U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Grants for Avian Health and Migratory Bird Conservation (Region 8)

I. Purpose

This announcement solicits proposals for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s (USFWS’s) Pacific Southwest Avian Health and Disease Program. In 2012, this program will provide grants/agreements for the conservation of migratory birds that are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Proposals should be specific to California and/or Nevada. This grant program is listed in the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance at: https://www.cfda.gov/index?s=program&mode=form&tab=step1&id=0304cd16f0f0b2aef93ceaf90df29800

II. OBJECTIVES OF THE AVIAN HEALTH AND DISEASE PROGRAM
The Avian Health and Disease program (AHD) supports avian conservation, surveillance and monitoring goals of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service by including health and disease assessments into activities related to the management of all migratory bird species.

Objectives:
a. Establish avian health baselines;
b. Identify existing and emerging avian health and disease issues, especially viral, bacterial, fungal, and parasitic diseases;
c. Identify linkages among the epidemiological triad of susceptible host, capable agent, and suitable environment that enhance disease expression;
d. Develop, guide, and implement appropriate and effective avian disease management actions.
e. Ensure disease preparedness and prevention

III. Materials
To prepare a complete Proposal, authors should have a copy of the Avian Health and Disease Program-Region 8 Strategic Plan and the National Strategic Plan. These documents are available by contacting the R8 Avian Health and Disease Coordinator at Marie_Strassburger@fws.gov. The National Strategic Plan is also available at: http://www.fws.gov/migratorybirds/CurrentBirdIssues/AvianHealth/AvianHealthandDiseaseProgramStrategicPlanv4.pdf

This Request for Proposals (RFP) is designed specifically to address Health and Disease Impact Investigations as described in the National Strategic Plan. Although many of the other areas of the plan, such as Morbidity and Mortality Monitoring and Response, will require partnering between the Regional Office and many field stations across the area, these activities will be developed with the Coordinator and field personnel separately from this proposal process.

Specific areas for which proposals will be considered:

IV. HEALTH AND DISEASE IMPACT INVESTIGATIONS
Integrate health surveillance into field activities
• Initiate or expand investigation of regionally specific avian health and disease problems
• Collect baseline data on avian species to assess health and disease concerns
• Evaluate critical avian populations: species of concern, threatened and endangered species (conduct field investigations in combination with the ongoing management activities)
• Investigate infectious diseases (viruses, bacteria, fungal infections)
• Investigate non-infectious diseases (parasites, biotoxins, contaminants)
• Conduct targeted pathogen surveillance
• Investigate indigenous and exotic disease problems
Climate change
• Incorporate AHD activities into Department of Interior climate change strategic plans, Landscape Conservation Cooperatives (LCCs), Refuge Comprehensive Conservation Plans (CCPs) and other planning documents.
• Integrate health surveillance with National Wildlife Refuges Inventories and Monitoring disease surveillance priorities
• Investigate the impact of climate change on the biology of wildlife disease reservoirs and vector species
• Investigate disease impacts on species adaptation strategies
• Identify ancillary stressors influencing avian susceptibility to disease (decoupling of biological processes)
Human-induced effects on disease transmission
• Assess the increased disease risks associated with urban, suburban, and agricultural environments (water quality, habitat fragmentation, contaminants)
• Aid in the prevention and management of invasive species introduction
Approximately $300,000 is available for this program. There is not a maximum limit for individual proposals, but projects exceeding $60,000 are discouraged. The projected length of the project should not exceed two years. All proposals must cover the entire scope of the project, not just the current year. Due to uncertainty in future funding, there is no guarantee that full funding of multiple-year projects will be available from the Service.

V. Eligibility Information

The following entities are eligible to apply for funds from this grant program: Federal, state, and local government agencies; Federally-recognized Native American tribal government agencies; Native American tribal organizations other than Federally-recognized tribal governments; public- and State-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; nonprofit organizations with 501C(3) IRS status, other than institutions of higher education; and nonprofit organizations without 501C(3) IRS status, other than institutions of higher education.

TIMELINE FOR PROJECTS-2012
February 24, 2012: Proposals due to Regional Coordinator
March 30, 2012: Selections on Funded Projects Announced
March 1, 2013: Annual Progress Reports due to Regional Coordinator

REPORTING
For all projects, an annual progress report is due by March 1, 2012. Report formats will be distributed by the Coordinator in Fall 2012.

REGIONAL AVIAN HEALTH AND DISEASE PERSONNEL
For questions regarding the AHD program in Region 8, please contact:

Marie Strassburger,
Chief, Division of Migratory Birds and Habitat
US Fish and Wildlife Service
2800 Cottage Way, W1916
Sacramento, CA 95825
Marie_Strassburger@fws.gov, 916/414-6727

Avian Health and Disease Program
Region 8 Proposal Template
FY2012

I. TITLE SECTION

I.A. Title of Project
I.B. Principal Investigator (include contact information)
I.C. Co-Investigators

II. INTRODUCTION

II.A. Background and Justification
Briefly describe the project, including species, location, avian health issue or concern.

II.B. Objective(s)
List all objectives of the proposed project

II.C. Management Action(s)
Identify any on-going management activities associated with the proposed project (e.g., annual banding drive, aerial surveys etc) and any management actions that may result as a consequence of this project.

III. METHODS

III.A. Data Collection
Methods should be described with enough detail to allow reviewers of the proposal to clearly see how the objectives of the proposal will be met. Key elements to be described in this section include (1) type, number, and location samples to be collected and analyzed, (2) type of health parameter, pathogen or non-infectious agent to be addressed (3) Other information that will be collected as part of this or ancillary projects

III.B. Analysis
Identify laboratory or other analyses that will be conducted on the samples. Briefly describe methods used for data analyses.

IV. RELEVANCE TO REGIONAL STRATEGIC PLAN

Describe how your project addresses any of the components listed in the “Health and Disease Impact Investigations” section above. You may also discuss how your project relates to any other objectives or support areas identified in the National or Regional Strategic Plans.

V. LITERATURE CITED

VI. PARTNERSHIPS

Identify collaborators and describe their contribution to the project.Also, identify contract laboratories or agencies.

VII. BUDGET

Include costs for FY2012 and all out-years. Be as specific as possible; include line-item estimates for salary, travel, supplies, equipment, laboratory analysis, helicopter or airplane costs, fuel, food, contracts etc.

I. Purpose

This announcement solicits proposals for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s (USFWS’s) Pacific Southwest Avian Health and Disease Program. In 2012, this program will provide grants/agreements for the conservation of migratory birds that are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Proposals should be specific to California and/or Nevada. This grant program is listed in the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance at: https://www.cfda.gov/index?s=program&mode=form&tab=step1&id=0304cd16f0f0b2aef93ceaf90df29800

II. OBJECTIVES OF THE AVIAN HEALTH AND DISEASE PROGRAM
The Avian Health and Disease program (AHD) supports avian conservation, surveillance and monitoring goals of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service by including health and disease assessments into activities related to the management of all migratory bird species.

Objectives:
a. Establish avian health baselines;
b. Identify existing and emerging avian health and disease issues, especially viral, bacterial, fungal, and parasitic diseases;
c. Identify linkages among the epidemiological triad of susceptible host, capable agent, and suitable environment that enhance disease expression;
d. Develop, guide, and implement appropriate and effective avian disease management actions.
e. Ensure disease preparedness and prevention

III. Materials
To prepare a complete Proposal, authors should have a copy of the Avian Health and Disease Program-Region 8 Strategic Plan and the National Strategic Plan. These documents are available by contacting the R8 Avian Health and Disease Coordinator at Marie_Strassburger@fws.gov. The National Strategic Plan is also available at: http://www.fws.gov/migratorybirds/CurrentBirdIssues/AvianHealth/AvianHealthandDiseaseProgramStrategicPlanv4.pdf

This Request for Proposals (RFP) is designed specifically to address Health and Disease Impact Investigations as described in the National Strategic Plan. Although many of the other areas of the plan, such as Morbidity and Mortality Monitoring and Response, will require partnering between the Regional Office and many field stations across the area, these activities will be developed with the Coordinator and field personnel separately from this proposal process.

Specific areas for which proposals will be considered:

IV. HEALTH AND DISEASE IMPACT INVESTIGATIONS
Integrate health surveillance into field activities
• Initiate or expand investigation of regionally specific avian health and disease problems
• Collect baseline data on avian species to assess health and disease concerns
• Evaluate critical avian populations: species of concern, threatened and endangered species (conduct field investigations in combination with the ongoing management activities)
• Investigate infectious diseases (viruses, bacteria, fungal infections)
• Investigate non-infectious diseases (parasites, biotoxins, contaminants)
• Conduct targeted pathogen surveillance
• Investigate indigenous and exotic disease problems
Climate change
• Incorporate AHD activities into Department of Interior climate change strategic plans, Landscape Conservation Cooperatives (LCCs), Refuge Comprehensive Conservation Plans (CCPs) and other planning documents.
• Integrate health surveillance with National Wildlife Refuges Inventories and Monitoring disease surveillance priorities
• Investigate the impact of climate change on the biology of wildlife disease reservoirs and vector species
• Investigate disease impacts on species adaptation strategies
• Identify ancillary stressors influencing avian susceptibility to disease (decoupling of biological processes)
Human-induced effects on disease transmission
• Assess the increased disease risks associated with urban, suburban, and agricultural environments (water quality, habitat fragmentation, contaminants)
• Aid in the prevention and management of invasive species introduction
Approximately $300,000 is available for this program. There is not a maximum limit for individual proposals, but projects exceeding $60,000 are discouraged. The projected length of the project should not exceed two years. All proposals must cover the entire scope of the project, not just the current year. Due to uncertainty in future funding, there is no guarantee that full funding of multiple-year projects will be available from the Service.

V. Eligibility Information

The following entities are eligible to apply for funds from this grant program: Federal, state, and local government agencies; Federally-recognized Native American tribal government agencies; Native American tribal organizations other than Federally-recognized tribal governments; public- and State-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; nonprofit organizations with 501C(3) IRS status, other than institutions of higher education; and nonprofit organizations without 501C(3) IRS status, other than institutions of higher education.

TIMELINE FOR PROJECTS-2012
February 24, 2012: Proposals due to Regional Coordinator
March 30, 2012: Selections on Funded Projects Announced
March 1, 2013: Annual Progress Reports due to Regional Coordinator

REPORTING
For all projects, an annual progress report is due by March 1, 2012. Report formats will be distributed by the Coordinator in Fall 2012.

REGIONAL AVIAN HEALTH AND DISEASE PERSONNEL
For questions regarding the AHD program in Region 8, please contact:

Marie Strassburger,
Chief, Division of Migratory Birds and Habitat
US Fish and Wildlife Service
2800 Cottage Way, W1916
Sacramento, CA 95825
Marie_Strassburger@fws.gov, 916/414-6727

Avian Health and Disease Program
Region 8 Proposal Template
FY2012

I. TITLE SECTION

I.A. Title of Project
I.B. Principal Investigator (include contact information)
I.C. Co-Investigators

II. INTRODUCTION

II.A. Background and Justification
Briefly describe the project, including species, location, avian health issue or concern.

II.B. Objective(s)
List all objectives of the proposed project

II.C. Management Action(s)
Identify any on-going management activities associated with the proposed project (e.g., annual banding drive, aerial surveys etc) and any management actions that may result as a consequence of this project.

III. METHODS

III.A. Data Collection
Methods should be described with enough detail to allow reviewers of the proposal to clearly see how the objectives of the proposal will be met. Key elements to be described in this section include (1) type, number, and location samples to be collected and analyzed, (2) type of health parameter, pathogen or non-infectious agent to be addressed (3) Other information that will be collected as part of this or ancillary projects

III.B. Analysis
Identify laboratory or other analyses that will be conducted on the samples. Briefly describe methods used for data analyses.

IV. RELEVANCE TO REGIONAL STRATEGIC PLAN

Describe how your project addresses any of the components listed in the “Health and Disease Impact Investigations” section above. You may also discuss how your project relates to any other objectives or support areas identified in the National or Regional Strategic Plans.

V. LITERATURE CITED

VI. PARTNERSHIPS

Identify collaborators and describe their contribution to the project.Also, identify contract laboratories or agencies.

VII. BUDGET

Include costs for FY2012 and all out-years. Be as specific as possible; include line-item estimates for salary, travel, supplies, equipment, laboratory analysis, helicopter or airplane costs, fuel, food, contracts etc.