Great Lakes Biology Monitoring Program: Phytoplankton and Chlorophyll-a Components

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), through its Great Lakes National Program Office, has issued a Notice of Funding Opportunity for the Great Lakes Biology Monitoring Program focusing on phytoplankton and chlorophyll-a components. This program operates under the authority of the Clean Water Act and supports the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Action Plan IV. The initiative is designed to fulfill EPA’s statutory responsibility to maintain a system-wide surveillance network that monitors water quality across the Great Lakes. The program plays a critical role in assessing ecological health, supporting fisheries and habitat management, and informing stakeholders about environmental conditions affecting the region. The primary purpose of this funding opportunity is to support a comprehensive, long-term monitoring project that collects and analyzes phytoplankton and chlorophyll-a data across all five Great Lakes. These biological indicators are essential for understanding ecosystem health, as phytoplankton form the base of the aquatic food web and respond quickly to environmental changes such as nutrient shifts and invasive species. The selected project will contribute to tracking spatial and temporal trends in water quality and ecosystem conditions, as well as evaluating emerging scientific methods, including artificial intelligence approaches for phytoplankton identification. Funding under this opportunity is expected to total up to $3.6 million, with one cooperative agreement anticipated. The project period is approximately six years, with funding distributed incrementally at about $600,000 per year, contingent upon performance and availability of appropriations. The EPA retains discretion to partially fund projects or make additional awards if further funding becomes available. No cost sharing is required; however, applicants may propose voluntary cost sharing, which becomes binding if included in the application. Eligible applicants include a range of non-federal entities such as state and local governments, federally recognized tribes, institutions of higher education, and nonprofit organizations. Applicants must demonstrate the ability to conduct sampling and analysis within the Great Lakes Basin and adhere to strict program requirements, including maintaining continuity with historical data collection methods. Applications must include detailed workplans, annual budgets, and comprehensive data management and quality assurance strategies, including the development of Quality Assurance Project Plans and Quality Management Plans. The application process requires submission through Grants.gov and includes several mandatory components such as the SF-424 form, budget narrative, and a project narrative not exceeding thirty pages. The workplan must address study design, collaboration, expected outputs and outcomes, and programmatic capability. Evaluation criteria emphasize technical rigor, ability to maintain data continuity, effectiveness of supplemental studies, and organizational capacity. Applications will undergo a competitive review process based on a point system totaling 133 possible points. Key dates include an application deadline of June 30, 2026, with anticipated selection notifications in August 2026 and award notifications in October 2026. The project is expected to begin January 1, 2027, and conclude no later than March 31, 2033. Applicants must ensure timely data submission and reporting throughout the project period. For further information, applicants may contact the EPA via the designated program email.

Ensure strong alignment with GLBMP priorities and demonstrate ability to maintain continuity with historical datasets; emphasize technical expertise in phytoplankton analysis and robust data management systems; clearly detail annual workplans and budget allocations