Opportunity Information: Apply for F19AS00018
This funding opportunity, titled "R packages for enhancing the Geospatial Population Estimator (GSPE) of moose in Alaska" (Funding Opportunity Number F19AS00018), is a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), Department of the Interior award being issued through Region 7 under the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) Network. It is structured as a cooperative agreement, categorized under environment, natural resources, and science and technology research and development, with CFDA number 15.670. The announcement is explicitly not a request for proposals; the government does not plan to compete the work or accept applications from other entities because it intends to make a single-source award to Oregon State University under an applicable single-source authority (505 DM 2.14(B)). The eligible applicant type listed is public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, aligning with the selected partner.
At its core, the project is about modernizing and expanding a critical analytical tool used to estimate moose populations in Alaska from aerial survey data. The Geospatial Population Estimator (GSPE) is used by both USFWS and the Alaska Department of Fish and Game to generate population estimates, which feed into wildlife management decisions such as setting harvest regulations, evaluating population trends, and targeting conservation or monitoring resources. The existing GSPE software is described as roughly 20 years old, and the proposed effort aims to deliver substantial updates that improve functionality, broaden the analytical options available to biologists, and make the system more practical for day-to-day use by state and federal staff.
A central technical goal is the development of R-based statistical analysis packages that enhance GSPE, with particular emphasis on improving how the model handles detectability. In aerial wildlife surveys, a key challenge is that not every animal present on the landscape is observed, and detection rates can vary dramatically based on habitat, weather, lighting, observer experience, and ground conditions. The opportunity highlights the growing importance of allowing biologists to modify detection functions to reflect variable habitat conditions, especially because autumn snow cover in parts of Alaska has become less consistent. Less reliable snow cover can reduce contrast and visibility, making moose harder to detect from aircraft and potentially biasing population estimates if detection probability is assumed to be constant. By enabling variable detection functions and related tools, the updated GSPE would better reflect real-world survey conditions and produce more defensible estimates.
The planned updates also include adding additional analysis tools, incorporating variable detection rates more directly into workflows, and providing a basic user interface to improve usability. The intent is not just to refresh code, but to make the estimator more adaptable and accessible so that biologists can apply it across different Game Management Units and changing environmental conditions without requiring extensive custom programming each time. The project is framed as collaborative, which is consistent with the cooperative agreement instrument and the CESU model that emphasizes applied research, technical assistance, and partnerships supporting natural and cultural resource management across multiple disciplines and scales.
The notice provides a modest award ceiling of $49,000 and anticipates a single award. The posting dates indicate it was created on October 17, 2018, with an original closing date of October 22, 2018, though the competitive concept does not apply here since it is a single-source action rather than an open solicitation. The work is also tied to clear management demand: updates to GSPE were identified as a top recommendation from the April 2018 Moose Monitoring Workshop, which included around 70 biologists and managers. That workshop-driven priority signals that the improvements are meant to address widely recognized operational needs among practitioners responsible for moose monitoring and management in Alaska.Apply for F19AS00018
- The Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service in the environment, natural resources, science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "R packages for enhancing the Geospatial Population Estimator (GSPE) of moose in Alaska." and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.670.
- This funding opportunity was created on Oct 17, 2018.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Oct 22, 2018. (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 $49,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the title of this funding opportunity?
The opportunity is titled "R packages for enhancing the Geospatial Population Estimator (GSPE) of moose in Alaska."
What is the Funding Opportunity Number?
The Funding Opportunity Number is F19AS00018.
Which federal agency is issuing this award?
The award is being issued by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), within the Department of the Interior.
Which USFWS region is associated with the award?
The announcement indicates the award is being issued through USFWS Region 7.
What type of award instrument will be used?
This opportunity is structured as a cooperative agreement.
How is the opportunity categorized?
It is categorized under environment, natural resources, and science and technology research and development.
What is the CFDA number listed for this opportunity?
The CFDA number listed is 15.670.
Is this a request for proposals (RFP)?
No. The notice explicitly states it is not a request for proposals, and the government does not plan to compete the work or accept applications from other entities.
Will the government accept applications from other organizations?
No. The announcement indicates the government intends to make a single-source award and does not plan to accept applications from other entities.
Who is the intended recipient of the single-source award?
The notice states the government intends to make a single-source award to Oregon State University.
What single-source authority is cited?
The announcement cites single-source authority 505 DM 2.14(B).
What applicant type is listed as eligible?
The eligible applicant type listed is public and state-controlled institutions of higher education.
What is the CESU Network and how does it relate to this award?
The award is being issued under the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) Network, which is described in the notice as a partnership model supporting applied research, technical assistance, and collaboration for natural and cultural resource management.
What is GSPE?
GSPE stands for the Geospatial Population Estimator. It is an analytical tool used to estimate moose populations in Alaska using aerial survey data.
Who uses GSPE?
The notice states GSPE is used by both the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and the Alaska Department of Fish and Game.
Why are moose population estimates from GSPE important?
According to the announcement, GSPE-generated population estimates support wildlife management decisions such as setting harvest regulations, evaluating population trends, and targeting conservation or monitoring resources.
Why does GSPE need to be updated?
The existing GSPE software is described as roughly 20 years old. The project aims to modernize and expand the tool to improve functionality, broaden analytical options, and make it more practical for day-to-day use by state and federal staff.
What are the main technical deliverables described?
A central goal is developing R-based statistical analysis packages to enhance GSPE, with emphasis on improving how the model handles detectability in aerial surveys.
What does "detectability" mean in the context of this project?
Detectability refers to the fact that not every animal present during an aerial survey is observed. The announcement notes detection rates can vary based on habitat, weather, lighting, observer experience, and ground conditions.
Why is variable detectability a focus for Alaska moose surveys?
The notice highlights that autumn snow cover in parts of Alaska has become less consistent. Reduced snow cover can lower contrast and visibility, making moose harder to detect from aircraft and potentially biasing population estimates if detection probability is assumed constant.
How will the updated GSPE address changing survey conditions?
The described updates aim to allow biologists to modify detection functions to reflect variable habitat and survey conditions, helping produce more defensible estimates under real-world variability.
What additional improvements are planned beyond detectability updates?
The notice mentions adding additional analysis tools, incorporating variable detection rates more directly into workflows, and providing a basic user interface to improve usability.
Is the goal only to update old code?
No. The announcement frames the effort as making the estimator more adaptable and accessible so biologists can apply it across different Game Management Units and changing environmental conditions without extensive custom programming each time.
What is the maximum funding amount mentioned?
The notice lists an award ceiling of $49,000.
How many awards are anticipated?
The announcement anticipates a single award.
When was this opportunity created and when was it originally set to close?
The posting indicates it was created on October 17, 2018, with an original closing date of October 22, 2018.
Do the posted dates indicate an open competition window?
No. The notice states the action is single-source and not an open solicitation, so the usual concept of a competitive application window does not apply as it would under a competed RFP.
What management need prompted these GSPE updates?
The updates were identified as a top recommendation from the April 2018 Moose Monitoring Workshop, which included around 70 biologists and managers, indicating the improvements are intended to address widely recognized operational needs.
What kinds of decisions could be affected by improvements to GSPE?
Based on the announcement, improved estimates can influence harvest regulation setting, trend evaluation, and how agencies target conservation and monitoring resources.
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