Opportunity Information: Apply for R13AC30016
Apply for R13AC30016
- The Bureau of Reclamation Lower Colorado Region in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Genetic" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.538 Lower Colorado River Multi Species Conservation Program..
- This funding opportunity was created on Jun 18, 2013 and posted on Jun 18, 2013.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 2, 2013. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $264,519.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $264,519.00 in funding.
- 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 a notice of intent to award, no competition is being sought.
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Opportunity Summary:
This Bureau of Reclamation (Lower Colorado Region) cooperative agreement opportunity supports the Lower Colorado River Multi-Species Conservation Program (MSCP), specifically Work Task 40: Genetic and Demographic Studies to Guide Conservation Management of razorback sucker (Xyrauchen texanus, RASU) and bonytail chub (Gila elegans, BONY) in off-channel habitats. These are long-lived, large-bodied native fishes that were historically widespread in the Colorado River basin but suffered major declines and local extirpations beginning in the early 1900s due to water development and the impacts of non-native species. Even after years of conservation work by multiple partners, both species remain critically imperiled, and the program is looking for stronger, data-driven guidance on how to use managed off-channel habitats (such as backwaters and ponds) as effective conservation tools.
The core purpose of the project is to evaluate how genetic and demographic factors influence the success of off-channel habitat strategies, using razorback sucker as the primary model system while generating information relevant to bonytail management as well. The work focuses on establishing and studying at least two replicate groups of adult RASU placed into backwater ponds on Lake Mohave (Arizona and Nevada). Researchers will genotype all adults and also genotype sampled offspring produced by those adults. By characterizing microsatellite DNA variation, the study will assign parentage of individual juveniles to specific adults, which makes it possible to measure reproductive success at the level of individual fish rather than relying on coarse population-wide assumptions.
In parallel, the project uses tracking data to build a clearer demographic picture of how these managed groups function. Adults will be PIT-tagged, and remote sensing/monitoring information from the same locations will be used to detect and track tagged fish, determine when specific individuals are present in spawning areas, and estimate abundance over time. Combining the genetic parentage results with movement and abundance data allows the project to answer practical management questions: which adults actually contribute offspring, whether spawning aggregations are dominated by a small subset of individuals, how survivorship patterns look in these off-channel settings, and how effective population size (genetic breeders that contribute to the next generation) compares to the census size (the number of fish physically present). That distinction matters for long-term viability because a population can look numerically healthy while still losing genetic diversity if only a few fish are doing most of the breeding.
The information produced is intended to directly inform MSCP repatriation and conservation decisions, including how fish are collected, reared, stocked, and monitored across related MSCP efforts. The notice explicitly ties expected benefits to other MSCP work tasks, including larval collection and stocking efforts (Work Tasks B1-B7, with emphasis on B7 lakeside rearing ponds), post-stocking survival studies in Lake Mohave (Work Task C12), research at Imperial Ponds (Work Task C25), and MSCP data management (Work Task G1). In other words, this is positioned as a foundational study that strengthens multiple connected conservation actions by providing hard evidence about breeding structure, survival, and the real biological output of off-channel habitat approaches.
Roles are divided between the recipient and Reclamation in a way typical of a cooperative agreement with substantial federal involvement. The recipient is responsible for carrying out the scope of work in compliance with applicable federal, state, and local requirements; coordinating needed approvals and permits with Reclamation; and managing all study components end-to-end. That includes developing the experimental design, performing laboratory genetic work and statistical analyses, managing and curating the data, and presenting and reporting results. Reclamation provides oversight and active support, including reviewing and approving financial and performance reporting, monitoring progress through calls and site visits as needed, and offering technical assistance upon request. Reclamation also commits to providing key inputs required for the study: collecting and supplying adult and larval RASU tissue samples for genetic analysis, providing PIT-tagged live adult RASU for introduction into backwater habitats, and supplying monthly RASU population data reports to support ongoing analysis.
Administratively, this is a discretionary funding opportunity using a cooperative agreement instrument under CFDA 15.538 (Lower Colorado River Multi-Species Conservation Program). The posting date was June 18, 2013, with a closing date of July 2, 2013, and an archive date of August 1, 2013. The expected number of awards is one, with an estimated total funding amount of $264,519 (also listed as the ceiling and floor, indicating a fixed award amount). There is no cost-sharing or matching requirement. Eligibility is listed broadly as "Others," but the key practical detail is that this announcement is a notice of intent to award and states that no competition is being sought, meaning it was effectively intended for a specific recipient rather than an open competitive solicitation. The grants officer contact listed is Shawna Thompson at the Bureau of Reclamation (702-293-8570, smthompson@usbr.gov).
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is this funding opportunity about?
This Bureau of Reclamation (Lower Colorado Region) cooperative agreement supports the Lower Colorado River Multi-Species Conservation Program (MSCP), specifically Work Task 40: Genetic and Demographic Studies to Guide Conservation Management of razorback sucker (Xyrauchen texanus, RASU) and bonytail chub (Gila elegans, BONY) in off-channel habitats.
Which MSCP work task does this award support?
It supports MSCP Work Task 40, focused on genetic and demographic studies to guide conservation management of razorback sucker and bonytail chub in managed off-channel habitats.
What species are the focus of the project?
The project focuses on razorback sucker (RASU) and generates information relevant to bonytail chub (BONY) management as well. Razorback sucker is the primary model system for the study design.
Why are razorback sucker and bonytail considered conservation priorities in this program?
Both are long-lived, large-bodied native fishes that were historically widespread in the Colorado River basin, but experienced major declines and local extirpations beginning in the early 1900s due to water development and impacts of non-native species. Even after years of conservation actions by multiple partners, both species remain critically imperiled.
What are "off-channel habitats" in the context of this project?
Off-channel habitats are managed areas such as backwaters and ponds that are used as conservation tools. The project is intended to provide stronger, data-driven guidance on how to use these habitats effectively.
Where will the study be conducted?
The work focuses on establishing and studying at least two replicate groups of adult razorback sucker placed into backwater ponds on Lake Mohave (Arizona and Nevada).
How many study groups are expected, and what does "replicate groups" mean here?
The project specifies at least two replicate groups of adult razorback sucker. Replicate groups allow comparisons across more than one managed group in similar habitat settings to better evaluate how genetic and demographic factors influence outcomes.
What is the core purpose of the study?
The core purpose is to evaluate how genetic and demographic factors influence the success of off-channel habitat strategies, using razorback sucker as the primary model system while producing information relevant to bonytail management.
What genetic methods will be used?
Researchers will genotype all adult fish included in the study and will genotype sampled offspring produced by those adults. The work will characterize microsatellite DNA variation to support parentage assignment.
What does genotyping and microsatellite DNA analysis enable the project to do?
By using microsatellite DNA variation, the study can assign parentage of individual juveniles to specific adults. This makes it possible to measure reproductive success at the level of individual fish rather than relying on broad population-level assumptions.
Why is parentage assignment important for managing these fish in off-channel habitats?
Parentage assignment helps determine which individual adults actually contribute offspring, whether reproduction is dominated by only a few individuals, and how breeding structure affects long-term conservation outcomes in managed habitats.
What demographic and movement data will be collected?
Adults will be PIT-tagged, and remote sensing/monitoring information from the same locations will be used to detect and track tagged fish, determine when specific individuals are present in spawning areas, and estimate abundance over time.
What is a PIT tag and how is it used in this project?
Within this project description, PIT tags are used to identify and track adult fish. Remote monitoring at the study locations detects tagged individuals to support analyses of presence in spawning areas and changes in abundance over time.
What kinds of management questions is the project designed to answer?
The combined genetic and tracking datasets are intended to answer practical questions such as: which adults contribute offspring, whether spawning aggregations are dominated by a small subset of individuals, what survivorship patterns look like in off-channel settings, and how effective population size compares to census size.
What is the difference between effective population size and census size, and why does it matter here?
Census size is the number of fish physically present, while effective population size reflects the number of genetic breeders contributing to the next generation. The distinction matters because a population can appear numerically healthy while losing genetic diversity if only a small portion of adults are producing most offspring.
How will the results be used by the MSCP?
The information is intended to directly inform MSCP repatriation and conservation decisions, including how fish are collected, reared, stocked, and monitored across related MSCP efforts.
Which other MSCP work tasks are expected to benefit from this study?
The notice explicitly ties expected benefits to larval collection and stocking efforts (Work Tasks B1-B7, with emphasis on B7 lakeside rearing ponds), post-stocking survival studies in Lake Mohave (Work Task C12), research at Imperial Ponds (Work Task C25), and MSCP data management (Work Task G1).
Why is this described as a "foundational" study for other conservation actions?
It is positioned as foundational because it aims to provide hard evidence about breeding structure, survival, and the biological output of off-channel habitat approaches, which can strengthen multiple connected MSCP conservation actions.
What type of award instrument is being used?
This is a cooperative agreement, and the description indicates substantial federal involvement typical of that instrument.
What are the recipient's main responsibilities under this cooperative agreement?
The recipient is responsible for carrying out the scope of work in compliance with applicable federal, state, and local requirements; coordinating needed approvals and permits with Reclamation; and managing study components end-to-end. This includes developing the experimental design, conducting laboratory genetic work and statistical analyses, managing and curating data, and presenting and reporting results.
What are Reclamation's main responsibilities and involvement?
Reclamation provides oversight and active support, including reviewing and approving financial and performance reporting, monitoring progress through calls and site visits as needed, and offering technical assistance upon request.
What specific inputs will Reclamation provide to support the study?
Reclamation commits to collecting and supplying adult and larval razorback sucker tissue samples for genetic analysis, providing PIT-tagged live adult razorback sucker for introduction into backwater habitats, and supplying monthly razorback sucker population data reports to support ongoing analysis.
Is there a cost-sharing or matching requirement?
No. The opportunity states there is no cost-sharing or matching requirement.
How much funding is available?
The estimated total funding amount is $264,519, and it is also listed as both the ceiling and the floor, indicating a fixed award amount.
How many awards are expected?
One award is expected.
Is this an open competitive opportunity?
No. The announcement is described as a notice of intent to award and states that no competition is being sought, indicating it was effectively intended for a specific recipient rather than an open competitive solicitation.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is listed broadly as "Others," but the notice also states that no competition is being sought, so it is not presented as an open competitive application process.
What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is under CFDA 15.538, Lower Colorado River Multi-Species Conservation Program.
What are the key dates for this opportunity?
The posting date was June 18, 2013. The closing date was July 2, 2013. The archive date was August 1, 2013.
Who is the grants officer contact for this opportunity?
The grants officer contact listed is Shawna Thompson at the Bureau of Reclamation. Phone: 702-293-8570. Email: smthompson@usbr.gov.
Which Bureau of Reclamation region is associated with this award?
This opportunity is associated with the Bureau of Reclamation, Lower Colorado Region.
What types of deliverables or outputs are implied by the scope of work?
Based on the described responsibilities, outputs include an experimental design, genetic parentage and microsatellite datasets and analyses, demographic/movement analyses using PIT tag detections and monitoring data, curated datasets, and performance and financial reporting plus presentation and reporting of results.
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