Bat Surveys Little Brown Myotis at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson (JBER)

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Fort Worth District, in collaboration with Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson (JBER), has issued a Request for Statements of Interest (RSOI) for a cooperative agreement focused on conducting bat surveys with a specific emphasis on the Little Brown Myotis (Myotis lucifugus). This opportunity is limited exclusively to members of the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Units (CESU) in the Alaska and Colorado Plateau Regions. The cooperative agreement will be executed under the authority of the Sikes Act (16 USC 670c-1), which enables federal agencies to engage in partnerships that enhance natural resource management in alignment with mission readiness on Department of Defense installations. The Little Brown Myotis is Alaska's most common and widely distributed bat species but remains poorly understood in terms of its ecology, especially in Southcentral Alaska. This project seeks to fill critical data gaps on habitat preferences, roosting behavior, seasonal movements, and areas of high bat activity such as maternity colonies and hibernacula. The broader goal is to support integrated natural resource management objectives that help prevent the listing of this species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), which could otherwise pose risks to military operations. The species has faced major population declines in North America due to White Nose Syndrome (WNS), prompting increased attention from both federal and state conservation agencies. Under this cooperative agreement, the selected partner will conduct comprehensive fieldwork involving the deployment of passive acoustic monitors, radio tracking, and habitat mapping. Tasks will include identification and monitoring of maternity roosts, hibernacula, and areas of high seasonal use. The effort also involves bat capture for radio-tagging and the use of passive integrated transponder (PIT) tagging. Collected data will be used to create GIS-compatible spatial representations and analyzed to determine behavioral patterns, habitat associations, and temporal distributions. Additional deliverables include detailed technical reports, seasonal data summaries, and a final poster presentation of methods and findings. The base period for this agreement is 18 months, beginning upon award, with the potential for up to two additional 18-month follow-on periods contingent on available funding. The estimated funding for the initial base period is approximately $66,000, and the CESU indirect cost rate is fixed at 17.5%. While additional funding may be available for optional tasks or future years, no specific ceiling or floor has been established beyond this base estimate. JBER will provide certain field equipment including mist nets, radio tags, and up to 11 bat detectors to support fieldwork activities. All raw data and project reports will become the property of the federal government upon project completion. Statements of Interest are due by 2:00 P.M. Central Time on April 10, 2026. Interested applicants must submit a two-page document demonstrating qualifications, prior relevant experience, available personnel and facilities, and specific expertise aligned with the project scope. This submission does not require a full proposal or budget at this stage. Eligible applicants are also expected to have an active NIST SP 800-171 DOD Assessment completed within the past three years. Proposals will be evaluated based on the experience and capabilities of the Principal Investigator, alignment with program goals, and potential for effective project execution. Organizations selected through the initial review will be invited to submit full proposals at a later stage. Contacts for submission and questions include Maria Lopez (Grants Specialist, USACE Fort Worth District) at [email protected] and David Leptien (Project Manager, USACE Fort Worth District) at [email protected]. For technical inquiries specific to JBER, Cayley Elsik serves as the Natural Resource Manager and Technical Point of Contact. Questions must be submitted within 10 calendar days of the RSOI posting date. Award timelines are coordinated with standard CESU and Grants.gov posting rules, requiring a 30-day public notice period before selections can be made.