Opportunity Information: Apply for R14SF30002
Apply for R14SF30002
- The Bureau of Reclamation Lower Colorado Region in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Lowand Leopard Frog and Colorado River Toad Monitoring, Habitat Use and Ecology Study" 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 Oct 16, 2013 and posted on Sep 23, 2013.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Nov 1, 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 $600,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $600,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 10 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- View the full funding opportunity announcement for eligibility.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Lowland Leopard Frog and Colorado River Toad Monitoring, Habitat Use and Ecology Study is a discretionary grant opportunity from the Bureau of Reclamation (Lower Colorado Region) under the Lower Colorado River Multi-Species Conservation Program (CFDA 15.538). The project is built around two practical management needs within the LCR MSCP planning area: first, figuring out where lowland leopard frogs and Colorado River toads currently occur (their distribution and number of populations), and second, defining what kinds of habitats they actually rely on, with special attention to breeding areas. The larger purpose behind both pieces is to support future conservation decisions, including whether it is realistic to establish or reintroduce either species into places where they are currently absent, or into newly created or restored habitat.
A major component of the work is the development of a repeatable, cost-effective monitoring plan that can be used year after year. Applicants are allowed to propose essentially any appropriate survey approach, including visual encounter surveys, tape playback (call) surveys, larval funnel trapping, and environmental DNA (eDNA) sampling, or a combination of these. The funding announcement expects that the first one to two years will function as a testing and evaluation phase, where methods are piloted, compared, and refined to figure out what works best in the field for detecting each species reliably without excessive cost. Once an effective protocol is established, the expectation is that annual monitoring effort can drop substantially compared with the heavier effort used in earlier monitoring years (referenced as 2011 to 2013). The proposal therefore needs to clearly explain why the proposed sampling effort makes sense, how pilot data will be used to set long-term monitoring objectives, and how the final monitoring design will be able to detect biologically meaningful trends if that is feasible (which includes thinking through how often to survey and how intensive surveys need to be).
The monitoring plan is expected to be more than a general description of field surveys. It should spell out how the work will be carried out on the ground, including logistics like the number of surveyors, how sites will be accessed, how repeat visits will be scheduled, and how the approach will remain consistent enough over time to support trend analysis. The announcement also makes it clear that the selected applicant will coordinate closely with Reclamation staff after award to finalize the monitoring plan, so proposals should anticipate an iterative planning process rather than a set-in-stone method chosen upfront.
Alongside monitoring, the grant calls for an ecology and habitat requirements study for both species that is designed to be ecologically meaningful and statistically defensible. To avoid drawing conclusions from a single site or a single watershed, the minimum sampling requirement is at least three distinct populations of each species, spread across at least two different river systems per species. The applicant proposes which populations and river systems to use, but final site selections are to be confirmed with Reclamation personnel before fieldwork begins. Habitat data collection is expected to focus especially on confirmed breeding habitat, ideally pinpointing egg mass laying locations when possible, because breeding conditions often define whether a site can support a stable population. Proposals should identify habitat variables that may influence occupancy or habitat use (for example, physical site conditions, hydrology, vegetation structure, water quality indicators, predator presence, connectivity, or other relevant factors), and they should describe the statistical framework that will be used to summarize or model habitat relationships. Importantly, applicants are expected to show they understand how to estimate sample sizes needed for a defensible habitat description or model, rather than collecting ad hoc habitat measurements that cannot support strong inference.
The geographic focus is the Lower Colorado River MSCP Habitat Conservation Plan area, specifically from Reach 3 south to Reach 7 of the LCR MSCP HCP. Study areas also include the Bill Williams River, starting at its confluence with the LCR and extending east to roughly Planet Ranch, plus other Arizona river systems where either species is known to occur. The announcement highlights that locations should be chosen to resemble either historic conditions on the mainstem LCR or conditions on the Bill Williams River where one or both species has already been documented. It also explicitly states that the area examined during the previous project just east of Planet Ranch should be included as one of the study locations for this effort, ensuring continuity with prior work and allowing comparisons across time.
The timeline and deliverables are structured so Reclamation can review and shape the study design early. A draft detailed study design, developed with input from Reclamation personnel, is due 30 days after the agreement is awarded, and a final study design is due 15 days before fieldwork begins. That design is expected to cover both the monitoring protocol development and the habitat/ecology study approach, including proposed sites, sampling frequency, methods, and analysis plans.
On the funding side, the opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number R14SF30002) anticipated up to 10 awards, with total estimated funding of $600,000. Individual awards were expected to range from $200,000 (floor) to $600,000 (ceiling), and there was no cost sharing or matching requirement. The grant was posted in late September 2013, with a closing date of November 1, 2013, and it was issued by the Bureau of Reclamation under the natural resources activity category. The announcement directs applicants to the full funding opportunity announcement for detailed eligibility requirements, with “Others” listed broadly as eligible applicants subject to that additional eligibility language.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is this grant opportunity called?
The opportunity is titled Lowland Leopard Frog and Colorado River Toad Monitoring, Habitat Use and Ecology Study.
Which federal agency is offering this grant?
The grant is offered by the Bureau of Reclamation (Lower Colorado Region).
What program is this project associated with?
This work is under the Lower Colorado River Multi-Species Conservation Program (LCR MSCP).
What is the CFDA number listed for this opportunity?
The CFDA number provided is 15.538.
Is this a discretionary or formula grant?
This is described as a discretionary grant opportunity.
What are the two main management needs the project is intended to address?
The project is built around two practical needs within the LCR MSCP planning area: (1) determining where lowland leopard frogs and Colorado River toads currently occur (distribution and number of populations), and (2) defining what habitats they rely on, with particular attention to breeding areas.
What is the larger purpose behind the monitoring and habitat work?
The broader purpose is to support future conservation decisions, including evaluating whether it is realistic to establish or reintroduce either species into locations where they are currently absent, including newly created or restored habitat.
What kind of monitoring plan is expected?
The announcement calls for a repeatable, cost-effective monitoring plan that can be implemented year after year, and that is consistent enough over time to support analyses such as trend detection where feasible.
Are applicants limited to a single survey method?
No. Applicants may propose essentially any appropriate survey approach, including visual encounter surveys, tape playback (call) surveys, larval funnel trapping, environmental DNA (eDNA) sampling, or a combination of methods.
How are the first years of the project expected to be used?
The first one to two years are expected to serve as a testing and evaluation phase where methods are piloted, compared, and refined to determine what works best for reliably detecting each species without excessive cost.
Does the announcement expect monitoring effort to change after the pilot phase?
Yes. Once an effective protocol is established, the expectation is that annual monitoring effort can drop substantially compared with the heavier effort used in earlier monitoring years (referenced as 2011 to 2013).
What should a proposal explain about sampling effort and long-term monitoring?
The proposal is expected to clearly explain why the proposed sampling effort makes sense, how pilot data will be used to set long-term monitoring objectives, and how the final monitoring design could detect biologically meaningful trends if feasible, including how often and how intensively surveys should be conducted.
What logistical details should the monitoring plan include?
The monitoring plan is expected to go beyond general descriptions and spell out how fieldwork will be executed, including details such as number of surveyors, site access, repeat-visit scheduling, and how methods will remain consistent over time to support trend analysis.
Will the monitoring plan be finalized by the applicant alone?
No. The selected applicant is expected to coordinate closely with Reclamation staff after award to finalize the monitoring plan, so proposals should anticipate an iterative planning process rather than a fully fixed approach chosen upfront.
Beyond monitoring, what other study component is required?
The grant also calls for an ecology and habitat requirements study for both species that is intended to be ecologically meaningful and statistically defensible.
What is the minimum sampling requirement for the habitat/ecology study?
To avoid drawing conclusions from a single site or watershed, the minimum requirement is sampling at least three distinct populations of each species, spread across at least two different river systems per species.
Who decides which populations and river systems are studied?
The applicant proposes the populations and river systems, but final site selections must be confirmed with Reclamation personnel before fieldwork begins.
What habitat information is the study expected to focus on?
Habitat data collection is expected to focus especially on confirmed breeding habitat, ideally identifying egg mass laying locations when possible, since breeding conditions often determine whether a site can support a stable population.
What types of habitat variables should proposals consider?
The announcement suggests considering variables that may influence occupancy or habitat use, such as physical site conditions, hydrology, vegetation structure, water quality indicators, predator presence, connectivity, or other relevant factors.
What is expected regarding statistical analysis and sample size?
Proposals should describe the statistical framework used to summarize or model habitat relationships and demonstrate an understanding of how to estimate sample sizes needed for a defensible habitat description or model, rather than collecting ad hoc measurements that cannot support strong inference.
Where is the geographic focus of this project?
The geographic focus is the Lower Colorado River MSCP Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) area, specifically from Reach 3 south to Reach 7 of the LCR MSCP HCP.
Are there additional study areas beyond the mainstem Lower Colorado River?
Yes. Study areas include the Bill Williams River (from its confluence with the LCR east to roughly Planet Ranch) and other Arizona river systems where either species is known to occur.
How should locations be chosen according to the announcement?
Locations are expected to be chosen to resemble either historic conditions on the mainstem LCR or conditions on the Bill Williams River where one or both species have already been documented.
Is any specific prior study location required to be included?
Yes. The announcement explicitly states that the area examined during the previous project just east of Planet Ranch should be included as one of the study locations to maintain continuity and enable comparisons over time.
When is the draft detailed study design due after award?
A draft detailed study design, developed with input from Reclamation personnel, is due 30 days after the agreement is awarded.
When is the final study design due relative to fieldwork?
The final study design is due 15 days before fieldwork begins.
What should the study design document cover?
The study design is expected to cover both the monitoring protocol development and the habitat/ecology study approach, including proposed sites, sampling frequency, methods, and analysis plans.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON) for this announcement?
The Funding Opportunity Number provided is R14SF30002.
How many awards were anticipated under this opportunity?
The opportunity anticipated up to 10 awards.
What was the total estimated funding amount?
The total estimated funding was $600,000.
What was the expected award size range?
Individual awards were expected to range from $200,000 (floor) to $600,000 (ceiling).
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. The announcement states there is no cost sharing or matching requirement.
When was the opportunity posted and when did it close?
It was posted in late September 2013 and had a closing date of November 1, 2013.
What activity category is associated with this grant?
The announcement lists the activity category as natural resources.
Who is eligible to apply based on the information provided?
The announcement lists "Others" broadly as eligible applicants, but directs applicants to the full funding opportunity announcement for detailed eligibility requirements and any additional eligibility language.
Does the announcement require coordination with Reclamation during planning?
Yes. The deliverables and timeline are structured so Reclamation can review and shape the study design early, and proposals should assume coordination with Reclamation personnel in developing and finalizing the detailed study design.
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