Cooperative Agreement for CESU-affiliated Partner with Gulf Coast Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit | G23AS00416

Opportunity Information: Apply for G23AS00416

This opportunity is a discretionary funding announcement from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) under the Department of the Interior, focused on supporting science and technology research through a cooperative agreement. The program is issued through the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) network, specifically the Gulf Coast Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, which is a partnership framework used by federal agencies to work with universities, nonprofits, and other partners on research, technical assistance, and education that support public resource management. Because it is a CESU-based award, eligibility is limited: only organizations that are official participating partners of the Gulf Coast CESU can apply.

The research focus is on invasive or exotic species risks tied to the "hitchhiking pathway," meaning organisms that are unintentionally transported into the United States by attaching to or traveling with other materials, equipment, cargo, vessels, or related vectors. USGS is seeking work that contributes to a national horizon scan, which is essentially an early-warning and prioritization effort that looks ahead to identify and assess emerging threats before they become widespread problems. Within that larger horizon-scanning purpose, the project centers on exotic plants and invertebrates, with an emphasis on aquatic contexts where hitchhiking can be especially common due to boating, fishing gear, water-based commerce, and the movement of aquatic vegetation.

A key objective of the project is to deliver both synthesis and empirical information on aquatic plant metrics that may make it easier for hitchhiking organisms to be introduced and transported within the United States. In practical terms, this means the work is expected to pull together existing knowledge (synthesis, such as literature review and integrating prior datasets) and also generate or analyze data (empirical information) to clarify which measurable characteristics of aquatic plants are associated with higher risk of carrying, sheltering, or transporting invertebrates or other organisms. These "metrics" could include traits or measurable features of aquatic vegetation relevant to attachment, survivorship during transport, or the likelihood of being moved by human activity, with the end goal of improving how agencies detect, evaluate, and prevent introductions tied to plant-associated hitchhikers.

Administratively, the funding opportunity is identified as "Cooperative Agreement for CESU-affiliated Partner with Gulf Coast Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit" with opportunity number G23AS00416. The funding instrument is a cooperative agreement, which typically indicates that USGS expects to have substantial involvement in the project (for example, collaboration on project design, coordination, data integration, or iterative review of outputs), rather than simply providing funds with minimal interaction as in some grant structures. The activity category is science and technology and other research and development, and the CFDA/Assistance Listing number is 15.808. The award ceiling is listed as $180,000, and the original closing date for submissions was July 21, 2023, with the opportunity created on June 13, 2023. The announcement indicates an expectation of awards but does not provide a specific number in the provided source fields.

Overall, the opportunity is aimed at producing actionable research products that strengthen national preparedness against biological invasions by clarifying how aquatic plants can function as vectors for hitchhiking invertebrates and other organisms. By improving the evidence base around plant-related risk factors and integrating that information into horizon-scanning efforts, the project is positioned to support more targeted prevention, monitoring, and management decisions by USGS and partner resource agencies.

• The Geological Survey in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Cooperative Agreement for CESU-affiliated Partner with Gulf Coast Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.808.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2023-06-13.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2023-07-21. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $180,000.00 in funding.
• Eligible applicants include: Others.

Apply for G23AS00416

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