Opportunity Information: Apply for NWRS R2 DBS 01
Apply for NWRS R2 DBS 01
- The Region 2 in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Evaluation and Improvement in Desert Bighorn Sheep Population Estimates" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.660 Endangered Species Candidate Conservation Action Funds.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jul 23, 2010 and posted on Feb 4, 2010.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 28, 2010. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $46,166.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $46,166.00 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 Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification) Small businesses Private institutions of higher education Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments) State governments Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education City or township governments County governments For profit organizations other than small businesses Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) Special district governments.
- Eligible applicants include nonprofit organizations, public and private educational organizations, federal, state, local and tribal governments and organizations, foreign governments, consulting firms, research firms and individual companies.
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Opportunity Summary:
This grant opportunity, titled Evaluation and Improvement in Desert Bighorn Sheep Population Estimates, is a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Region 2) cooperative agreement focused on strengthening how desert bighorn sheep (DBS) populations are counted and estimated across federal and state lands in Arizona, in partnership with the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD). The core motivation is practical management: existing survey results are used to track population trends over time, support regional analyses, set harvest objectives and permit levels, and calculate key demographic indicators such as lamb-to-ewe ratios and population growth rate (lambda). Because those decisions depend heavily on reliable estimates, the project is framed around validating current statistical approaches and then improving both field survey methods and the way the resulting data are analyzed.
On the desert bighorn sheep side, the work is meant to answer several specific questions tied to accuracy, consistency, and cost. First, it calls for a check that the statistical calculations behind current population estimation methods are correct. Second, regardless of whether the current calculations are technically correct, the project requires an evaluation aimed at improving survey methodology and analysis so population estimates are more accurate. A major component of that improvement is quantifying the relationship between survey effort and count accuracy, then presenting agencies with a set of options that clearly show the tradeoffs: what level of additional effort (time, flights, staffing, repeat visits, etc.) is needed to achieve a given gain in accuracy, and what it costs. The opportunity also asks for a practical breakdown of potential improvements into changes that are easy to implement right away versus changes that would require major retooling, new investments, or redesigned monitoring programs. Another key objective is to produce a robust estimation approach that can be applied range-wide, since consistent methods across multiple herds and areas make aggregated, large-scale predictions and comparisons more defensible. Related to that, applicants are expected to spell out the tradeoffs among accuracy, effort, and cost across the available methodological options.
The grant also emphasizes making better use of existing information. It asks the recipient to examine historic count data and older survey methods to determine whether back-calculations or recalibration analyses can be used to generate more accurate population estimates and to make past counts more comparable to current methods. If such retrospective corrections are feasible and scientifically appropriate, the project calls for actually performing them. Finally, the opportunity raises the possibility of using biometric (quantitative) modeling to forecast next-year population sizes. If a reliable forecasting method can be developed, it could allow managers to reduce survey frequency to every two or three years, saving money while still supporting decisions like setting hunting permit numbers. At the same time, the grant is explicit that reduced survey frequency would weaken the ability to measure some demographic parameters, so part of the assignment is to describe those tradeoffs clearly for decision-makers.
Although the title highlights desert bighorn sheep, the announcement also includes a substantial modeling and decision-support component for Sonoran pronghorn (SP) recovery, centered on fawn recruitment and environmental conditions. The pronghorn work aims to develop and test an empirical predictive model linking fawn recruitment to variables such as vegetation green-up and precipitation (and, more broadly in the description, relative humidity and vegetation greenness). The model is also supposed to incorporate management interventions already used on the ground, including habitat management and providing supplemental feed and water, with the goal of estimating how much these actions improve recruitment. If the recruitment-environment relationship is strong enough to be useful, the grant then calls for embedding that empirical relationship into a population simulation model that draws from the assumptions and parameter values of a well-known population viability analysis: Hosack et al. (2002), A population viability analysis for the endangered Sonoran pronghorn. That simulation framework would then be used to test alternative management strategies under variable rainfall, starting with historical variability and then exploring modified patterns consistent with assumed climate trends. The practical output is intended to be guidance on triggers and thresholds: identifying the population and environmental conditions under which supplemental forage and water are most likely to be worthwhile, while also examining other actions such as habitat modification, reintroduction, and translocation. The pronghorn portion also highlights adaptive management as a way to reduce uncertainty over time about which demographic rates and environmental factors most strongly shape viability and recovery.
Administratively, this is a discretionary funding opportunity using a cooperative agreement mechanism, with a single expected award. Total funding is listed at $46,166, with the award floor and ceiling both set at $46,166, and there is no cost-sharing or matching requirement. The CFDA number is 15.660 (Endangered Species Candidate Conservation Action Funds). Eligible applicants are broad and include nonprofit organizations (including and excluding 501(c)(3) status), public and private institutions of higher education, federal, state, local, and tribal governments and organizations, foreign governments, consulting and research firms, and private companies (including some for-profit categories). The posting date is February 4, 2010, with an original closing date of March 4, 2010 and a later current closing date of July 28, 2010; the archive date is August 27, 2010. The announcement notes that the Service intends to contract for this work with M.J. Conroy Wildlife Biometrics, and it provides a point of contact at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service: Dr. Grant Harris in Albuquerque, New Mexico (phone 505-248-6817, email grantharris@fws.gov).
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the title of this grant opportunity?
The opportunity is titled Evaluation and Improvement in Desert Bighorn Sheep Population Estimates.
Which federal agency is offering this funding?
The funding is offered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), Region 2, using a cooperative agreement mechanism.
What type of funding mechanism is being used?
This is a discretionary funding opportunity using a cooperative agreement.
How many awards are expected?
The announcement states there is a single expected award.
How much funding is available?
Total funding is listed at $46,166.
What are the award floor and ceiling amounts?
Both the award floor and the award ceiling are $46,166.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. The announcement specifies there is no cost-sharing or matching requirement.
What is the CFDA number for this opportunity?
The CFDA number provided is 15.660 (Endangered Species Candidate Conservation Action Funds).
What is the main purpose of the desert bighorn sheep portion of the project?
The main purpose is to strengthen how desert bighorn sheep (DBS) populations are counted and estimated across federal and state lands in Arizona, including validation of current statistical approaches and improvement of both survey methods and data analysis to increase accuracy and usefulness for management decisions.
Why does the opportunity focus on improving desert bighorn sheep population estimates?
The announcement ties the work directly to practical management needs: existing survey results are used to track trends over time, support regional analyses, set harvest objectives and permit levels, and calculate demographic indicators such as lamb-to-ewe ratios and population growth rate (lambda). Reliable estimates are important because those decisions depend heavily on them.
What specific desert bighorn sheep questions is the project intended to address?
The description highlights several targeted questions and tasks, including: verifying whether current statistical calculations are correct; evaluating and improving survey methodology and analysis to increase accuracy; quantifying how survey effort relates to accuracy; and presenting clear tradeoffs among accuracy, effort, and cost across methodological options.
Does the project require checking whether current population estimation calculations are correct?
Yes. A stated requirement is to check that the statistical calculations behind current population estimation methods are correct.
If the current calculations are correct, is further work still expected?
Yes. The announcement indicates that regardless of whether the current calculations are technically correct, the project still requires an evaluation aimed at improving survey methodology and analysis so estimates are more accurate.
What does the opportunity mean by relating survey effort to accuracy?
A major component is to quantify the relationship between survey effort and count accuracy, then provide agencies with a set of options showing what additional effort (for example, time, flights, staffing, repeat visits) is needed to achieve specified gains in accuracy, and what those gains cost.
What kinds of survey-effort factors are mentioned?
The announcement gives examples of effort variables such as time, flights, staffing, and repeat visits.
What deliverable is expected regarding the tradeoffs among accuracy, effort, and cost?
The opportunity calls for presenting agencies with options that clearly show tradeoffs, including what level of additional effort is needed for a given gain in accuracy and associated costs, and spelling out the tradeoffs among accuracy, effort, and cost across available methodological choices.
Does the project ask for recommendations that are easy to implement versus those requiring major changes?
Yes. The description requests a practical breakdown of potential improvements into changes that are easy to implement right away versus changes that would require major retooling, new investments, or redesigned monitoring programs.
Is there an expectation to develop a consistent estimation approach that can be used across many herds or areas?
Yes. A key objective is to produce a robust estimation approach that can be applied range-wide so methods are consistent across multiple herds and areas, supporting more defensible aggregated and large-scale comparisons.
Does the opportunity require using or reviewing historic desert bighorn sheep data?
Yes. The recipient is asked to examine historic count data and older survey methods to determine whether back-calculations or recalibration analyses can be used to generate more accurate estimates and make past counts more comparable to current methods.
If retrospective recalibration of older data is feasible, is the project expected to perform it?
Yes. If those retrospective corrections are feasible and scientifically appropriate, the project calls for actually performing them.
Does the grant include work on forecasting future desert bighorn sheep population sizes?
Yes. The opportunity raises the possibility of using biometric (quantitative) modeling to forecast next-year population sizes.
Could forecasting affect how often desert bighorn sheep surveys need to be conducted?
Potentially. If a reliable forecasting method can be developed, it could allow managers to reduce survey frequency to every two or three years, which could save money while still supporting decisions like setting hunting permit numbers.
Are there downsides to reducing desert bighorn sheep survey frequency?
Yes. The announcement explicitly notes that reduced survey frequency would weaken the ability to measure some demographic parameters, and the project includes describing those tradeoffs clearly for decision-makers.
Is the opportunity solely about desert bighorn sheep?
No. While the title highlights desert bighorn sheep, the announcement also includes a substantial modeling and decision-support component for Sonoran pronghorn (SP) recovery.
What is the main focus of the Sonoran pronghorn component?
The pronghorn work focuses on fawn recruitment and environmental conditions, aiming to develop and test an empirical predictive model linking recruitment to variables such as vegetation green-up and precipitation, and more broadly described variables like relative humidity and vegetation greenness.
Does the pronghorn modeling include management interventions already used on the ground?
Yes. The model is supposed to incorporate interventions such as habitat management and providing supplemental feed and water, with the goal of estimating how much these actions improve recruitment.
If a useful pronghorn recruitment-environment relationship is found, what happens next?
If the relationship is strong enough to be useful, the grant calls for embedding it into a population simulation model drawing from assumptions and parameter values of Hosack et al. (2002), A population viability analysis for the endangered Sonoran pronghorn.
What is the purpose of the pronghorn simulation modeling?
The simulation framework would be used to test alternative management strategies under variable rainfall, starting with historical variability and then exploring modified patterns consistent with assumed climate trends.
What kinds of pronghorn management actions are mentioned for evaluation?
The opportunity mentions examining actions including supplemental forage and water, and also other actions such as habitat modification, reintroduction, and translocation.
What practical guidance is expected from the pronghorn component?
A key intended output is guidance on triggers and thresholds: identifying the population and environmental conditions under which supplemental forage and water are most likely to be worthwhile, while also examining other potential management actions.
How does adaptive management fit into the pronghorn portion of the grant?
The pronghorn section highlights adaptive management as a way to reduce uncertainty over time about which demographic rates and environmental factors most strongly shape viability and recovery.
Which state partner is specifically named for the desert bighorn sheep work?
The opportunity describes work in Arizona in partnership with the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD).
Where is the work focused geographically?
The desert bighorn sheep work is described as occurring across federal and state lands in Arizona and emphasizes developing an approach that can be applied range-wide.
Who is eligible to apply for this opportunity?
Eligibility is broad and includes: nonprofit organizations (including and excluding 501(c)(3) status), public and private institutions of higher education, federal, state, local, and tribal governments and organizations, foreign governments, consulting and research firms, and private companies (including some for-profit categories).
What are the posting date and closing dates listed in the announcement?
The posting date is February 4, 2010. The original closing date is March 4, 2010, and a later current closing date is July 28, 2010. The archive date is August 27, 2010.
Does the announcement indicate an intended contractor?
Yes. The announcement notes that the Service intends to contract for this work with M.J. Conroy Wildlife Biometrics.
Who is the point of contact for this opportunity?
The point of contact is Dr. Grant Harris, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Albuquerque, New Mexico. Phone: 505-248-6817. Email: grantharris@fws.gov.
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