Wading Bird Response to Ecosystem Restoration in Southwest Florida

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Fort Worth District is seeking Statements of Interest from eligible Cooperative Ecosystem Study Units (CESU) to conduct a 12‑month base‑year cooperative agreement (with up to four additional 12‑month extensions) that monitors and analyzes wading‑bird responses to the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP) in Southwest Florida. The effort will involve aerial and ground surveys, data analysis, reporting, and participation in regional RECOVER meetings, with optional tasks for performance‑measure development and expanded survey coverage. Funding for the base year is approximately $250 K, with a ceiling of $1.96 M for follow‑on work. • Eligible applicants: CESU members in Gulf Coast, Piedmont‑South Atlantic, or South Florida‑Caribbean regions. • Deliverables: work plans, quarterly status reports, annual reports, final report, data sets, and optional performance‑measure documentation. • Mandatory tasks: project initiation, wading‑bird surveys, data analysis/reporting, RECOVER team participation. • Optional tasks: performance‑measure development (up to 24 months) and expanded survey scope (12 months). • Required qualifications: expertise in Everglades ecosystem, wading‑bird ecology, hydrology, and prior monitoring experience. • Timeline: Questions due 9/14/2026; SOI due 10/5/2026 (2 PM CT); award expected FY 27; base period 12 months from award, possible extensions.