Opportunity Information: Apply for W9126G262SOI0520
This grant opportunity is a Request for Statements of Interest (RSOI) for a Cooperative Agreement focused on mapping and understanding salinity changes in both groundwater and surface water across Everglades National Park, with a particular emphasis on the southern Florida Everglades. The work is intended to support the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Jacksonville District by using Aerial Electromagnetic (AEM) surveys to identify the current footprint of saltwater intrusion, estimate how quickly it is moving, and clarify how these changes relate to areas experiencing critical habitat loss. A key part of the effort is to combine newly collected AEM results with comparable survey data from the past 30 years, creating a longer-term picture of how the freshwater-saltwater boundary has shifted over time. Those findings are then expected to feed into projections of future movement of the freshwater-saltwater interface, which can help guide and optimize Everglades restoration and water-management decisions in a wetland system that has been substantially degraded.
At this stage, the government is not asking for a full technical proposal or a detailed budget. Instead, interested and eligible parties are asked to submit a Statement of Interest by noon Central Time on October 6, 2026, with any questions due by noon Central Time on September 14, 2026. Submissions are to be sent by email to the listed USACE Fort Worth District contacts: Cheryl R. Vendemia (Grants Specialist) at Cheryl.R.Vendemia@usace.army.mil and Nicole Baker (Project Manager) at Nicole.D.Baker@usace.army.mil. The RSOI must be publicly posted on Grants.gov for 30 days before the government makes a decision about moving forward and requesting full proposals, and the award is anticipated in Fiscal Year 2027.
The planned period of performance begins with a 12-month base period from the date of award, followed by up to four additional 12-month follow-on periods, contingent on the availability of funds. The funding instrument is a Cooperative Agreement, and the opportunity is categorized under Science and Technology and other Research and Development (CFDA 12.005). The notice indicates an expected single award, with an award ceiling of $1,657,690.
Eligibility is limited: this opportunity is only available to participants within specific Cooperative Ecosystem Study Units (CESU) regions, namely the Gulf Coast, Piedmont-South Atlantic Coast, and South Florida Caribbean Regions. Another important administrative detail is the indirect cost policy. The CESU indirect rate is capped at 17.5 percent for any cooperative agreement awarded under this RSOI (including modifications). Unless the final agreement states otherwise, the indirect cost rate must be applied to the same direct-cost base used in the recipient's federally negotiated indirect cost rate agreement; if the recipient does not have a federally negotiated indirect cost rate agreement, the Modified Total Direct Cost (MTDC) base applies.
In practical terms, the government is signaling that it wants capable CESU partners who can carry out and interpret AEM surveys, integrate new data with decades of prior airborne survey records, and translate those results into actionable understanding of saltwater intrusion trends affecting the Everglades. The immediate ask is a concise expression of interest and qualifications rather than a full plan, with the full proposal step expected later for those invited after the SOI review.Apply for W9126G262SOI0520
- The Fort Worth District in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Groundwater and Surficial Water Salinity Changes in Everglades National Park using Aerial Electromagnetic Surveys" 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 2026-09-04.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-10-06. (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 $1,657,690.00 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 this funding opportunity?
This is a Request for Statements of Interest (RSOI) for a Cooperative Agreement. The effort focuses on mapping and understanding salinity changes in groundwater and surface water across Everglades National Park, with particular emphasis on the southern Florida Everglades.
2) What is the main purpose of the project?
The project is intended to support the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Jacksonville District by using Aerial Electromagnetic (AEM) surveys to identify the current footprint of saltwater intrusion, estimate how quickly it is moving, and clarify how salinity changes relate to areas experiencing critical habitat loss.
3) What geographic area does the work focus on?
The work covers Everglades National Park, with a stated emphasis on the southern Florida Everglades.
4) What kind of data collection or technical approach is emphasized?
The notice emphasizes the use of Aerial Electromagnetic (AEM) surveys to map salinity conditions and the freshwater-saltwater boundary.
5) How will historical information be used?
A key element is combining newly collected AEM results with comparable survey data from the past 30 years. The intent is to create a longer-term picture of how the freshwater-saltwater boundary has shifted over time.
6) What kinds of outcomes or analyses are expected from the data?
The findings are expected to support estimates of the current saltwater intrusion footprint, the rate of movement, and relationships to critical habitat loss. The results are also expected to feed into projections of future movement of the freshwater-saltwater interface to help guide and optimize Everglades restoration and water-management decisions.
7) Is the government requesting a full technical proposal right now?
No. At this stage, the government is not asking for a full technical proposal.
8) Is a detailed budget required at the Statement of Interest stage?
No. The notice states the government is not asking for a detailed budget at this stage.
9) What is required at this stage?
Interested and eligible parties must submit a Statement of Interest (SOI) expressing interest and qualifications relevant to the work described (AEM survey capability, interpretation, integration with historical airborne survey data, and translating results into actionable understanding of saltwater intrusion trends).
10) When are questions due?
Questions are due by noon Central Time on September 14, 2026.
11) When is the Statement of Interest due?
The Statement of Interest is due by noon Central Time on October 6, 2026.
12) How do applicants submit their Statement of Interest?
Submissions must be sent by email to the USACE Fort Worth District contacts listed in the notice.
13) Who are the listed contacts for submission?
The notice lists the following USACE Fort Worth District contacts:
- Cheryl R. Vendemia (Grants Specialist): Cheryl.R.Vendemia@usace.army.mil
- Nicole Baker (Project Manager): Nicole.D.Baker@usace.army.mil
14) How long will the opportunity be posted before a decision is made?
The RSOI must be publicly posted on Grants.gov for 30 days before the government makes a decision about moving forward and requesting full proposals.
15) Does submitting an SOI mean a full proposal will be requested?
Not necessarily. The notice indicates the government will review SOIs and then decide whether to move forward and request full proposals.
16) What is the anticipated timing for an award?
The award is anticipated in Fiscal Year 2027.
17) What is the planned period of performance?
The planned period of performance begins with a 12-month base period from the date of award, followed by up to four additional 12-month follow-on periods. Follow-on periods are contingent on the availability of funds.
18) What type of funding instrument will be used?
The funding instrument is a Cooperative Agreement.
19) What is the program category / CFDA number listed?
The opportunity is categorized under Science and Technology and other Research and Development and is listed as CFDA 12.005.
20) How many awards does the government expect to make?
The notice indicates an expected single award.
21) What is the award ceiling?
The award ceiling is $1,657,690.
22) Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is limited to participants within specific Cooperative Ecosystem Study Units (CESU) regions: the Gulf Coast, Piedmont-South Atlantic Coast, and South Florida Caribbean Regions.
23) What if an organization is not part of the specified CESU regions?
Based on the notice, the opportunity is only available to participants within the listed CESU regions (Gulf Coast, Piedmont-South Atlantic Coast, and South Florida Caribbean). Organizations outside those regions would not be eligible under the stated eligibility limitation.
24) Is there an indirect cost cap?
Yes. The CESU indirect rate is capped at 17.5 percent for any cooperative agreement awarded under this RSOI, including modifications.
25) How should the indirect cost rate be applied?
Unless the final agreement states otherwise, the indirect cost rate must be applied to the same direct-cost base used in the recipient's federally negotiated indirect cost rate agreement. If the recipient does not have a federally negotiated indirect cost rate agreement, the Modified Total Direct Cost (MTDC) base applies.
26) What practical capabilities is the government looking for in respondents?
The notice signals interest in CESU partners who can carry out and interpret AEM surveys, integrate new AEM data with decades of prior airborne survey records (about 30 years), and translate results into actionable understanding of saltwater intrusion trends affecting the Everglades.
27) What management or restoration decisions is this work intended to support?
The work is intended to inform Everglades restoration and water-management decisions by improving understanding of current and future movement of the freshwater-saltwater interface in a wetland system that has been substantially degraded.
28) Which USACE district is the work intended to support?
The technical work is intended to support the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Jacksonville District, while SOI submission is directed to USACE Fort Worth District contacts listed in the notice.
29) What is meant by "follow-on periods" in this notice?
The notice describes a 12-month base period plus up to four additional 12-month periods. These additional periods are not guaranteed and depend on the availability of funds.
30) What happens after the SOI is submitted?
Based on the notice, the government will review SOIs after the Grants.gov posting period requirements are met and then decide whether to move forward and request full proposals from selected respondents.
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