Bat Diet Characterization at Arnold Air Force Base, Tennessee | W9126G 22 2 SOI 1683

Opportunity Information: Apply for W9126G 22 2 SOI 1683

The Bat Diet Characterization at Arnold Air Force Base, Tennessee opportunity is a Department of Defense cooperative agreement intended to identify a qualified research partner to study what bats are eating on and around Arnold AFB. The project supports the US Air Force in meeting natural resource management responsibilities under the Sikes Act (16 USC 670c-1). Rather than asking for a full technical proposal up front, the government is first requesting short Statements of Interest (SOIs) to screen for investigators with the right experience, staffing, and capabilities. One award is anticipated, with roughly $223,000 available depending on funds.

The core work focuses on field sampling across two summer field seasons, running June through September in two consecutive years (2022 and 2023), followed by laboratory and data analysis. Dietary analysis is based on bat guano, with special attention to how samples are handled: guano collected from bats captured via mist nets or harp traps will be analyzed at the level of individual pellets, while guano collected at the dam will use a mix of individual pellets and pooled pellets. The project is set up to produce prey identifications as precisely as possible using genetic methods, then evaluate whether sampling was sufficient using species accumulation curves.

A major part of the effort is coordinating and conducting guano collection in several specific ways. The cooperator is expected to provide sampling equipment to Arnold AFB staff so guano can be collected at annual mist net locations. The cooperator must also attend annual harp trapping at Beth Page Bridge to collect guano directly during those events. Additional guano will be collected at the Elk River Dam by placing clean plastic sheets under the roost to capture droppings. Beyond these fixed efforts, the cooperator must also conduct independent mist netting on the installation for at least 10 nights per year, covering a minimum of five sites per year. Exact mist net locations will be chosen in consultation with Arnold AFB Natural Resources personnel, which signals that site selection will balance scientific needs with access, safety, and installation priorities.

Bat handling and marking requirements are specified. All captured bats, regardless of species, will be banded, generally using 2.9 mm uniquely numbered aluminum lipped bands supplied by Arnold AFB, while tri-colored bats will use Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) 2.4 mm bands. This implies the cooperator must be prepared to follow established protocols for safe capture, handling, banding, and release, and to maintain clean data records that link guano samples to capture events where applicable.

On the laboratory side, the dietary work relies on genetic identification of prey items from guano, with results matched to reference libraries such as the Barcode of Life Data System (BOLD), GenBank, and potentially other databases. The intent is to identify prey to the lowest taxonomic level feasible, which usually means species-level when reference sequences are available and the genetic marker provides enough resolution, and higher taxonomic levels when it does not. The mention of species accumulation curves indicates the final deliverables will likely include an assessment of whether additional sampling would meaningfully change the observed diet profile, a standard way to evaluate completeness in biodiversity and diet studies.

Permitting and access responsibilities are also clearly assigned. The non-federal entity (the recipient/cooperator) is responsible for obtaining any state and federal permits needed for entry into the Woods Dam gray bat colony, mist netting, and any other proposed activities. While Arnold AFB personnel will escort entries into the dam, the cooperator still bears the burden of ensuring regulatory compliance, including any wildlife handling permissions and any conditions tied to working with protected species or sensitive roost sites.

Administratively, the anticipated period of performance is 24 months from the date of award, aligning with the two-field-season structure plus time for lab work, analysis, and reporting. The funding opportunity is listed under Funding Opportunity Number W9126G 22 2 SOI 1683, categorized as “Other” with a Cooperative Agreement instrument type, and associated with CFDA/Assistance Listing 12.005. The announcement emphasizes that a full study proposal and detailed budget are not requested at the SOI stage; the SOI is meant to demonstrate qualifications and fit.

SOIs will be reviewed by an evaluation board at the receiving installation or activity, and selections will be based on how well an investigator’s experience and capabilities align with the project requirements. After this screening, the most suitable investigator or team will be invited to submit a full proposal. The SOI posting was required to remain open at least 30 days, with responses due by 5:00 P.M. Central Time on March 2, 2022 (original posting date January 31, 2022).

For submission or questions, the listed points of contact are Audria Gill, Grants Specialist at USACE Fort Worth District (audria.j.gill@usace.army.mil, 817-886-1925), and McCullough Wells, Project Manager at USACE Omaha District (margaret.m.wells@usace.army.mil, 402-995-2590).

• The Department of Defense, Fort Worth District in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Bat Diet Characterization at Arnold Air Force Base, Tennessee" 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 Jan 31, 2022.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Mar 02, 2022. (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 $223,000.00 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 W9126G 22 2 SOI 1683

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