Cooperative Agreement for CESU-affiliated Partner with Rocky Mountain CESU Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit | G23AS00411

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the title of this grant opportunity?

The opportunity is titled "Cooperative Agreement for CESU-affiliated Partner with Rocky Mountain CESU Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit."

What is the Funding Opportunity Number?

The Funding Opportunity Number is G23AS00411.

Which federal agency is offering this opportunity?

This funding announcement is offered by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), within the Department of the Interior.

What type of award is this?

This opportunity is issued as a Cooperative Agreement.

What does it mean that this is a Cooperative Agreement?

A Cooperative Agreement is structured for collaborative work where the federal agency is typically expected to have substantial involvement during the project. In other words, it is not just a pass-through funding arrangement; it is intended to involve ongoing interaction and collaboration with USGS over the course of the work.

What program framework is this opportunity associated with?

This opportunity sits within the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) framework. CESUs are designed to connect federal agencies with partner institutions to deliver applied research, technical assistance, and education that support natural and cultural resource management.

Which CESU network does this opportunity use?

The opportunity is specific to the Rocky Mountains CESU Program (Rocky Mountain CESU Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit).

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is restricted to organizations that are already participating partners in the Rocky Mountains CESU Program. The listing shows "Others" as eligible applicants, but the controlling requirement is active Rocky Mountains CESU membership.

Are non-CESU members eligible to apply?

No. Organizations that are not official Rocky Mountains CESU partners would not be eligible under this specific announcement because the award is being issued under CESU authority and is intended to be executed through that partnership mechanism.

What kinds of organizations are typically part of the Rocky Mountains CESU partnership?

The Rocky Mountains CESU network typically includes universities, tribal nations or tribal organizations, state agencies, nonprofit organizations, and other qualified entities that have joined the CESU partnership.

What is the main research focus of the project?

The project focus is research on the ecology of wild equids in the Western United States. This can include wild horses and burros or related wild equid populations in the West.

What approaches is USGS looking for in proposed studies?

USGS is looking for data-driven approaches. The announcement highlights modeling, field-based research, or an integrated design that combines field data collection with analytical or predictive modeling.

Does the opportunity require field work, modeling, or both?

The emphasis is on data-driven work and includes modeling, field-based research, or integrated field-plus-modeling designs. The description signals interest in projects that are empirically grounded (field observations and measurements) and also generalizable (analytical or predictive tools and models).

What are examples of field data or measurements that could fit this opportunity?

Examples mentioned include population indicators, habitat use, forage conditions, water availability, movement patterns, and interactions with other species and land uses.

What are examples of modeling approaches that could fit this opportunity?

The announcement references statistical, spatial, or mechanistic models, including models used to explain patterns and forecast outcomes under different conditions or management scenarios.

What kinds of results is USGS likely looking for?

The description emphasizes results that can improve understanding of wild equid ecology and support natural resource management decisions. It also highlights interest in work that is generalizable across multiple landscapes in the region, such as tools, analyses, or forecasts that inform decision-making.

What is the activity category for this funding opportunity?

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

What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?

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

What is the maximum (ceiling) award amount?

The award ceiling is listed as $41,000. This is the upper bound on the expected federal funding level for the project.

Does the posting say how many awards will be made?

The posting does not specify the number of expected awards (the field appears blank).

When was this funding opportunity created?

The opportunity was created on June 13, 2023.

What was the original closing date for applications?

The original closing date was August 18, 2023.

What kind of project scope does the $41,000 ceiling suggest?

Based on the description, the modest ceiling suggests a targeted, scoped effort such as a pilot study, a discrete field season, a focused modeling effort, or a tightly defined analysis that can be completed within a limited budget.

What geographic area is emphasized for the research?

The research emphasis is on the Western United States, with an interest in outcomes that can inform decision-making across multiple landscapes in the region.

What is the overall purpose of this cooperative agreement?

Overall, it is a CESU-based cooperative agreement intended to support applied ecological research on wild equids in the West, using rigorous field data and quantitative modeling to produce results that improve understanding of equid ecology and support resource management decisions.