Golden Eagle Movement Analysis and Northwest Great Plains Conservation Strategy | F17AS00286

Opportunity Information: Apply for F17AS00286

The Golden Eagle Movement Analysis and Northwest Great Plains Conservation Strategy grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number F17AS00286) is a U.S. Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service research-focused award intended to strengthen golden eagle conservation and management through practical, science-based decision tools. It sits in the Science and Technology and other Research and Development category (CFDA 15.608) and is structured as a cooperative agreement, meaning the agency expects to be substantially involved in guiding or collaborating on the work rather than simply providing funds with minimal interaction. The opportunity was created on June 28, 2017, with an original closing date of July 5, 2017.

The core purpose is to generate "scientifically defensible" spatial products and conservation strategies that can be used by managers to understand where golden eagles move, which landscapes are most important to their movement ecology, and what regional risks and information gaps exist. The work is framed around delivering two main products that complement each other: one focused broadly on movement patterns across the western United States, and a second focused specifically on building a consolidated conservation strategy for the Northwest Great Plains ecoregion.

The first product, the Golden Eagle Movement Analysis, is aimed at translating tracking and other relevant data into clear, map-based insights about how golden eagles use space while moving across the western U.S. This includes describing and mapping patterns of movement (for example, identifying common routes, seasonal shifts, or broad-scale connectivity between areas), and then developing predictive habitat models that estimate which habitats or landscape features are disproportionately used for movement. In practice, this kind of deliverable is meant to support planning and mitigation by highlighting movement corridors or high-use areas where development, disturbance, or other pressures could have outsized effects.

The second product, the Northwest Great Plains Conservation Strategy, is presented as a synthesis document tailored to the Northwest Great Plains ecoregion. Rather than being only a narrative report, it is intended to compile and organize the best available information relevant to golden eagles in that region and convert it into management-ready outputs. The description emphasizes inclusion of ecoregion-specific models, risk assessments, and information resources, suggesting the strategy should help decision-makers understand regional drivers and threats (such as areas of elevated risk) while also pointing them to datasets, tools, and references needed to apply the findings.

In terms of award structure and eligibility, the notice indicates this was a discretionary opportunity and, importantly, a notice of intent to make a single-source award to the University of Nevada, Reno through the Great Basin Ecosystems Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) network. The justification cited is DOI Policy 505 DM 2 (4) regarding unique qualifications, which is commonly used when an agency determines a particular institution is uniquely positioned to perform the work. While the general eligible applicant field is listed as "Others" with additional eligibility details referenced elsewhere, the practical takeaway is that this specific posting was geared toward a designated recipient via a single-source cooperative agreement.

Financially, the listed award ceiling is $86,099, and the opportunity indicates an expectation of five awards, reflecting either multiple related tasks, phases, or associated agreements under the broader effort. Overall, the opportunity is best understood as a targeted investment in applied movement ecology and regional conservation planning, designed to produce mapped movement products, predictive models, and a region-specific strategy document that agencies can use to guide golden eagle conservation actions and management decisions.

• The Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Golden Eagle Movement Analysis and Northwest Great Plains Conservation Strategy" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.608.
• This funding opportunity was created on Jun 28, 2017.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 05, 2017 This is a notice of intent to award a single source cooperative agreement to University of Nevada, Reno through the Great Basin Ecosystems CESU network in accordance with DOI Policy 505 DM 2 (4) Unique Qualifications.. (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 $86,099.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 5 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

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