Opportunity Information: Apply for M24AS00314
NT-20-03B: Next Generation of Animal Telemetry: Transmitter Development (Funding Opportunity Number M24AS00314) is a discretionary cooperative agreement opportunity from the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) focused on advancing animal tracking technology for environmental research and decision-making. The core technical goal is the concept design, prototype build, and deployment testing of satellite-borne time-of-arrival (TOA) receiving systems. In practice, BOEM wants space-based receivers that can detect and time-stamp signals from animal-carried or animal-adjacent transmitters (tags) operating in terrestrial and marine environments, while also working alongside supporting TOA receivers on the ground. Together, these elements are intended to function as a global, ultra-low energy positioning system that can locate tagged wildlife with minimal power demand on the tag, which is especially important for long-duration studies and for smaller species where battery capacity and tag weight are limiting factors.
The opportunity emphasizes an integrated system architecture rather than a standalone component. The satellite-borne TOA receivers are expected to operate in tandem with both the tags and auxiliary terrestrial TOA receiver infrastructure, indicating BOEM is seeking a full end-to-end demonstration of how the space segment and ground segment combine to produce usable, global positioning outputs. The reference to CubeSat design and mission operations signals that the satellite receiver platform is expected to be compatible with small satellite constraints (mass, volume, power, thermal, communications, and orbital operations). BOEM is explicitly looking for teams that already have demonstrated expertise in two specialized areas: low-power TOA positioning systems and CubeSat design and mission operations. That combination suggests the work is not just a lab exercise; it is meant to progress through realistic hardware prototyping and field or on-orbit style deployment testing where mission operations and performance validation matter.
From BOEMs perspective, the value of the technology is tied directly to applied environmental management. The movement and behavior data produced by telemetry studies enabled by this next-generation system are expected to feed into BOEM environmental assessments and decision documents. In other words, the grant is framed as a tool to improve the quality, resolution, and geographic reach of wildlife movement information that BOEM uses when evaluating ocean energy and other offshore activities, potentially including how projects may affect species distribution, habitat use, migration routes, or exposure to human activities. The funding activity category is listed as Environment, and the CFDA number is 15.423, aligning it with BOEMs broader environmental studies mission.
Administratively, this opportunity is structured as a cooperative agreement, which generally implies more substantial federal involvement than a standard grant, often including collaboration, coordination, or shared oversight between the agency and the awardee as the work proceeds. The posting indicates it is a single source cooperative agreement with the University of Colorado, Boulder, meaning it is not a fully open competitive solicitation and is intended for that specific recipient. The award ceiling is $210,000. The opportunity was created on 2024-04-03 with an original closing date of 2024-05-08. The eligible applicants field is listed as Others, but the single-source statement makes clear the practical applicant is predetermined for this action.
Overall, NT-20-03B is best understood as a targeted BOEM investment in a space-enabled, low-power wildlife telemetry capability, with deliverables centered on designing and validating satellite TOA receive hardware within a CubeSat-type mission context and demonstrating that the combined tag-plus-receiver ecosystem can produce movement data robust enough to support BOEMs environmental review and regulatory documentation needs.Apply for M24AS00314
- The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management in the environment sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "NT-20-03B: Next Generation of Animal Telemetry: Transmitter Development" 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 2024-04-03.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-05-08. (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 $210,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Others.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the NT-20-03B funding opportunity (M24AS00314)?
NT-20-03B: Next Generation of Animal Telemetry: Transmitter Development (Funding Opportunity Number M24AS00314) is a discretionary cooperative agreement opportunity from the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM). It focuses on advancing animal tracking technology used for environmental research and real-world decision-making, particularly by developing and testing satellite-based time-of-arrival (TOA) receiving systems that support wildlife telemetry.
Which federal agency is offering this opportunity?
The opportunity is offered by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM).
What is the purpose of this cooperative agreement?
The purpose is to move next-generation animal telemetry toward an integrated, end-to-end system that can collect wildlife tag signals via satellite-borne TOA receivers (with supporting ground receivers), enabling global positioning with very low power demand on the animal tag.
What is the core technical goal of the project?
The core technical goal is the concept design, prototype build, and deployment testing of satellite-borne TOA receiving systems. These receivers are intended to detect and time-stamp signals from animal-carried (or animal-adjacent) transmitters in terrestrial and marine environments.
What does "time-of-arrival (TOA)" mean in this opportunity?
Within the context provided, TOA refers to receivers detecting a tag signal and recording the time it arrives (time-stamping). The overall concept is that combining TOA information from space-based receivers and supporting ground receivers can be used to produce positioning outputs.
Is BOEM looking for a single device, or a complete system?
BOEM emphasizes an integrated system architecture rather than a standalone component. The satellite-borne TOA receivers are expected to operate alongside animal tags and auxiliary terrestrial TOA receiver infrastructure, demonstrating how the space segment and ground segment work together to generate usable, global positioning results.
What is meant by a "space segment" and "ground segment" in this project?
Based on the description, the space segment refers to satellite-borne TOA receivers (potentially hosted on a CubeSat-type platform). The ground segment refers to supporting TOA receivers on the ground (auxiliary terrestrial infrastructure) that operate in tandem with the space-based receivers and the tags.
Why is ultra-low energy positioning a priority?
The system is intended to function as a global, ultra-low energy positioning approach that minimizes power demand on animal tags. This is especially important for long-duration studies and for smaller species where battery capacity and tag weight are limiting factors.
What environments are included (marine, terrestrial, or both)?
Both terrestrial and marine environments are explicitly included. BOEM wants receivers that can detect and time-stamp signals from tags operating in terrestrial and marine settings.
What kind of satellite platform is envisioned?
The opportunity references CubeSat design and mission operations, indicating the satellite receiver platform is expected to be compatible with small satellite constraints such as mass, volume, power, thermal limits, communications, and orbital operations.
What expertise is BOEM specifically looking for in project teams?
BOEM is explicitly looking for teams with demonstrated expertise in two specialized areas: (1) low-power TOA positioning systems and (2) CubeSat design and mission operations. The description suggests the work is intended to go beyond a purely laboratory effort and into realistic prototyping and deployment-style testing.
What types of activities and deliverables are implied by the announcement?
The description centers on designing the system concept, building a prototype of satellite-borne TOA receiver hardware, and performing deployment testing. It also implies validating performance in a mission-operations-aware context (i.e., compatible with CubeSat constraints) and demonstrating that the combined tag-plus-receiver ecosystem produces usable movement/positioning outputs.
How will the results be used by BOEM?
BOEM ties the value of the technology to applied environmental management. The movement and behavior data produced by telemetry studies enabled by this system are expected to feed into BOEM environmental assessments and decision documents, supporting analysis of species distribution, habitat use, migration routes, and potential exposure to human activities related to offshore projects.
What is the funding activity category for this opportunity?
The funding activity category is listed as Environment.
What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The CFDA number is 15.423.
What type of award is this (grant, contract, or something else)?
This is structured as a cooperative agreement. The description notes that cooperative agreements generally involve more substantial federal involvement than a standard grant, such as collaboration, coordination, or shared oversight between the agency and the awardee during the project.
Is this opportunity open to all applicants?
No. The posting indicates it is a single source cooperative agreement with the University of Colorado, Boulder. While the eligible applicants field is listed as "Others," the single-source statement means the intended recipient is predetermined for this action.
Who is the intended recipient for this single-source cooperative agreement?
The intended recipient is the University of Colorado, Boulder.
What is the maximum (ceiling) award amount?
The award ceiling is $210,000.
When was the opportunity created and when did it close?
The opportunity was created on 2024-04-03. The original closing date was 2024-05-08.
What is the main practical outcome BOEM is aiming for?
The project is framed as a targeted investment in a space-enabled, low-power wildlife telemetry capability. BOEM is aiming for a demonstrated satellite TOA receive capability (in a CubeSat-type mission context) plus an integrated tag-and-receiver ecosystem that can produce movement data robust enough to support BOEM environmental review and regulatory documentation needs.
Does the description focus on transmitters, receivers, or both?
While the title references transmitter development, the core technical goal described emphasizes satellite-borne TOA receiving systems that detect and time-stamp signals from animal tags. The opportunity also stresses integrated operation with tags and supporting terrestrial TOA receivers, indicating the project is about the full system architecture rather than only one component.
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