SPECIES DISTRIBUTION MODELING PROJECT AT MARINE CORPS AIR GROUND COMBAT CENTER, TWENTYNINE PALMS, CALIFORNIA | N62473 25 2 0005A

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is this funding opportunity?

This is a discretionary federal funding opportunity for the Species Distribution Modeling Project at the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center (MCAGCC) in Twentynine Palms, California. It focuses on strengthening natural resource management on and around a major desert military training installation through improved, data-driven understanding of species and habitats.

Who is offering the opportunity?

The opportunity is offered by Naval Facilities Engineering Command Southwest.

What is the Funding Opportunity Number?

The Funding Opportunity Number is N62473 25 2 0005A.

What type of funding instrument will be used?

The funding instrument is a Cooperative Agreement, which indicates substantial involvement or collaboration with the government during the project (as opposed to a more hands-off grant arrangement).

What program area does this opportunity fall under?

The activity area is Natural Resources under CFDA 12.005.

Where will the work take place?

The work is centered on MCAGCC in Twentynine Palms, California, and it may incorporate relevant existing species studies from MCAGCC and nearby lands.

What is the main purpose of the project?

The project aims to improve natural resource management by developing accurate, up-to-date models of species distributions and habitat suitability across the installation, supporting resilient desert landscapes and sustaining long-term training capacity and readiness.

How does this project support military readiness?

The opportunity emphasizes that MCAGCC long-term training capacity and readiness depend on maintaining resilient desert landscapes. By improving knowledge of where key species and habitats occur and how they respond to stressors, the project is intended to support conservation outcomes while also protecting the endurance and tempo of Marine Corps training activities and the longevity of MCAGCC infrastructure.

What plan or framework is the project based on?

The project is rooted in the installation's Integrated Natural Resources Management Plan (INRMP).

What data sources are expected to be used?

A central feature of the project is the use of high-resolution remote sensing, specifically newly collected LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) and orthophotography, combined with existing species studies from MCAGCC and nearby lands.

What is meant by "species distribution modeling" in this opportunity?

In this context, species distribution modeling refers to producing more powerful and precise models that predict where important or sensitive species and communities are likely to occur across MCAGCC, how habitat quality varies across the landscape, and where conservation or management actions could deliver the greatest benefit.

What kinds of outputs or products are expected?

The opportunity describes development of spatially explicit tools and maps that support natural resource decision-making. It also anticipates a quantified and prioritized picture of ecologically important and at-risk habitats, including identification of high-value biodiversity areas and locations supporting sensitive species.

What management questions should the project help answer?

The project is intended to help managers understand where key species and habitats occur, how dense or healthy they are, how they respond to stressors and changing conditions, how habitat quality varies, and where management actions would have the biggest payoff.

What types of habitats or landscape factors are highlighted as important?

The opportunity highlights resilient desert landscapes and specifically references soils, hydrologic basins, weather-driven processes, ecosystem functions, and the plant and animal communities that support those systems.

What does the opportunity say about climate or extreme weather considerations?

The opportunity calls for identifying landscapes that are durable or especially vulnerable to extreme weather and other stressors.

Is the project limited to mapping, or does it include management guidance?

It includes more than mapping and modeling. The opportunity signals a need for applied management guidance, including recommendations for ongoing monitoring approaches, projects that improve ecosystem and landscape durability, and practical measures to prevent, reduce, or reverse ecosystem deterioration.

What is the expected overall benefit of the project?

The intended benefit is twofold: improving natural resource conservation outcomes and supporting MCAGCC training endurance/tempo and infrastructure longevity through better information and targeted management action.

How many awards are anticipated?

The opportunity anticipates a single award.

What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?

The award ceiling is $292,628.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is limited to Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) Californian cooperative partners that meet applicable federal assistance requirements under DoDGARS Part 34 or 2 CFR 200.

What compliance frameworks are referenced for applicants?

The opportunity references federal assistance requirements under DoDGARS Part 34 and 2 CFR 200.

Are there additional terms and conditions applicants must follow?

Yes. Applicants are instructed to review a separate attachment containing applicable terms and conditions, which may include required deliverables, reporting expectations, data standards, and coordination requirements with MCAGCC natural resource staff and other stakeholders.

What level of government involvement should applicants expect?

Because the instrument is a Cooperative Agreement, applicants should expect substantial involvement or collaboration with the government during the project.

What is the closing date for submissions?

The closing date listed is 2025-08-04.

When was the opportunity created/posted?

The creation date listed is 2025-07-02.