Matagorda Ship Channel Improvement Project-Environmental Natural Resource Technical Support | W9126G 22 2 SOI 6092

Opportunity Information: Apply for W9126G 22 2 SOI 6092

The Matagorda Ship Channel Improvement Project - Environmental Natural Resource Technical Support opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number W9126G 22 2 SOI 6092) is a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) effort, issued through the Department of Defense (Fort Worth District) to identify a qualified investigator team to conduct pre-construction oyster surveys in and around the Matagorda Ship Channel project area near Port Lavaca, Texas. The work supports USACE Galveston District environmental compliance needs tied to its Civil Works mission. This notice is a Request for Statements of Interest (RSOI), meaning the government is not asking for a full technical proposal or budget yet; instead, it is screening for qualified parties and expects to invite a full proposal from the most suitable respondents. One cooperative agreement award is anticipated, with up to approximately $917,000 available depending on funds.

The need for the work comes directly from the project planning and regulatory record. The Matagorda Ship Channel Improvement Project was authorized by the Water Resources Development Act of 2020, and the Final Environmental Impact Statement completed in 2019 requires preconstruction oyster surveys. These surveys are meant to resolve remaining details needed to finalize oyster mitigation requirements. In practical terms, USACE needs defensible field data to (1) quantify unavoidable impacts to oyster resources from construction and (2) identify mitigation location(s) that have appropriate environmental conditions and enough suitable area to offset those impacts through oyster reef propagation or restoration.

The anticipated scope centers on a combination of acoustic mapping, substrate characterization, and hands-on verification of suspected hard-bottom habitat. Survey positioning must use high-accuracy GPS methods (DGPS or RTK) capable of sub-meter accuracy. Acoustic data collection includes high-resolution side scan sonar (single or dual frequency systems in the 255/400/900 kHz range) to detect hard bottom, with ground-truthing through grab samples. In addition, a sub-bottom profiler is required to characterize sediment layers to about 25 feet deep; these profiles must be tied to the GPS track and interpreted to distinguish soft sediments from surface shell and to mark where those conditions begin and end along transects. The work also requires a bathymetric survey covering the entire project footprint plus a 500-foot radius buffer around the project area.

A major deliverable is verification and biological characterization of hard-bottom targets. Hard-bottom areas identified through sonar must be validated using physical sampling at a density of one 0.25-square-meter quadrat per acre of hard bottom, with quadrat locations spaced at least 150 feet apart. USACE expresses a preference for diver-collected quadrats (with hydraulic patent tongs allowed if comparable to the 0.25-square-meter sample size). For each quadrat sample brought to the surface, both live oysters and dead shell must be counted and measured, with lengths recorded in 5 mm increments and summarized into size classes: spat (0 to 40 mm, roughly 0 to 1.5 inches), submarket/juvenile (41 to 75 mm, roughly 1.5 to 2.9 inches), and market size (76 mm and above, roughly 3 inches and up). The survey results must be used to estimate live and dead oyster density per acre for each hard-bottom target within both the project area and the 500-foot buffer, supporting an accounting of viable oyster habitat that would be impacted versus avoided.

Beyond mapping and counts, the government is looking for analysis that directly informs mitigation planning. The selected team is expected to use the survey outputs to quantify project impacts to oyster reefs and apply ecological modeling approaches to help identify potential mitigation areas that are conducive to successful oyster reef propagation. This implies the end product is not just raw data, but a clear, technically supported recommendation set about where mitigation could work and why, based on substrate, depth/bathymetry, and observed oyster/hard-bottom conditions.

Reporting and data management requirements are detailed and GIS-heavy. The final package must include a written report documenting procedures and field data, with a results section summarizing project impacts and characterizing suitable mitigation sites. The recipient must provide geo-referenced maps that overlay collected data with the project footprint, plus a table listing the coordinates of all hard-bottom targets in decimal degrees referenced to NAD83. The opportunity also calls for ESRI-compatible shapefiles (ArcView 9.0 compatible) for mapped bottom types and for bathymetric contours, along with bathymetry figures. The principal investigator may also be asked to participate in two to three one-hour resource agency meetings, likely virtual, to discuss methods, findings, and implications for mitigation.

In terms of who should respond, eligibility is listed as unrestricted (open to any applicant type, subject to any clarifications in the announcement). However, selection preference is clearly tied to demonstrated, relevant field capability and Gulf Coast experience. USACE indicates it will favor statements of interest that show field technicians with at least five years of experience in oyster surveys, substrate characterization, and evaluation of oyster reef restoration projects on the Gulf Coast. It also places weight on having a principal investigator who can turn field results into a cohesive, decision-ready technical product, including methods, results, statistical analysis, and management recommendations. For the verification component, proposed use of divers is preferred over reliance on hydraulic patent tongs.

The expected period of performance is 12 months from award with no option periods. The RSOI was posted on Grants.gov for a 15-day window, with statements due by 5:00 PM Central Time on November 5, 2021. Questions and responses were directed to Sandy K. Justman, Contract Specialist (sandra.justman@usace.army.mil, 817-886-1073) and Greg Bonnell at the Regional Planning and Environmental Center (Gregory.W.Bonnell@usace.army.mil, 918-951-0591).

• The Department of Defense, Fort Worth District in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Matagorda Ship Channel Improvement Project-Environmental Natural Resource Technical Support" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 12.010.
• This funding opportunity was created on Oct 21, 2021.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Nov 05, 2021. (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 $917,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility.

Apply for W9126G 22 2 SOI 6092

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