Published on 2024-09-26 by guerber
CFDA #: 15.156, Branch of Tribal Climate Resilience – Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA)
PROJECT TITLE: Plant Ecologist – Tribal Coastal Restoration
SUBMISSION DEADLINE: Thursday, October 10th, 2024, 7:59 pm Alaska Daylight Time / 11:59 pm
Eastern Daylight Time
Eligibility
All CESU members. Preference may be given to federally recognized tribes, tribal colleges and universities, or institutions exhibiting experience working with coastal tribal communities if the applicant meets all stated requirements and demonstrates the ability to conduct the project to the fullest extent.
Summary
Responses to this RSOI solicitation announcement will be used to identify potential investigators for a project funded by the BIA to assess the botanical/native seed and plant materials needs and provide technical support for Tribes who are relocating, retreating, expanding, or utilizing protect-in- place measures to address climate-induced erosion and similar impacts. The BIA is identifying ways to support Tribes in addressing ecological restoration issues on Tribal Trust and Treaty lands, including the implementation of the National Seed Strategy (NSS) for Rehabilitation and Restoration, that seeks to increase the amount of native and locally adapted seed and plants available for building resilient landscapes. The incumbent will partner with the BIA, during their efforts to evaluate and rehabilitate coastal ecosystems following relocation and related infrastructure demolition, extreme coastal erosion, and similar activities. The role of the incumbent will focus primarily on assisting Tribes that have been awarded: 1) White House Voluntary Community-Driven Relocation (CDR) project funding, 2) The Tribal Climate Resilience’s Relocation, Managed Retreat, and Protect-in-Place (RMP) project funding, or 3) have not been awarded but that are encountering climate change impacts to the extent that the Tribe is considering site relocation (i.e. site expansion, climigration, and/or managed retreat) or protect-in-place options. The position will target erosion mitigation using native grass seed and plant materials and other similar protective measures for affected areas, including those where the community is living and/or that are moving away from, to maintain for subsistence purposes or other use as decided by each tribe. The incumbent will provide this technical assistance during and/or after families/infrastructure has been moved from the affected areas. The position may require coordination with relevant federal and state agencies, Tribal communities, and the Plant Conservation Alliance (PCA), as well as other relevant networks and working groups.
Background
The BIA Branch of Tribal Climate Resilience will support funding for this position, which will be hosted at a Cooperative Ecosystems Studies Units (CESU) member tribe, college, or university. The mission of the BIA Branch of Tribal Climate Resilience (TCR) is to support climate preparedness and resilience for all Federally recognized Tribal Nations and Alaska Native villages through technical and financial assistance, access to scientific resources and educational opportunities. In November 2022 the Biden-Harris Administration announced the launch of the Voluntary Community- Driven Relocation (CDR) Program, consisting of Tribally-led demonstration projects. The CDR Program is being implemented by TCR and other DOI programs to assist Tribal communities severely impacted by climate-related environmental threats. In addition, TCR provides financial support through a non-competitive RMP Coordinator Set Aside funding opportunity dedicated to prioritizing Tribes at the highest risk to climate change impacts.
Through President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the U.S. Department of the Interior’s (DOI) Ecosystem Restoration Program, the BIA will partner with a CESU member through a cooperative agreement to hire a coastal plant ecologist position (further, “ecologist”) in efforts to implement a national revegetation effort. The ecologist will focus on providing technical assistance to Tribes and Alaska Native villages that are working on community driven relocation, managed retreat, site expansion, protect-in-place, and similar efforts.
The Plant Conservation Alliance (PCA) is a public-private collaboration among 17 federal agency members and more than 400 non-federal cooperators that share the same goal: to protect native plants by ensuring that native plant populations and their communities are maintained, enhanced, and restored. The BIA partners with the PCA through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to identify, recommend, and coordinate implementation of priority native plant conservation needs. This project will implement PCA-developed National Seed Strategy (NSS) goals through ecoregional collaboration to connect Tribes with seed collection, storage, production and supply training, and other resources.
Public Purpose and Benefit
This project will focus support on benefitting communities in the CDR Program and receiving RMP Coordinator support through TCR, though may expand to communities with similar impacts, as appropriate. The project also supports the White House Justice40 Initiative and environmental justice efforts, as tribal experiences with climate change can make Indigenous peoples particularly vulnerable to cascading disproportionate impacts (STACCWG, 2021).
Description of Essential Project Elements
- A. This is intended as a fully funded position reporting directly to the CESU for at least one year and supports the National Seed Strategy (NSS).
- B. The position will collaborate with BIA, the PCA, Tribal Nations, and other partners as appropriate to summarize project activities and identify information necessary for the assessment of native seed and plant needs, as described in paragraph D.), below.
- C. The primary purpose of this project will be to provide one-on-one technical expertise and support to Tribal managers on complex ecological restoration issues with consideration to climate change as it relates to dynamic shifts in species composition and stability of ecological sites.
- a. Provide dynamic vision, direction, and specific technical expertise to Tribes with an emphasis on adaptive restoration and plant ecology to access ecological restoration-based resources available to Tribes.
- b. Provide technical assistance that supports ecological restoration efforts with Tribes, partners, landowners, and regulators, including native plant materials development and use, consistent with implementation of the National Seed Strategy.
- c. Assist Tribes in building their capacity for developing and/or gaining access to consistent and reliable supplies of locally adapted seed and plant materials, whether commercially available or through seed collection efforts.
- D. Develop and provide a report of project activities, including:
- a. An assessment as a component of the final report, on Tribal native plant needs to mitigate erosion in high-risk areas and/or areas that communities are relocating away from, with potential challenges in accessing native plant materials and native seeds. Explain how the assessment methods include respect and consideration for Tribal data sovereignty, including an informed consent process for collaboration with Tribal Nations.
- b. All communication and outreach materials related to this effort.
- c. Maps and/or aerial photos of project activities.
- d. Recommendations based on findings to inform future program planning and implementation.
Statement of Interest Guidelines
Statements of Interest must be no more than four pages (12 pt, single spaces) and include the following:
- A. Principal investigator(s) (PI) with full contact information, including: name, title, organization, address, email, phone, and CESU affiliation.
- B. Brief Statement of Qualifications, including:
- a. Biographical Sketch for PI(s) and other key personnel if any (e.g. faculty, staff, students, partners) to be involved with the project, including areas of expertise. (NOTE: Full curriculum vitae for project personnel may be included in addition to the Statement of Interest and Qualifications.)
- b. List of relevant past projects and clients, with brief descriptions of these projects related to the essential activities of the project.
- c. Brief summary description of capabilities and related actions envisioned necessary to successfully complete the project as described above, including an estimated one-year project timeline, as well as a proposed budget table and narrative.
Project Principal Investigator Requirements
PI(s) will be expected to submit both project performance narrative reports and federal financial (SF-425) reports on a semi-annual basis via the GrantSolutions (GS) portal. The CESU will need to create a GS account with the BIA (as an account is required for each agency) if one does not already exist.
Review of Statements Received and Timeline
Statements of Interest and Qualifications will be evaluated based on the specific experience and capabilities related to the essential project elements as described above. Based on a review of submissions received, a PI will be selected and contacted to jointly prepare a full study proposal and formal agreement with BIA.
Funds Available
$200,000.00
Attachments
Submission
The SOI and any related inquiries may be submitted by email attachment by the submission deadline listed above to both contacts:
John Mosley, Branch Chief
Branch of Tribal Climate Resilience, Division of
Environmental Services and Cultural Resources,
Office of Trust Services, BIA
[email protected]
Angela Waupochick, Regional Coordinator
Branch of Tribal Climate Resilience, Division of
Environmental Services and Cultural Resources,
Office of Trust Services, BIA
[email protected]
References
Status of Tribes and Climate Change Working Group (STACCWG). (2021). Status of Tribes and Climate Change Report, Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ. [Marks-Marino, D.(ed.)]