Shiawassee NWR Greenpoint Long Pond Wetland Restoration | F22AS00164

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1) What is the Shiawassee NWR Greenpoint Long Pond Wetland Restoration opportunity?

This is a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service discretionary funding opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number F22AS00164; CFDA 15.654) to support a wetland restoration project at Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge, focused on restoring and redesigning "Long Pond" on the former Germania golf course area now incorporated into the refuge.

2) How many awards are expected under this opportunity?

The notice indicates an expected number of awards of one, meaning a single cooperative agreement is anticipated.

3) What is the maximum amount of funding available?

The award ceiling listed in the notice is $756,200.

4) What type of award is being offered (grant vs. cooperative agreement)?

The announcement is for a cooperative agreement, which indicates substantial involvement by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service throughout the project rather than a hands-off grant structure.

5) What is the main purpose of the project at Long Pond?

The project aims to convert Long Pond from a degraded former irrigation pond with steep, near-vertical banks into a safer, more natural wetland feature with improved ecological function and habitat value.

6) Why is restoration needed at Long Pond?

In its current condition, Long Pond provides little to no habitat value and is considered a visitor safety concern due to the steep, near-vertical pond banks. The restoration is intended to improve habitat and reduce safety risks.

7) Where is Long Pond located?

Long Pond is located at Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge, in an area that was previously part of the Germania golf course and is now part of the refuge.

8) What major design outcomes are expected?

Key design goals described in the notice include connecting Long Pond to the nearby Tittabawassee River and regrading pond edges to replace steep vertical walls with gentler slopes that can support wetland habitat.

9) What kinds of professional services are included in the scope of work?

The scope described includes surveying existing pond and site conditions, completing engineering and restoration design in close collaboration with the Service, producing permit-ready design deliverables, and later providing construction management services through project completion.

10) How substantial might the earthwork be?

Early estimates in the notice indicate earthwork could be substantial, potentially involving relocation of up to 20,000 cubic yards of material.

11) What permitting considerations apply to this project?

Because the project area is within a river floodplain, the design must meet state and federal requirements, including wetland, floodplain, and Clean Water Act permitting expectations.

12) Has the project been discussed with regulators already?

Yes. The Service notes it has held pre-application meetings with local, state, and federal regulators to confirm the project is permittable and consistent with existing laws. However, the awardee must still produce the detailed design deliverables needed to move permitting forward.

13) What is a key design deliverable expected from the awardee?

A key deliverable is a complete set of design plans that the Service will use to apply for the necessary local, state, and federal permits.

14) Does the project include work beyond the pond restoration itself?

Yes. The scope also includes removal of several miles of asphalt golf cart paths across the former golf course footprint, intended to reduce legacy recreational infrastructure and improve overall site conditions.

15) When does construction begin relative to permitting?

The notice describes a sequence where the awardee supports design and permit-ready deliverables first, and then shifts into construction management responsibilities after permitting is complete.

16) What construction management responsibilities are included?

Construction management responsibilities include developing a federal procurement-compliant bid package, soliciting bids from subcontractors, managing subcontracted construction for the pond restoration and cart path removals, and providing ongoing construction oversight (including on-site inspections) to ensure work matches design specifications.

17) What compliance and operational controls must be addressed during construction?

The notice specifies controls including ensuring contractor equipment is washed and cleaned before entering the refuge to prevent invasive species spread, verifying any fuel storage on refuge property meets Fish and Wildlife Service policy for containment and safety, and ensuring any damage to refuge infrastructure is repaired back to pre-construction condition (which may include road grading and dike repair).

18) What types of refuge infrastructure might need repair if impacted by construction?

The notice lists roads, trails, signs, gates, observation platforms, and related assets as examples of infrastructure that must be repaired to pre-construction condition if damaged.

19) What role will the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service play during the project?

The Service will be substantially involved, including providing required construction and environmental permits, contributing on-the-ground knowledge of site conditions, coordinating closely with the awardee and subcontractors, and helping develop a construction schedule that accounts for wildlife disturbance limits and other constraints.

20) What scheduling constraints must be considered during construction?

The construction schedule must account for wildlife disturbance limits, river flooding and changing water levels, allowable work hours, and impacts to public use areas such as trails and observation platforms. Nighttime operations require advance approval, according to the notice.

21) Who controls construction access and haul routes?

The notice states that the Service will approve all haul routes and the roads that may be used for construction access, and any proposed route changes must be cleared in advance.

22) What final documentation is required at the end of the project?

The awardee must provide a final survey of the completed work in formats compatible with ArcGIS and AutoCAD to support refuge records and long-term management.

23) What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON) for this announcement?

The Funding Opportunity Number provided is F22AS00164.

24) What CFDA number is associated with this opportunity?

The notice identifies CFDA 15.654.

25) Who is eligible to apply based on the notice?

Eligible applicants are listed as nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education) and other eligible entities. The notice also states that 501(c)(4) and 501(c)(5) nonprofit organizations are eligible to apply.

26) What were the opportunity creation date and the original closing date?

The opportunity was created on January 25, 2022, and the original closing date listed is March 28, 2022.

27) Is a site visit available, and how is it scheduled?

Yes. The announcement states that a site visit can be arranged, but the organization must contact the Service program officer identified in the NOFO at least 10 days before the announcement closes to schedule it.

28) Does the awardee apply for permits directly?

Based on the notice, the Service will provide the required construction and environmental permits. The awardee is responsible for producing the complete set of design plans and related deliverables that the Service will use to apply for the necessary permits.

29) What does "federal procurement-compliant" mean in this context?

The notice specifies that the awardee must develop a bid package compliant with federal procurement requirements and then solicit bids from subcontractors and manage the subcontracted work.

30) What is the broader site context for the project?

The project is situated on land that was formerly the Germania golf course and is now part of Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge. In addition to restoring Long Pond, the project removes miles of asphalt golf cart paths across the former golf course footprint.