DESCRIPTION
Research to understand black abalone (Haliotis cracherodii) reproductive biology (using red abalone [Haliotis rufescens] as surrogates or conspecifics) is necessary to remain in compliance with the San Clemente Island (SCI) Integrated Natural Resource Management Plan (INRMP), and also provide a benefit to black abalone species as required under section 4(a)(3)(B) of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) (16 U.S.C. 35). The SCI INRMP’s main objective for black abalone is to “continue to monitor and support the recovery of the black abalone population in suitable rocky intertidal habitat to increase the population at SCI,” which specifically calls for efforts to “investigate factors affecting larval dispersal distances, survival, and recruitment dynamics” for black abalone. Federally endangered black abalone are currently present on SCI and managed under the SCI INRMP. SCI received a critical habitat exclusion for black abalone based on the determination that the Navy’s SCI INRMP provides several benefits to black abalone and that thorough management efforts are included in the INRMP and implemented on the island. Continued critical habitat exclusion is crucial to support the Navy’s mission on SCI. Thus, it is imperative that reproductive biology of black abalone is investigated to inform potential future translocation, outplanting, and captive breeding efforts for the species, with goals of eventual downlisting or delisting of the species at SCI and throughout its range.
The overall purpose of this cooperative agreement is to investigate the reproductive biology of black abalone (using red abalone as surrogate) to inform management efforts and strategies for the protection of the critically endangered species. All efforts in this agreement support requirements in the NMFS critical habitat exclusion and the NMFS black abalone recovery plan.
ELIGIBILITY
This funding opportunity is open to any Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit Californian cooperative partner who qualifies under the DoDGARS Part 34 or 2 CFR 200. Please see applicable terms and conditions, provided as a separate attachment.
CLOSING DATE FOR APPLICATIONS: August 04, 2025, 2:00 PM PDT.
INSTRUCTIONS TO APPLICANTS
The complete Funding Oppurtunity Announcement, application forms, and instructions are available for download at https://grants.gov/search-results-detail/359908. Please see attached pdfs for more.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Questions relating to Grants.gov including the registration process and system requirements should be directed to the Grants.gov Contact Center at 1-800-518-4726. For assistance with the requirements of this Funding Opportunity Announcement, please contact the Contract Specialist, Duc Le, at duc.t.le4.civ@us.navy.mil.
Notice of Funding Opportunity N62473-25-2-0004 Full Grants Posting N62473-25-2-0004