Monitoring of Wood Stork Reproduction in the Everglades, Florida

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Fort Worth District, has released a Request for Statement of Interest (RSOI) under Cooperative Agreement W9126G-25-2-SOI-4748. This funding opportunity is available exclusively to members of the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Units (CESU) in the Gulf Coast, Piedmont – South Atlantic Coast, and South Florida-Caribbean regions. The opportunity supports ecological research and fieldwork to monitor the reproductive success of the wood stork (Mycteria americana) in the Everglades, Florida. Wood storks are the only stork species breeding in the United States and are federally listed as threatened. Their breeding behavior and population trends are important indicators of ecological health in south Florida, especially as they relate to hydrologic restoration projects. The overarching purpose of this cooperative agreement is to collect and analyze field data that assess the reproductive response of wood storks—and, where applicable, other wading bird species—to hydrological changes driven by water control plans in the Everglades, such as the 2020 Combined Operational Plan (COP). The restoration of natural wetland hydrology is believed to be vital for the recovery of wood stork populations. By monitoring nest success, colony distribution, and hydrologic conditions, the research aims to evaluate restoration effectiveness and inform adaptive management strategies. Three core objectives include the collection of standardized field data, supplemental monitoring of other bird species, and the provision of ecosystem-based recommendations to sustain and enhance wood stork populations. The base period of performance spans 12 months from the date of award, with the possibility of up to four additional 12-month option periods. Approximately $267,270 in funding is expected to be available for the base year. Follow-on work and optional tasks may be funded based on future availability. Funding will be allocated under a CESU cooperative agreement with a fixed indirect cost rate of 17.5 percent. Award decisions will be based on the technical merit of submitted Statements of Interest (SOIs), alignment with USACE objectives, and overall organizational capabilities. Respondents must demonstrate qualifications through a technical narrative, including relevant experience, personnel qualifications, innovative methods, and institutional capacity. To be eligible, applicants must be current members of the CESU regions specified. Entities must also have an active National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) SP 800-171 assessment conducted within the last three years. Full proposals and budgets are not required at the SOI stage. Instead, the SOI must be submitted via email in a three-page document detailing organizational credentials, personnel bios, and prior experience. Finalists will be invited to submit full proposals following an internal evaluation. Statements of Interest must be submitted by 2:00 PM Central Time on July 28, 2025. Any questions related to the opportunity must be directed via email by July 14, 2025. Contacts for submission and inquiries include Yvonne Howard (yvonne.howard@usace.army.mil, 817-751-9737) and Emily Woodruff (emily.t.woodruff@usace.army.mil, 918-803-2356). Deliverables throughout the project include periodic updates, quarterly status reports, annual summaries, and a final report consolidating data and findings. The award also includes a comprehensive post-award invoicing and documentation process, with requirements such as the SF270, SF-PPR, and final reporting documentation.