Shiawassee NWR Greenpoint Long Pond Wetland Restoration | F22AS00164

Opportunity Information: Apply for F22AS00164

The Shiawassee NWR Greenpoint Long Pond Wetland Restoration opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number F22AS00164) is a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (CFDA 15.654) discretionary funding announcement to award a single cooperative agreement focused on restoring "Long Pond" at Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge. The pond sits on the former Germania golf course, now incorporated into the refuge, and it currently functions as a degraded former irrigation pond with steep, near-vertical banks. In its existing condition, it provides little to no habitat value and is considered a visitor safety concern, so the project is aimed at converting it into a safer, more natural wetland feature with improved ecological function.

The selected partner will be responsible for a full package of professional services that begins with surveying the existing pond and site conditions, then moves into engineering and restoration design developed in close collaboration with the Service. A central design goal is to connect Long Pond to the nearby Tittabawassee River and regrade the pond edges to replace the steep vertical walls with gentler slopes that support wetland habitat. Early estimates indicate the earthwork could be substantial, potentially requiring relocation of up to 20,000 cubic yards of material. Because the project area lies within the river floodplain, the design work must be carefully guided to meet state and federal requirements, including wetland, floodplain, and Clean Water Act permitting expectations. The Service notes it has already held pre-application meetings with local, state, and federal regulators to confirm the project is permittable and consistent with existing laws, but the awardee must still produce the detailed deliverables needed to move permitting forward.

A key deliverable from the awardee is a complete set of design plans that the Service will use to apply for the necessary local, state, and federal permits. In addition to the pond restoration itself, the scope includes removal of several miles of asphalt golf cart paths spread across the former golf course footprint, indicating the project is also intended to reduce legacy recreational infrastructure and improve overall site conditions across the area.

After permitting is complete, the awardee will shift into construction management responsibilities to deliver the work. This includes developing a federal procurement-compliant bid package, soliciting bids from subcontractors, and managing the subcontracted construction for both the Long Pond restoration and the cart path removals. The awardee must provide ongoing construction oversight, including on-site inspections to ensure the work matches the design specifications. The construction management role also includes operational and compliance controls such as ensuring all contractor equipment is washed and cleaned before entering the refuge to prevent invasive species spread, verifying that any fuel storage on refuge property meets Fish and Wildlife Service policy for containment and safety, and making sure any damage to refuge infrastructure (roads, trails, signs, gates, observation platforms, and related assets) is repaired back to pre-construction condition, which may include tasks like road grading and dike repair.

The cooperative agreement structure signals substantial Service involvement throughout the project rather than a hands-off grant. The Service will provide the required construction and environmental permits, contribute on-the-ground knowledge of site conditions, and coordinate closely with the awardee and subcontractors to build a construction schedule that accounts for wildlife disturbance limits, river flooding and changing water levels, allowable work hours (with any nighttime operations requiring advance approval), and impacts to public use areas like trails and observation platforms. The Service will also control key logistical decisions by approving all haul routes and the roads that may be used for construction access, and any proposed route changes must be cleared in advance. At the end of the project, the awardee must provide a final survey of the completed work in formats compatible with ArcGIS and AutoCAD, supporting refuge records and long-term management.

Funding details included in the notice list an award ceiling of $756,200 and an expected number of awards of one. The original closing date was March 28, 2022, and the opportunity was created January 25, 2022. Eligible applicants are listed as nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status (other than institutions of higher education) and other eligible entities, with the notice also stating that 501(c)(4) and 501(c)(5) nonprofit organizations are eligible to apply. For applicants who want to see the project area in person, the announcement specifies 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.

• The Fish and Wildlife Service in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Shiawassee NWR Greenpoint Long Pond Wetland Restoration" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.654.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2022-01-25.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2022-03-28. (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 $756,200.00 in funding.
• Eligible applicants include: Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Others.

Apply for F22AS00164

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