Aquatic Fauna and Primary Production in the Florida Everglades

Background
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Fort Worth District, is issuing a Request for Statement of Interest for a cooperative agreement focused on the study of aquatic fauna and primary production in the Florida Everglades. This initiative is part of the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP), which aims to restore the South Florida ecosystem through adaptive assessment and monitoring programs. The goal is to collect data that supports long-term restoration efforts and informs water management strategies.

Grant Details
The anticipated work includes several mandatory tasks such as:
1) Project Initiation Meeting, Project Plan & Permits;
2) Aquatic Fauna Sampling;
3) Primary Production Sampling;
4) Data Analyses & Reporting;
5) Participation in RECOVER Regional Team Support; and specific modeling tasks related to interim goals and targets.

The project will involve sampling aquatic fauna and periphyton, analyzing data for trends, and preparing reports summarizing findings. Optional tasks may include expanding spatial and temporal survey scopes, monitoring active marsh improvements, and contributing to system status reports.

Eligibility Requirements
Eligible applicants must be members of one of the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Units (CESU) Regions: Gulf Coast, Piedmont-South Atlantic Coast, or South Florida-Caribbean. Applicants should possess a PhD in relevant fields such as wetland ecology or freshwater fish ecology, with direct research experience in the Everglades ecosystem. They must also have the capability to obtain necessary research permits for conducting sampling within designated areas.

Period of Performance
The period of performance includes a base period of 12 months from the date of award, with up to four additional follow-on periods of 12 months each, contingent upon funding availability.

Grant Value
The total value expected for this grant is approximately $996,800 during the base period, with $630,000 allocated for mandatory tasks, $66,800 for Task 6, and $300,000 for Task 8. Additional funding may be available for optional tasks in subsequent years.

Place of Performance
The grant activities will primarily take place within the Water Conservation Areas (WCAs) and Everglades National Park in southern Florida.