Fish and Wildlife Service Region 7
FY 2010 Science Support Partnership (SSP) and Quick Response (QRP) Request for Proposals

Memorandum   

This constitutes the annual call for proposals for the SSP and QRP.

About the Science Support Program:  Through the Science Support Partnership (SSP) Program, the U.S. Geological Survey partners with the Fish and Wildlife Service to understand and provide the critical science information required to effectively manage our nation’s resources.  Each year we allocate USGS funds through a competitive proposal process.

Whenever possible, proposals should be developed jointly between a Service Project Officer and a USGS researcher.  All proposals must identify a Project Officer, contain a budget (including the mandatory overhead rate of), and clearly articulate a set of products that meet the identified FWS need.  Where applicable, products must include recommendation on how the research will be applied to our management needs.  Multi-year proposals must include interim deliverables that can be used in the required project evaluation.

For FY2010, the Region’s high priorities for research proposals are the following:

1)  Yellow-billed Loon:  Information is needed on status and trends, known mortalities, range distributions, winter distributions, and historical population levels in order to address critical management questions regarding this species.  Approximately $100,000 is being allocated for this priority.  Negotiations are occurring directly between FES, MBM, and USGS on proposals for the Yellow-billed Loon.  Therefore, this RFP is not an open call for proposals on the Yellow-billed loon.

2)  Climate Change:  Projects that contribute significantly to the FWS’s ability to manage its trust resources in response to climate change.   Approximately $83,000 is being allocated for this priority.  This priority does not exclude proposals related to climate change and yellow-billed loons.

Projects will be ranked on how well they address these priorities, and the soundness and efficiency of the research design.  A review team will be selected by the Regional Director to rank proposals for his consideration.

About the Quick Response Program:

The QRP is very similar to the SSP but the funding level is lower, projects must address immediate research and technical needs, and projects must be completed in a single year.

Approximate amounts available for Region 7 new starts in FY-2010
(subject to USGS assessments and rescissions):
SSP:   $133,000
QRP:   $  50,000

Due Dates:  Proposals for both SSP and QRP are due to Janet Hohn, ARD for International Conservation (also serving as Regional Research Coordinator) on or before June 1, 2009.

INSTRUCTIONS:

Use the attached format and instructions for developing proposals for the FY-2010 Science Support Program and the FY-2010 Quick Response Program

For more information about the SSP go to:

http://biology.usgs.gov/ssp/