Establishing a New National Center for Ecologically Sustainable Water Conservation & Management (Center) Using a Request for Statements of Interest and Qualifications, RFIQ (multi-stage Process and Timeline)
Latest Update: April 13, 2026
See Water Training Center home page for ALL other Center background and related information including supplemental RFIQ process progress updates and the final Host selection results announced on March 9, 2026.
RFIQ Process and Timeline:
Application Deadline: January 21, 2025 (NOW CLOSED)
RFIQ Summary:
On November 16, 2024 the Instream Flow Council (IFC) and American Fisheries Society (AFS) requested statements of interest and qualifications (“RFIQ”) from institutions and organizations or teams of institutions or organizations that wished to apply to be considered for hosting a National Center for Ecologically Sustainable Water Conservation & Management (Center) on a long-term basis (or serving as a Center network affiliate1).
The objectives for this Center are to provide key interdisciplinary leadership, training, research, development, networking, and support functions to empower water stakeholders2 to achieve ecologically sustainable water conservation and management outcomes.
Specific details and background information about the Center may be found on the Center’s home page.
Steering Committee: Tom Annear, Doug Austen, Andy Brummond, Daren Carlisle, Christopher Estes (Chair), Thom Hardy, Allan Locke, Don Orth, Dudley Reiser, and Clair Stalnaker (and formerly Dave Weedman).
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Download RFIQ Document for Background, Instructions, Processes, Timeline and Link to Application
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For Center related RFIQ technical web assistance or RFIQ related questions, contact:
Requests meriting replies will be provided within 3 business days
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Key RFIQ & Center Definitions (updated April 13, 2026)
[1] Affiliates Consortium Definitions: “Permanent Affiliates” are long-term partner institutions or organizations intending to supplement the services provided by the Center Host for an extended continuous period (several years) as opposed to a “Temporary Affiliates”. “Temporary Affiliates” are short-term partner institutions, organizations, or other entities requested by the Center Host to provide limited and intermittent supplemental support services for a limited defined time duration such as a year, semester, week, day, or vary periodically, etc. (Updated Feb. 8, 2025)
[2] Stakeholder Definition: “Water Stakeholders” include all entities & individuals participating in or impacted by the interdisciplinary scientific, legal, institutional, & public involvement elements (including overarching socio-economics) & related processes thatgovern water use & allocation decisions & final outcomes (both human uses & ecological), & any entity or individual with an interest in these topics & processes.
[3] Conservation Definition: Protect, restore, & enhance (the combination of all 3).
[4] Center Host Definition: The Center brick & mortar headquarters for the Center. There can only be one Center Host.).
IFC Home Page | Center Project Updates-Home Page | RFIQ Page