Opportunity Information: Apply for F17AS00473
The Transportation Technical Assistance opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number F17AS00473) is a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) discretionary cooperative agreement focused on supporting transportation-related needs across the National Wildlife Refuge System. USFWS manages more than 560 national wildlife refuges and about 3,000 smaller waterfowl breeding and nesting sites, totaling nearly 150 million acres nationwide, and these areas collectively draw more than 47 million visitors each year. Because visitors, staff, and partners need safe and functional ways to access and move within refuges, USFWS identifies an ongoing need for specialized help with transportation services that also align with wildlife conservation and habitat protection goals.
Under this cooperative agreement, USFWS intends to work specifically with Montana State Universitys Western Transportation Institute (MSU/WTI) to provide a range of technical assistance services. The work is described broadly as supporting wildlife conservation, transit, and transportation assistance for refuge complexes and individual refuges across the United States, and it may also extend to USFWS international programs when needed. In practical terms, the intent is to leverage MSU/WTIs expertise to help USFWS plan, evaluate, and improve transportation approaches that facilitate visitor access while reducing impacts on wildlife and sensitive habitats.
This award is issued through the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) mechanism under CFDA 15.678, and it cites several statutory authorities that collectively underpin USFWS conservation and land management responsibilities. These include the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act, the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act, the Endangered Species Act, the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act, the Fish and Wildlife Act, the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, the Coastal Barrier Resources Act, and the Public Lands Corps Act, among others. The inclusion of these authorities signals that the transportation assistance is not just about roads or transit in isolation; it is meant to support broader conservation mandates, visitor use management, and stewardship of federal lands and resources.
Administratively, the opportunity is limited in scope: it is a notice of intent to make a single-source award, meaning the recipient was already selected and the posting is not an open competition. Eligible applicants are listed as public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, consistent with the university-based partner identified in the description. The expected number of awards is one, with an award ceiling of $95,000. The funding activity category is Natural Resources, and the sponsoring agency is the Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service. The opportunity was created on September 21, 2017, and the original closing information clarifies that it is an announcement of a pre-selected, single-source cooperative agreement rather than a solicitation inviting new proposals.Apply for F17AS00473
- The Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Transportation Technical Assistance" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.678.
- This funding opportunity was created on Sep 21, 2017.
- Applicants must submit their applications by This is a notification of intent to award a single source Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) cooperative agreement. The recipient has already been selected.. (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 $95,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education.
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Transportation Technical Assistance (F17AS00473) - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Transportation Technical Assistance opportunity (F17AS00473)?
This is a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) discretionary cooperative agreement focused on transportation-related technical assistance in support of the National Wildlife Refuge System.
Which federal agency is offering this opportunity?
The sponsoring agency is the Department of the Interior (DOI), Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS).
What is the purpose of this cooperative agreement?
The purpose is to support transportation services and technical assistance that help visitors, staff, and partners safely and effectively access and move within national wildlife refuges, while also aligning transportation decisions with wildlife conservation and habitat protection goals.
What kinds of needs is USFWS trying to address through this award?
USFWS identifies an ongoing need for specialized transportation assistance to ensure safe and functional access and mobility within refuges, with an emphasis on approaches that facilitate visitor access while reducing impacts on wildlife and sensitive habitats.
What areas or lands does this work relate to?
The work relates to the National Wildlife Refuge System, which USFWS manages across more than 560 national wildlife refuges and about 3,000 smaller waterfowl breeding and nesting sites, totaling nearly 150 million acres nationwide.
Why is transportation assistance important for the National Wildlife Refuge System?
These areas collectively draw more than 47 million visitors each year, and transportation infrastructure and services influence how visitors and staff access and move through refuges. USFWS is seeking assistance that supports safe access while protecting wildlife and habitats.
Who is USFWS intending to work with under this agreement?
USFWS intends to work specifically with Montana State University's Western Transportation Institute (MSU/WTI) to provide the described technical assistance services.
Is this an open, competitive grant opportunity?
No. This posting is a notice of intent to make a single-source award. The recipient was already selected, and it is not a solicitation inviting new proposals.
How many awards does USFWS expect to make?
The expected number of awards is one.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling is $95,000.
What type of funding instrument is this?
It is a discretionary cooperative agreement.
What does it mean that this is a "cooperative agreement"?
The opportunity is explicitly described as a cooperative agreement, which in this context indicates USFWS intends to work with the selected partner to deliver technical assistance supporting transportation and conservation needs across refuges.
What is the program or listing identifier associated with this opportunity?
The award is issued through the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) mechanism under CFDA 15.678.
What is the funding activity category?
The funding activity category is Natural Resources.
What types of services or activities are contemplated under this award?
The work is described broadly as providing wildlife conservation, transit, and transportation assistance for refuge complexes and individual refuges across the United States. The intent includes planning, evaluating, and improving transportation approaches that support visitor access while reducing impacts on wildlife and sensitive habitats.
Does the scope include work outside the United States?
Yes. The description indicates the work may also extend to USFWS international programs when needed.
Who is eligible to apply, according to the notice?
Eligible applicants are listed as public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, consistent with the university-based partner identified in the description.
What statutory authorities are cited for this opportunity?
The notice cites multiple statutory authorities underpinning USFWS conservation and land management responsibilities, including the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act, the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act, the Endangered Species Act, the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act, the Fish and Wildlife Act, the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, the Coastal Barrier Resources Act, and the Public Lands Corps Act, among others.
Why are conservation laws and authorities referenced in a transportation assistance award?
The inclusion of these authorities signals that the transportation assistance is meant to support broader conservation mandates, visitor use management, and stewardship of federal lands and resources, rather than focusing on transportation in isolation.
When was this opportunity created?
The opportunity was created on September 21, 2017.
What does the closing information indicate about applying?
The original closing information clarifies that this is an announcement of a pre-selected, single-source cooperative agreement rather than a solicitation inviting new proposals.
What is the main goal of leveraging MSU/WTI in this agreement?
The intent is to leverage MSU/WTI's expertise to help USFWS plan, evaluate, and improve transportation approaches that facilitate visitor access while reducing impacts on wildlife and sensitive habitats.
Is this work limited to a single refuge?
No. The description indicates support for refuge complexes and individual refuges across the United States.
Does this opportunity focus only on roads?
No. While transportation needs can include roads, the notice describes transportation and transit assistance more broadly, tied to access, visitor use, and conservation and habitat protection goals.
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