Naval Base Kitsap-Bremerton Natural Resources Support- Juvenile Salmonid Surveys in Sinclair Inlet, WA

The Naval Base Kitsap-Bremerton Natural Resources Support- Juvenile Salmonid Surveys in Sinclair Inlet, WA opportunity is a federal cooperative agreement administered by the U.S. Department of Defense through the Department of the Army, Fort Worth District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The project is offered under the authority of the Sikes Act, 16 USC 670c-1, and Assistance Listing 12.005, Conservation and Rehabilitation of Natural Resources on Military Installations. The project supports the Naval Base Kitsap environmental program and its responsibility to manage natural resources while maintaining compliance with applicable environmental laws, regulations, and policies. The work is intended to provide research and technical assistance with public benefits extending beyond the immediate project area through scientific knowledge, professional experience, and collaboration among federal agencies and nonfederal partners. The project will conduct juvenile salmonid surveys in Sinclair Inlet, Washington, to update baseline information used in the Naval Base Kitsap Integrated Natural Resource Management Plan and support future Endangered Species Act Section 7 consultation for in-water construction at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard. Work includes project coordination and planning, nearshore marine fish surveys using boat-based beach seine methodology, data collection and analysis, and preparation of final deliverables. Survey methods are to follow the approach of Fresh et al. 2006, with emphasis on sub-yearling juvenile Chinook salmon. Survey locations will be selected in coordination with Navy personnel. The recipient is responsible for obtaining necessary scientific collection permits, and survey personnel must be able to identify fish species native to Puget Sound and juvenile salmonids to species. Maximum funding available for the project is 207847, and Grants.gov identifies one expected award with both the award ceiling and award floor listed as 207847. No cost sharing or matching requirement is identified. The established Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit indirect cost rate is limited to a maximum of 17.5 percent for work covered by the agreement or modifications. The anticipated base period is approximately 30 months from the date of award, with no planned follow-on periods. Project planning is expected to begin following award, fieldwork is planned between February and June in 2027 and 2028, and additional time is provided for data analysis and reporting. Meaningful work must commence by September 30, 2026. Eligibility is restricted to members of the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Units Program in the Californian and Pacific Northwest Regions. The RFP states that the cooperative agreement is offered only to members of those CESU regions. Under the Sikes Act, priority is given to Federal and State agencies having responsibility for conservation or management of fish or wildlife. The recipient and all proposed subrecipients and contract vendors must have an active NIST SP 800-171 DoD assessment performed within the last three years. Survey personnel must also be able to pass background checks to obtain installation access. Applicants must submit the full proposal electronically to the Agreement Specialist and Agreement Project Manager and reference the RFP number in the email subject line. Two electronic copies are required, including a PDF copy and MS Word or Excel versions containing all required sections. The proposal consists of Administrative Information, Forms, Certifications, and NIST SP 800-171 Assessment Compliance; Technical Approach; Experience and Qualifications; and Budget. Required administrative materials include organizational and contact information, UEI and CAGE information, applicable CESU and FICE information, identification of subrecipients and contract vendors, NIST assessment evidence, technical and administrative contacts, signature authority documentation, signed SF 424, SF 424A, SF 424B and SF-LLL forms, and a Federal Audit Report. Sections II and III together may not exceed 25 pages. Proposals will be evaluated by a board familiar with the project. Technical Approach and Experience and Qualifications are individually rated and are considered evenly important, while the Budget is reviewed but not rated. Technical Approach review considers understanding of goals and objectives, methodology, deliverables, and the feasibility of the schedule and milestones. Experience and Qualifications review considers the Principal Investigator or Field Director's relevant knowledge and experience and the team's demonstrated ability to perform comparable work. Budget costs must be allowable, allocable, reasonable, justified, consistent with the Statement of Objectives, and organized by task and applicable performance period. The RFP is dated August 20, 2026. Technical questions and clarifications were due August 24, 2026, before noon Central Time. The RFP originally directed applicants to submit proposals by September 8, 2026, but the current Grants.gov synopsis was subsequently updated to establish September 14, 2026, as the current closing date, which controls for deadline entry because it is the later official update. The anticipated award is in mid-to-late September 2026, followed by a 30-month performance period, with meaningful work commencing by September 30, 2026. Cheryl Vendemia is the identified Grants Officer and grantor contact at 817-253-3341 and cheryl.r.vendemia@usace.army.mil. Brian Hesford is the USACE Project Manager at 402-200-8268 and brian.d.hesford@usace.army.mil. No recurring application cycle is stated.

Demonstrate a thorough understanding of the project goals and objectives and provide specific survey protocols and methodology. Explain data handling and deliverables clearly and provide a feasible schedule with reasonable milestones. Identify a Principal Investigator or Field Director with direct relevant knowledge and comparable data analysis and report preparation experience. Show that the team's prior experience demonstrates the ability to meet all objectives effectively and efficiently. List and justify every budget cost by task and performance period and ensure costs are allowable allocable and reasonable. Avoid exceeding the 25-page combined limit for Sections II and III because proposals exceeding that limit will not be evaluated.