The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), through its Great Lakes National Program Office (GLNPO), is offering a funding opportunity under the Great Lakes Fish Monitoring and Surveillance Program (GLFMSP) to fulfill statutory requirements under the Clean Water Act, Section 118. This initiative aims to monitor and assess contaminant concentrations in top-predator fish across the Great Lakes, improving understanding of pollutant trends, emerging chemical threats, and food web contaminant cycling. The program seeks eligible applicants capable of performing high-quality chemical analysis on fish tissue samples collected from 2025 to 2029.

Up to $7.2 million in funding is available under this cooperative agreement, with an anticipated project period of approximately six years. The funding will be distributed in increments of approximately $1.2 million per year, subject to the availability of appropriations and the performance of the selected recipient. The successful applicant must analyze homogenized fish tissue from all designated GLFMSP sampling stations and assess persistent toxic chemicals, including polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), pesticides, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), and other contaminants. A pilot study on short-chain chlorinated paraffins (SCCPs) is also required.

Eligible applicants include state and local governments, federally recognized Indian tribes, institutions of higher education, and nonprofit organizations. Individuals, for-profit organizations, and federal agencies are not eligible. Applications must propose a comprehensive data management and quality assurance plan, ensure continuity with historical data sets, and demonstrate a strong ability to perform required chemical analyses. Additionally, proposals should describe plans for reporting results through peer-reviewed publications, conferences, and EPA reports.

Applications must be submitted through Grants.gov by April 11, 2025, at 11:59 PM ET (10:59 PM CT). The anticipated selection notification will be in June 2025, with an expected start date of June 1, 2025, and an end date no later than November 30, 2031. The project narrative, budget details, and required forms, including SF-424 and SF-424A, must be completed as part of the submission.

Evaluation criteria include the technical approach, programmatic capability, data analysis plans, collaboration with stakeholders, and compliance with quality assurance requirements. Proposals will also be assessed on their ability to support the EPA’s Strategic Plan (Goal 5, Objective 5.2) and the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative’s (GLRI) action plan. The EPA reserves the right to partially fund projects or make additional awards if funding becomes available.

For further details, applicants can contact Brian Lenell for technical inquiries and Victoria Raymond for administrative or eligibility questions at GLRI-RFA@epa.gov.