Opportunity Information: Apply for FWS R6 MB BLRA
Apply for FWS R6 MB BLRA
- The Fish and Wildlife Service in the environment natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Interior Black Rail Literature Compilation" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.655 Migratory Bird Monitoring, Assessment and Conservation.
- This funding opportunity was created on Mar 2, 2011 and posted on Mar 2, 2011.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Apr 1, 2011. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $8,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $10,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Small businesses Private institutions of higher education Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Individuals Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Public and State controlled institutions of higher education State governments Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments).
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Opportunity Summary:
The Interior Black Rail Literature Compilation grant opportunity, offered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) under CFDA 15.655 (Migratory Bird Monitoring, Assessment and Conservation), sought a single awardee to pull together and critically review what is known about Interior populations of the Black Rail (Laterallus jamaicensis). In this announcement, "interior" is defined as populations west of the Appalachian Mountains and north of Texas. The central purpose was to fill a major information gap by assembling scattered historical and contemporary records into a standardized, usable product that could support future planning, mapping, monitoring design, and habitat management for this secretive marsh bird.
The work emphasized building a comprehensive, georeferenced database that captures breeding-season locations and habitat-use details across a multi-state region. Rather than relying only on published papers, the project explicitly required deep digging into unpublished and anecdotal sources, including communications with resource managers and birders, and obtaining records from breeding bird atlases, state wildlife agencies, natural history collections, and other archival or agency sources. The database was to follow the format already developed by the Eastern Black Rail Working Group so that interior data could be integrated and compared with ongoing efforts for Eastern and Coastal populations. Beyond simple occurrence points, the compilation was expected to include bibliographic traceability (so every record can be tied back to its source) and habitat notes useful for interpreting where and why breeding rails were found.
A notable component of the scope was to capture contextual factors that may influence Black Rail presence and detectability over time. As available, the compilation was to integrate historical land-use patterns, management actions, and weather conditions associated with locations or time periods where breeding rails were reported. This added layer was intended to make the final products more than a list of sightings by enabling future analysts and managers to link rail distribution with habitat change, management history, and environmental conditions.
The opportunity also aimed to strengthen future monitoring by gathering and synthesizing information from interior studies that used the standardized Marshbird Monitoring Protocol, along with other monitoring approaches. The awardee was expected to summarize how Black Rails responded under different survey conditions, including time of day, timing within the breeding season, and potential density-dependent effects. The intent was to produce practical information that could be used to judge whether the existing protocol works well for Interior Black Rails and how monitoring might need to be adapted to improve detection and consistency across states.
Geographically, the states specifically called out as priorities were Arizona, California, Colorado, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, Oklahoma, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. The announcement noted that limited travel might be needed to coordinate with FWS biologists and access records in Minneapolis, Minnesota; Albuquerque, New Mexico; and/or Willows, California. It also mentioned that office space in Lakewood, Colorado and limited equipment availability were potentially negotiable, suggesting the FWS expected close coordination during the compilation and database-building process.
The proposed deliverables were threefold. First, a GIS-ready database of historical and current breeding distribution for Interior Black Rails, including sites and habitat information, suitable for mapping and analysis. Second, a synthesized body of information to evaluate the Marshbird Monitoring Protocol as a monitoring technique for Interior Black Rails, informed by prior studies and survey results. Third, a set of compiled findings that could support habitat management recommendations, grounding management guidance in documented habitat use, historical context, and monitoring outcomes.
Administratively, this was a discretionary funding opportunity with an expected single award and an estimated total funding level of $8,000 (with a stated ceiling of $10,000 and a floor of $500). No cost sharing or matching was required. The opportunity was posted March 2, 2011, with an application closing date of April 1, 2011, and an anticipated project timeline of six months from the start date, with completion required by December 2011. Eligible applicants were broad and included individuals, small businesses, nonprofits (including and excluding 501(c)(3) status), institutions of higher education (public and private), state governments, and federally recognized tribal governments and tribal organizations. The listed point of contact was Suzanne Fellows, Wildlife Biologist, at 303-236-4417.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Interior Black Rail Literature Compilation (FWS, CFDA 15.655)
What is the Interior Black Rail Literature Compilation grant opportunity?
It is a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) discretionary grant opportunity under CFDA 15.655 (Migratory Bird Monitoring, Assessment and Conservation) to fund a single awardee to compile and critically review information about Interior populations of the Black Rail (Laterallus jamaicensis).
What does "Interior" mean in this announcement?
"Interior" is defined as Black Rail populations west of the Appalachian Mountains and north of Texas.
What is the main purpose of the project?
The purpose is to fill a major information gap by assembling scattered historical and contemporary records into a standardized, usable product that can support future planning, mapping, monitoring design, and habitat management for this secretive marsh bird.
How many awards were expected to be made?
The announcement expected a single award (one awardee).
How much funding was available?
The estimated total funding level was $8,000. The funding ceiling was $10,000 and the funding floor was $500.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. The announcement stated that no cost sharing or matching was required.
What were the key deliverables?
The proposed deliverables were: (1) a GIS-ready database of historical and current breeding distribution for Interior Black Rails (including sites and habitat information), (2) a synthesized body of information to evaluate the Marshbird Monitoring Protocol for Interior Black Rails, and (3) compiled findings that could support habitat management recommendations grounded in documented habitat use, historical context, and monitoring outcomes.
What kind of database was the awardee expected to produce?
A comprehensive, georeferenced, GIS-ready database capturing breeding-season locations and habitat-use details across a multi-state region, suitable for mapping and analysis.
What information had to be included beyond simple occurrence points?
The compilation was expected to include bibliographic traceability (so every record can be tied back to its source) and habitat notes useful for interpreting where and why breeding rails were found.
What sources of information were expected to be used?
The project required digging into both published and unpublished sources, including anecdotal records and direct communications with resource managers and birders, as well as obtaining records from breeding bird atlases, state wildlife agencies, natural history collections, and other archival or agency sources.
Did the database have to follow a specific format?
Yes. The database was required to follow the format developed by the Eastern Black Rail Working Group so that Interior data could be integrated and compared with efforts for Eastern and Coastal populations.
What geographic areas or states were prioritized?
The announcement specifically called out priority states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, Oklahoma, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, South Dakota, and Wisconsin.
What time period of Black Rail records was the project trying to capture?
The compilation was intended to assemble both historical and contemporary records of breeding-season locations and distribution.
What types of habitat information were expected to be captured?
The database was expected to capture habitat-use details and habitat notes associated with breeding-season locations to help interpret where and why breeding rails were found.
Was the project expected to include contextual factors like land use or weather?
Yes. As available, the compilation was to integrate historical land-use patterns, management actions, and weather conditions associated with locations or time periods where breeding rails were reported.
Why were land-use patterns, management actions, and weather included?
This added layer was intended to make the final products more than a list of sightings by enabling future work linking rail distribution with habitat change, management history, and environmental conditions.
What is the Marshbird Monitoring Protocol and how does it relate to this project?
The opportunity aimed to strengthen future monitoring by gathering and synthesizing information from Interior studies that used the standardized Marshbird Monitoring Protocol (along with other monitoring approaches). The awardee was expected to synthesize results to help evaluate whether the protocol works well for Interior Black Rails and how monitoring might need to be adapted.
What monitoring-related questions was the awardee expected to address?
The awardee was expected to summarize how Black Rails responded under different survey conditions, including time of day, timing within the breeding season, and potential density-dependent effects.
Were other monitoring approaches besides the Marshbird Monitoring Protocol included?
Yes. The announcement mentions synthesizing information from studies using the Marshbird Monitoring Protocol along with other monitoring approaches.
Was travel anticipated as part of the project?
Yes. The announcement noted that limited travel might be needed to coordinate with FWS biologists and access records in Minneapolis, Minnesota; Albuquerque, New Mexico; and/or Willows, California.
Was office space or equipment provided?
Potentially. The announcement indicated that office space in Lakewood, Colorado and limited equipment availability were potentially negotiable.
How long was the project period expected to be?
The anticipated project timeline was six months from the start date.
When did the project need to be completed?
Completion was required by December 2011.
When was the opportunity posted and when was the application due?
The opportunity was posted on March 2, 2011. The application closing date was April 1, 2011.
What types of applicants were eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants included individuals, small businesses, nonprofits (including and excluding 501(c)(3) status), institutions of higher education (public and private), state governments, and federally recognized tribal governments and tribal organizations.
What program or CFDA number is associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity was offered under CFDA 15.655, Migratory Bird Monitoring, Assessment and Conservation.
Who was the point of contact for this opportunity?
The listed point of contact was Suzanne Fellows, Wildlife Biologist, reachable at 303-236-4417.
What was the intended use of the final products?
The compiled and standardized products were intended to support future planning, mapping, monitoring design, and habitat management, and to help evaluate and potentially adapt monitoring methods for Interior Black Rails.
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