The Air Force Civil Engineer Center is offering this grant to evaluate new herbicide alternatives for invasive plants on Air Force bases in Florida.

Fort Worth, TX District Office  Review of Statements of Interest will begin 21 July 2021

Project Title: Evaluation of New Herbicide Alternatives for Invasive Plants on Air Force Lands in FL 

Responses to this Request for Statements of Interest will be used to identify potential investigators for a project to be funded by Air Force Civil Engineer Center (AFCEC) which provides professional and technical support for its Pest Management Program in order to facilitate successful implementation of 16 U.S.C. § 670(c) (1) – (SIKES ACT), USACE Acquisition Instruction (UAI) Part 5101, Version 4 dated 25 Jan 2017, revised July 2018, re-delegation of Authority in 16 U.S.C. §670C-1.  Approximately $102,000 is expected to be available to support the base year of this project. Additional funding may be available for follow on work in subsequent fiscal years to the successful Recipient/Awardee.  

Brief Description of Anticipated Work:  

This research focuses on the following objectives: 

This work requires regional invasive plant and herbicide expertise in support of habitat restoration on Air Force installations located in Florida to comply with the Sikes Act. Installations of concern are Avon Park AF Range (south central FL), Cape Canaveral AFS (Cocoa Beach), Eglin AFB (Destin), Homestead ARB (Homestead), MacDill AFB (Tampa), Patrick AFB (Cocoa Beach), and Tyndall AFB (Panama City). The Cooperator will have the ability to evaluate current, EPA and state-approved herbicides against Florida-specific invasive weeds, such as, but not limited to Brazilian pepper trees. Collaboration requires a detailed comprehension of integrated pest management, the Federal Fungicide, Insecticide and Rodenticide Act, Florida state law, problematic regional invasive plants, and protected and endangered species within the installations listed above. The Cooperator must have an ability to communicate via Internet with AF Active Duty, Civil Service and commercially contracted pest management personnel who may work invasive plant management on AF installations located within the state. The Cooperator will have the ability to travel and gain access to Florida AF installations, evaluate invasive plant types and regional distribution specific to the installations, and perform bioassays of current herbicides with a focus on determining alternatives to glyphosate. Additionally, the Cooperator will have the capacity to develop online training (live and recorded) for AF natural resources, pest management, and Florida-certified commercial weed management herbicide applicators. The Cooperator will have the ability to establish online training concerning invasive plant control to bolster habitat restoration benefiting protected species, which may and do occur in areas under Air Force stewardship. 

Period of Performance. The base period of this agreement will extend one year from award. Two option periods extending for one year are anticipated pending funds. 

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

Review of Statements Received: All statements of interest received will be evaluated by a board comprised of one or more people at the receiving installation or activity, who will determine which statement(s) best meet the program objectives. Based on a review of the Statements of Interest received, an investigator or investigators will be invited to prepare a full study proposal. Statements will be evaluated based on the investigator’s specific experience and capabilities in areas related to the study requirements.  

Please send responses or direct questions to: 

USACE  

Sandra Justman, Contract Specialist 

CESWF-CT 

Email: sandra.justman@usace.army.mil 

Office: 817-886-1073 

And  

USACE Fort Worth District 

J. Grant Harrison

CESU Project Manager

817 886-1583 Office/Voicemal

817-266-3001 Cell

jason.g.harrison@usace.army.mil

Timeline for Review of Statements of Interest: The RSOI are required to be out for a minimum of 10 working days. Review of Statements of Interest will begin 21 July 2021.