Cooperative Agreement for affiliated Partner with Colorado Plateau Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) | G25AS00260

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What agency is offering this funding opportunity?

This opportunity is offered by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), through its Southwest Biological Science Center (SBSC).

What is the main purpose of this cooperative agreement?

The purpose is to support research focused on ecohydrological simulation in dryland ecosystems, with a central goal of quantifying drought patterns that matter ecologically. The work is intended to characterize drought conditions in the past and explore plausible drought patterns in the future, using drought metrics and dynamics that are directly relevant to ecosystem function in arid and semi-arid landscapes.

What research topic areas are emphasized?

The emphasis is on ecohydrological simulation approaches for dryland ecosystems, specifically approaches that help quantify and interpret drought in ways that connect to ecological outcomes. The notice highlights relevance to ecosystem function, including vegetation, soils, and related biological responses in arid and semi-arid environments.

What does "quantify patterns of drought that matter ecologically" mean in this context?

In this context, it means focusing on drought metrics, drought dynamics, and drought exposure patterns that are directly tied to ecological processes and outcomes (for example, impacts on vegetation, soils, and other biological responses), rather than only general climate or hydrologic indicators.

Does the project need to look at both past and future drought?

Yes. The description indicates that the work should be able to characterize past drought conditions (looking backward in time) and also explore plausible future drought patterns (looking forward in time).

What is meant by "eco-hydrological simulation" for this opportunity?

The opportunity calls for developing or applying simulation approaches that can represent drought conditions and drought-related dynamics in dryland ecosystems, with outputs that are meaningful for ecological interpretation (including vegetation, soils, and related biological responses).

What type of funding instrument is being used (grant vs. cooperative agreement)?

The instrument is a cooperative agreement, not a standard grant.

Why does it matter that this is a cooperative agreement?

A cooperative agreement typically indicates substantial involvement by the federal agency during the project. Based on the notice, that may include collaboration on technical direction, data coordination, methods development, and/or integrating results into broader USGS science needs.

What program is this opportunity issued under?

It is issued under the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) Program, a partnership network intended to connect federal agencies with academic and other research partners to deliver science, technical assistance, and education.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is limited to applicants that are already active participants in the Colorado Plateau CESU. The listing may show the eligible applicant category as "Others," but the notice makes clear that this is not an open competition to the general public; the recipient must be an affiliated Colorado Plateau CESU partner.

Is this opportunity open to the general public or any organization?

No. The notice indicates eligibility is constrained to active Colorado Plateau CESU partners, rather than being open to all potential applicants.

What is the activity category for this funding?

The activity category is "Science and Technology and other Research and Development."

What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?

The assistance listing is associated with CFDA number 15.808.

What is the maximum award amount?

The award ceiling (maximum funding amount) is $240,000.

How many awards will be made?

The notice does not specify the expected number of awards in the fields provided. In the absence of that detail, eligible applicants should assume a competitive selection among eligible CESU partners unless the full announcement states otherwise.

When was the opportunity created?

The opportunity was created on February 11, 2025.

What is the application deadline?

The stated original closing date for applications is March 11, 2025.

What are the expected outputs or outcomes of the funded work?

The notice frames the intended outcome as producing ecohydrological simulation outputs that help decision-makers and scientists understand ecologically meaningful drought exposure and trajectories in dryland systems.

What kinds of ecosystems and landscapes are the focus?

The focus is on dryland ecosystems, including arid and semi-arid landscapes.

What ecological components are explicitly mentioned as relevant?

The notice explicitly mentions ecosystem function, vegetation, soils, and related biological responses as key areas of relevance for the drought metrics and dynamics being studied.

What role might USGS play during the project?

Because the instrument is a cooperative agreement, USGS may have substantial involvement during the project. The notice gives examples such as collaboration on technical direction, data coordination, methods development, or integrating results into broader USGS science needs.

What makes this a CESU-based award?

This is a CESU-based award because it is issued under the CESU Program and restricts eligibility to partners within the relevant CESU network (here, the Colorado Plateau CESU).

What is the broad summary of this funding opportunity?

It is a USGS SBSC research funding opportunity aimed at advancing ecohydrological simulation to quantify ecologically meaningful drought patterns in dryland ecosystems across past and future timeframes. It is limited to Colorado Plateau CESU partners, uses a cooperative agreement mechanism that supports close collaboration with USGS, and provides up to $240,000 with an application window closing March 11, 2025.