Opportunity Information: Apply for FWS R5 MB 13 005
Apply for FWS R5 MB 13 005
- The Fish and Wildlife Service in the environment sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Notice of Intent to Award" 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 Jul 15, 2013 and posted on Jul 15, 2013.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 22, 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 $170,000.00 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:
This Notice of Intent to Award describes the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's plan to issue a single discretionary grant to the West Virginia University Research Corporation (WVU) to support research on how natural gas development affects forest songbirds in the Marcellus shale region. Unlike many federal funding opportunities, there is no separate full announcement tied to this posting because it is specifically signaling the agency's intent to fund a particular recipient for a defined scope of work.
The main purpose of the project is to measure and explain how the physical characteristics of gas well infrastructure, especially the size, shape, age, and placement of well pads and pipelines, influence the abundance and diversity of forest songbirds. The research is designed to do more than just document whether impacts occur; it aims to identify practical thresholds in habitat and landscape conditions beyond which negative effects on birds become more likely. A key focus is on "edge effects," meaning how far ecological changes associated with a well pad extend outward into adjacent forest, potentially reducing habitat quality for forest-interior species.
The results are intended to translate directly into on-the-ground guidance for industry and land managers. Specifically, the findings will be used to develop management recommendations about well pad design and siting (shape, footprint, and location in the landscape) that can reduce harm to forest interior birds. The work will also inform how pipeline corridors should be restored after construction, with the goal of improving habitat conditions for early successional bird species that use young forest and shrub habitats, while still considering broader conservation needs.
The agency states that WVU is uniquely qualified under applicable policy (referenced as 505DM2) because of its long-standing expertise and track record in the Appalachian region. WVU has spent roughly 15 years conducting research on bird responses to forest management and energy development, including coal mining and natural gas drilling, often in collaboration with other scientists. The notice highlights WVU's recent work studying gas well development impacts in Wetzel County, West Virginia, and emphasizes that the Service is not aware of another organization that combines comparable qualifications, regional experience, readiness to execute across the Marcellus region, and cost effectiveness.
The specific work WVU is expected to carry out includes several major steps. First, WVU will classify landscapes across the Marcellus shale region based on whether they have high or low levels of gas well development. Next, the team will develop a stratified survey design so that study sites are selected in a structured way across both high- and low-development areas. WVU will then establish sampling points within each site and conduct standardized bird surveys using 10-minute point counts, along with habitat measurements at each point to capture local vegetation and site characteristics. After fieldwork, WVU will perform statistical analyses to model relationships between bird abundance and diversity and a range of landscape metrics and habitat variables, linking what birds are doing to how development is configured on the ground.
An additional goal is to use this finer-scale field research to validate models previously developed using coarser-scale data in Pennsylvania. In other words, the project is partly about checking whether broader regional modeling approaches hold up when tested with detailed site-level bird and habitat data, which can strengthen confidence in predictive tools used for planning and mitigation.
From an administrative standpoint, this is a discretionary grant opportunity in the environmental funding category, tied to CFDA (now commonly referred to as Assistance Listing) 15.655, Migratory Bird Monitoring, Assessment and Conservation. The posting anticipates one award only, with a fixed award amount: an award floor and ceiling of $170,000, indicating the planned grant total is $170,000. There is no cost sharing or matching requirement. The eligible applicant type listed is public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, consistent with WVU's status and the intent to award to WVU's research corporation. The opportunity was posted on July 15, 2013, with an original and current closing date of July 22, 2013, and it was archived on July 23, 2013.
For questions or issues accessing materials, the listed contact is Christal Cutler, Grants Officer, at 413-253-8233, noted as the point of contact for electronic errors.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is this grant posting?
This posting is a Notice of Intent to Award from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service describing the agency's plan to issue a single discretionary grant for a defined research project.
Is this a competitive funding opportunity with an open application process?
No. Based on the information provided, this notice is specifically signaling the agency's intent to fund a particular recipient for a defined scope of work, and there is no separate full announcement tied to this posting.
Who is the intended recipient of the grant?
The intended recipient is the West Virginia University Research Corporation (WVU).
Why is the award intended for WVU?
The agency states WVU is uniquely qualified under applicable policy (referenced as 505DM2) due to long-standing expertise and a track record in the Appalachian region. The notice cites roughly 15 years of experience studying bird responses to forest management and energy development (including coal mining and natural gas drilling), recent work in Wetzel County, West Virginia, and the Service's view that no other organization offers comparable qualifications, regional experience, readiness to execute across the Marcellus region, and cost effectiveness.
What is the main purpose of the project?
The main purpose is to measure and explain how natural gas development affects forest songbirds in the Marcellus shale region, with emphasis on how physical characteristics of gas well infrastructure influence bird abundance and diversity.
What aspects of gas development infrastructure will be studied?
The research focuses on characteristics of well infrastructure, especially the size, shape, age, and placement of well pads and pipelines, and how those features relate to forest songbird abundance and diversity.
What are "edge effects" in the context of this project?
In this project, "edge effects" refers to how far ecological changes associated with a well pad extend outward into adjacent forest, potentially reducing habitat quality for forest-interior bird species.
Is the project only documenting whether impacts occur?
No. The project is designed to go beyond documenting impacts by identifying practical thresholds in habitat and landscape conditions beyond which negative effects on birds become more likely.
What kinds of outputs or outcomes are expected from the research?
The results are intended to translate into on-the-ground guidance for industry and land managers, including management recommendations for well pad design and siting and guidance on restoring pipeline corridors after construction.
How will the findings be used for well pad planning?
The findings will be used to develop management recommendations about well pad design and siting, including considerations such as shape, footprint, and location in the landscape, to reduce harm to forest-interior birds.
How will the project address pipeline corridors?
The work will inform how pipeline corridors should be restored after construction, with the goal of improving habitat conditions for early successional bird species that use young forest and shrub habitats, while still considering broader conservation needs.
What geographic area does the research cover?
The research is focused on the Marcellus shale region. The notice also references WVU's recent work in Wetzel County, West Virginia, and plans to execute across the Marcellus region.
What are the major steps in the work plan described?
The notice describes several steps: (1) classify landscapes across the Marcellus shale region based on high or low levels of gas well development; (2) develop a stratified survey design to select study sites across both development categories; (3) establish sampling points within each site; (4) conduct standardized bird surveys using 10-minute point counts; (5) collect habitat measurements at each point; and (6) perform statistical analyses relating bird abundance and diversity to landscape metrics and habitat variables.
What bird survey method is specified?
The posting specifies standardized bird surveys using 10-minute point counts.
What other data will be collected alongside bird surveys?
Habitat measurements will be collected at each sampling point to capture local vegetation and site characteristics.
What type of analysis will be performed?
WVU will perform statistical analyses to model relationships between bird abundance and diversity and a range of landscape metrics and habitat variables, linking bird responses to how development is configured on the ground.
Does the project involve validating prior models?
Yes. An additional goal is to use finer-scale field research to validate models previously developed using coarser-scale data in Pennsylvania, testing whether broader regional modeling approaches hold up when evaluated with detailed site-level bird and habitat data.
What funding program or Assistance Listing is this associated with?
This opportunity is tied to CFDA (now commonly referred to as an Assistance Listing) 15.655, Migratory Bird Monitoring, Assessment and Conservation.
What type of grant is this?
It is described as a single discretionary grant opportunity in the environmental funding category.
How many awards does the agency anticipate making?
The posting anticipates one award only.
What is the expected award amount?
The award floor and ceiling are both listed as $170,000, indicating a fixed total planned grant amount of $170,000.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. The posting states there is no cost sharing or matching requirement.
Which applicant types are listed as eligible?
The eligible applicant type listed is public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, which aligns with WVU's status and the intent to award to WVU's research corporation.
When was the opportunity posted and when did it close?
It was posted on July 15, 2013. The original and current closing date is July 22, 2013. It was archived on July 23, 2013.
Who is the point of contact listed for questions or access issues?
The listed contact is Christal Cutler, Grants Officer, at 413-253-8233, noted as the point of contact for electronic errors.
Is there a separate full funding announcement associated with this notice?
No. The notice states there is no separate full announcement tied to this posting because it is specifically signaling intent to fund a particular recipient for a defined scope of work.
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