Opportunity Information: Apply for F12AS00165
Apply for F12AS00165
- The Fish and Wildlife Service in the environment natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Status of the Birds in Region 6" 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 May 14, 2012 and posted on May 14, 2012.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 15, 2012. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $20,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $20,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments) 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 Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) Public and State controlled institutions of higher education For profit organizations other than small businesses Small businesses Independent school districts Individuals State governments County governments City or township governments Private institutions of higher education.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Status of the Birds in Region 6 grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number F12AS00165) is a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Migratory Bird Program effort to help the agency respond to a coming surge in permit requests that involve the direct take of migratory birds under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA). The core problem the program is trying to solve is practical and immediate: permit decisions need to be made on realistic timelines, but the Service does not currently have an efficient, standardized way to determine (1) the current population status of many nongame migratory bird species at regional and local scales, or (2) how vulnerable those species are to different levels of permitted mortality. With many North American bird populations already in decline, the Service also wants to better understand how much MBTA-permitted mortality may be contributing to those declines, especially because new or expanded regulations for incidental take could significantly increase permitted take in the near future.
To address this gap, the grant funds a pilot project that would build a set of “species accounts” for a selected sample of priority bird species in USFWS Region 6 (a region that generally covers much of the Great Plains and Rocky Mountain states). These accounts are intended to be practical, quick-reference products that compile and interpret the best available information on each chosen species. The species accounts would summarize what is currently known about population size, distribution, demographic condition, and trends, while also clearly identifying what is not known (data gaps, limitations, and uncertainties). A major emphasis is translating raw monitoring information into something decision-useful for permitting, including evaluating the likely impacts of direct take on populations at local scales (where that matters) and across the species’ range within Region 6.
A distinctive feature of the project is its explicit connection to take authorization decisions. For each selected species, the work is expected to evaluate how direct take could influence population status, and, where feasible, develop estimates of “acceptable” levels of direct take. Those estimates would need to consider timing, magnitude, frequency, and duration of take, and would also include an associated confidence level because the Service recognizes that available data quality varies widely among species. Part of the pilot is therefore methodological: developing criteria for what “acceptable take” means in a scientifically defensible and operationally usable way, then testing whether existing data are sufficient to support those determinations.
The opportunity also frames this work within a broader conservation context, not just permitting. The Service wants the pilot to help them understand whether these same assessments could double as a resource guide for strategic conservation actions, particularly around major stressors that are affecting bird populations in Region 6. Proposals are expected to engage strategically with significant drivers of decline such as energy development (including issues like raptors and wind energy), changing food resources, water use, climate change, and the continuing effects of habitat fragmentation, conversion, and destruction. The logic is straightforward: to evaluate how these stressors are affecting birds, the agency first needs a clear baseline picture of species status and trend, and an organized understanding of the threats most likely to shape future trajectories.
In terms of what applicants are expected to do, the methods begin with selecting a representative sample of species that spans multiple dimensions: different taxonomic groups (for example, shorebirds in Charadriiformes and songbirds in Passeriformes), different priority habitats (such as riparian corridors and grasslands), different life history strategies (including migratory status), and different conservation issues relevant to the region. The notice also highlights the potential use of representative, umbrella, or surrogate species, suggesting the Service is interested in learning whether a smaller set of well-chosen species accounts could provide insight for a wider set of birds with similar ecologies or threats. A specific program priority included in the announcement is grassland conservation, and the project is expected to include a more detailed assessment for at least one Region 6 endemic grassland bird species, with Baird’s Sparrow (Ammodramus bairdii) offered as an example.
The analytical content in the species accounts is expected to draw from established monitoring and information sources, especially trend data from the Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) and other relevant datasets. Applicants would evaluate trends across different geographies and time periods, describe historical versus current range and status, and compile key natural history information needed to interpret vulnerability and threat exposure. The threat evaluation component is not meant to be a simple list; it is meant to weigh the relative importance of threats for each species, so the resulting products can support both permitting risk judgments and targeted conservation planning.
This project is described as complementary to a similar Canadian Wildlife Service effort to systematically evaluate take, and it is explicitly positioned as a pilot that will help the Service estimate the staffing and resource needs required to scale the work to all Region 6 priority species in the future. In other words, the deliverable is not only the species accounts themselves, but also a clearer picture of how much time, data, and expertise it takes to build a robust take and status assessment framework across a broad set of nongame migratory birds.
Administratively, this is a discretionary funding opportunity using a cooperative agreement or grant instrument, under CFDA 15.655 (Migratory Bird Monitoring, Assessment and Conservation). The opportunity anticipated one award with an estimated total funding amount of $20,000 (ceiling $20,000; floor $1,000) and no cost-share or matching requirement. Eligible applicants are broad and include tribal governments and tribal organizations, nonprofits (with or without 501(c)(3) status), institutions of higher education (public and private), for-profit organizations (including small businesses), individuals, and various levels of government (state, county, city/township) as well as independent school districts. The posting date was May 14, 2012, with a closing date of June 15, 2012, and it was later archived on November 30, 2012. The application requested a 1 to 5 page project proposal aligned to the objectives and methods described, and questions were directed in writing to Stephanie Jones at stephaniejones@fws.gov, with the opportunity number included in the email subject line.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Status of the Birds in Region 6 (F12AS00165)
What is the “Status of the Birds in Region 6” grant opportunity?
This is a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Migratory Bird Program funding opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number F12AS00165) supporting a pilot project to develop practical, quick-reference “species accounts” for a selected sample of priority nongame migratory bird species in USFWS Region 6.
Which USFWS program is offering this opportunity?
The opportunity is offered through the USFWS Migratory Bird Program, and it is tied to CFDA 15.655 (Migratory Bird Monitoring, Assessment and Conservation).
What problem is the grant trying to solve?
The Service anticipates a surge in Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA) permit requests involving direct take of migratory birds and needs a more efficient, standardized way to determine (1) current population status for many nongame migratory bird species at regional and local scales, and (2) how vulnerable those species are to different levels of permitted mortality, so permit decisions can be made on realistic timelines.
How is this work connected to the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA)?
The pilot is explicitly designed to inform MBTA take authorization decisions by translating monitoring data into decision-useful assessments that help evaluate how direct take may influence population status.
What is meant by “direct take” in this opportunity?
Based on the notice context, “direct take” refers to take that would be authorized under MBTA permitting and that results in permitted mortality of migratory birds.
Why does the Service need species accounts now?
The Service states it does not currently have an efficient, standardized approach to summarize population status and vulnerability for many nongame migratory birds at the scales needed for permitting, especially as bird populations are already in decline and incidental take regulations could increase permitted take in the near future.
What is USFWS Region 6 for the purposes of this project?
The opportunity describes Region 6 as generally covering much of the Great Plains and Rocky Mountain states, and the pilot focuses on priority species within that region.
What are the main deliverables expected from the project?
The central deliverable is a set of “species accounts” for a selected sample of priority bird species in Region 6. The project is also expected to produce lessons about methods, data needs, staffing, and resources required to scale this approach to all Region 6 priority species in the future.
What is a “species account” in this context?
A species account is intended as a practical, quick-reference product that compiles and interprets the best available information for a selected species, including population size, distribution, demographic condition, and trends, while also clearly identifying data gaps, limitations, and uncertainties.
What kinds of information should each species account include?
Based on the announcement, accounts are expected to summarize what is known about population size, distribution, demographic condition, and trends; compare historical versus current range and status; compile key natural history information relevant to vulnerability; and weigh the relative importance of threats affecting the species.
What does “decision-useful” mean for this pilot?
“Decision-useful” refers to translating raw monitoring and other information into assessments that can support permitting judgments, including evaluation of likely impacts of direct take at local scales (where that matters) and across the species’ range within Region 6.
Does the project require evaluation of permitted mortality impacts?
Yes. For each selected species, the work is expected to evaluate how direct take could influence population status.
Is the project expected to estimate “acceptable” levels of direct take?
Where feasible, the project is expected to develop estimates of “acceptable” levels of direct take for selected species, along with an associated confidence level to reflect variation in data quality across species.
What factors must be considered in estimates of “acceptable take”?
The estimates are expected to consider timing, magnitude, frequency, and duration of take, and include an associated confidence level.
Is part of the work methodological (not just compiling data)?
Yes. The pilot includes developing criteria for what “acceptable take” means in a scientifically defensible and operationally usable way, and testing whether existing data are sufficient to support those determinations.
How does the opportunity connect permitting work with conservation planning?
The Service wants to learn whether these assessments can also function as a resource guide for strategic conservation actions by organizing baseline status/trend information and identifying major stressors likely to shape future trajectories in Region 6.
What conservation stressors should proposals address?
The opportunity expects strategic engagement with major drivers of decline such as energy development (including raptors and wind energy), changing food resources, water use, climate change, and habitat fragmentation, conversion, and destruction.
How should threats be handled in the species accounts?
The threat evaluation is not intended to be a simple list. It is expected to weigh the relative importance of threats for each species so the products can support permitting risk judgments and targeted conservation planning.
How should applicants select the sample of species?
The methods begin with selecting a representative sample spanning multiple dimensions: different taxonomic groups (examples given include shorebirds in Charadriiformes and songbirds in Passeriformes), different priority habitats (such as riparian corridors and grasslands), different life history strategies (including migratory status), and different conservation issues relevant to Region 6.
Does the opportunity encourage the use of umbrella or surrogate species?
Yes. The notice highlights the potential use of representative, umbrella, or surrogate species to test whether a smaller set of well-chosen species accounts could provide insight for a wider set of birds with similar ecologies or threats.
Is there a program priority called out in the announcement?
Yes. Grassland conservation is identified as a specific program priority.
Does the project need to include a grassland bird species assessment?
Yes. The project is expected to include a more detailed assessment for at least one Region 6 endemic grassland bird species, with Baird’s Sparrow (Ammodramus bairdii) provided as an example.
What data sources are expected to support the analysis?
The announcement emphasizes established monitoring and information sources, especially trend data from the Breeding Bird Survey (BBS), along with other relevant datasets.
What kind of trend analysis is expected?
Applicants are expected to evaluate trends across different geographies and time periods, and to describe historical versus current range and status.
Is the project related to similar efforts outside the U.S.?
Yes. The project is described as complementary to a similar Canadian Wildlife Service effort to systematically evaluate take.
What is the award type for this opportunity?
The opportunity is a discretionary funding opportunity using a cooperative agreement or grant instrument.
How many awards were anticipated?
The opportunity anticipated one award.
What is the estimated funding amount and award size range?
The estimated total funding amount is $20,000, with a ceiling of $20,000 and a floor of $1,000.
Is cost share or matching required?
No cost-share or matching requirement is stated for this opportunity.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants include tribal governments and tribal organizations, nonprofits (with or without 501(c)(3) status), institutions of higher education (public and private), for-profit organizations (including small businesses), individuals, and various levels of government (state, county, city/township) as well as independent school districts.
What were the key dates for this funding opportunity?
The posting date was May 14, 2012. The closing date was June 15, 2012. The opportunity was later archived on November 30, 2012.
How long was the project proposal expected to be?
The application requested a 1 to 5 page project proposal aligned to the objectives and methods described in the announcement.
How were questions about the opportunity handled?
Questions were directed in writing to Stephanie Jones at stephaniejones@fws.gov, with the opportunity number included in the email subject line.
What should be included in the email subject line when asking questions?
The opportunity number should be included in the subject line.
What is the main audience or end use of the species accounts?
The accounts are intended to support USFWS permitting decisions under the MBTA by providing standardized, quick-reference assessments, while also informing strategic conservation actions by clarifying baseline status, trends, and key threats.
Is the project intended to be scalable beyond the pilot?
Yes. The pilot is positioned to help the Service estimate staffing and resource needs to scale the approach to all Region 6 priority species in the future.
What uncertainties does the Service expect the species accounts to address?
The accounts are expected to clearly identify what is not known, including data gaps, limitations, and uncertainties, and to pair any “acceptable take” estimates with a confidence level reflecting data quality.
Does the opportunity emphasize local-scale analysis?
Yes. A major emphasis is on evaluating likely impacts of direct take on populations at local scales (where that matters), as well as across the species’ range within Region 6.
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