B01-RSOI W9126G262SOI9482.pdf

DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY

U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS, FORT WORTH DISTRICT

P.O. BOX 17300

FORT WORTH, TX 76102-0300

REV 18 Jun 2025

3 September 2026

REQUEST FOR STATEMENT OF INTEREST

W9126G262SOI9482

Applicants must be a member in one of the following Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Units Regions: Gulf Coast, Piedmont–South Atlantic Coast, and South Florida-Caribbean Regions.

Project Title: Juvenile Sportfish Community and Habitat Suitability in Florida Bay for USACE Jacksonville District.

A cooperative agreement is being offered ONLY to members of the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Units (CESU) Program Region(s) identified above. Award will be made upon mutual agreement and acceptance of the terms and conditions contained in the request for proposal and the recipient’s CESU Joint and Cooperative Agreement (also known as the CESU Master Agreement).

NOTE: The established CESU indirect rate is 17.5%. For any Cooperative Agreement entered into in response to this RSOI, a maximum 17.5% indirect cost rate will be paid on work covered by such agreement or any modifications thereto. Unless the agreement specifies otherwise, the basis of direct costs against which the agreement’s indirect cost rate is applied must be either the same base identified in the recipient's federally negotiated indirect cost rate agreement or, if the recipient does not have a federally negotiated indirect cost rate agreement, the Modified Total Direct Cost (MTDC) base.

Responses to this Request for Statements of Interest will be used to identify potential organizations for this project.

This RSOI seeks merit-based competitive procedures to encourage participation in USACE (DoD) programs by a broad base of the most highly qualified performers and will be evaluated on Technical Merits of the proposed research and development (R&D) and the potential relationship of the proposed R&D to USACE (DoD) missions.

Approximately $350,000 in total ($300,000 for the mandatory tasks, $40,000 for Optional Task 5, and $10,000 for Optional Task 7) is expected to be available to support this project for the Base Period. Additional funding may be available to the successful recipient for optional tasks and/or follow-on work in subsequent years.

Period of Performance. The base period of the agreement will extend 12 months from date of award. There may be up to four 12-month follow-on periods based on availability of funding.

Description of Anticipated Work: See attached Statement of Objectives.

NOTE: At this time, we are only requesting that you demonstrate available qualifications and capability for performing similar or same type of work by submitting a Statement of Interest. A full proposal and budget are NOT requested at this time.

Preparation of your Statement of Interest: Provide the following (Maximum length: 2 pages, single-spaced, 12 pt. font):

1. Name, Organization, CAGE Code, Unique Entity ID, CESU Region, and Contact Information (Email)

2. Statement of Technical Ability & Qualifications (including):

a. Biographical sketch of the Principal Investigator (PI), to include holding a PhD in Biology, Ecology, Environmental Science, or other relevant related field of study and should have direct experience in sampling spotted seatrout, sportfish, and submerged aquatic vegetation. Applicants should have experience conducting sampling across large spatial scales and in remote locations. Applicants should have expert knowledge of Everglades’ ecology, and those with a working knowledge of the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan will be treated preferentially. The applicant should have prior experience with summarizing and quantifying trends in fish and submerged aquatic vegetation community structure, abundance, habitat suitability, and relating observed trends to hydrological patterns.

b. Relevant past projects and clients with brief descriptions of these projects.

c. Biographical sketches of personnel available to support this project, meeting qualifications in the SOO, and their areas of expertise relevant to this project’s requirements.

d. Innovative techniques and description of other capabilities to successfully complete the project: (e.g. equipment, laboratory facilities, greenhouse facilities, field facilities, subject matter experts, etc.)

3. Summary of the potential relationship of the proposed research and development to the USACE (DoD) missions.

Submission of Your Statement of Interest

Statements of Interest (SOI) are due by 10:00 AM, Central Time, 05 October 2026 via email to the parties listed below.

Direct questions no later than 10:00 AM, Central Time, 14 September 2026 via email to the parties listed below.

Nicholas A. Aprea Grants Specialist USACE, Fort Worth District Email: Nicholas.a.aprea@usace.army.mil

Niki Baker Project Manager USACE, Fort Worth District Email: Nicole.D.Baker@usace.army.mil

Review of Statements Received: All statements of interest received from a member of the CESU Region(s) identified above will be evaluated by a board comprised of one or more people at the receiving installation or activity to determine the which statements have the highest rated technical merit, highest capability to successfully meet the program objectives as outlined in the Statement of Objectives, and closest alignment between the proposed research and the USACE mission.

Overall Evaluation Ratings.

Good/Excellent: The SOI demonstrates a thorough understanding of the project’s goals and objectives, and has demonstrated the ability, qualifications, resources to exceed performance and capability standards and includes at least one strength. Strength is an aspect of a proposal that, when judged against the overall evaluation criterion, enhances the merit of the proposal or increases the probability of successful performance of the Assistance Award.

Acceptable: The SOI demonstrates a satisfactory understanding of the project’s goals and objectives, and has demonstrated the ability, qualifications, and resources to meet performance and capability standards. The SOI meets the overall evaluation criterion.

Unacceptable: The SOI does not demonstrate an understanding of the project’s goals and objectives, and has not demonstrated the ability, qualifications, and resources that meet the performance and capability standards. The SOI includes at least one weakness. Weakness is an aspect that increases the risk of unsuccessful performance.

Respondent SOIs receiving the highest ratings, Good/Excellent being the highest, and Acceptable the lowest, will be requested to submit a full proposal for further evaluation.

Timeline for Review of Statements of Interest: RSOIs are required to be posted on www.Grants.gov for 30 days prior to the Government making a decision and requesting full proposals.

TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR AWARD, THE RECIPIENT AND ANY PROPOSED

SUBRECIPIENTS AND CONTRACT VENDORS MUST HAVE AN ACTIVE NIST

SP 800-171 DOD ASSESSEMENT (PERFORMED WITHIN THE LAST 3 YEARS).

Additional details are provided as a separate attachment to this document.

IMPORTANT: This award is anticipated to be made in FY 27.

Thank you for your interest in our Cooperative Agreements Program.

CHERYL R. VENDEMIA

Grants Officer

Attachment: Statement of Objectives

STATEMENT OF OBJECTIVES

Juvenile Sportfish Community and Habitat Suitability in Florida Bay for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Jacksonville District September 2026

1.0 PURPOSE

The Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2000 authorized Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP) as a framework for modifications and operational changes to the Central and Southern Florida Project needed to restore the south Florida ecosystem. Provisions within WRDA 2000 provided for specific authorization for an adaptive assessment and monitoring program. The CERP Monitoring and Assessment Plan (MAP) was developed as a framework for measuring and understanding system responses to CERP, determining how well CERP is meeting its goals and objectives, and identifying opportunities for improving the performance of CERP, where needed.

REstoration, COordination, VERification (RECOVER) is a multidisciplinary team of agencies, tribes, and institutions responsible for implementing the CERP MAP.

Sportfish in Florida Bay support an economically vital recreational fishery in addition to occupying a key ecological niche. Particularly, spotted seatrout (Cynoscion nebulosus) account for nearly 30% of all recreational fish caught in Florida Bay. Understanding juvenile sportfish community composition and habitat use provides information on the status and trends of economically and ecologically valuable fish and necessary nursery habitat. Spotted seatrout are shown to be an important indicator species in the area, especially regarding changes in salinity. Improvements in ecosystem health as result of ecological restoration and habitat management provide direct benefit to the public by improving outdoor recreation opportunities, ecotourism, and the economy of South Florida. This project will draw upon prior monitoring conducted in Florida Bay and continue a long-term study of juvenile sportfish and seagrass meadows respond to CERP in Florida Bay.

The purpose of this project is to monitor, as a continuance of a long-term dataset, the responses of abundance, diversity, and distribution of juvenile sportfish including spotted seatrout to spatial and temporal changes in hydrology as a result of restoration (e.g., reduced hypersaline conditions and expansion of suitable habitat via healthy seagrass beds). Proposed methodology must be statistically comparable to previous work. Annual data collected are to be integrated with previous years for the analysis.

Information gained from this project will be used to quantify the benefits of CERP.

The public will benefit from the knowledge gathered by the project because it will provide a source to track restoration progress and CERP benefits. The data generated from this monitoring will be leveraged in future RECOVER System Status Reports, published online and publicly available, at 4-year intervals from

2024. The RECOVER System Status Report is intended to inform stakeholders of the progress made toward restoring the ecosystem as well as current status of key ecological indicators.

2.0 AUTHORITY

2.1 In agreement with the above stated purpose, the Recipient agrees to provide the necessary personnel, equipment, and materials required to implement, in part, the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE)-Jacksonville District objectives pursuant to the authority 10 U.S.C. 4001 (formerly 2358): Research and Development Projects.

2.2 In accordance with section 6305 – Using cooperative agreements of the Federal Grant and Cooperative Agreements Act of 1977 (31 U.S.C. § 6301 et seq.), all CESU projects must carry out a public purpose of support or stimulation, instead of acquiring goods or services for the exclusive direct benefit of the United States Government. Examples of carrying out a public purpose may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Project results are made available to a wide audience (including nonfederal entities)

• Project results/outputs add to the scientific literature/knowledge base, with applicability and utility beyond the scope of the project footprint/study area

• Academic and other nonfederal partner institutions (and their personnel) gain professional experience, increase knowledge, and develop skills and abilities

• Students benefit from direct interaction with federal scientists, program and technical staff, and field unit managers

2.3 In accordance with section 6305 – Using cooperative agreements of the Federal Grant and Cooperative Agreements Act of 1977 (31 U.S.C. § 6301 et seq.), substantial involvement is expected between the Department of Defense and the recipient when carrying out the activity contemplated by the cooperative agreement. The DoW agrees to participate at a national level in support of the CESU program as accepted in the Master MOU for the establishment and continuation of the CESU program Article II 1-4 and Article VI 1-7.

2.4 The USACE will participate in study site selections, design, and project plan development. USACE will participate in field data collection efforts as appropriate, will review quarterly status reports, and will provide input to data interpretation for final reports, as well as review quarterly, annual and final reports. USACE will incorporate the data and analysis into a system-wide database that assesses and evaluates ecosystem restoration efforts in central and southern Florida. Scientific and technical information generated from the cooperative agreement will be utilized to evaluate project/restoration performance and system responses to be used in the development of assessment reports describing and interpreting those responses.

3.0 DESCRIPTION OF OBJECTIVES

The purpose of this project is to determine the response of juvenile sportfish communities to habitat conditions (i.e. seagrass cover and salinity) through space and time and to link observed variation to environmental factors associated with the implementation of the CERP.

Specifically, the objectives include:

1) Measure density, abundance, diversity, and distribution, of juvenile sportfish in Florida Bay.

2) Measure submerged aquatic vegetation distribution and abundance (percent cover) in Florida Bay.

3) Provide data and analyses to support the scientific investigations designed to increase understanding of the inter-relationship between fish community metrics (Objective 1) in Florida Bay, key hydrologic drivers (e.g., salinity, water depth), and submerged aquatic vegetation metrics (distribution and abundance).

4) Specifically examine and quantify key relationships between juvenile spotted seatrout metrics (density, abundance, and distribution), submerged aquatic vegetation metrics (Objective 2), and hydrologic drivers.

3.1 PROJECT TASKS

3.1.1 Task 1 – Project Initiation Meeting and Annual Project Plans (Mandatory):

The Recipient and USACE will jointly conduct a Project Initiation Meeting (virtually or in person) within fifteen (15) business days of cooperative agreement (CA) award and any subsequent Follow-on Period (FOP) awards. The Recipient and USACE will coordinate the project tasks as outlined. The Recipient will provide an overview of the project, introduce the project team, and define the project chain of command. The USACE will communicate to the Recipient any methodological requirements to be used when executing and reporting tasks as outlined. These methodologies are briefly described in this CA in the activities above. The MAP Assessment Strategy (RECOVER 2006) provides guidance in assessment methodologies.

Within fifteen (15) business days following the Project Initiation Meeting, the Recipient will provide Project Initiation Meeting minutes and an electronic copy of the Draft Project Plan. The Recipient and the RECOVER Technical Point of Contact (TPOC) will collaboratively develop a Final Project Plan within (30) business days. The Final Project Plan will be updated, as necessary, at the beginning of each new FOP.

The Recipient will also begin preparations to execute field sampling following award execution. This includes acquiring and assembling any specialty equipment needed and working with USACE RECOVER staff to become familiar with sampling protocols and equipment provided to the Recipient by the USACE Jacksonville District.

This task is mandatory for the base year and each follow-on period.

3.1.2 Task 2 – Juvenile Sportfish Sampling and Submerged Aquatic Vegetation

Monitoring (Mandatory):

The Recipient will conduct field sampling in four main basins of Florida Bay where CERP influences are anticipated to occur: Crocodile Dragover, Rankin, Whipray, and West. Field sampling will occur at a minimum of 81 locations monthly from May through November with potential to extend to December depending on presence of juvenile seatrout in the November collection. Sampling for juvenile sport fish density, abundance, diversity, and distribution is to be conducted using otter trawls (Powell et al. 2007). Sampling of submerged aquatic vegetation species composition, percent cover, and height along with water conditions (salinity, temperature, dissolved oxygen, and chlorophyll-a) will be collected from at least 9 quadrants randomly selected along each tow path. The number of samples collected must be sufficient to make statistically robust inferences at a regional spatial resolution.

This task is mandatory for the Base Year and each Follow-on Period.

3.1.3 Task 3 – Data Analyses (Mandatory):

The Recipient will summarize, analyze, and report measures of fish and submerged aquatic vegetation communities on an annual basis for inclusion in the annual assessment report and the RECOVER System Status Report. Any additional survey data generated from optional tasks must be summarized, analyzed, and reported.

The Recipient is required to submit four (4) quarterly status reports, one (1) annual report each year, and one (1) final report for all years of the agreement to the USACE SWF project manager and USACE RECOVER TPOC. Annual Reports will include, at minimum, the following: monitoring objectives and hypotheses addressed by monitoring activities, methods, results and statistical analyses of sampling efforts, discussion, conclusions, and lessons learned. As appropriate, the Recipient will include recommendations for further data analysis and/or collection. Data derived from the project will be provided to the USACE RECOVER TPOC with the submission of each annual report and include a file containing appropriate metadata.

This task is mandatory for the Base year and each Follow-on Period.

3.1.4 Task 4 – Participation in RECOVER Regional Team Support (Mandatory):

The Recipient will participate in up to six (6) 2-hour virtual RECOVER meetings and up to two (2) 6-hour in-person meetings/workshops each year to provide updates on or engage in discussions regarding the sampling.

The Recipient will participate in up to four (4) RECOVER Southern Coastal Systems (SCS) team meetings (no more than 1.5 hours each meeting) to discuss topics related to monitoring, findings, and/or analyses as determined by the RECOVER SCS team. Presentations to the RECOVER SCS team may be requested by the USACE RECOVER TPOC or the Recipient. The Recipient will provide the USACE with an electronic copy via email of the MS PowerPoint presentation made at the scheduled RECOVER SCS team meeting.

The Recipient will be required to provide no more than two (2) site visits (field days) with the SCS Regional Coordinators during the 5-year agreement period.

This task is mandatory for the Base year and each Follow-on Period.

3.1.5 Task 5 – Monitoring and Assessment Plan Review and Data Synthesis (Optional):

RECOVER will update the MAP within the duration of this 5-year Cooperative Agreement. The Recipient will conduct a statistical review and data synthesis to determine that monitoring methodology is robust and align with RECOVER’s need to assess whether the goals and objectives of CERP are being met.

This Optional Task may be exercised, based on the availability of funding, concurrently with, and in addition to, the work described in the Mandatory Tasks for the Base Period.

3.1.6 Task 6 –System Status Report Development for Sportfish and Habitat Suitability

(Optional):

The Recipient will plan up to ten (10) days to work with the RECOVER Southern Coastal Systems (SCS) Regional Coordinator(s) to assist in the development of the System Status Report (SSR) as applicable. Most information will be drawn from submitted Annual Reports. The Recipient will contribute to the RECOVER System Status Report with an assessment, including status determination, of spotted seatrout and sportfish density, abundance, diversity, distribution, and biomass in northwestern and north-central Florida Bay in the context of CERP implementation and other factors that influence spotted seatrout and sportfish.

The USACE RECOVER TPOC will provide clear and concise recommendations to guide development of the SSR.

This Optional Task may be exercised, based on the availability of funding, for Follow-on Period 1.

3.1.7 Task 7 – Spotted Seatrout Abundance Indices and Habitat Suitability Model

Development (Optional):

The Recipient will develop annual and monthly abundance indices for each geographic area of monitoring in Florida Bay and compare trends to historical data to understand 1) causes of changes in spotted seatrout and sportfish density and frequency of occurrence and 2) establish or refine seatrout targets in response to environmental factors and CERP activities.

Additionally, the Recipient will develop spatiotemporal species distribution models to determine abundance and distribution of the sportfish community in response to CERP effects and environmental stressors.

This Optional Task may be exercised, based on the availability of funding, for the Base Period and Follow-on Periods 1-4.

3.1.8 Task 8 – Temporal Expansion of Sportfish Sampling (Optional):

The Recipient will expand the temporal sampling window to include months when other sportfish species, such as red drum and lane snapper, as well as major prey species such as bay anchovies are at their maximum abundance in Florida Bay.

Inclusion of additional months of sampling may be determined from the results of Task 5 – MAP Review and Data Synthesis. Monitoring data associated with this Optional Task will be incorporated into the monitoring data analysis and reporting as described in the mandatory tasks above.

This Optional Task may be exercised, based on the availability of funding, for Follow-on Periods 1-4.

4.0 CONSIDERATION

Services are not required to be performed on the following Federally observed holidays:

New Year’s Day Labor Day Martin Luther King Jr.’s Birthday Columbus Day Washington’s Birthday Veteran’s Day Memorial Day Thanksgiving Day Juneteenth National Independence Day Christmas Day Independence Day

5.0 QUALIFICATIONS

Biographical sketches are required for each of the personnel supporting this project. The Recipient will coordinate with USACE before any key personnel (e.g., the primary Private Investigator) changes or hiring.

Successful applicants should hold a PhD in Biology, Ecology, Environmental Science, or other relevant related field of study and should have direct experience in sampling spotted seatrout, sportfish, and submerged aquatic vegetation. Applicants should have experience conducting sampling across large spatial scales and in remote locations. Applicants should have expert knowledge of Everglades’ ecology, and those with a working knowledge of the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan will be treated preferentially. The applicant should have prior experience with summarizing and quantifying trends in fish and submerged aquatic vegetation community structure, abundance, habitat suitability, and relating observed trends to hydrological patterns.

6.0 GOVERNMENT FURNISHED MATERIALS OR PROPERTY

6.1 Government furnished materials or property is governed by 2 C.F.R. Part 200.312(a) which states: Title to Federally owned property remains vested in the Federal Government. The recipient or subrecipient must submit an inventory listing of Federally owned property in its custody to the Federal agency or pass-through entity on an annual basis. The recipient or subrecipient must request disposition instructions from the Federal agency or pass-through entity upon completion of the Federal award or when the property is no longer needed.

7.0 REQUIREMENTS

7.1 The Recipient is responsible for all scientific and technical reporting to the Defense Technical Information Center (DTIC) repository required by 2 CFR 1134.140(b)(3)

7.2 Submittal of a cooperative agreement (CA) for a project that will take place on Department of Interior (DOI) and State of Florida lands is acknowledgement that the Recipient has reviewed and understands the permit requirements for all applicable federal and state agencies and tribal lands, including, the National Park Service (NPS), the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), the State of Florida, and federally recognized Tribes.

8.0 FOLLOW-ON PERIODS

8.1 In addition to the 12-month Base Year, four (4), 12-month Follow-on Periods (FOP) are anticipated subject to availability of funds.

8.2 Due to the project’s regional sensitive flora and fauna that are influenced by seasonal cycles that must align with the monitoring and assessment plans for successfully executing the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP) it is likely that the Follow-on period of performance (POP) dates may need to be adjusted. In the event such adjustments become necessary, the overall POP for each of the Follow-on efforts will remain 12 months.

9.0 PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

9.1 The period of performance will be 12 months from the date of award.

10.0 COORDINATION

Niki Baker Project Manager Regional Planning and Environmental Center Fort Worth District U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Nicole.D.Baker@usace.army.mil

Stephanie Verhulst, Ph.D.

RECOVER Technical Point of Contact Jacksonville District U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 701 San Marco Blvd.

Jacksonville, FL 32207 Stephanie.A.Verhulst@usace.army.mil

Javier Cortes Customer Financial Point of Contact Jacksonville District U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 701 San Marco Blvd.

Jacksonville, FL 32207 Javier.Cortes@usace.army.mil

Michael Collis RECOVER Project Manager Planning and Policy Division Jacksonville District U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 701 San Marco Blvd.

Jacksonville, FL 32207 Michael.J.Collis@usace.army.mil

11.0 DELIVERABLES

Detailed descriptions of any required deliverables required (reports, plans, etc.)

and formats. Provide delivery schedules. At a minimum these deliverables should include:

mailto:Nicole.D.Baker@usace.army.mil mailto:Stephanie.A.Verhulst@usace.army.mil mailto:Javier.Cortes@usace.army.mil mailto:Michael.J.Collis@usace.army.mil

11.1 Permits

11.1.1 Any and all permits associated with or required to support awarded Tasks in the Final Work Plan will be included with the Final Work Plan in an appendix.

11.2 Four (4) Quarterly Status Reports (QSR) or Progress Reports (PR) will be submitted for every three-month period, or quarter, following the award of the CA and any subsequent Follow-on Periods. These QSRs will summarize progress made on all executed Tasks, provide an update on the budget status of each Task, point out any problems or challenges that may have arisen during the previous three months.

11.2.1 Electronic copy (email attachment in Microsoft [MS] Word format) of the QSR every quarter from award of CA and subsequent Follow-on Periods.

11.3 Annual Reports will be submitted within 30 days from the end of the twelve months after the award of the CA and any subsequent Follow-on Periods. Each Annual Report will summarize activities from all executed Tasks, including all executed Optional Tasks, within each Period.

The Annual Reports will summarize results to date, provide the information needed to develop the System Status Report, and include an assessment and/or analysis of the data as it relates to CERP hypotheses from the MAP. Annual Reports will be comprised of an introduction placing monitoring into the context of CERP, summaries of all executed Tasks within the existing Base or Follow-on Periods, results of any analyses and assessments conducted, discussion of results, and conclusions presented within the context of CERP. In particular, the Annual Reports will integrate information regarding spotted seatrout and sportfish fish patterns and relationships to hydrological conditions and habitat suitability.

The Draft Annual Report will be reviewed by the USACE RECOVER Technical POC and the RECOVER Southern Coastal Systems Regional Coordinators within fifteen (15) days upon submission. Comments will be provided for the Recipient to address in the Final Annual Report. A data file (Microsoft Excel Spreadsheet or CSV file) of all quality assured raw data will accompany each Annual Report.

11.3.1 Electronic copy (email attachment in MS Word format) of a Draft Annual Report will be submitted no later than 15 days prior to the end of the period of performance each year.

11.3.2 Electronic copy (email attachment in MS Word format) of a Final Annual Report will be submitted by the end of the period of performance of each year.

11.3.3 Electronic copy of all data collected, and quality assured submitted as a Microsoft Excel or CSV file.

11.4 Final Project Report shall be submitted no later than one month before end of the project. At a minimum, the report will contain an introduction section and one section for each executed Task. For each Task, the report will summarize work accomplished and cumulative summaries of results and analyses, to date.

Results will be described in the context of CERP hypotheses from the MAP, and the conclusions presented within the context of CERP. The Final Project report should also describe the information needed to develop the next System Status Report.

Electronic copy of a draft final report shall be submitted no later than one month before end of the project. USACE TPOC staff will review and provide comments, if any, within fifteen (15) calendar days after receipt. Final Project Report, incorporating USACE TPOC review comments on the draft, if any, will be provided to the USACE TPOC no later than 15 days after the receipt of the USACE TPOC comments.

11.4.1 Electronic copy (email attachment in MS Word format) of Draft Final Project Report will be submitted in May of the final year of the CA.

11.4.2 Electronic copy (email attachment in MS Word format) of Final Project Report will be submitted before the end of the project period of performance.

11.4.3 All data gathered for project Tasks will be submitted with the Final Project Report as a Microsoft Excel or Comma Separated Value (CSV) file.

11.5 Task 5 Deliverable: Monitoring and Assessment Plan Review and Data Synthesis

- Upon the completion of Task 5 (Optional), the Recipient will submit a separate report to summarize methods and results of a statistical review of monitoring methodology and a discussion of its alignment with RECOVER’s need to assess whether the goals and objectives of CERP are being met. The Recipient will also submit all datasets and statistical code developed to conduct analyses used to examine the monitoring methodology. An electronic copy of the report (email attachment in MS Word format) and supporting files used for the statistical review will be submitted at the completion of the Optional Task of the CA.

11.6 Task 6 Deliverable: System Status Report Development – Upon execution of Task 6 (Optional), results of the work performed under this proposed CA will be used to develop the cumulative annual findings outlined in the System Status Report. The System Status Report provides a system-wide assessment of whether the goals and purposes of CERP are being achieved. The Recipient of this proposed CA will work with the Southern Coastal Systems Regional Coordinator(s) in developing the System Status Report and their participation will be included as a Task (Task 6) in this work breakdown structure.

11.7 Task 7 Deliverable: Spotted Seatrout Abundance Indices and Habitat Suitability

Model Development – Upon execution of Task 7 (Optional), the Recipient will submit a separate report describing the developed indices and models. The report will include at a minimum the background, methodology, results, and model framework documentation (e.g., datasets and code/script). An electronic copy of the report (email attachment in MS Word format) and supporting files will be submitted at the completion of the Optional Task of the CA.

11.8 Annual Inventory – Federally owned property - an annual inventory listing

Federal property (to include description of the property and a serial number or other identification number) that is in the custody of the recipient; Copies to be sent to the USACE Fort Worth PM and customer RECOVER TPOC.

11.9 Annual Inventory – Acquired Property purchased with funding from award -property records must be maintained that includes description of the property, serial number or other identification number, source of funding, who holds title, acquisition date, cost of property, percentage of Federal participation in project costs, location, use and condition of property, and ultimate disposition including date of disposal and sale price. A physical inventory must be taken, and results reconciled every two years. Electronic copies of the inventory must be sent annually to the USACE Fort Worth PM and customer RECOVER TPOC.

12.0 POST AWARD AND INVOICE PROCESS

12.1 Payment Requests and Progress Reports (Invoice Package) – Submit Payment

Request and additional required documents to:

swf-cesu-invoice@usace.army.mil. Carbon Copy the assigned USACE Project Manager as well as your organization’s point of contacts (POCs) for the additional required documents and for delinquent accounts.

12.2 Frequency: Quarterly plus 30-day grace period (except for the final invoice package noted below). If the coverage dates are not quarterly or preapproved by the PM (or the first/last submittal), the invoice package will be rejected.

Quarters: Invoice pkgs due No Later Than:

Q1: Oct-Dec Q1: 31 Jan Q2: Jan-Mar Q2: 30 Apr Q3: Apr-Jun Q3: 30 Jul Q4: Jul-Sep Q4: 31 Oct

12.3 Payment Requests must be submitted on form SF270 Request for Advance or

Reimbursement with the accompanying Standard Form-Performance Progress Report (SF-PPR), otherwise the SF270 will be rejected.

12.4 SF270 Request for Advance or Reimbursement

12.4.1 Block 9, Recipient Organization. For successful set up of Electronic Transfer of Funds (EFT), the Recipient’s name and address shall reflect the exact mailto:swf-cesu-invoice@usace.army.mil name and physical address that appears in the System for Award Management (SAM), https://sam.gov/.

12.4.2 Blocks 11, (a), (b), & (c) are for the description of funds. Preferred description is:

CLIN/POP Type, POP start and end dates, amount awarded (see example below); at minimum include the CLIN. If the description or the minimum CLIN information is missing, the SF270 and SF-PPR will be rejected.

Example:

CLIN 0001 / Base

22SEP23 – 21SEP24

$100,000.00

Funding must be separated as specified on the Award document. Sub-CLINs that specify “for funding only” (e.g., numbered 000101, 000102, etc.) may be rolled into the primary CLIN (e.g., 0001) unless otherwise instructed. All others required PM approval.

The SF270 may have multiple pages. An SF270 in Excel format may be requested at: swf-cesu-invoice@usace.army.mil, however, must be submitted in pdf format otherwise will be rejected.

12.5 SF-PPR Standard Form-Performance Progress Report: The Recipient shall tailor the SF-PPR to include, at minimum, the following information:

• Separate details by CLIN as applicable

• Achievements (must detail work during quarter associated with the invoice)

• Percent Completion

• Project Status

• Problems encountered and impact of activities and personnel on schedule.

• Anticipated work in next reporting period.

If the SF-PPR is incomplete, the SF-PPR and SF270 will be rejected.

A tailored SF-PPR form may be requested at: swf-cesu-invoice@usace.army.mil

12.6 The Final invoice package is due no later than 90 days from final (funded/exercised) POP end date and must include the following documents:

If any of the required information below is missing, the final invoice package will be rejected:

• Final SF270

• SF-PPR

• Final SF425

• DD882

https://sam.gov/

• SF428 plus attachment B (C&S if applicable)

• SF298

• Final Report

Forms may be requested from the district office at swf-cesu-invoice@usace.army.mil or found at https://www.grants.gov/forms.

13.0 This cooperative agreement may be administered through a CESU only upon mutual agreement and official authorization by both parties of the acceptance of the application of the CESU Network Indirect Cost Rate (17.5%).

Any resulting cooperative agreement will be subject to, and Recipient shall comply with 2 CFR 200.313 “Equipment”, 200.314 “Supplies”, and 200.315 “Intangible Property” which includes use of research data.

14.0 REFERENCES

Monitoring and Assessment Plan (Part 2), Assessment Strategy for the Monitoring and Assessment Plan (MAP), December 2006.

END OF STATEMENT OF OBJECTIVES

mailto:swf-cesu-invoice@usace.army.mil https://www.grants.gov/forms