The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Great Lakes National Program Office is offering funding through the Great Lakes Fish Monitoring and Surveillance Program (GLFMSP). This program supports efforts to monitor and assess contaminant concentrations in Great Lakes top-predator fish, improve understanding of contaminant cycling in food webs, and identify emerging chemical threats. A single cooperative agreement of up to $7.2 million is anticipated, covering a six-year project period, with incremental funding of approximately $1.2 million per year. The deadline for applications is March 14, 2025.

Eligible applicants include Indian tribes, state and local governments, nonprofit organizations, and institutions of higher education. Proposals must address program elements, including fish tissue analysis, trend assessments, and emerging chemical surveillance. Specific activities involve analyzing fish tissue for persistent toxic chemicals and emerging threats, maintaining data consistency with historical datasets, and contributing to EPA's reports and the State of the Great Lakes (SOGL) assessments. Applications must include a detailed budget, work plan, and methods for data management and quality assurance.

Key evaluation criteria include the technical approach, data management plans, and collaboration with partners. Applicants must describe plans for sample analysis, data interpretation, and reporting, as well as strategies for identifying new chemical threats. Points are awarded based on the proposal's effectiveness, innovation, and potential to advance understanding of toxic chemical trends in the Great Lakes ecosystem.

Applications must be submitted via Grants.gov, and applicants are required to register with SAM.gov and have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI). EPA will evaluate proposals based on responsiveness to program goals, past performance, and organizational capacity. The selected applicant will work closely with the EPA on project oversight and reporting.

Award notifications are expected in June 2025, with the project beginning in the same year. Recipients will need to submit regular progress reports and comply with federal grant regulations, including quality assurance project plans and data transparency requirements. For additional details and application resources, applicants may contact EPA program officials or visit the program’s website.