Opportunity Information: Apply for USGS 15 FA 0478
Apply for USGS 15 FA 0478
- The Geological Survey in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Building Historical Databases for Butterfly Monitoring to Support Research on Monarch Population Trends and Other Butterfly Pollinators" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.808 U.S. Geological Survey Research and Data Collection.
- This funding opportunity was created on Aug 17, 2015 and posted on Aug 17, 2015.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 31, 2015. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $79,501.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $79,501.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Private institutions of higher education.
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Opportunity Summary:
Building Historical Databases for Butterfly Monitoring to Support Research on Monarch Population Trends and Other Butterfly Pollinators (Funding Opportunity Number USGS 15 FA 0478) was a U.S. Geological Survey discretionary grant offered as a cooperative agreement under the Natural Resources funding activity area. The core aim of the project was to strengthen research and long-term monitoring of butterflies by organizing and mobilizing historical butterfly data, with a clear emphasis on monarch butterflies and the plants they depend on as hostplants. In practical terms, the opportunity focused on consolidating scattered historical datasets, improving their accessibility through centralized hosting, and making those data more usable for scientists and conservation planners studying population trends and broader pollinator dynamics.
A central feature of the opportunity was data integration across multiple existing efforts. Rather than generating entirely new field observations, the project sought to leverage and connect historical records that already existed in different formats and locations, such as institutional databases, research collections, monitoring program archives, and other legacy data sources. The intent was to bring those records together into a small number of central online portals so they could be discovered and accessed more consistently, while still respecting ownership and permissions associated with each dataset.
Another key deliverable was the development of reliable export and data-sharing procedures to support routine uploads into BISON, the Biodiversity Information Serving Our Nation system. The announcement explicitly noted that uploads to BISON should occur with permission from individual data owners, highlighting that the project was expected to include a governance and coordination component alongside the technical work. In effect, the project was designed to improve the national-level availability of monarch and other butterfly occurrence and hostplant information by standardizing how data are packaged, exported, and periodically synchronized with a federal biodiversity data platform.
The opportunity anticipated a single award, with total estimated funding set at $79,501, which also served as both the award ceiling and award floor, indicating a fixed-size award rather than a range of possible budgets. No cost sharing or matching requirement was specified. Eligibility was limited to private institutions of higher education, signaling an expectation that a university-based team would manage the data compilation, portal hosting arrangements, and the technical workflow needed for recurring BISON submissions, likely in coordination with data providers and partners.
The announcement was posted on August 17, 2015, with an original and current closing date of August 31, 2015, and an archive date of September 30, 2015. The CFDA number associated with the program was 15.808 (U.S. Geological Survey Research and Data Collection). The listed contact for access issues with the full announcement was Desiree Santa, Grant Specialist, reachable by phone at 703-648-7382.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the title of this funding opportunity?
The opportunity is titled "Building Historical Databases for Butterfly Monitoring to Support Research on Monarch Population Trends and Other Butterfly Pollinators."
What is the Funding Opportunity Number?
The Funding Opportunity Number is USGS 15 FA 0478.
Which federal agency offered this grant?
This was offered by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).
What type of award was used?
The announcement described it as a USGS discretionary grant offered as a cooperative agreement.
What funding activity area does it fall under?
The funding activity area was Natural Resources.
What is the main purpose of the project?
The core aim was to strengthen research and long-term monitoring of butterflies by organizing and mobilizing historical butterfly data, with a clear emphasis on monarch butterflies and the hostplants they depend on.
Was the opportunity focused on collecting new field data?
No. The opportunity emphasized leveraging and connecting historical records that already existed, rather than generating entirely new field observations.
What kinds of data sources were expected to be included?
Examples mentioned included institutional databases, research collections, monitoring program archives, and other legacy data sources in different formats and locations.
What did "data integration" mean in the context of this opportunity?
It meant consolidating scattered historical datasets and connecting records across multiple existing efforts so they could be discovered and accessed more consistently.
Where were the consolidated datasets expected to be hosted?
The intent was to bring records together into a small number of central online portals to improve discovery and access.
How did the opportunity address data ownership and permissions?
It noted that access and sharing needed to respect ownership and permissions associated with each dataset. It also specifically stated that uploads should occur with permission from individual data owners.
What is BISON and what role did it play in this project?
BISON stands for Biodiversity Information Serving Our Nation. A key deliverable was to develop reliable export and data-sharing procedures that support routine uploads into BISON.
What was expected regarding uploads to BISON?
The project was expected to standardize how data are packaged and exported and to support periodic synchronization with BISON, with uploads occurring only with permission from individual data owners.
Did the project include coordination or governance work, or only technical work?
It included both. In addition to technical tasks (data consolidation, hosting, export procedures), the opportunity highlighted a coordination component tied to permissions and working with individual data owners.
How many awards were anticipated?
The opportunity anticipated a single award.
What was the total estimated funding amount?
Total estimated funding was $79,501.
Was the award amount a range or a fixed amount?
It was presented as a fixed-size award: $79,501 served as both the award ceiling and the award floor.
Was cost sharing or matching required?
No cost sharing or matching requirement was specified.
Who was eligible to apply?
Eligibility was limited to private institutions of higher education.
What type of applicant did the announcement appear to expect?
Based on the stated eligibility and the described work, the announcement implied a university-based team would manage data compilation, portal hosting arrangements, and the workflow for recurring BISON submissions, in coordination with data providers and partners.
When was the opportunity posted?
The announcement was posted on August 17, 2015.
What was the closing date?
The original and current closing date was August 31, 2015.
When was the opportunity archived?
The archive date was September 30, 2015.
What CFDA number is associated with this program?
The CFDA number listed was 15.808 (U.S. Geological Survey Research and Data Collection).
Who is the contact person listed for access issues with the full announcement?
The listed contact was Desiree Santa, Grant Specialist.
How can the listed contact be reached by phone?
The phone number provided for Desiree Santa was 703-648-7382.
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