University of Georgia

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has established a Master Agreement (22136) focusing on invasive species research and management. This Indefinite Delivery Vehicle (IDV) enables comprehensive research and intervention strategies targeting non-native, nuisance, and introduced species within Florida's conservation lands and public waters. The contract supports a wide range of scientific activities, including life history studies, biological control agent development, chemical and management control techniques, genetic studies, impact monitoring, and associated outreach services. The primary research objectives center on detecting and studying specific invasive species, such as the cyanobacterium Aetokthonos hydrillicola, which is associated with vacuolar myelinopathy in aquatic ecosystems.

The master agreement is awarded to the University of Georgia, with a total potential funding of up to $900,000 over its 60-month performance period, running from April 18, 2023, to April 18, 2028. As a cost-reimbursement contract, it covers multiple short-term research task assignments across Florida, with payments made quarterly or biannually based on approved deliverables. The contract requires detailed reporting, including progress, annual, and final reports, and potential symposium presentations. The geographic scope encompasses various Florida watersheds, with a particular focus on areas like the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes, and involves collaborative efforts between the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, the University of Georgia, and the University of Florida.