Great Lakes Piping Plover Banding and Field Coordination

The goal of the Great Lakes Piping Plover Banding & Monitoring Program is to support the recovery of the Great lakes population by uniquely banding individuals for identification and research purposes, as well as monitoring and protecting breeding pairs at sites across the Great Lakes region (predominantly in Michigan). This is a notice of intent to award a single source cooperative agreement to Michigan State University without competition under justification 505DM 2.14B, 2 and 4. Competition is not practical as the main contact at Michigan State University has conducted the banding and monitoring activities across Michigan for many years and has the permits, contacts and expertise that make them uniquely qualified to continue this activity. Substantial involvement on the part of the Service is anticipated for the successful completion of the activities to be funded. Service personnel will provide Great Lakes Piping Plover and Endangered Species Act expertise and will work closely with MSU to ensure field monitoring and protection activities are performed according to established guidelines and protocols. The Service will also act as the lead in coordinating field monitoring and protection activities. MSU will be the lead on Great Lakes field banding activities with Service assistance if requested or needed.