Webless Migratory Game Bird Program Request for Proposals 2019 | F19AS00155

Opportunity Information: Apply for F19AS00155

The Webless Migratory Game Bird Program Request for Proposals 2019 (Funding Opportunity Number F19AS00155) is a competitive federal funding opportunity issued by the U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). It was released on March 21, 2019, with an application closing date of April 22, 2019. The program is listed under CFDA 15.655 and is offered as a discretionary opportunity, meaning proposals are evaluated and selected based on program priorities and merit rather than being automatically awarded to eligible applicants. Funding may be provided through cooperative agreements, standard grants, or other award mechanisms, depending on the nature of the project and the level of federal involvement needed.

The central goal of the WMGBP is to support work that leads to better management of 16 species of webless migratory game birds in North America. In practical terms, this means the program is focused on generating or applying information that helps wildlife agencies make sound decisions about these migratory bird populations, including how they are monitored, conserved, and managed over time. The program emphasizes that funded projects should directly contribute to improved management outcomes, rather than being purely academic exercises. USFWS also makes clear that it will oversee the program and handle administrative pathways such as grants, purchase orders, and contracts, indicating that projects may involve varying degrees of coordination with the federal agency.

A defining feature of this solicitation is that proposals are expected to align with a set of established priority information needs. Those priorities were developed by the Migratory Shore and Upland Game Bird Support Task Force, which was organized through the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies. The priorities were not created by a single office or single discipline; instead, they were shaped through workshops that brought together a broad cross-section of experts and stakeholders, including federal and state agencies, conservation organizations, and university researchers who are familiar with research and management needs for these birds. Because of that process, the priorities function as the main roadmap for applicants: they are intended to guide proposal development and are also used by the review committee as the basis for deciding which projects to fund. The notice indicates that the full list of priorities is available through the materials referenced in the announcement or by contacting the program manager identified in the opportunity documentation.

From an eligibility standpoint, the opportunity is described as “unrestricted,” meaning it is open to any type of applicant entity, subject to any additional clarifications contained in the official eligibility section of the full announcement. That generally signals broad access for potential applicants such as state wildlife agencies, tribal governments, local governments, universities, nonprofit conservation groups, and potentially other qualified organizations, as long as they meet the specific eligibility and compliance requirements described in the full posting.

The award details provided in the source information include an award ceiling of $100,000. The “expected awards” field is listed as 0 in the extracted data, which typically reflects either that the number of awards was not specified in the summary record or that awards would depend on available funds and the quality of proposals received, rather than guaranteeing a set number of funded projects. As with many federal research and management-oriented solicitations, applicants would generally be expected to propose a clear scope of work and budget that fits within the maximum award amount and matches the program’s priority needs.

Finally, the USFWS cites multiple legal authorities that allow it to fund and administer this program, including the Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956 (as amended), the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act of 1958, the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act, and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. These statutes collectively support federal involvement in conserving and coordinating the management of fish and wildlife resources, including migratory birds. In essence, this RFP uses those authorities to direct funding toward targeted research, monitoring, and management-support activities that address identified information gaps and lead to stronger, more coordinated stewardship of webless migratory game birds across North America.

• The Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Webless Migratory Game Bird Program Request for Proposals 2019" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.655.
• This funding opportunity was created on Mar 21, 2019.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Apr 22, 2019. (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 $100,000.00 in funding.
• Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility.

Apply for F19AS00155

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