Opportunity Information: Apply for F17AS00111
The Toussaint East and West Land Acquisition and Habitat Restoration Project is a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) Midwest Region cooperative effort with Ducks Unlimited (DU) to secure and restore key coastal habitat along Lake Erie within the Maumee Area of Concern. The project focuses on acquiring three separate parcels totaling roughly 203 acres and then restoring those lands to native fish and wildlife habitat that supports the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI). After restoration is finished, DU will donate the properties to the Service, and they will be managed as part of the Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge Complex near Oak Harbor, Ohio. In practical terms, the grant is designed to protect strategically important land, rebuild coastal wetland and associated habitat functions, and lock in long-term conservation management through inclusion in the National Wildlife Refuge system.
This opportunity is structured as a discretionary cooperative agreement (CFDA 15.662) with an expected single award and an award ceiling of $2,228,090. It is not a competitive solicitation and does not include an application process because it is a formal notice of intent to make a single-source award to Ducks Unlimited under the Department of the Interior justification authority 505 DM 2.14B(4). The rationale for bypassing competition is that DU is presented as uniquely positioned to carry out both the real-estate and restoration components quickly and effectively within the time constraints tied to GLRI funds. The notice emphasizes DU's specialized capabilities: facilitated land acquisition through its land trust (Wetland America Trust), in-house engineering and construction management capacity to design and implement complex coastal wetland restoration, and an existing relationship with at least one critical landowner due to previous unsuccessful acquisition attempts. In other words, the government is arguing that bringing in a different organization would risk delays, reduce the likelihood of successfully closing the land deals, and jeopardize timely restoration delivery.
The scope of work blends land acquisition with habitat restoration and compliance-heavy implementation. On the acquisition side, the goal is to secure specific parcels within the approved acquisition boundary of the Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge Complex. On the restoration side, the intent is to convert or rehabilitate the acquired lands into native habitat types that benefit fish and wildlife in the Lake Erie coastal zone, consistent with GLRI outcomes. Although the notice does not list specific engineering actions, it clearly signals that the restoration is expected to be technically complex and likely to involve coastal wetland restoration design, permitting, and construction oversight, followed by establishment of native vegetation communities and ongoing invasive species management during the project timeline.
Because this is a cooperative agreement rather than a standard grant, the Service anticipates substantial, hands-on involvement throughout the project. The Service's responsibilities are spelled out in detail and include: identifying and approving properties for acquisition within the refuge acquisition boundary; meeting with landowners at all stages to support long-term conservation strategy and community engagement; conducting Level 1 Environmental Surveys to ensure compliance with FWS policy; developing a habitat restoration plan and coordinating with DU to review, finalize, and implement that plan; reviewing and approving DU engineering designs, permit applications, and key administrative documents; preparing required environmental compliance documentation under NEPA, NHPA, and ESA (along with other applicable requirements); leading restoration of trees, shrubs, and native grasses with administrative oversight of contracted restoration services to ensure alignment with FWS conservation goals; and monitoring for invasive species while coordinating mapping, control, and monitoring actions with DU. This division of labor highlights that DU is expected to drive acquisitions and provide major restoration engineering/design capacity, while FWS provides regulatory compliance, refuge-aligned planning, approvals, and direct oversight to ensure the final outcome meets federal conservation standards.
Key administrative details include the opportunity number (F17AS00111), agency (Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service), funding instrument (Cooperative Agreement), activity category (Environment, Natural Resources), and the original public posting timeline (created February 3, 2017; original closing date February 9, 2017). Even though the posting includes a closing date, it explicitly states there is no application process because the announcement functions primarily as transparency documentation for the government’s intent to make a single-source award to Ducks Unlimited. Overall, the opportunity is best understood as a targeted GLRI implementation action: rapidly acquire high-value coastal parcels, restore them to functioning native habitats, and permanently incorporate them into the Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge Complex for long-term management and ecological benefit.Apply for F17AS00111
- The Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service in the environment, natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Toussaint East and West Land Acquisition and Habitat Restoration Project" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.662.
- This funding opportunity was created on Feb 03, 2017.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Feb 09, 2017 There is not an application process for this funding opportunity. This is a notice of intent to award a single source cooperative agreement to Ducks Unlimited under justification 505DM 2.14B(4).. (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 $2,228,090.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the Toussaint East and West Land Acquisition and Habitat Restoration Project?
It is a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) Midwest Region cooperative effort with Ducks Unlimited (DU) to acquire and restore key coastal habitat along Lake Erie within the Maumee Area of Concern. The project combines real estate acquisition with habitat restoration and long-term conservation management.
What is the main goal of the project?
The project is designed to (1) protect strategically important land, (2) rebuild coastal wetland and associated habitat functions, and (3) secure long-term management by incorporating the restored lands into the National Wildlife Refuge system as part of the Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge Complex.
Where will the work take place?
The effort focuses on coastal habitat along Lake Erie within the Maumee Area of Concern, near Oak Harbor, Ohio, within the approved acquisition boundary of the Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge Complex.
How much land is involved?
The project targets acquisition of three separate parcels totaling roughly 203 acres.
What will happen to the land after it is acquired and restored?
After restoration is completed, Ducks Unlimited will donate the properties to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The lands will then be managed as part of the Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge Complex.
How does this project relate to the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI)?
The acquisitions and restoration are intended to support GLRI outcomes by restoring native fish and wildlife habitat in the Lake Erie coastal zone and improving coastal wetland and related habitat functions.
What type of federal funding opportunity is this?
This opportunity is a discretionary cooperative agreement under CFDA 15.662.
What is the difference between a cooperative agreement and a standard grant in this announcement?
The announcement indicates that FWS expects substantial, hands-on involvement throughout the project. FWS will participate in planning, approvals, compliance documentation, oversight, and coordination in a way that goes beyond typical grant administration.
Is this a competitive solicitation?
No. It is explicitly described as not competitive and not a solicitation.
Is there an application process for other organizations?
No. The notice states there is no application process because it is a formal notice of intent to make a single-source award to Ducks Unlimited.
Who is expected to receive the award?
The notice identifies Ducks Unlimited (DU) as the intended recipient of the single-source award.
Why is the award being made as a single-source (non-competitive) action?
The stated rationale is that Ducks Unlimited is uniquely positioned to deliver both the real-estate acquisition and the technically complex restoration quickly and effectively within GLRI time constraints. The notice argues that using a different organization could introduce delays, reduce the likelihood of successfully closing land deals, and jeopardize timely restoration delivery.
What specific capabilities does Ducks Unlimited bring that are highlighted in the notice?
The notice points to DU's ability to facilitate land acquisition through its land trust (Wetland America Trust), its in-house engineering and construction management capacity for complex coastal wetland restoration, and an existing relationship with at least one critical landowner due to previous unsuccessful acquisition attempts.
What is the maximum award amount?
The award ceiling listed in the notice is $2,228,090.
How many awards are expected?
The opportunity indicates an expected single award.
What is the opportunity number for this notice?
The opportunity number is F17AS00111.
Which agency is issuing the notice?
The issuing agency is the Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS).
What is the activity category associated with the opportunity?
The activity category is Environment, Natural Resources.
What does the project scope include on the land acquisition side?
The acquisition work focuses on securing specific parcels located within the approved acquisition boundary of the Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge Complex.
What does the project scope include on the habitat restoration side?
The restoration intent is to convert or rehabilitate acquired lands into native habitat types that benefit fish and wildlife in the Lake Erie coastal zone, consistent with GLRI outcomes. The notice signals technically complex restoration that may involve design, permitting, and construction oversight, establishment of native vegetation, and invasive species management during the project timeline.
Does the notice list the exact engineering actions that will be built?
No. It does not provide a detailed list of specific engineering actions, but it indicates the restoration will be technically complex and will require engineering design, permitting, and construction oversight.
What role will the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service play during acquisition?
FWS responsibilities include identifying and approving properties for acquisition within the refuge acquisition boundary, meeting with landowners at all stages to support long-term conservation strategy and community engagement, and conducting Level 1 Environmental Surveys in accordance with FWS policy.
What role will FWS play during restoration planning and implementation?
FWS is expected to develop a habitat restoration plan and coordinate with DU to review, finalize, and implement it. FWS will also review and approve DU engineering designs, permit applications, and key administrative documents, and provide oversight to ensure restoration aligns with federal conservation goals.
What compliance responsibilities are mentioned for FWS?
The notice states that FWS will prepare required environmental compliance documentation under NEPA, NHPA, and ESA, along with other applicable requirements.
Who is responsible for engineering designs and permitting packages?
The notice describes DU as providing major restoration engineering/design capacity and developing designs and permit applications, with FWS reviewing and approving those materials.
Who leads vegetation restoration and how is it overseen?
The notice states that FWS will lead restoration of trees, shrubs, and native grasses, with administrative oversight of contracted restoration services to ensure alignment with FWS conservation goals.
How will invasive species be handled?
FWS is expected to monitor for invasive species and coordinate mapping, control, and monitoring actions with DU during the project timeline.
What is the stated purpose of the public announcement if there is no application process?
The notice functions as transparency documentation for the government’s intent to make a single-source award to Ducks Unlimited under Department of the Interior justification authority 505 DM 2.14B(4).
What are the key posting dates shown in the notice?
The posting indicates it was created on February 3, 2017, with an original closing date of February 9, 2017. The notice also makes clear that despite the presence of a closing date, there is no application process.
How should this opportunity be understood in practical terms?
It is presented as a targeted GLRI implementation action intended to rapidly acquire high-value coastal parcels, restore them to functioning native habitats, and permanently incorporate them into the Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge Complex for long-term management and ecological benefit.
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