Opportunity Information: Apply for F15AS00043
Apply for F15AS00043
- The Fish and Wildlife Service in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Concept Engineering Design Services and installation of wetland management infrastructure for the Valle de Oro NWR and Sevilleta NWR Floodplain and Wetland Restoration Project" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.654 Visitor Facility Enhancements Refuges and Wildlife.
- This funding opportunity was created on Dec 8, 2014 and posted on Dec 8, 2014.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Dec 12, 2014. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $300,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $360,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education.
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Opportunity Summary:
This funding opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number F15AS00043) is a Fish and Wildlife Service cooperative agreement focused on advancing floodplain, wetland, and riparian habitat restoration at two National Wildlife Refuges in New Mexico: Valle de Oro NWR and Sevilleta NWR. It is described as a modification to a single-source award, meaning the agency is directing the work to a specific partner rather than running an open competition. The core purpose is to produce concept-level engineering designs at roughly the 30 percent design stage and to carry out or procure key pieces of water management infrastructure needed to improve site hydrology and reliably manage wetlands over time. The project sits within the Natural Resources activity area and is connected to broader refuge development goals, including habitat creation, wildlife benefits, and practical floodplain management functions for the Albuquerque and Bernalillo County area.
The work is centered on a close collaboration between the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (the landowner and refuge manager) and Ducks Unlimited (DU), which is named as the partner responsible for developing the conceptual plans and helping deliver infrastructure. DU is expected to use existing datasets and background information supplied by the Service and its partners to draft conceptual layouts for wetland and habitat features. Coordination is a major requirement: DU is expected to work closely with refuge staff and other firms involved in refuge development, participate in at least bi-weekly check-ins, and make at least one trip to the refuges to gather background information and receive on-the-ground guidance. The Service also anticipates DU coordinating with other contractors either directly or through the designated project leader/officer so that engineering concepts and constructed elements align with the larger refuge buildout and restoration strategy.
A key driver behind the project is a Memo of Understanding between Valle de Oro NWR and the Bureau of Reclamation. Under that partnership, the refuges are working to create wetland habitat at Valle de Oro and to develop habitat conditions suitable for the endangered Southwestern Willow Flycatcher at Sevilleta. The description notes that wetland habitat can be created on-site at Valle de Oro, while Sevilleta is considered to offer the best opportunity within the Middle Rio Grande region to develop viable Southwestern Willow Flycatcher habitat on a National Wildlife Refuge. The project is also meant to support Valle de Oro NWRs mission through education and outreach tied to Middle Rio Grande conservation and the partnership with Reclamation, linking engineering and habitat outcomes to public-facing refuge programming.
The scope of work includes four main deliverables. First, DU will work with the Service to design and install a groundwater supply well at Valle de Oro NWR, improving the refuges ability to provide dependable water for wetland management. Second, DU will purchase any additional water management infrastructure for Valle de Oro that both parties agree is necessary, which could include components that help move, control, or distribute water across planned wetland cells or habitat areas. Third, DU will purchase a water control structure for Sevilleta NWR to enhance and restore a wetland specifically intended to benefit the Southwestern Willow Flycatcher, strengthening the refuges capacity to manage water levels and wetland conditions for endangered species needs. Fourth, beyond the initial 30 percent concept designs, DU will provide additional engineering design work for Valle de Oro as the project progresses, indicating the effort may advance toward more detailed design readiness as decisions are made and infrastructure needs are clarified.
The Fish and Wildlife Service emphasizes that it will be substantially involved throughout the project, rather than simply providing funds and stepping back. The Service will support DU with technical direction and foundational inputs, including desired habitat conditions for both refuges; baseline information on groundwater, surface water, and topography at Valle de Oro; outputs from wetland workshops conducted for Valle de Oro and Sevilleta; and specific hydrogeologic information such as aquifer properties and recommended production zones for the new well at Valle de Oro. For Sevilleta, the Service will also provide design-relevant requirements such as gate sizing and functional characteristics for the irrigation gate or comparable water control structure, ensuring the purchased structure matches operational needs and restoration goals.
From an administrative standpoint, the opportunity is categorized as discretionary and uses a cooperative agreement instrument, reflecting the hands-on federal role in planning and implementation. It anticipates a single award, with an estimated total funding amount of $300,000 and an award range listed from $60,000 (floor) to $360,000 (ceiling). There is no cost-share or matching requirement stated. Eligibility is limited to nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education), although the narrative makes clear that this particular announcement is structured as a single-source modification with DU as the intended implementing partner. The opportunity was posted December 8, 2014, with a closing date of December 12, 2014, and was archived December 7, 2015. A grants contact is provided for access issues: Michelle Willcox, Grants Specialist, 505-248-7486, michellewillcox@fws.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is Funding Opportunity Number F15AS00043?
F15AS00043 is a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) funding opportunity offered as a cooperative agreement. The project focuses on floodplain, wetland, and riparian habitat restoration work at two National Wildlife Refuges in New Mexico: Valle de Oro National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) and Sevilleta NWR.
Which agency is offering this opportunity?
The opportunity is offered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS).
What type of funding instrument is being used?
The instrument is a cooperative agreement, which indicates the Fish and Wildlife Service expects to be substantially involved in the planning and implementation of the project rather than only providing funding.
Is this an open, competitive grant opportunity?
No. The announcement is described as a modification to a single-source award. That means the agency is directing the work to a specific partner rather than running an open competition.
Who is the intended partner for this single-source award modification?
Ducks Unlimited (DU) is identified as the partner responsible for developing the conceptual plans and helping deliver water management infrastructure as part of this effort.
What is the main purpose of the project?
The core purpose is to advance habitat restoration by producing concept-level engineering designs (approximately the 30 percent design stage) and carrying out or procuring key water management infrastructure needed to improve hydrology and enable reliable long-term wetland management.
Which locations will the project work take place in?
The work is focused on two sites in New Mexico: Valle de Oro NWR and Sevilleta NWR.
What natural resource areas does the project address?
The project is tied to floodplain, wetland, and riparian habitat restoration and is categorized within the Natural Resources activity area.
How does this project connect to broader refuge development goals?
The effort is described as supporting broader refuge development goals that include habitat creation, wildlife benefits, and practical floodplain management functions for the Albuquerque and Bernalillo County area.
What role will Ducks Unlimited (DU) play under this agreement?
DU is expected to develop conceptual plans and assist in delivering infrastructure. DU will use existing datasets and background information provided by FWS and partners, coordinate closely with refuge staff and other involved firms, and participate in regular project check-ins and site coordination.
What level of design is expected at the outset?
The initial design work is described as concept-level engineering at roughly the 30 percent design stage.
Will the project include additional engineering beyond the initial concept designs?
Yes. In addition to the initial 30 percent concept designs, DU is expected to provide additional engineering design work for Valle de Oro as the project progresses.
What are the main deliverables described in the scope of work?
The scope lists four main deliverables: (1) design and installation of a groundwater supply well at Valle de Oro NWR; (2) purchase of additional water management infrastructure for Valle de Oro as mutually agreed by DU and FWS; (3) purchase of a water control structure for Sevilleta NWR to enhance and restore a wetland intended to benefit the endangered Southwestern Willow Flycatcher; and (4) additional engineering design work for Valle de Oro beyond the initial concept designs as the project advances.
What infrastructure is planned for Valle de Oro NWR?
Valle de Oro deliverables include designing and installing a groundwater supply well and purchasing additional water management infrastructure that both FWS and DU agree is necessary to move, control, or distribute water across planned wetland cells or habitat areas.
What infrastructure is planned for Sevilleta NWR?
Sevilleta deliverables include purchasing a water control structure intended to enhance and restore a wetland designed to benefit the endangered Southwestern Willow Flycatcher. The description also notes design-relevant requirements such as gate sizing and functional characteristics for an irrigation gate or similar structure.
Why is a groundwater supply well included for Valle de Oro?
The well is intended to improve Valle de Oro NWR's ability to provide dependable water for wetland management, supporting more reliable long-term control of wetland conditions.
What is driving the refuge habitat work described in this announcement?
A key driver is a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Valle de Oro NWR and the Bureau of Reclamation. Under that partnership, the refuges are working to create wetland habitat at Valle de Oro and to develop habitat conditions suitable for the endangered Southwestern Willow Flycatcher at Sevilleta.
How does Sevilleta NWR relate to Southwestern Willow Flycatcher habitat goals?
The description states Sevilleta is considered to offer the best opportunity within the Middle Rio Grande region to develop viable Southwestern Willow Flycatcher habitat on a National Wildlife Refuge, and the Sevilleta water control structure is intended to support wetland conditions for this endangered species.
How does Valle de Oro NWR relate to wetland creation goals?
The description notes that wetland habitat can be created on-site at Valle de Oro, and the planned water supply and water management infrastructure are intended to help make that feasible and manageable over time.
What coordination requirements are included for DU?
DU is expected to coordinate closely with refuge staff and other firms involved in refuge development, participate in at least bi-weekly check-ins, and make at least one trip to the refuges to gather background information and receive on-the-ground guidance. The announcement also anticipates DU coordinating with other contractors either directly or through the designated project leader/officer to ensure alignment with the larger refuge buildout strategy.
How involved will the Fish and Wildlife Service be during the project?
FWS indicates it will be substantially involved, providing technical direction and foundational inputs rather than simply issuing funds and stepping back.
What information and technical inputs will FWS provide to support the work?
FWS will support DU with desired habitat conditions for both refuges; baseline groundwater, surface water, and topography information for Valle de Oro; outputs from wetland workshops conducted for Valle de Oro and Sevilleta; hydrogeologic information such as aquifer properties and recommended production zones for the Valle de Oro well; and, for Sevilleta, design-relevant requirements such as gate sizing and functional characteristics for the irrigation gate or comparable water control structure.
What is the total estimated funding amount for this opportunity?
The estimated total funding amount is $300,000.
What is the stated award range?
The award range is listed as $60,000 (floor) to $360,000 (ceiling).
Is cost share or matching required?
No cost-share or matching requirement is stated in the provided description.
How many awards are anticipated?
The opportunity anticipates a single award.
Who is eligible to apply based on the eligibility category?
Eligibility is limited to nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education). However, the description also makes clear this announcement is structured as a single-source modification with Ducks Unlimited as the intended implementing partner.
When was the opportunity posted and when did it close?
The opportunity was posted on December 8, 2014, and it closed on December 12, 2014.
When was the opportunity archived?
The opportunity was archived on December 7, 2015.
Who can be contacted for grant access issues, and how?
The contact provided for access issues is Michelle Willcox, Grants Specialist. Phone: 505-248-7486. Email: michellewillcox@fws.gov.
What kinds of outcomes is the project intended to support beyond engineering and construction?
The description indicates the project is meant to support Valle de Oro NWR's mission through education and outreach tied to Middle Rio Grande conservation and the partnership with the Bureau of Reclamation, linking engineering and habitat outcomes to public-facing refuge programming.
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