COOPERATIVE ECOSYSTEM STUDIES UNIT, CHESAPEAKE WATERSHED CESU | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1) What is this funding opportunity?

This opportunity is a US Geological Survey (USGS) cooperative agreement issued through the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) Program under the Chesapeake Watershed CESU. It supports research and development work tied to the long-term Operation and Maintenance (OM) of LANDFIRE.

2) What is LANDFIRE?

LANDFIRE is a major interagency mapping program funded by the Department of the Interior and the US Forest Service. It produces nationally consistent datasets that describe vegetation, wildland fuels, and fire regimes across the United States at landscape and ecosystem scales.

3) Why is USGS funding work on LANDFIRE Operation and Maintenance (OM)?

The purpose of LANDFIRE OM is to protect and extend the substantial investment made in the initial LANDFIRE products by developing a repeatable, scientifically defensible way to keep those products current over time, rather than letting them become outdated after the initial mapping effort.

4) What is the main technical challenge this project is trying to address?

A key challenge highlighted is national-scale change detection: identifying and describing landscape change accurately, quickly, and consistently across the country. This includes both natural changes and human-driven changes.

5) What time period does this research-and-development work support?

The agency describes FY2008 to FY2011 as a targeted research-and-development period that builds the foundation for longer-term operational routines.

6) What long-term update approach is the project working toward?

The R&D period is intended to support routines aiming toward biennial updates and decadal remapping beginning in FY2012 and beyond.

7) What specific study or prototype is this award tied to?

This award is tied to a Southeast United States "Refresh" prototype to be conducted in FY2008. It serves as an initial testbed for LANDFIRE OM capabilities.

8) What is the prototype study area?

The prototype area is defined using Bailey ecoregion provinces and focuses on the Outer Coastal Plain and the Southeastern Mixed Forest provinces.

9) What is the purpose of the Southeast US "Refresh" prototype?

The prototype is intended to prove out methods and workflows that can later be scaled into a periodic, national update and remapping program covering all ecosystems and all LANDFIRE deliverables after FY2011.

10) What kinds of methods does the solicitation emphasize?

The work emphasizes remote sensing and multi-temporal analysis, especially using Landsat satellite imagery, along with the end-to-end workflow needed to support operational updates.

11) What is meant by an "end-to-end workflow" in this announcement?

The announcement calls for capabilities across the full workflow, including data acquisition, preprocessing, analysis, and data management, to support repeatable LANDFIRE OM processes.

12) What are the main research objectives listed in the solicitation?

The solicitation lists three main objectives: (1) develop and implement a remote-sensing-based vegetation change tracking algorithm (initially for forests and ultimately applicable across ecosystems) aligned with LANDFIRE requirements; (2) produce forest change maps for the LANDFIRE Southeast US Prototype area; and (3) create companion algorithms supporting development of a vegetation transition database.

13) What is Objective 1 in plain terms?

Objective 1 focuses on building and implementing a vegetation change tracking algorithm using remote sensing, starting with forested systems but designed to be extensible to other ecosystem types, with outputs that align with LANDFIRE requirements and products.

14) What deliverable is associated with Objective 2?

Objective 2 calls for producing forest change maps for the LANDFIRE Southeast US Prototype area.

15) What is the vegetation transition database mentioned in the opportunity?

The vegetation transition database is described as a companion capability to help predict vegetation dynamics by linking observed change to likely transitions in vegetation type or condition.

16) What is Objective 3 focused on?

Objective 3 focuses on creating companion algorithms that support development of the LANDFIRE vegetation transition database, enabling more systematic interpretation and prediction of post-change vegetation dynamics.

17) Does the project focus only on forests?

The early focus is on forests, but the intent is to expand the approach so the change tracking capability is applicable to all ecosystem types.

18) Does the solicitation mention integrating with other related projects?

Yes. The opportunity notes integration with relevant efforts such as the USGS Monitoring Trends in Burn Severity (MTBS) project, particularly to support robust operational handling of disturbance-driven change.

19) What type of award mechanism is being used?

This is a cooperative agreement, which typically implies substantial involvement or collaboration with USGS staff during the project rather than a hands-off grant.

20) Is this considered discretionary funding?

Yes. The announcement describes it as a discretionary funding opportunity.

21) What is the funding activity category?

The funding activity category is listed as science and technology and other research and development.

22) How many awards does the notice expect to make?

The notice indicates an expectation of one award.

23) What is the CFDA program number for this opportunity?

The CFDA program number listed is 15.808, identified as US Geological Survey Research and Data Collection.

24) Is cost sharing or matching required?

No. The announcement indicates there is no cost sharing or matching requirement.

25) What is the estimated total funding amount?

The notice lists an estimated total funding amount of $31,000.

26) What are the minimum and maximum award amounts shown in the notice?

The award floor is listed as $31,000 and the award ceiling is listed as $360,000.

27) Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is restricted to organizations that are participating partners in the CESU Program, specifically the Chesapeake Watershed CESU.

28) What does it mean that eligibility is tied to the Chesapeake Watershed CESU?

It means applicants must be participating partner organizations within the CESU framework for the Chesapeake Watershed CESU, reflecting the CESU model of partnering with designated institutions to provide research, technical assistance, and education support to federal land and science agencies.

29) Which agency is offering this opportunity?

The listed agency is the US Geological Survey (USGS).

30) When was the opportunity posted and when did it close?

The notice indicates it was posted on January 11, 2008, and the closing date (both original and current) is January 21, 2008.

31) When was the opportunity archived?

The archive date listed is February 20, 2008.

32) Who is the contact person for access issues?

The contact listed for access issues is Faith Peters, Contract Specialist, reachable by phone at 703-648-7356.