Coral Reef Crime Scene Investigation Program Illegal Trade in Wildlife Products Derived from Coral Reef Ecosystems | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1) What agency is offering this grant opportunity?

This opportunity was offered by the U.S. Department of State, through the Office of Ecology and Natural Resource Conservation in the Bureau of Oceans, Environment, and Science (OES).

2) What is the Coral Reef Crime Scene Investigation (CSI) Program?

The Coral Reef CSI Program is a capacity-building effort focused on practical, field-ready training that helps coral reef resource managers and enforcement officers document and investigate illegal activities affecting coral reef ecosystems, using approaches intended to hold up to enforcement and judicial scrutiny.

3) What is the main goal of this funding opportunity?

The core purpose is to manage and expand the Coral Reef CSI Program with a specific emphasis on stopping the illegal take and international trade of wildlife products derived from coral reef ecosystems, by strengthening investigative capacity and evidence practices.

4) Is this grant for multiple awards or a single award?

The solicitation anticipated a single award (one grant) to carry out the described work.

5) How much funding was available?

The estimated total funding was USD 198,000 from the Department of State.

6) What were the award ceiling and award floor?

The award ceiling was USD 198,000 and the award floor was USD 180,000, indicating proposals were expected within a relatively narrow funding range.

7) What type of funding instrument is this?

The instrument type was a grant.

8) Is cost sharing or matching required?

Yes. Cost sharing or matching was required, meaning applicants were expected to contribute additional resources beyond federal funds (such as cash or allowable in-kind support).

9) What program area/category does this grant fall under?

The opportunity was categorized under environmental programming.

10) What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?

The opportunity was associated with CFDA number 19.017 (Environmental and Scientific Partnerships and Programs).

11) Who was eligible to apply?

Eligibility was open to non-governmental organizations (NGOs), international organizations, and domestic or foreign universities/academic institutions that could demonstrate relevant experience aligned with the program goals and activities.

12) What experience did applicants need to demonstrate?

Applicants were expected to demonstrate relevant experience aligned with managing and expanding the Coral Reef CSI Program, including developing investigative protocols and training that supports enforcement and judicial processes related to illegal take and trade from coral reef ecosystems.

13) What activities was the funded project expected to carry out?

The funded work was expected to manage and expand the existing CSI program, develop upgraded investigative protocols and training materials focused on illegal take and wildlife trafficking, and deliver in-person workshops in key coral reef regions, coordinated closely with OES and, as appropriate, U.S. Embassy staff.

14) What is meant by expanding CSI beyond physical reef injury events?

The opportunity described broadening the CSI program beyond responding to physical reef injury events and moving into more advanced investigative work tied directly to wildlife trafficking, including detecting and proving illegal take of coral reef wildlife for commercial and international markets.

15) What kinds of investigative skills and protocols were emphasized?

Emphasis was placed on standardized methods for recognizing underwater "crime scenes," underwater evidence collection, collecting and preserving evidence, documenting species and quantities taken, and producing defensible records that can be used by enforcement agencies and courts.

16) Why is underwater evidence collection highlighted?

The solicitation specifically emphasized underwater evidence collection and formal documentation techniques designed to connect what is found on the reef to actionable enforcement cases involving illegal trade, and to support outcomes that withstand enforcement and judicial scrutiny.

17) What does "capacity building" mean in the context of this grant?

In this opportunity, capacity building refers to creating and delivering practical training and protocols that improve the ability of managers, enforcement officers, and judicial stakeholders to document, investigate, and prosecute illegal harvest and trade tied to coral reef ecosystems.

18) Where would the workshops take place?

Workshops were intended to be held in key coral reef regions. Specific locations were expected to be guided by an expert-driven assessment of regional priorities, targeting areas with significant illegal take and trade pressures or major enforcement capacity gaps.

19) Who were the intended participants for the in-person workshops?

The workshops were intended to be interdisciplinary, bringing together coral reef and marine protected area managers, enforcement officers, and judicial officials.

20) Why does the program involve judicial officials in the workshops?

The solicitation indicated an interdisciplinary design so investigations do not break down at the handoff between field detection, enforcement action, and prosecution, improving the chances that evidence and documentation will be usable in legal proceedings.

21) What does "point of loss" refer to in the program description?

"Point of loss" refers to where the wildlife is taken from the reef. The activities described included strengthening detection and monitoring at this point, to improve the ability to identify and respond to illegal take where it occurs.

22) What operational components were mentioned besides classroom training?

The opportunity referenced improving on-water surveillance and teaching search and retrieval techniques, suggesting the program was intended to be operationally oriented and not only classroom-based.

23) How was the selected grantee expected to coordinate with the U.S. government?

The selected grantee (and any partners) would be expected to coordinate closely with OES and, as appropriate, U.S. Embassy staff to support in-country implementation.

24) What is the timeline of the opportunity (posting, closing, archive dates)?

The posting date was April 28, 2010. The application closing date was May 17, 2010. The opportunity was later archived on June 16, 2010.

25) Who were the listed contacts for questions about the opportunity?

Key contacts listed included Antoinette Condo at OES (condoaj@state.gov, 202-647-0657). For access issues with the full announcement, the contact listed was program analyst Jennifer Siegel (SiegelJR@state.gov, 202-647-1162).

26) Who should be contacted for access problems with the full announcement?

The opportunity listed program analyst Jennifer Siegel (SiegelJR@state.gov, 202-647-1162) as the contact for access issues related to the full announcement.

27) Does the opportunity specify partners or allow partners?

The description referenced "the selected grantee (and any partners)," indicating that partnerships were contemplated as part of implementation, though specific partner requirements were not detailed in the provided information.