Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Colorado Plateau CESU | G18AS00064

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the name of this grant opportunity?

This opportunity is the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Colorado Plateau CESU grant opportunity.

What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON)?

The Funding Opportunity Number is G18AS00064.

Which federal agency is offering this funding?

The funding call is issued by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).

Which Department is USGS operating under for this opportunity?

The opportunity is issued through the Department of the Interior.

Which USGS office is specifically associated with this funding call?

The opportunity is issued specifically by the USGS Southwest Biological Science Center (SBSC).

What type of award is being offered?

This is a cooperative agreement.

What does it mean that this is a cooperative agreement?

A cooperative agreement generally means the agency expects substantial involvement during the project. Examples noted for this opportunity include collaboration on study design, coordination on deliverables, and joint interpretation and application of results, rather than a hands-off grant.

Is this a discretionary funding opportunity?

Yes. The opportunity is described as a discretionary opportunity.

What is the main purpose of the project?

The purpose is to support research that builds a program focused on the soil seed bank and its role in ecological restoration across the southwestern United States.

What is a soil seed bank?

A soil seed bank is the reserve of viable seeds present in the soil that can germinate over time. This opportunity emphasizes understanding what species are present, how long seeds persist, and what conditions trigger germination.

Why is the soil seed bank important for ecological restoration?

According to the opportunity description, understanding soil seed banks can strongly influence restoration outcomes by informing restoration planning and helping clarify when seed banks can be assessed and leveraged to improve restoration success rates while reducing costs.

What geographic area is the research intended to benefit?

The research focus is across the southwestern United States, including challenging dryland and desert ecosystems typical of the Southwest.

What management or decision-making needs is this research intended to support?

The work is aimed at helping land managers make better decisions about when natural regeneration might be sufficient, when and where seeding efforts are likely to be effective, and how to allocate restoration resources more efficiently.

What activity category does this opportunity fall under?

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

What is the CFDA number associated with this program?

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

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is limited to partners within the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) network, specifically connected to the Colorado Plateau CESU. The eligible applicants are listed as "Others" with clarification in the opportunity text.

What is the CESU network in the context of this opportunity?

The CESU framework is described as a structure designed to facilitate collaborative research between federal agencies and partner institutions (often universities or research organizations) to address priority conservation and land management questions.

How many awards are expected to be made?

Only one award is expected under this announcement.

What is the maximum funding available (award ceiling)?

The award ceiling is capped at $78,681 for the single anticipated award.

When was this opportunity created?

The opportunity was created on June 6, 2018.

What was the original closing date for applications?

The original closing date was June 20, 2018.

How long was the application window based on the dates provided?

Based on the creation date (June 6, 2018) and the original closing date (June 20, 2018), the opportunity indicates a short application window.

What kind of research is USGS SBSC looking to support through this call?

The call is for targeted, applied research that establishes or expands a structured research program on soil seed banks, with an explicit management goal of making restoration in the southwestern U.S. more reliable and more cost-effective.

What practical restoration outcomes is the research expected to improve?

The opportunity highlights improving restoration success rates while reducing costs, and strengthening the scientific basis for restoration planning by clarifying how seed banks can be assessed and leveraged.

Does the opportunity suggest coordination or collaboration with the agency during the project?

Yes. Because it is a cooperative agreement, the opportunity anticipates substantial agency involvement, including collaboration on study design, coordination on deliverables, and joint interpretation and application of results.