Opportunity Information: Apply for F16AS00216
Apply for F16AS00216
- The DOI-FWS in the environment sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Sample and characterize benthic macroinvertebrate and aquatic vegetation communities" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.662.
- This funding opportunity was created on May 09, 2016 and posted on May 09, 2016.
- Applicants must submit their applications by May 16, 2016. (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 $46,451.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal:
Opportunity Summary:
This grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number F16AS00216) is a U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (DOI-FWS) discretionary funding notice focused on environmental monitoring in the St. Louis River Estuary, specifically within the St. Louis River Area of Concern (AOC). The core work is to sample and characterize two key biological communities in wetland complexes located southwest of the Munger Landing boat landing: benthic macroinvertebrates (bottom-dwelling organisms like insect larvae, worms, and mollusks that are commonly used as indicators of aquatic ecosystem health) and aquatic vegetation (plant communities that reflect water quality, habitat structure, and ecological condition). The project also requires comparing the collected data to appropriate reference locations within the St. Louis River AOC so results can be interpreted against sites representing expected or less-impacted conditions.
A major emphasis of the project is consistency and comparability of data across multiple ongoing AOC efforts. The notice explains that this work is being coordinated with other projects in the estuary tied to AOC assessment and restoration, and that the resulting biological information is needed as part of broader AOC evaluation and delisting needs. In AOC programs, “delisting” generally refers to demonstrating that identified impairments have been sufficiently addressed; to support that, monitoring endpoints must be collected and analyzed in a consistent way across sites and projects. This opportunity is framed as one piece of that larger coordinated monitoring picture, aimed at generating standardized biological condition information in targeted wetlands and ensuring the findings align with other AOC datasets.
The funding mechanism is a Cooperative Agreement rather than a standard grant, signaling substantial federal involvement during the project. In practical terms, the Fish and Wildlife Service expects to actively participate in planning and coordination rather than simply providing funds and receiving a final report. The notice specifically calls out the Service’s role in working and coordinating with project partners to determine the number and locations of sampling sites, and then coordinating again to evaluate and interpret the resulting data in the context of other St. Louis River AOC information. This suggests the project will require collaborative field planning, alignment with existing monitoring designs, and joint interpretation so the outputs fit into the AOC-wide assessment framework.
The opportunity is explicitly described as a single-source intent to award to the Natural Resources Research Institute (NRRI) at the University of Minnesota Duluth, justified under 505 DM 2.14B(4). The stated rationale is that open competition is not practical because NRRI is already involved in collecting and characterizing the specific endpoints needed for this work and is considered uniquely qualified to ensure consistency across AOC projects. In other words, the government is indicating that continuity in methods, expertise, and data integration is important enough that bringing in a different entity could risk mismatched approaches or reduced comparability, which would undermine the AOC-wide objectives.
Key administrative details include an expected single award with an award ceiling of $46,451. The opportunity was created and posted on May 9, 2016, with a closing date of May 16, 2016. The CFDA number listed is 15.662, and the eligible applicants field is broadly labeled “Others,” with the practical intent, per the notice, being the planned non-competitive award to NRRI. Overall, the opportunity is best understood as a targeted, coordinated monitoring project designed to generate defensible biological condition data in specific St. Louis River Estuary wetlands and to integrate those results with reference comparisons and the larger AOC dataset used to track recovery and support delisting decisions.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the funding opportunity number for this notice?
The Funding Opportunity Number is F16AS00216.
Which federal agency is offering this funding?
This is a U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (DOI-FWS) discretionary funding notice.
What is the main purpose of this funding opportunity?
The purpose is to support environmental monitoring in the St. Louis River Estuary, focused on sampling and characterizing biological communities in wetlands within the St. Louis River Area of Concern (AOC), and comparing results to appropriate reference locations within the AOC.
What geographic area does the project focus on?
The work targets wetland complexes located southwest of the Munger Landing boat landing within the St. Louis River Estuary, specifically within the St. Louis River Area of Concern (AOC).
What biological communities must be sampled and characterized?
The project focuses on two biological communities: benthic macroinvertebrates and aquatic vegetation.
What are benthic macroinvertebrates in the context of this project?
Benthic macroinvertebrates are bottom-dwelling organisms (such as insect larvae, worms, and mollusks) commonly used as indicators of aquatic ecosystem health.
What does “aquatic vegetation” refer to for this project?
Aquatic vegetation refers to plant communities that can reflect water quality, habitat structure, and overall ecological condition.
Is the project limited to collecting samples, or does it also include data interpretation?
It includes both collecting/characterizing the biological data and comparing the collected data to reference locations within the St. Louis River AOC so the findings can be interpreted against expected or less-impacted conditions.
What are “reference locations,” and why are they required?
Reference locations are sites within the St. Louis River AOC that represent expected or less-impacted conditions. Comparing target wetland results to these references helps interpret biological condition in a meaningful way.
Why does the notice emphasize consistency and comparability of data?
The notice states that the work is coordinated with other AOC assessment and restoration projects, and the biological information is needed for broader AOC evaluation and delisting needs. Consistent methods and comparable data across sites and projects are necessary so results can be integrated into the AOC-wide assessment framework.
How does this project relate to AOC “delisting” needs?
In AOC programs, delisting generally means demonstrating that identified impairments have been sufficiently addressed. The notice frames this monitoring as part of the standardized endpoints needed to support that broader evaluation and delisting process.
What type of funding instrument is being used?
The funding mechanism is a Cooperative Agreement rather than a standard grant.
What does it mean that this award is a Cooperative Agreement?
It signals substantial federal involvement. The Fish and Wildlife Service expects to actively participate in planning and coordination, not only provide funding and receive a final report.
How will the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service be involved during the project?
The notice specifies that the Service will work and coordinate with project partners to determine the number and locations of sampling sites, and will coordinate again to evaluate and interpret the resulting data in the context of other St. Louis River AOC information.
Will sampling site selection be decided solely by the recipient?
No. The notice indicates the Fish and Wildlife Service will coordinate with partners to determine the number and locations of sampling sites.
Is this opportunity competitive?
No. It is described as a single-source intent to award.
Who is the intended recipient for the single-source award?
The notice indicates an intent to award to the Natural Resources Research Institute (NRRI) at the University of Minnesota Duluth.
What is the justification given for a single-source (non-competitive) award?
The notice states open competition is not practical because NRRI is already involved in collecting and characterizing the specific endpoints needed and is considered uniquely qualified to ensure consistency across AOC projects. The justification is cited under 505 DM 2.14B(4).
What is the award ceiling for this opportunity?
The expected award ceiling is $46,451.
How many awards are expected?
The notice describes an expected single award.
When was the opportunity posted?
The opportunity was created and posted on May 9, 2016.
What was the closing date for this opportunity?
The closing date was May 16, 2016.
What CFDA number is associated with this opportunity?
The CFDA number listed is 15.662.
Who is listed as eligible to apply?
The eligible applicants field is labeled “Others,” although the notice also indicates the practical intent is a planned non-competitive award to NRRI.
What is the broader program context for this work?
The notice describes this project as one coordinated piece of a larger St. Louis River AOC monitoring and assessment effort, intended to generate standardized biological condition information and align outputs with other AOC datasets used to track recovery.
What is the overall outcome this monitoring is designed to support?
The monitoring is designed to produce defensible, standardized biological condition data for targeted wetlands and to integrate those results with reference comparisons and the larger AOC dataset used for recovery tracking and delisting-related evaluation.
Browse more opportunities from the same category: Environment
Next opportunity: OJJDP FY 2016 Studies Program on Trauma and Justice-Involved Youth
Previous opportunity: NOTICE OF INTENT TO AWARD: Hire 2016 Youth Crew to Maintain Cultural Landscapes at Fort Necessity National Battlefield
USGrants.org Applicant Portal:
Are you interested in learning about about how to apply for this government funding opportunity? You can create a free applicant account and receive instant access to our applicant portal that many business owners like you have benefited from.
Apply for F16AS00216
[Watch] how do funding administrators access proposals?
Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (F16AS00216) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| OMAHA DISTRCT SIKES ACT FY 16 COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT(S) Apply for CECT NWO CA FY16 Funding Number: CECT NWO CA FY16 Agency: DOD-COE-OM Category: Environment Funding Amount: $45,000,000 |
| Migratory Bird Surveys on the Joliet Training Area LTA Apply for NWO CESU 06 Funding Number: NWO CESU 06 Agency: DOD-COE-OM Category: Environment Funding Amount: $130,000 |
| Chitimacha Tribe of Louisiana Gulf Coast Restoration Project Apply for A16AP00081 Funding Number: A16AP00081 Agency: DOI-BIA Category: Environment Funding Amount: $100,000 |
| Seminole Tribe of Florida Gulf Coast Restoration Grant Apply for A16AP00082 Funding Number: A16AP00082 Agency: DOI-BIA Category: Environment Funding Amount: $100,000 |
| Notice of Intent to Award - Nashua Wild and Scenic River Study Assistance Apply for NPS 16 NERO 0057 Funding Number: NPS 16 NERO 0057 Agency: DOI-NPS Category: Environment Funding Amount: $44,000 |
| River Network Cooperative Agreement Apply for P16AS00172 Funding Number: P16AS00172 Agency: DOI-NPS Category: Environment Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| FY 2016 Hazardous Waste Management Grant Program For Tribes Apply for EPA OLEM ORCR 16 04 Funding Number: EPA OLEM ORCR 16 04 Agency: EPA Category: Environment Funding Amount: $99,000 |
| WAKE ISLAND RATTUS EXULANS/HERMIT CRAB Apply for NWO CESU 07 Funding Number: NWO CESU 07 Agency: DOD-COE-OM Category: Environment Funding Amount: $70,000 |
| Long-term Exposure to Air Pollution and Development of Cardiovascular Disease Apply for EPA G2016 STAR B1 Funding Number: EPA G2016 STAR B1 Agency: EPA Category: Environment Funding Amount: $3,000,000 |
| Population Monitoring of Arctic Foxes on Shemya Island, Alaska Apply for NWO CESU 08 Funding Number: NWO CESU 08 Agency: DOD-COE-OM Category: Environment Funding Amount: $99,000 |
| FY 2016 and FY 2017 National Wetland Program Development Grants Apply for EPA OW OWOW 16 02 Funding Number: EPA OW OWOW 16 02 Agency: EPA Category: Environment Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Miccosukee Tribe of Indians Gulf Coast Restoration Project Apply for A16AP00087 Funding Number: A16AP00087 Agency: DOI-BIA Category: Environment Funding Amount: $100,000 |
| Poarch Creek Gulf Coast Restoration Project Apply for A16AP00085 Funding Number: A16AP00085 Agency: DOI-BIA Category: Environment Funding Amount: $100,000 |
| Mississippi Choctaw Gulf Coast Restoration Project Apply for A16AP00088 Funding Number: A16AP00088 Agency: DOI-BIA Category: Environment Funding Amount: $100,000 |
| 2016 SOUTH FL INITIATIVE Apply for EPA R4 16 SFL 01 Funding Number: EPA R4 16 SFL 01 Agency: EPA Category: Environment Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| valuation of Predator Recognition Response in Bonytail and Razorback Sucker in Mesocosms NOI Apply for BOR LC 16 N005 Funding Number: BOR LC 16 N005 Agency: DOI-BOR Category: Environment Funding Amount: $546,008 |
| Tribal Training Support for the Community and Tribal Air Quality Programs Apply for EPA OAR OAQPS 16 04 Funding Number: EPA OAR OAQPS 16 04 Agency: EPA Category: Environment Funding Amount: $300,000 |
| Developement of an operational Rapid Situational Awareness System Apply for USGS 16 FA 0176 Funding Number: USGS 16 FA 0176 Agency: DOI-USGS1 Category: Environment Funding Amount: $50,000 |
| Base Cooperative Agreement Apply for P16AS00091 Funding Number: P16AS00091 Agency: DOI-NPS Category: Environment Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Field Ecology and Technical Support for Long-term Monitoring in National Parks of the Southern Colorado Plateau Network Apply for P16AS00185 Funding Number: P16AS00185 Agency: DOI-NPS Category: Environment Funding Amount: $240,000 |
Grant application guides and resources
It is always free to apply for government grants. However the process may be very complex depending on the funding opportunity you are applying for. Let us help you!
Apply for Grants
Premium leads for funding administrators, grant writers, and loan issuers
Thousands of people visit our website for their funding needs every day. When a user creates a grant proposal and files for submission, we pass the information on to funding administrators, grant writers, and government loan issuers.
If you manage government grant programs, provide grant writing services, or issue personal or government loans, we can help you reach your audience.
Subscribe to Leads
Request more information:
Would you like to learn more about this funding opportunity, similar opportunities to "F16AS00216", eligibility, application service, and/or application tips? Submit an inquiry below:
Don't forget to subscribe to our grant alerts mailing list to receive weekly alerts on new and updated grant funding opportunities like this one in your email.