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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is this funding opportunity?

This is a Notice of Intent for Funding Opportunity Number F12AS00146. It describes a discretionary grant opportunity from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) focused on science and technology and other research and development activities that support migratory bird conservation in the U.S. Prairie Pothole Region (PPR).

What is the main purpose of the grant described in this notice?

The core purpose is to provide financial assistance to continue long-running monitoring in Iowa that supports the Habitat and Population Evaluation Team (HAPET) surveys. The intent is to keep the dataset continuous and comparable over time by maintaining standardized surveys of wetlands and duck use.

What conservation work or monitoring does this grant support?

The proposed project funds field surveys in Iowa that collect data on wetland condition and document duck use. These Iowa data contribute to the broader PPR monitoring dataset that links weather patterns, wetland conditions, and waterfowl use across a consistent, static sample of wetlands.

What program or monitoring effort is being continued?

The grant supports the Habitat and Population Evaluation Team surveys that have been conducted since 1988 in USFWS Regions 3 and 6. These surveys have produced one of the world’s largest and longest continuous datasets connecting weather, wetlands, and waterfowl (especially ducks).

Where will the work take place?

The proposed one-year survey work described in the notice is focused on Iowa, and it contributes Iowa-specific information to the Prairie Pothole Region dataset.

How long is the project expected to run?

The notice describes funding for one year of survey work in Iowa, with the intention that it could continue for as many as five total years if future support is provided.

Why is the Prairie Pothole Region important in this context?

The notice highlights that the PPR is known for strong year-to-year variability in water availability and habitat quality. Standardized monitoring helps track how wetlands and waterfowl respond to changing weather and landscape conditions in this highly variable region.

How will the results be used?

The resulting data and analysis are intended to directly inform habitat management and habitat acquisition decisions across the Prairie Pothole Region. The information is expected to help guide where conservation dollars and actions deliver the greatest payoff for waterfowl and wetland health.

Does the project address National Wildlife Refuges in Iowa?

Yes. A key outcome described is improved understanding of the contribution of the National Wildlife Refuge System in Iowa. By tying survey results to refuge lands and surrounding landscapes, the work helps quantify how refuges and related conservation efforts support ducks and wetland ecosystems within Iowa and within the broader migratory bird conservation framework.

Is this a competitive grant with an open application process?

No. The notice explicitly states this opportunity is not a competitive solicitation and does not have a traditional application process. It functions as a notice that the agency intends to make a single-source award.

Who is expected to receive the award?

The notice states the agency intends to make a single-source award to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.

Can other organizations apply for this funding?

Based on the notice, other potential applicants are effectively not eligible to apply because the agency is not soliciting applications and intends to make a single-source award to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.

Why is the award being made as a single-source award?

The notice cites justification under Departmental policy 505 DM 2.14B(1) and (4), indicating the agency determined a direct award is appropriate under those provisions.

How much funding is available?

The opportunity lists an estimated total funding amount of $40,000.

What are the award ceiling and award floor?

The award ceiling is $40,000 and the award floor is $8,000.

How many awards does the agency expect to make?

The notice indicates the agency expects to make one award.

Is cost sharing or matching required?

No. The notice states that no cost sharing or matching is required.

Is there a closing date or application deadline?

No closing date is provided because the agency is not soliciting applications.

What are the key dates listed for this notice?

The posting date and creation date are both April 25, 2012, and the archive date is May 1, 2012.

What CFDA/program number is associated with this opportunity?

The CFDA number listed is 15.637, Migratory Bird Joint Ventures.

How does the CFDA program relate to the work described?

The notice ties the opportunity to CFDA 15.637 (Migratory Bird Joint Ventures), aligning the monitoring work with broader partnership-based efforts to conserve habitat for migratory birds.

Who is the point of contact for more information?

The listed contact is Rex R. Johnson, PhD, Supervisor of the Habitat and Population Evaluation Team.

How can the contact person be reached?

Rex R. Johnson can be reached by phone at 218-736-0606 or by email at RexJohnson@fws.gov.

What kind of activities does the opportunity emphasize?

The notice emphasizes science and technology and other research and development activities tied to migratory bird conservation, specifically continuing standardized monitoring of wetlands and duck use.

What makes the dataset produced by these surveys notable?

The notice describes it as one of the world’s largest and longest continuous datasets linking weather patterns, wetland conditions, and waterfowl use across a consistent, static sample of wetlands.