Cooperative Agreement for CESU-affiliated Partner with Piedmont South Atlantic Coast Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit | G22AS00357

Opportunity Information: Apply for G22AS00357

This grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number G22AS00357) is a discretionary cooperative agreement offered by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) under CFDA 15.808 and the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) Program. It is specifically limited to organizations that are official participating partners in the Piedmont-South Atlantic Coast CESU, meaning it is not open to the general public or to institutions outside that CESU network. CESUs are structured partnerships designed to connect federal agencies with universities and other eligible organizations to deliver research, technical assistance, and education in a way that directly supports management needs.

The project focus is applied research and field-ready planning aimed at improving recovery efforts for the Eastern Black Rail, a species listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. The central problem the award is trying to address is that current management strategies for this rail are not well established; in other words, land managers lack clear, evidence-based guidance on what actions reliably improve habitat conditions and population outcomes. Because of that uncertainty, the opportunity emphasizes the development of management experiments that can test different approaches and identify best management practices.

Work supported by the award includes designing management experiments (how to structure treatments, controls, timing, and measurements so results are defensible and useful), developing site selection information (where experiments and monitoring should occur to maximize learning and relevance), producing management guidance (translating findings into practical recommendations for agencies and partners), and creating or refining field data collection protocols (standardized methods so data are comparable across sites and time). The intent is to generate practical tools and study designs that can be implemented efficiently, leading to clearer decisions about how to manage habitat and recovery actions for Eastern Black Rails.

The funding instrument is a cooperative agreement rather than a standard grant, which typically signals that USGS expects to have substantial involvement during the project. In practice, that often means close coordination on study design, data standards, deliverables, and how results are communicated to managers, helping ensure the work stays aligned with agency recovery priorities and produces outputs that can be used in real management settings.

Key administrative details provided in the notice include an award ceiling of $18,000, an original closing date of June 17, 2022, and a creation date of May 18, 2022. The listing also notes the awarding agency as the Geological Survey (USGS) and categorizes the activity area as Science and Technology and other Research and Development. Although the notice does not specify the exact number of expected awards in the provided text, the overall structure and targeted eligibility suggest a focused, partner-driven effort intended to quickly develop actionable experimental designs and monitoring guidance for a threatened species where managers need clearer direction.

• 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 Piedmont South Atlantic 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 2022-05-18.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2022-06-17. (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 $18,000.00 in funding.
• Eligible applicants include: Others.

Apply for G22AS00357

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