Cooperative Ecosystems Studies Unit | F18AS00302

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is this funding opportunity?

This is a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (U.S. Department of the Interior) Cooperative Ecosystems Studies Unit (CESU) funding opportunity identified as Funding Opportunity Number F18AS00302. It is a notice of intent to make a single-source award rather than a competitive grant solicitation.

Is this a competitive grant that accepts proposals from the public?

No. The notice states the Service intends to make a single-source award. In practice, this kind of posting documents the agency's plan to fund a specific recipient for a defined scope of work, rather than inviting proposals from multiple applicants.

Is there a full funding announcement or solicitation package to apply to?

No. The information provided indicates there is no full announcement tied to this notice of intent, which is consistent with single-source intent notices.

Who is the intended recipient of the award?

The Service intends to issue one cooperative agreement to Mississippi State University.

Why does the eligibility field say "unrestricted" if a single recipient is intended?

Although the eligibility field is listed as "unrestricted," the text makes clear the agency plans a single-source award to a specific institution (Mississippi State University). That means the posting is not functioning as an open call for competing applications.

What type of award is planned?

The planned award is a cooperative agreement under the Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service.

What program or activity area does this opportunity fall under?

The opportunity is within the Science and Technology and other Research and Development activity area and is associated with CFDA 15.678.

How many awards are expected?

The expected number of awards is one.

What is the maximum (ceiling) amount for the award?

The award ceiling is $110,000.

When was the opportunity posted, and what was the closing date?

The opportunity was created on August 14, 2018, with an original closing date of August 21, 2018. The short posting window is consistent with single-source intent notices.

What is the project about in plain terms?

The project focuses on Arkansas conservation planning. It is intended to support and finalize the process used to delineate Conservation Opportunity Areas (COAs) across the state, improving how priority conservation areas are identified and mapped.

What are Conservation Opportunity Areas (COAs) in this context?

In this context, COAs are priority conservation areas used to help guide where conservation actions, investments, and partnerships will have the greatest benefit for species and habitats. The project is specifically aimed at improving and completing the method used to define these areas across Arkansas.

What is the main goal of the work described?

The overall goal is to advance, refine, and bring to completion the method used to delineate Arkansas COAs, so that priority conservation geographies can be selected and refined more effectively.

Which Arkansas entity is expected to benefit from this work?

A central purpose is to help the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission act more strategically in conserving species by improving how priority areas are identified and mapped.

What analytical approach is emphasized in the notice?

The notice highlights the value of combining species-based assessments with habitat-based assessments to improve how priority geographies are selected and refined.

Is the work limited to Arkansas, or does it have broader planning relevance?

While the project focus is Arkansas COA delineation, the notice describes broader planning value: the work is expected to shed light on integrated species and habitat analysis methods that could inform updates to regional and state-level conservation frameworks.

Which broader conservation frameworks are mentioned as potentially informed by this work?

The notice specifically mentions the Southeast Conservation Adaptation Strategy and Blueprint and indicates the approach could potentially inform other State Wildlife Action Plans as well.

What is the practical outcome the funding is intended to support?

The practical outcome is a strengthened and finalized COA delineation process for Arkansas, along with demonstrated value in integrating species-based and habitat-based assessments for conservation priority-setting.

Does the notice describe a plan to fund multiple organizations or partners?

No. The notice indicates a single-source intent with one expected award and a specific intended recipient.