ESA CANDIDATE SPECIES SURVEYS AT MARINE CORPS MOUNTAIN WARFARE TRAINING CENTER BRIDGEPORT, CALIFORNIA | N62473 25 2 0003

Opportunity Information: Apply for N62473 25 2 0003

This grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number N62473 25 2 0003) is a discretionary cooperative agreement offered by Naval Facilities Engineering Command Southwest to fund endangered species and candidate species survey work connected to the US Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center (MWTC) in Bridgeport, California. The core purpose is to generate the natural resource information and documentation needed to keep Marine Corps training activities aligned with environmental requirements and to maintain continued access to off-base training lands that are essential to MWTC operations.

MWTC operates within a unique land-use arrangement because a large portion of the training area is on federally managed forest land. Specifically, the US Forest Service (USFS) permits the Marine Corps to use about 46,000 acres of the Toiyabe National Forest for training under formal agreements. This project is intended to help ensure the Marine Corps remains in concurrence with those agreements, particularly the Special-Use Authorization (SUA) and the Annual Operating Plan (AOP). In practical terms, that means the work funded under this award should support the ongoing coordination, resource condition awareness, and compliance documentation needed for USFS to continue authorizing Marine Corps use of those lands. The opportunity emphasizes that these agreements are not just administrative paperwork; they provide critical training space and a realistic "missionscape" that significantly expands the effective training footprint beyond what is contained strictly within MWTC boundaries.

A major deliverable expectation is support to the installation's Integrated Natural Resources Management Plan (INRMP). The project is framed as helping with the annual review and periodic revision of the INRMP, which is the main planning document that integrates military training needs with stewardship of fish, wildlife, habitat, and other natural resources. Candidate species and ESA-related survey results typically feed directly into INRMP updates by identifying where sensitive species occur, what habitats they depend on, and what management measures are needed to avoid impacts while sustaining training capacity. Because this is a cooperative agreement rather than a standard contract, the government generally anticipates substantial involvement and coordination during performance, which often fits ecological survey projects that require adaptive field planning, data review, and iterative management discussions.

The compliance drivers listed in the announcement show why the survey work matters beyond the local level. The project supports compliance with the Sikes Act (the key federal statute governing natural resource management on military installations), applicable California requirements for management of fish and wildlife on military lands (cited in the notice), Department of Defense Instruction 4715.03 (Natural Resources Conservation Program), and OPNAVINST 5090.1D (Environmental Readiness Program). Taken together, these authorities push installations to proactively manage natural resources, coordinate with state and federal wildlife agencies, and document actions in ways that reduce regulatory risk. For MWTC, the surveys are part of the foundation for demonstrating that training can continue while meeting conservation obligations, especially where ESA-listed species or ESA candidate species could be present.

Eligibility is limited to Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) Californian cooperative partners that qualify under DoDGARS Part 34 or 2 CFR 200, which points to universities, nonprofits, and other research or conservation entities that are part of the CESU network and are eligible to receive federal financial assistance under those rules. The listing identifies the CFDA number as 12.005 (a Department of Defense assistance listing) and categorizes the work under Natural Resources.

In terms of funding and competition details, the opportunity anticipates a single award (Expected Awards: 1) with an award ceiling of $809,113. The original closing date is August 4, 2025, and the opportunity was created on July 2, 2025. Additional terms and conditions are referenced as a separate attachment, which is typical for cooperative agreements and can include requirements related to reporting, data standards, coordination with USFS or wildlife agencies, and other administrative or technical conditions that shape how the surveys must be conducted and how results must be delivered.

• The Naval Facilities Engineering Command Southwest in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "ESA CANDIDATE SPECIES SURVEYS AT MARINE CORPS MOUNTAIN WARFARE TRAINING CENTER BRIDGEPORT, CALIFORNIA" 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 2025-07-02.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2025-08-04. (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 $809,113.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others.

Apply for N62473 25 2 0003

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