Center for Tropical and Subtropical Aquaculture Soliciting Pre-proposals - Due Monday, April 18, 2011
The Center for Tropical and Subtropical Aquaculture (CTSA) requests pre-proposals for aquaculture applied research that addresses problems and opportunities for the aquaculture industry in the CTSA region as defined below. Pre-proposals that target these priority issues will receive highest preference. However, pre-proposals that do not fall under specific priority areas are also welcome and will be considered; we are happy to entertain all good ideas in our development process. Any projects that have farmer contact must include significant, deliverable extension efforts. CTSA strongly encourages interagency/interinstitutional cooperation and shared funding of priority projects.
CTSA's mission is to support aquaculture research, development, demonstration, and extension education in order to enhance viable and profitable aquaculture in the United States. CTSA is funded by an annual grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). The CTSA region includes the following areas: American Samoa, Guam, Hawaii, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, and Palau.
Please note: Desired outcomes and/or deliverables are included where applicable. They represent industry-identified requests and it is strongly recommended that they are addressed in your pre-proposal.
FY 2011 Strategic Areas & Priorities
-- Health & Diseases --
Priority: Tilapia and Chinese Catfish Disease Mitigation
The Center is seeking to fund research that describes and catalogs past and present diseases of tilapia and Chinese catfish in Hawaii. Based on the cataloging results, the remainder of the project should target identification and testing of best practices, protocols and approved treatments that can be utilized by the industry to mitigate significant diseases.
Desired outcome and/or deliverables: A comprehensive list of diseases and their relative importance to the industry; information on best practices, protocols and approved treatments that can be utilized by industry; information on transferability/other species that are susceptible to specific significant diseases; conduct a Disease Identification and Mitigation workshop for farmers based on the information gathered.
-- Aquaculture Feeds --
Priority 1: Live Freshwater Feed Animals
The Center is seeking to fund research that identifies and documents practical methods for culturing live freshwater feed animals (e.g. moina, daphnia, fw rotifers, et al.) and makes recommendations on improvements and adaptations to island conditions, including appropriate enrichment techniques.
Desired outcome and/or deliverables: A manual, workshop, and video for farmers.
Priority 2: Pacific Islands Feeds Development
The Center is seeking to fund research that identifies, describes the nutritional value and tests locally available ingredients to develop aquaculture feeds for the American Insular Pacific Islands.
Desired outcome and/or deliverables: Location-based practical feeds.
-- Pacific Island Development --
Priority 1: Training Opportunities
The Center is seeking to fund a project(s) that utilizes experienced Pacific Island aquaculture technicians who have undergone aquaculture skill training to share their knowledge and transfer their skills to existing/new technicians in the region.
Desired outcome and/or deliverables: Technology transfer and capacity building throughout the Pacific Islands.
Priority 2: Pacific Island Extension
The Center is seeking to fund a dedicated, full-time Pacific Island extension agent.
Desired outcome and/or deliverables: Technology transfer and capacity building throughout the Pacific Islands.
-- Other --
Priority: Aquaponics
The Center is seeking to fund research that conducts a series of in-depth case-studies of aquaponics operations industry in the Region. The case-studies (minimum three) should examine different scales of technologies and/or approaches to production; include information on technology used and economics of system construction and operation, as well as a thorough analysis of what works (produces saleable products and makes money) and what does not work for Pacific Island resources and needs.
Process and Instructions
When submitting pre-proposals, researchers must identify the strategic area and priority targeted. All pre-proposals received by the deadline, Monday, April 18, 2011, will be reviewed by CTSA's Industry Advisory Council (IAC). Only some pre-proposals (selected by the IAC) will move forward with requests for a full proposal. Full proposals will receive both internal and external review for technical quality and industry impact. Full proposals approved by the CTSA Board of Directors and the USDA as part of the CTSA FY11 Plan of Work are expected to have funding available for implementation by July 2012.
CTSA typically does not fund projects for more than $100,000 per year. CTSA gives preference to projects that will deliver the most benefits at the lowest cost. Due to its limited project budget (< $600,000), CTSA will distribute funding to the highest ranked proposals until it has exhausted all available funds.
Eligible Applicants
Universities, community colleges, or nonprofit research institutions and organizations must lead project execution. Private individuals or commercial companies are welcome to participate in research work but cannot act as the prime contractor for any project.
Pre-Proposal Guidelines
Although an individual may submit a maximum of three pre-proposals, a researcher can act as principal investigator to only two projects in a single funding cycle. Pre-proposals must be no more than two pages (single-spaced, 12-pt. font, 1-inch margins), and the required format is Microsoft Word. Each pre-proposal must state which strategic area and priority it is targeting. Pre-proposals must include the following sections:
Proposed title or main idea
Problem statement
Clearly explain the significance of the targeted problem and its relation to future industry development.
Proposed objectives
Define and number objectives that are achievable and measurable. Please visit the CTSA Web site (www.ctsa.org) to view previously funded projects so that your pre-proposal does not duplicate the work of completed or current projects.
Approach
Describe the principal approach that the project work group will use to accomplish the objectives outlined in your pre-proposal.
Duration
If a project's duration is to be more than one year, then your pre-proposal must include objectives and approach for each year. Objectives listed should be accomplished within a three-year time frame.
Estimated budget
Estimate the amount of funding needed to accomplish objectives. A breakdown need only include total estimates for major categories, such as salary, supplies, and equipment.
Project work group members
List members, by name and affiliation, who will participate in the execution of the proposed project.
How to Submit
Please e-mail pre-proposals to mbrooks@oceanicinstitute.org by Monday, April 18, 2011. If you have any questions, please contact Meredith Brooks via e-mail or by telephone at (808) 259-3176. If necessary, pre-proposals may be faxed to (808) 259-8395 or mailed to the following address:
Center for Tropical and Subtropical Aquaculture
C/O Oceanic Institute
41-202 Kalanianaole Hwy.
Waimanalo, HI 96795
The Center for Tropical and Subtropical Aquaculture (CTSA) is one of five regional aquaculture centers in the United States established and funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) under grants 2005-38500-15720, 2006-38500-16901, 2007-38500-18471, and 2008-38500-19435. The regional aquaculture centers integrate individual and institutional expertise and resources in support of commercial aquaculture development. CTSA was established in 1986 and is jointly administered by the Oceanic Institute and the University of Hawaii.
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