Research and Development for European Frogbit Herbicide Control | W81EWF 24 SOI 0035

Opportunity Information: Apply for W81EWF 24 SOI 0035

This grant opportunity, titled "Research and Development for European Frogbit Herbicide Control" (Funding Opportunity Number W81EWF 24 SOI 0035), is a discretionary cooperative agreement offered by the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) under CFDA 12.630 in the Science and Technology/Research and Development category. The purpose is to generate practical, operations-ready evidence on how to chemically manage European frogbit, an invasive aquatic plant, and to turn that evidence into clear herbicide management guidance. The agreement is structured to support up to three unique, stand-alone projects carried out over a three-year period, with the expectation that three projects total will be completed during that time.

The work is organized around three main objectives that move from controlled testing to real-world validation and, finally, to guidance development. Under Objective 1, the selected investigator is expected to collaborate directly with ERDC researchers to design laboratory and/or mesocosm studies, develop the necessary experimental protocols, and run experiments that measure herbicide efficacy for operational chemical management of European frogbit. This objective emphasizes establishing defensible methods and generating controlled results that can inform field-scale decisions. Any permits needed for collecting plant material or running lab/mesocosm work must be secured before those activities begin, placing responsibility on the project team to ensure regulatory compliance early in the process.

Objective 2 shifts from controlled environments into broader evaluation using mesocosm and field data, specifically comparing chemical control outcomes at managed versus non-managed European frogbit sites. The opportunity calls for data that can demonstrate effectiveness in practical settings, including measures such as percent change in plant abundance after treatment, changes in biomass, and impacts on turion production (a key reproductive/overwintering structure that can influence reinfestation and long-term control). A key element is the comparative design: results should be analyzed in a way that distinguishes treated sites from untreated or otherwise non-managed reference sites so the effectiveness of management actions can be quantified. As with Objective 1, the announcement highlights that any needed permits must be obtained before mesocosm or field data collection begins.

Objective 3 focuses on translating the research into usable management direction. The investigator is expected to develop herbicide management guidance based on the most up-to-date frogbit management research, incorporating the findings generated under the earlier objectives as well as relevant current science. All collected and analyzed data are to be compiled into a report written in a peer-review publication format, signaling that ERDC is looking for a product that is both scientifically rigorous and structured like a manuscript, even if it is delivered as a report. The cooperative agreement also includes a strong progress-reporting requirement: status updates and draft reports must be submitted quarterly for ERDC review, which implies ongoing coordination, iterative feedback, and course correction throughout the project period.

In terms of eligibility and administrative constraints, the opportunity is restricted to non-federal partners within the Great Lakes-Northern Forest Cooperative Ecosystems Studies Unit (CESU), meaning only organizations that qualify under that CESU partnership framework can apply. The notice also stresses the importance of disclosures of current and pending support: what an applicant reports may affect eligibility for funding, and ERDC may request updated disclosures both before award and during the period of performance. Those updates will be reviewed and could lead to discontinuation of funding, so applicants need to treat support reporting as a continuing compliance obligation rather than a one-time submission. The announcement also notes that religious organizations may compete on equal footing with secular organizations for federal financial assistance, consistent with Executive Order 13798.

Key funding details included in the posting are an award ceiling of $100,000, an expectation of one award, and an original closing date of 2024-09-06. Overall, the opportunity is aimed at producing applied, decision-ready science: first establishing herbicide efficacy under controlled conditions, then confirming performance and outcomes in managed field contexts relative to non-managed sites, and finally packaging the results into clear guidance and a publication-style report suitable for review and practical adoption.

• The Engineer Research and Development Center in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Research and Development for European Frogbit Herbicide Control" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 12.630.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2024-07-19.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-09-06. (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 $100,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others.

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