Natural Resource Support -Desert Tortoise Monitoring, EAFB, CA. | W9126G 24 2 SOI 1138

Opportunity Information: Apply for W9126G 24 2 SOI 1138

The Natural Resource Support - Desert Tortoise Monitoring, EAFB, CA opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number W9126G-24-2-SOI-1138) is a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Fort Worth District request for statements of interest (SOI) aimed at identifying a qualified partner to support desert tortoise monitoring and related habitat management at Edwards Air Force Base in California. The award instrument is a cooperative agreement, which generally means the government expects substantial involvement or coordination during performance rather than a hands-off grant. The project falls under the Science and Technology and other Research and Development activity category (CFDA 12.005), and it is being pursued under Sikes Act authority (16 USC 670c-1), which is the primary statute guiding natural resources management on military installations through Integrated Natural Resources Management Plans (INRMPs).

Eligibility is narrowly limited. Only organizations that are members of the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Units (CESU) Program within the Californian and Colorado Plateau Regions may apply. This is not an open competition for all universities, nonprofits, or consultants unless they are already part of those specific CESU regions. The CESU framework also brings a defined indirect cost structure; the notice specifies the established CESU Program indirect rate is 17.5 percent, which is a key budgeting constraint applicants need to account for when preparing their response and later a full proposal if invited.

The anticipated scope of work centers on comprehensive desert tortoise support functions tied to critical habitat management at Edwards AFB. The selected non-federal entity (NFE) is expected to conduct desert tortoise monitoring and provide practical, on-the-ground support across multiple management tools and compliance activities. The synopsis explicitly lists exclusionary fencing (to prevent tortoises from entering hazardous or high-activity areas), pitfalls (typically used in desert tortoise work as part of protective capture or monitoring approaches depending on approved methods), signage (to alert base personnel and visitors to sensitive habitat and required behaviors), awareness training (so staff and contractors understand avoidance measures and reporting requirements), wildlife relocation (when authorized and necessary to reduce risk to animals and support mission activities), and biological monitors (field staff who observe construction or operational activities to ensure protective measures are followed and that wildlife encounters are handled correctly). The notice references an attached Statement of Objectives for the full technical requirements, deliverables, and performance standards, indicating that the SOI stage is more about identifying capable partners than submitting a fully detailed work plan.

The period of performance is structured for long-term continuity. The base period runs 15 months from award, with the first three months set aside for administrative onboarding and preparation, followed by 12 months of technical support. Beyond the base period, the government anticipates up to six additional 12-month follow-on periods, each dependent on available funding. This signals a potential multi-year relationship where the initial award can be extended through optional years if performance is strong and budgets remain available.

Funding is described in two layers: an expected amount for the base period and an overall ceiling. Approximately $379,147 is expected to be available for the base period, and the listing shows an award ceiling of $2,906,647, which aligns with the possibility of multiple follow-on years and optional tasks. The opportunity anticipates a single award (ExpectedAwards: 1). Additional funding may be provided to the selected recipient for optional tasks and/or continued work in subsequent years, implying that the base year is the starting point, not the full project value.

Because this is a Sikes Act project tied to implementing and enforcing INRMP-related actions, the notice also highlights a statutory preference: priority should be given to federal and state agencies with responsibilities for conservation or management of fish or wildlife. In practical terms, within the already-limited CESU eligibility pool, applicants that are state wildlife agencies, federal resource agencies, or closely aligned partners may be viewed favorably when the government assesses who is best positioned to deliver the required conservation outcomes in a military installation context.

Administratively, this announcement is a request for statements of interest rather than a full proposal solicitation, meaning the initial submission is used to screen and identify the most suitable organizations before moving forward. The original closing date is February 26, 2024, and the opportunity was created January 12, 2024. Award will ultimately depend on mutual agreement, acceptance of the terms and conditions in the request for proposal materials, and consistency with the recipient’s CESU Master Agreement, which governs the cooperative agreement relationship, allowable costs, and other standard operating rules under CESU.

• The Fort Worth District in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Natural Resource Support -Desert Tortoise Monitoring, EAFB, CA." 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 2024-01-12.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-02-26. (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 $2,906,647.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others.

Apply for W9126G 24 2 SOI 1138

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