Applied Field Research on Ecological Functions at Living Shoreline Installations | W81EWF 25 SOI 0002

Opportunity Information: Apply for W81EWF 25 SOI 0002

The Applied Field Research on Ecological Functions at Living Shoreline Installations opportunity is a discretionary, science and technology research cooperative agreement sponsored by the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC). It supports applied, field-based research focused on how well living shoreline projects perform ecologically compared with natural shorelines, with the larger aim of improving shoreline stabilization decisions and practices. The program is structured around building practical, defensible evaluation methods and translating findings into usable guidance for landowners and natural resource managers.

The first objective centers on working directly with ERDC researchers to create and implement a set of qualitative and quantitative metrics that capture ecological function at living shoreline sites and nearby areas, alongside comparable measurements at natural shoreline reference sites. The opportunity explicitly points to ecological function measures such as biomass productivity, sediment accumulation, and habitat provisioning, but the intent is broader: develop a metric suite that can consistently describe how these shorelines support ecosystem processes and habitat value in real-world conditions. Deliverables for this objective include documenting the developed metrics and reporting annual results, with publication pathways including yearly reports and/or peer-reviewed outputs such as journal articles or technical reports.

The second objective shifts from metric development into comparative evaluation and synthesis. Applicants are expected to analyze how physical parameters and design specifications relate to ecological outcomes across living shoreline and natural shoreline sites. In practice, this means comparing site conditions (for example, exposure, geomorphology, or hydrodynamic setting), engineering or installation design features, and measured ecological functions to determine what design and setting combinations are associated with stronger ecological performance. The results are intended to feed into a living shoreline guidance document that can help practitioners weigh shoreline stabilization strategies more effectively, making the work explicitly translational and decision-support oriented rather than purely academic.

Eligibility is limited: only non-federal partners of the Chesapeake Watershed Cooperative Ecosystems Studies Unit (CESU) can apply. The notice also emphasizes scrutiny of disclosures of current and pending support. Applicants should treat support disclosures as a key compliance item, because the announcement states that disclosures made in the application can render an applicant ineligible, and that ERDC may request updates before award and throughout the period of performance. Those updates will be reviewed and could lead to discontinuation of funding, so ongoing accuracy and transparency are built into the award conditions. The announcement also clarifies that religious organizations may compete on equal footing with secular organizations for federal financial assistance, consistent with Executive Order 13798.

Administratively, the opportunity number is W81EWF 25 SOI 0002, with CFDA number 12.630. ERDC expects to make one award with an award ceiling of $300,000. The original closing date listed is February 6, 2025, and the funding instrument type is a cooperative agreement, which generally implies substantial involvement or collaboration with the federal sponsor during the project, aligning with the stated requirement to collaborate with ERDC researchers on metric development and application.

• The Engineer Research and Development Center in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Applied Field Research on Ecological Functions at Living Shoreline Installations" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 12.630.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2024-12-06.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2025-02-06. (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 $300,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others.

Apply for W81EWF 25 SOI 0002

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