Shorebird Conservation Project | F18AS00314

Opportunity Information: Apply for F18AS00314

The Shorebird Conservation Project (Funding Opportunity Number F18AS00314) is a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service discretionary grant described as a notice of intent to make a single-source award, meaning it was not opened as a competitive funding opportunity and there is no full public announcement package associated with it. The Service intends to issue one grant, with an award ceiling of $48,000 and an expectation of a single award, originally posted on August 20, 2018 with an original closing date of August 27, 2018. The eligible applicant category listed is nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education), but in practice this specific notice is targeted to one organization due to the single-source nature of the action.

The planned recipient is Point Blue Conservation Science, selected because of its unique qualifications and central role managing the Migratory Shorebird Project. The core purpose of the grant is to improve access to, and practical use of, Migratory Shorebird Project survey data by countries in the Pacific Flyway so that the information more directly shapes shorebird conservation and management decisions. The Migratory Shorebird Project is described as the largest coordinated survey of wintering shorebirds along the Pacific Coast of the Americas. Started in 2011 by Point Blue, it operates as a multi-national cooperative research and monitoring network involving roughly 50 conservation science organizations and agencies across 12 countries, with a broad conservation goal spanning the flyway from Alaska to Chile. Its model emphasizes connecting communities and partner institutions, standardizing monitoring approaches and data, and applying the resulting science to real conservation problems affecting shorebirds and wetlands.

The funded work focuses on practical capacity-building and better data delivery so partners can translate monitoring results into on-the-ground decisions. Key activities include co-developing a training curriculum with Latin American partners that teaches how to access, interpret, and apply the survey data; improving data accessibility by translating materials and tools into Spanish; and identifying and pursuing opportunities to engage decision-makers at multiple levels, from local site managers to international networks, so that the data informs conservation priorities, land and water management practices, and coordinated action across borders. In short, the grant supports turning an existing, large, multinational dataset into something that is easier to reach, easier to understand, and easier to use consistently across the flyway.

The opportunity is also framed as supporting Department of the Interior Secretarial priorities. It is tied to Priority #1 (creating a conservation stewardship legacy) by emphasizing science-based conservation and the sustainable use of natural resources to protect migratory shorebirds. It also aligns with Priority #3 (restoring trust with local communities) by improving relationships and communication with international partners and by encouraging conservation solutions that consider local community needs and perspectives. The programmatic justification highlights Point Blue's track record using Migratory Shorebird Project data to identify best practices for land and water resource management throughout the Pacific Flyway, reinforcing why the agency views Point Blue as uniquely positioned to deliver the objectives.

Funding authority is cited under several federal conservation and migratory bird statutes and appropriations, including the Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956 (as amended), the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act of 1958, the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act, the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, and the Department of State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2017. The funding activity category is Natural Resources, and the listing includes CFDA number 15.664, indicating it sits within the Fish and Wildlife Service assistance portfolio.

• The Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Shorebird Conservation Project" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.664.
• This funding opportunity was created on Aug 20, 2018.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 27, 2018. (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 $48,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education.

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