Natural Resources and Endangered Species Research and Support at Fort Cavazos, Texas

The U.S. Department of Defense, through its Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC), has announced a funding opportunity titled “Natural Resources and Endangered Species Research and Support at Fort Cavazos, Texas,” under funding opportunity number W81EWF-25-SOI-0009. This opportunity supports the military’s ongoing mission to balance rigorous training operations with the sustainable management of ecologically important lands. The ERDC is offering a cooperative agreement to a non-federal partner institution within the Great Rivers Cooperative Ecosystems Studies Unit (CESU), focusing on comprehensive natural resource management and endangered species conservation within Fort Cavazos. Fort Cavazos, one of the most active training bases for mechanized divisions in the Army, is located on ecologically sensitive terrain that is home to several species of concern. These include the federally endangered golden-cheeked warbler, the recently delisted black-capped vireo, as well as other migratory birds and at-risk plant pollinators. The base must comply with federal environmental mandates such as the Endangered Species Act (ESA), the Sikes Act, and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA), while maintaining its military readiness. This funding opportunity aims to provide logistical and research support to assist the Army in balancing these responsibilities. The primary objectives of the project include analyzing historical data on species distribution and abundance, monitoring the demographics of targeted bird species, surveying and managing invasive feral hogs, and supporting natural resource outreach activities. Specifically, the work will enhance understanding of species populations, identify trends over time, support ongoing habitat conservation strategies, and contribute to managing threats from invasive species that compromise native biodiversity and training operations. The total funding allocated for this initiative is $983,000, which is also the maximum award available. Only one award is expected to be made. The funding is provided under the assistance listing 12.630 – Basic, Applied, and Advanced Research in Science and Engineering. This opportunity does not require matching funds and is offered as a discretionary cooperative agreement, giving the federal agency greater involvement in the project’s direction and execution. Acceptable uses of funds include logistical coordination, fieldwork, data analysis, reporting, and public outreach related to the installation’s conservation mission. Applications are limited to non-federal partners affiliated with the Great Rivers CESU. The funder has explicitly restricted eligibility to this group to ensure that partner organizations have relevant ecological, biological, and regional expertise. Interested applicants should submit proposals no later than August 13, 2025. The opportunity was officially posted on June 23, 2025, and will be archived after December 31, 2025. There is no pre-application deadline or LOI required for this opportunity, and applications are not accepted on a rolling basis. For additional details or to access the full announcement, applicants should contact Stacy Thurman, the listed grantor representative. While no email or phone number was included in the synopsis, inquiries should be directed through the official channels on Grants.gov where the full opportunity package is hosted. Applicants are encouraged to thoroughly review eligibility requirements and address all components of the scope of work to ensure full compliance with program goals and legal mandates.