PREDATOR RESEARCH AND ECOSYSTEM MANAGEMENT PROJECT, SAN CLEMENTE ISLAND | W9126G 22 2 SOI 3785

Opportunity Information: Apply for W9126G 22 2 SOI 3785

The PREDATOR RESEARCH AND ECOSYSTEM MANAGEMENT PROJECT, SAN CLEMENTE ISLAND is a Department of Defense funding opportunity (issued through the USACE Fort Worth District) aimed at identifying a qualified investigator or research team to support natural resource and endangered species management on San Clemente Island (SCI), part of Naval Base Coronado in California. The request is specifically for Statements of Interest (not full technical proposals or detailed budgets at this stage) that demonstrate relevant experience and capability to carry out the project goals. The work is expected to support the Navy's ongoing natural resources program and mission requirements while addressing conservation and compliance obligations tied to sensitive species and habitat conditions on the island.

The project is funded by Commander, US Pacific Fleet (PACFLT), which provides professional and technical support to the Naval Base Coronado Natural Resources Program. For the base year, about $597,935 is anticipated to be available, with the possibility of additional funding in later fiscal years for added tasks or follow-on work if the initial effort is successful. While the listing includes an award ceiling of $2,989,935 and anticipates a single award, the immediate focus is the base-year effort and the selection of an investigator whose background aligns strongly with the program objectives. The anticipated funding instrument is a cooperative agreement, which typically implies active involvement or collaboration from the government partner during project execution rather than a more hands-off grant structure.

Scientifically and programmatically, the project is rooted in the ecological importance of San Clemente Island, which supports many endemic organisms and includes species that are federally listed as endangered or threatened by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. A key example named in the opportunity is the San Clemente Loggerhead Shrike, and the project is positioned as a continuation of recovery efforts for that species. The broader purpose is predator research and ecosystem management in a way that improves conditions for listed species and other conservation taxa, including those that may be candidates under the Endangered Species Act or listed by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. In practical terms, this kind of work often includes studying predator impacts, informing predator management strategies, monitoring sensitive wildlife populations, and ensuring habitat management actions are consistent with both conservation targets and operational constraints on a military installation.

A major driver for the project is regulatory and policy compliance. The work helps fulfill responsibilities under the Sikes Act Improvement Act, which requires military installations to manage natural resources through coordinated planning and implementation, and it supports obligations under the Endangered Species Act. The opportunity explicitly ties the effort to existing Navy commitments and planning documents, including the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Biological Opinion for San Clemente Island Military Operations and Fire Management Plan (2008) and subsequent amendments, the Final Environmental Impact Statement/Overseas Environmental Impact Statement for the Southern California Range Complex, and continued implementation of the island's Integrated Natural Resources Management Plan (INRMP). In other words, the project is not an isolated research effort; it is meant to directly support mandated management actions and environmental commitments that allow the Navy to continue operations while minimizing impacts to protected species and habitats.

From an application and selection standpoint, the government planned to use the submitted Statements of Interest to screen and identify the best-qualified investigators. Submissions are reviewed by a board at the receiving installation or activity, and the selection is based primarily on the investigator's specific experience and demonstrated capabilities related to the stated study needs. Only those judged to best meet the objectives are expected to be invited to submit a full study proposal later. The posting notes that the request had to remain open for at least 30 days before a decision could be made, and the deadline for Statements of Interest was close of business on July 26, 2022. Points of contact for questions and submissions were Sandy Justman (Grants Specialist, USACE Fort Worth District) and Kathy Mitchell (Environmental Agreements Project Manager, USACE Fort Worth District), with email addresses provided in the notice.

In short, this opportunity is a preliminary solicitation to find a highly qualified partner to carry out predator-focused research and ecosystem management on San Clemente Island, with a strong emphasis on supporting the recovery of the San Clemente Loggerhead Shrike and meeting the Navy's statutory and regulatory environmental obligations. The initial step is a concise, experience-focused Statement of Interest, with a full proposal to follow only if invited after the government's review.

• 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 "PREDATOR RESEARCH AND ECOSYSTEM MANAGEMENT PROJECT, SAN CLEMENTE ISLAND" 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 Jun 26, 2022.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 26, 2022. (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 $2,989,935.00 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).

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