Opportunity Information: Apply for BOR LC 16 N020
Apply for BOR LC 16 N020
- The Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation in the environment sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Development of SNP markers for parentage assessment, and population genetics of razorback sucker" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.538.
- This funding opportunity was created on Aug 24, 2016.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Sep 06, 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 $340,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education.
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Opportunity Summary:
This opportunity is a Bureau of Reclamation (Department of the Interior) discretionary grant focused on developing modern genetic tools for the razorback sucker, a native fish species of conservation concern in the Colorado River Basin. The project centers on using next generation sequencing (NGS) to scan across the species genome and identify variable DNA markers that can support practical management and research needs. In particular, the goal is to develop single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers that work reliably from very small tissue samples, such as a fin clip, which is important because it minimizes handling stress and allows genetics work to be integrated into routine monitoring.
A major outcome expected from the work is a DNA-based method for gender determination. For species where visual sexing is difficult outside of the spawning season, or where fish are juveniles, a genetic sex test can save time, reduce field uncertainty, and improve decisions around hatchery operations, stocking, and evaluation of population structure. Alongside sex identification, the project aims to build a set of SNP markers suitable for parentage assessment and related individual-specific analyses. Parentage markers allow researchers and managers to determine which adults produced which offspring, which in turn supports studies of reproductive success, effectiveness of stocking strategies, and whether certain habitat conditions or management actions are improving natural recruitment.
Another core deliverable is a SNP toolkit for population genetics. With genome-wide markers, scientists can quantify genetic diversity within and among populations, detect population differentiation, estimate connectivity and gene flow, and identify potential genetic bottlenecks. These kinds of analyses help agencies understand how different river reaches or managed populations are related, whether augmentation programs are maintaining diversity, and how to prioritize conservation actions to reduce inbreeding risks and preserve adaptive potential.
Administratively, the notice is labeled a "Notice of Intent to Award Only," which usually indicates the agency planned to make a single award rather than run a fully open competitive process. The funding opportunity number is BOR LC 16 N020, listed under CFDA 15.538, with an activity category of Environment and an award ceiling of $340,000. The opportunity anticipated one award. Eligible applicants were limited to public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, indicating the work was intended for a university or similar public academic institution with capacity for genomic sequencing, bioinformatics, and fisheries genetics. The opportunity was created on Aug 24, 2016, with an original closing date of Sep 06, 2016.
In practical terms, the grant supports building a genetics resource that can be used repeatedly after the initial development work is done: standardized SNP panels and associated protocols that allow managers to rapidly and consistently identify sex, assess parentage, and characterize population structure of razorback sucker across monitoring programs. This kind of tool development is often a foundational step that makes long-term conservation and recovery efforts more data-driven, comparable across years and locations, and better able to evaluate whether management actions are producing measurable biological results.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is this grant opportunity about?
This is a Bureau of Reclamation (Department of the Interior) discretionary grant focused on developing modern genetic tools for the razorback sucker, a native fish species of conservation concern in the Colorado River Basin. The work emphasizes next generation sequencing (NGS) and the development of practical DNA markers that can be used for management and research.
Which agency is offering the funding?
The opportunity is offered by the Bureau of Reclamation, which is part of the U.S. Department of the Interior.
What species is the project focused on?
The project is focused on the razorback sucker, a native fish species in the Colorado River Basin.
What is the main scientific approach being funded?
The project centers on using next generation sequencing (NGS) to scan across the razorback sucker genome and identify variable DNA markers. The intended markers are single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that can be applied reliably in routine monitoring and research.
What are SNP markers, in the context of this opportunity?
Within this opportunity, SNP markers are variable points in DNA that can be used as standardized genetic markers for applied tasks such as genetic sex identification, parentage assessment, and population genetics analyses.
Why does the opportunity emphasize working from small tissue samples?
A specific goal is to develop SNP markers that work reliably from very small tissue samples, such as a fin clip. Using small samples minimizes handling stress on fish and makes it easier to integrate genetics into routine field monitoring.
What is a major expected outcome of the project?
A major expected outcome is a DNA-based method for gender (sex) determination in razorback sucker.
Why is a DNA-based sex identification method important for this species?
The opportunity notes that visual sexing can be difficult outside the spawning season and can be challenging for juveniles. A genetic sex test can reduce uncertainty in the field, save time, and support decision-making for hatchery operations, stocking, and evaluation of population structure.
Besides sex identification, what other marker applications are expected?
The project also aims to develop a set of SNP markers suitable for parentage assessment and related individual-specific analyses, along with a SNP toolkit intended for population genetics.
What does "parentage assessment" mean here, and why does it matter?
Parentage assessment refers to using genetic markers to determine which adults produced which offspring. According to the opportunity description, this supports studies of reproductive success, evaluation of stocking strategies, and assessment of whether habitat conditions or management actions are improving natural recruitment.
What is meant by a "SNP toolkit for population genetics"?
In this opportunity, a SNP toolkit refers to a set of genome-wide markers and associated methods that can be used to quantify genetic diversity within and among populations, detect population differentiation, estimate connectivity and gene flow, and identify potential genetic bottlenecks.
How can population genetics results be used by managers?
The description indicates these analyses can help agencies understand how different river reaches or managed populations are related, whether augmentation programs are maintaining diversity, and how to prioritize conservation actions to reduce inbreeding risks and preserve adaptive potential.
What kinds of deliverables are implied by the opportunity description?
The opportunity points to standardized SNP panels and associated protocols that can be used repeatedly after the initial development work is completed, enabling rapid and consistent sex identification, parentage analysis, and characterization of population structure across monitoring programs.
Is this an open competitive funding opportunity?
The notice is labeled a "Notice of Intent to Award Only," which usually indicates the agency planned to make a single award rather than run a fully open competitive process.
How many awards were anticipated?
The opportunity anticipated one award.
What is the maximum funding amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling listed for this opportunity is $340,000.
What is the funding opportunity number?
The funding opportunity number is BOR LC 16 N020.
What CFDA number is associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is listed under CFDA 15.538.
What activity category is associated with this grant?
The activity category is Environment.
Who was eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants were limited to public and state-controlled institutions of higher education. This implies the project was intended for a university or similar public academic institution with the capacity for genomic sequencing, bioinformatics, and fisheries genetics.
When was the opportunity created and when did it close?
The opportunity was created on Aug 24, 2016, with an original closing date of Sep 06, 2016.
What is the geographic context mentioned in the description?
The project context referenced in the description is the Colorado River Basin.
What is the long-term value of the tools developed under this grant?
The opportunity frames this work as foundational tool development: once SNP panels and protocols are established, they can be reused across years and locations to make conservation and recovery efforts more data-driven, comparable across monitoring programs, and better able to evaluate whether management actions are producing measurable biological results.
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