Opportunity Information: Apply for N62473 26 2 0002
This funding opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number N62473 26 2 0002) is a discretionary cooperative agreement being offered by Naval Facilities Engineering Command Southwest to support required monitoring of two federally listed beach-nesting birds on Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton (MCBCP) in California: the California least tern (LETE) and the western snowy plover (SNPL). The work is driven by compliance obligations under the Riparian and Estuarian/Beach Biological Opinion, meaning the installation must document nesting activity, reproductive outcomes, and factors affecting these species so MCBCP can evaluate and adjust its management practices while balancing military training needs.
At its core, the project funds hands-on field monitoring across all existing and potential breeding sites on MCBCP. The selected partner is expected to conduct systematic surveys by foot, vehicle, and/or visual observation to track nesting activity and nesting success, while also identifying and documenting foraging and roosting areas used by adults and young. Surveys must occur at least twice per week throughout the breeding window, beginning March 1 and continuing through September 15, or longer if breeding is still underway. The scope anticipates that some fieldwork may need to happen during low-disturbance, high-activity periods for birds, including early mornings (0530 to 0900) and evenings (1700 to 2100), reflecting typical patterns for detecting courtship, nesting behaviors, and movements on beaches and estuaries.
A major deliverable is detailed biological data collection that goes beyond simple presence-absence. Monitors are expected to record arrival and departure timing at sites, counts of adults, chicks/fledglings, and nests, and the breeding status of individuals and nests when determinable. The project also calls for documenting unusual behavior, interactions with other species, and band observations when possible. Predator presence and activity, both mammalian and avian, must be noted because predation pressure can strongly influence nest success and is directly relevant to management actions such as predator control, habitat/fence design, and training area restrictions. Chick banding is explicitly included, with banding conducted on as many tern and plover chicks as needed to meet the project objectives, supporting more robust survival and movement tracking.
The opportunity also emphasizes improving or validating how reproductive success is measured, not just reporting raw counts. The partner must conduct fledgling counts and is encouraged, where necessary, to use alternate or more rigorous approaches such as telemetry or mark-recapture methods to estimate reproductive success and survival. The agreement expects the cooperator to provide methods or analyses that help estimate breeding population size, daily fledgling survival rates, how vegetation density affects site selection, and nest success outcomes, including documenting causes of nest failure when they can be determined (for example, predation, flooding, disturbance, or other site-specific factors). This focus ties directly to MCBCP decision-making around vegetation management, predator management, and how military training activities may be scheduled or buffered to reduce impacts.
Reporting requirements are substantial and analytical rather than purely descriptive. The cooperator must produce a report that summarizes and analyzes the season(s) of data to assess population trends and breeding success rates. The report must include documenting photographs covering sites, methods, techniques, and any significant events during the monitoring period. In addition to biological monitoring, the partner has a practical site-management task: maintaining or reestablishing the census grid used for tern colonies (with a grid unit scale of 15 m, 25 m, or 30 m depending on colony size) and performing minor fence maintenance. These infrastructure elements matter because standardized grids improve the consistency of nest mapping and monitoring over time, and fencing often plays a role in limiting disturbance or managing predator/human access.
Financially, the total potential value is estimated at $1,645,849 if the base period plus all option years and option items are awarded, with one expected award. The base period for least tern work is described as 14 months with anticipated funding of $265,769. The agreement includes multiple option years for additional field seasons (labeled 2027 through 2030) with incremental increases each year for LETE monitoring: $271,178 (Option Year 1), $276,685 (Option Year 2), $282,285 (Option Year 3), and $288,019 (Option Year 4). Separate option items cover snowy plover monitoring for one field season at a time, beginning with $50,319 in the base period option item, then $51,304, $52,331, $53,381, and $54,578 across option years 1 through 4. The funding structure signals a multi-year monitoring program where continued support is possible but dependent on the government exercising options, with least tern monitoring forming the main funding component and snowy plover monitoring handled as add-on seasonal items.
Eligibility is limited to Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) Californian cooperative partners who qualify under Department of Defense Grant and Agreement Regulations (DoDGARs) Part 34 or under 2 CFR 200. The CFDA (assistance listing) number is 12.005, and the opportunity is categorized under Natural Resources. The application deadline listed is January 22, 2026, and the award ceiling matches the stated total potential value ($1,645,849), reinforcing that the full amount is tied to the base plus all options rather than guaranteed upfront.Apply for N62473 26 2 0002
- The Naval Facilities Engineering Command Southwest in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "FOR THE MONITORING OF FEDERALLY LISTED BEACH-NESTING BIRDS ON MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, CALIFORNIA" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 12.005.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2026-01-08.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-01-22. (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 $1,645,849.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1) What is the funding opportunity number for this grant?
The Funding Opportunity Number is N62473 26 2 0002.
2) Who is offering this funding opportunity?
This opportunity is being offered by Naval Facilities Engineering Command Southwest.
3) What type of award is this?
This is a discretionary cooperative agreement.
4) What is the main purpose of this cooperative agreement?
The purpose is to support required monitoring of two federally listed beach-nesting birds on Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton (MCBCP) in California so the installation can document nesting activity, reproductive outcomes, and factors affecting the species, and use that information to evaluate and adjust management practices while balancing military training needs.
5) Which species are being monitored under this project?
The project supports monitoring of the California least tern (LETE) and the western snowy plover (SNPL).
6) Where will the monitoring work take place?
The monitoring will take place on Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton (MCBCP) in California, across all existing and potential breeding sites on the installation.
7) What compliance requirement is driving this work?
The work is driven by compliance obligations under the Riparian and Estuarian/Beach Biological Opinion.
8) What field monitoring activities are expected?
The selected partner is expected to conduct systematic surveys by foot, vehicle, and/or visual observation to track nesting activity and nesting success, and to identify and document foraging and roosting areas used by adults and young.
9) How often are surveys required during the breeding season?
Surveys must occur at least twice per week throughout the breeding window.
10) What are the required monitoring dates for the breeding window?
Monitoring begins March 1 and continues through September 15, or longer if breeding is still underway.
11) Are there specific times of day when fieldwork may be required?
Yes. The scope anticipates that some fieldwork may need to occur during low-disturbance, high-activity periods for birds, including early mornings (0530 to 0900) and evenings (1700 to 2100).
12) What types of biological data must be collected?
Data collection is expected to go beyond presence-absence and include items such as arrival and departure timing at sites; counts of adults, chicks/fledglings, and nests; and breeding status of individuals and nests when determinable.
13) Does the project require documenting behavior and interactions?
Yes. Monitors are expected to document unusual behavior, interactions with other species, and band observations when possible.
14) Is predator monitoring included in the scope?
Yes. Predator presence and activity (both mammalian and avian) must be noted because predation pressure can influence nest success and is relevant to management actions.
15) Is chick banding included, and for which species?
Yes. Chick banding is explicitly included, with banding conducted on as many California least tern and western snowy plover chicks as needed to meet project objectives.
16) How is reproductive success expected to be measured and reported?
The opportunity emphasizes improving or validating how reproductive success is measured. The partner must conduct fledgling counts and is encouraged, where necessary, to use alternate or more rigorous approaches such as telemetry or mark-recapture methods to estimate reproductive success and survival.
17) What analyses or estimates is the partner expected to support?
The agreement expects methods or analyses that help estimate breeding population size, daily fledgling survival rates, how vegetation density affects site selection, and nest success outcomes. It also includes documenting causes of nest failure when determinable (for example, predation, flooding, disturbance, or other site-specific factors).
18) What reporting deliverables are required?
The cooperator must produce a report that summarizes and analyzes the season(s) of data to assess population trends and breeding success rates. The report must include photographs covering sites, methods, techniques, and significant events during the monitoring period.
19) Are there any site-management or infrastructure tasks included beyond biological monitoring?
Yes. The partner must maintain or reestablish the census grid used for tern colonies and perform minor fence maintenance.
20) What census grid specifications are mentioned for tern colonies?
The census grid is described with a grid unit scale of 15 m, 25 m, or 30 m depending on colony size.
21) Why are the grid and fencing tasks part of the scope?
Standardized grids improve consistency of nest mapping and monitoring over time, and fencing often plays a role in limiting disturbance or managing predator/human access.
22) What is the total potential value of the award?
The total potential value is estimated at $1,645,849 if the base period plus all option years and option items are awarded.
23) How many awards are expected?
One award is expected.
24) What is the base period duration and anticipated funding for least tern (LETE) work?
The base period for least tern work is described as 14 months with anticipated funding of $265,769.
25) What are the option-year amounts for least tern (LETE) monitoring?
The option years (labeled 2027 through 2030) list the following anticipated amounts for LETE monitoring: $271,178 (Option Year 1), $276,685 (Option Year 2), $282,285 (Option Year 3), and $288,019 (Option Year 4).
26) How is western snowy plover (SNPL) monitoring funded under this opportunity?
Snowy plover monitoring is covered by separate option items for one field season at a time, beginning with $50,319 in the base period option item, then $51,304, $52,331, $53,381, and $54,578 across option years 1 through 4.
27) Does the full $1,645,849 get awarded upfront?
The opportunity describes the $1,645,849 as the total potential value if the base period plus all option years and option items are awarded, indicating the full amount is tied to the government exercising options rather than being guaranteed upfront.
28) What is the application deadline?
The listed application deadline is January 22, 2026.
29) Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is limited to Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) Californian cooperative partners who qualify under Department of Defense Grant and Agreement Regulations (DoDGARs) Part 34 or under 2 CFR 200.
30) What is the CFDA (Assistance Listing) number and category?
The CFDA (assistance listing) number is 12.005, and the opportunity is categorized under Natural Resources.
31) What is the award ceiling?
The award ceiling matches the stated total potential value: $1,645,849.
32) What is the overall program structure suggested by the funding breakdown?
The funding structure signals a multi-year monitoring program where continued support is possible but depends on the government exercising option years and option items. Least tern monitoring is the main funding component, with snowy plover monitoring handled as add-on seasonal items.
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