Aquatic Invasive Species Grants

Fiscal Years 2020-2021 Request for Proposals

Deadline for TPWD receipt of proposals: June 30, 2019

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) announces a Request for Proposals (RFP) for state fiscal years 2020–2021 under the Aquatic Invasive Species program. Project(s) will be funded upon selection through the end of fiscal year 2020 (August 31, 2020). Research grants that span two years may be awarded, contingent upon additional funds becoming available during FY21. Awards under this grant will not exceed $100,000, but cost-effectiveness will be considered in proposal review to ensure best use of available funding. Funds for this grant are administered by TPWD under Rider 32 Statewide Aquatic Vegetation and Invasive Species Management (state funds), although funding may be augmented from other sources dependent upon number and quality of proposals received. For proposals that entail two years, the first year of research should be independent of year two and be capable of being completed by August 31, 2020 with a quantifiable end point in the event that funding does not become available for the second year.

Eligibility of Prospective Applicants

Applicants (Principal Investigators [PI]) must demonstrate a proven track record of publications or previous work (e.g., unpublished project reports) in an applicable field. Please address this in your submission by providing (or linking to) a curriculum vitae for each PI.

TPWD will only issue contracts to the following entities:

• Institutions of Higher Education, such as colleges or universities (private or public; see "Higher Education Coordinating Act of 1965" Sec. 61.003).
• Non-profit organizations [501 (c) (3)].
• Federal, State, Local (County, City) offices, (see "Professional Services Procurement Act" Sec. 2254.002).

It is imperative that your agency/institution possess thorough knowledge of State of Texas purchasing rules and have the administrative expertise and infrastructure to be able to manage state contracts.

Project Funding Priorities

Proposal objectives should not duplicate previous research and the proposal must clearly demonstrate that this is a novel project that fills a research gap. Projects that adequately address one of the following research needs or additional topics of interest will be given priority although proposals on other timely topics will be considered:

Zebra Mussels:

• Influence of Water Chemistry on Range Expansion. Calcium is a key limiting factor for determining the potential distribution of zebra mussels in Texas, yet its effects on colonization are confounded by currents, temperature and productivity gradients. Proposals for this topic should focus on the influence of calcium concentrations—in combination with other environmental factors—on zebra mussels across developmental stages and implications for invasion of Texas lakes.
• Pipeline Transfer. Pipelines can provide a dispersal conduit for zebra mussel range expansion among reservoirs, and pipeline attributes (e.g., volume, water velocity, pressure, residence time, regulatory authority) can facilitate or impede dispersal. Proposals for this topic should focus on the potential for pipeline dispersal of zebra mussels in Texas (e.g., by compiling a database of pipelines and their characteristics) and the potential for prevention of dispersal within Texas using chemical means (i.e., effectiveness of treatments both in pipelines and near intakes).
• Impacts on Endemic Unionid Mussels. Although deleterious effects of dreissenid mussel invasions on native unionids are well documented elsewhere, little is known of impacts in Texas. Research proposals for this topic should consider both geographic and taxonomic variation in potential impacts on unionids as well as habitat factors related to potential severity of impacts.

Aquatic Invasive Plants:

• Biological Control of Giant Salvinia. The salvinia weevil, Cyrtobagous salviniae, plays a key role in the management of giant salvinia infestations in Texas. However, the use of this biological control is limited by production capability as well as dispersal potential. Research proposals for this topic should focus on enhancement of propagation techniques (i.e., to increase production levels) and/or enhancement of effectiveness in field applications. Proposals focusing on propagation techniques should consider potential for commercialization of salvinia weevil production
• Control of Giant Salvinia in Cypress Stands. In Texas reservoirs, dense cypress stands in the more riverine, upstream reaches often preclude chemical treatment of giant salvinia infestations, leading to persistence and overwintering in these “nursery areas.” Although recent research shows that winter applications of herbicide over cypress stands may provide a practical management tool, there is a need for additional research on this topic. Proposals for this topic should focus on the challenge of managing giant salvinia in dense cypress stands where boat access for chemical treatment is not possible.
• Novel Control Methods. There is a perpetual need for new and enhanced control methods for aquatic invasive plants. Proposals for this topic should focus on techniques for managing the most problematic aquatic invasive plants in Texas.

Invasive Fishes:

• Targeted Removal Methods. Two genera of non-native fishes—Oreochromis (tilapias) and Pterigoplichthys (suckermouth catfishes)—introduced through human-mediated pathways have become highly invasive and especially concerning. In rivers and streams in Texas, ubiquitous springs and wastewater outfalls provide thermal refuges that likely allow these fishes—particularly tilapias—to persist and continue to impact native fishes and their habitat. Research proposals related to this topic should focus on enhancement of removal methodologies, timing, and location to increase the effectiveness of efforts to manage/eliminate these species.
• Ecological Impacts. Numerous non-native fishes have been introduced in Texas waters—including “transplants” from native ranges elsewhere in Texas—yet the ecological impacts of these species in Texas rivers and streams are not well-known. Research proposals for this topic should focus on experimental and observational research rather than literature review.
• Bait Bucket Introductions. Fishes are often introduced to new areas via bait bucket transfers. Sheepshead Minnow (Cyprinodon variegatus) and Gulf Killifish (Fundulus grandis) are two species now found outside of their native range in Texas for which bait bucket transfer is considered the most likely introduction pathway. Research proposals for this topic should focus on evaluation of this pathway for non-native fish introductions through surveys (e.g., eDNA) of live bait dealers (i.e., not only through literature review).

Economic Impacts of Aquatic Invasive Species in Texas:

• Zebra Mussels. Economic costs of zebra mussel invasions have been well-documented elsewhere and generally fall into five categories: (1) prevention/awareness, (2) monitoring, (3) preventive control efforts (e.g., antifouling coatings, filtration, chemicals), (4) reactive control methods (e.g., mechanical cleaning and inspection), and (5) lost production costs. These costs vary with facility characteristics (e.g., type, size, components). Research proposals for this topic should focus on quantification of past and potential economic impact of zebra mussels on infrastructure in Texas (e.g., water supply, electric power generation, dam/water control structures), using interviews and/or surveys of industry experts as opposed to literature-based estimation.
• Aquatic Plants. Economic costs of invasive aquatic plants such as giant salvinia, water hyacinth, hydrilla, and Eurasian watermilfoil include, but are not limited to, lost recreational and tourism dollars and declines in lakefront property values. Research proposals for this topic should focus on comprehensive identification of cost categories and quantification of past and potential impacts (e.g., trends in property values) of the most problematic aquatic invasive plants in Texas.

Other Topics of Interest

• Ecology and population dynamics of problematic aquatic invasive species in Texas
• Identification of resources and habitats most sensitive to invasion in Texas
• Geographic distribution of aquatic invasive species in Texas
• Human-mediated introduction of aquatic invasive species in Texas using pathway analysis
• Limiting factors for growth and survival of problematic aquatic invasive species in Texas

Proposal Submission

The deadline for receipt of proposals is June 30, 2019. Each proposal package must contain the following items: (1) the Project Statement as described in the Project Statement Guidelines, (2) a Budget Spreadsheet, and (3) a curriculum vitae for each PI. Attachments should be emailed to Sarah Haas using Microsoft Word or PDF format, and Microsoft Excel or PDF for the Budget Spreadsheet. Please note that email attachments exceeding 30 MB may need to be delivered in separate emails to overcome file size limitations and .zip files will be rejected by our email server.

When constructing the proposal package, please also adhere to the following in addition to the project statement guidelines and budget spreadsheet instructions:

Project timeline

Projects (including final reports) must be completed by August 31, 2020, with two-year projects having a clearly-defined endpoint for each year as continued funding is contingent upon availability and performance. Two-year projects must be completed in full by August 31, 2021. An anticipated timeline for completion of key tasks, including submission of an interim report and final report, must be included in the proposal (see Project Statement Guidelines).

Funding limits

Maximum funding per grant will be approximately $100,000, although cost-effectiveness will be considered in proposal review. Total funding available for this grant program may be augmented at a later date.

Match requirements

• Cost-split is 75:25 (state share: applicant match). Therefore, of the Total Project Cost, at least 25% must be dedicated to Match (in-kind allowed).
• Extra evaluation points may be awarded to Match amounts exceeding 25%.
• Volunteer labor must be reasonable and requires documentation of fair market value.
• Indirect Costs (Facilities and Administration; F&A): TPWD follows the current Colleges and Universities Rate Agreement for indirect cost.

Project Selection

Proposal evaluation is based upon: (1) scientific rigor (sampling effort, methodology, etc.); (2) how well it addresses the primary research need; and (3) cost-effectiveness.

Approximate proposal review timeline

• July 15, 2019: TPWD receives and distributes eligible proposals for review by a selection panel, to include TPWD staff and other funding partners, as applicable. Based on an objective and systematic review process the review panel generates a rank order list of proposals and meets to identify project(s) for funding.

• August 31, 2019: TPWD notifies all applicants of review outcome. State contracts will not be generated for awardee(s) until after September 1, 2019 (i.e., beginning of the fiscal year). Please allow at least 30–45 days from this notification until execution of state contract with awardee's agency or institution. The successful applicant will be asked to sign an agreement (state contract) that specifies the project requirements, such as the cost share, honoring the objective and approach from the project statement provided by the applicant, and details regarding invoicing, deliverables, and other obligations. Notification of an award is not an authorization to begin performance, nor should the awardee purchase materials or begin work until such time as they receive the final grant award document signed by an authorized TPWD official. A pre-award clause may be incorporated into the contract if needed to accomplish the objectives, but funds are not guaranteed or reimbursable until the contract is fully executed.