Cooperative Agreement for CESU-affiliated Partner with Great Basin Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) | G24AS00394

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is this USGS funding opportunity about?

This is a US Geological Survey (USGS) discretionary financial assistance opportunity to support a cooperative agreement focused on climate-driven species range shifts in the Southwestern United States. The work is meant to improve understanding of how changing climate conditions are influencing where species can live, how distributions are moving over time, and what those shifts mean for ecosystems and management decisions in the Southwest.

What topic or problem area is USGS trying to address?

The opportunity targets climate impacts on species distributions, specifically how climate change is driving species range shifts over time in the Southwestern United States. The intent is to strengthen and accelerate data collection and related research that can inform long-term ecological management and adaptation planning.

What type of award is being offered?

The funding instrument is a cooperative agreement. This generally indicates USGS expects substantial involvement during the period of performance, with closer collaboration and coordination than a standard grant.

How is a cooperative agreement different from a standard grant for this opportunity?

Based on the notice description, a cooperative agreement typically involves more active participation by USGS during the project, such as coordination on research objectives and potential joint involvement in planning, implementation, and delivery of results. The opportunity is framed as consistent with how CESU projects are often carried out.

Which program or partnership framework is this opportunity using?

This opportunity is issued through the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) network, and specifically through the Great Basin CESU.

What is the CESU network (as described in the notice)?

CESUs are structured partnerships designed to connect federal agencies with universities and other partner organizations to deliver research, technical assistance, and education that support public-land and natural-resource priorities. The notice emphasizes leveraging CESU expertise, partnerships, and research infrastructure to speed up and strengthen research and data collection.

Which CESU is issuing this opportunity?

The opportunity is issued specifically through the Great Basin Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU).

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is limited to applicants that are already participating partners in the Great Basin CESU. While the eligible applicant category is listed as "Others," the controlling eligibility requirement described is Great Basin CESU partnership status rather than broad eligibility for all organization types.

Does the listing mean any organization can apply because the category is "Others"?

No. The notice indicates that the controlling requirement is CESU partnership status. Applicants must already be a participating partner in the Great Basin CESU.

What is the purpose of using the CESU framework for this award?

The stated purpose is to leverage existing expertise, partnerships, and research infrastructure in the CESU network to speed up and strengthen data collection and related research activities tied to climate-driven species range shifts in the Southwest.

What kinds of activities does the opportunity support?

The activity category is classified as Science and Technology and other Research and Development. The description highlights field and analytical work, improved data collection, and research that advances understanding of climate impacts on species distributions.

What geographic area is the work focused on?

The research focus is the Southwestern United States.

What outcomes is this opportunity aiming to produce?

As described, the opportunity aims to deliver usable science by improving understanding of how species ranges are shifting with climate, strengthening data collection efforts, and accelerating progress on management-relevant questions for ecological management and adaptation planning in the Southwest.

What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?

The funding is associated with CFDA number 15.808.

What is the opportunity number?

The opportunity number is G24AS00394.

What is the creation date listed for this opportunity?

The creation date is June 12, 2024.

What is the submission deadline?

The original closing date for submissions is July 15, 2024.

What is the maximum award amount (ceiling)?

The listed award ceiling is $310,019.

How many awards will be made?

The provided source data does not specify an expected number of awards. The notice excerpt suggests this may not be stated in the provided information or could be determined based on available funding and proposal quality.

Is this opportunity competitive?

The notice describes it as a discretionary financial assistance opportunity with eligibility limited to Great Basin CESU partners. Beyond that, the provided information does not state how proposals will be selected or how competitive the process will be.

What does "climate-driven species range shifts" mean in the context of this notice?

In this notice, it refers to changes over time in where species can live and how their distributions move as climate conditions change, and the implications of those shifts for ecosystems and management decisions in the Southwestern United States.

Why is USGS emphasizing speed and strengthening of data collection?

The notice states the purpose is to leverage CESU expertise and infrastructure to speed up and strengthen data collection and related research activities, helping advance understanding and deliver usable science for management-relevant questions.

Is this award intended to support management and decision-making?

Yes. The description emphasizes understanding what range shifts may mean for ecosystems and management decisions in the Southwest, and frames the work as supporting long-term ecological management and adaptation planning.