[APWG] RFP for Invasive Plant Control (Due June 9, 2006)

[Jil_Swearingen at nps.gov]

Hi,

Please see RFP below and submit proposal electronically to
Diane_Pavek at nps.gov no later than 9 June 2006 COB.
For more information contact Diane Pavek at 202/342-1443 x209.

Thank you,

Jil


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

                           Request for Proposals

    Develop a Volunteer-Based Invasive Plant Control Monitoring Program
                      in the National Capital Region

                             DUE:  9 June 2006

The National Capital Region, National Park Service, is initiating an
Invasive Species Monitoring Program to provide annual information on the
effectiveness of weed control treatments by the Region’s Exotic Plant
Management Team (EPMT).  We are seeking proposals for developing and
testing a monitoring protocol that can be used by citizen scientists.
Citizen science is a partnership between the public and professional
scientists to allow effective, participatory science.  For example, citizen
scientists have been used successfully in regional stream monitoring
efforts, which are a model for this initiative.  Trained volunteers will
gather data across the National Capital Region parks vital to ecological
conservation and restoration.  Preference will be given to proposals
submitted by scientists associated with the Chesapeake Watershed
Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit.

This monitoring program will be volunteer-based.  Citizen scientists will
participate directly in collecting data to assist park managers and
scientists in identifying and determining the extent of infestations and
evaluating the effectiveness of the EPMT’s invasive plant control efforts
and directing where follow up treatments are needed.  This citizen science
volunteer monitoring program will contribute quantitative information
essential to plant and wildlife conservation efforts that is not otherwise
available.  The data collected will enhance public stewardship and provide
a basis for adaptive management in NCR parks.

The successful proposal will address the following:
·      Examine and compare existing invasive plant and related monitoring
protocols that use volunteers and have results relevant to the NCR or the
mid-Atlantic region
·      Create a synthesis of relevant protocols
·      Identify through consultation with NCR the most effective monitoring
program protocol(s) for our purposes
·      Prepare Implementation Plan that
           Develops recruitment methods
           Develops training module that encompasses age-appropriate tasks
           and quality control
           Creates reporting requirements
           Creates a database structure
           Provides methods for measuring success
·      Conduct pilot project that tests protocols and volunteer recruitment
and training
·      Ensure transferability to other conservation groups

Proposal Format
The proposal is not to exceed 5 pages and must include a detailed budget.
Funding level is between $20,000 and $40,000.  (Maximum funding available
is $40,000 total).  Funding is available immediately for no longer than
three years.

Please submit proposal electronically to Diane_Pavek at nps.gov no later than
9 June 2006 COB.
For more information contact Diane Pavek at 202/342-1443 x209.

This project represents collaboration by the Urban Ecology Research
Learning Alliance, Chesapeake Watershed Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit,
and the Exotic Plant Management Team, National Park Service, National
Capital Region.

(See attached file: Invasive Plant Species Monitoring Program RFP.doc)

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