Coral Reef Assessment at Ritidan Unit, Guam NWR | F16AS00255

Opportunity Information: Apply for F16AS00255

The Coral Reef Assessment at Ritidan Unit, Guam National Wildlife Refuge (Funding Opportunity Number F16AS00255) is a discretionary grant opportunity from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service focused on field-based coral reef science and mapping within the refuge boundaries in Guam. It falls under CFDA 15.650 and is categorized under environment and science/technology research and development. The opportunity was aimed specifically at public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, reflecting an emphasis on partnering with universities or similar academic entities capable of conducting standardized ecological surveys, species identification, and spatial analysis.

The core purpose of the project is to build a clear, up-to-date picture of reef condition and composition across key habitat zones in the Ritidian Unit. The work starts with characterizing benthic structure and coral assemblages, meaning the recipient would document what the seafloor looks like (for example, the distribution of reef framework, sand, rubble, and other substrate types) and how coral communities are arranged across the site. The surveys are expected to cover both the fore reef areas, including lower spur-and-groove and upper terrace habitats, as well as the reef flat environments such as the back reef and reef crest. This zoned approach matters because different reef areas can support different coral communities and face different stressors, so the project is designed to capture that variability rather than relying on a single generalized survey.

A major deliverable is an inventory of all coral species observed in the specified reef zones, with explicit documentation of the presence or absence of corals listed under the Endangered Species Act. In practice, this implies careful taxonomic identification during in-water surveys and a reporting format that clearly flags ESA-listed species where they occur. Beyond species lists, the project also calls for evaluating reef health indicators by determining whether coral disease, coral bleaching, or predation are present or absent at the surveyed sites. That component is intended to provide early warning signals and baseline condition information that can inform refuge management, particularly if stress events are occurring or recurring.

The final product is described as a comprehensive report that combines visual documentation, spatial mapping, and quantitative measures of the coral community. Specifically, the report is expected to include photos of coral species and representative assemblages, GIS-based benthic maps that show benthic structure and the locations of coral species, and calculated measures of coral diversity and abundance. An additional requirement is a comparison to data from transects surveyed in a previous study, indicating that the project is not just a standalone snapshot but also a follow-up intended to evaluate changes over time using comparable transect-based methods. In other words, the refuge is looking for results that can be aligned with earlier monitoring so managers can assess trends in community composition, species presence (including ESA-listed corals), and health conditions such as bleaching, disease, or predation.

From an administrative standpoint, the opportunity had an original closing date of 2016-06-06 and an award ceiling of $39,982. While the listing shows expected awards as 0, the intent of the announcement is clearly to solicit a qualified research team to conduct the surveys, analyze the findings, generate GIS products, and deliver a final report suitable for refuge planning and long-term coral reef monitoring at Ritidian, Guam.

• The Fish and Wildlife Service in the environment, science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Coral Reef Assessment at Ritidan Unit, Guam NWR" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.650.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2016-06-01.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2016-06-06. (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 $39,982.00 in funding.
• Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education.

Apply for F16AS00255

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