March 10, 2022

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Funding Opportunity: San Clemente Loggerhead Shrike

Project Title: SAN CLEMENTE LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE CAPTIVE BREEDING PROJECT, SAN CLEMENTE ISLAND, NAVAL BASE CORONADO, CALIFORNIA

Responses to this Request for Statements of Interest will be used to identify potential investigators for a project to be funded by Commander, US Pacific Fleet (PACFLT), which provides professional and technical support for the Naval Base Coronado Natural Resources 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 $756,908 is expected to be available to support this project. Additional funding may be available for follow on work in subsequent fiscal years to the successful Recipient/Awardee.

Background:
San Clemente Island (SCI) supports a large number of endemic organisms. Some of these are listed as federally endangered or threatened species by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) (such as the San Clemente Loggerhead Shrike addressed herein), Endangered Species Act candidate conservation taxa, and/or listed by California Department of Fish and Wildlife. This project continues San Clemente Loggerhead Shrike recovery efforts and, in part,
fulfills the Commander Navy Region Southwest’s (CNRSW) responsibilities pursuant to the Sikes Act Improvement Act (16 USC 670 et seq) and CNRSW and PACFLT’s responsibilities pursuant to the Endangered Species Act (16 USC 1531 et seq). Specifically, it meets the Navy’s obligations under USFWS Biological Opinion FWS- LA-09B0027-09F0040 San Clemente Island Military Operations and Fire Management Plan (2008) and subsequent amendments, the Final Environmental Impact Statement/ Overseas Environmental Impact Statement Southern California Range Complex, and continued implementation of SCI Integrated Natural Resources Management Plan (INRMP) in support of the Navy mission.

Type of Award:
In accordance with section 6305 – Using cooperative agreements of the Federal Grant and Cooperative Agreements Act of 1977 (31 U.S.C. § 6301 et seq.), all CESU projects must carry out a public purpose of support or stimulation, instead of acquiring goods or services for the exclusive direct benefit of the United States Government. In accordance with section 6305 – Using cooperative agreements of the Federal Grant and Cooperative Agreements Act of 1977 (31 U.S.C. § 6301 et seq.), substantial involvement is expected between the federal partner and the nonfederal partner when carrying out the activities specified in the project agreement. The exact nature of the government’s involvement will be defined in the statement of objectives, issued with a request for full proposal. As a result, it is anticipated that a cooperative agreement through the CESU program will be awarded. Such awards may be administered through a CESU only upon mutual agreement and official authorization by both parties of the acceptance of the application of the CESU Network IDC rate (17.5%). Note: Must be a non-federal partner and belong to one of the following CESU Units to be qualified and considered: Pacific Northwest, Californian, Desert Southwest, or Rocky Mountain Unit.

Brief Description of Anticipated Work:
In order to perform this work successfully, the cooperator must have capabilities to support on site goals and objectives at Naval Auxiliary Landing Field San Clemente Island, Naval Base Coronado. The cooperator will be providing technical natural resource support to provide San Clemente Island with the captive management and release of the Loggerhead Shrike in order to support current management plans, regulatory mandates and regional natural resource goals.

Goals and Objectives

The goals and objectives of the project are to continue to maintain and care for captive Loggerhead Shrikes for release, provide necessary veterinary care and pathology for chicks and adults, and to collect and analyze all necessary biological data. This will be accomplished through several specific tasks outlined in the Statement of Objectives (SOO). Tasks include participation in a detailed kick-off meeting, coordination of any other meetings required to support project execution, data storage, analytical reporting, maintaining and caring for current captive loggerhead shrike at San Clemente Island, production of juvenile loggerhead shrikes for release, execution of supplemental diet plans that provide food and forage for captive flock, provide demographic and genetic management for captive and wild flocks on San Clemente Island, and providing veterinary care and pathology services for San Clement Loggerhead Shrikes.

Please send responses or direct questions to:
Sandy Justman
Grants Specialist
USACE Ft. Worth District
Sandra.justman@usace.army.mil
Office: (817) 886-1073
Kathy Mitchell
Environmental Agreements PM
USACE Ft. Worth District
Kathy.s.mitchell@usace.army.mil
Office: (817) 886-1709

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 4 APR 2022.