Biological Modeling of Herring in Prince William Sound

The Oil Spill Recovery Institute (OSRI), located in Cordova, Alaska, is soliciting pre-proposals for herring modeling in Prince William Sound. Pre-proposals should describe how the herring model will interact with the present suite of physical models of Prince William Sound covering ocean and atmospheric physics, and oil spill trajectory and exposure and how herring would benefit from or be impacted by spill response options such as on-water mechanical, shoreline clean-up, and dispersion. More information on these ongoing modeling projects is available through www.pwsoos.org or by contacting OSRI. Pre- proposals should define and justify which life stages of herring will be modeled, identify data requirements for initializing and operating the herring model, and describe a proposed validation program. It is expected that this modeling effort will interact with other ongoing or planned studies in PWS conducted by OSRI, the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Trustee Council’s Gulf Ecosystem Monitoring program, or the North Pacific Research Board. OSRI expects to implement the herring modeling program in fiscal year 2004.

Full proposals will only be accepted from Investigators submitting pre-proposals through this RFP. Authors of successful pre-proposals will receive notification from OSRI requesting a full proposal and detailing the procedures for submission and evaluation of the proposals. Funding available through the OSRI Biological Modeling of Herring in Prince William Sound project is $100,000 for fiscal years 2004, 2005 & 2006. Matching funds are encouraged but not a requirement of this solicitation.

Pre-proposals should include the following:
1. Introductory letter on institutional letterhead (no more than 1 page)
2. Description of proposed effort (no more than 5 pages)
3. Citations
4. Resumes or curriculum vita of key personnel
5. Budget for proposed effort

Pre-proposals will be evaluated and full proposals may be sought by OSRI from one or more candidates through this process. OSRI reserves the right to reject any or all pre-proposals and makes no guarantee that an award will be issued in response to this solicitation.

Application Process

One signed original and an electronic version on compact disc of the pre-proposal (.pdf format) should be mailed to:

Herring Modeling Solicitation
Prince William Sound Oil Spill Recovery Institute
P.O. Box 705
Cordova, AK 99574

Pre-proposals must be submitted in hard copy form. Pre-proposals will not be accepted by FAX or electronically and must be postmarked by the due date of September 22, 2003.

Proposal Evaluation

Submissions will be evaluated by the methods described in the OSRI Grant Policy Manual. Evaluation criteria differ based on the type of project. In general, submissions will be evaluated by how well they meet the needs of the solicitation and fill existing research gaps. Experience of the team members will also be considered. For more information, refer to the OSRI Grant Policy Manual, Section 4.4.1, which can be found on the OSRI web page.

Awards

Pre-proposals, due by September 22, 2003 (postmarked by), will be evaluated by the method described above, and those selected for submission of a full proposal will be notified by October 13, 2003. The full proposal will be due by December 1, 2003. Awards made as a result of this competition will be administered in accordance with the terms and conditions of the OSRI Grant Policy Manual.

Additional Information

The OSRI provides awards for research relating to oil spills in the Arctic and sub-Arctic, The awardee is wholly responsible for the conduct of such programs, research and preparation of the results for publication. The OSRI, therefore, does not assume responsibility for the research findings, their interpretation or implementation of programs.

The OSRI welcomes pre-proposals from all qualified scientists, engineers and educators and strongly encourages women, minorities, and persons with disabilities to compete fully in any of the research related programs described here. In accordance with federal statutes, regulations, and OSRI policies, no person on grounds of race, color, age, sex, national origin, or disability shall be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subject to discrimination under any program or activity receiving financial assistance from the OSRI.

Further questions may be addressed to the OSRI by e-mail (frontdes@pwssc.gen.ak.us) or by contacting Nancy Bird, OSRI Director, at (907) 424-5800.

Date this RFP was posted: July 22, 2003

________________________________________________
Nancy Bird, C.E.O. and President, PWS Science Center - www.pwssc.gen.ak.us
and Director, Oil Spill Recovery Institute - www.pws-osri.org
P.O. Box 705 - 300 Breakwater Ave. - Cordova, AK 99574
(907) 424-5800 ext 225; fax 424-5820
bird@pwssc.gen.ak.us