Wading Bird Colony Location, Size, and Timing in the Everglades | W81EWF 20 SOI 0005

Opportunity Information: Apply for W81EWF 20 SOI 0005

The grant opportunity titled "Wading Bird Colony Location, Size, and Timing in the Everglades" (Funding Opportunity Number W81EWF 20 SOI 0005) is a discretionary, science-and-technology focused research opportunity issued by the U.S. Department of Defense, Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers. It is structured as a cooperative agreement, which usually means the agency expects to be substantially involved during the project period (for example, coordinating on study design, data standards, field priorities, reporting formats, and integration of results into agency decision-making), rather than simply providing funds with minimal interaction.

The program is aimed at supporting research and monitoring work related to wading bird colonies in the Everglades, specifically addressing where colonies form (location), how large they are (size), and when they occur (timing). In practice, a project under this topic would typically involve field surveys and/or remote-sensing supported monitoring to detect colony sites, estimate nesting abundance or colony magnitude, and document seasonal or interannual patterns in colony initiation and peak activity. Because the sponsor is the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the work is likely intended to inform Everglades restoration, water management, habitat assessment, and related planning or compliance needs where wading birds serve as high-profile ecological indicators. The title suggests a focus on colony dynamics at a landscape scale, not just single-site biology, with deliverables that can be used to track changes over time and relate them to hydrology and habitat conditions.

Financially, the opportunity lists an award ceiling of $625,380 and anticipates making one award. That indicates a single, relatively substantial project rather than multiple smaller awards, and it implies a competitive selection where the chosen recipient would be expected to cover the full scope described in the solicitation. The opportunity is categorized under CFDA 12.630, aligning it with Department of Defense assistance programs rather than civilian science agencies, which is consistent with Corps of Engineers involvement in ecosystem restoration and environmental research in areas tied to federal water infrastructure and management responsibilities.

Eligibility is listed broadly as "Others," with additional clarification referenced in the full notice under an "Additional Information on Eligibility" section. This category often includes entities beyond standard state and local governments, and may include nonprofits, universities, research institutions, and certain other organizations depending on the specific terms in the announcement. Applicants would typically be expected to demonstrate technical capacity for wildlife/ecological monitoring in South Florida wetlands, experience with wading bird colony survey methods, and the ability to manage cooperative agreement requirements such as coordination with federal project staff, data management, and timely reporting.

The announcement was created on November 18, 2019, with an original closing date of December 17, 2019, indicating a roughly one-month application window. The funding activity category is "Science and Technology and other Research and Development," which reinforces that this is intended as applied research/monitoring supporting management decisions, rather than general conservation funding. Overall, the opportunity is best read as a targeted Everglades ecology project: one award, moderate six-figure budget, cooperative partnership model, and a clear focus on generating actionable information about wading bird colony distribution, magnitude, and seasonal timing in a restoration-relevant context.

• The Department of Defense, Dept. of the Army -- Corps of Engineers in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Wading Bird Colony Location, Size, and Timing in the Everglades" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 12.630.
• This funding opportunity was created on Nov 18, 2019.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Dec 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 $625,380.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

Apply for W81EWF 20 SOI 0005

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