Opportunity Information: Apply for F17AS00033
This grant opportunity is a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), Department of the Interior initiative focused on gathering and applying social science (human dimensions) research to support a visitor use management strategy for commercially guided, boat-based polar bear viewing at the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge near Kaktovik, Alaska. The core purpose is to produce practical, decision-ready information about visitors, guided tour operations, and stakeholder perspectives so the Refuge can better manage a rapidly evolving situation in which both polar bears and human activity are increasing along Alaska's Beaufort Sea coastline. The work is meant to directly inform near-term management choices and longer-term planning about how to run a compatible polar bear viewing permitting program while protecting wildlife and addressing safety and community concerns.
A key feature of this announcement is that it is not an open competition. USFWS Region 7 states its intent to make a single-source cooperative agreement award, authorized under 505 DM 2.14 (B), to Dr. Jeffrey Hallo, an Associate Professor in Clemson University's Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management. Because of that single-source intent, the notice explicitly says it is not a request for proposals and the government does not plan to accept or review competing applications. The award is being made through the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) Network, which is a federal partnership framework designed to link agencies with universities and other partners to provide research, technical assistance, and education across disciplines relevant to natural and cultural resource management.
The management problem driving the project is that Kaktovik has become a prominent location for polar bear viewing, especially during a relatively short seasonal window when bears congregate along the coast for about six weeks. USFWS already conducts annual community-based polar bear conservation activities in Kaktovik with partners and works with stakeholders to encourage collaborative, relationship-based management in a setting with strong values and competing interests. Against that backdrop, the Refuge needs better data on the "people side" of the equation: what visitors are doing on the water, how guided experiences are perceived and delivered, how crowding or conflict might affect visitor experiences and community tolerance, what conditions may lead to safety risks or wildlife disturbance, and what types of management actions stakeholders may accept or resist.
The planned outcome of the broader agency effort is a multi-year planning process expected to continue through 2019 and culminate in an Environmental Assessment (EA) and a preferred alternative for continuing a compatible polar bear viewing permitting program. That management strategy is framed with a 15-year planning horizon, which implies the research is intended to support decisions that will shape the program for a long period, not just a single season. One especially important decision area highlighted in the notice is whether the Refuge should establish a visitor capacity and potentially limit boat-based visitor use on Refuge waters immediately surrounding Kaktovik. In practical terms, that means the research is expected to help the agency define what "too much use" looks like in this specific setting and how capacity could be measured or managed in ways that fit local conditions, boating realities, and stakeholder relationships.
The announcement also explains why USFWS believes a uniquely qualified research team is needed. The Refuge is emphasizing expertise that combines (1) substantial on-site experience in the exact management setting, which is extremely remote and logistically challenging, (2) time spent in the field during the narrow but critical period when polar bears are present near the coast and tour activity peaks, and (3) specialized academic and applied skill in evaluating visitor experience data and determining capacity in recreational boating contexts. Just as important, the Refuge notes that this is not a standard visitor management case; it involves relationship-based natural resource management, international visitors, and boating capacity issues all at once. The expectation is that the project will invite collaboration with local stakeholders, but it is structured to move forward even if the full level of participation hoped for is not available, reflecting the reality that stakeholder engagement in remote, high-profile wildlife tourism contexts can be variable.
From an administrative standpoint, the opportunity is listed as a discretionary funding opportunity using a cooperative agreement, with a single expected award. The award ceiling is $165,000. Eligible applicant categories listed include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education, which aligns with the CESU model and the fact that the intended recipient is a university-based researcher. The opportunity number is F17AS00033, the CFDA number is 15.678, and the posting dates show it was created on November 28, 2016, with an original closing date of December 5, 2016, although the practical relevance of those dates is limited because the notice is not soliciting proposals.
Overall, the grant can be understood as targeted, applied social science research funding meant to help USFWS implement a defensible, stakeholder-informed visitor use management approach for guided boat-based polar bear viewing around Kaktovik. It is designed to strengthen the Refuge's ability to set and justify capacity-related decisions, maintain a workable permitting program, reduce conflict and risk, and support long-term conservation and community considerations in a highly sensitive and globally visible wildlife viewing setting.Apply for F17AS00033
- The Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service in the education, employment, labor and training, environment, information and statistics, natural resources, science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Social Science Research to Support the Implementation of a Visitor Use Management Strategy for Commercially-guided, Boat-based polar bear viewing at the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.678.
- This funding opportunity was created on Nov 28, 2016.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Dec 05, 2016. (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 $165,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is this grant opportunity about?
This U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), Department of the Interior funding opportunity supports applied social science (human dimensions) research to inform a visitor use management strategy for commercially guided, boat-based polar bear viewing at the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge near Kaktovik, Alaska.
What is the main purpose of the project?
The purpose is to produce practical, decision-ready information about visitors, guided tour operations, and stakeholder perspectives so the Refuge can manage a rapidly changing situation where both polar bear presence and human activity are increasing along Alaska's Beaufort Sea coastline.
What management decisions is the research intended to support?
The research is intended to directly inform near-term management choices and longer-term planning, including how to run a compatible polar bear viewing permitting program while protecting wildlife and addressing safety and community concerns.
Is this an open, competitive grant solicitation?
No. The announcement states it is not an open competition. It explicitly indicates it is not a request for proposals and that the government does not plan to accept or review competing applications.
Who does USFWS intend to fund under this opportunity?
USFWS Region 7 states its intent to make a single-source cooperative agreement award to Dr. Jeffrey Hallo, an Associate Professor in Clemson University's Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management.
What authority is cited for the single-source award?
The single-source cooperative agreement is stated as being authorized under 505 DM 2.14 (B).
What funding mechanism is being used?
The opportunity is described as a discretionary funding opportunity using a cooperative agreement, with a single expected award.
What is the maximum award amount (ceiling)?
The award ceiling listed in the announcement is $165,000.
How many awards are expected?
The announcement indicates a single expected award.
What is the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) Network and how does it relate to this award?
The award is being made through the CESU Network, a federal partnership framework that links agencies with universities and other partners to provide research, technical assistance, and education relevant to natural and cultural resource management.
Who is eligible to apply, based on the listed eligibility categories?
The eligible applicant categories listed include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education. This aligns with the CESU model and the stated intent to fund a university-based researcher.
What geographic area is the focus of this work?
The project focuses on the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge near Kaktovik, Alaska, in the Beaufort Sea coastal area where polar bear viewing occurs from boats.
Why is Kaktovik a focal point for polar bear viewing management?
Kaktovik has become a prominent location for polar bear viewing, especially during a short seasonal window when bears congregate along the coast for about six weeks and commercial viewing activity increases.
What kinds of questions is the research expected to answer?
The notice highlights the need for data on the "people side" of the issue, such as what visitors are doing on the water, how guided experiences are delivered and perceived, how crowding or conflict affects visitor experiences and community tolerance, what conditions may lead to safety risks or wildlife disturbance, and what management actions stakeholders may accept or resist.
What is meant by "visitor use management" in this context?
In this announcement, visitor use management refers to developing a strategy for managing commercially guided, boat-based polar bear viewing so it remains compatible with Refuge purposes while protecting wildlife, addressing safety, and considering community and stakeholder concerns.
What does the announcement say about stakeholder involvement?
The expectation is that the project will invite collaboration with local stakeholders, but it is also structured to move forward even if the full level of participation hoped for is not available, recognizing that engagement can be variable in remote, high-profile wildlife tourism settings.
Why does USFWS say a uniquely qualified research team is needed?
The announcement emphasizes the need for a team with substantial on-site experience in this exact, remote, logistically challenging setting; field time during the narrow, critical peak period when polar bears are present near the coast and tours are most active; and specialized skill in evaluating visitor experience data and determining capacity in recreational boating contexts.
What makes this visitor management situation different from typical cases?
The Refuge describes it as not a standard visitor management case because it combines relationship-based natural resource management, international visitors, and boating capacity issues in a sensitive wildlife viewing context.
What is the planning timeframe that this research is meant to support?
The broader agency effort is described as a multi-year planning process expected to continue through 2019, culminating in an Environmental Assessment (EA) and a preferred alternative for continuing a compatible polar bear viewing permitting program, with a 15-year planning horizon.
What is an Environmental Assessment (EA) in this project description?
The announcement states the planning process is expected to culminate in an Environmental Assessment (EA) and a preferred alternative for the permitting program. (The notice does not provide additional detail beyond identifying the EA as a culminating product of the broader planning effort.)
What is the key capacity-related decision highlighted in the notice?
A highlighted decision area is whether the Refuge should establish a visitor capacity and potentially limit boat-based visitor use on Refuge waters immediately surrounding Kaktovik.
How is "capacity" being framed in the announcement?
Capacity is framed as defining what "too much use" looks like in this specific setting and how capacity could be measured or managed in ways that fit local conditions, boating realities, and stakeholder relationships.
How does the Refuge describe current community-based work in Kaktovik?
The announcement notes that USFWS already conducts annual community-based polar bear conservation activities in Kaktovik with partners and works with stakeholders to encourage collaborative, relationship-based management.
What kinds of outcomes does USFWS want from this research?
The opportunity is described as targeted, applied social science research funding designed to strengthen the Refuge's ability to set and justify capacity-related decisions, maintain a workable permitting program, reduce conflict and risk, and support long-term conservation and community considerations.
Does the notice include an opportunity number and CFDA number?
Yes. The opportunity number is F17AS00033, and the CFDA number listed is 15.678.
What are the posting and closing dates listed, and do they affect whether applications are accepted?
The opportunity was created on November 28, 2016, with an original closing date of December 5, 2016. The notice also states it is not soliciting proposals and does not plan to accept or review competing applications, which limits the practical relevance of those dates for outside applicants.
Where does the polar bear viewing activity take place in this project description?
The focus is on commercially guided, boat-based viewing on Refuge waters immediately surrounding Kaktovik and nearby coastal areas where bears congregate seasonally.
What kinds of risks or concerns are explicitly mentioned?
The announcement points to concerns about safety risks and wildlife disturbance, as well as potential crowding, conflict, and community tolerance issues associated with increasing visitor use.
Is the project intended to address both near-term and long-term management needs?
Yes. It is described as informing near-term management choices while also supporting longer-term planning tied to a multi-year process and a 15-year planning horizon for the permitting program.
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