August 14, 2026
Request for Statements of Interest: Cook Inlet Beluga Whale (CIBW) Prey, Salmon Productivity Monitoring at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson (JBER)
RSOI No.: W9126G262SOI9667
Funding Agency: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Fort Worth District
Project Sponsor: U.S. Air Force 673d Civil Engineer Squadron, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson (JBER), Alaska
CESU Regions: Alaska, Rocky Mountain, and Pacific Northwest
Statement of Interest Due: 12:00 PM Central Time, September 10, 2026
Questions Due: Close of business, August 21, 2026
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Fort Worth District, is seeking Statements of Interest (SOIs) from eligible Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Units (CESU) members for a cooperative agreement to support Cook Inlet Beluga Whale (CIBW) prey and salmon productivity monitoring at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson (JBER), Alaska.
The project will characterize prey species composition in JBER waters that provide important foraging habitat for the endangered Cook Inlet beluga whale. The resulting data will support JBER environmental management decisions, Endangered Species Act compliance, understanding of prey availability as a potential factor limiting CIBW recovery, and collaborative regional environmental DNA (eDNA) monitoring efforts.
Project Objectives
The selected recipient will develop and implement a comprehensive approach to:
- Characterize fish species composition in JBER waters, including Eagle River and adjacent Knik Arm waters, to identify prey species available to Cook Inlet beluga whales.
- Document seasonal and interannual patterns in prey species presence, with sampling focused on periods when belugas use JBER waters, approximately May through December.
- Coordinate sampling design and data management with the regional multi-entity Cook Inlet eDNA monitoring effort.
- Develop a prey species monitoring protocol suitable for long-term implementation at JBER, including sampling methods, laboratory procedures, data analysis, and quality assurance/quality control measures.
Desired Qualifications
Applicants should have recent experience and extensive expertise in environmental DNA (eDNA) monitoring of aquatic ecosystems. Experience with marine fish community assessment using metabarcoding and droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) is strongly preferred. Experience with Cook Inlet beluga whales and fish communities is desirable.
The selected organization must have access to, or a partnership with, a laboratory capable of processing eDNA samples and appropriate protocols for preventing and detecting contamination of sensitive, low-template eDNA samples. Expertise in genetic assay selection and optimization, bioinformatic processing for fish species identification, quantitative ecological modeling, secure data management, reproducible science, and collaborative multi-institutional research is also sought.
Funding and Period of Performance
Approximately $167,897.16 is expected to be available for the base period, with additional funding potentially available for optional tasks and follow-on work in subsequent years. The base period is 18 months from the date of award, with up to six additional 18-month follow-on periods, subject to funding availability.
The established CESU indirect cost rate is 17.5%. For any cooperative agreement resulting from this RSOI, a maximum 17.5% indirect cost rate will be paid on work covered by the agreement or modifications.
Statement of Interest Requirements
At this stage, applicants are not being asked to submit a full proposal or budget. The Government is requesting a Statement of Interest demonstrating the applicant’s qualifications and capability to perform similar or related work.
SOIs are limited to two single-spaced pages using 12-point font and must include:
- Name, organization, CAGE Code, Unique Entity ID, CESU Region, and email contact information.
- A brief statement of qualifications, including:
- Biographical sketch of the Principal Investigator and relevant experience and capabilities.
- Relevant past projects and clients, with brief descriptions.
- Staff, faculty, or students available to work on the project and their areas of expertise.
- Other capabilities necessary to successfully complete the project, such as equipment and laboratory or field facilities.
Important Eligibility and Proposal Information
To be eligible for award, the recipient, any proposed subrecipients, and recipient-contracted vendors must have an active NIST SP 800-171 DoD Assessment performed within the last three years. Additional details are provided in the NIST attachment to the RSOI.
Applicants should also be aware that if selected to submit a full proposal, the proposal turnaround time will be short and may be limited to five business days.
Submission and Questions
Statements of Interest are due no later than 12:00 PM Central Time on September 10, 2026 and should be submitted via email to:
Nicholas A. Aprea
Grants Specialist, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Fort Worth District
Nicholas.a.aprea@usace.army.mil
David Leptien
Project Manager, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Fort Worth District
david.b.leptien@usace.army.mil
Questions should be submitted to the contacts above no later than August 21, 2026.
Attachments:
- Request for Statements of Interest (RSOI) W9126G262SOI9667
- NIST Requirement Notice Attachment
Organizations interested in this opportunity should review the complete RSOI and all attachments carefully for eligibility, technical requirements, submission instructions, and additional terms and conditions.