Natural Resources Support - Migratory Birds, Vandenberg Air Force Base, CA | W9126G 21 2 SOI 1528

Opportunity Information: Apply for W9126G 21 2 SOI 1528

Natural Resources Support - Migratory Birds, Vandenberg Air Force Base (VAFB), CA is a Department of Defense cooperative agreement opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number W9126G 21 2 SOI 1528) intended to identify a qualified investigator team to support the US Air Force in meeting its natural resources and environmental compliance responsibilities at VAFB. The work is framed around helping the installation implement requirements tied to the Sikes Act (16 USC 670c-1) and related laws and policies that govern how military lands manage and protect natural resources while still supporting mission activities. The anticipated base-period funding is about $82,800, with the possibility of additional follow-on funding in later fiscal years if funds are available and performance supports continuation.

Eligibility is narrow: this Request for Statements of Interest (RSOI) is only open to participants within the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Units (CESU) under the current Californian CESU Agreement. While the listing may appear broadly categorized in some fields, the narrative eligibility language controls, meaning non-CESU entities (or CESU entities outside the relevant California CESU framework) should not expect to be considered. The government is not asking for a full technical proposal or a budget at this stage; instead, it is using statements of interest to screen for qualifications, experience, and capacity to execute fieldwork and deliver defensible scientific outputs. After review, selected respondents may be invited to submit a full study proposal.

The purpose of the project is to generate consistent, repeatable data on migratory bird abundance and population trends in both upland and riparian habitats on VAFB. The core field method is point count surveying, a standard bird monitoring approach where observers record birds seen or heard from fixed locations for a set time period. The project specifically calls for surveys that align with established protocols and recommendations, including guidance described in Roberts and Geupel (2012) and standardized point count procedures (Ralph et al. 1993, Ralph et al. 1995). By tying the work to recognized methodologies, the Air Force is signaling that it wants results that can be compared across years and used in management decisions, compliance documentation, and long-term trend analysis.

For upland habitats, the expectation is to revisit and repeat surveys at the same 27 point-count arrays that were surveyed previously in 2016, supporting continuity in monitoring. Each location is to be surveyed twice during the breeding season window: once between May 15 and June 1, and again between June 1 and June 15. Counts are five minutes per point, conducted between sunrise and 10:00 a.m., and only under acceptable weather conditions (wind under 11 km/hour and no precipitation heavier than mist). Observers must record all birds detected within a 50-meter radius and document detection type (song, call, or visual) along with relevant behaviors. These requirements matter because they reduce bias, improve comparability, and make the resulting dataset more suitable for trend interpretation.

Riparian surveys are intended to be a comparable level of effort, again following Roberts and Geupel (2012) recommendations. A practical component of the work is access: the opportunity notes that trail clearing may be required to reach survey points, and this can involve physically demanding vegetation clearing using hand tools and potentially chainsaws or machetes. The field setting includes hazards common to coastal California landscapes, especially poison oak, which is described as widespread on base. As a result, the project implicitly requires a team that is comfortable working in thick vegetation and rugged conditions, can identify poison oak reliably, and will use appropriate protective clothing and exposure-reduction procedures as part of standard field safety practice.

Beyond data collection, the deliverables emphasize data integrity and usable interpretation. The cooperator is expected to conduct quality assurance and quality control on the dataset, analyze results to identify trends, and produce both draft and final reports. The reporting is expected to be complete and decision-oriented, covering goals, locations, methods, analyses, conclusions, and recommendations. That combination suggests the Air Force is looking for a partner who can bridge field biology and applied management, producing outputs that can support Integrated Natural Resources Management and broader compliance needs under statutes such as the Endangered Species Act, Migratory Bird Treaty Act, and the National Environmental Policy Act, as well as Air Force Instruction 32-7064.

Selection at the SOI stage is qualification-driven. Preference is given to statements of interest that clearly demonstrate experienced field staff, specifically technicians with at least five years of point count survey experience who can accurately identify riparian birds by sight and by sound, and who can estimate distance and direction using common field instruments. In parallel, the opportunity highlights the importance of a principal investigator capable of synthesizing field data into a coherent technical report with methods, results, statistical analysis, and practical management recommendations. In other words, the government is looking for both strong on-the-ground survey capacity and credible analytical/reporting leadership.

The period of performance is structured as a base period anticipated to be 18 months from award, with four optional periods also anticipated at 18 months each. This structure indicates the Air Force may treat the effort as an ongoing monitoring and support need, with the base period serving as the initial funded segment and option periods enabling continuation without recompeting if performance and funding align. Statements of interest are reviewed by a board at the receiving installation or activity, and the board will determine which submission(s) best fit program objectives. Only those selected through this screening are expected to be invited to submit a full proposal.

Administratively, the opportunity was posted January 20, 2021, with statements of interest due by 5:00 p.m. Central Time on February 20, 2021, consistent with the requirement that the RSOI remain posted for at least 30 days prior to the government making a selection and requesting full proposals. The awarding/administrating entities referenced include the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Fort Worth District (grants specialist contact) and USACE Omaha District (project manager contact), reflecting the common DoD practice of using USACE as a contracting and assistance agreement pathway for installation support projects.

Key details at a glance: it is a single expected award cooperative agreement in the science and technology/research and development space (CFDA 12.005), capped around $82,800 for the base period, focused on migratory bird point count monitoring in upland and riparian habitats at VAFB, with required adherence to established survey protocols, field access and vegetation-clearing readiness, strong bird ID skills (visual and auditory), and the ability to deliver QA/QC, trend analysis, and complete draft/final reporting suitable for Air Force natural resource management and compliance.

• 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 "Natural Resources Support - Migratory Birds, Vandenberg Air Force Base, CA" 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 20, 2021.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Feb 20, 2021. (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 $82,800.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility.

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