SFA-specific threats model. Universities have already developed a broader statewide model, and this project is intended to sharpen that work to identify key places within the SFA that consistently produce high densities of Culex tarsalis and therefore carry higher outbreak risk.
How will the refined threats model be used?
The model is intended to guide future on-the-ground actions designed to reduce mosquito breeding habitat in priority sage-grouse areas by pinpointing where and under what conditions Culex tarsalis production is highest.
What kinds of management actions does the announcement suggest could result from the findings?
The opportunity lists example responses such as changing reservoir storage and release practices to avoid creating prime breeding conditions, removing or modifying water structures that promote Culex tarsalis production, installing livestock watering designs that are less mosquito-friendly, and using wetland vegetation treatments or biological controls where appropriate.
Is the grant focused only on research, or also on management decision support?
It is intended to do both. The opportunity emphasizes applied research tied directly to land management decisions and turning surveillance data into management-ready tools, including Best Management Practices (BMPs) related to water development and maintenance.
What is the stated public benefit of this project?
The public benefit case is framed around better decision-making and earlier warning. Routine surveillance is intended to provide improved notice of rising West Nile virus risk for agencies and private landowners, and the research/modeling is intended to provide clearer scientific guidance for BMPs that balance livestock water needs with wildlife conservation goals.
What conservation outcome is the project aiming for?
The intended outcome is a reduction in Culex tarsalis breeding habitat in or near important sage-grouse habitats, lowering the likelihood or severity of West Nile virus impacts on Greater sage-grouse populations.
Which agency is offering this grant?
The opportunity is offered by the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management (DOI-BLM).
What type of award is expected?
The announcement describes this as a discretionary opportunity offered as a cooperative agreement.
What is the CFDA number for this opportunity?
The CFDA number provided is 15.231 (natural resources).
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is listed as unrestricted, meaning it is open to any type of entity, subject to any additional eligibility notes in the full announcement.
What is the funding opportunity number?
The funding opportunity number is L16AS00111.
How many awards does BLM expect to make?
The announcement indicates one expected award.
What is the maximum award amount?
The award ceiling is $75,000.
When was the opportunity posted and when does it close?
The posting date and creation date are May 20, 2016. The closing date is July 18, 2016.
Is this opportunity limited to a specific part of Montana?
Yes. The work is centered on the Sagebrush Focal Area in north central Montana, including Valley, Phillips, Petroleum, and Fergus Counties, across BLM lands managed primarily by the Glasgow, Malta, and Lewistown field offices.
Does the announcement indicate whether West Nile virus was found in the 2015 pilot mosquito sampling?
Yes. It states that West Nile virus was not detected in the 2015 mosquito collections, even though the vector mosquito (Culex tarsalis) was present at high densities in portions of the area.
What is the practical difference between the pilot effort and this new effort?
The pilot is described as a one-year snapshot, while this project is intended to establish repeated, annual monitoring and translate surveillance results into management-ready tools and an SFA-specific threats model.
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