Modeling effects of CEC exposures on fish populations within the Great Lakes Basin | F17AS00209

Opportunity Information: Apply for F17AS00209

The grant opportunity titled "Modeling effects of CEC exposures on fish populations within the Great Lakes Basin" is a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) effort to strengthen understanding of how contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) may affect fish populations in Great Lakes tributaries. The work is funded through the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative and administered by USFWS Region 3 out of Bloomington, Minnesota. At its core, the project supports the development and application of ecological (population-level) models that can translate measured chemical exposure and biological effects data into predictions about outcomes for fish populations over time, rather than focusing only on individual-level or short-term lab endpoints.

USFWS is looking specifically for an ecological modeler at Ball State University with demonstrated experience using fish and wildlife population models in chemical risk assessment contexts. The modeling component is meant to serve as one tool in a broader "weight-of-evidence" assessment framework that USFWS and its scientific partners have been building since 2010. That long-running collaboration has been investigating whether exposures to CECs in Great Lakes aquatic systems could plausibly contribute to measurable impacts on fish populations. In practice, this means population modeling will be used to connect field and laboratory observations of contaminant effects to population metrics that managers care about, such as recruitment, survival, age structure, and longer-term population trajectories.

This is not an open, competitive funding opportunity. The notice functions as an intent to make a single-source cooperative agreement award (opportunity number F17AS00209) directly to Ball State University without competition, citing Department of the Interior justification authorities (505 DM 2.14.B.2 and 4). The stated rationale is that competition is not practical because the intended recipient is uniquely qualified for the specific technical needs of the project, particularly expertise in fish population modeling with an emphasis on sturgeon modeling in relation to environmental toxicity. USFWS also notes that Ball State has already been briefed on the project goals, that the work aligns with the university lab's objectives, and that the recipient has prior collaborations and established working relationships with other members of the research team, reducing start-up friction and supporting timely delivery.

The award is structured as a cooperative agreement rather than a standard grant, which signals that USFWS expects to be substantially involved in the work. USFWS will contribute directly by providing field and laboratory CEC effects datasets collected during previous years of studies for incorporation into model development. The agency will also support a postdoctoral researcher associated with the project, provide technical and expert input on model formulation and performance, maintain open exchange of data between USFWS and the Ball State postdoc, and participate in reviewing publications produced from the effort. This level of involvement is intended to ensure the models are built using the best available agency data, are aligned with management and assessment needs, and remain consistent with the broader Great Lakes CEC research program.

Administratively, the opportunity sits in the discretionary funding category and uses the cooperative agreement instrument type, with activity categories tied to environment, information and statistics, and natural resources. The CFDA listing is 15.662, the expected number of awards is one, and the award ceiling is $117,371. The posting date is July 20, 2017, and the notice explicitly states there is no application or closing date because it is an intent to award to a named recipient rather than a solicitation open to other applicants.

• The Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service in the environment, information and statistics, natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Modeling effects of CEC exposures on fish populations within the Great Lakes Basin" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.662.
• This funding opportunity was created on Jul 20, 2017.
• Applicants must submit their applications by There is not an application process for this funding opportunity. This is a notice of intent to award a single source cooperative agreement to the Ball State University under justification 505DM 2.14.B. 2 and 4.. (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 $117,371.00 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 F17AS00209

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