Opportunity Information: Apply for W81EWF 24 SOI 0028

The grant opportunity titled "Algorithm for Inventory, Assessments and Spatial Analysis in Natural Resources Management, Institute for Water Resources" is a US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) cooperative agreement focused on building and applying data-driven tools to improve how USACE manages natural resources, recreation assets, and associated infrastructure. The work is positioned as science and technology research and development that supports USACE missions by strengthening inventories, assessments, and spatial analyses used for decision-making across recreation and environmental stewardship programs.

A major part of the scope centers on natural resources management and recreation resources management. The selected partner would collaborate directly with key USACE staff and work with several types of information, including recreation facility data, environmental stewardship datasets, and visitation data. The practical outputs include maintaining and updating USACE spatial data inventories for recreation facilities, conducting operational condition assessments of those facilities, and analyzing both internal USACE datasets and external datasets to better understand environmental and land-use pressures. Examples of the kinds of factors highlighted include invasive species presence and development pressure, which often affect habitat quality, recreation experiences, and long-term maintenance needs. When requested by USACE, the partner is also expected to produce written documentation that summarizes research findings, explains how those findings matter to USACE missions, and outlines realistic pathways for implementing methods or tools within USACE operations.

Another key component is road condition monitoring and trails management, with an emphasis on developing "smart sensing" technologies and related data collection methods. The opportunity calls for research and development using sensing approaches such as camera-based systems, thermal imaging, laser-based methods, and ground penetrating radar to assess conditions of both paved and unpaved (gravel or dirt) roads. Beyond simply describing current conditions, the work is expected to support prediction of future integrity issues, which implies an interest in algorithms and models that can forecast deterioration, prioritize maintenance, and improve lifecycle planning. In parallel, the same technology-driven approach is expected to extend to USACE multi-use trail systems, including nature trails and trails used for hiking, equestrian activities, and biking. This portion of the work includes developing strategies appropriate to the diverse realities of USACE road and trail networks and creating practical methodologies for collecting, managing, and using those data at scale.

The opportunity also includes an economics-focused line of effort described as "Value to the Nation." USACE natural resources management programs can generate economic impacts at local, regional, and national levels, and the agency is seeking stronger methods to quantify and communicate those impacts. The expected work involves assessing positive and negative economic effects and developing or refining methodologies to measure them in ways that are credible and understandable to different audiences. This suggests deliverables that could help USACE explain program value, compare alternatives, and justify investments using consistent economic framing.

Administratively, this is a discretionary funding opportunity using a cooperative agreement instrument, which typically indicates substantial involvement or collaboration with the federal sponsor during the project. The opportunity number is W81EWF 24 SOI 0028, listed under CFDA 12.630, with an award ceiling of $100,000 and an expectation of one award. The original closing date is 2024-06-10, and the opportunity was created on 2024-04-16. Eligibility is restricted: applicants must be non-federal partners of the Great Lakes Northern Forest Cooperative Ecosystems Studies Unit (CESU), meaning only organizations within that CESU network (and meeting non-federal status requirements) can compete.

Two important compliance notes are emphasized. First, disclosures of current and pending support are treated as a serious eligibility and oversight issue; the application can be deemed ineligible based on those disclosures, and ERDC may request updates before award and throughout the performance period, with the possibility that funding could be discontinued based on review results. Second, faith-based and religious organizations are explicitly permitted to compete on equal footing with other applicants for federal financial assistance, consistent with Executive Order 13798 on free speech and religious liberty.

  • The Engineer Research and Development Center in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Algorithm for Inventory, Assessments and Spatial Analysis in Natural Resources Management, Institute for Water Resources" and is now available to receive applicants.
  • Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 12.630.
  • This funding opportunity was created on 2024-04-16.
  • Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-06-10. (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 $100,000.00 in funding.
  • The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
  • Eligible applicants include: Others.
Apply for W81EWF 24 SOI 0028

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is the title of this grant opportunity?

The opportunity is titled "Algorithm for Inventory, Assessments and Spatial Analysis in Natural Resources Management, Institute for Water Resources."

2. Which federal agency is offering this opportunity?

This is offered by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), specifically through the Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC).

3. What type of funding mechanism is being used?

The opportunity uses a cooperative agreement. This typically means the federal sponsor expects substantial involvement and active collaboration during the project, rather than a more hands-off relationship.

4. What is the overall purpose of the project?

The project focuses on building and applying data-driven tools to improve how USACE manages natural resources, recreation assets, and related infrastructure. The work is positioned as science and technology research and development that strengthens inventories, assessments, and spatial analyses used in USACE decision-making.

5. What kinds of USACE mission areas does the work support?

The described work supports USACE missions connected to recreation and environmental stewardship programs, including the data and analytical foundations used for management decisions.

6. What are the main technical areas included in the scope?

Based on the description, the scope includes three major areas:

  • Natural resources management and recreation resources management (inventories, assessments, and spatial analysis)
  • Road condition monitoring and trails management using smart sensing methods
  • Economics work focused on quantifying and communicating "Value to the Nation"

7. What kinds of data would the partner work with?

The partner is expected to collaborate with key USACE staff and work with several types of information, including recreation facility data, environmental stewardship datasets, and visitation data. The work also includes analysis using both internal USACE datasets and external datasets.

8. What are the expected outputs related to recreation facilities?

The practical outputs described include maintaining and updating USACE spatial data inventories for recreation facilities and conducting operational condition assessments of those facilities.

9. What does "spatial data inventories" mean in this context?

In this opportunity, spatial data inventories refer to maintained and updated collections of location-based information (GIS-oriented inventories) for USACE recreation facilities and related assets, intended to support analysis and decision-making.

10. What kinds of environmental or land-use pressures are specifically mentioned?

The opportunity highlights factors such as invasive species presence and development pressure. These pressures can affect habitat quality, recreation experiences, and long-term maintenance needs.

11. Is written documentation expected as part of the work?

Yes. When requested by USACE, the partner is expected to produce written documentation that summarizes research findings, explains their relevance to USACE missions, and outlines realistic pathways for implementing methods or tools within USACE operations.

12. What is included in the road condition monitoring portion of the scope?

This component emphasizes developing smart sensing technologies and related data collection methods to assess the condition of both paved roads and unpaved roads (such as gravel or dirt roads). The work is also expected to support prediction of future integrity issues.

13. What sensing technologies are mentioned for road condition assessment?

The opportunity mentions camera-based systems, thermal imaging, laser-based methods, and ground penetrating radar as examples of sensing approaches to assess road conditions.

14. Is the work limited to documenting current road conditions?

No. Beyond describing current conditions, the work is expected to support prediction of future integrity issues. That implies interest in algorithms and models that can forecast deterioration, prioritize maintenance, and improve lifecycle planning.

15. Does the opportunity cover trails as well as roads?

Yes. A parallel technology-driven approach is expected for USACE multi-use trail systems, including nature trails and trails used for hiking, equestrian activities, and biking.

16. What is meant by developing strategies "appropriate to the diverse realities" of USACE road and trail networks?

The description indicates USACE road and trail systems vary widely (for example, paved versus unpaved roads; different trail types and uses). The project is expected to develop practical strategies and methodologies that can work across those varied conditions and still be manageable at scale.

17. What does the opportunity say about data management at scale?

For roads and trails, the scope includes creating practical methodologies for collecting, managing, and using condition data at scale across USACE networks.

18. What is the "Value to the Nation" component?

"Value to the Nation" is an economics-focused line of effort aimed at strengthening how USACE quantifies and communicates the economic impacts of natural resources management programs at local, regional, and national levels.

19. What kinds of economic impacts are expected to be assessed?

The description states the work involves assessing both positive and negative economic effects and developing or refining methodologies to measure those impacts in credible and understandable ways for different audiences.

20. How might the economic work be used by USACE?

Based on the description, the deliverables could help USACE explain program value, compare alternatives, and justify investments using consistent economic framing.

21. What is the opportunity number and CFDA listing?

The opportunity number is W81EWF 24 SOI 0028. It is listed under CFDA 12.630.

22. What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?

The award ceiling is $100,000.

23. How many awards are expected?

The opportunity states an expectation of one award.

24. What are the key dates provided?

The opportunity was created on 2024-04-16, and the original closing date is 2024-06-10.

25. Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is restricted to non-federal partners of the Great Lakes Northern Forest Cooperative Ecosystems Studies Unit (CESU). Only organizations within that CESU network that meet non-federal status requirements can compete.

26. What does "non-federal partner" mean for eligibility purposes?

The posting specifies that applicants must be non-federal partners of the Great Lakes Northern Forest CESU. In other words, the applicant must both (1) be part of that CESU network and (2) be non-federal.

27. Are faith-based or religious organizations allowed to apply?

Yes. The opportunity explicitly states that faith-based and religious organizations may compete on equal footing with other applicants for federal financial assistance, consistent with Executive Order 13798.

28. What is the significance of the current and pending support disclosure requirement?

The opportunity emphasizes that disclosures of current and pending support are treated as a serious eligibility and oversight issue. An application can be deemed ineligible based on those disclosures.

29. Can ERDC request updated current and pending support information after submission?

Yes. ERDC may request updates before award and throughout the performance period.

30. Can funding be discontinued due to current and pending support review results?

Yes. The description states there is a possibility that funding could be discontinued based on review results related to current and pending support.

31. What kind of collaboration is expected with USACE?

The partner is expected to collaborate directly with key USACE staff. The cooperative agreement format also signals substantial federal involvement during the project.

32. What kinds of implementation outcomes does USACE appear to want?

In addition to research findings, USACE expects realistic pathways for implementing methods or tools within USACE operations, as reflected in the requested written documentation when applicable.

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