Opportunity Information: Apply for FWS R5 ES 09 002
Apply for FWS R5 ES 09 002
- The Region 5 in the environment sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "White Nose Syndrome Research" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.650 Research Grants (Generic).
- This funding opportunity was created on Oct 7, 2008 and posted on Oct 7, 2008.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Nov 7, 2008. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $300,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $150,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 10 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education City or township governments Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) County governments State governments Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education.
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Opportunity Summary:
The White Nose Syndrome Research grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number FWS R5 ES 09 002) was a discretionary U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Region 5 program focused on supporting rapid, targeted research and related management work to address the emerging bat mortality event known as White-nose Syndrome (WNS). First documented in New York during the winter of 2006-2007, WNS was associated with a white fungal growth on the muzzles and often the wings and other body surfaces of hibernating bats. By the time of this solicitation, WNS had been observed in at least 30 bat hibernacula across New York, Vermont, Massachusetts, and Connecticut, and was linked to unusual winter behaviors (such as shifting roost locations and daytime flights), mass mortality and steep population declines at hibernation sites, and visible wing membrane damage seen later in summer. The broader goal of the funding was to accelerate understanding of what was causing the die-offs and to strengthen the response capacity needed to monitor, contain, and manage impacts on bat conservation.
The scientific context for the solicitation came out of a June 2008 coordination meeting among the Service, state natural resource agencies, other federal partners, and non-governmental organizations. That group outlined several working hypotheses for the observed mortality: bats could be starving due to inadequate fat reserves entering hibernation, early fat depletion during hibernation, or water imbalance; bats could be dying from direct effects of pathogens such as fungi, bacteria, or viruses; bats could be succumbing to contaminants; or multiple stressors could be interacting to produce the mortality patterns. While proposals could relate broadly to these hypotheses, the 2008-2009 RFP signaled a clear intent to prioritize pathogen-focused research, especially work that could clarify whether WNS was caused by a pathogen, what role the visible white fungus played in mortality, how widespread the fungus or fungi were in both affected and unaffected regions, and whether the syndrome was transmissible (and if so, by what routes or mechanisms).
In addition to core causation research, the Service also emphasized practical projects that directly supported the on-the-ground response. This included work to quantify effects of WNS on bat populations, monitor known affected sites, expand surveillance to detect WNS in new locations, develop containment strategies, and evaluate whether captive management or rehabilitation could play a meaningful role as part of response efforts. In other words, the solicitation was not limited to lab-based studies; it also welcomed applied field monitoring and management-oriented projects that could produce actionable information quickly.
Funding details indicated an estimated total program amount of $300,000 with an expectation of around 10 awards. Individual awards could range from a floor of $1,000 up to a ceiling of $150,000. The funding instrument type was a grant, and the activity category was environmental research and response. Notably, there was no cost-sharing or matching requirement, although applicants were asked to identify any partnership funds or leveraged resources they would bring to the project.
Eligibility was broad across public and nonprofit sectors, including state governments, county governments, city or township governments, federally recognized tribal governments, and nonprofits (including both 501(c)(3) and certain non-501(c)(3) nonprofits, with the solicitation specifying the latter category as eligible aside from institutions of higher education). The posting date was October 7, 2008, with an application closing date of November 7, 2008, and the announcement was archived shortly after (November 11, 2008), reflecting a tight turnaround consistent with an urgent wildlife health issue.
The applicant and project requirements emphasized speed, coordination, and compliance. Projects had to be completed by September 30, 2009, which effectively required applicants to propose work that could produce results within a single federal fiscal year. Applicants were expected to coordinate the project’s scope and implementation with the appropriate state natural resource agency or agencies, ideally before submitting, reinforcing the need for alignment with state-led bat management and surveillance efforts. If selected for funding, applicants were responsible for securing any needed federal and/or state permits. Administrative requirements included obtaining a Dun and Bradstreet DUNS number and registering in the Central Contractor Registration system (CCR), which was the predecessor to later federal systems used for award management.
Proposal content requirements went beyond the standard SF-424 form and pushed applicants to be explicit and outcomes-driven. Proposals needed to explain how the project addressed an identified WNS priority, present measurable and outcome-oriented objectives, describe the activities that would be carried out and the measurable outcomes expected, and provide a clear timeline. Applicants also had to include detailed budget information and identify any leveraged partnership support (even though match was not required). The RFP asked applicants to discuss what would happen if the project was not funded in FY2008-2009, which encouraged proposals to frame urgency and consequences of delay. It also required that the last paragraph highlight the single most important strength of the proposal, and that applicants include brief qualifications for the principal investigator, partner organizations, and key team members.
Finally, the review and selection approach was straightforward: projects would be ranked based on how closely they aligned with the stated 2008-2009 priorities, how timely they were, and how likely they were to contribute to the overall WNS response effort. Applicants would be notified of selection decisions. The point of contact listed for access issues with the full announcement was Christal Cutler, Contract Specialist, reachable by phone at 413-253-8233.
White Nose Syndrome Research Grant (FWS R5 ES 09 002) FAQs
What is the White Nose Syndrome (WNS) Research grant opportunity?
This was a discretionary U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Region 5 grant program designed to support rapid, targeted research and related management work addressing White-nose Syndrome (WNS), an emerging bat mortality event.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this program?
The Funding Opportunity Number was FWS R5 ES 09 002.
What problem was this funding intended to address?
The funding aimed to accelerate understanding of what was causing WNS-associated bat die-offs and to strengthen the capacity to monitor, contain, and manage impacts on bat conservation.
When and where was White-nose Syndrome first documented (per this announcement)?
WNS was first documented in New York during the winter of 2006-2007.
What are the signs and observed impacts of WNS described in the opportunity?
The solicitation described WNS as being associated with a white fungal growth on the muzzles and often the wings and other body surfaces of hibernating bats. It was linked to unusual winter behaviors (including shifting roost locations and daytime flights), mass mortality, steep population declines at hibernation sites, and visible wing membrane damage observed later in summer.
How widespread was WNS at the time of the solicitation?
At the time of this solicitation, WNS had been observed in at least 30 bat hibernacula across New York, Vermont, Massachusetts, and Connecticut.
What scientific hypotheses about bat mortality were considered relevant?
The June 2008 coordination meeting summarized several working hypotheses: bats could be starving due to inadequate fat reserves entering hibernation, early fat depletion during hibernation, or water imbalance; bats could be dying from direct effects of pathogens (fungi, bacteria, or viruses); bats could be succumbing to contaminants; or multiple stressors could be interacting.
What research topics were prioritized for 2008-2009?
While proposals could relate broadly to the hypotheses, the 2008-2009 RFP signaled a clear intent to prioritize pathogen-focused research, particularly projects that could clarify whether WNS was caused by a pathogen, what role the visible white fungus played in mortality, how widespread the fungus (or fungi) was in affected and unaffected regions, and whether the syndrome was transmissible (including potential routes or mechanisms).
Were applied management and field projects eligible, or only laboratory research?
Applied projects were explicitly encouraged. The Service emphasized practical work supporting the on-the-ground response, including population impact quantification, monitoring affected sites, expanding surveillance to detect WNS in new locations, developing containment strategies, and evaluating whether captive management or rehabilitation could contribute to response efforts.
What was the total estimated funding available and how many awards were expected?
The estimated total program amount was $300,000, with an expectation of around 10 awards.
What was the minimum and maximum award size?
Individual awards could range from $1,000 (floor) up to $150,000 (ceiling).
What type of funding instrument was used?
The funding instrument type was a grant.
What was the activity category for this opportunity?
The activity category was environmental research and response.
Was cost sharing or matching required?
No. There was no cost-sharing or matching requirement. However, applicants were asked to identify any partnership funds or leveraged resources supporting the project.
Who was eligible to apply?
Eligibility was broad across public and nonprofit sectors, including: state governments; county governments; city or township governments; federally recognized tribal governments; and nonprofits (including 501(c)(3) nonprofits and certain non-501(c)(3) nonprofits, with the solicitation specifying the latter category as eligible aside from institutions of higher education).
What were the key dates for the solicitation?
The posting date was October 7, 2008. The application closing date was November 7, 2008. The announcement was archived on November 11, 2008.
How quickly did applicants need to respond?
The solicitation had a tight turnaround: applications were due one month after posting (October 7 to November 7, 2008), reflecting the urgency of the wildlife health issue.
By when did projects need to be completed?
Projects had to be completed by September 30, 2009, meaning proposals needed to be feasible within a single federal fiscal year timeframe.
Was coordination with state agencies required or encouraged?
Coordination was emphasized. Applicants were expected to coordinate the project scope and implementation with the appropriate state natural resource agency or agencies, ideally before submitting, to align with state-led bat management and surveillance efforts.
Who was responsible for permits if a project was selected?
If selected for funding, the applicant was responsible for securing any needed federal and/or state permits.
What federal registration requirements were mentioned for applicants?
Administrative requirements included obtaining a Dun and Bradstreet DUNS number and registering in the Central Contractor Registration (CCR) system (the predecessor to later federal award management systems).
What forms and proposal components were required?
Proposals went beyond the standard SF-424 form. Applicants needed to clearly describe how the project addressed an identified WNS priority, provide measurable and outcome-oriented objectives, describe planned activities and measurable outcomes, and include a clear timeline.
What budget details were applicants expected to include?
Applicants needed to include detailed budget information and identify leveraged partnership support or resources (even though match was not required).
Did the proposal need to address what happens if the project is not funded?
Yes. The RFP asked applicants to discuss what would happen if the project was not funded in FY2008-2009, encouraging proposals to explain urgency and the consequences of delay.
Was there any special narrative requirement about proposal strengths?
Yes. The RFP required the last paragraph of the proposal to highlight the single most important strength of the proposal.
What qualifications information needed to be included in the proposal?
Applicants were required to include brief qualifications for the principal investigator, partner organizations, and key team members.
How were proposals reviewed and selected?
Projects would be ranked based on how closely they aligned with the stated 2008-2009 priorities, how timely they were, and how likely they were to contribute to the overall WNS response effort.
How would applicants learn the outcome of the competition?
Applicants would be notified of selection decisions.
Who was the point of contact for access issues with the full announcement?
The point of contact listed was Christal Cutler, Contract Specialist, reachable by phone at 413-253-8233.
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