The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) announces its intention to fund a project titled "Identifying and Mitigating Threats to Endangered Forest Bird Food Webs from Rapid ‘Ōhi‘a Death" without competition. The University of Hawaii will receive $70,000 for this new initiative aimed at protecting critical habitats for endangered bird species at Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge. The primary goal is to identify host plants, threats, and life histories of caterpillar species essential to forest birds' diets, particularly in light of the significant loss of ‘ōhi‘a trees due to Rapid ‘Ōhi‘a Death. Key objectives include determining the plant hosts for caterpillar morpho-species found in the diets of the endangered birds and assessing the abundance of these prey species across various forest types. Notably, the project will benefit from substantial USGS involvement in research design, data collection, and report preparation. The justification for a single-source award emphasizes the unique qualifications of the University of Hawaii and the necessity to maintain continuity in research critical to endangered species protection. This arrangement aligns with existing federal cooperative agreement policies, recognizing the unique expertise needed for effective habitat management and biodiversity conservation efforts.