Opportunity Information: Apply for M22AS00298
AT-20-02C is a Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) cooperative agreement opportunity (CFDA 15.423) tied to the Atlantic Marine Assessment Program for Protected Species (AMAPPS), a long-running partnership effort that also involves the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and leverages tools and workflows developed with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), including USGS-UMESC. AMAPPS is focused on producing baseline, regional and seasonal information on where marine wildlife occurs and in what numbers across nearshore and offshore Atlantic environments. Those baseline data are intended to support real-world decision-making around offshore energy development, vessel transportation planning, military training and exercises, and conservation and protected species management.
This specific announcement sits within AMAPPS Phase III and targets a very practical bottleneck in modern aerial survey science: turning large volumes of high-resolution aerial imagery into reliable species-level (or lowest feasible taxonomic level) identifications that can feed population estimates, distribution maps, and machine learning models. The third phase of AMAPPS emphasizes cost-efficient approaches that combine remote sensing and machine learning while also improving safety by reducing the need for risky or labor-intensive field efforts. Within that broader goal, AT-20-02C is aimed at classification-level annotation development, meaning trained experts are needed to review detected wildlife targets in imagery and label them appropriately, especially for seabirds, cetaceans (marine mammals such as whales and dolphins), and sea turtles, along with other marine wildlife as encountered.
The work described is centered on expert interpretation and annotation rather than collecting new imagery. BOEM is seeking subject matter experts who can identify animals visible in aerial photographs and classify them to the most specific taxonomic category that the imagery supports. The project is designed to be performed via remote access using an imagery annotation tool developed at USGS-UMESC, and the awardee is expected to follow an established annotation quality control workflow that was developed jointly by USGS-UMESC, BOEM, and USFWS. In other words, the core deliverable is not just a set of labels, but labels produced in a standardized, quality-controlled way that can be trusted for downstream analyses and for training and validating automated detection and classification methods.
This is not an open call to all applicants. It is a program announcement stating BOEMs intent to undertake a specific project, and it is only open through the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Units (CESU) network to particular CESU regions: the North Atlantic Coast CESU (NAC-CESU), the Chesapeake Watershed CESU (CHW-CESU), and the Piedmont-South Atlantic Coast CESU (PSAC-CESU). Eligible applicants noted include state governments, public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, and other eligible entities, but participation is constrained by the CESU eligibility pathway described in the announcement. Proposals are considered only from the identified eligible groups, and any award is contingent on BOEM receiving an acceptable proposal.
The funding instrument is a cooperative agreement, which matters because it explicitly anticipates substantial involvement by BOEM scientists in study development and/or study conduct. That typically means BOEM staff will be actively engaged in planning, coordination, methodological alignment, review of outputs, and ensuring the products meet agency standards and management needs, rather than simply providing funds and receiving a final report. The maximum award amount listed is $324,241. The opportunity was created on 2022-06-06 with an original closing date of 2022-08-29, reflecting a defined application window for the targeted CESU partners.
On project structure and administrative expectations, the applying organization must name a Principal Investigator (PI) who is a staff member of that organization. The announcement encourages cooperative research arrangements, such as collaborations among state agencies, public universities, and non-profits in affected states, which fits the regional nature of AMAPPS and the specialized expertise needed for accurate aerial identification. Cost sharing or matching is described as very strongly encouraged and may be provided as cash or in-kind contributions (for example, personnel time, equipment use, or other resources). However, matching funds cannot come from other federal funding sources, and match claims cannot include the value of collecting samples that were previously collected. The opportunity also notes that match valuation for equipment should be prorated to the period of use within the project relative to the items full lifecycle, and that any ship time used as match (if applicable) must be documented with a fair cost assessment. Applicants are pointed to the federal cost-sharing standards at 2 CFR 200.306 for further guidance.
In practical terms, the opportunity is about improving the accuracy and usability of high-resolution aerial survey imagery by pairing it with disciplined, expert-driven classification and QA/QC. That expert annotation work supports multiple downstream outcomes: more defensible abundance and distribution estimates for protected species, better spatial products for planning and environmental review, and stronger training data for machine learning approaches that can reduce long-term survey costs while maintaining or improving data quality. Questions about the project and eligibility are directed to the specific point-of-contact identified in the announcements Section G, reinforcing that the process is structured and limited to the identified CESU pathways rather than being a general, open competition.Apply for M22AS00298
- The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management in the environment sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "AT-20-02C: Atlantic Marine Assessment Program for Protected Species (AMAPPS) III C—Photogrammetric Aerial Surveys to Improve Detection and Classification of Seabirds, Cetaceans, and Sea Turtles" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.423.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2022-06-06.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2022-08-29. (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 $324,241.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: State governments, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Others.
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FAQs: BOEM Cooperative Agreement Opportunity AT-20-02C (AMAPPS Phase III)
What is AT-20-02C?
AT-20-02C is a Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) cooperative agreement opportunity (CFDA 15.423) connected to the Atlantic Marine Assessment Program for Protected Species (AMAPPS). It supports work that improves how high-resolution aerial survey imagery is turned into reliable wildlife identification data for analysis and decision-making.
What is AMAPPS and what does it produce?
AMAPPS is a long-running partnership effort involving BOEM and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and leveraging tools and workflows developed with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), including USGS-UMESC. AMAPPS produces baseline, regional, and seasonal information on where marine wildlife occurs and in what numbers across nearshore and offshore Atlantic environments.
What is the main purpose of this specific announcement?
This announcement targets a practical bottleneck in aerial survey science: converting large volumes of high-resolution aerial imagery into trustworthy, classification-level identifications that can be used for population estimates, distribution maps, and machine learning models.
What phase of AMAPPS does this fall under?
AT-20-02C sits within AMAPPS Phase III.
What does AMAPPS Phase III emphasize?
Phase III emphasizes cost-efficient approaches that combine remote sensing and machine learning, while improving safety by reducing the need for risky or labor-intensive field efforts.
Is this opportunity focused on collecting new aerial imagery?
No. The work described is centered on expert interpretation and annotation of existing aerial imagery rather than collecting new imagery.
What kind of work is BOEM looking to fund?
BOEM is seeking subject matter experts to review detected wildlife targets in aerial photographs and label them to the most specific taxonomic category the imagery supports. The emphasis is on classification-level annotation development, especially for seabirds, cetaceans (such as whales and dolphins), sea turtles, and other marine wildlife as encountered.
What does "classification-level annotation development" mean in this context?
It means trained experts review imagery and assign species-level identifications when possible, or the lowest feasible taxonomic level when imagery does not support a full species-level call. These labels are then used in downstream analyses and in training/validating automated methods.
What are the key deliverables of the project?
The core deliverable is a set of wildlife labels produced through a standardized, quality-controlled annotation workflow. The intent is to generate annotations that can be trusted for population and distribution analyses and for training and validating automated detection and classification approaches.
What tool will be used to do the annotation work?
The project is designed to be performed via remote access using an imagery annotation tool developed at USGS-UMESC.
Is there a required quality control process?
Yes. The awardee is expected to follow an established annotation quality control (QA/QC) workflow developed jointly by USGS-UMESC, BOEM, and USFWS.
Why is the QA/QC workflow emphasized so strongly?
Because the value of the annotations depends on consistency and reliability. The program is aiming for outputs that are defensible for management uses and dependable as training and validation data for machine learning.
What species or animal groups are specifically mentioned as priorities?
The announcement highlights seabirds, cetaceans (marine mammals such as whales and dolphins), and sea turtles, along with other marine wildlife as encountered in the imagery.
How will the resulting annotated data be used?
The baseline data and resulting products are intended to support real-world decision-making, including offshore energy development planning, vessel transportation planning, military training and exercises, and conservation and protected species management. The annotations also strengthen machine learning approaches that can reduce long-term survey costs while maintaining or improving data quality.
What type of federal funding instrument is this?
This opportunity uses a cooperative agreement as the funding instrument.
Why does it matter that this is a cooperative agreement?
A cooperative agreement anticipates substantial involvement by BOEM scientists in study development and/or study conduct. In practice, that typically means BOEM staff will be actively engaged in planning, coordination, methodological alignment, review of outputs, and ensuring products meet agency standards and management needs.
Is this an open, competitive grant opportunity for any applicant?
No. This is a program announcement stating BOEM's intent to undertake a specific project, and it is only open through the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Units (CESU) network to specific CESU regions.
Which CESU regions are eligible for this opportunity?
The announcement is limited to the following CESU regions: North Atlantic Coast CESU (NAC-CESU), Chesapeake Watershed CESU (CHW-CESU), and Piedmont-South Atlantic Coast CESU (PSAC-CESU).
Who is eligible to apply (in general terms) under this announcement?
Eligible applicants noted include state governments, public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, and other eligible entities, but participation is constrained by the CESU eligibility pathway and the specific CESU regions identified in the announcement.
What does it mean that proposals are only considered from identified eligible groups?
It means BOEM will only consider proposals submitted through the eligible CESU pathways and from the groups specified as eligible under the announcement. The opportunity is not structured as a general solicitation open to all organizations.
Is funding guaranteed if an organization is eligible?
No. Any award is contingent on BOEM receiving an acceptable proposal.
What is the maximum award amount?
The maximum award amount listed is $324,241.
When was the opportunity posted and what was the application window?
The opportunity was created on 2022-06-06, with an original closing date of 2022-08-29.
Is an organization required to name a Principal Investigator (PI)?
Yes. The applying organization must name a Principal Investigator (PI) who is a staff member of that organization.
Are collaborations encouraged?
Yes. The announcement encourages cooperative research arrangements, such as collaborations among state agencies, public universities, and non-profits in affected states, reflecting both the regional nature of AMAPPS and the specialized expertise needed for accurate aerial identification.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
Cost sharing or matching is described as very strongly encouraged. The announcement notes match can be provided as cash or in-kind contributions.
What are examples of allowable in-kind match mentioned in the announcement?
Examples include personnel time, equipment use, or other resources.
Can matching funds come from other federal sources?
No. Matching funds cannot come from other federal funding sources.
Can the value of previously collected samples be used as match?
No. The announcement states that match claims cannot include the value of collecting samples that were previously collected.
How should equipment be valued if it is used as match?
The announcement notes that match valuation for equipment should be prorated to the period of use within the project relative to the item's full lifecycle.
What if ship time is offered as match?
If ship time is used as match (if applicable), it must be documented with a fair cost assessment.
Which federal standard is referenced for cost-sharing guidance?
Applicants are pointed to the federal cost-sharing standards at 2 CFR 200.306.
Which agencies are involved in AMAPPS partnerships or workflows as described?
The announcement describes AMAPPS as involving BOEM and USFWS and leveraging tools and workflows developed with USGS, including USGS-UMESC. The QA/QC workflow for annotation was developed jointly by USGS-UMESC, BOEM, and USFWS.
What is the best way to ask eligibility or project questions?
Questions about the project and eligibility are directed to the point-of-contact identified in Section G of the announcement.
What is the overall practical impact BOEM is aiming for with this effort?
The practical goal is to improve the accuracy and usability of high-resolution aerial survey imagery by pairing it with disciplined, expert-driven classification and QA/QC. That supports more defensible abundance and distribution estimates, better spatial products for planning and environmental review, and stronger training data for machine learning methods.
Browse more opportunities from the same category: Environment
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Previous opportunity: Cooperative Agreement for CESU-affiliated Partner with Californian Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit
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