Natural and Nature-Based Features (NNBFs) in Water Resources Planning | W81EWF 24 SOI 0011

Opportunity Information: Apply for W81EWF 24 SOI 0011

The Natural and Nature-Based Features (NNBFs) in Water Resources Planning opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number W81EWF 24 SOI 0011) is a research-focused cooperative agreement offered by the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC). It targets science and technology work that helps planners and engineers better integrate natural and engineered nature-based approaches into water resources infrastructure, with the goal of delivering combined economic, environmental, and social benefits. The central idea is to advance how NNBFs are planned, designed, and implemented by improving the modeling tools used to predict how these features perform and change over long time horizons.

The technical emphasis is on developing and applying a mix of process-based modeling and data-driven methods, including data science, machine learning (ML), and artificial intelligence (AI). ERDCs Ecohydrology Team at the Environmental Laboratory is specifically looking for approaches that can simulate how NNBFs evolve within their surrounding environmental context over decadal timescales and under a range of possible loading conditions (for example, changing hydrology, storms, sediment transport, sea level influences, or other stressors relevant to water resources systems). A key motivation is that conventional models often struggle to capture long-term, coupled physical and ecological dynamics at the level needed for practical design and management decisions, so hybrid approaches that combine physics-based understanding with ML/AI learning from data are of high interest.

A major component of the work is foundational synthesis: the project calls for data science efforts and structured literature review to identify, categorize, and compile what is already known about NNBF performance from past experiments, demonstrations, monitoring programs, and applied projects. That synthesized evidence base is intended to support parameterization and calibration of next-generation hybrid models, and to make it easier to compare NNBF types, settings, and outcomes in a consistent way. In practical terms, the effort is aimed at turning scattered results from the literature into usable inputs for engineering-oriented models and decision support.

The program objectives are organized around producing concise written products rather than long multi-year field campaigns. Specifically, the RampD objectives emphasize (1) literature reviews that describe the current state of research and practice, and (2) short reports that lay out methods, tasks, and deliverables for targeted subtopics. The four subtopic areas listed are: (a) the role of AI/ML in supporting NNBF research and design, (b) modeling feedbacks between physical processes and natural or ecological systems, (c) characterizing NNBF performance and associated risk-reduction benefits, and (d) engineered design of NNBFs. Each literature review and short report is expected to be under 10 pages and include supporting materials such as citations, background data, and code where relevant, signaling an emphasis on reproducibility and practical utility.

Eligibility is limited: applications are restricted to non-federal partners of the Colorado Plateau Cooperative Ecosystems Studies Unit (CESU). That limitation is important because otherwise capable institutions may not qualify unless they are part of that CESU network as an eligible non-federal partner. The award is expected to be a single cooperative agreement, with an anticipated award ceiling of $40,000 and one expected award. The original closing date listed is 2024-02-22, and the CFDA number associated with the opportunity is 12.630.

The notice also highlights compliance and disclosure expectations around current and pending support. Applicants are warned that disclosures made in the application can affect eligibility, and ERDC may request updated information both before award and throughout the period of performance; those updates can be reviewed and could lead to discontinuation of funding if issues arise. Finally, the announcement reiterates that religious organizations may compete on equal footing with secular organizations for federal financial assistance, consistent with Executive Order 13798.

• The Engineer Research and Development Center in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Natural and Nature-Based Features (NNBFs) in Water Resources Planning" 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 2023-12-22.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-02-22. (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 $40,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others.

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