Synthesis and communication of results from the evaluation of a pelagic organism decline (POD) in the upper San Francisco Estuary | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is this funding opportunity about?

This is a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) cooperative agreement focused on pulling together, synthesizing, and clearly communicating what has been learned from an evaluation of the Pelagic Organism Decline (POD) in the upper San Francisco Estuary. The emphasis is on completing and packaging existing collaborative science tasks and translating technical results into products that managers, stakeholders, and decision makers can use.

2. Is this opportunity for new field research?

No. The work is described as less about new field research and more about coordination, synthesis, and communication. It is intended to help finish existing tasks, integrate results across teams, and produce accessible final products based on the evaluation work already underway.

3. Which agency is offering the funding?

The funding is being provided by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), through its Stockton Office.

4. What type of award is this?

This opportunity is structured as a cooperative agreement. That typically means USFWS expects substantial involvement during the project, such as collaboration on direction, coordination among partners, and/or review of deliverables.

5. What is the funding amount?

The total planned funding amount is $434,973.

6. How many awards will be made?

One award is expected.

7. What are the award floor and ceiling amounts?

Both the funding floor and the funding ceiling are listed as $434,973, indicating a fixed planned award amount.

8. Is cost sharing or matching required?

No. The opportunity states there is no cost sharing or matching requirement.

9. Who is the intended recipient of this award?

USFWS plans to make a single source award to the University of California, Davis, specifically the John Muir Institute of the Environment.

10. Who is the named project lead?

The named lead at UC Davis is Erica Fleishman, who would oversee the project and coordinate with project partners.

11. What is the performance period for the project?

The anticipated performance period runs from January 1, 2012 through December 31, 2016.

12. What is the main goal of the project work?

The main goal is to complete remaining collaborative science tasks tied to the POD evaluation, integrate findings across multiple working groups, and produce final, clearly written deliverables (including non-technical materials) that can be used broadly by managers, stakeholders, and decision makers.

13. What are the major responsibilities or tasks included in the scope of work?

The scope of work includes four main responsibilities:

• Working with partner organizations to complete remaining tasks of three ongoing POD-related working groups.
• Coordinating with the Delta Science Program to continue sharing and explaining results to a broader audience, including stakeholders and policy makers.
• Supporting and helping complete the work of a final synthetic working group to integrate findings across earlier groups.
• Participating directly in producing final deliverables, including a final synthesis report and a non-technical overview.

14. What deliverables are specifically called out?

The project includes participation in producing a final synthesis report and a non-technical overview designed for readers who need clear conclusions and implications without heavy scientific jargon.

15. Who are the key audiences for the project outputs?

The outputs are intended to be broadly accessible and useful to managers, stakeholders, and decision makers. The scope also explicitly mentions reaching stakeholders and policy makers, not just technical scientists.

16. What is the opportunity number or identifier?

The funding opportunity is identified as IEP1201.

17. What does it mean that this is posted as a Notice of Intent (NOI)?

A Notice of Intent (NOI) to award means the agency is announcing its plan to make this award rather than running a fully open competitive process.

18. What CFDA program does this fall under?

This opportunity is listed under CFDA 15.608, Fish and Wildlife Management Assistance.

19. What is the activity category for this opportunity?

The opportunity falls within the Environment and Natural Resources activity category.

20. Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is narrow because the award is made under the Cooperative Ecosystems Studies Unit (CESU) program. Only public and state controlled institutions of higher education that are current members of the Californian CESU are eligible to apply.

21. Why is eligibility so limited?

The opportunity is tied to the CESU program and is described as a targeted, single source award. That structure limits eligibility to qualifying Californian CESU member institutions, reinforcing that this is not a broadly open competition.

22. What are the key posting and closing dates?

The posted and created date is November 17, 2011. The original and current closing date is December 2, 2011. The archive date is January 1, 2012.

23. Who is the USFWS contact for access issues or administrative questions?

The listed contact is Dwight (Ike) Luginbill, Grants/Agreements Assistant.

24. What is the contact phone number?

The contact phone number is 209-946-6400 extension 340.

25. What role does the Delta Science Program play in this project?

UC Davis is expected to coordinate with the Delta Science Program to continue sharing and explaining results to a wider audience, including stakeholders and policy makers.

26. What is meant by a "final synthetic working group" in this context?

The opportunity indicates a capstone-style group intended to integrate findings across the earlier working groups into a coherent overall interpretation, with UC Davis providing support to help complete that work.