Opportunity Information: Apply for F19AS00028
The funding opportunity titled "Evaluating the Population-level impacts of contaminants of emerging concern on Lake Sturgeon" (Funding Opportunity Number F19AS00028) is a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), Department of the Interior notice of intent to make a single, non-competitive award. It is issued as a discretionary cooperative agreement within research and development-related activity areas (including environment, natural resources, and science and technology) and is associated with CFDA numbers 15.662 and 15.678. The posting lists an anticipated single award with an upper funding amount of $170,000. Although it shows an original closing date of November 5, 2018, the notice makes clear that there is no application process because the agency is not seeking proposals from the public.
This notice is specifically a sole-source action intended for Ball State University, Venturelli Lab, justified under the Department of the Interior justification authority cited as 505 DM 2.14.B., items 2 and 4. The agency explains that competition is not practical because the Venturelli Lab is uniquely qualified for the work based on specialized technical expertise in fish population modeling, with particular strength in modeling sturgeon populations in the context of environmental toxicity. A major reason for the sole-source approach is continuity: the Venturelli Lab is already developing models of contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) impacts on generic fish populations using USFWS CEC Team laboratory findings, and this project is positioned as a direct continuation and expansion of that existing modeling framework. The lab also has a strong working relationship with the USFWS CEC Team and has demonstrated the ability to collaborate professionally while maintaining high scientific rigor. In addition, the Venturelli Lab has prior experience modeling contaminant effects on European sturgeon, a close relative of lake sturgeon, which the agency views as further evidence that they can translate the existing approach successfully to lake sturgeon.
The project itself focuses on understanding how exposure to CECs could scale up from impacts on individual fish to measurable consequences at the population level for lake sturgeon, a species of particular interest to USFWS. The first objective is to develop a general population model for lake sturgeon that can be used to identify which individual-level effects of CEC exposure, such as changes to growth, survival, or reproduction, matter most when predicting population-level outcomes. This kind of modeling is meant to clarify which biological pathways are most influential so that risk assessment and management decisions can focus on the most consequential endpoints.
The second objective is to take an already-developed CEC effects model and adapt it to a more specific, real-world case or location. The intent is to answer a targeted research question tied to an existing USFWS project, rather than producing only a broad, theoretical model. In practice, this means customizing assumptions, parameters, and scenario design so the model can speak to conditions relevant to a particular system or management context, improving its usefulness for decision-making and environmental risk assessment applications.
The third objective centers on communication and knowledge transfer. Results are expected to be shared through scientific conferences, peer-reviewed publications, and outreach to interested stakeholders. This objective reflects that the work is not only about producing a model, but also about making sure the findings are interpretable, accessible, and usable both within the scientific community and for agencies and partners who may rely on the results.
The Venturelli Lab’s responsibilities are described in fairly concrete terms. They will compile and summarize existing scientific literature on lake sturgeon demographic and life history information, which is the foundation for building credible population models (for example, age structure, survival rates, growth patterns, maturation timing, and reproductive output). They will then develop, run, and refine modeling simulations across different contexts depending on the needs of the broader CEC project. Interpretation of results will be done collaboratively with the USFWS CEC Team project manager to ensure that model outputs align with agency questions and that conclusions are grounded in the best available biological and toxicological understanding. The lab will also provide USFWS with full access to underlying materials, including datasets, model code, and written reports, supporting transparency and reuse. Finally, they will prepare and submit peer-reviewed publications in collaboration with the USFWS CEC Team.
The anticipated outputs and outcomes are framed around delivering a practical, species-specific tool and ensuring the work is disseminated. Expected products include a lake sturgeon-specific population model suitable for assessing population-level effects of CEC exposure within an environmental risk assessment context, along with the associated modeling code and a compiled set of species-specific parameters (including parameter values and the sources used to justify them). On the dissemination side, the notice anticipates at least three presentations at national and/or international conferences and the production of one or more peer-reviewed journal publications. Overall, the opportunity is structured as a continuation of ongoing USFWS-related modeling work, designed to extend an existing CEC modeling framework into a lake sturgeon-focused application that can inform both scientific understanding and management decisions.Apply for F19AS00028
- The Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service in the environment, information and statistics, natural resources, science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Evaluating the Population-level impacts of contaminants of emerging concern on Lake Sturgeon" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.662, 15.678.
- This funding opportunity was created on Oct 23, 2018.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Nov 05, 2018 There is not an application process for this funding opportunity. This is a notice of intent to award a single source cooperative agreement to Ball State University under justification 505DM 2.14.B., 2 and 4.. (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 $170,000.00 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).
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the title of this funding opportunity?
The funding opportunity is titled "Evaluating the Population-level impacts of contaminants of emerging concern on Lake Sturgeon."
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON)?
The Funding Opportunity Number is F19AS00028.
Which federal agency is issuing this notice?
This notice is issued by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), within the Department of the Interior.
What type of funding instrument is being used?
The notice describes a discretionary cooperative agreement within research and development-related activity areas, including environment, natural resources, and science and technology.
Is this a competitive grant opportunity?
No. This is a notice of intent to make a single, non-competitive (sole-source) award.
Is there an application process or open call for proposals?
No. The notice explicitly states there is no application process because the agency is not seeking proposals from the public.
How many awards does USFWS anticipate making under this notice?
The posting anticipates a single award.
What is the maximum anticipated funding amount?
The anticipated upper funding amount is $170,000.
The posting shows a closing date. Does that mean applications are due?
The notice shows an original closing date of November 5, 2018, but it also makes clear that no applications will be accepted because the agency is not soliciting proposals from the public.
Who is the intended recipient of the award?
This is a sole-source action intended for Ball State University, Venturelli Lab.
Why is this being issued as a sole-source (non-competitive) award?
The agency states competition is not practical because the Venturelli Lab is uniquely qualified. The justification is based on specialized technical expertise in fish population modeling, particularly for modeling sturgeon populations in the context of environmental toxicity, and on continuity with ongoing USFWS-related modeling work.
What justification authority is cited for the non-competitive approach?
The notice cites Department of the Interior justification authority 505 DM 2.14.B., items 2 and 4.
How does this project relate to existing USFWS work?
The project is described as a direct continuation and expansion of an existing modeling framework the Venturelli Lab is already developing, using laboratory findings from the USFWS Contaminants of Emerging Concern (CEC) Team.
What are "contaminants of emerging concern" (CECs) in the context of this notice?
In this notice, CECs are contaminants whose effects are being evaluated using USFWS CEC Team laboratory findings, with the goal of understanding how those effects could translate into population-level impacts for lake sturgeon.
What is the overall purpose of the project?
The purpose is to evaluate how exposure to contaminants of emerging concern could scale from effects on individual lake sturgeon (such as changes in growth, survival, or reproduction) to measurable impacts at the population level.
Why is lake sturgeon the focal species?
The notice states lake sturgeon is a species of particular interest to USFWS, and the project is designed to produce a lake sturgeon-specific modeling tool for environmental risk assessment and management decisions.
What are the main objectives of the project?
The notice describes three main objectives: (1) develop a general lake sturgeon population model to identify which individual-level CEC effects most influence population outcomes; (2) adapt an already-developed CEC effects model to a specific real-world case or location tied to an existing USFWS project; and (3) communicate results through conferences, peer-reviewed publications, and stakeholder outreach.
What individual-level effects will the model focus on?
The notice highlights individual-level effects such as changes to growth, survival, or reproduction, and aims to determine which of these matter most for predicting population-level outcomes.
What does it mean to build a "general population model" for lake sturgeon?
Based on the notice, the general model is intended to represent lake sturgeon population dynamics in a way that allows testing how different individual-level CEC-related effects influence broader population outcomes, helping prioritize key biological endpoints for risk assessment and management.
What does the second objective mean by adapting the model to a "specific, real-world case"?
It means the project will customize assumptions, parameters, and scenario design so the model can address a targeted research question tied to an existing USFWS project, rather than remaining purely theoretical.
What role does the USFWS CEC Team play in this work?
The notice indicates the Venturelli Lab will work in coordination with the USFWS CEC Team, including collaborative interpretation of results with the USFWS CEC Team project manager, and that the modeling builds from USFWS CEC Team laboratory findings.
What specific tasks will the Venturelli Lab perform?
The notice describes several concrete responsibilities: compiling and summarizing scientific literature on lake sturgeon demographics and life history; developing, running, and refining modeling simulations; interpreting results collaboratively with the USFWS CEC Team project manager; providing USFWS full access to datasets, model code, and written reports; and preparing and submitting peer-reviewed publications in collaboration with the USFWS CEC Team.
What kinds of life history and demographic information will be compiled for the model?
The notice references inputs such as age structure, survival rates, growth patterns, maturation timing, and reproductive output, along with the sources used to justify parameter values.
What deliverables or products are expected from this project?
Expected products include a lake sturgeon-specific population model suitable for environmental risk assessment of CEC exposure, the associated modeling code, and a compiled set of species-specific parameters with supporting sources.
What dissemination activities are anticipated?
The notice anticipates at least three presentations at national and/or international scientific conferences and one or more peer-reviewed journal publications, along with outreach to interested stakeholders.
Will USFWS receive access to the underlying model materials?
Yes. The notice states the Venturelli Lab will provide USFWS full access to underlying materials, including datasets, model code, and written reports, to support transparency and reuse.
How will results be interpreted and validated for agency use?
The notice indicates interpretation will be done collaboratively with the USFWS CEC Team project manager to ensure model outputs align with agency questions and are grounded in the best available biological and toxicological understanding.
What CFDA numbers are associated with this opportunity?
The notice associates this opportunity with CFDA numbers 15.662 and 15.678.
What kind of activity areas does this opportunity fall under?
The notice places the work within research and development-related activity areas, including environment, natural resources, and science and technology.
Does this opportunity represent a new project or an extension of prior work?
It is framed as a continuation and expansion of ongoing USFWS-related modeling work, extending an existing CEC modeling framework into a lake sturgeon-focused application.
What prior experience does the Venturelli Lab have that is relevant to this project?
The notice states the lab has specialized expertise in fish population modeling, particular strength in modeling sturgeon populations under environmental toxicity conditions, and prior experience modeling contaminant effects on European sturgeon, a close relative of lake sturgeon.
What is the intended benefit of the modeling for environmental risk assessment?
The notice indicates the modeling is meant to clarify which biological pathways and endpoints are most influential for population outcomes, helping risk assessment and management decisions focus on the most consequential individual-level effects of CEC exposure.
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