Opportunity Information: Apply for BOR UC 18 N019
The grant opportunity titled "Development of High-Throughput Markers for Rio Grande Silvery Minnow" (Funding Opportunity Number BOR UC 18 N019) is a discretionary funding announcement from the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation, focused on improving genetic monitoring tools for the endangered Rio Grande silvery minnow (RGSM). For nearly two decades, the RGSM genetics program has relied on a relatively small set of markers, specifically nine microsatellite loci plus the mitochondrial ND4 gene, to calculate genetic diversity metrics and inform management decisions. While that legacy approach has supported long-running monitoring since 1999, the opportunity is built around the need to modernize and expand the genetic toolkit so managers can meet current regulatory and scientific expectations.
A central driver behind the funding is compliance with the 2016 Final Biological and Conference Opinion covering Bureau of Reclamation, Bureau of Indian Affairs, and non-federal water management and maintenance activities in the Middle Rio Grande in New Mexico. That opinion explicitly requires ongoing genetic monitoring of the silvery minnow, and the Bureau of Reclamation is positioning high-throughput genetic markers as a way to satisfy that requirement more robustly. The project is also framed as a direct response to recommendations made by a Peer Review Panel that evaluated the RGSM genetic monitoring program in 2016, signaling that the agency wants an updated approach that reflects current best practices in conservation genetics rather than continued reliance on a small marker set.
The technical goal of the project is to develop a Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) panel using Restriction Site-Associated DNA Sequencing (RAD-seq). In practice, this means generating a much larger and more informative set of genetic markers distributed across the genome, which can improve the resolution and reliability of key population genetic analyses. Compared with microsatellites and a single mitochondrial gene region, a well-designed SNP panel can support more detailed and consistent estimates of genetic diversity through time and across locations, which is especially important for an endangered species managed through a mix of in-river (in situ) and captive or hatchery-associated (ex situ) actions.
The opportunity lays out three main objectives. First, the funded team is expected to produce a SNP panel with enough loci to support monitoring of spatiotemporal genetic diversity, estimation of effective population size, detection of population structure, and evaluation of relatedness within and among populations. This is meant to strengthen management decisions that depend on understanding how genetic variation is changing, whether genetic drift or bottlenecks are occurring, whether there are meaningful subgroups or differences among managed components, and how closely related individuals may be within breeding or supplementation programs. Second, the project must develop sex-specific genetic markers so that sex can be determined genetically, which can be useful when field identification is difficult, when working with early life stages, or when improving hatchery management and demographic modeling. Third, the award requires a strong reporting and coordination component, including submission of a draft study plan, delivery of oral presentations, and preparation of draft and final reports for agency review and approval, emphasizing that the work must be transparent, trackable, and aligned with agency needs throughout the project period.
The principal place of performance is identified as the University of New Mexico, and eligibility is limited to public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, indicating the award is structured to be carried out by an academic partner with the laboratory and analytical capacity to conduct RAD-seq development and downstream panel design. The funding listing indicates an award ceiling of $346,728, with one expected award, suggesting a single-institution or lead-institution effort rather than a large multi-award program. The opportunity falls under CFDA 15.517 and is categorized under Natural Resources, reflecting its conservation and species management purpose. The original posting timeline shows a creation date of September 5, 2018 and an original closing date of September 19, 2018, indicating it was a short application window aimed at moving quickly toward tool development that can be integrated into ongoing monitoring requirements.
Overall, the grant is essentially a targeted investment in upgrading the genetic monitoring infrastructure for an endangered fish in the Middle Rio Grande. By transitioning from a small traditional marker set to a validated high-throughput SNP panel and adding genetic sexing capability, the project is designed to deliver more actionable, higher-resolution information for conservation planning and compliance-driven monitoring, while also producing the formal plans and reports needed for agency oversight and adoption into the established RGSM monitoring program.Apply for BOR UC 18 N019
- The Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Development of High-Throughput Markers for Rio Grande Silvery Minnow" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.517.
- This funding opportunity was created on Sep 05, 2018.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Sep 19, 2018. (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 $346,728.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the title and funding opportunity number for this grant?
The opportunity is titled "Development of High-Throughput Markers for Rio Grande Silvery Minnow" and the Funding Opportunity Number is BOR UC 18 N019.
Which federal agency is offering this funding?
This is a discretionary funding announcement from the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation.
What is the grant trying to accomplish overall?
The project is intended to modernize and expand the genetic monitoring toolkit used for the endangered Rio Grande silvery minnow (RGSM). Specifically, it aims to replace or substantially augment a long-used, relatively small marker set with high-throughput genetic markers that can support more robust, higher-resolution monitoring and management decisions.
Why is there a need to upgrade the existing genetics approach?
For nearly two decades (since 1999), the RGSM genetics program has relied on nine microsatellite loci plus the mitochondrial ND4 gene. While that approach has enabled long-running monitoring, the grant is driven by the need to update methods to meet current scientific expectations and regulatory needs, including recommendations from a 2016 Peer Review Panel.
What regulatory or compliance driver is tied to this work?
The opportunity is framed around compliance with the 2016 Final Biological and Conference Opinion covering Bureau of Reclamation, Bureau of Indian Affairs, and non-federal water management and maintenance activities in the Middle Rio Grande in New Mexico. That opinion explicitly requires ongoing genetic monitoring of the silvery minnow.
What type of genetic markers will be developed under this grant?
The project is expected to develop a Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) panel using Restriction Site-Associated DNA Sequencing (RAD-seq).
How is a SNP panel different from the legacy marker set mentioned?
The legacy approach uses nine microsatellite loci plus a single mitochondrial gene region (ND4). In contrast, a SNP panel developed via RAD-seq is intended to provide a much larger set of genetic markers distributed across the genome, enabling more informative and consistent population genetic analyses.
What are the main objectives listed for the project?
The opportunity identifies three main objectives: (1) develop a SNP panel with enough loci to support multiple genetic monitoring and analysis needs; (2) develop sex-specific genetic markers to allow genetic determination of sex; and (3) deliver required planning, reporting, and coordination outputs (including a draft study plan, oral presentations, and draft/final reports for agency review and approval).
What kinds of analyses should the SNP panel support?
The SNP panel is expected to support monitoring of spatiotemporal genetic diversity, estimation of effective population size, detection of population structure, and evaluation of relatedness within and among populations.
What management questions is the SNP panel intended to help answer?
Based on the stated objectives, the SNP panel is intended to improve decision-making by providing stronger information about how genetic variation changes over time and across locations, whether genetic drift or bottlenecks may be occurring, whether meaningful population structure exists among managed components, and how related individuals may be within breeding or supplementation contexts.
Why does the grant include development of sex-specific genetic markers?
The opportunity calls for sex-specific genetic markers so sex can be determined genetically. This can be useful when field identification is difficult, when working with early life stages, and when improving hatchery management and demographic modeling.
What species is the focus of this grant?
The project focuses on the endangered Rio Grande silvery minnow (RGSM).
Where is the geographic and program context for this work?
The work is tied to conservation and water-management activities in the Middle Rio Grande in New Mexico, and it is positioned to support ongoing genetic monitoring requirements for the RGSM in that setting.
What is the principal place of performance?
The principal place of performance is identified as the University of New Mexico.
Who is eligible to apply for this funding?
Eligibility is limited to public and state-controlled institutions of higher education.
How much funding is available and what is the award ceiling?
The listing indicates an award ceiling of $346,728.
How many awards are expected?
The opportunity indicates one expected award.
Is this a competitive multi-award program or a single targeted award?
Based on the information provided (one expected award and a defined place of performance), it is structured as a targeted, single-award effort rather than a broad multi-award program.
What program area or category does this opportunity fall under?
The opportunity is categorized under Natural Resources, reflecting its focus on conservation and species management.
What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity falls under CFDA 15.517.
What deliverables and reporting are required?
The opportunity emphasizes coordination and transparency and requires submission of a draft study plan, delivery of oral presentations, and preparation of draft and final reports for agency review and approval.
How does this project relate to long-term monitoring of the species?
The project is described as an upgrade to the genetic monitoring infrastructure that has been in place since 1999, with the intent that the new SNP panel and genetic sexing capability can be integrated into ongoing monitoring and management activities.
What were the original posting and closing dates shown for this opportunity?
The original timeline shows a creation date of September 5, 2018 and an original closing date of September 19, 2018.
What does the short application window suggest about the agency intent?
Based on the dates provided, the opportunity had a short application window, which aligns with a goal of moving quickly toward developing tools that can be incorporated into ongoing, compliance-driven monitoring needs.
Does the opportunity mention both in-river and captive management contexts?
Yes. The description notes that the improved marker set is especially important for an endangered species managed through a mix of in-river (in situ) and captive or hatchery-associated (ex situ) actions.
What is the core technical method named for developing the SNP panel?
The opportunity specifies Restriction Site-Associated DNA Sequencing (RAD-seq) as the method for developing the SNP panel.
How is peer review connected to this funding?
The opportunity is described as a direct response to recommendations made by a Peer Review Panel that evaluated the RGSM genetic monitoring program in 2016, indicating the agency is seeking an updated approach aligned with current best practices.
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