Constant Fractional Marking (CFM) Assistance at Coleman and Nimbus Hatcheries | BOR CGB 20 N009

Opportunity Information: Apply for BOR CGB 20 N009

The "Constant Fractional Marking (CFM) Assistance at Coleman and Nimbus Hatcheries" opportunity is a discretionary grant action by the Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation, focused on improving how Central Valley Chinook salmon are monitored and managed. The grant is tied to fisheries and ecosystem management work in California, specifically supporting marking and evaluation activities associated with two major hatchery programs: Coleman National Fish Hatchery and Nimbus Fish Hatchery. The project sits within an environmental funding activity area and is connected to CFDA 15.512, with legal authority cited from Public Law 102-575 (particularly Sections 3406(b)(1) and 3407(e)), which are provisions associated with Central Valley Project improvements and fish and wildlife restoration efforts.

Financially, the agreement has an estimated total federal amount of $899,999, with Reclamation providing $896,269 in Fiscal Year 2020. The announcement indicates an expectation of a single award. While the listing shows "Eligible Applicants: State governments," the notice makes clear that Reclamation specifically intends to issue this grant agreement to the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission (PSMFC). In practical terms, this is a targeted, non-competitive action rather than an open call for applications.

The core purpose of the project is to generate better data on where salmon come from, how hatchery practices interact with wild fish, and how fisheries and restoration actions affect population outcomes. The work is designed to evaluate the contribution rates of hatchery-produced versus naturally produced fish to Central Valley Chinook salmon populations and to common property fisheries, meaning it helps quantify how much hatchery fish and wild fish each contribute to the runs that support commercial, recreational, and other public fisheries. Another major objective is to monitor and evaluate genetic and ecological effects of hatchery programs on natural populations, which typically includes tracking issues like genetic introgression, changes in life history traits, competition, and other interactions that can influence the health and resilience of naturally spawning salmon.

In addition, the grant supports evaluating whether restoration actions intended to increase natural production are actually working. This generally involves linking habitat or operational changes to measurable outcomes in natural-origin fish numbers, survival, and return rates. The project also aims to estimate exploitation rates in ocean and inland fisheries, which is the share of the population removed by fishing across different areas and seasons. That information is central to setting harvest policies that protect vulnerable stocks while allowing sustainable fishing opportunities. Finally, the project includes evaluating the impacts of straying on natural populations, referring to hatchery fish returning to spawn in non-target rivers or natural spawning areas, which can affect local adaptation and natural population structure.

Administratively, this notice is explicitly a Notice of Intent to Award (Funding Opportunity Number BOR-CGB-20-N009), and it states that it is not a request for competitive proposals. The government is relying on an internal exception under Departmental Manual 505 DM 2, paragraph 2.14(B)(4), and it emphasizes that the determination not to compete the assistance is solely at the government’s discretion. The posting dates show a creation date of April 10, 2020, and an original closing date of April 23, 2020, which functions more like an informational window for the public record than a competitive application deadline. For questions, the point of contact listed is Christina Munoz, Grants Management Specialist, reachable at cmunoz@usbr.gov, and the notice directs readers to the referenced announcement (BOR-CGB-20-N009) for additional detail.

• The Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation in the environment sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Constant Fractional Marking (CFM) Assistance at Coleman and Nimbus Hatcheries" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.512.
• This funding opportunity was created on Apr 10, 2020.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Apr 23, 2020. (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 $899,999.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: State governments.

Apply for BOR CGB 20 N009

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