Fish and Wildlife Service Region 6
FY 2010 Science Support Partnership (SSP) and Quick Response (QRP) Request for Proposals

This message announces the call to prepare and submit proposals for funding research and technical assistance projects through the U.S. Geological Survey Science Support Program (SSP) and Quick Response Program (QRP). As a reminder, SSP and QRP involves USGS funding that is set aside for work on research and information needs "solely identified" by the USFWS.  SSP funding can extend through multiple years and involve either experimental research or technical assistance.  QRP funding can only be used for short-term projects (less than 18 months) with a maximum budget of $25,000 or less. For both SSP and QRP, USGS scientists spend the money and lead the work, but the project proposals are submitted by USFWS staff to meet USFWS needs.

To be accepted for consideration, all submitted proposals must be address all elements described in the attached Proposal Template.  Proposal narratives will be accepted in WORD rich text format and budget details will be accepted in EXCEL format. The USGS Science Centers will be assessing full overhead for their projects.  Principal Investigators salaries can be assessed at the discretion of the Science Center Director.

The FY10 SSP funding split between the Regions and Washington should provide Region 6 with roughly $500,000 to support mission-critical research.

After we deduct the funds necessary to support previously approved ongoing multi-year proposals, the Region should have approximately $277,252 ($232,252 SSP + $45,000 QRP) available for use in FY 10.  The Regional Director maintains the discretion to hold back a portion of these funds (as yet TBD) to meet unforeseen priority information needs during FY10.  Dispersal of those funds will be solely at the discretion of the RD. 

Whenever possible, proposals should be developed jointly between the Service Project Officer and the selected BRD researcher or facility. All proposals must identify the Service Project Officer, contain a budget in sufficient detail to allow for discussions/decisions at the Regional level, and a clearly articulated set of products that meet the identified Service need/s.  Products must include recommendations on how the research can be applied to Service management needs.  Multi-year proposals must include interim deliverables that can be assessed as part of the required project evaluation.  Proposals may be developed between the Service and researchers outside BRD, but we will need to provide written justification including a statement that the proposed work could not be performed by BRD (either no one with the appropriate expertise or time) and evidence that the proposal has passed the institutions peer review process.  No research proposals will have their funds released without a peer review (either through the BRD Science Center process or the investigator's university).

Proposals should be submitted to the Regional Research Team Representative (ES – Amelia Oton-Palmer, FR – Larry Gamble, MBSP – James Dubovsky, NWRS – Wayne King) with a copy to the Greg Watson (Chief, Office of Landscape Conservation) electronically as soon as possible (but no later than June 1, 2009.)  The goal is to make recommendations to the Regional Director by July 15, 2009 and the final selections to BRD prior to August 17, 2009. 

If you should have any questions, please contact Greg Watson at 303-236-4514.