May 4, 2021
Dept of Navy RSOI: Terrestrial Invertebrate Survey Diego Garcia
REQUEST FOR STATEMENTS OF INTEREST/REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS NUMBER N62742‐21‐2‐0002
PROJECT TO BE INITIATED IN 2021
Project Title: TERRESTRIAL INVERTEBRATE SURVEY SPECIMEN IDENTIFICATION AND CONSULTATION FOR U.S. NAVY SUPPORT FACILITY, DIEGO GARCIA
Type of Assistance Instrument Anticipated: Cooperative Agreement
Authority: Cooperative Agreement under 16 USC §670c‐1 (Natural Resources Management – Sikes Act)
Eligible Applicants: National – All Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) National Network cooperative partners who qualify under the DoD Grant and Agreement Regulations (DoDGARS) Part 34 or 2 Code of Federal Regulations 200 are eligible to apply.
Cost Sharing: Not required
Estimated Available Funding: $99,758
Responses to this Request for Statements of Interest (RSOI) will be used to identify potential Recipients for a project to be funded by the Department of the Navy (DoN) to provide consultation to Navy staff for insect and other terrestrial arthropod survey work on the Diego Garcia, British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT) and to provide identification of specimens collected to lowest taxonomic level possible.
Background:
Diego Garcia is a tropical coral atoll located south of the equator in the central Indian Ocean, positioned at 7°26’ south latitude and 72°23’ east longitude. The atoll lies at the southern tip of a long chain of coral reefs, atolls, and islands comprising the Laccadives, Maldives, and the Chagos Archipelago. While both native and non‐native terrestrial invertebrate species inhabit Diego Garcia, we know little about them, as to‐date few comprehensive terrestrial invertebrate surveys have been conducted there. The last published compilation (Hutson, 1981) listed 49 species of insects recorded for Diego Garcia with 113 for the Chagos Archipelago as a whole.
Brief Description of Anticipated Work:
The Recipient will coordinate a project consultation meeting within 30 days of receipt of award and develop a work plan for the following tasks within 10 days prior to the consultation meeting.
The Recipient will:
Provide identification of specimens (to lowest taxonomic level possible) collected on Diego Garcia in 2012. It is estimated that the total number of species to be identified from the 2012 survey ranges from between 25‐50.
Provide consultation to the Navy on strategy and methods to conduct and new terrestrial invertebrate survey on Diego Garcia.
Provide identification of specimens (to lowest taxonomic level possible) collected in the new survey on Diego Garcia. It is estimated that the total number of species to be identified from the new survey will range from between 150 to 300. The Recipient will prioritize species identifications on specimens that are native and/or potentially rare and alien species that are significantly invasive or previously unrecorded on Diego Garcia.
Create a spreadsheet/database of all identified specimens
Create a final report that includes methods, results, and a discussion. The report shall also include an appendix with the spreadsheet/database and an appendix with data sheets which list pertinent natural history and conservation and/or management information for ecologically important species.
Seven Attachments:
RSOI_DG Terr Invert Survey ID and Consult_20210504Amend1 (ed 5/4/21)
Encl (1) SOW_DG Terr Invert Survey Specimen ID and Consult FINAL
Encl (4) Research and Related Key Personnel Form
Encl (5) Research and Related Budget