Request for Proposals

The submission period for full proposals for the Forage Base Component, the Lower Trophic Level and Physical Oceanography Component and the Ecosystem Modeling Component ended October 12.

Each component will be competed separately. Proposals will be evaluated on the basis of meritorious science and how well they contribute to the integrated GOA program. The Board will make its funding decision on this component in January 2010.

Implementation

Implementation of the GOA IERP is structured around four separately competed components which will link together to form a fully integrated ecosystem study in the Gulf of Alaska.  The Upper Trophic Level (UTL) component was selected in May 2009:

• Upper Trophic Level (UTL): The overall goal of this component focuses on identifying and quantifying the major ecosystem processes that regulate recruitment strength of key groundfish species (arrowtooth flounder, Pacific cod, Pacific ocean perch, sablefish, and walleye pollock) in the GOA. The focus is on a functional group of five predatory fish species that are commercially important and account for most of the predatory fish biomass in the GOA. Taken together they encompass a range of life history strategies and geographic distributions that provide contrast to explore regional ecosystem processes. Read full UTL funded project

The remaining three components are being competed separately and integrated in a post-proposal selection process to ensure achievement of a fully vertical trophic understanding.

• Forage Base: To focus on forage base and resources which influence the productivity of the top level predator(s) chosen. The type, quality and quantity of food, and its timing and location, are critical to understanding higher trophic level responses. 
  
  
• Lower Trophic Level and Physical Oceanography: To focus on biological and physical oceanographic parameters on which this portion of the ecosystem is based. This includes euphausiids, fish eggs, and larval fishes.
  
  
• Ecosystem Modeling: To describe and predict the responses (and variability therein) of this portion of the GOA ecosystem to environmental and anthropogenic processes, including climate change.

Download Implementation Plan

Funding and Timeline

Eight million dollars are available for this IERP. This figure includes data and program management, as well as education and outreach. $500K is reserved for program management; $200K is reserved for outreach. The remaining $7.3M will be distributed as follows:

• Upper Trophic Level Component: $2.8M
• Forage Base Component: $1.75M (new amount)
• Lower Trophic Level and Physical Oceanography Component: $1.75M (new amount)
• Ecosystem Modeling Component: $1M

Note: Funding amounts have been amended to reflect discussions held during the July 17 meeting.

Timeline

• Early June 2009 – RFP for full proposals for Forage base, Lower Trophic Level & Ecosystem Modeling Components
• July 17 - Online meeting #1 with Upper Trophic Level Component PIs
• Late August - Online submission for proposals for remaining three components begins
• September 2 - Online meeting #2 with Upper Trophic Level Component PIs
• October 12 – Submission Deadline for Full Proposals to Forage base, Lower Trophic Level & Ecosystem Modeling Components
• January 2010 – NPRB funding decision on complete GOA IERP Program
• February 2010 – Notification to PIs