Cooperative Agreement for CESU-affiliated Partner with Colorado Plateau Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit | G24AS00234

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the funding opportunity number for this grant?

The Funding Opportunity Number is G24AS00234.

Which agency is offering this opportunity?

This opportunity is offered by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).

What type of funding opportunity is this?

It is a discretionary cooperative agreement offered under the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) program, through the Colorado Plateau Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CPCESU).

What does it mean that this is a cooperative agreement?

The project is designed to be collaborative and hands-on, with coordination between the selected recipient and federal partners. The recipient is expected to work closely with agencies and centers involved in planning, field activities, interpretation, and sharing information that supports management decisions on federal lands.

What is the main purpose of this opportunity?

The core aim is to improve understanding of whether the fungal pathogen Pseudogymnoascus destructans (Pd) and white-nose syndrome (WNS) are present on Department of the Interior lands managed by the National Park Service (NPS) and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), and to pair disease surveillance with ecological assessments that help interpret bat condition, behavior, and risk.

What geographic area is the project focused on?

The focus is bat health and ecology in the western United States, with particular emphasis on Department of the Interior lands managed by NPS and BLM.

What scientific topic area does this opportunity support?

It supports science and technology research and development focused on bat health and ecology, including surveillance for Pd and WNS and related ecological assessments.

What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?

The CFDA number listed is 15.808.

What are Pd and WNS?

Pseudogymnoascus destructans (Pd) is the fungal pathogen referenced in the opportunity. White-nose syndrome (WNS) is the disease it causes. The work emphasizes surveillance to determine whether Pd/WNS is present and to understand associated risks.

What kinds of activities or tasks are expected under this project?

Expected tasks include field-based research (such as capturing or observing bats, collecting samples suitable for Pd detection, and documenting habitat or site conditions), laboratory analyses of collected materials and data, and structured data management.

Is bat ecology included in addition to disease surveillance?

Yes. The opportunity calls for Pd/WNS surveillance paired with broader ecological assessments to help interpret bat condition, behavior, and risk.

What ecological assessments are mentioned as examples?

Bat diet work is highlighted as one example of an ecological study that may be included. The description also leaves room for other complementary assessments.

Why is data management specifically mentioned?

Data management is listed as an explicit project element, signaling that the funder expects usable, well-organized outputs that can be integrated across agencies and monitoring efforts, rather than only raw field notes or isolated lab results.

Who are the expected project partners or collaborators?

The project is expected to be carried out in coordination with multiple partners, including USGS-FORT (USGS Fort Collins Science Center), NPS, BLM, the USGS National Wildlife Health Center, and potentially additional collaborators as needed.

Will the selected organization be working independently?

No. The opportunity is framed as a multi-agency effort in which the selected CESU partner coordinates with the named federal collaborators on planning surveillance, collecting and interpreting samples or field observations, and sharing data that supports management decisions on federal lands.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is limited to organizations that are already participating partners in the Colorado Plateau CESU (CPCESU). It is not an open competition for entities outside the CPCESU network.

Are private companies or the general public eligible to apply?

No. The information provided states that this is not an open competition for the general public, private companies, or institutions outside the CPCESU network.

What is the maximum award amount?

The award ceiling listed is $65,000.

How many awards does USGS expect to make?

The listing indicates a single expected award, suggesting USGS intended to fund one CESU-affiliated partner for this project.

When was the opportunity created?

The opportunity was created on January 9, 2024.

What was the closing date shown in the posting?

The original closing date shown is February 9, 2024.

Which land management agencies are specifically emphasized in the project goals?

The opportunity emphasizes Department of the Interior lands managed by the National Park Service (NPS) and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM).

What is the overall expected outcome of the project?

The overall intent is to strengthen early detection and understanding of Pd/WNS in the western U.S. while building ecological context (including diet and other indicators) that can inform how agencies like NPS and BLM monitor bat populations and respond to disease risks on the lands they manage.