FY 2002 innovative proposals process

September 2002 Status of Funded 1998-2001 Innovative Projects

Related links: FY 2001 proposals

FY 2002 schedule

Background

The innovative project funding category was designed to extend an open invitation to a broad array of sponsors from within and outside the basin to submit proposals to explore new methods and technologies for fish and wildlife recovery in the Columbia River Basin. This project category was suggested by the Independent Scientific Review Panel (ISRP) in its past annual program reviews.

Program structure

The Council encourages Bonneville to clearly articulate and include the following principles and expectations of innovative projects during the solicitation and contracting process:

1. Project selection: innovative project proposals must be consistent with the Columbia River Basin Fish and Wildlife Program adopted by the Council in 2000. The Council will arrive at a final list of innovative proposals recommended for Bonneville funding based on the recommendations delivered by the ISRP, public comment, and other pertinent policy considerations.

2. Budget

• The total budget for the innovative project category in FY 2002 is $2 million.
• In FY 2002, the budget cap for individual projects is set at $200,000. 

3. Funding

• Innovative proposals should be funded on a one-time basis.
• Innovative proposals recommended for funding in FY 2002 are not eligible to participate in the innovative proposals solicitation in future years. Rather, if additional Bonneville funds are sought, the proposals will compete with all other proposals in the province based solicitation and review process.
• Projects funded under the innovative category will not be allowed to receive additional funding of any kind until the initial work has been completed and a final report submitted.

4. Project scope

• Bonneville should work with project sponsors to best implement their projects on an appropriate time-scale within the total funding amount recommended.
• Scale: in FY 2002, the Council invites the submission of pilot-scale proposals only. New ideas and experimental methods are often best tested as pilot projects before stepping up to full-scale implementation. 
• Duration: in FY 2002, the duration of innovative projects should be limited to a maximum of 18 months. Exceptions to this limit may be considered under limited circumstances and require Council approval.

5. Project products and funding: as a condition for funding, the Council seeks a formal completion report and an oral presentation by the sponsor to discuss the results, findings, conclusions, or noteworthy observations obtained through innovative projects. These provisions should be part of the contract negotiations between Bonneville and the sponsor. The Council recommends that Bonneville delay payment of 20% of the contractual obligation until these product commitments have been completely satisfied.

6. Special considerations

• Private developmental research: the Council recognizes that some innovative proposals are based on tests of developmental technologies that would, if successful, become patented products held by private companies. Cost-sharing opportunities may provide potential mutual benefits, as long as they are consistent with the Fish and Wildlife Program, follow the same requirements as any other innovative proposal, and do not generate in lieu funding situations. These cases will be evaluated by the Council on an individual basis.
• Out-of-basin research: the Council understands that, in some cases, out-of-basin settings provide a better or more cost-effective field site for testing new techniques and ideas than within-basin locations. Under these conditions, and where research results are directly relevant to Basin problems, it may be fully appropriate to fund research projects in outside-the-Basin locations. These cases will be evaluated by the Council on an individual basis.

For more information, call 503-222-5161.