The grant opportunity outlined in this Request for Statements of Interest (RSOI) from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Fort Worth District, seeks to support bat conservation at Fort Carson and the Piñon Canyon Maneuver Site in Colorado. With a base funding amount of approximately $192,000 and potential additional funding for optional tasks or follow-on work, this initiative is being offered under the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Units (CESU) Program, specifically for organizations within the Colorado Plateau or Desert Southwest CESU regions. The grant focuses on bat surveys and monitoring to support natural resource management at these military sites, aiming to conserve the tricolored bat, little brown bat, and hoary bat, species under consideration for federal endangered status.
The purpose of this project is to identify maternity colonies and hibernacula, particularly in light of threats like white-nose syndrome (WNS), a disease impacting hibernating bats. The tricolored bat is prioritized due to its potential listing under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Tasks include bat netting and telemetry to determine roosting sites, acoustic monitoring, PIT tagging to study roost types and seasonal behaviors, and WNS sampling to assess the presence of this disease in bat populations and environments. Work must align with federal conservation laws such as the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the Sikes Act.
Eligible applicants must belong to the specified CESU regions and demonstrate qualifications through a two-page Statement of Interest. This document should include details about the principal investigator, relevant past projects, available personnel, and organizational capabilities. Applicants must have expertise in bat species identification, bat survey protocols, and WNS sampling methods, and ensure that all field personnel meet these qualifications. The period of performance for the base agreement is 18 months, with follow-on periods also lasting 18 months, subject to funding availability and project needs.
The grant allows for optional tasks such as deploying acoustic monitors and collecting environmental samples for WNS testing. Deliverables include detailed geospatial data and maps, monthly and quarterly progress reports, and a final report summarizing findings and offering management recommendations. Fieldwork will occur primarily between April and September. Government-furnished materials will include relevant data, equipment like PIT tags, and access to prior bat survey results.
Interested parties must submit their Statements of Interest by February 3, 2025, at 2:00 PM Central Time, via email to the designated grants specialist and project manager. These submissions will be reviewed for alignment with program objectives and qualifications, and selected candidates will be invited to submit full proposals. Additional inquiries and data requests can be directed to the project contacts listed in the RSOI.
