Deadline: 26 June, 2023, at 13:00 Central Time (CT)
I. Program Description
A. Short Description of Funding Opportunity
US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) seeks applications for a cooperative agreement to develop a collaborative water quality monitoring program for the purpose of identifying the physiochemical parameters that may cause the onset of Didymo blooms in the St. Marys River Rapids adjacent to the Soo Lock and Dam. Initial data from the program will be used by ERDC and the CESU institution to design and conduct laboratory and field tests aimed to control and/or manipulate Didymo growth.
B. Background
The St. Marys River hosts an economically important commercial salmonid fishery that is also culturally significant to the Bay Mills Indian Community. Didymo, a microscopic single-celled freshwater diatom that secretes a fibrous stalk which is used to attach to rocks and plants in rivers and streams, was discovered in the St. Marys Rapids near Sault Ste. Marie in 2015. There are growing concerns the species will directly impact commercially and recreationally important fisheries species within affected watersheds by limiting access to critical spawning habitat or creating recruitment bottlenecks for young-of-year fishes due to a reduction in important foraging habitat. Didymo is considered native to parts of Canada and Northern Europe and has recently become established in portions of the Great Lakes, but little is known about the environmental conditions that foster Didymo growth.
C. Program Description/Objective (brief description of the anticipated work)
We propose the establishment of a multi-year collaborative water quality monitoring program to evaluate temporal trends in measured water quality parameters that may directly affect bloom time and productivity of invasive Didymo. This research effort will fill critical gaps in knowledge of Didymo growth cycles and inform other research questions targeted at control methods. Due to the complex nature of resolving ties between Didymo annual growth metrics and associated water quality conditions, we support a tiered research approach featuring an ERDC-based component and a local-based CESU component. The CESU institution represents a necessary and relevant research component to the overall project. The entity must illustrate (a) an extensive knowledge of the watershed; (b) a firm understanding of Didymo life history traits; (c) past research experience with Didymo; (d) prior analytical experience with testing ambient water samples for biologically relevant physiochemical parameters; and (e) experience with data interpretation and reporting biotic-physiochemical interactions in aquatic systems.
As part of this collaborative effort, ERDC will obtain a continuous suite of basic water quality parameters (temperature, conductivity, dissolved oxygen, pH, and turbidity) by deploying a single YSI EXO2 data sonde in the Saint Marys Rapids area adjacent to the Saint Marys Powerhouse and maintain the data sonde at the project area for a two-year period. In coordination with the continuous monitoring, the CESU organization will collect ambient water quality samples weekly (e.g., Monday) from a location near the deployed EXO2 unit. Ambient water quality sampling will be shifted to two samples per week (e.g., Monday, Thursday) prior to the anticipated onset of the bloom and maintained until after the optimal growing period (Table 1). Three replicate water samples will be obtained during each sampling event and are required to address variability in water quality conditions. Water samples will be obtained by the CESU institution in coordination with the USACE Soo L&D support staff, preserved according to prescribed laboratory specifications for processing. Each water sample will be assessed for Orthophosphate, Ammonium, Nitrate, Total Phosphorus and Total Nitrogen. In addition, the CESU institution will monitor the St. Marys Rapids area to track the progress of Didymo growth in conjunction with other Didymo research currently being conducted in the area. Failure to collect the samples concurrently with the continuous sonde data may result in the failure to capture important interactions between the physiochemical parameters and the nutrient concentrations. At the completion of each annual deployment, all water quality data (i.e., YSI data sonde, ambient water samples) will be compiled, integrated into a central database, and analyzed to evaluate water quality correlates with biological responses of Didymo (e.g., bloom time, density/abundance) within the project area during the sample period. During this phase, the collective knowledge and long-term experience with local conditions of the CESU institution is critically important in understanding proposed relationships between observed field conditions and measured water parameters.
After two years of monitoring data have been collected, trends in the data will be used to develop several laboratory assays to detect important parameter thresholds that will be completed jointly by ERDC and the CESU institution. The CESU will collect Didymo samples from the St. Marys River for propagation and testing in the lab studies. The CESU will also integrate these data into ongoing research projects such as experimental stream studies. At the conclusion of the project, the CESU and ERDC will produce a report summarizing the progress made in understanding patterns in Didymo growth.
| Month | Samples | Locations | Replicates | TOTAL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JAN | 4 | 1 | 3 | 12 |
| FEB | 4 | 1 | 3 | 12 |
| MAR | 8 | 1 | 3 | 24 |
| APR | 8 | 1 | 3 | 24 |
| MAY | 8 | 1 | 3 | 24 |
| JUN | 8 | 1 | 3 | 24 |
| JUL | 8 | 1 | 3 | 24 |
| AUG | 4 | 1 | 3 | 12 |
| SEP | 4 | 1 | 3 | 12 |
| OCT | 4 | 1 | 3 | 12 |
| NOV | 4 | 1 | 3 | 12 |
| DEC | 4 | 1 | 3 | 12 |
| TOTAL | N/A | N/A | N/A | 204 |
Water quality data acquired through the monitoring program will be used by ERDC and the CESU institution to design laboratory and field tests for evaluating Didymo growth control parameters.
D. Public Benefit
Unchecked Didymo growth in the St. Marys rapids threatens the salmonid fishery by reducing access to critical spawning grounds and rearing habitat. The salmonid fishery is an economically 4 of 12 and recreational important resource in the region as well as an important cultural resource to the Bay Mills Indian Community. Identifying the environmental triggers for a Didymo bloom is the first step to developing control methods. At the end of each year of monitoring, ERDC and the CESU will produce a report summarizing the water quality of the St. Marys River Rapids.
E. Authorization
10 USC 4001
F. Legal Requirements
Each Cooperative Agreement awarded under this announcement will be governed by 2 CFR 200, “Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards”, 2 CFR 1100 Subchapter D—Administrative Requirements Terms and Conditions for Cost-Type Grants and Cooperative Agreements to Nonprofit and Governmental Entities and the DoD research general terms and conditions on the Office of Naval Research website.
G. Program-Specific Requirements
Water sample data will be sent to ERDC every 2 months. ERDC and the CESU institution will analyze the data and produce a final report detailing how the water quality correlates with Didymo growth at the end of the project.
II. Federal Award Information
The following information applies to awards issued under this announcement:
- This is a one-time initiative.
- The Government anticipates 1 Federal award from this announcement but reserves the right to award more or less.
- The total amount of funding expected to be awarded through this announcement is $43,100.
- The expected amount of funding for each award is $20,800 for Year 1; $20,800 for Year 2; and $1500 for Year 3.
- Award(s) from this announcement will be Cooperative Agreement(s).
- The anticipated period of performance is (3 years).
- Applications for renewal or supplementation of existing projects are eligible to compete with applications for new Federal awards.
- The government reserves the right to accept only portions of an application and to negotiate with potential awardees.
- Government’s substantial involvement includes ERDC’s installation of a YSI EXO2 multiparameter sonde that will continuously monitor temperature, pH, specific conductivity, dissolved oxygen, and turbidity. This data will complement the weekly water samples that the CESU institution will collect and analyze for Orthophosphate, Ammonium, Nitrate, Total Phosphorus and Total Nitrogen concentrations. Failure to collect the samples concurrently with the continuous sonde data may result in the failure to capture important interactions between the physiochemical parameters and the nutrient concentrations. ERDC and the CESU institution will analyze the data and produce reports detailing how the water quality correlates with Didymo growth.
III. Eligibility Information
A. Eligible Applicants
This opportunity is restricted to non-federal partners of the Great Lakes-Northern Forest Cooperative Ecosystems Studies Unit (CESU).
Disclosures of current and pending support made in this application may render an applicant ineligible for funding. Prior to award and throughout the period of performance, ERDC may continue to request updated continuing and pending support information, which will be reviewed and may result in discontinuation of funding.
Religious organizations are entitled to compete on equal footing with secular organizations for Federal financial assistance as described in E.O. 13798, “Promoting Free Speech and Religious Liberty.”
B. Cost Sharing or Matching
This action will be 100% funded by USACE.
C. Conflict of Interest
a) General Requirement for Disclosure
You and your organization must disclose any potential or actual scientific or nonscientific conflict of interest(s) to us. You must also disclose any potential or actual conflict(s) of interest for any identified sub recipient you include in your application. We may have to ask you more questions if we need more information.
At our discretion, we may ask you for a conflict-of-interest mitigation plan after you submit your application. Your plan is subject to our approval.
b) Scientific Conflict of Interest
Scientific collaborations on research and development projects are generally the result of close collaboration prior to the submission of applications for support. Accordingly, these collaborations should be considered when considering potential conflicts of interest. The potential conflict is mitigated by the disclosure of these collaborations, and the list of current and pending support you provide for senior and key researchers. Therefore, you must include in your list of current and pending support all collaborators, even if they did not formally provide support.
D. Other
a) Licensure or Certification
You must include the Acknowledgment of Support and Disclaimer on all materials created or produced under our awards. This language may be found in the Terms and Conditions included in the award documents.
E. Certifications, representations, and assurances
- To apply for grants and other funding opportunities the applicant entity must have an active registration in the System for Award Management (SAM). Applications will not be accepted through Grants.gov or other methods unless the entity is registered in SAM. Registration in SAM now includes the acceptance of Certifications and Assurances. Refer to the Grantor Standard Language page on the Grants.gov website for details on how to register in SAM and Grants.gov.
- The Federal Assistance Certifications Report is an attestation that the entity will abide by the requirements of the various laws and regulations; therefore, as applicable, you are still required to submit any documentation, including the SF-LLL Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (if award value exceeds $100,000.00), and, if applicable, informing DoD of unpaid delinquent tax liability or a felony conviction under any Federal law.
- Certification Regarding Disclosure of Funding Sources. By checking "I Agree" on the SF 424 (R&R) block 17 you agree to abide by the following statement: "By signing this application, I certify the proposing entity is in compliance with Section 223(a) of the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 which requires that: (a) the PI and other key personnel certify that the current and pending support provided on the proposal is current, accurate and complete; (B) agree to update such disclosure at the request of the agency prior to the award of support and at any subsequent time the agency determines appropriate during the term of the award; and (c) the PI and other key personnel have been made aware of the requirements under Section 223(a)(1) of this Act. I am aware that any false, fictitious, or fraudulent statements or claims may subject me to criminal, civil, or administrative penalties. (U.S. code, Title 218, Section 1001)."
IV. Application and Submission Information (2 Phase Process)
A. Phase I: Submission of Statement of Interest (SOI)
1. Materials Requested for Statement of Interest/Qualifications
a. Please provide the following via e-mail attachment to:
Stacy Thurman at [email protected] (Maximum length: 2 pages, single-spaced 12 pt. font).
i. Name, Organization and Contact Information
ii. Brief Statement of Qualifications (including):
- Biographical Sketch
- Relevant past projects and clients with brief descriptions of these projects
- Staff, faculty or students available to work on this project and their areas of expertise
- Any brief description of capabilities to successfully complete the project you may wish to add (e.g. equipment, laboratory facilities, greenhouse facilities, field facilities, etc.)
Note: A proposed budget is NOT requested at this time.
The administrative point of contact is Stacy Thurman ([email protected]).
2. ERDC will only accept SOIs submitted on or before 26 June 2023, 13:00 Central Time (CT).
Based on a review of the Statements of Interest received, an investigator or investigators will be invited to move to Phase II which is to prepare a full study proposal. Statements will be evaluated based on the investigator’s specific experience and capabilities in areas related to the study requirements.
B. Phase II (if invited): Submission of Full Application Package
1. Address to Request Application Package
The complete funding opportunity announcement, application forms, and instructions are available for download at Grants.gov.
The administrative point of contact is Stacy Thurman ([email protected]).
2. Content and Form of Application Submission
All mandatory forms and any applicable optional forms must be completed in accordance with the instructions on the forms and the additional instructions below.
a. SF 424 R&R
Application for Federal Assistance
b. Full Technical Proposal
Discussion of the nature and scope of the research and technical approach. Additional information on prior work in this area, descriptions of available equipment, data and facilities, and resumes of personnel who will be participating in this effort should also be included.
Cost Proposal/Budget: Clear, concise, and accurate cost proposals reflect the offeror’s financial plan for accomplishing the effort contained in the technical proposal. As part of its cost proposal, the offeror shall submit a full budget in sufficient detail so that a reasonableness determination can be made. A recommended template will be included in the invitation to Phase II. The SF 424 Research & Related Budget Form can be used as a guide but is required if the sub-recipient uses it. The cost breakdown should include the following, if applicable:
- Direct Labor: Direct labor should be detailed by level of effort (i.e. numbers of hours, etc.) of each labor category and the applicable labor rate. The source of labor rates shall be identified and verified. If rates are estimated, please provide the historical based used and clearly identify all escalation applied to derive the proposed rates.
- Fringe Benefit Rates: The source of fringe benefit rate shall be identified and verified.
- Travel: Travel costs must include a purpose and breakdown per trip to include destination, number of travelers, and duration.
- Materials/Equipment: List all material/equipment items by type and kind with associated costs and advise if the costs are based on vendor quotes and/or engineering estimates; provide copies of vendor quotes and/or catalog pricing data.
- Subrecipient costs: Submit all subrecipient proposals and analyses. Provide the method of selection used to determine the subrecipient.
- Tuition: Provide details and verification for any tuition amounts proposed.
- Indirect Costs: Currently the negotiated indirect rate for awards through the CESU is 17.5%.
- Any other proposed costs: The source should be identified and verified.
d. R&R Senior/Key Person Profile
- Biographical Sketch
- Disclosure of Current and Pending Support:
- A list of all current projects the individual is working on, in addition to any future support the individual has applied to receive, regardless of the source.
- Title and objectives of the other research projects.
- The percentage per year to be devoted to the other projects.
- The total amount of support the individual is receiving in connection to each of the other research projects or will receive if other applications are awarded.
- Name and address of the agencies and/or other parties supporting the other research projects.
- Period of performance for the other research projects.
e. SF-LLL Disclosure of Lobbying Activities (if award value exceeds $100,000.00)
f. Data Management Plan:
A data management plan is a document that describes which data generated through the course of the proposed research will be shared and preserved, how it will be done, or explains why data sharing or preservation is not possible or scientifically appropriate, or why the costs of sharing or preservation are incommensurate with the value of doing so. Refer also to DoD Instruction 3200.12.
Data management plans are generally 2 pages in length, and must include the following considerations:
- The types of data, software, and other materials to be produced.
- How the data will be acquired.
- Time and location of data acquisition, if scientifically pertinent.
- How the data will be processed.
- The file formats and the naming conventions that will be used.
- A description of the quality assurance and quality control measures during collection, analysis, and processing.
- A description of dataset origin when existing data resources are used.
- A description of the standards to be used for data and metadata format and content.
- Appropriate timeframe for preservation.
- The plan may consider the balance between the relative value of data preservation and other factors such as the associated cost and administrative burden. The plan will provide a justification for such decisions.
- A statement that the data cannot be made available to the public when there are national security or controlled unclassified information concerns (e.g., “This data cannot be cleared for public release in accordance with the requirements in DoD Directive 5230.09”).
3. ERDC will only accept full application packages submitted on or before 17 July 2023 at 13:00 Central Time (CT).
4. Submission Instructions
Choose ONE of the following submission methods:
a. E-mail
Format all documents to print on Letter (8 1⁄2 x 11”) paper. E-mail proposal to Stacy Thurman ([email protected].).
b. Grants.gov
Applicants are not required to submit proposals through Grants.gov. However, if applications are submitted via the internet, applicants are responsible for ensuring that their Grants.gov proposal submission is received in its entirety.
All applicants choosing to use Grants.gov to submit proposals must be registered and have and account with Grants.gov. It may take up to three weeks to complete Grants.gov registration. For more information on registration, visit the Applicants page on the Grants.gov website.
Organizations must have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and active System for Award Management (SAM) registration to apply for Federal financial assistance.
C. Application Withdrawal
An applicant may withdraw an application at any time before award by written notice via email. Notice of withdrawal shall be sent to the agency point of contact identified in this announcement and are effective upon receipt.
D. Funding Restrictions
Per 2 CFR § 200.216, funds may not be used to procure telecommunications equipment or video surveillance services or equipment produced by:
- Huawei Technologies Company
- ZTE Corporation Hytera Communications Corporation
- Hangzhou Hikvision Digital Technology Company
- Dahua Technology Company
- Any subsidiary or affiliate of such entities
Funds from an award may not be used to attain fee or profit.
V. Application Review Information
A. Selection Criteria
Applications will be evaluated using the following criteria, listed in descending order of importance:
- Extensive knowledge of the watershed.
- A firm understanding of aspects related to Didymo life history attributes.
- Past research experience with Didymo.
- Analytical experience with testing ambient water samples for biologically relevant physiochemical parameters.
- Experience with data interpretation and reporting biotic-physiochemical interactions in aquatic systems.
- Proximity and access to Soo L&D facility.
- Technical merits of the proposed research and development.
- Potential relationship of the proposed research and development to Department of Defense missions.
B. Review and Selection Process
Each application will be reviewed based on the selection criteria above rather than against other applications submitted under this Announcement.
Based on the Peer or Scientific Review, proposals will be categorized as Selectable or Not Selectable (see definitions below). The selection of the source for award will be based on the Peer or Scientific Review, as well as importance to agency programs and funding availability.
i. Selectable
Proposals are recommended for acceptance if sufficient funding is available.
ii. Not Selectable
Even if sufficient funding existed, the proposal should not be funded.
Note: The Government reserves the right to award some, all, or none of proposals. When the Government elects to award only a part of a proposal, the selected part may be categorized as Selectable, though the proposal as a whole may not merit such a categorization.
In addition to the technical/program review, the DoD performs a budget review and a risk review as directed by 2 CFR 200.206, including a review of the Federal Awardee Performance and Integrity Information System (FAPIIS). Applicants may review information in FAPIIS and comment on any information entered into that system. Comments made by applicants will be taken into account in addition to other information in considering applicants’ integrity, business ethics, and record of performance.
VI. Federal Award Administration Information
The notification e-mail regarding a selection is not authorization to commit or expend DoD funds. A DoD grants officer is the only person authorized to obligate and approve the use of federal funds. This authorization is in the form of a signed Notice of Award. Applicants whose applications are recommended will be contacted by a DoD grants officer to discuss any additional information required for award. This may include representations and certifications, revised budgets or budget explanations, or other information as applicable to the proposed award. The award start date will be determined at this time.
VII. Reporting Requirements
The terms and conditions of the award will provide the specifics on how to submit the reports and any required sections for those reports.
In accordance with 2 CFR 200.328 (Financial Reporting) and 2 CFR 200.329 (Program Performance).
| Report | Requirements/Form | Frequency | Means of Submission |
|---|---|---|---|
| ERDC Progress Report | Refer to info in next column ("Frequency") | Progress during the period covered by the corresponding SF 270 via email submission |
|
| Research Performance Progress Reports (Interim and Final) | OMB Control Number: 0704-0527 | Annually | |
| Financial Report | SF 425 | Quarterly | |
| Payment Report | SF 270 | Monthly | |
| Closeout Report | Refer to OAR Article VI of DoD R&D General Terms and Conditions | Once |
Awardees will need to comply with the reporting requirements in 2 CFR 170: Reporting Subaward and Executive Compensation Information.
The terms and conditions of the award will provide the specifics on how to submit the reports and any required sections for those reports.
VIII. Federal Contacts
Questions should be directed to:
- Stacy Thurman, Grants Specialist ([email protected])
- Chelsea Whitten, Grants Officer ([email protected])
- Questions regarding Grants.gov should be directed to:
- the toll-free number 1-800-518-4726
- [email protected].
IX. Other Information
The Federal government is not obligated to make any Federal award as a result of the announcement. Only grants officers can bind the Federal government to the expenditure of fund.
Applicants are advised to monitor Grants.gov for potential amendments to this Notice of Funding Opportunity. You can also elect to be automatically notified by Grants.gov whenever there is a change to the opportunity.
Applications must not include any information that has been identified as classified national security information under authorities established in Executive Order 12958, Classified National Security Information.