Gaviota Tarplant Genetic Analysis at Vandenberg Space Force Base, CA

The Gaviota Tarplant Genetic Analysis at Vandenberg Space Force Base opportunity is issued by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Fort Worth District under the authority of the U.S. Department of Defense. The funding is released as a Request for Statements of Interest (RSOI) through Grants.gov to identify potential investigators for a cooperative agreement project associated with natural resource conservation activities at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. The project operates under the Sikes Act, a federal law that requires military installations to manage natural resources through Integrated Natural Resources Management Plans (INRMPs). These plans guide conservation efforts for wildlife, plants, and ecosystems on military lands while ensuring mission readiness. The primary objective of this opportunity is to support genetic analysis research related to the Gaviota tarplant, a species associated with the coastal ecosystems surrounding Vandenberg Space Force Base. The project is intended to generate scientific data that can assist natural resource managers in understanding the genetic diversity, population structure, and conservation needs of this plant species. Such work supports habitat conservation and informs management decisions related to endangered or sensitive species present on Department of Defense lands. Funding will be delivered through a cooperative agreement with an anticipated base period of performance lasting eighteen months from the date of award. The agreement may include up to two additional follow-on periods of eighteen months each, contingent upon the availability of future funding and project performance. The funding opportunity lists a potential award ceiling of 522000 dollars and an award floor of 168000 dollars, indicating that individual project awards may vary within this range depending on the scope and negotiated agreement with the selected partner. At this stage of the process, the agency is not requesting a full technical proposal or detailed project budget. Instead, interested investigators must submit a Statement of Interest that outlines their qualifications and potential capability to conduct the work described in the project scope. After reviewing submitted statements of interest, the government may select one or more respondents and invite them to submit a full proposal and budget for consideration. According to the notice, statements of interest must remain posted on Grants.gov for at least thirty days before the government makes a decision regarding the invitation of full proposals. Eligibility for this opportunity is limited to institutions that are members of Cooperative Ecosystem Study Units located within the Californian and Great Basin regions. These research partnerships typically include universities, research institutions, government agencies, and nonprofit organizations that collaborate on ecosystem science and natural resource management projects. Under the Sikes Act authority governing this funding, priority may be given to federal and state agencies with responsibility for conservation or management of fish and wildlife resources. The opportunity was posted on March 10, 2026, and the deadline for submission of Statements of Interest is April 10, 2026. Questions or responses regarding the opportunity may be directed to Maria Lopez, Grants Specialist with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Fort Worth District, at [email protected] or by phone at 817-886-1881. Additional technical inquiries may also be directed to David Leptien, Project Manager, at [email protected]. After the statement of interest review process is complete, selected applicants may be invited to submit full proposals for the cooperative agreement.

Submit a concise Statement of Interest demonstrating capability to perform the genetic analysis project; full proposals are only requested after the government reviews SOIs