Opportunity Information: Apply for L16AS00097
Apply for L16AS00097
- The DOI-BLM in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "BLM-WO, WILD HORSE FERTILITY VACCINE ADJUVANT EFFICACY RESEARCH" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.229.
- This funding opportunity was created on Apr 24, 2016 and posted on Apr 24, 2016.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 24, 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 $80,000.00 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:
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), within the U.S. Department of the Interior, offered this cooperative agreement opportunity to support research aimed at improving fertility control tools for wild horses and burros managed on BLM lands. The program is motivated by the fact that many Herd Management Areas (HMAs) exceed Appropriate Management Levels (AMLs), and fully addressing the overpopulation problem through gathers and removals is often impractical because of the high costs of capture, adoption programs, and long-term holding. Because those downstream costs can be significant and ongoing, BLM has prioritized strategies that can slow population growth on the range. One of the main tools in that category is immunocontraception using porcine zona pellucida (PZP), which reduces fertility by triggering an immune response that interferes with reproduction.
The core focus of this grant is not to test PZP in general, but to develop and evaluate an improved, next-generation PZP vaccine by upgrading the vaccine adjuvant. The currently used PZP formulation relies on an oil-based emulsion with Freund's modified adjuvant. BLM is specifically seeking research into alternative adjuvant systems that are water-soluble and built around Toll-like receptor (TLR) agonists and nanoparticles. In practical terms, the funded project is expected to explore which new adjuvant formulation works best, then measure whether that formulation produces a strong antibody response to PZP in horses. The research is framed as an early, foundational step toward a longer-acting contraceptive vaccine, since the existing PZP approach is described as inadequate for long-term management because its effectiveness is typically limited to about one year.
The stated technical objectives include two main lines of work. First, the project should stimulate equine peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) with TLR agonists and nanoparticles to confirm and characterize immune activation in a controlled setting. Second, it should evaluate the antibody response of mares injected with PZP combined with the novel TLR-agonist-plus-nanoparticle adjuvant. While the end-management target is wild horses and burros, the study described here emphasizes domestic horses as the experimental model for assessing immune response and formulation performance, which is a common step before broader field application.
BLM frames the public benefit around reduced pressure on public rangelands and fewer conflicts tied to overpopulation, including impacts on threatened and endangered species habitat, highway safety, rangeland health, and livestock grazing. A longer-lasting immunocontraceptive would, in BLM's view, provide a more sustainable and publicly acceptable management option by lowering population growth rates and potentially reducing reliance on repeated removals and long-term holding. The agency also notes that if an improved, long-acting PZP-based contraceptive works for wild populations, it could have secondary applications for domestic horses and burros as well.
From an administrative standpoint, this was a discretionary funding opportunity (CFDA 15.229) issued as a cooperative agreement under Funding Opportunity Number L16AS00097. BLM anticipated making a single award with an award ceiling of $80,000. The opportunity was posted April 24, 2016, created April 24, 2016, and closed June 24, 2016. Eligibility is described as unrestricted in general terms, but with an important limitation: BLM indicates it is restricted to supporting research through Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Units (CESU) partner organizations, meaning applicants need to be eligible through that network. Cost sharing was not strictly required, but BLM encouraged applicants to bring a substantial partner contribution and stated that proposed cost-share would be evaluated during review. The notice also mentions BLM discussions with Purdue University and the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) about financial assistance for such a project, while clarifying that proposals from any qualifying institution would be considered within the CESU constraint.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1) What agency is offering this funding opportunity?
The opportunity was offered by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), within the U.S. Department of the Interior.
2) What type of award is this?
This is a cooperative agreement (a form of financial assistance) described as a discretionary funding opportunity.
3) What is the overall purpose of the grant?
The purpose is to support research that improves fertility control tools for wild horses and burros managed on BLM lands, with the goal of slowing population growth on the range.
4) Why is BLM investing in fertility control research for wild horses and burros?
BLM notes that many Herd Management Areas (HMAs) exceed Appropriate Management Levels (AMLs). Fully addressing overpopulation through gathers and removals can be impractical due to the high costs of capture, adoption programs, and long-term holding. Because those downstream costs can be significant and ongoing, BLM has prioritized tools that reduce population growth rates on the range.
5) Is this grant about testing PZP in general?
No. The core focus is not to test porcine zona pellucida (PZP) as a concept, but to develop and evaluate an improved, next-generation PZP vaccine by upgrading the vaccine adjuvant.
6) What is PZP immunocontraception in the context of this program?
PZP is an immunocontraception approach intended to reduce fertility by triggering an immune response that interferes with reproduction.
7) What limitation of the current PZP approach is driving this research?
The existing PZP approach is described as inadequate for long-term management because its effectiveness is typically limited to about one year. This project is framed as an early step toward a longer-acting contraceptive vaccine.
8) What aspect of the PZP vaccine is BLM seeking to improve?
The adjuvant system. The currently used PZP formulation relies on an oil-based emulsion with Freund's modified adjuvant, and BLM is seeking alternative adjuvant systems.
9) What kind of new adjuvant systems does BLM want investigated?
BLM is specifically seeking research into alternative adjuvant systems that are water-soluble and built around Toll-like receptor (TLR) agonists and nanoparticles.
10) What is the expected research approach under this award?
In practical terms, the project is expected to explore which new adjuvant formulation works best and then measure whether that formulation produces a strong antibody response to PZP in horses.
11) What are the stated technical objectives of the project?
The notice describes two main technical objectives:
- Stimulate equine peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) with TLR agonists and nanoparticles to confirm and characterize immune activation in a controlled setting.
- Evaluate the antibody response of mares injected with PZP combined with the novel TLR-agonist-plus-nanoparticle adjuvant.
12) What species are the ultimate management targets of the research?
The end-management target is wild horses and burros on BLM-managed lands.
13) What animals are used as the experimental model in the described study?
The study emphasizes domestic horses as the experimental model for assessing immune response and formulation performance.
14) What outcomes is BLM looking for from the improved formulation?
The funded work is aimed at identifying a promising next-generation PZP formulation (via an upgraded adjuvant) and documenting whether it elicits a strong antibody response in horses, as an early foundation toward a longer-lasting contraceptive vaccine.
15) What public benefits does BLM associate with this research?
BLM frames the public benefit around reduced pressure on public rangelands and fewer conflicts tied to overpopulation, including impacts on threatened and endangered species habitat, highway safety, rangeland health, and livestock grazing.
16) How does BLM describe the management value of a longer-lasting immunocontraceptive?
BLM indicates that a longer-lasting immunocontraceptive could provide a more sustainable and publicly acceptable management option by lowering population growth rates and potentially reducing reliance on repeated removals and long-term holding.
17) Could the results have applications beyond wild horse and burro management?
Yes. BLM notes that if an improved, long-acting PZP-based contraceptive works for wild populations, it could have secondary applications for domestic horses and burros as well.
18) What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this announcement?
The Funding Opportunity Number is L16AS00097.
19) What CFDA number is associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is identified with CFDA 15.229.
20) How many awards did BLM anticipate making?
BLM anticipated making a single award.
21) What was the maximum (ceiling) amount for the award?
The award ceiling was $80,000.
22) When was the opportunity posted and when did it close?
It was posted (and created) on April 24, 2016, and it closed on June 24, 2016.
23) Is cost sharing required?
Cost sharing was not strictly required. However, BLM encouraged applicants to bring a substantial partner contribution and stated that proposed cost-share would be evaluated during review.
24) Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is described as unrestricted in general terms, but with an important limitation: BLM indicates the opportunity is restricted to supporting research through Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Units (CESU) partner organizations. Applicants therefore need to be eligible through the CESU network.
25) Did BLM indicate any prior discussions with specific organizations?
The notice mentions BLM discussions with Purdue University and the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) about financial assistance for such a project, while also clarifying that proposals from any qualifying institution would be considered within the CESU constraint.
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