Salmon Conservation and Research Facility Operations and Maintenance | BOR MP 19 N007

Opportunity Information: Apply for BOR MP 19 N007

The Salmon Conservation and Research Facility Operations and Maintenance opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number BOR MP 19 N007) is a discretionary financial assistance action from the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation. It is structured as a cooperative agreement, meaning the Bureau of Reclamation anticipates substantial involvement in the work alongside the recipient rather than simply issuing funds with minimal federal participation. The activity sits in the Natural Resources category and is tied to CFDA 15.555, with its legal authority rooted in the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-11) and the San Joaquin River Restoration Settlement (including Title X provisions and related settlement stipulations and delegations of authority).

The Bureau of Reclamation stated an intent to award this cooperative agreement to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. While the listing identifies multiple eligible applicant types in general (state governments, federally recognized tribal governments, and private institutions of higher education), the notice is explicitly a non-competitive Notice of Intent to Award rather than an open solicitation. In practical terms, it signals that the federal government plans to make a single award to a specific entity, and it emphasizes that the decision not to compete the award is at the government’s discretion under Departmental Manual 505 DM 2, paragraph 2.14(B)(4). Because it is not a request for proposals, organizations should not interpret the posting as an opportunity to submit competing applications.

Funding for the agreement is estimated at a total of $10,743,114.99, with $2,383,087.81 identified as the Bureau of Reclamation’s contribution in Fiscal Year 2019. The opportunity anticipates one award, consistent with the intent to fund a specific partner to carry out ongoing operations, maintenance, production, and research functions that support salmon restoration objectives under the San Joaquin River Restoration Program (SJRRP). The posting date was March 1, 2019, with an original closing date of March 20, 2019, reflecting the administrative window for this notice rather than a typical competitive application period.

The project’s core purpose is to operate and maintain salmon conservation and research capacity needed to restore Chinook salmon populations in the San Joaquin River system to self-sustaining levels. A central work element is the development and maintenance of a genetically diverse broodstock, focused on spring-run Chinook and potentially incorporating fall-run Chinook as well. Maintaining genetic diversity is highlighted because restoration programs depend on avoiding inbreeding and preserving the range of traits that support survival and adaptation in the wild.

A second major focus is meeting fish production targets established by the SJRRP to the maximum extent practicable, while acknowledging real-world constraints at the Interim Facility, particularly limited tank space and available water supply. The notice makes clear that the Interim Facility is a bridge to a future full-scale Conservation Facility, and that production will continue under interim limitations until the larger, permanent facility becomes operational.

A third element is the actual production of juvenile Chinook salmon (both spring-run and fall-run), with the program placing special emphasis on spring-run production. This juvenile output is intended to support rebuilding salmon runs so they can persist without ongoing artificial supplementation over the long term, aligning with the stated objective of reaching self-sustaining population levels rather than temporary increases.

Finally, the opportunity includes supporting and providing research needs tied to restoration of spring-run and/or fall-run Chinook populations. This signals that the facility is not only a production and holding operation, but also a platform for applied scientific work that can improve restoration outcomes, such as studies related to survival, health, genetics, release strategies, and other management-relevant questions that arise during recovery efforts.

For further details, the notice points readers to the associated Notice of Intent to Award announcement and provides a federal contact for questions: Christina Munoz, Grants Management Specialist, reachable by email at cmunoz@usbr.gov.

• The Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Salmon Conservation and Research Facility Operations and Maintenance" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.555.
• This funding opportunity was created on Mar 01, 2019.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Mar 20, 2019. (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 $10,743,115.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Private institutions of higher education.

Apply for BOR MP 19 N007

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