Mist-netting and radio telemetry of imperiled bats on U.S. Army Garrison West Point | W81EWF 23 SOI 0001

Opportunity Information: Apply for W81EWF 23 SOI 0001

This funding opportunity, issued by the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center, Construction Engineering Research Laboratory (ERDC-CERL), is focused on improving bat conservation and management at U.S. Army Garrison West Point (USAG WP) through hands-on field research. West Point contains ecologically important habitat that may support bat species that are federally endangered, under review for protection, or otherwise considered species of conservation concern. Because military installations often serve as large, relatively intact refuges for wildlife, the Army has an ongoing need to document what sensitive species are present, how they use the landscape, and how to meet legal conservation obligations while still supporting long-term mission and training requirements. This project is intended to complement an acoustic bat survey ERDC-CERL planned for summer 2023 by adding live-capture and tracking methods that can identify species with higher confidence and reveal where bats roost.

The core objective is to provide research and technical support to capture bats using mist-nets and then use radio telemetry to track tagged individuals to their roost sites on or near USAG WP. The work is organized into two primary tasks. Task 1 is the mist-net survey effort, designed to capture bats in flight corridors and other high-use areas. Past surveys at West Point have documented northern long-eared bat, little brown bat, eastern small-footed bat, tricolored bat, big brown bat, eastern red bat, hoary bat, and silver-haired bat, with the possibility that Indiana bat could also occur. Mist-netting is planned for four sites across a two-week window between July 15 and August 15, 2023. Site selection and the final schedule are expected to be coordinated closely with ERDC-CERL and West Point personnel, and will depend on access, weather, and other logistics. At each site, the field team is expected to deploy single-, double-, and/or triple-high mist-nets in likely travel corridors, check nets every 10 minutes, and operate for five hours starting at dusk, while meeting applicable U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) survey-condition guidelines for weather, lighting, and related requirements. Because the work involves imperiled species, the opportunity emphasizes permitting readiness: an Endangered/Threatened Species License from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation is required, and applicants with that license and/or a federal USFWS Federally-listed Bat Species Recovery Permit are preferred.

Task 2 is the telemetry component, which turns captures into actionable habitat information. After capture, up to 20 bats will be fitted with radio transmitters (Lotek NanoTags supplied by ERDC-CERL) to allow both local, fine-scale movement tracking and broader movement detection. The selected applicant would begin tracking immediately after capture using handtracking methods (handheld receiver and antenna) and would locate each tagged bat daily to identify roost locations on or near West Point. Each individual would be tracked intensively for roughly two weeks after capture, and because capture occurs over a two-week mist-netting period, the project anticipates an approximately four-week intensive tracking window to cover bats tagged early through late in the capture period. A subset of transmitters will be configured so batteries last long enough to potentially capture fall migration movements through the Motus Wildlife Tracking System, extending the value of the effort beyond the immediate roost-finding period.

The expected public benefit is framed around improved conservation outcomes for threatened and endangered species and better-informed management across both Department of Defense lands and surrounding landscapes. Since bats routinely move across installation boundaries, understanding their roosting and movement patterns supports coordination among public and private stakeholders. The announcement also highlights the broader ecological and economic importance of bats, particularly insect-eating species, citing estimates that bats provide billions of dollars annually in avoided crop damage and reduced pesticide use. In practical terms, the project outputs are meant to strengthen ongoing monitoring of bat occupancy trends at West Point, guide habitat and forest-management decisions, and support compliance with the Endangered Species Act and related conservation requirements.

From an award and administration standpoint, this is a discretionary opportunity using a Cooperative Agreement, meaning the government expects to be substantially involved rather than simply issuing funds and receiving a final report. The total expected funding is $25,000, the anticipated period of performance is six months, and the government anticipates making one award (while reserving the right to make more or less). ERDC-CERL’s involvement is described as project monitoring and technology transfer of project products to DoD natural resource managers, including helping clarify objectives, assisting with study design and data collection, interpreting intermediate findings, and facilitating coordination with DoD personnel. The award is authorized under 10 USC 4001 and governed by federal assistance rules including 2 CFR 200 and related DoD terms and conditions.

Eligibility is restricted to non-federal partners of the North Atlantic Coast Cooperative Ecosystems Studies Unit (CESU), so not all organizations can apply. Applicants must also meet standard federal assistance requirements such as maintaining an active System for Award Management (SAM) registration, and they must comply with certifications, representations, and assurances tied to federal funding. The announcement places strong emphasis on disclosure requirements, including current and pending support, and requires disclosure of any potential scientific or non-scientific conflicts of interest for both the applicant and any proposed subrecipients. The government notes it may request updated support disclosures before award and during the project, and that disclosures can affect eligibility or continuation of funding.

The application process is structured as a two-phase competition. Phase I requires a concise Statement of Interest (SOI), limited to two single-spaced pages in 12-point font, submitted by email to the administrative point of contact, Angela D. Holcomb (Angela.D.Holcomb@usace.army.mil). The SOI must include the applicant’s name, organization, and contact information, along with qualifications such as a biographical sketch, descriptions of relevant past projects and clients, a summary of staff/faculty/students available and their expertise, and any capabilities or resources relevant to successful field implementation (for example, specialized equipment and field capacity). A budget is not requested at Phase I. SOIs were due by 5:00 PM Central Time on March 21, 2023, and selected applicants would be invited to Phase II to submit a full proposal package, with detailed Phase II requirements provided with the invitation. The opportunity is identified as Funding Opportunity Number W81EWF 23 SOI 0001, issued by the Department of Defense (CEERD-CERL), under CFDA 12.630, with an original closing date listed as April 21, 2023.

• The Department of Defense, CEERD-CERL in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Mist-netting and radio telemetry of imperiled bats on U.S. Army Garrison West Point" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 12.630.
• This funding opportunity was created on Feb 21, 2023.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Apr 21, 2023. (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 $25,000.00 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 W81EWF 23 SOI 0001

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