Request for Proposals

Use the R/V Lake Guardian to Conduct an Educational Course on the Great Lakes

Introduction

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Great Lakes National Program Office (GLNPO), is requesting proposals for use of the R/V Lake Guardian during June or July of 2004, to conduct an educational course on the Great Lakes. Courses should be designed to teach undergraduates, graduate students, or teachers about the physical, chemical, and biological components of the Great Lakes ecosystem. Courses designed specifically for teachers should help them apply Great Lakes science to their curriculum. Students should be trained in both field and laboratory work aboard the vessel, and be eligible to receive academic credit.

Courses should be approximately one week long for 10 to 20 students. The recipient selected would be responsible for designing the course, providing at least two instructors, advertising through appropriate venues, obtaining participation from a sufficient number of students and performing other administrative functions associated with the course.

Special preference will be given to institutions that can attract a diverse pool of students, from across the Great Lakes basin, and that can maintain a uniform fee for tuition, for all students regardless of their academic affiliation. GLNPO would provide the ship time as well as two environmental scientists.

The estimated value of ship time for a week-long course is approximately $70,000. The R/V Lake Guardian is 180-ft long, and can accommodate approximately 20 students, 4 instructors (including EPA), and the crew. Room will be supplied by GLNPO, with a twenty dollar fee charged daily to each student for meals, and coffee.

Selection Criteria

Proposals received will be judged according to the following criteria:

1. Qualifications of professors (30%)
2. Quality of the course syllabus (30%)
3. Affordability and uniform tuition and fees, for all students regardless of their academic affiliation. (20%)
4. Ability to attract a sufficient number of students from a diverse pool across the Great Lakes Region. (10%)
5. Projected benefits to Great Lakes conservation, outreach, and/or research as a result of the course (e.g. training graduate students (future researchers) about the ecology of the Great Lakes, proposed research to accompany course, training teachers who will then incorporate Great Lakes issues in their classroom, public web pages, publications etc.) (10%)

Eligibility

All academic institutions in the Great Lakes area are eligible to apply. Preferential treatment will be given to institutions that can attract a sufficient number of students from a diverse pool while charging the same program fee regardless of academic affiliation.

Proposals (2 copies) should be submitted to:

Paul Horvatin
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Great Lakes National Program Office (G-17J)
77 West Jackson Blvd.
Chicago, IL 60604-3590
or e-mailed to Horvatin.Paul@epa.gov

• Proposals are due at the above address by close of business December 12, 2003.
• Proposals should not exceed 10 pages in length and will be evaluated against the above criteria.
• Applicants seeking additional information may contact David Rockwell at (312) 353-1373 or via e-mail at rockwell.david@epa.gov

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