Request for Proposals

Use the R/V Lake Guardian to Conduct an Educational Course on the Great Lakes

CLOSED

Introduction

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Great Lakes National Program Office (GLNPO), is requesting proposals for use of the R/V Lake Guardian during July 9-15, 2006, to conduct an educational course on the Great Lakes. Course should be designed to teach undergraduates and/or graduate students about the physical, chemical, and biological components of the Great Lakes ecosystem during a working survey of Lake Superior scheduled for July 9 -15th. Students should be trained in both field and laboratory work aboard the vessel, and be eligible to receive academic credit.

The recipient selected would be responsible for designing the course, providing at least two instructors, advertising through appropriate venues, obtaining participation from a sufficient number of students  and performing other administrative functions associated with the course.

Special preference will be given to institutions that can attract a diverse pool of students, from across the Great Lakes basin, and that can maintain a uniform fee for tuition, for all students regardless of their academic affiliation. GLNPO would provide the ship time as well as two environmental scientists.

The estimated value of ship time for a week-long course is approximately $98,000. The R/V Lake Guardian is 180-ft long, and can accommodate approximately 20 students, 4 instructors (including EPA), and the crew. Rooms will be supplied by GLNPO, with a twenty dollar fee charged daily to each student for meals, and coffee.

Selection Criteria

Proposals received will be judged according to the following criteria:

1. Qualifications of professors (30%)
2. Quality of the course syllabus (30%)
3. Affordability and uniform tuition and fees, for all students regardless of their academic affiliation. (10%)
4. Ability to attract a sufficient number of students from a diverse pool across the Great Lakes Region. (10%)
5. Projected benefits to Great Lakes conservation, outreach, and/or research as a result of the course (e.g. training graduate students (future researchers) about the ecology of the Great Lakes, proposed research to accompany course, training teachers who will then incorporate Great Lakes issues in their classroom, public web pages, publications etc.) (10%)
6. During 2006 bi-national monitoring programs are focused in the Lake Superior Basin.  Value added science to the key information needs identified by the Lake Superior LaMP (10%).

Eligibility

All academic institutions in the Great Lakes area are eligible to apply. Preferential treatment will be given to institutions that can attract a sufficient number of students from a diverse pool while charging the same program fee regardless of academic affiliation.

Proposals (2 copies) should be submitted to:

David C. Rockwell, MS, MBA
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Great Lakes National Program Office (G-17J)
77 West Jackson Blvd.
Chicago, IL 60604-3590
Email David Rockwell (rockwell.david@epa.gov) 

• Proposals are due at the above address by close of business December 21, 2005.
• Proposals should not exceed 10 pages in length and will be evaluated against the above criteria.
• Applicants seeking additional information may contact Dr. Glenn Warren (warren.glenn @epa.gov) at (312) 886-2405 and information on science needs for the Lake Superior LaMP can be found at http://www.epa.gov/glnpo/lakesuperior/2004.