Opportunity Information: Apply for FWS R5 ES 10 035
Apply for FWS R5 ES 10 035
- The Fish and Wildlife Service in the environment sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Mussel Population Status Study" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.650 Research Grants (Generic).
- This funding opportunity was created on Mar 12, 2010 and posted on Mar 12, 2010.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Mar 19, 2010. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $30,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $28,200.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Mussel Population Status Study grant opportunity is a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Notice of Intent to make a single cooperative agreement award to Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech) to conduct a basin-wide meta-analysis of existing environmental and water quality data for the Clinch-Powell river system. The central purpose is to combine and analyze historical datasets that have already been collected by multiple natural resource agencies and then test whether measurable environmental conditions line up, in space and time, with known indicators of freshwater mussel population status. In practical terms, the project is meant to move beyond isolated site studies by pulling together long-running monitoring records and asking whether patterns in water quality and related environmental variables help explain where mussel communities are stable versus where they are declining.
The work focuses on the Clinch-Powell basin in Virginia and Tennessee, including reaches upstream of Norris Lake, Tennessee, an area recognized for native mussel diversity but also for stressors linked to land and water use. The study will rely heavily on historical water quality data held by the Virginia Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy (DMME) and the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (VDEQ), looking for trends and correlations that may correspond with documented mussel status indicators (such as abundance trends and other biological signals of population condition). The underlying assumption is that if the analysis detects consistent relationships, those results can provide an initial, evidence-based picture of which factors are most associated with mussel community decline, including influences commonly tied to mining, agriculture, and urbanization.
A major deliverable is communication of findings to the agencies and stakeholders working in the basin, particularly the Clinch Powell Clean Rivers Initiative (CPCRI). CPCRI is described as a multi-partner consortium that includes government agencies, nonprofit conservation groups, university scientists, and private industry partners working across Virginia and Tennessee to restore and maintain balanced aquatic communities, including native mussels, in the Clinch and Powell rivers above Norris Lake. The intent is for the meta-analysis results to be usable in ongoing conservation planning and coordination, rather than remaining purely academic.
This opportunity is notable because it is framed as a single-source cooperative agreement rather than a competitive grant. USFWS states that Virginia Tech is uniquely qualified to perform the work in a cost-effective way due to its proximity to the affected rivers and its specialized expertise. The announcement highlights faculty strengths in areas directly relevant to the task, including statistical analysis of time-series data, mussel biology and ecotoxicology, understanding of environmental impacts on aquatic fauna, and familiarity with mussel abundance trends from 1979 to 2009 in each river. It also emphasizes that Virginia Tech already has established working relationships with the relevant state and federal partners (including DMME, VDEQ, Tennessee Department of Environmental Quality, the Office of Surface Mining, the U.S. Geological Survey, and USFWS), which is presented as important for obtaining data quickly and ensuring smooth coordination.
Because the award is a cooperative agreement, USFWS anticipates substantial federal involvement throughout the project. USFWS will collaborate with the recipient to ensure the analysis aligns with the approved scope of work, participate in relevant meetings and conservation planning efforts, and review and comment on interim and final reports. The single-source approach is justified under Department of the Interior policy (cited in the announcement) that allows noncompetitive awards when an applicant is uniquely qualified based on technical expertise.
From an administrative standpoint, the opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number FWS R5 ES 10 035) was posted March 12, 2010, with a closing date of March 19, 2010, and it is archived as of March 20, 2010. It falls under CFDA 15.650 (Research Grants, Generic), is categorized as an environmental activity, and anticipates one award. The total estimated funding is $30,000, with an award amount set at $28,200 (both ceiling and floor), and there is no cost sharing or matching requirement. Eligibility is listed for public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, though the notice explicitly indicates intent to award directly to Virginia Tech due to unique qualifications and the cooperative nature of the work.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Mussel Population Status Study
What is the Mussel Population Status Study grant opportunity?
The Mussel Population Status Study is a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Notice of Intent to make a single cooperative agreement award to support a basin-wide meta-analysis of existing environmental and water quality data for the Clinch-Powell river system.
What is the main goal of the project?
The central purpose is to combine and analyze historical datasets collected by multiple natural resource agencies and test whether measurable environmental conditions align, in space and time, with known indicators of freshwater mussel population status (such as abundance trends and other biological signals of population condition).
What does "meta-analysis" mean in the context of this project?
In this project, meta-analysis refers to pulling together long-running monitoring records from multiple sources and analyzing them as a combined body of evidence, rather than relying on isolated site studies. The aim is to look for basin-wide patterns and relationships between environmental conditions and mussel population status indicators.
Where will the study take place?
The work focuses on the Clinch-Powell basin in Virginia and Tennessee, including river reaches upstream of Norris Lake, Tennessee.
Why is the Clinch-Powell basin a focus area?
The area is recognized for native mussel diversity, but it is also associated with stressors linked to land and water use. The project is designed to help clarify which environmental factors may be most associated with mussel community stability versus decline.
What types of data will be analyzed?
The project will rely heavily on historical water quality and related environmental data, including datasets held by the Virginia Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy (DMME) and the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (VDEQ). The analysis will look for trends and correlations that may correspond with documented mussel status indicators.
What mussel-related indicators will be used for comparison?
The notice describes using known indicators of freshwater mussel population status, including abundance trends and other biological signals of population condition. It also notes familiarity with mussel abundance trends from 1979 to 2009 in each river as part of the expertise highlighted for the selected recipient.
What kinds of environmental stressors might be examined?
The opportunity notes that if consistent relationships are detected, results could help identify factors associated with mussel community decline, including influences commonly tied to mining, agriculture, and urbanization.
Is this a competitive grant opportunity?
No. This opportunity is framed as a single-source cooperative agreement rather than a competitive grant. USFWS states an intent to make a single award to Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech) based on unique qualifications.
Who is the intended recipient of the award?
USFWS indicates the award is intended for Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech).
Why does USFWS consider Virginia Tech uniquely qualified?
The notice cites Virginia Tech's proximity to the affected rivers and specialized expertise as reasons the work can be performed in a cost-effective way. It highlights faculty strengths in statistical analysis of time-series data, mussel biology and ecotoxicology, understanding environmental impacts on aquatic fauna, and familiarity with mussel abundance trends from 1979 to 2009. It also emphasizes established working relationships with relevant partners to obtain data quickly and coordinate smoothly.
What is a cooperative agreement, and how is it different from a typical grant in this notice?
The opportunity specifies a cooperative agreement and notes that USFWS anticipates substantial federal involvement throughout the project. In practical terms, USFWS will collaborate with the recipient to ensure the analysis aligns with the approved scope of work, participate in relevant meetings and conservation planning efforts, and review and comment on interim and final reports.
What role will USFWS play during the project?
USFWS expects to collaborate with the recipient throughout the project, including aligning work with the approved scope, participating in relevant meetings and conservation planning, and reviewing and commenting on interim and final reports.
What is the key deliverable mentioned in the opportunity?
A major deliverable is communicating the findings to agencies and stakeholders working in the basin, particularly the Clinch Powell Clean Rivers Initiative (CPCRI), so the results can be used in ongoing conservation planning and coordination.
Who or what is the Clinch Powell Clean Rivers Initiative (CPCRI)?
CPCRI is described as a multi-partner consortium that includes government agencies, nonprofit conservation groups, university scientists, and private industry partners working across Virginia and Tennessee to restore and maintain balanced aquatic communities, including native mussels, in the Clinch and Powell rivers above Norris Lake.
How are the results intended to be used?
The intent is for the meta-analysis results to be usable in ongoing conservation planning and coordination by agencies and stakeholders in the Clinch-Powell basin, rather than remaining purely academic.
Which agencies are mentioned as relevant data holders or partners?
The notice mentions historical water quality data held by DMME and VDEQ. It also notes existing working relationships with the Tennessee Department of Environmental Quality, the Office of Surface Mining, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), and USFWS.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this notice?
The Funding Opportunity Number is FWS R5 ES 10 035.
What is the CFDA number and program listing?
The notice is listed under CFDA 15.650 (Research Grants, Generic).
What category of activity does this opportunity fall under?
It is categorized as an environmental activity.
How many awards are anticipated?
USFWS anticipates making one award.
How much funding is available?
The total estimated funding is $30,000. The award amount is set at $28,200, serving as both the ceiling and the floor.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. The notice states there is no cost sharing or matching requirement.
Who is eligible to apply, based on the eligibility listing?
Eligibility is listed for public and state-controlled institutions of higher education. However, the notice explicitly indicates intent to award directly to Virginia Tech due to unique qualifications and the cooperative nature of the work.
When was the opportunity posted, and what were the key dates?
The opportunity was posted on March 12, 2010, with a closing date of March 19, 2010. It is archived as of March 20, 2010.
Why is the award being made noncompetitively?
The notice justifies the single-source approach under Department of the Interior policy that allows noncompetitive awards when an applicant is uniquely qualified based on technical expertise.
What geographic scope is specifically mentioned within the basin?
The scope includes portions of the Clinch and Powell rivers in Virginia and Tennessee, specifically including reaches upstream of Norris Lake, Tennessee.
What is the practical problem the project is trying to solve?
The project aims to move beyond isolated site studies by integrating long-term monitoring data and evaluating whether water quality and related environmental patterns help explain where mussel communities are stable versus where they are declining.
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