Cooperative Agreement for affiliated Partner with Colorado Plateau Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) | G25AS00182

FAQs: USGS SBSC Cooperative Agreement (Colorado Plateau CESU) - G25AS00182

What is this funding opportunity?

This is a U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) discretionary funding opportunity offered through the Southwest Biological Science Center (SBSC) under a Cooperative Agreement. It supports applied research that helps land managers in the southwestern United States understand how well different land management treatments work in real-world conditions.

What is the main purpose of the award?

The core purpose is to evaluate the effectiveness of land management treatments in two closely related areas: (1) reducing hazardous fuels that contribute to severe wildfire behavior, and (2) supporting recovery of vegetation and soils after wildfire and other disturbances. The intent is to generate evidence that improves management decisions, lowers wildfire risk, and reduces long-term ecosystem degradation.

Which agency is administering this opportunity?

The administering agency is the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), listed as "Geological Survey (USGS)" in the notice.

Which USGS center is associated with the work?

The opportunity is offered through the USGS Southwest Biological Science Center (SBSC).

What is the funding opportunity title?

The Funding Opportunity Title is "Cooperative Agreement for affiliated Partner with Colorado Plateau Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU)."

What is the funding opportunity number?

The Funding Opportunity Number is G25AS00182.

What is the CFDA listing for this opportunity?

The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) listing provided is 15.808.

What type of award is it?

The award mechanism is a Cooperative Agreement (not a standard grant). This typically indicates substantial involvement by the federal agency during the project, such as collaboration on study design, coordination with USGS scientists, shared data standards, review of deliverables, and other ongoing technical engagement during the period of performance.

How is a Cooperative Agreement different from a standard grant in this context?

Based on the notice, the key distinction is that USGS is expected to be substantially involved in the project. In CESU projects, that involvement can include technical collaboration, coordination, and review throughout the project rather than a more hands-off funding relationship.

What program is this opportunity issued under?

This opportunity is issued through the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) Program, specifically the Colorado Plateau CESU.

What is a CESU, and why does it matter for this opportunity?

CESUs are formal partnerships designed to connect federal agencies with research institutions and other partners to deliver research, technical assistance, and education tied to public land and resource management needs. It matters here because the opportunity is CESU-based and eligibility is limited to participating partners in the Colorado Plateau CESU.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is limited to applicants that are already participating partners in the Colorado Plateau CESU. Organizations outside that partnership are not eligible to apply unless they are already recognized as an affiliated CESU partner under the Colorado Plateau unit.

Can a non-CESU organization apply?

No. The notice states that eligibility is limited to participating partners in the Colorado Plateau CESU, and that this requirement is central to the competition.

What is the research and project focus area?

The focus is applied research on land management in the southwestern United States, centered on evaluating treatments that (1) mitigate hazardous fuels and (2) improve post-disturbance recovery of vegetation and soils.

What kinds of treatments might be evaluated under this opportunity?

The notice indicates the research can include evaluation of approaches such as mechanical thinning, prescribed fire, seeding or planting strategies, erosion control and soil stabilization techniques, invasive species management, and other restoration actions used after wildfire or in degraded landscapes.

Is the emphasis only on wildfire fuels reduction?

No. The notice emphasizes both hazardous fuels reduction and recovery of vegetation and soils after wildfire and other disturbances, reflecting a whole-ecosystem framing that addresses near-term fire risk and longer-term ecological resilience and function.

What geographic area does this opportunity target?

The geographic emphasis is the southwestern United States, aligning with SBSC priorities and the Colorado Plateau CESU footprint.

Why is the Southwest specifically mentioned?

The notice links the Southwest focus to conditions such as drought, warming, altered fire regimes, and legacy land-use impacts that increase the likelihood of large, high-severity fires and long-lasting ecological change.

What is the funding activity category?

The funding activity category is listed as "Science and Technology and other Research and Development," indicating the work is intended to produce research outputs, analyses, and management-relevant findings rather than construction or routine operations.

What is the maximum federal funding amount?

The anticipated maximum federal funding amount (award ceiling) is $200,000.

How many awards will be made?

The notice includes an "ExpectedAwards" field, but no number is provided in the source data. Based on the provided information only, the number of awards is not specified.

When was the opportunity created?

The opportunity was created on 2024-12-11.

What is the submission deadline?

The original closing date for submissions is 2025-01-13.

What kind of outcomes is USGS trying to achieve with this award?

The intent is to produce evidence about which restoration and fuels-reduction approaches perform well under real southwestern conditions and to translate that evidence into better land management decisions that lower wildfire risk and reduce long-term ecosystem degradation.

Does the opportunity emphasize practical, management-relevant results?

Yes. The notice describes the work as applied research meant to generate on-the-ground evidence and management-relevant findings that can be used to improve land management decisions.

Should applicants expect coordination with USGS during the project?

Yes. Because the mechanism is a Cooperative Agreement and the opportunity is CESU-based, the notice indicates substantial agency involvement is typical, including collaboration with USGS scientists and review/coordination on deliverables and technical approaches.