Arnold Air Force Base is offering this grant for an Arthropod Community Study to Support Bat Conservation.

Project Title: Arthropod Study at Arnold AFB 

Responses to this Request for Statements of Interest will be used to identify potential investigators for a project to be funded by Arnold Air Force Base, which provides professional and technical support for its Integrated Natural Resources Management Plan (INRMP) in order to facilitate successful implementation of the 16 USC 670c-1 Sikes Act.  Approximately $219,000 is expected to be available to support this project, depending on availability of funds. 

Background:  

Nine species of bats have been documented from Arnold AFB all of which are insectivores. While studies have shown that insects of various orders form the majority of bat’s diet, other arthropods have been documented (Clare et al. 2011; Feldhamer et al. 2009). Two bat species at Arnold AFB are listed as endangered by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). The Indiana bat (Myotis sodalis) was listed on 11 March 1967, and the gray bat (M. grisescens) was listed on 28 April 1976. A third, the Northern long-eared bat (Myotis septentrionalis), was listed as Threatened on 4 May, 2014. While the bat community at Arnold AFB is well studied and under continuous monitoring, little is known about the arthropod community upon which it relies. An inventory was conducted in 1998-1999, however, it focused on rare plant communities, grasslands, and Eggert’s sunflower (Lambdin and Grant. 1999). While this study provided valuable information, it only tangentially touched on oak forests – the most prevalent habitat on Base. 

Note: Must be a non-federal partner in one of the CESU Units, referenced above, to be qualified for considered.   

Period of Performance.  The period of performance is anticipated to be 18 months from date of award. 

Note: A full study proposal and proposed budget are NOT requested at this time. 

Please send responses or direct questions to: 

Sandy Justman 

Grants Specialist  

USACE Ft. Worth District  

Sandra.justman@usace.army.mil 

Office: (817) 886-1073 

Sarah Miller 

Project Manager  

USACE Omaha District  

Sarah.j.miller2@usace.army.mil 

Office: (402) 995-2625  

Timeline for Review of Statements of Interest: The RSOI is a re-post and will be posted for another 2 weeks. Responses are due by 5:00 P.M., Central Time, on 4 AUGUST 2021.

[Attached is the Full RSOI & SOO]

Project Title: Arthropod Study at Arnold AFB 

Responses to this Request for Statements of Interest will be used to identify potential investigators for a project to be funded by Arnold Air Force Base, which provides professional and technical support for its Integrated Natural Resources Management Plan (INRMP) in order to facilitate successful implementation of the 16 USC 670c-1 Sikes Act.  Approximately 

$219,000 is expected to be available to support this project, depending on availability of funds. 

Background:  

Nine species of bats have been documented from Arnold AFB all of which are insectivores. While studies have shown that insects of various orders form the majority of bat’s diet, other arthropods have been documented (Clare et al. 2011; Feldhamer et al. 2009). Two bat species at Arnold AFB are listed as endangered by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). The Indiana bat (Myotis sodalis) was listed on 11 March 1967, and the gray bat (M. grisescens) was listed on 28 April 1976. A third, the Northern long-eared bat (Myotis septentrionalis), was listed as Threatened on 4 May, 2014. While the bat community at Arnold AFB is well studied and under continuous monitoring, little is known about the arthropod community upon which it relies. An inventory was conducted in 1998-1999, however, it focused on rare plant communities, grasslands, and Eggert’s sunflower (Lambdin and Grant. 1999). While this study provided valuable information, it only tangentially touched on oak forests – the most prevalent habitat on Base. 

Note: Must be a non-federal partner in one of the CESU Units, referenced above, to be qualified for considered.   

Period of Performance.  The period of performance is anticipated to be 18 months from date of award. 

Note: A full study proposal and proposed budget are NOT requested at this time. 

Please send responses or direct questions to: 

Sandy Justman 

Grants Specialist  

USACE Ft. Worth District  

Sandra.justman@usace.army.mil 

Office: (817) 886-1073 

Sarah Miller 

Project Manager  

USACE Omaha District  

Sarah.j.miller2@usace.army.mil 

Office: (402) 995-2625  

Timeline for Review of Statements of Interest: The RSOI is required to be posted for at least 30 days prior to the Government making a decision and requesting full proposals. Responses due by 5:00 P.M., Central Time, on 2 July 2021.

[Attached is the Full RSOI]

[Attached Full SOO]