Bald Eagle Survey, Fort A.P. Hill, Virginia | W9126G 21 2 SOI 1136

Opportunity Information: Apply for W9126G 21 2 SOI 1136

The Bald Eagle Survey, Fort A.P. Hill, Virginia opportunity is a Department of Defense grant solicitation (USACE Fort Worth District) seeking a qualified research partner to conduct an aerial survey of bald eagle nesting activity on Fort A.P. Hill in Virginia. The request is issued as a Request for Statement of Interest (RSOI), meaning the government is not asking for a full technical proposal or a detailed budget at this stage. Instead, interested parties submit a statement outlining relevant experience and capabilities, and the installation will then invite one or more respondents to develop a full proposal. The project is expected to start in 2021, with an estimated funding level of about $17,000 and a 12-month period of performance from the date of award. The funding instrument is anticipated to be a cooperative agreement, aligned with natural resources responsibilities under the Sikes Act (16 USC 670c-1) and the installation's Integrated Natural Resources Management Plan.

Eligibility is narrow and is the main gatekeeper for this opportunity. Only non-federal partners of specific Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Units (CESU) are eligible to be considered: W9126G-11-2-0041 (Chesapeake Watershed CESU) and W9126G-14-2-0015 (Southern Appalachian Mountains CESU). Applicants must be participating non-federal partners in one of those CESU units; otherwise, they are not qualified. If awarded through the CESU mechanism, the agreement may apply the CESU Network indirect cost rate (IDC) of 17.5%, but only if both parties mutually agree and formally authorize its use.

The need for the work is driven by Fort A.P. Hill's growing bald eagle population and the installation's compliance requirements. The base has recently discovered three new nesting locations incidentally in the past two years, and leadership believes additional nests likely exist but have not been documented. Department of Defense guidance requires military installations to protect bald eagle nesting sites consistent with the US Fish and Wildlife Service National Bald Eagle Management Guidelines, supporting compliance with the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act. A complete and accurate inventory of nest locations is described as critical for maintaining the required protections while minimizing disruptions to the military training mission, since knowing exactly where active nests occur helps the installation plan activities and apply protective buffers appropriately.

The anticipated scope of work is organized around four objectives tied to flight planning, survey execution, and deliverables. First, the selected investigator will develop a proposed schedule for survey flights and complete coordination with Fort A.P. Hill Directorate of Public Works (DPW), Environmental and Natural Resources Division, and the installation aviation office (DPTMS Aviation Division). Second, the investigator will conduct an aerial nest location survey across Fort A.P. Hill to find previously unknown nests and confirm activity at known nest sites. Third, the investigator will conduct an aerial nest productivity survey to monitor nesting success, which typically means documenting whether nests are active and whether they produce young. Finally, the project requires a summary report covering nest locations and productivity results, including GIS shapefiles so the installation can integrate the findings into its environmental planning and management systems.

From a process and timeline standpoint, the government planned to keep the RSOI posted for at least 30 days before selecting respondents to invite for full proposals. Statements of Interest were due by 5:00 PM Central Time on January 16, 2021. Submissions were to be evaluated by a board at the receiving installation/activity, with selection based primarily on how well the investigator's experience and capabilities match the study needs. Questions and responses were directed to the USACE Fort Worth District points of contact: Sandy Justman (Grants Specialist, sandra.justman@usace.army.mil, 817-886-1073) and Kathy Mitchell (Project Manager, kathy.s.mitchell@usace.army.mil, 817-886-1709).

• The Department of Defense, Fort Worth District in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Bald Eagle Survey, Fort A.P. Hill, Virginia" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 12.005.
• This funding opportunity was created on Dec 17, 2020.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Jan 16, 2021. (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 $17,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility.

Apply for W9126G 21 2 SOI 1136

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