Collier County Coastal Storm Risk Management Feasibility Study for Hydrodynamic Modeling and Initial Water Quality Evaluations | W81EWF 20 SOI 0008

Opportunity Information: Apply for W81EWF 20 SOI 0008

This grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number W81EWF 20 SOI 0008) comes from the Department of Defense, Department of the Army, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and supports a specific technical need within a larger Coastal Storm Risk Management (CSRM) Feasibility Study underway in Collier County, Florida. Collier County is working with the USACE Norfolk District to determine whether there is federal interest in, and technical and economic feasibility for, a set of projects aimed at reducing coastal flood risk. Because of the scale and potential effects of the proposed flood risk reduction measures, the feasibility phase requires compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and is expected to be supported by a full Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). The requested work is a key part of that FS/EIS process: modeling and initial evaluation of how proposed storm protection alternatives could change tidal circulation and water quality in the county's nearshore waters, tidal rivers, streams, and embayments, including areas around Naples and Marco Island.

At its core, the opportunity seeks an experienced team to build or apply hydrodynamic and related water quality modeling tools to predict changes in circulation, flushing, and transport processes under various engineering alternatives the USACE is considering. The main purpose is decision support: the modeling results are intended to help determine whether any alternative is likely to cause significant impacts to tidal exchange or water quality, how large those impacts might be, and whether mitigation measures could reduce them. In practical terms, this means producing defensible, well-documented simulations that can be used directly in the feasibility study's environmental analyses and in comparing alternatives during planning and design.

The anticipated work is organized into several objectives. One objective is active participation in developing the FS/EIS components, meaning the awardee is expected to coordinate with the broader study team so the modeling addresses the right questions, uses appropriate scenarios, and aligns with NEPA documentation needs. Another objective is to compile and synthesize existing data and relevant literature that will support the modeling effort, which typically includes prior studies, monitoring records, bathymetry and topography, tides and currents, freshwater inflows, meteorological forcing, boundary conditions, and any existing water quality datasets that can inform calibration, validation, and interpretation. The technical centerpiece involves hydrodynamic modeling of Collier County nearshore waters in a way that is stable and efficient enough to simulate the key physical processes, followed by analysis focused on circulation patterns, residence time or flushing behavior, and transport of conservative constituents (often used as tracers to understand mixing and exchange without adding the complexity of reactive chemistry).

The modeling is intended to evaluate a range of proposed flood risk reduction measures, which include both nature-based and structural features. Examples listed in the announcement include beach nourishment and dune restoration along much of the county shoreline; flood gates and associated floodwalls at Bonita Beach Road and along Seagate Drive; tide gates with pump stations and structural tie-ins to land at Doctors Pass and Wiggins Pass; and a floodwall along a substantial portion of Tamiami Trail with a flood gate on the Gordon River. Because several of these measures could affect inlets, passes, and hydraulic connections between the Gulf, bays, and tidal rivers, the USACE is seeking modeling support that can credibly assess potential knock-on effects like altered tidal prisms, changed current speeds, modified salinity distribution, and any associated implications for water quality and ecosystem conditions.

The announcement makes clear that the intended applicant is not a generalist. Successful candidates are expected to have expert knowledge and direct work experience in coastal Florida waters, along with a strong track record in hydrodynamic modeling (preferably on the Florida coast) and enough water quality modeling experience to evaluate how storm protection infrastructure could influence key parameters. In addition to the technical work, the deliverables emphasize reporting and transparency: the awardee must provide one draft report and one final report for each year the project is monitored. There is also an explicit expectation that results will be prepared for publication in a peer-reviewed scientific journal, with the goal of broader dissemination to practitioners in restoration and coastal management, which signals a preference for methods and documentation that can withstand both regulatory review and scientific scrutiny.

Administratively, this is a discretionary funding opportunity using a cooperative agreement, which typically implies substantial involvement or collaboration with the federal sponsor during execution. The listing indicates a single expected award with an award ceiling of $250,000. The CFDA number is 12.630, and eligibility is described broadly as "Others" with further clarification expected in the full eligibility text of the posting. The opportunity was created April 2, 2020, with an original closing date of May 22, 2020. Overall, the grant is best understood as targeted support for the hydrodynamic and initial water quality impact analysis needed to compare coastal flood risk management alternatives in Collier County, and to provide the technical foundation for NEPA/EIS decision-making.

• The Department of Defense, Dept. of the Army -- Corps of Engineers in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Collier County Coastal Storm Risk Management Feasibility Study for Hydrodynamic Modeling and Initial Water Quality Evaluations" 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 Apr 02, 2020.
• Applicants must submit their applications by May 22, 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 $250,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

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