Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Great Lakes Northern Forests CESU | G20AS00111

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the Great Lakes Northern Forests CESU funding opportunity?

This is a discretionary research funding opportunity offered through the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) network, specifically the Great Lakes Northern Forests CESU. It is administered by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) within the Department of the Interior, and it supports applied research work tied to management needs in the region.

What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this grant?

The Funding Opportunity Number is G20AS00111.

Which federal agency is offering and administering the award?

The award is offered by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), which is part of the U.S. Department of the Interior.

What type of award is this (grant vs. cooperative agreement)?

This opportunity is issued as a cooperative agreement. In general, that means USGS expects to have substantial involvement as the project is carried out, such as collaborating on technical direction, coordinating work, or helping integrate results into agency needs.

What does "substantial involvement" by USGS typically mean for a project like this?

Based on the description provided, substantial involvement may include USGS participation in technical direction, coordination among partners, and/or integrating project outputs into agency decision-making and operational needs. The work is intended to be connected to how managers actually use risk information.

What is the main focus area of the research supported by this opportunity?

The core focus is applied research related to aquatic invasive species (AIS) risk assessments, with an emphasis on producing risk assessments that are directly useful to state natural resource managers.

Is this intended to be academic research, or management-oriented work?

The opportunity is framed as management-oriented applied research rather than purely academic work. It emphasizes co-development with management agencies so the resulting tools, methods, and findings can be used in real decision-making.

What is meant by "AIS risk assessments" in the context of this opportunity?

Within the scope described, AIS risk assessments refer to work that evaluates the risk posed by aquatic invasive species, including how invasion pathways, species survival, and future risk patterns may affect aquatic systems and resource management decisions.

Who are the intended end users of the project outputs?

The opportunity emphasizes usefulness to state natural resource managers. Deliverables are expected to support real-world planning and decision-making by management agencies.

Does the project include any planning or strategy development beyond the research?

Yes. In addition to conducting or improving AIS risk assessments, the project includes a planning component to develop an action plan describing how to organize and implement a regional-scale effort to integrate AIS risk assessment approaches.

What is the "regional-scale effort" expected to accomplish?

The regional effort is intended to integrate AIS risk assessment approaches across the region (Great Lakes and northern forests context), moving toward a more coordinated strategy rather than isolated assessments.

How is climate change expected to be incorporated into the work?

A key expectation is that regional integration of AIS risk assessments accounts for climate change projections. The description notes that changing temperatures, hydrology, ice cover, and ecosystem conditions can alter invasion pathways, species survival, and future risk patterns, and the project should recognize these shifting baselines.

What program area or activity category does this opportunity fall under?

The opportunity is listed under the Science and Technology and other Research and Development activity category.

What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?

The CFDA number listed is 15.808.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is limited to partners in the CESU network, specifically within the Great Lakes Northern Forests CESU. The announcement lists eligible applicants broadly as "Others" and directs readers to additional eligibility details, but the provided description indicates CESU partnership within that specific CESU is required.

How many awards does the announcement anticipate making?

The announcement anticipates making a single award.

What is the maximum funding amount available?

The award ceiling (maximum funding level) is $16,661.

What does the relatively small award ceiling suggest about project scope?

Based on the provided description, the ceiling suggests a targeted scope, likely focused on specific deliverables such as a pilot assessment, a synthesis of existing risk assessment frameworks, engagement with state agencies, and a structured regional action plan.

When was this funding opportunity created?

The opportunity was created on June 30, 2020.

What was the original closing date for applications?

The original closing date was July 22, 2020.

What region or ecosystem context does this opportunity target?

The opportunity is intended to strengthen AIS risk evaluation and communication in the Great Lakes and northern forest region, aligned with the Great Lakes Northern Forests CESU.

What kinds of deliverables are implied by the opportunity description?

While specific deliverables are not enumerated in the text provided, the description implies outputs such as applied AIS risk assessments (or improvements to assessment methods), products usable by state managers, and an action plan for organizing and implementing a regional approach to integrating AIS risk assessment methods, including climate change projections.

What is the overall purpose of the grant in plain terms?

The overall purpose is to make AIS risk assessments more actionable for managers in the region by linking scientific methods to real management needs, and to push toward a coordinated regional strategy that also reflects how climate change may shift invasion risks over time.