Ecosystem Management Technical Assistance to Promote Carbon Sequestration, Navy Region Southeast | W9126G 24 2 SOI 3579

Opportunity Information: Apply for W9126G 24 2 SOI 3579

The grant opportunity titled "Ecosystem Management Technical Assistance to Promote Carbon Sequestration, Navy Region Southeast" is a federal cooperative agreement intended to support ecosystem management work that helps increase or protect carbon sequestration on Navy lands and related natural resource areas in the Navy Region Southeast. The funding is being administered by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Fort Worth District, and it is framed as science and technology and other research and development assistance, with an emphasis on applied technical support that aligns with military installation natural resource priorities.

Eligibility is narrowly limited to members of the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Units (CESU) Program within the specified CESU regions: Gulf Coast, South Florida-Caribbean, and Piedmont-South Atlantic Coast. Organizations outside these CESU networks are not eligible for this opportunity. Because it will be awarded under the authority of the Sikes Act (10 USC 670c-1, also referenced in the notice as 16 USC 670c-1), the project is connected to implementation and enforcement of Integrated Natural Resources Management Plans (INRMPs). Consistent with the Sikes Act, the notice highlights that priority should be given to federal and state agencies that have responsibility for conservation or management of fish and wildlife, which signals that applicants with direct statutory or programmatic natural resource management roles may be particularly competitive.

The funding structure includes an expected base-period amount of approximately $1,008,700 to support the initial work. The base period of performance is 24 months from the date of award. Beyond that, the government indicates the possibility of up to four additional follow-on periods of 12 months each, contingent on the availability of funding and the needs of the program. The notice also lists an overall award ceiling of $5,355,400, which aligns with the idea that optional tasks and/or follow-on work could be funded in later years if the initial effort performs well and program requirements continue. The CESU program indirect cost rate is specifically identified as 17.5 percent, which is important for applicants because it affects how budgets must be built if they are later invited to submit a full proposal.

At this stage, the agency is not asking for a full technical proposal or a detailed budget. Instead, it is issuing a Request for Statements of Interest (SOI) to screen for qualified CESU members. The SOI is meant to demonstrate the applicant's qualifications, relevant past performance, and overall capability to perform similar work. The anticipated work itself is described in more detail in an attached Statement of Objectives (referenced in the opportunity package), and applicants are directed to consult the related documents for the full submission requirements and project information.

The selection process is described as a multi-step review. All Statements of Interest received from eligible CESU members in the specified regions will be evaluated by a review board made up of one or more representatives at the receiving installation or activity. The evaluation will focus on how well the submission aligns with program objectives, the qualifications of the proposed Principal Investigator, the relevance of past experience, and the demonstrated ability to successfully deliver the required technical assistance. Applicants whose SOIs best match the objectives will be invited to submit a full proposal later, meaning this initial submission functions like a qualification gate before the government spends time evaluating full technical and cost packages.

Key administrative details are clearly stated. The opportunity number is W9126G 24 2 SOI 3579, and the CFDA (assistance listing) number is 12.005. The instrument type is a cooperative agreement, which typically implies more substantial federal involvement during project execution than a standard grant. The Statement of Interest deadline is August 15, 2024, by 12:00 P.M. Central Time, and submissions are to be sent by email as attachments. The primary contacts are Sandy Justman, Grants Specialist at USACE Fort Worth District (sandra.justman@usace.army.mil, 817-886-1073), and Kathy S. Mitchell, Project Manager (kathy.s.mitchell@usace.army.mil, 817-886-1709). Only one award is expected, reinforcing that this is a single-partner technical assistance effort rather than a program distributing many smaller awards.

In practical terms, this opportunity is best read as a call for a CESU-affiliated partner (often a university, consortium, or qualifying agency within the CESU framework) that can provide ecosystem management expertise tied to carbon sequestration outcomes in the Navy Region Southeast, while operating within INRMP priorities and the Sikes Act framework. The immediate action for interested and eligible entities is to prepare a focused SOI that clearly demonstrates directly relevant experience, a strong PI, and an ability to deliver comparable technical work, while following the specific instructions contained in the full RSOI package under the related documents.

• The Fort Worth District in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Ecosystem Management Technical Assistance to Promote Carbon Sequestration, Navy Region Southeast" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 12.005.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2024-07-16.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-08-15. (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 $5,355,400.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others.

Apply for W9126G 24 2 SOI 3579

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