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Habitat and Population Evaluation (F12AS00103) - FAQs

What is the Habitat and Population Evaluation grant opportunity (F12AS00103)?

It is a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service cooperative agreement focused on research and analysis to support migratory bird habitat management in the prairie pothole region. The project uses a long-term monitoring dataset to generate practical insights that can be used for conservation decision-making.

What is the main goal of this funding?

The core purpose is to turn decades of standardized wetland monitoring information into actionable insights that improve habitat management and conservation decisions for migratory birds, especially ducks, in the prairie pothole region.

What long-term dataset does this project build on?

The work builds on a major monitoring effort that began in 1988, when Habitat and Population Evaluation Teams in Regions 3 and 6 started collecting standardized information on wetland conditions and duck use across a fixed sample of more than 6,000 wetlands.

Why is the dataset considered especially valuable?

The sampling has been consistent for decades and includes weather, wetland condition, and wildlife use metrics. This consistency and duration make it one of the largest and longest-running datasets of its kind worldwide, allowing analysis of year-to-year variation rather than relying on short-term snapshots.

What specific work will be supported under this project?

The described project is intended to support a graduate student who will analyze which landscape and environmental factors most strongly influence annual duck density on the monitored wetlands.

What outcome is the project trying to produce?

The end goal is to improve how agencies and partners prioritize habitat management actions and land acquisition by using evidence from a robust long-term dataset, rather than short-term or isolated studies.

What factors are expected to be examined in the analysis?

The analysis is expected to examine variables such as the presence of trees, terrain relief (topography), vegetation cover classes, watershed-level land use, weather patterns, and other relevant drivers that may influence annual duck density.

How will weather be considered in the study?

The project is expected to evaluate how weather variability interacts with habitat conditions and how those combined effects relate to year-to-year changes in duck density on the monitored wetlands.

What geographic area is this work intended to support?

The results are meant to guide decisions in the U.S. prairie pothole region, specifically in Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota, where wetland networks are critically important for breeding and migrating waterfowl.

What type of opportunity category does this funding fall under?

The opportunity is categorized under Science and Technology and other Research and Development, reflecting its emphasis on quantitative evaluation and applied conservation science.

What CFDA program is associated with this opportunity?

It is tied to CFDA 15.637 (Migratory Bird Joint Ventures), indicating alignment with broader migratory bird conservation partnerships.

Is this an open competitive grant with an application process?

No. The notice is explicitly not an open competition. It is a notice of intent to make a single-source award, meaning there is no application process and no standard deadline for proposals.

Who is the intended recipient of the award?

The notice states the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service intends to make a single-source award to South Dakota State University.

How many awards are expected to be made?

The expected number of awards is one.

What is the estimated funding amount?

The estimated total funding amount is $32,650, and the award ceiling is also $32,650.

What does the award floor mean for this opportunity?

The award floor is listed as $0. The notice also provides an estimated total funding amount and a ceiling, which indicate the anticipated size and maximum amount for this single award.

Is cost sharing or matching required?

No. The notice states there is no cost-sharing or matching requirement.

What is the funding instrument mentioned in the notice?

The opportunity is described as a cooperative agreement through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

When was this opportunity posted and when was it archived?

The opportunity was posted and created on March 15, 2012, and it was archived on April 16, 2012.

Who can be contacted for questions about the announcement?

For administrative or access questions about the announcement, the contact listed is Rex Johnson at the Fish and Wildlife Service. Phone: 218-736-0606. Email: RexJohnson@fws.gov.

What kinds of decisions are expected to benefit from the study results?

The study is intended to inform practical conservation decisions, including prioritizing habitat management actions and guiding land acquisition decisions, based on relationships between duck density and landscape, environmental, land use, and weather factors.