Opportunity Information: Apply for EPA R5 GL2017 ZBC
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released this FY2017 discretionary funding opportunity under the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) Action Plan II to support a single, large cooperative agreement focused on long-term biological monitoring in the open waters of the Great Lakes. The opportunity is titled "2017 RFA for Great Lakes Long-Term Biology Monitoring Program: Zooplankton, Benthos, Mysis and Chlorophyll a Components" (Funding Opportunity Number: EPA R5 GL2017 ZBC). The core purpose is to keep an established, long-running monitoring program going so agencies and partners can track biological conditions and trends over time, rather than relying on one-off studies that do not show long-term change.
The work emphasizes four main biological indicators that are widely used to understand food-web structure and ecosystem productivity in large lakes: zooplankton, benthos (bottom-dwelling invertebrates), Mysis (commonly Mysis relicta, an important prey item and mid-food-web organism in many Great Lakes), and chlorophyll-a (a standard measure used as a proxy for algal biomass and overall primary productivity). The RFA calls for continued, consistent sampling of these components in the offshore/open-lake environment across the Great Lakes, reflecting the program's role as a long-term dataset that supports trend detection, lake-to-lake comparisons, and evaluation of management actions tied to GLRI priorities.
In addition to the continuation of routine long-term monitoring, the EPA also sought proposals to add a "synoptic whole lake assessment of benthos." In practical terms, this means a more comprehensive, lakewide benthic survey intended to provide a broad snapshot of benthic condition across an entire lake (or lakes) during a defined period, supplementing the ongoing monitoring stations or time series. This kind of synoptic assessment is typically used to improve spatial coverage, identify areas of change or concern that fixed stations might miss, and strengthen the ability to link benthic community patterns to stressors such as nutrient loading, invasive species impacts, or habitat changes.
The funding mechanism is a cooperative agreement, which generally signals that the EPA expected substantial involvement during the project period, such as collaboration on study design, coordination with other Great Lakes monitoring efforts, alignment on methods and quality assurance, and shared decision-making about deliverables and data management. The opportunity sits within the broader GLRI funding landscape for FY2017, meaning it was one of multiple federal funding solicitations aimed at restoring and protecting Great Lakes ecosystems, with this particular RFA targeted specifically at long-term biology monitoring and the data continuity needed for credible environmental assessment.
Key administrative details from the notice include an award ceiling of $6,000,000, with one expected award, indicating an intent to fund a single lead entity (or consortium led by one applicant) capable of executing a large-scale, multi-lake monitoring effort. The opportunity was posted January 30, 2017, with an original closing date of March 17, 2017 (with the notice advising applicants to consult Section IV for official close date instructions). The assistance listing is CFDA 66.469, and the activity category is Environment. Eligibility is listed as "Others," with clarification directed to the funding announcement's eligibility section, implying that eligibility may extend beyond standard categories and could include certain institutions, organizations, or partnerships as defined in the full RFA.
Overall, this grant opportunity was designed to maintain and enhance a cornerstone Great Lakes offshore biological monitoring program by funding continued sampling of major food-web and productivity indicators and adding a more complete, whole-lake benthic assessment. The underlying value proposition is the production of consistent, high-quality biological data that can be compared over years and across lakes to inform restoration priorities, detect ecosystem shifts, and measure progress under GLRI goals.Apply for EPA R5 GL2017 ZBC
- The Environmental Protection Agency in the environment sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "2017 RFA for Great Lakes Long-Term Biology Monitoring Program: Zooplankton, Benthos, Mysis and Chlorophyll a Components" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 66.469.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jan 30, 2017.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Mar 17, 2017 See Section IV of funding opportunity for close date information.. (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 $6,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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FAQs: 2017 RFA for Great Lakes Long-Term Biology Monitoring Program (EPA R5 GL2017 ZBC)
What is this funding opportunity?
This is an EPA FY2017 discretionary funding opportunity under the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) Action Plan II. It is titled "2017 RFA for Great Lakes Long-Term Biology Monitoring Program: Zooplankton, Benthos, Mysis and Chlorophyll a Components" and uses Funding Opportunity Number EPA R5 GL2017 ZBC.
What is the main purpose of the award?
The main purpose is to continue an established, long-running open-waters Great Lakes biological monitoring program so agencies and partners can track biological conditions and trends over time. The emphasis is on long-term continuity rather than one-off studies that cannot reliably show long-term change.
What type of award is being offered?
The funding mechanism is a cooperative agreement, meaning EPA expected substantial involvement during the project period (for example, collaboration on design, coordination with other efforts, alignment on methods and quality assurance, and shared decisions on deliverables and data management).
How many awards does EPA expect to make?
The notice indicates one expected award, signaling that EPA intended to fund a single lead entity (or a consortium led by one applicant) to carry out the work at scale.
What is the maximum amount of funding available?
The award ceiling listed in the notice is $6,000,000.
What is being monitored in this program?
The work emphasizes four key biological indicators used to understand food-web structure and ecosystem productivity in large lakes: zooplankton, benthos (bottom-dwelling invertebrates), Mysis (commonly Mysis relicta), and chlorophyll-a (a proxy for algal biomass and primary productivity).
What does "open waters" or "offshore/open-lake environment" mean in this context?
Based on the notice description, the monitoring is focused on the offshore/open-lake environment of the Great Lakes rather than nearshore areas, with continued, consistent sampling intended to support long-term trend detection and comparisons.
Why are zooplankton, benthos, Mysis, and chlorophyll-a important indicators?
These indicators are widely used to characterize food-web structure and ecosystem productivity. Together they support understanding of conditions and changes in the Great Lakes ecosystem over time, including the ability to compare patterns across lakes and evaluate management actions tied to GLRI priorities.
Is the goal to start a new monitoring program or continue an existing one?
The core purpose is to keep an established, long-running monitoring program going. The value is in continuity and consistent methods so data can be compared across years and across lakes.
Does the RFA include anything beyond routine long-term monitoring?
Yes. In addition to continued routine monitoring, EPA sought proposals to add a "synoptic whole lake assessment of benthos," which is described as a more comprehensive, lakewide benthic survey intended to provide a broad snapshot of benthic condition.
What is a "synoptic whole lake assessment of benthos" intended to accomplish?
As described, the synoptic assessment is meant to improve spatial coverage beyond ongoing monitoring stations or time series, help identify areas of change or concern that fixed stations might miss, and strengthen the ability to connect benthic community patterns to stressors such as nutrient loading, invasive species impacts, or habitat changes.
What kind of outcomes or benefits is EPA aiming for with this work?
The intended outcome is consistent, high-quality biological data that can be compared over years and across lakes to inform restoration priorities, detect ecosystem shifts, and measure progress toward GLRI goals.
How does this opportunity fit within the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI)?
This RFA is described as part of the broader GLRI funding landscape for FY2017 and is specifically targeted to long-term offshore biological monitoring and the data continuity needed for credible environmental assessment.
What is the CFDA (assistance listing) number for this opportunity?
The notice lists CFDA 66.469.
What is the activity category?
The activity category is Environment.
When was the opportunity posted?
The notice states the opportunity was posted on January 30, 2017.
What was the closing date for applications?
The notice lists an original closing date of March 17, 2017, and also advises applicants to consult Section IV for official close date instructions.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is listed as "Others," with a note directing applicants to the funding announcement's eligibility section for the specific definitions and requirements. This implies eligibility may extend beyond standard categories and could include certain institutions, organizations, or partnerships as defined in the full RFA.
Does this RFA focus on a single lake or multiple Great Lakes?
The monitoring is described as taking place across the Great Lakes and supporting lake-to-lake comparisons, indicating a multi-lake scope.
What makes long-term monitoring especially valuable compared to one-off studies?
Long-term monitoring supports trend detection and credible comparisons over time. The notice emphasizes that one-off studies do not reliably show long-term change, while consistent sampling over years creates a dataset that can track conditions and shifts.
What kinds of coordination does a cooperative agreement typically involve for a project like this?
As characterized in the notice, EPA involvement could include collaboration on study design, coordination with other Great Lakes monitoring efforts, alignment on methods and quality assurance, and shared decision-making about deliverables and data management.
What is the overarching focus of the biological monitoring described here?
The overarching focus is maintaining and enhancing a cornerstone offshore biological monitoring program that tracks major food-web and productivity indicators, while also adding a more complete, whole-lake benthic assessment.
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