Opportunity Information: Apply for FWS R5 MB 13 007
Apply for FWS R5 MB 13 007
- The Fish and Wildlife Service in the environment sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Notice of Intent Satellite Tracking Research" 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 Sep 5, 2013 and posted on Sep 5, 2013.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Sep 10, 2013. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $78,708.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education.
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Opportunity Summary:
This opportunity is a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) Notice of Intent to award a single grant agreement to the Biodiversity Research Institute (BRI) for satellite tracking research focused on common eiders in the Northeast. It is not an open, fully competed funding announcement in the usual sense; instead, it signals FWSs plan to make a direct award to BRI because of the organizations specialized capacity and readiness to carry out the work. The project sits within the Migratory Bird Monitoring, Assessment and Conservation program (CFDA 15.655) and is categorized under environmental activities, with one expected award.
The research is driven by repeated, sometimes large-scale common eider die-offs documented along the Cape Cod, Massachusetts coastline. From 1998 through 2012, twelve recognized mortality events occurred, ranging from tens of birds to as many as roughly 2,800 in a single event, with cumulative losses estimated at more than 6,000 birds. A notable concern is that many affected eiders were found dead without obvious warning signs beforehand. Postmortem work conducted on carcasses submitted to the Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study between 2009 and 2011 found consistent patterns of severe illness, including emaciation and organ damage. In 2010, investigators isolated a previously unrecognized orthomyxovirus, tentatively named Wellfleet Bay virus (WFBV), from tissues of several eiders. Early genetic comparisons suggested it is closely related to viruses in the proposed Quaranfilvirus genus (including Quaranfil, Johnston Atoll, and Lake Chad viruses). As described in the notice, common eiders are the only species currently known to be infected with WFBV, raising urgent questions about how the virus persists, how it spreads, and what it could mean for eider population health over the long term.
The central goal of the grant is to improve understanding of the ecology of WFBV by clarifying where common eiders move throughout the year and how different seasonal groups may connect. By pairing satellite telemetry with biological sampling, the project aims to map fine-scale movements during migration, breeding, wintering, and molting periods across waters of the mid-Atlantic United States and Canada. Those movement and connectivity data are intended to help identify possible mechanisms of disease transmission, such as shared staging areas, wintering aggregations, or other geographic overlap that could facilitate spread among birds from different breeding or wintering populations. The work is also framed as a cooperative effort supporting broader coordination among state and federal agencies, universities, and conservation partners dealing with emerging wildlife diseases and migratory bird conservation in the Northeast.
BRI is tasked with hands-on field capture and tagging work in 2013 and 2014, specifically in the Boston Harbor Islands area of Cape Cod Bay, Massachusetts. Field activities include capturing common eiders, collecting blood (serum) samples from each captured bird, and banding and implanting platform terminal transmitter (PTT) satellite tags in a targeted number of male eiders. The notice specifies implanting 5 to 8 males in 2013 and again 5 to 8 males in 2014, using PTTs provided by the Service. In addition to the capture and deployment work, BRI is responsible for managing the tracking service accounts, receiving transmitted locations, compiling and mapping the data, and delivering all location information to FWS staff. BRI is also expected to contribute to annual reporting that summarizes results and continues until all transmitters deployed under the project have stopped functioning.
FWS justifies the planned sole-source nature of the award by stating that BRI is uniquely qualified, with the specialized personnel, equipment, and logistical capacity needed to operate across the study area. The notice highlights BRI's long track record in seabird research, including common eiders, as well as practical assets like boats, trailers, vehicles, and trapping gear. FWS also notes it is not aware of another organization with an equivalent combination of expertise and immediate readiness to execute the proposed work at the required standard.
On the administrative side, the funding opportunity is listed as FWS-R5-MB-13-007, posted September 5, 2013, with a very short window and a closing date of September 10, 2013, and an archive date of September 11, 2013. The total award amount is fixed, with an award ceiling and floor both listed as $78,708, and there is no cost-sharing or matching requirement. Eligible applicant types are described broadly as nonprofit organizations (both with and without 501(c)(3) status), but the notice makes clear the intended recipient is BRI under this planned grant agreement rather than a competitive selection process. For access or technical issues related to the announcement, the listed grants officer contact is Christal Cutler at 413-253-8233.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1) What is this funding opportunity?
This is a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) Notice of Intent to make a single grant award to the Biodiversity Research Institute (BRI) for satellite tracking research on common eiders in the Northeast.
2) Is this an open, competitive grant opportunity?
No. The notice explains that it is not a fully competed funding announcement. It communicates FWS's plan to make a direct (sole-source) award to BRI because of BRI's specialized qualifications and readiness to perform the work.
3) Who is the intended recipient of the award?
The intended recipient is the Biodiversity Research Institute (BRI).
4) Why is FWS planning a sole-source award to BRI?
FWS states that BRI is uniquely qualified to do the work and has the specialized personnel, equipment, and logistical capacity to operate across the study area. The notice also cites BRI's track record in seabird research (including common eiders) and practical assets such as boats, trailers, vehicles, and trapping gear. FWS indicates it is not aware of another organization with an equivalent combination of expertise and immediate readiness.
5) What program is this project under?
The project is within the Migratory Bird Monitoring, Assessment and Conservation program (CFDA 15.655) and is categorized under environmental activities.
6) How many awards does FWS expect to make?
One award is expected.
7) What species is the project focused on?
The project focuses on common eiders in the Northeast.
8) What problem or need is driving this research?
The research is driven by repeated, sometimes large-scale common eider die-offs documented along the Cape Cod, Massachusetts coastline. From 1998 through 2012, twelve recognized mortality events occurred, ranging from tens of birds to about 2,800 in a single event, with cumulative losses estimated at more than 6,000 birds.
9) What has been observed about the mortality events?
The notice highlights that many affected eiders were found dead without obvious warning signs beforehand.
10) What did postmortem investigations find?
Postmortem work on carcasses submitted to the Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study (between 2009 and 2011) found consistent patterns of severe illness, including emaciation and organ damage.
11) What is Wellfleet Bay virus (WFBV), as described in the notice?
In 2010, investigators isolated a previously unrecognized orthomyxovirus from tissues of several eiders and tentatively named it Wellfleet Bay virus (WFBV).
12) How is WFBV related to other viruses, according to the notice?
Early genetic comparisons suggested WFBV is closely related to viruses in the proposed Quaranfilvirus genus, including Quaranfil, Johnston Atoll, and Lake Chad viruses.
13) Which species are currently known to be infected with WFBV?
As described in the notice, common eiders are the only species currently known to be infected with WFBV.
14) What are the main questions this project is trying to answer?
The notice frames urgent questions about how the virus persists, how it spreads, and what it could mean for common eider population health over the long term.
15) What is the central goal of the grant?
The central goal is to improve understanding of the ecology of WFBV by clarifying where common eiders move throughout the year and how different seasonal groups may connect.
16) How will the project approach that goal?
The project pairs satellite telemetry with biological sampling to map fine-scale movements during migration, breeding, wintering, and molting across waters of the mid-Atlantic United States and Canada.
17) What kinds of movement patterns is the project trying to identify?
The notice indicates the data will be used to understand connectivity among seasonal groups and to identify potential mechanisms of disease transmission, such as shared staging areas, wintering aggregations, or other geographic overlap that could facilitate spread among birds from different breeding or wintering populations.
18) Where will field capture and tagging occur?
BRI is tasked with field capture and tagging in 2013 and 2014 in the Boston Harbor Islands area of Cape Cod Bay, Massachusetts.
19) What field activities are included in the project?
Field activities include capturing common eiders, collecting blood (serum) samples from each captured bird, banding birds, and implanting platform terminal transmitter (PTT) satellite tags in a targeted number of male eiders.
20) How many birds will receive implanted PTT satellite tags?
The notice specifies implanting 5 to 8 male eiders in 2013 and again 5 to 8 male eiders in 2014.
21) Who will provide the satellite transmitters?
The notice states that the PTTs will be provided by the Service.
22) What responsibilities does BRI have beyond capture and tagging?
BRI is responsible for managing the tracking service accounts, receiving transmitted locations, compiling and mapping the data, and delivering all location information to FWS staff. BRI is also expected to contribute to annual reporting that summarizes results and continues until all transmitters deployed under the project have stopped functioning.
23) What is the project timeframe mentioned for field work?
The notice describes hands-on field capture and tagging work occurring in 2013 and 2014.
24) How long does reporting continue?
Annual reporting is expected to continue until all transmitters deployed under the project have stopped functioning.
25) What is the opportunity number?
The funding opportunity is listed as FWS-R5-MB-13-007.
26) When was the opportunity posted and when did it close?
It was posted on September 5, 2013, with a closing date of September 10, 2013. The archive date is September 11, 2013.
27) What is the funding amount for this award?
The total award amount is fixed, with both the award ceiling and award floor listed as $78,708.
28) Is cost-sharing or matching required?
No. The notice states there is no cost-sharing or matching requirement.
29) Who is listed as eligible to apply?
Eligible applicant types are described broadly as nonprofit organizations (both with and without 501(c)(3) status). However, the notice also makes clear the intended recipient is BRI under a planned grant agreement rather than through a competitive selection process.
30) What is the broader coordination context for this project?
The notice frames the work as a cooperative effort that supports broader coordination among state and federal agencies, universities, and conservation partners addressing emerging wildlife diseases and migratory bird conservation in the Northeast.
31) Who should be contacted for access or technical issues related to the announcement?
The listed grants officer contact for access or technical issues is Christal Cutler at 413-253-8233.
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