Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Californian CESU | Apply Online

Opportunity Summary:

This grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number 08HQPA0034), titled "Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Californian CESU," is a U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) National Biological Information Infrastructure (NBII) effort to partner with a university that is already part of the Californian Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU). The central goal is to provide technical assistance that strengthens science delivery and technology transfer related to biological and natural resources data. In practical terms, USGS is looking for a collaborative university partner to help develop, improve, and deliver data products and information systems that make it easier for professionals and the public to find, use, and apply biological information for decision-making.

The opportunity is grounded in the broader NBII mission: building an integrated gateway to the many biological and natural resources datasets that exist across different organizations but are often scattered, inconsistent, or difficult to access. NBII is described as a nationwide collaborative network involving federal, state, and local agencies, nongovernmental organizations, universities, and private-sector groups. Its audience is broad, including land managers, researchers, decision makers, educators, and the general public. The emphasis is not just on collecting data, but on making existing and new data more accessible and useful through enterprise portal technology and related tools, so that it can support science-based land use decisions, research, policy development, and public information needs.

Within that larger framework, the work under this cooperative agreement focuses on innovative biological informatics approaches, meaning the use of modern information technology to organize, integrate, visualize, and serve biological data. The announcement highlights potential deliverables such as visualization products, tools, models, web-based applications, and semantic systems (tools that improve how data is described and connected so users can search and interpret it more effectively). The idea is to enhance both the availability of data and the ability of users to interpret and apply it across different scales and topic areas.

Two specific technical assistance areas are emphasized. The first is "California Biological Data," which aims to improve data sharing across California by bringing together scientific datasets, models, tools, and other resources that help address natural resource issues. Because California has a large population and complex resource management challenges, the cooperative effort is intended to support researchers and managers and to foster interaction among state and federal organizations as well as research and educational institutions. A concrete example of the type of work envisioned is developing a user-friendly web database interface that consolidates widely dispersed information on topics like invasive species and migratory birds, enabling easier access, improved querying, and stronger collaboration among regional partners.

The second highlighted area is the "Tri Colored Blackbird Database Portal," which is focused on improving and expanding data sharing for a dedicated portal about the tricolored blackbird (Agelaius tricolor). The tricolored blackbird is described as a near-endemic California songbird and the most colonial songbird in North America, making it a species of notable scientific and conservation interest. Proposed efforts include compiling and providing data that documents breeding colony locations and characteristics, including productivity estimates; building or improving online data entry so observation data can be submitted through the system; and enhancing spatial applications so users can retrieve and link information via map-based tools connected to occurrence or point-location data. As with the broader California data effort, the intended beneficiaries include scientists, policymakers, and the public, reflecting an emphasis on turning field and monitoring information into practical, accessible knowledge.

Structurally, this is a discretionary funding opportunity using a cooperative agreement, which typically means USGS expects substantial involvement and collaboration during the project rather than a hands-off grant. The activity category is listed under Science and Technology and other Research and Development, and it falls under CFDA 15.808 (U.S. Geological Survey Research and Data Collection). Only one award is expected, and eligibility is limited to institutions that are participating partners of the Californian CESU Program, reinforcing that this is a targeted partnership mechanism rather than an open competition for all universities.

In terms of funding and period of performance, USGS NBII anticipates an agreement lasting up to three years, with the possibility of renewal. The announcement indicates a total anticipated project amount of up to $95,000 across the full project period, with $15,000 expected to be available in FY2008 as the initial increment. Continuation into years 2 and 3 depends on successful performance and the availability of funds, and the notice makes clear that funding in the first year does not guarantee future-year funding. The award floor is $15,000 and the award ceiling is $95,000, and there is no cost sharing or matching requirement stated.

Key administrative details include the posting date (June 6, 2008), creation date (June 17, 2008), and closing date information showing the original closing date of June 16, 2008 and a current closing date of June 20, 2008, with an archive date of July 20, 2008. The listed agency is the USGS, and the point of contact for assistance accessing the full announcement is Faith Graves, Contract Specialist, at 703-648-7356.

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