Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Californian CESU | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the funding opportunity number and title?

The funding opportunity is Funding Opportunity Number G11AS20032, titled "Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Californian CESU."

Which federal agency is offering this opportunity?

This is a discretionary U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) grant opportunity, offered as a cooperative agreement.

What type of award is this?

The opportunity is offered as a cooperative agreement. It supports science and technology research and development and is designed to produce management-relevant outcomes tied to fire management needs in the Mojave Desert.

What is the main purpose of the award?

The award is intended to fund a single research project that generates the information needed to finish building a comprehensive set of fire management tools tailored to the Mojave Desert.

What problem or management need is this project trying to address?

The project aims to improve the ability of fire managers to understand and anticipate how Mojave Desert fuels behave and how those fuels influence wildfire risk, typical fire occurrence and spread, ecological effects of fire, and likely postfire recovery or succession pathways.

What kinds of outcomes are the fire management tools intended to help predict?

The tools are intended to help managers assess fuels and then use that assessment to predict several linked outcomes, including fire hazard, fire regimes, fire effects, and postfire succession pathways.

What does "fire hazard" mean in the context of this opportunity?

In the context provided, fire hazard refers to the likelihood and potential behavior of damaging fire, based on fuels assessment and related information.

What does "fire regimes" mean in the context of this opportunity?

Fire regimes are described as patterns such as frequency, intensity, and seasonality of fires in the region, which the tools are intended to help predict.

What does "fire effects" mean in the context of this opportunity?

Fire effects refer to impacts on vegetation, soils, wildlife habitat, and other ecosystem components, as described in the opportunity summary.

What are "postfire succession pathways" in the context of this opportunity?

Postfire succession pathways refer to how plant communities and broader ecosystem conditions change after a burn, including likely recovery trajectories following fire.

Is the opportunity focused on theoretical research or applied research?

Based on the description, the emphasis is on producing actionable, management-relevant information that directly feeds into applied decision-support tools for on-the-ground fire management, rather than purely theoretical work.

How many awards does the announcement anticipate making?

The announcement anticipates one award.

What is the estimated total funding amount?

The estimated total funding amount is $150,789.

Is cost sharing or matching required?

No cost sharing or matching is required.

Is there a minimum or maximum award amount (ceiling/floor)?

The award ceiling and floor are both listed as zero. This typically indicates that no formal minimum or maximum dollar limits were set in the posting beyond the stated estimated total funding amount, and that the final award amount would be determined through the proposal and negotiation process under the cooperative agreement framework.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is limited to organizations that are already participating partners in the Californian Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) Program.

Can any university or member of the public apply?

No. The opportunity is not broadly open to the general public or to all universities by default. Applicants must be part of the Californian CESU network to be considered eligible.

What is the Californian CESU Program (as described in the opportunity summary)?

CESUs are formal partnerships designed to streamline collaboration between federal agencies and partner institutions by supporting research, technical assistance, and education.

What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity, and what does it indicate?

The CFDA number is 15.808, identified as "U.S. Geological Survey Research and Data Collection." This helps identify the federal assistance program category tied to the funding.

When was the opportunity posted and created?

The opportunity was posted on April 27, 2011, and created on May 5, 2011.

What was the original closing date, and what is the revised closing date?

The opportunity was initially scheduled to close on May 6, 2011, with a revised current closing date of May 25, 2011.

Is this opportunity currently open?

The listing indicates an archive date of July 27, 2011, which suggests it is an older, archived opportunity rather than a currently open competition.

Where can applicants find the full announcement details?

The listing points to Grants.gov as the primary source for the full announcement details.

Who is the contact person for questions or access issues?

The contact person listed is Faith Graves at USGS. The listing specifically notes contacting this person for issues accessing the announcement electronically.

What are the phone number and email for the contact person?

Faith Graves can be reached at 703-648-7356 or via email at fgraves@usgs.gov.