Cooperative Agreement for CESU-affiliated Partner with Rocky Mountain Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit | G24AS00403

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What agency is offering this funding opportunity?

This discretionary funding opportunity is offered by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).

2. What is the main purpose of this opportunity?

The opportunity supports research and data collection focused on how climate change is influencing species range shifts within the North Central Climate Adaptation Science Center (North Central CASC) region. The intent is to accelerate or expand scientific work that improves understanding of where species are moving (or likely to move) under changing climate conditions and what those shifts mean for ecosystems and management decisions.

3. What kind of funding mechanism is being used?

The award will be made through a cooperative agreement, not a standard grant.

4. Why does it matter that this is a cooperative agreement?

Because it is a cooperative agreement, applicants should expect meaningful USGS involvement during the project. Examples described include collaboration on planning, coordination on methods, data stewardship, and integrating results into broader science and decision-support efforts.

5. What program is this opportunity issued under?

This opportunity is issued specifically under the Rocky Mountain Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (Rocky Mountain CESU) Program.

6. What is a CESU in the context of this opportunity?

Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Units (CESUs) are partnership frameworks that connect federal agencies with universities, nonprofits, and other research organizations to provide research, technical assistance, and education in support of resource management needs. They are commonly used for collaborative projects where substantial federal agency involvement is expected.

7. Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is limited to organizations that are already participating partners of the Rocky Mountain CESU. While the listing identifies eligible applicants as "Others," the key requirement is active partnership status within the Rocky Mountain CESU network.

8. Is this opportunity open to organizations outside the Rocky Mountain CESU?

Based on the information provided, no. The gatekeeping requirement is active participation as a partner in the Rocky Mountain CESU.

9. What geographic region is the work focused on?

The research focus is on species range shifts within the North Central CASC region.

10. What types of activities does the award support?

The award is intended to help a qualified CESU partner expand or accelerate field and/or analytical efforts that improve understanding of climate-driven species redistribution and the implications for ecosystems and management decisions.

11. What is the role of the CESU network in this opportunity?

The opportunity is designed to leverage the existing expertise, institutional capacity, and collaborative infrastructure of the CESU network to speed up and strengthen ongoing or planned scientific work on climate-driven species range shifts.

12. What is the funding opportunity number?

The funding opportunity number is G24AS00403.

13. When was this opportunity created?

The opportunity was created on June 13, 2024.

14. What was the original application closing date?

The original application closing date was July 15, 2024.

15. What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?

The maximum funding amount listed (award ceiling) is $351,777.

16. How many awards does USGS expect to make?

The announcement indicates an expected number of awards, but the specific number is not provided in the information available here.

17. What is the assistance listing or CFDA number associated with this opportunity?

The opportunity is associated with CFDA number 15.808, which corresponds to USGS research and related assistance.

18. What category does this opportunity fall under?

This opportunity falls under the Science and Technology and other Research and Development category.

19. What outcomes is this opportunity aiming to deliver?

The opportunity is targeted at enabling a CESU-affiliated partner to deliver timely, policy-relevant science on climate-driven species redistribution in the North Central CASC geography, combining partner capacity with active federal scientific involvement through the CESU model.

20. What kind of collaboration should applicants plan for with USGS?

Applicants should plan for substantial collaboration with USGS, including joint planning, coordination on methods, data stewardship, and integrating results into broader science and decision-support efforts.