Opportunity Information: Apply for F19AS00181
The grant opportunity focuses on improving how Asian carp populations are estimated in the Illinois Waterway by reducing a key uncertainty in hydroacoustic surveys: how a fish's body size translates into acoustic target strength (the strength of the sonar echo used to detect and size fish targets). Since 2011, hydroacoustic data have been the backbone for estimating Asian carp density in the Illinois River system, and those density estimates feed directly into a stock assessment population model. That model is used, among other things, to judge whether large-scale removal efforts in the upper Illinois Waterway are actually reducing carp numbers. Because management decisions and evaluations depend on those estimates, the project is aimed at tightening the link between what sonar "sees" and the true size distribution of the fish in the water, which in turn helps refine population density estimates and improves confidence in trends over time.
The work proposed is practical and field-based, using in-situ measurements rather than relying only on generalized relationships from other species or laboratory assumptions. The central task is to quantify the relationship between observed carp size and measured target strength across a range of fish sizes. The project intends to do this in three connected ways: first, by measuring target strength from individually tethered carp of different sizes to get controlled, repeatable readings; second, by measuring target strength from free-swimming carp of different sizes to capture the natural variability that occurs when fish move and change orientation in the water; and third, by statistically relating measured target strength values to known fish sizes so future hydroacoustic surveys can more accurately infer size structure and density from acoustic returns. The underlying idea is that if you better understand how target strength scales with carp length, weight, and related biological factors, you can reduce bias in density estimates that comes from misinterpreting echoes.
This is presented as a notice of intent to make a single-source cooperative agreement rather than an open competition. The award is planned for Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIUC), justified under a federal single-source authority (505DM 2.14B(4)), with the stated reason that competition is not practical. The notice argues SIUC is uniquely positioned because its scientists have been running Asian carp hydroacoustic density estimation work across the Illinois River since 2011 and are considered leading experts in this specific long-term dataset and methodology. SIUC also already has the major resources needed to do the work without costly startup: specialized and expensive hydroacoustics equipment; appropriate pond facilities at the university's Touch of Nature site that are already outfitted for both tethering experiments and observations of free-swimming fish; and roughly eight years of historical data that can be used to connect in-river target strength observations with body size distributions. In other words, the project is built on an existing monitoring program rather than creating a new one from scratch.
Because it is a cooperative agreement, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) is expected to be actively involved rather than simply providing funds. The Carterville Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office will play a hands-on role by capturing Asian carp of various sizes, transporting live fish from the wild for target strength trials, and conducting detailed biological measurements on fish used in tethering work. Those measurements include length and weight, sex determination, and estimating gas bladder volume, which matters because the gas bladder strongly influences acoustic reflectivity and can therefore affect target strength readings. The Service will also participate academically by serving on the graduate committee for the Master of Science student responsible for completing the research, tying the project to workforce development and ensuring close technical oversight.
Administratively, the opportunity is listed as a discretionary cooperative agreement in the environment and natural resources category, with CFDA 15.662, under the Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service. The funding opportunity number is F19AS00181. The notice indicates there is no application process because it is a single-source intent to award. The expected number of awards is one, with an award ceiling of $74,000. The notice was created on April 10, 2019, with an original closing date of April 17, 2019, reflecting that the posting functions primarily as a public transparency step for a noncompetitive award rather than a standard competitive solicitation.
Overall, the grant is about making hydroacoustic carp monitoring more defensible and more precise by grounding sonar interpretation in species-specific, size-based target strength measurements. By improving the conversion from acoustic signals to realistic estimates of fish size distribution and density, the project supports better stock assessment inputs and clearer evaluation of whether carp removal programs in the Illinois Waterway are meeting their objectives.Apply for F19AS00181
- The Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service in the environment, natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Relationship between body size of Asian carp and hydroacoustic target strength" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.662.
- This funding opportunity was created on Apr 10, 2019.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Apr 17, 2019 There is not an application process for this funding opportunity. This is a notice of intent to award a single source cooperative agreement to the Southern Illinois University Carbondale under justification 505DM 2.14B(4).. (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 $74,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the main goal of this grant opportunity?
The project aims to improve how Asian carp populations are estimated in the Illinois Waterway by reducing a major source of uncertainty in hydroacoustic surveys: the relationship between a fish's body size and its acoustic target strength (the strength of the sonar echo used to detect and size fish targets).
What problem is the project trying to solve in hydroacoustic monitoring?
Hydroacoustic surveys rely on interpreting sonar echoes to estimate fish size structure and density. A key uncertainty is how target strength translates to actual carp body size. If that relationship is off, density estimates can be biased because echoes may be misinterpreted, leading to less reliable population estimates and trend comparisons over time.
Why does target strength matter for Asian carp density estimates?
Target strength is the measure of how strongly a fish reflects sound back to the sonar. Hydroacoustic density estimation depends on converting those acoustic returns into estimates of fish size distribution and density. Tightening the relationship between target strength and carp size helps improve the accuracy and defensibility of density estimates.
How are Asian carp density estimates currently used in management?
Since 2011, hydroacoustic data have been the backbone for estimating Asian carp density in the Illinois River system. Those density estimates feed directly into a stock assessment population model used to evaluate, among other things, whether large-scale removal efforts in the upper Illinois Waterway are reducing carp numbers.
What is the Illinois Waterway context for this work?
The work is focused on improving population estimation in the Illinois Waterway and the Illinois River system, where hydroacoustic monitoring has been used for many years to track Asian carp density and inform stock assessment modeling.
What is meant by "in-situ" measurements in this project?
In-situ measurements refer to field-based measurements taken in realistic conditions rather than relying only on generalized relationships from other species or assumptions derived from laboratory-only settings. The project emphasizes practical measurements of carp target strength tied to known fish sizes.
What are the main components of the proposed research?
The project proposes three connected efforts: (1) measuring target strength from individually tethered carp of different sizes to obtain controlled, repeatable readings; (2) measuring target strength from free-swimming carp of different sizes to capture natural variability from movement and orientation changes; and (3) statistically relating measured target strength values to known fish sizes so future hydroacoustic surveys can infer carp size structure and density more accurately.
Why use tethered carp in the measurements?
Tethered carp measurements allow more controlled and repeatable target strength readings from individual fish of known size, helping quantify the relationship between size and target strength under controlled conditions.
Why also measure target strength from free-swimming carp?
Free-swimming measurements capture the natural variability that occurs when fish move and change orientation in the water, which can affect target strength. Including free-swimming fish helps ensure the results reflect realistic conditions encountered during actual hydroacoustic surveys.
What specific fish characteristics are intended to be linked to target strength?
The project is aimed at understanding how target strength scales with carp length, weight, and related biological factors. The notice also highlights gas bladder volume as an important factor because it strongly influences acoustic reflectivity and can therefore affect target strength readings.
Why is gas bladder volume mentioned as part of the biological measurements?
The gas bladder strongly influences acoustic reflectivity. Measuring or estimating gas bladder volume helps explain differences in target strength that are not captured by length and weight alone, improving the interpretation of sonar echoes.
How will the results improve future hydroacoustic surveys?
By statistically relating measured target strength values to known carp sizes, future hydroacoustic surveys can more accurately infer the size structure and density of carp from acoustic returns, reducing bias and improving confidence in population trends over time.
Is this an open competitive grant solicitation?
No. This is presented as a notice of intent to make a single-source cooperative agreement rather than an open competition, and the notice indicates there is no application process because it is a single-source intent to award.
What does "single-source cooperative agreement" mean in this context?
It means the awarding agency intends to fund one specific recipient without a competitive application process, and the instrument is a cooperative agreement where the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) is expected to be actively involved in the project rather than simply providing funding.
Who is the intended award recipient?
The planned award recipient is Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIUC).
Why is the award intended for SIUC specifically?
The notice states competition is not practical and argues SIUC is uniquely positioned because its scientists have run Asian carp hydroacoustic density estimation work across the Illinois River since 2011, are considered leading experts in this long-term dataset and methodology, and already have key resources in place (specialized hydroacoustics equipment, appropriate pond facilities, and historical data to connect in-river observations with fish body size distributions).
What authority is cited to justify the single-source approach?
The notice cites a federal single-source authority: 505DM 2.14B(4).
What role will the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service play if this is a cooperative agreement?
USFWS is expected to be actively involved. The Carterville Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office will capture Asian carp of various sizes, transport live fish from the wild for target strength trials, and conduct detailed biological measurements on fish used in tethering work (including length, weight, sex, and gas bladder volume estimates). USFWS will also participate academically by serving on the graduate committee for the Master of Science student completing the research.
Which USFWS office is specifically mentioned as participating?
The Carterville Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office is identified as the office playing a hands-on role.
What kinds of biological measurements will be taken on the fish?
The notice specifies length and weight measurements, sex determination, and estimating gas bladder volume for fish used in tethering work.
How does this project relate to workforce development or student training?
The project includes a Master of Science student responsible for completing the research, and USFWS will serve on the student's graduate committee, linking the work to workforce development and providing close technical oversight.
What existing infrastructure or resources support this work?
The notice describes major existing resources that reduce startup needs: specialized and expensive hydroacoustics equipment; pond facilities at SIUC's Touch of Nature site already outfitted for tethering experiments and observations of free-swimming fish; and roughly eight years of historical data that can be used to connect in-river target strength observations with body size distributions.
What is the funding opportunity number for this notice?
The funding opportunity number is F19AS00181.
What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The notice lists CFDA 15.662.
Which agency and department are associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is under the Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service).
What type of award is described?
It is described as a discretionary cooperative agreement in the environment and natural resources category.
How many awards are expected?
The notice indicates the expected number of awards is one.
What is the award ceiling (maximum funding amount)?
The award ceiling is $74,000.
Is there an application process or submission requirements listed?
No. The notice indicates there is no application process because it is a single-source intent to award.
What are the posting dates mentioned in the notice?
The notice was created on April 10, 2019, and lists an original closing date of April 17, 2019, described as a public transparency step for a noncompetitive award rather than a standard competitive solicitation.
How does this project connect to the long-term monitoring program in the Illinois River?
The notice frames the project as building on an existing monitoring program rather than creating a new one. SIUC's hydroacoustic density estimation work has been ongoing since 2011, and the project leverages historical data to strengthen the interpretation of target strength in the existing survey framework.
What is the anticipated benefit for evaluating carp removal programs?
By improving the conversion from acoustic signals to realistic estimates of fish size distribution and density, the project supports better stock assessment inputs and clearer evaluation of whether carp removal efforts in the upper Illinois Waterway are meeting their objectives.
What is the practical outcome of "reducing uncertainty" in this context?
Reducing uncertainty means improving confidence that the sonar-based size and density estimates reflect the true fish size distribution in the water. This makes population estimates more precise and trends over time more reliable for management decisions.
Does the notice describe why generalized target strength relationships are not sufficient?
Yes in concept. It emphasizes species-specific, field-based measurements rather than relying only on generalized relationships from other species or laboratory assumptions, because those approaches can introduce bias when applied to Asian carp in the Illinois Waterway.
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