F--2008 Request for Initial Proposals for Yukon River Salmon Research and Management Projects.

Funding Opportunity Description The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) receives funds for implementation of the Yukon River Salmon Agreement reached with Canada in March 2001. The Yukon River Salmon Act of 2000 authorizes funds for implementation of the Agreement including funds for cooperative research and management projects on the Yukon River in Alaska. The Service administers these funds through grant agreements, purchase orders, and contracts on a competitive basis for projects/studies that advance the scientific community's understanding of and management of Chinook and chum salmon in the Yukon River in Alaska. This is a call for initial project proposals of one year in length. Successful applicants will be asked to submit detailed proposals. The initial project proposals will be evaluated by the U.S. Section of the Yukon River Panel (Panel). Authors of selected initial proposals will be notified by the Service to submit detailed proposals for final review. The Panel reserves the right to ask questions for clarification and conduct negotiations with promising proposal authors prior to final selection. The Panel reserves the right to eliminate from consideration any proposals whose author does not provide clarification in a timely manner, if and when clarification is sought. Panel recommendations on project selections will be forwarded to the Service for consideration of funding. The Service will then develop and award the financial assistance or contractual documents funding the final proposals that meet all federal requirements and for which funding is available. Currently the source of general funding is appropriated funds directed to the Service. The funds shall be used for cooperative Chinook and chum salmon research and management projects in the portion of the Yukon River drainage located in the United States that are recommended by the Panel after review for scientific and technical merit. (1) Applicant Eligibility, priorities for funding, initial proposal format and required content, submittal instructions, ranking criteria, and a technical point of contact to whom questions should be addressed are available at the website identified in #2. (2) There is no "bidder's list" to get on, nor is there a solicitation package to request. The entire solicitation package containing all submittal requirements may be accessed at this time at the following website: http://alaska.fws.gov/fisheries/fieldoffice/fairbanks/pdf/RFP-RM_2008.pdf (3) The FWS Region 7 Federal Assistance Specialist / Contract Specialist will analyze successful projects to ascertain whether federal funding will be provided through financial assistance awards or procurement instruments in accord with 31 USC 6301-6308. (4) Initial proposals are due no later than 10/12/07 at 11:59 p.m. Alaska Time. (5) There is a "twin posting" of this synopsis on http:www.grants.gov since the resultant awards will consist of procurement awards and financial assistance awards. It is not necessary to submit initial proposals via both venues. Point of Contact for questions concerning this narrative and methodology of evaluation is Gary Goldberg +1 (555) 000-0000.