University of Washington
OLYMPIC NATURAL RESOURCES CENTER
College of Forest Resources
College of Ocean and Fishery Sciences

The Olympic Natural Resources Center (ONRC) has received federal research funding for FY 2003. These funds are a portion of the overall support provided to the USDA Forest Service for implementation of the Northwest Forest Plan. Funds are being distributed by the Pacific NW Research Station (PNW) to ONRC as a result of Congressional earmarking. Approximately $180,000 will be allocated to support projects selected through this RFP process. 

Guidelines

University of Washington, ONRC will accept research pre-proposals that address one or more of research priorities listed in the Forest Program section of the ONRC Strategic Plan (http://www.onrc.washington.edu/msp/origins_mission.htm). Restrictions arising from the source of the funding prevent ONRC from considering any marine project proposals unless they demonstrate a high degree of relevance to forest program priorities.  Applicants should also review the evaluation criteria presented in the Strategic Plan to understand the unique approach ONRC seeks to bring to the priority issues. Proposals that have already received matching funds from non-university sources are encouraged.

This year, ONRC is especially interested in receiving research applications related to the following three general arenas of study:

1)  The establishment of Intensively Monitored watersheds for Effectiveness Monitoring of salmon recovery efforts, especially proposals that partner with the Salmon Index Watershed Monitoring Redesign Group and which seek to match funds made available by CMER's contribution to cooperative efforts to establish Intensively Monitored watersheds.  The establishment of monitored watersheds within the Olympic Experimental State Forest is of special interest. 

2) Areas of research in support of implementation needs of the Washington State Department of Natural Resources' (DNR) Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP), especially those areas of research identified for the Olympic Experimental State Forest planning unit of the HCP.

Project Selection Process

Pre-proposals will be ranked based upon a consultative review process. Full proposals will be requested of the applications that receive the highest ranking.

Selections will be based on evaluation of the project in light of the following questions:

Does the project have sufficient technical merit and will it produce credible and reliable information?

Does the project produce information that is of practical importance for the Olympic region and its communities?

Does the project build on existing research or capitalize on investments in previous research?  

Will the project provide high quality deliverables within the stated budget?

Eligibility

Proposals may be submitted by teams or individuals from all academic, federal, state and local governments, and private institutions.

Application Instructions

All pre-proposals must be received at the address below on or before April 28, 2003.

This RFP is for Pre-Proposals Only. The pre-proposal must be a succinct summary of the proposed research project, not exceeding one page of single-spaced text of no less than 11-point font presented on letter size paper with one inch margins.

Pre-proposals must include descriptions of: the project rationale and objectives, the methodology to be utilized, and a description of the research team.  A simple one year budget is required and can be attached to the single page pre-proposal.  Pre-proposals for multiple-year projects will be considered, but funding can not be assured beyond the first year.

STATEMENT OF TRIBAL INTERESTS

The Quileute Indian Tribe is interested in research activities carried out within their "Area of Tribal Interests" as described in Section III.C.6 of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Olympic Natural Resources Center and the Quileute Indian Tribe, adopted in 1997.  The area of tribal interests includes those areas within the boundaries of the Quileute Reservation and those areas within the approximate watersheds of the following rivers:  Dickey, Sol Duc, Calawah and Bogachiel.  The tribe will be afforded the opportunity to review and comment on both technical and policy considerations relating to the research proposed within the Area of Tribal Interests.

Please submit pre-proposals to:

Jason Cross, Research Coordinator
Olympic Natural Resources Center
P. O. Box 1628
Forks, WA 98331
crossco@u.washington.edu

Submissions may also be sent via e-mail.

Peer Review and Required Reports

Completed projects will be subject to peer review. Results must be either published in peer reviewed journals or in a separate report. Principal Investigators will be required to provide a poster to ONRC describing their project and must present their results at a review meeting organized by ONRC.  Principal Investigators will be asked to make other presentations as available.

Notification of Selection

ONRC will request full proposals of the highest ranking proposals by May 9, 2003.  Final decisions regarding research support for FY 2003 will be made in June, 2003.  Funding for successful proposals will be available upon completion of University of Washington and PNW processing estimated to be not sooner than September 30, 2003.

Additional Information

Applicants will find background information describing ONRC at our website <www.onrc.washington.edu>. Additional information may also be obtained from ONRC by telephone at (206) 685-9477 or (360) 374-3220.