Opportunity Information: Apply for F18AS00121
The USFWS Region 6 Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) Program 2018 grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number F18AS00121) is a discretionary grant program run by the U.S. Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service. It is designed to fund practical, results-oriented work that helps prevent, detect, and slow the spread of aquatic invasive species in the western and central U.S. states covered by USFWS Region 6: Colorado, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming. The program is especially focused on high-impact invaders like quagga and zebra mussels (Dreissenid mussels), while also addressing other aquatic invasive species that threaten waters, infrastructure, native fish and wildlife, recreation, and local economies.
A key feature of this opportunity is that it welcomes proposals to extend previously funded projects, which signals an emphasis on sustaining proven efforts that are already underway. At the same time, the program also invites new projects, but expects them to align tightly with a set of defined regional and national priorities. Applications are reviewed by a USFWS Project Officer, who checks that submissions are complete and received on time, and the program anticipates making a small number of awards, meaning proposals need to be clearly scoped, well-justified, and connected to the stated goals.
The priority areas for new work center on preventing the spread of quagga and zebra mussels and other AIS through the most important pathways and management frameworks identified by western partners. One major priority is advancing the Quagga Zebra Mussel Action Plan for Western U.S. Waters (QZAP), particularly by supporting its priority goals aimed at reducing mussel spread and impacts. Another priority is research that lowers the risk of mussel spread via the watercraft pathway, reflecting the consensus needs identified in the 2015 Dreissenid Mussel Research Priorities Workshop. In practice, that typically means projects that improve understanding of how mussels move between waterbodies on boats and trailers, refine inspection and decontamination approaches, strengthen early detection methods, or evaluate the effectiveness of prevention strategies.
Beyond watercraft, the opportunity also highlights the pet trade as a pathway for new AIS introductions into western states. Projects under this priority would generally focus on preventing releases of non-native aquarium and water garden species, improving outreach and compliance, supporting voluntary or regulatory measures that reduce risky sales and transfers, and building partnerships with retailers, hobbyists, and state agencies. The program further emphasizes supporting Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force (ANSTF) approved State Aquatic Nuisance Species (ANS) Plans, specifically where those plans address management and control of quagga/zebra mussels or other AIS in western waters. This encourages applicants to align proposals with state-vetted strategies and demonstrate how the work contributes to established, coordinated statewide objectives rather than operating in isolation.
Another stated priority is meeting the goals of "An Action Plan to Implement Legal and Regulatory Efforts to Minimize Expansion of Invasive Mussels Through Watercraft Movements in the Western United States." This points to projects that help translate legal and regulatory concepts into workable on-the-ground systems, such as strengthening consistency across jurisdictions, improving enforcement and compliance tools, clarifying authorities, or developing policy-ready guidance that helps states and partners close gaps in prevention programs. Finally, the opportunity identifies special protection needs for two iconic and ecologically sensitive areas: the Greater Yellowstone Area and the Upper Columbia River Basin. Projects that prevent AIS introductions into these landscapes are explicitly encouraged, recognizing both their high conservation value and the potentially irreversible impacts of invasive species establishment there.
In terms of funding scale and competitiveness, the grant lists an award ceiling of $110,000 and anticipates approximately six awards. The funding activity categories include Natural Resources as well as Information and Statistics, reflecting that proposals may range from direct field implementation (such as prevention and monitoring) to data-driven work (such as risk assessments, research, or program evaluation). Eligibility is described as unrestricted, meaning the opportunity is broadly open to many entity types (subject to any additional eligibility clarifications in the full notice), which commonly includes state and local governments, tribes, universities, nonprofits, and other partners capable of delivering AIS prevention or management outcomes.
Key timeline details from the notice include a creation date of April 24, 2018 and an original application closing date of June 25, 2018. Overall, the opportunity is best understood as a targeted regional investment program: relatively modest awards intended to support coordinated prevention, research, and policy or program implementation actions that reduce AIS introductions and slow spread, with a particularly strong emphasis on Dreissenid mussels, watercraft-related transmission, pet trade risks, alignment with state and national action plans, and safeguarding high-value ecosystems like Yellowstone and the Upper Columbia basin.Apply for F18AS00121
- The Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service in the information and statistics, natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "USFWS Region 6 Aquatic Invasive Species Program 2018" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.608.
- This funding opportunity was created on Apr 24, 2018.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 25, 2018 Region 6 covers the states of Colorado, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah and Wyoming. The USFWS Project Officer will review submissions to include determining if applications are complete and submitted on time.. (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 $110,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 6 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is this grant opportunity?
This is the USFWS Region 6 Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) Program 2018 discretionary grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number F18AS00121), administered by the U.S. Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service.
What is the main purpose of the program?
The program funds practical, results-oriented work that helps prevent, detect, and slow the spread of aquatic invasive species (AIS), with a strong emphasis on high-impact invaders such as quagga and zebra mussels (Dreissenid mussels).
Which states are covered under USFWS Region 6 for this opportunity?
The opportunity targets work in the USFWS Region 6 states: Colorado, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming.
Which aquatic invasive species are emphasized in this funding opportunity?
The opportunity is especially focused on quagga and zebra mussels (Dreissenid mussels), while also supporting work related to other aquatic invasive species that threaten waters, infrastructure, native fish and wildlife, recreation, and local economies.
Does the program support extensions of previously funded projects?
Yes. A key feature of this opportunity is that it welcomes proposals to extend previously funded projects, signaling an interest in sustaining proven efforts that are already underway.
Are new projects eligible, or only project extensions?
New projects are invited as well, but they are expected to align closely with the defined regional and national priorities listed in the opportunity.
How are applications reviewed?
Applications are reviewed by a USFWS Project Officer, who checks that submissions are complete and received on time.
How competitive is this grant?
The program anticipates making a small number of awards (about six). Because of that, proposals generally need to be clearly scoped, well-justified, and directly connected to the stated goals and priorities.
What is the maximum award amount?
The award ceiling listed in the opportunity is $110,000.
How many awards are expected to be made?
The opportunity anticipates approximately six awards.
What kinds of projects are considered a priority under this opportunity?
Priority areas include preventing the spread of quagga and zebra mussels and other AIS through key pathways and management frameworks identified by western partners, and aligning closely with specific action plans and priorities referenced in the notice.
What is QZAP, and how does it relate to this grant?
QZAP refers to the Quagga Zebra Mussel Action Plan for Western U.S. Waters. Advancing QZAP, including supporting its priority goals aimed at reducing mussel spread and impacts, is identified as a major priority for new work.
What does the grant prioritize related to the watercraft pathway?
The opportunity prioritizes research and other work that lowers the risk of mussel spread via the watercraft pathway. Examples mentioned include improving understanding of how mussels move between waterbodies on boats and trailers, refining inspection and decontamination approaches, strengthening early detection methods, and evaluating the effectiveness of prevention strategies.
Does the opportunity mention any specific research guidance or consensus priorities?
Yes. The watercraft pathway research emphasis is linked to needs identified in the 2015 Dreissenid Mussel Research Priorities Workshop.
Is the pet trade considered a priority pathway?
Yes. The pet trade is highlighted as a pathway for new AIS introductions into western states, and projects aimed at preventing releases of non-native aquarium and water garden species are included as a priority area.
What types of pet trade-focused activities fit this opportunity?
The notice points to activities such as improving outreach and compliance, supporting voluntary or regulatory measures that reduce risky sales and transfers, and building partnerships with retailers, hobbyists, and state agencies to reduce introductions.
Does this grant encourage alignment with State Aquatic Nuisance Species (ANS) Plans?
Yes. The opportunity emphasizes supporting Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force (ANSTF) approved State ANS Plans, especially where those plans address management and control of quagga/zebra mussels or other AIS in western waters.
Why does alignment with a State ANS Plan matter for this opportunity?
Based on the notice, alignment shows the proposed work contributes to established, coordinated statewide objectives and strategies, rather than operating in isolation.
What legal or regulatory implementation work is prioritized?
The opportunity identifies a priority around meeting the goals of "An Action Plan to Implement Legal and Regulatory Efforts to Minimize Expansion of Invasive Mussels Through Watercraft Movements in the Western United States."
What kinds of legal and regulatory-related projects does the opportunity appear to support?
The notice suggests projects such as strengthening consistency across jurisdictions, improving enforcement and compliance tools, clarifying authorities, or developing policy-ready guidance that helps states and partners close gaps in prevention programs.
Are any specific geographic areas singled out for special protection?
Yes. The opportunity explicitly encourages projects that prevent AIS introductions into the Greater Yellowstone Area and the Upper Columbia River Basin.
What funding activity categories are associated with this opportunity?
The funding activity categories listed include Natural Resources and Information and Statistics, suggesting support for both on-the-ground implementation (like prevention and monitoring) and data-driven work (like risk assessments, research, or program evaluation).
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is described as unrestricted in the notice, meaning the opportunity is broadly open to many entity types (subject to any additional eligibility clarifications in the full notice).
Does the notice suggest what types of organizations commonly participate?
It indicates that unrestricted eligibility commonly includes state and local governments, tribes, universities, nonprofits, and other partners capable of delivering AIS prevention or management outcomes.
What is the funding opportunity number (FON) for this program?
The Funding Opportunity Number is F18AS00121.
What were the key dates listed in the notice?
The notice lists a creation date of April 24, 2018 and an original application closing date of June 25, 2018.
What overall approach does this program take to AIS management?
Based on the notice, it is a targeted regional investment program with modest awards intended to support coordinated prevention, research, and policy or program implementation actions that reduce AIS introductions and slow spread, especially for Dreissenid mussels and key introduction pathways like watercraft movement and the pet trade.
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