15.678 - Cooperatiev Ecosystem Studies Unit | F19AS00297

Opportunity Information: Apply for F19AS00297

The Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service is offering a discretionary cooperative agreement under CFDA 15.678 (Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit) to support development of a statistical, adaptive monitoring framework for sea otters in southeastern Alaska. The opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number F19AS00297) was created July 12, 2019, with an original application deadline of July 17, 2019. The agency expects to make one award with a maximum funding level (award ceiling) of $110,577.

The core purpose of the project is to build a practical, science-based monitoring approach that helps managers track and anticipate changes in a sea otter population that is expanding across the region. The work is heavily quantitative and is centered on constructing a Bayesian hierarchical model capable of estimating current occupancy and abundance while also forecasting future population distribution and size. Those forecasts are then used to compare and evaluate different candidate monitoring designs, with the goal of selecting an optimal monitoring framework based on clear design criteria (for example, statistical performance, efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and ability to detect change over time).

Beyond model development, the project requires rigorous testing of how well the modeling and monitoring approach performs. This includes sensitivity analyses and performance evaluation using both simulated datasets (to understand behavior under controlled assumptions) and real-world data (to confirm usefulness under field conditions). A major emphasis is usability: the selected methods cannot remain purely academic, so the recipient must also draft step-by-step analytical procedures that agency biologists can implement, even if they have limited statistical training. The deliverables include a final report and/or manuscript-style products, plus any other supporting materials needed to ensure the framework can be applied in management in a timely manner.

Eligibility is aimed primarily at public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, with additional eligible applicant types referenced in the notice (via an “Additional Information on Eligibility” field). Overall, the project is positioned as supporting the Department of the Interior’s broader financial assistance priorities by using science to identify best practices for natural resource management and to improve the ability to adapt to environmental change. It also explicitly aims to improve efficiency and scientific rigor and reduce management uncertainty for sea otters under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, by providing a defensible and adaptable monitoring strategy grounded in modern statistical forecasting.

• The Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service in the natural resources, science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "15.678 - Cooperatiev Ecosystem Studies Unit" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.678.
• This funding opportunity was created on Jul 12, 2019.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 17, 2019. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $110,577.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

Apply for F19AS00297

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