Request for Proposals
Trophic Status of Lake Erie
The U.S. EPA, Great Lakes National Program Office (GLNPO) is issuing
this request for proposals (rfp) to address specific research areas
dealing with the trophic status of Lake Erie, and recurring summer
hypoxia in Lake Erie’s central basin.
Both Canadian and U.S. EPA, GLNPO long term monitoring programs have
detected a trend of increasing total phosphorus concentration in the
western and central basins of Lake Erie since 1990. Also, the area and
extent of late-summer hypoxia in the central basin has not diminished
over this time period, even though phosphorus loads from rivers entering
Lake Erie have not risen during those years. Internal phosphorus cycling
and remobilization appear to be playing major roles in this trend. A
program to investigate the mechanisms and extent of internal phosphorus
loading in support of modeling will be addressed through this rfp.
We are soliciting proposals in two areas of research:
The first research area is benthic processes as they relate to
phosphorus release and oxygen utilization. This should include, as a
minimum, analysis of processes and rates of phosphorus resuspension,
remineralization, and bioavailability as influenced by zebra mussel
colonization. Additional work is desirable to identify the linkages
between phosphorus cycling and the rate of dissolved oxygen depletion in
the central basin. This research might include, for example,
measurements of sediment oxygen demand, release and bioavailability of
phosphorus, and sediment characterization.
The second area of research is an inventory of biological
resources, particularly a quantitative assessment of lakewide zebra
mussel and round goby populations and distributions.
These areas were selected to support Lake Erie modeling efforts,
including eutrophication modeling. To obtain maximum benefit from the
projects, proposals would, ideally, be submitted by a group of
cooperators or a consortium. Funding will be in the form of a
cooperative agreement.
The principal investigators (PIs) in these cooperative agreements
will work directly with a GLNPO Project Officer throughout the project.
Included in the agreements, the PIs will have use of the R/V Lake
Guardian for sampling activities.
The PIs will be required to submit all data in the LMMB approved
electronic format. The GLNPO Project Officer will supply details.
The PIs must submit a draft final report to the GLNPO Project Officer
3 months prior to the end of the project period.
GLNPO scientists will review proposals in-house. The ranking process
will be made available upon request. Proposals will be evaluated
according to these criteria:
A. (25%) Qualifications of the principal investigator(s) and
staff. This will stress demonstrated expertise of the PIs in the
proposed area of research.
B. (25%) Soundness of scientific approach and experimental design
for the proposed research.
C. (15%) Availability of adequate facilities and equipment.
D. (15%) Reasonable budgetary justification for the project.
E. (10%) Evidence of coordination/collaboration
F. (10%) Reasonable work schedule and time table.
Eligibility
Assistance (cooperative agreements, and interagency
agreements) is available pursuant to Clean water Act Section 104(b)(3)
for activities in the Great Lakes Basin and in support of the Great
Lakes Quality Agreement. State pollution control agencies, federal
agencies, interstate agencies, other public or nonprofit private
agencies, institutions, organizations, and individuals are eligible;
"for-profit" organizations are not.
The deadline for receipt of proposals is February 22, 2002. All
proposals will be reviewed, and the successful applicant notified as
soon as possible.
Proposals (5 copies) should be submitted to:
Glenn Warren
Great Lakes National Program Office (G-17J)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
77 W. Jackson Blvd.
Chicago, IL 60604-3590
Proposals should not exceed 20 pages in length and will be evaluated
against the above criteria. Applicants seeking additional information
regarding the project may contact Glenn Warren (312-886-2405,
warren.glenn@epa.gov) or Paul Bertram (312-353-0153, bertram.paul@epa.gov)
at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Great Lakes National
Program Office.
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