Natal Origins of Rainbow Trout in Marble Canyon/LCR Confluence Area | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the official title of this grant opportunity?

The opportunity is titled "Natal Origins of Rainbow Trout in Marble Canyon/LCR Confluence Area".

What is the Funding Opportunity Number?

The Funding Opportunity Number is G11AS20008.

Which federal agency is offering this opportunity?

The opportunity was issued by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), which is part of the U.S. Department of the Interior.

Is this a formula grant or a discretionary funding opportunity?

This is a discretionary funding opportunity, meaning proposals are competitively reviewed and selected at the agency's discretion rather than awarded by a predetermined formula.

What type of award is expected (grant, contract, or cooperative agreement)?

The opportunity is structured as a cooperative agreement.

What does it mean that the award is a cooperative agreement?

Based on the listing, a cooperative agreement indicates the awardee would be expected to coordinate closely with USGS scientists or program staff during the project period, rather than operating fully independently after receiving funds.

What is the general subject area or category of this opportunity?

The opportunity falls under Science and Technology and other Research and Development.

What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?

The listing associates the opportunity with CFDA 15.808, described as USGS Research and Data Collection.

What is the research topic or focus suggested by the title?

From the title, the project focuses on determining the natal origins (where fish were born or reared) of rainbow trout found in Marble Canyon and near the Little Colorado River (LCR) confluence area.

What does "natal origins" mean in this context?

In the context provided, "natal origins" refers to identifying where the rainbow trout in the target area originate. The description notes that fisheries science commonly addresses natal origin questions using approaches such as field sampling and analytical methods that trace fish back to where they were born or reared.

What kinds of methods are commonly used to determine natal origin (as described in the listing context)?

The information provided notes examples often used in fisheries science, including:

• Chemical signatures in otoliths (ear stones)
• Genetic or genomic markers
• Other biological and environmental indicators

Why is the Marble Canyon and Little Colorado River confluence area important?

The provided description characterizes the Marble Canyon and LCR confluence area as a highly significant ecological region, where research is often tied to understanding population dynamics, recruitment, movement, and how fish populations interact with river conditions and management actions.

What kinds of management or decision-support needs could this research inform (based on the description)?

Based on the provided summary, the intent is to generate defensible scientific evidence that USGS can use for resource management or decision support, including clarifying whether trout are produced locally, immigrate from elsewhere, or have mixed origins, and quantifying those contributions for monitoring and management.

How many awards did USGS anticipate making?

USGS anticipated making one award under this announcement.

What was the estimated total funding amount?

The estimated total funding amount was $490,000.

Was an award minimum (floor) or maximum (ceiling) stated?

No. The listing shows Award Floor: $0 and Award Ceiling: $0, which typically indicates the final amount and structure would be defined in the full program announcement or negotiated based on the proposed scope of work.

Is cost sharing or matching required?

No. The listing states there was no cost-sharing or matching requirement.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility was listed as unrestricted, meaning it was open to any type of entity, subject to any additional eligibility clarifications that may have been contained in the full program announcement.

Does "unrestricted" eligibility mean any organization (or individual) can apply?

The listing indicates "unrestricted" eligibility broadly. In general federal grant terms (as noted in the provided description), that can include universities, nonprofits, private organizations, and government entities, and potentially individuals depending on agency terms. Any final boundaries would be specified in the full announcement.

When was the opportunity posted?

The opportunity was posted on June 20, 2011.

What was the original application closing date?

The original closing date was July 14, 2011.

Was the deadline extended?

Yes. The closing date was extended to July 20, 2011.

When was the opportunity archived?

The archive date was August 20, 2011, meaning the listing was no longer active on the public portal after that date.

Where were applicants directed to find the full program announcement and application materials?

The listing referenced Grants.gov as the source for the full program announcement and application materials via the additional information link.

Who can be contacted for help accessing the complete announcement?

The listing directs inquiries to Joyce Stevenson, identified as the contracting officer.

What contact information was provided for the contracting officer?

Phone: 916-278-9344
Email: jstevenson@usgs.gov

Does the listing include specific proposal instructions or required components?

The summary text provided states "See Program Announcement" for details, indicating that specific requirements and instructions were expected to be contained in the full program announcement on Grants.gov.

What does the listing suggest about how the final project scope and budget would be determined?

Because the award floor and ceiling were shown as $0 and the listing points to the full program announcement for details, the final scope and budget were likely to be defined in that full announcement and/or shaped through negotiation consistent with the proposed scope of work.