Great Lakes Biology Monitoring Program: Zooplankton, Mysis, and Benthic Invertebrate Components

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), through its Great Lakes National Program Office (GLNPO), has issued a Notice of Funding Opportunity for the Great Lakes Biology Monitoring Program focusing on zooplankton, Mysis, and benthic invertebrate components. This program is part of the broader Great Lakes Restoration Initiative and fulfills statutory obligations under the Clean Water Act to maintain a comprehensive monitoring network assessing water quality and ecosystem health across the Great Lakes. The initiative has a long-standing history dating back to 1983 and plays a critical role in informing fisheries management, habitat restoration, and environmental protection strategies. The primary purpose of this funding opportunity is to support a large-scale, long-term monitoring project that evaluates the biological health of the Great Lakes using lower food web indicators. These include zooplankton, Mysis, and benthic invertebrate populations, which serve as essential markers of ecosystem condition and water quality. The selected recipient will conduct extensive field sampling, laboratory analysis, and data interpretation to track ecological trends, assess impacts from invasive species, and contribute to regional environmental decision-making. The work must align with established program priorities and maintain consistency with historical datasets to ensure continuity in long-term monitoring. Funding for this opportunity is substantial, with up to 8.1 million dollars anticipated to be awarded through a single cooperative agreement. The project period is expected to span approximately six years, with incremental annual funding contingent on performance and federal appropriations. The funding supports a wide range of allowable activities including field data collection, laboratory analysis, statistical evaluation, reporting, and supplemental studies such as the application of artificial intelligence methods for biological assessment. While cost sharing is not required, applicants may propose voluntary contributions, which become binding if included. Eligibility is limited to specific non-federal entities including state and local governments, federally recognized tribes, institutions of higher education, and nonprofit organizations. Applicants must demonstrate the technical capability to perform complex biological sampling and analysis across all five Great Lakes and adhere to strict methodological and reporting requirements. Projects must take place within the Great Lakes Basin and align with program priorities, including monitoring ecosystem health and addressing invasive species impacts. The application process requires submission through Grants.gov and includes several mandatory components such as the SF-424 form, budget documentation, and a detailed project narrative. The narrative must outline the study design, collaboration plans, expected outcomes, and budget justification. Applicants must also demonstrate compliance with quality assurance standards and provide detailed data management plans. Evaluation criteria are rigorous and include technical merit, programmatic capability, data management, and the significance of expected outcomes. The application deadline is June 30, 2026, with anticipated selection notifications in August 2026 and award notifications by October 2026. The project is expected to begin on January 1, 2027, and conclude no later than March 31, 2033. The EPA will maintain substantial involvement throughout the project, consistent with cooperative agreement requirements. For further information, applicants may contact the GLBMP-ZMB NOFO Team via email. This opportunity represents a significant investment in environmental monitoring and scientific research critical to the sustainability of the Great Lakes ecosystem.

Emphasize continuity with historical datasets, demonstrate strong taxonomic expertise, and provide detailed data management and QA plans aligned with EPA standards