Opportunity Information: Apply for F15AS00418
Apply for F15AS00418
- The Fish and Wildlife Service in the environment natural resources science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Gulf Coast Joint Venture UAV Waterbird Monitoring" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.637 Migratory Bird Joint Ventures.
- This funding opportunity was created on Aug 5, 2015 and posted on Aug 5, 2015.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 12, 2015 THIS IS NOT A RFP. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $43,809.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $43,809.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility.
- The Southwest Region of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service hereby provides NOTICE OF INTENT TO AWARD TO A SINGLE SOURCE WITHOUT COMPETITION for a single season evaluation of the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for surveying waterbird colonies.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Gulf Coast Joint Venture - UAV Waterbird Monitoring grant (Funding Opportunity Number F15AS00418) is a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Southwest Region discretionary grant intended to support a single-season evaluation of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs, or drones) as a tool for surveying colonial waterbird colonies along the Gulf Coast. The work is framed within the Migratory Bird Joint Ventures program (CFDA 15.637) and is tied directly to Joint Venture science and monitoring priorities across multiple bird groups, including waterbirds, shorebirds, landbirds, and waterfowl. The central idea is to improve how bird colonies are monitored by developing and testing approaches that reduce common sources of bias, particularly bias caused by limited site access, and by using methods that explicitly account for detection probability (the likelihood that birds present in a colony are actually detected and counted during a survey).
The opportunity is explicitly labeled as a "Notice of Intent to Award to a Single Source Without Competition," meaning it is not an open call for competing proposals and it is not a request for proposals (RFP). Instead, USFWS announced its intent to make one award to a single, specific recipient for this targeted project. While the eligibility field is listed as unrestricted in the posting metadata, the narrative makes clear that the agency planned a non-competitive, single-source award for a defined scope of work, so there was no competitive application process in the usual sense.
From a technical standpoint, the project focus is on evaluating UAVs as a monitoring platform and on developing or refining protocols suitable for colonial waterbird surveys. The motivation comes from consultations led by the Gulf Coast Joint Venture Monitoring Coordinator with the Joint Venture technical working groups and staff. Those discussions identified the need for monitoring methods that are less constrained by whether humans can physically reach a colony and that better handle imperfect detection, which is a major issue in wildlife surveys because visibility, disturbance, habitat complexity, and observer limitations can all cause undercounts or inconsistent results. By rigorously testing UAV-based survey approaches over one season, the project aims to determine whether drone surveys can produce reliable colony counts and potentially standardize methods that can be expanded or adapted in future monitoring efforts.
Financially, the award amount is fixed: the estimated total funding is $43,809, with an award ceiling and floor both set at $43,809, indicating an expected single grant at that exact value. There is no cost-sharing or matching requirement. The posting date and creation date are August 5, 2015, with an original and current closing date of August 12, 2015, and an archive date of September 5, 2015. The funding activity categories listed emphasize environment, natural resources, science and technology, and other research and development, reflecting the applied research and field-testing nature of the UAV monitoring evaluation.
The administering agency is the Fish and Wildlife Service, and the public posting points to Grants.gov for additional information. A contact is provided for access issues: Sara Williams (saranwilliams@fws.gov).
FAQs: Gulf Coast Joint Venture - UAV Waterbird Monitoring (F15AS00418)
What is this grant opportunity?
The Gulf Coast Joint Venture - UAV Waterbird Monitoring grant (Funding Opportunity Number F15AS00418) is a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Southwest Region discretionary grant supporting a one-season evaluation of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs, also called drones) for surveying colonial waterbird colonies along the Gulf Coast.
What is the main goal of the project?
The central goal is to improve how colonial waterbird colonies are monitored by developing and testing UAV-based survey approaches that reduce common sources of bias (especially bias caused by limited site access) and by using methods that explicitly account for detection probability (the likelihood that birds present are actually detected and counted during a survey).
What types of birds does this work relate to?
Although the project is focused on colonial waterbird colony surveys, it is framed within Joint Venture science and monitoring priorities that span multiple bird groups, including waterbirds, shorebirds, landbirds, and waterfowl.
What program is this grant associated with?
This opportunity is tied to the Migratory Bird Joint Ventures program (CFDA 15.637).
Is this an open, competitive funding opportunity?
No. It is explicitly labeled as a "Notice of Intent to Award to a Single Source Without Competition." This means it is not an open call for competing proposals and it is not a request for proposals (RFP). Instead, USFWS announced its intent to make one award to a single, specific recipient for a targeted scope of work.
Does the listing show eligibility as unrestricted, and what does that mean here?
The posting metadata lists eligibility as unrestricted, but the narrative clarifies that this is a non-competitive, single-source award. In practical terms, the agency intended to make one award to a specific recipient rather than run a typical competitive application process.
How long is the project expected to run?
The work is described as a single-season evaluation of UAVs for colonial waterbird monitoring.
What technical approach is being evaluated?
The project evaluates UAVs (drones) as a monitoring platform and focuses on developing or refining survey protocols appropriate for colonial waterbird colony monitoring.
Why is detection probability mentioned as a key issue?
Detection probability matters because wildlife surveys often miss individuals that are present. Visibility, disturbance, habitat complexity, and observer limitations can lead to undercounts or inconsistent results. The project aims to test approaches that explicitly account for imperfect detection.
What bias is this project especially trying to reduce?
A major emphasis is reducing bias caused by limited site access, where human observers may not be able to physically reach certain colonies or may have constrained viewing conditions.
What prompted this project idea?
The motivation came from consultations led by the Gulf Coast Joint Venture Monitoring Coordinator with Joint Venture technical working groups and staff, who identified a need for monitoring methods that are less constrained by physical access and that better address imperfect detection.
What outcomes are intended from the one-season UAV evaluation?
The project aims to determine whether UAV-based surveys can produce reliable colony counts and to inform potential standardization of methods that could be expanded or adapted in future monitoring efforts.
Which federal agency is administering the grant?
The administering agency is the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Fish and Wildlife Service), specifically noted as a Southwest Region discretionary grant.
What is the total funding amount for this opportunity?
The estimated total funding is $43,809.
What are the award floor and award ceiling?
Both the award floor and the award ceiling are listed as $43,809, indicating an expected single grant at that exact value.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. The opportunity states there is no cost-sharing or matching requirement.
How many awards are expected?
The description indicates USFWS planned to make one award to a single source (one recipient) without competition.
What are the key dates listed for this opportunity?
The posting date and creation date are August 5, 2015. The original and current closing date is August 12, 2015. The archive date is September 5, 2015.
What are the funding activity categories for this opportunity?
The listed activity categories emphasize environment, natural resources, science and technology, and other research and development, consistent with applied research and field-testing of UAV monitoring methods.
Where is the work geographically focused?
The project is focused on surveying colonial waterbird colonies along the Gulf Coast.
Where is the opportunity posted for more information?
The public posting points to Grants.gov for additional information.
Who should be contacted for access issues?
The contact listed for access issues is Sara Williams at saranwilliams@fws.gov.
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