EB Forsythe NWR; Piping Plover Population and Reproduction Trends | F18AS00155

Opportunity Information: Apply for F18AS00155

The grant opportunity titled "EB Forsythe NWR; Piping Plover Population and Reproduction Trends" (Funding Opportunity Number F18AS00155) is a discretionary Department of the Interior, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Region 5) funding action that will be issued as a cooperative agreement. It is designed to support on-the-ground monitoring and data management work focused on piping plovers and other beach-nesting birds associated with Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge and broader statewide coastal nesting efforts in New Jersey. The program falls under the natural resources funding activity category and is listed under CFDA 15.655. Although eligibility is described as "unrestricted" in the general listing, the notice clearly states it is a single-source action with one expected award, meaning the agency intends to fund a specific partner rather than run a competitive process.

The Service intends to make this single-source award to the Conserve Wildlife Foundation of New Jersey (CWF) because of its established role and coordination history with key state and federal partners. CWF works closely with the New Jersey Endangered and Nongame Species Program within the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP), as well as with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, to monitor and evaluate beach-nesting bird populations across the state. The cooperative agreement structure indicates active collaboration between the recipient and the federal agency during project implementation, which is typical for wildlife monitoring programs that require coordination on methods, reporting, and data sharing.

The project period is one year, with funding described as up to $60,000, while the posted award ceiling is $54,950. The core field tasks supported by the agreement are practical, labor-intensive monitoring activities that track piping plover population status and reproductive outcomes. These include systematic nest searching, monitoring of nests during incubation, locating and monitoring chicks after hatch, and conducting walking surveys to document bird presence and breeding activity. The scope also includes predator control activities where appropriate, reflecting the real-world management needs of beach-nesting species that can be vulnerable to predation and other disturbances during the nesting season.

In addition to direct field monitoring, the award emphasizes rigorous data handling and reporting. CWF technicians are expected to collect accurate field data, ensure that information is correctly entered into electronic databases, and proof-check entries for quality control. The agreement also calls for written progress reports and end-of-season deliverables, including checking, compiling, and submitting all nesting data to the State after the nesting season concludes. This focus on data accuracy and standardized reporting supports long-term trend analysis, year-to-year comparability, and informed management decisions by state and federal wildlife programs.

The opportunity also highlights coordination and capacity-building elements. CWF staff may assist other researchers with capture, marking, and monitoring of piping plovers and other beach-nesting birds, which can contribute to broader research objectives such as survival estimation, movement tracking, and productivity assessments. CWF technicians are also expected to function as experienced field resources for the Refuge's seasonal interns who may work alongside them, helping to maintain consistent field protocols and improve the effectiveness of seasonal monitoring teams.

The posting dates indicate the opportunity was created on May 30, 2018, with an original closing date of June 6, 2018, consistent with a short window typical of single-source notices that primarily serve as a public posting of the agency's intent to award rather than an open competition. Overall, the grant is aimed at sustaining coordinated, high-quality piping plover reproductive monitoring and associated data reporting in New Jersey, leveraging an established conservation organization to deliver fieldwork, data integrity, and interagency collaboration outcomes.

• The Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "EB Forsythe NWR; Piping Plover Population and Reproduction Trends" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.655.
• This funding opportunity was created on May 30, 2018.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 06, 2018 This is a single source award. (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 $54,950.00 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.

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