The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) has announced a cooperative agreement opportunity to support the assessment of oyster reefs in the Great Wicomico River, Virginia. This funding opportunity, listed under Funding Opportunity Number W81EWF-25-SOI-0010 and Assistance Listing Number 12.630, is part of the federal government’s effort to restore and evaluate the ecological integrity of oyster reef ecosystems in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. The program is overseen by ERDC, with anticipated collaboration with USACE Norfolk District personnel.
The Great Wicomico River has been a key site for oyster restoration since 2004, when 85 acres of sanctuary oyster reefs were constructed using low- and high-relief reef designs. Over time, monitoring revealed significant differences in performance between reef types, with high-relief reefs outperforming the low-relief ones in line with the Chesapeake Bay Program’s Sustainable Fisheries Goal Implementation Team (GIT) Oyster Metrics. This project seeks to build on prior work by assessing newly constructed and rehabilitated oyster reefs—including 1.71 acres of rehabilitation, 14.15 acres of adaptive management, and 2.38 acres of new reef construction—scheduled for completion by Fall 2025.
The selected applicant will carry out field assessments across seven reef sites spanning approximately 18.24 acres, with planned monitoring in 2026, 2028, and 2030 (Years 1, 3, and 5). These assessments will evaluate oyster density, biomass, shell accretion, and size-frequency distribution, and may include associated fauna. The results are intended to inform adaptive management strategies and future restoration design. Research outputs are expected to be co-authored with USACE staff and published in peer-reviewed journals.
This opportunity is limited to non-federal partners of the Chesapeake Watershed Cooperative Ecosystems Studies Unit (CESU). Awards will be issued as Cooperative Agreements with a total funding pool of $300,000 allocated across three periods over five years: $100,000 for each period. The anticipated single award will include significant government involvement, such as assistance with site maps, methodology, and co-authorship.
The application process is two-phased. Phase I requires a Statement of Interest (SOI) of no more than two pages, due by 12:00 PM Central Time on July 26, 2025. Selected applicants will be invited to submit a full proposal by 12:00 PM Central Time on August 11, 2025. Proposals must include a technical narrative, a detailed cost proposal, and a data management plan. Applications may be submitted via email to Kisha M. Craig at Kisha.M.Craig@usace.army.mil or through Grants.gov. Applicants must have an active registration in SAM.gov.
The government will evaluate submissions based on technical merit, relevance to Department of Defense missions, and cost realism. No match funding is required, and awards are subject to all applicable federal regulations, including those governing human and animal research. Awardees will be required to comply with detailed reporting obligations throughout the grant period, including progress, financial, and patent reports as applicable.
Ensure CESU membership and submit all forms precisely. Focus on metrics-aligned technical design.
