Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Californian CESU | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1) What is the name of this funding opportunity?

This opportunity is the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Californian CESU opportunity, Funding Opportunity Number G15AS00049, issued by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).

2) What agency is offering the funding?

The funding announcement is issued by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) as a discretionary funding opportunity.

3) What is the main purpose of this opportunity?

The core purpose is to support science and technology research that improves how mountain pine beetle (MPB) impacts are monitored across forests in the western United States, with a strong emphasis on tracking year-to-year changes in MPB-infested areas using time series remote sensing.

4) What research focus does USGS emphasize?

USGS emphasizes strengthening methods that can monitor spatiotemporal patterns (where outbreaks occur and how they change over time) by using time series remote sensing to produce more accurate, repeatable, and spatially consistent estimates of MPB impacts.

5) Why is improved MPB monitoring needed if aerial detection surveys already exist?

According to the announcement, aerial detection surveys provide a broad sense of MPB distribution and trends, but there is substantial uncertainty in those estimates. This opportunity is motivated by the need for monitoring approaches that reduce uncertainty and improve consistency and repeatability over space and time.

6) What is mountain pine beetle (MPB), as described in the announcement?

MPB is described as the most destructive forest insect affecting the western United States and Canada. It attacks multiple pine species, and recent outbreaks have heavily impacted lodgepole and ponderosa pine forests.

7) What kinds of impacts does USGS associate with MPB outbreaks?

USGS describes MPB disturbance as having cascading ecological and climate-related effects beyond tree mortality, including potential changes to carbon sink capacity, wildfire hazards (via altered fuel conditions), surface energy balance, hydrology (including snow accumulation/melt and evapotranspiration), and possibly regional climate patterns.

8) What outcomes is USGS trying to enable with better monitoring?

USGS is seeking monitoring techniques that help researchers and land managers better understand where MPB outbreaks are occurring, how infestations expand or contract over time, and what the longer-term ecological and climate-related consequences may be.

9) What type of funding instrument will be used?

The announcement uses a cooperative agreement as the funding mechanism.

10) What does it mean that the award is a cooperative agreement?

The announcement notes that a cooperative agreement typically implies substantial involvement by the federal agency during the project period, compared to a more hands-off grant.

11) How many awards does USGS expect to make?

The announcement anticipates making one award.

12) What is the estimated total funding amount?

The estimated total funding amount is $350,000.

13) Is cost sharing or matching required?

No cost sharing or matching requirement is indicated in the announcement.

14) What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?

The opportunity is associated with CFDA 15.808, US Geological Survey Research and Data Collection.

15) Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is limited to partners within the Californian Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) Program. In practical terms, applicants must already be a participating partner in the Californian CESU to be eligible under this specific opportunity.

16) The listing says eligible applicants are "Others." What does that mean here?

While the eligible applicants field is broadly labeled as "Others," the eligibility text clarifies that only Californian CESU partners are eligible to apply.

17) What is a CESU, based on the announcement?

CESUs are formal partnerships that connect federal agencies with universities, research organizations, and other partners to deliver research, technical assistance, and education tied to natural and cultural resource management needs.

18) What are the key dates for this opportunity?

Posting date: March 17, 2015. Creation date: March 23, 2015. Original closing date: March 30, 2015. Current closing date (extended): May 1, 2015. Archive date: June 17, 2015.

19) Where can applicants find additional information?

The announcement directs readers to Grants.gov for more details via the additional information link: http://www.grants.gov/

20) Who can be contacted with questions or access issues?

The listed point of contact is Faith Graves (USGS). Phone: 703-648-7356. Email: fgraves@usgs.gov.

21) What geographic area is the work intended to support?

The science and technology research supported by this announcement focuses on improving monitoring of MPB impacts across western U.S. forests.

22) What monitoring approach is specifically mentioned as important?

The opportunity specifically highlights time series remote sensing as a key approach for tracking year-to-year changes in MPB-infested forest areas.

23) What kinds of patterns does USGS want monitoring to capture?

USGS is looking for methods that capture spatiotemporal patterns, meaning both the spatial distribution (where) and temporal dynamics (when, including expansion or contraction over time) of MPB-driven change.