Management of Invasive Species Biosecurity Wake Island Airfield

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Fort Worth District, has issued a Request for Statements of Interest (RSOI) for a cooperative agreement focused on invasive species management and biosecurity operations at Wake Island Airfield and associated Pacific Air Forces Regional Support Center (PRSC) properties. This funding opportunity, designated W9126G-25-2-SOI-4998, is available exclusively to members of the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Units (CESU) within the Pacific Northwest, Hawaii-Pacific Islands, and Californian Regions. The cooperative agreement is authorized under the Sikes Act (16 USC 670c-1), prioritizing support for projects implementing integrated natural resource management plans (INRMPs). The primary purpose of this project is to support the PRSC’s Goal 8 from its 2023 INRMP, which emphasizes a systematic onshore and offshore biosecurity strategy. This includes early detection, rapid response, and long-term control of invasive species on properties including Wake and Johnston Atoll, Koke’e AFS, and Mt. Ka’ala AFS. The selected recipient will contribute to the development and implementation of biosecurity protocols aligned with the 2015 Wake Island Biosecurity Management Plan, assist with environmental documentation reviews, perform invasive species inspections, and provide awareness training to relevant personnel. The anticipated base funding for the initial 18-month agreement period is approximately $230,402. There are up to four additional 18-month follow-on periods contingent on future funding and performance. The agreement includes travel to remote and austere locations and requires significant coordination with USAF and associated contractors. Tasks will range from professional biological assessments and site inspections to pest monitoring, training, and reporting. Eligibility for this grant is restricted to CESU member organizations within the designated regions. All applicants must demonstrate experience with fieldwork in tropical and remote environments, and personnel must meet specific qualifications, including licensure for pesticide application and appropriate academic credentials. A full proposal and budget are not required at this stage. Interested parties are invited to submit a two-page Statement of Interest, including organizational qualifications and relevant experience. The deadline for submission of Statements of Interest is 2:00 PM Central Time on July 27, 2025. Questions must be submitted no later than July 9, 2025. Submissions should be sent via email to Maria Lopez (Maria.E.Lopez@usace.army.mil) and David Leptien (David.B.Leptien@usace.army.mil). Only organizations with an active NIST SP 800-171 DoD Assessment completed within the past three years are eligible for award. The proposal review process includes evaluation by a board at the receiving installation, and select applicants will be invited to submit full proposals after the initial review. Deliverables under this cooperative agreement include a kickoff meeting, monthly and quarterly progress updates, site visit reports, pest management documentation, and spatial data products. Final reporting requirements include SF270, SF-PPR, SF425, DD882, SF428, and associated inventory records. The recipient must adhere to all applicable safety, environmental, and data security regulations, and project outputs will be subject to public affairs and security reviews prior to publication or dissemination.

Limit submission to two pages, single-spaced; include specific experience in remote biosecurity and invasive species work.