Developing Case Studies from Pre/Post Natural Disaster Monitoring of Natural Features | W81EWF 22 SOI 0029

Opportunity Information: Apply for W81EWF 22 SOI 0029

The Department of Defense, through the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC), is seeking partners to develop practical, publishable case studies that show how natural coastal features and Natural and Nature-Based Features (NNBF) perform before and after major natural disasters. The core idea is to take existing monitoring datasets from recent hurricanes, floods, or other extreme events and turn them into clear, defensible examples of how features like dunes, marshes, reefs, and similar systems reduce coastal hazards and help avoid losses. By documenting these benefits in a systematic way, ERDC aims to strengthen the evidence base for using NNBF more widely in coastal risk reduction and resilience planning, especially as storm seasons intensify, sea levels rise, and rainfall-driven flooding becomes more severe and more frequent.

A major motivation behind the opportunity is the need to better quantify "avoided losses" associated with natural systems in both direct impact scenarios (for example, wave energy reduction and surge attenuation at the shoreline) and indirect impact scenarios (such as downstream flooding outcomes, erosion patterns, or cascading infrastructure and community impacts). The notice also emphasizes that stronger case studies can help inform future policy and investment decisions, particularly in coastal areas where marginalized communities often face higher exposure and slower recovery after disasters. Past events like Hurricane Katrina, Hurricane Harvey, and the 2016 Louisiana floods are cited as reminders that recovery outcomes are unequal, and that better data-driven understanding of protective natural systems can support more equitable resilience strategies.

Rather than funding new field campaigns from scratch, the anticipated work is focused on using data that researchers already have in hand from pre- and post-event monitoring. Many academic teams and coastal scientists collect high-quality measurements around storm seasons, but they often lack the time or resources to perform deeper analyses, integrate the results into a coherent narrative, and produce a formal case study that decision-makers can use. This cooperative agreement is designed to bridge that gap by supporting the analysis, interpretation, and publication of a subset of past sampling events, in collaboration with ERDC and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). In practical terms, applicants are expected to identify an existing dataset tied to a specific natural feature or NNBF, justify why it is a strong candidate for a case study, and then work closely with ERDC to conduct the analysis and develop the final products.

The kinds of datasets envisioned include, but are not limited to, measurements of wave attenuation and water movement, sediment transport and shoreline change, elevation and bathymetry, and vegetation or broader ecological condition indicators. A strong case study could, for example, connect changes in these metrics to observed differences in storm impacts, such as reduced erosion behind a dune system, lower wave energy across a marsh platform, or altered flood dynamics near reef structures. An important theme is translating the observed performance of natural features into insights that can inform the anticipated performance of engineered or restored NNBF projects, helping planners better predict benefits under extreme conditions.

Deliverables are intended to be public and widely usable. Findings will be released through public reports and/or peer-reviewed journal articles, along with a public seminar presenting results. ERDC will be actively involved throughout the project, providing technical guidance, helping with experimental design choices for the analysis, and collaborating on manuscript development. The notice also indicates that ERDC and the awardees will develop draft journal articles during the period of performance for internal peer review, reinforcing that publication-quality outputs are a central expectation rather than an optional add-on.

The work is organized around three main tasks. First, the partner must describe the previously collected data and clearly justify how it can serve as a credible pre/post disaster monitoring case study of a natural feature or NNBF. Second, the partner will collaborate with ERDC to analyze the dataset and develop the case study narrative and findings. Third, the partner will collaborate with ERDC to publish the case study either through ERDC publication channels or in peer-reviewed venues. Progress reporting is structured, with quarterly status reports required, and a final report due within four months after the study is completed.

Eligibility and administrative requirements are specific. Applicants must be non-federal partners affiliated with one of several designated Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Units (CESU) networks: North Atlantic Coast, Chesapeake Watershed, Piedmont-South Atlantic Coast, South Florida-Caribbean, or Gulf Coast. Applicants must also agree to the currently approved indirect cost rate cap of 17.5 percent. From a technical standpoint, ERDC is looking for teams with strong expertise in NNBF and natural coastal features, who already possess relevant pre- and post-disaster monitoring data tied to a natural feature or NNBF, and who can describe and execute appropriate statistical analysis approaches for those datasets. The required expertise areas specifically include experience monitoring extreme events and capability in statistical analysis, reflecting the emphasis on turning observational datasets into rigorous, decision-relevant conclusions.

In terms of funding structure, this is a discretionary cooperative agreement (not a procurement contract), listed under CFDA 12.630, with an award ceiling of $32,500 and an expectation of making two awards. The opportunity is issued by ERDC under funding opportunity number W81EWF 22 SOI 0029, originally posted June 22, 2022, with an original closing date of August 15, 2022. Overall, the grant is best understood as targeted support for converting existing storm impact datasets into high-quality, publicly accessible case studies that demonstrate how natural features and NNBF can reduce coastal risk, while also helping guide more equitable resilience planning in high-risk coastal communities.

• The Department of Defense, Engineer Research and Development Center in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Developing Case Studies from Pre/Post Natural Disaster Monitoring of Natural Features" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 12.630.
• This funding opportunity was created on Jun 22, 2022.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 15, 2022. (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 $32,500.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 2 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

Apply for W81EWF 22 SOI 0029

[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal: