Pacific Brant mid-winter ground survey in Mexico | F20AS00023

Opportunity Information: Apply for F20AS00023

The Pacific Brant mid-winter ground survey in Mexico (Funding Opportunity Number F20AS00023) is a discretionary grant from the U.S. Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service designed to fund a critical wildlife population survey on the Pacific Brant's main wintering grounds in northwestern Mexico. The central purpose is to produce an accurate estimate of the mid-winter Pacific Brant population, using on-the-ground survey work that feeds directly into the Pacific Flyway Mid-Winter Brant Survey. Those Mexico-based counts are not a side input; they are described as the primary component of the larger survey effort that U.S. managers rely on each year.

The opportunity matters because the mid-winter count from northwestern Mexico is a key data point used by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and western state wildlife agencies to set annual hunting regulations in California, Oregon, Washington, and Alaska. In practical terms, the number of brant counted during mid-winter directly influences decisions like season dates and bag limits under the Pacific Flyway Management Plan. By supporting the Mexico portion of the survey, the grant helps ensure regulations are based on the best available, current population information so harvest opportunities can be maximized while still maintaining sustainable brant populations over time.

The notice also frames the grant as aligned with two Department of the Interior Secretarial priorities: Priority 1 (conservation stewardship) and Priority 3 (building trust and collaboration with local communities). For Priority 1, the grant is positioned as supporting the goal of increasing access to hunting opportunities by meeting what the announcement calls the highest priority data collection need in the Pacific Flyway Management Plan. For Priority 3, conducting the survey in Mexico is described as a way to strengthen trust and cooperation by applying management practices developed at the local level across Pacific Flyway states and by continuing international conservation stewardship. The Fish and Wildlife Service emphasizes that the work reinforces collaboration with state agency partners and international conservation partners, reflecting the reality that migratory bird management depends on coordinated efforts across borders.

Administratively, the grant was posted with a creation date of October 22, 2019, and an original closing date of October 28, 2019, indicating a short application window. The funding opportunity lists an award ceiling of $140,000 with one expected award. The funding instrument type is a grant, and the activity area is categorized under environment and natural resources (CFDA 15.655). Eligibility is listed broadly as "Others," with clarification referenced in an additional eligibility information field (not included in the text provided), suggesting it may be targeted to specific partners capable of conducting the Mexico field survey work.

• The Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service in the environment, natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Pacific Brant mid-winter ground survey in Mexico" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.655.
• This funding opportunity was created on Oct 22, 2019.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Oct 28, 2019. (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 $140,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

Apply for F20AS00023

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