The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Fort Worth District, in cooperation with the Jacksonville District, has announced a funding opportunity under the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Units (CESU) Program. This funding opportunity is specifically for members of the Gulf Coast and South Florida-Caribbean CESU Regions. The project is titled "Monitoring Changes in Population Densities and Reproductive Success in Wading Bird Populations in the Florida Everglades," and is authorized under the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2000 and further governed by the CESU cooperative agreement protocols. The grant supports implementation of the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP) through targeted monitoring of key ecological indicators, particularly wading bird populations, which reflect the health and recovery of wetland habitats.
The overarching goal is to produce robust, system-wide monitoring data to support adaptive management efforts and assess restoration progress under CERP. Tasks include annual monitoring of nesting aggregations of Great Egrets, White Ibis, Roseate Spoonbills, and Snowy Egrets across Water Conservation Areas 1, 2, and 3. The selected recipient will be required to conduct monthly aerial and ground surveys between January and June, estimate reproductive success metrics such as nest success and fledgling counts, and participate in regional team meetings. Optional tasks include expanding survey coverage to the Big Cypress National Preserve and supporting development of performance metrics, data methodology reviews, and UAV-based monitoring.
The expected base period of performance is 12 months from the award date, with the possibility of up to four additional 12-month follow-on periods based on availability of funding. Approximately $137,273 is available for the base year, and additional funding may be allocated for optional tasks or follow-on work. The CESU indirect cost rate of 17.5% applies. All prospective applicants must demonstrate technical qualifications, including a PhD in Biology, Ecology, Environmental Science, or a related field, as well as specific experience monitoring wading birds in the Everglades and expert knowledge of its ecology. Familiarity with the CERP is strongly preferred.
To be eligible, applicants must be a CESU member from the specified regions and must also have an active NIST SP 800-171 DoD Assessment conducted within the past three years. A full proposal is not required at this stage; instead, interested organizations must submit a Statement of Interest (SOI) that includes contact information, qualifications, past relevant projects, biographical sketches, and summaries of technical capabilities. This submission must be limited to three pages.
The Statement of Interest is due by 2:00 PM Central Time on July 27, 2025. Any questions about the opportunity must be submitted by July 9, 2025. Submissions and inquiries must be directed to Maria Lopez (Maria.E.Lopez@usace.army.mil, 817-886-1881) and Niki Baker (Nicole.D.Baker@usace.army.mil, 918-669-4939). The highest-rated SOIs will be invited to submit full proposals. Evaluation will be based on technical merit, qualifications, and alignment with USACE missions, using a merit-based rating system ranging from Unacceptable to Good/Excellent.
Tailor qualifications to Everglades and highlight CERP and wading bird monitoring experience.
