Opportunity Information: Apply for F13AS00177
Apply for F13AS00177
- The Fish and Wildlife Service in the community development education environment natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Construction of a school ship dock and fishing pier at the Refuge Gateway." and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.658 Natural Resource Damage Assessment, Restoration and Implementation.
- This funding opportunity was created on May 21, 2013 and posted on May 21, 2013.
- Applicants must submit their applications by NA. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $123,471.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- This is not an application process for this funding opportunity. This is a notice of intent to award a single source grant to the International Wildlife Refuge Alliance under justification 505DM 2.14B 4.
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Opportunity Summary:
This grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number F13AS00177) is a Fish and Wildlife Service discretionary cooperative agreement focused on building a school ship dock and a "world class" fishing pier at the Refuge Gateway in Trenton, Michigan. The Refuge Gateway is planned to become the future home of the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge (Detroit River IWR) Visitor Center, and the project is intended to support a major increase in public access and visitation by creating a highly visible, waterfront destination that can serve recreation, education, and community development goals at the same time.
The core of the project is a new dock-and-pier complex that would extend roughly 775 feet into the Detroit River, designed specifically to provide free, universally accessible, shore-based fishing. In practical terms, the design aims to remove barriers that keep many people from fishing the Detroit River, especially those who do not own a boat or personal watercraft and those who need accessible infrastructure. The planned amenities include a boardwalk leading out to the water, a fishing pier, a floating dock component, seating areas, shade structures for comfort and heat relief, and interpretive signage to help visitors understand the river ecosystem, the refuge, and the surrounding natural resources.
A key feature highlighted in the description is that the layout would support different types of anglers and experiences in one connected facility. Areas reached from the boardwalk would include shallower waters that are rich in panfish, making them more suitable for youth and family fishing, while other areas would provide deeper-water access attractive to more experienced anglers. By providing a shore-based entry point to deeper water, the facility would open up fishing opportunities that are currently more reachable only by personal watercraft, which is a major equity and access issue for many urban and suburban residents.
Beyond fishing access, the project also has a strong education component tied to regional Great Lakes programming. The dock would serve as a docking location for Michigan Sea Grant's Great Lakes school ship, enabling structured educational experiences that treat the Detroit River and the refuge as a living laboratory. The intent is to create hands-on learning opportunities for metropolitan-area school children, aligning the physical infrastructure investment with long-term environmental literacy and stewardship outcomes.
The effort is described as a partnership-led project involving Wayne County, the International Wildlife Refuge Alliance (IWRA), and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, along with additional partners. The federal funding details show an estimated total funding amount of $123,471, with no cost sharing or matching requirement listed. The activity categories associated with the funding include community development, education, environment, and natural resources, and the CFDA number provided is 15.658 (Natural Resource Damage Assessment, Restoration and Implementation), which signals that the work is connected to restoration and public-benefit outcomes tied to natural resource impacts.
It is important from an applicant perspective that this posting is not an open, competitive grant solicitation. The eligibility section states clearly that there is no application process for this opportunity; instead, it is a notice of intent to award a single-source grant to the International Wildlife Refuge Alliance under the cited justification (505 DM 2.14B(4)). The posting was dated May 21, 2013 and archived June 20, 2013, with no closing date listed, reinforcing that it functioned as an intent-to-award notice rather than a standard call for proposals.
For additional details, the listing points to Grants.gov and provides a direct agency contact: John Hartig, Refuge Manager for Detroit River IWR (734-692-7608, JohnHartig@fws.gov).
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is Funding Opportunity Number F13AS00177?
F13AS00177 is a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service discretionary cooperative agreement described as supporting construction of a school ship dock and a "world class" fishing pier at the Refuge Gateway in Trenton, Michigan.
What is the main purpose of this grant opportunity?
The purpose is to build a dock-and-pier complex intended to significantly expand public access and visitation by creating a highly visible waterfront destination that supports recreation, education, and community development goals.
Where will the project take place?
The project location is the Refuge Gateway in Trenton, Michigan, which is planned to become the future home of the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge (Detroit River IWR) Visitor Center.
What infrastructure is being planned or built with this funding?
The core infrastructure is a new dock-and-pier complex extending roughly 775 feet into the Detroit River, designed to provide free, universally accessible shore-based fishing. The plan also includes a boardwalk, a fishing pier, a floating dock component, seating areas, shade structures, and interpretive signage.
How long is the proposed dock-and-pier complex?
The description states the complex would extend roughly 775 feet into the Detroit River.
Is the fishing access intended to be free?
Yes. The facility is described as providing free shore-based fishing access.
What does "universally accessible" mean in the context of this project?
Based on the posting description, the design intent is to remove barriers to fishing by providing accessible infrastructure so more people can fish the Detroit River without needing a boat or personal watercraft and with facilities that support accessibility needs.
Who is the project meant to serve?
The project is intended to broaden access for the general public and is specifically positioned to help people who do not own a boat or personal watercraft, as well as visitors who need accessible infrastructure. It also emphasizes youth and family fishing and access for more experienced anglers.
How will the pier support different types of anglers?
The layout is described as offering multiple fishing experiences within one connected facility. Areas reached from the boardwalk would provide access to shallower waters that are rich in panfish, which is framed as more suitable for youth and family fishing. Other areas would provide deeper-water access intended to appeal to more experienced anglers.
What fishing opportunities does this project aim to make more equitable?
By providing shore-based entry points to deeper water, the facility is intended to make fishing opportunities more reachable for people who currently would need personal watercraft to access similar areas, addressing an equity and access issue for many urban and suburban residents.
What amenities are included in the project description?
The posting lists a boardwalk leading out to the water, a fishing pier, a floating dock component, seating areas, shade structures (for comfort and heat relief), and interpretive signage focused on the river ecosystem, the refuge, and surrounding natural resources.
What is the education component of the project?
The dock is intended to serve as a docking location for Michigan Sea Grant's Great Lakes school ship, supporting structured educational experiences that treat the Detroit River and the refuge as a living laboratory. The description emphasizes hands-on learning opportunities for metropolitan-area school children and long-term environmental literacy and stewardship outcomes.
What is a "school ship dock" in this opportunity?
In this context, the school ship dock refers to a docking location intended to accommodate Michigan Sea Grant's Great Lakes school ship so that students and educators can use the Detroit River and refuge setting for hands-on educational programming.
Who are the named partners involved in the effort?
The description identifies Wayne County, the International Wildlife Refuge Alliance (IWRA), and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as key partners, along with additional unnamed partners.
How much federal funding is associated with this opportunity?
The estimated total funding amount listed is $123,471.
Is cost sharing or a match required?
No. The opportunity information states that no cost sharing or matching requirement is listed.
What activity categories are associated with this funding?
The posting associates the funding with community development, education, environment, and natural resources.
What CFDA number is tied to this opportunity and what is it called?
The CFDA number provided is 15.658, titled "Natural Resource Damage Assessment, Restoration and Implementation."
Does this posting represent an open, competitive grant solicitation?
No. The eligibility section states there is no application process for this opportunity. It is described as a notice of intent to award a single-source grant.
Is there an application process for organizations interested in applying?
No. The posting states clearly that there is no application process for this opportunity.
Who is the intended recipient of the single-source award?
The notice indicates an intent to award a single-source grant to the International Wildlife Refuge Alliance (IWRA).
What justification is cited for the single-source intent to award?
The notice cites justification 505 DM 2.14B(4).
When was this opportunity posted and when was it archived?
The posting date is May 21, 2013, and it was archived on June 20, 2013.
Is there a closing date listed for this opportunity?
No closing date is listed, which aligns with the posting functioning as an intent-to-award notice rather than a standard call for proposals.
Where are applicants or interested parties directed for additional details?
The listing points to Grants.gov for additional details.
Who is the agency contact for this opportunity?
The agency contact listed is John Hartig, Refuge Manager for Detroit River IWR.
What contact information is provided for the agency contact?
The phone number provided is 734-692-7608 and the email address provided is JohnHartig@fws.gov.
How does this project relate to the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center?
The project is located at the Refuge Gateway, which is planned to become the future home of the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center. The dock-and-pier complex is intended to help make the Gateway a more visible destination and increase public access and visitation.
What kinds of visitor experiences are emphasized besides fishing?
Besides fishing, the description emphasizes educational programming tied to Great Lakes learning, interpretive signage about the river ecosystem and refuge resources, and broader recreation and community development outcomes.
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