Natural Resources & Endangered Species Research & Support at Ft. Hood, TX | W81EWF 24 SOI 0005

Opportunity Information: Apply for W81EWF 24 SOI 0005

Natural Resources and Endangered Species Research and Support at Fort Hood, Texas is a discretionary federal funding opportunity run by the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC), focused on applied research and field support for managing sensitive wildlife and habitats on an active military installation. The project centers on collecting, analyzing, and reporting data that Fort Hood and its partners can use to track population status, evaluate management actions, and improve conservation outcomes for federally listed and other priority species. The work is meant to be practical and management-facing: the studies are designed in coordination with Fort Hood Natural Resources staff, ERDC-CERL (Construction Engineering Research Laboratory), and Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) partners, with the expectation that findings from Fort Hood will also be useful across the broader ranges of the focal species.

The scope is organized into six main tasks that blend analytics, seasonal fieldwork, and community outreach. Task 1 is an analysis-heavy effort using data already collected during the 2024 avian breeding season. The awardee will receive datasets such as point count survey results, nest locations, nest monitoring histories, and productivity measures, then summarize and analyze those data to estimate distribution, abundance, and population status for endangered and migratory birds on the installation. A key deliverable is decision-ready information on population size and trends, including how local management actions are influencing progress toward regional population goals. These results are intended to feed directly into Fort Hood’s annual endangered species status reporting.

Task 2 shifts from analysis of existing data to intensive monitoring during the 2025 breeding season (roughly March through July) for two high-profile endangered or at-risk songbirds: the black-capped vireo and the golden-cheeked warbler. The emphasis is on demographic parameters that matter for conservation and recovery planning, including occurrence, density, and reproductive success, and on understanding how those metrics vary across time and space. Field crews will conduct point counts on established routes to support population censusing, locate and repeatedly monitor vireo nests to quantify nesting outcomes, and band vireo nestlings. For warblers, the work also includes capturing and banding breeding adults, which requires staff experienced with mist-netting passerines or personnel who can be trained and supervised by individuals operating under the necessary permits. Importantly, the capture and banding work is expected to be conducted under existing state and federal permits held by Fort Hood staff, and the monitoring must follow protocols in the Fort Hood Endangered Species Management Plan/Environmental Species Management guidance referenced as the ESMC. After the breeding season, the awardee analyzes the demographic dataset to update estimates of population size, trends, and management impacts relative to regional objectives.

Task 3 expands the bird work beyond listed species to broader migratory bird monitoring during the 2025 breeding season (March through August). The project collects demographic information such as occurrence, density, and nest placement at selected sites, explicitly including comparisons between areas with and without maneuver lane habitat modifications. The awardee will locate and monitor nests for all migratory species within established plots, then analyze temporal and spatial patterns in abundance and reproductive effort. The goal is to generate evidence that Fort Hood can use to refine habitat management and balance training needs with conservation responsibilities. As with Task 2, the work is performed under Fort Hood-held permits and in accordance with ESMC protocols.

Task 4 addresses pollinators, with baseline butterfly surveys in spring and summer 2025 and a particular focus on monarch butterflies. The field approach centers on transect surveys through grassland habitats, recording butterflies detected while also counting milkweed stems to evaluate how monarch presence and abundance relate to host plant density. When monarchs are encountered, they will be netted and tagged for participation in the Monarch Watch Program, adding value to wider-scale tracking efforts. Survey design and exact locations are to be selected collaboratively with Fort Hood Natural Resources staff and ERDC-CERL, reinforcing that the work is intended to fit local management priorities and logistics.

Task 5 tackles an invasive, high-impact species issue: feral hogs. Because feral hogs damage habitats through rooting and trampling and can degrade areas used by endangered and sensitive species, Fort Hood maintains an active monitoring and control program. Under this task, work occurs across fall 2024 and spring 2025 and uses multiple detection and management approaches, including visual surveys for animals and rooting damage, aerial surveys, and trapping. The awardee’s role is not just to collect observations but to analyze the effectiveness of different survey and control methods so Fort Hood can improve feral hog management strategies. As with other field components, survey locations and methods are coordinated with Fort Hood Natural Resources and ERDC-CERL.

Task 6 supports natural resources outreach for both the installation community and the surrounding area. Specific outreach products and events are flexible and will be selected based on Fort Hood and ERDC-CERL input, but the notice highlights examples such as support for Christmas Bird Count and Breeding Bird Count activities, engagement with local schools about Fort Hood’s natural resource work, development of educational materials for adults and children, and hosting nature walks on the installation. This task recognizes that long-term conservation on military lands often depends on communication, public understanding, and constructive relationships with nearby communities.

Administratively, the opportunity is offered as a cooperative agreement, categorized under science and technology/research and development (CFDA 12.630). The funding opportunity number is W81EWF 24 SOI 0005. The posting lists an award ceiling of $977,000 and anticipates up to two awards. Eligibility is limited: only non-federal partners of the Great Rivers Cooperative Ecosystems Studies Unit (CESU) can apply, which typically means qualified universities, nonprofits, and similar organizations participating in that CESU network. The agency also flags compliance requirements around disclosures of current and pending support; incomplete or problematic disclosures can affect eligibility, and ERDC may request updates before award and throughout performance, with the possibility of discontinuing funding based on review results. Finally, the notice reiterates that religious organizations may compete for federal financial assistance on the same basis as secular organizations, consistent with Executive Order 13798.

• The Engineer Research and Development Center in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Natural Resources & Endangered Species Research & Support at Ft. Hood, TX" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 12.630.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2023-11-15.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-01-15. (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 $977,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 2 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others.

Apply for W81EWF 24 SOI 0005

[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal: