Opportunity Information: Apply for G16AS00100
Apply for G16AS00100
- The Department of the Interior, Geological Survey in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Chesapeake Watershed CESU" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.808.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jun 22, 2016.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 08, 2016. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $43,400.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Opportunity Summary:
The Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Chesapeake Watershed CESU grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number G16AS00100) was issued by the US Department of the Interior, US Geological Survey (USGS) to support focused research on how certain environmental contaminants affect wildlife at the molecular level. The project is framed around concerns in the Chesapeake Bay and its watershed, where multiple agencies including the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), USGS, and the US Fish and Wildlife Service have documented widespread occurrence of toxic contaminants in water and in the tissues of local wildlife. While contamination has been established, the major problem highlighted in the announcement is a knowledge gap: scientists still do not adequately understand the sub-lethal effects of many of these chemicals, meaning impacts that do not immediately kill organisms but can still disrupt biology in ways that matter for individual health, reproduction, and long-term population stability.
The contaminants emphasized are "chemicals of emerging concern," with particular attention to alternative brominated flame retardants (BFRs) and newer pesticide classes such as neonicotinoid insecticides. Neonicotinoids are described as the most widely used insecticides worldwide, applied across both agricultural and urban landscapes through approaches like foliar spraying and seed coatings. The opportunity notes that laboratory studies involving chronic exposure in vertebrates have already shown sub-lethal impacts across several important endpoints, including genomic changes, neurobehavioral effects, altered growth, and reproductive disruption. Despite these warning signs, the hazards remain poorly characterized, especially in real-world wildlife exposure contexts. In other words, evidence exists that these compounds can interfere with critical biological systems, but there is still not enough clarity on the extent, mechanisms, and ecological significance of those effects in wildlife living in contaminated Chesapeake Bay environments.
A second major focus is the shift away from older flame retardant compounds, specifically polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), toward newer non-PBDE alternatives. The grant highlights a concern that many replacement flame retardants appear to behave similarly to the phased-out PBDEs in the environment. Studies have indicated that these alternatives can share comparable persistence and environmental fate, meaning they can remain in ecosystems, move through food webs, and bioaccumulate in wildlife tissues. The opportunity anticipates that use of these alternative BFRs will continue to rise, increasing the likelihood of broader environmental loading and exposure. Although monitoring and research have increasingly confirmed the presence of these compounds in avian and other wildlife tissues, the announcement stresses that there is still limited information about harmful effects, particularly molecular-level impacts that could serve as early indicators of broader health and population consequences.
Administratively, this was a discretionary funding opportunity offered as a cooperative agreement under CFDA number 15.808, categorized under Science and Technology and other Research and Development. Eligibility is limited to partners within the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) network, specifically those affiliated with the Chesapeake Watershed CESU, with the listing indicating "Others" and directing applicants to additional eligibility language. USGS anticipated making one award with an award ceiling of $43,400. The opportunity was created on June 22, 2016, with an original closing date of July 8, 2016, indicating a short application window and a targeted, single-project scope. Overall, the grant was designed to fund a CESU partner to generate actionable scientific understanding of how emerging contaminants are affecting Chesapeake Bay wildlife at the molecular scale, filling a gap that limits risk assessment, management decisions, and future conservation strategies.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the name of this grant opportunity?
The opportunity is the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU), Chesapeake Watershed CESU grant opportunity.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number?
The Funding Opportunity Number is G16AS00100.
Which federal agency issued this opportunity?
This opportunity was issued by the US Department of the Interior, US Geological Survey (USGS).
What is the purpose of the project described in the announcement?
The purpose is to support focused research on how certain environmental contaminants affect wildlife at the molecular level, with the work framed around concerns in the Chesapeake Bay and its watershed.
What problem or gap is the grant trying to address?
The announcement highlights a knowledge gap: although contamination has been documented, scientists still do not adequately understand the sub-lethal effects of many chemicals. These are impacts that do not immediately kill organisms but can disrupt biology in ways that affect individual health, reproduction, and long-term population stability.
What geographic or ecosystem area is emphasized?
The project is framed around the Chesapeake Bay and its watershed.
What types of contaminants are emphasized?
The opportunity emphasizes "chemicals of emerging concern," with particular attention to alternative brominated flame retardants (BFRs) and newer pesticide classes such as neonicotinoid insecticides.
Why are neonicotinoid insecticides specifically highlighted?
They are described as the most widely used insecticides worldwide and are applied across agricultural and urban landscapes using approaches such as foliar spraying and seed coatings. The opportunity notes laboratory studies showing sub-lethal impacts in vertebrates under chronic exposure, while also emphasizing that hazards remain poorly characterized for real-world wildlife exposures.
What kinds of sub-lethal effects have been observed in laboratory studies of chronic exposure (as described in the announcement)?
The announcement states that laboratory studies involving chronic exposure in vertebrates have shown sub-lethal impacts across endpoints including genomic changes, neurobehavioral effects, altered growth, and reproductive disruption.
What does the opportunity mean by "sub-lethal effects"?
Sub-lethal effects are impacts that do not immediately kill organisms but can still interfere with biological processes in ways that matter for health, reproduction, and population stability.
Why does the opportunity focus on molecular-level effects in wildlife?
The opportunity is aimed at understanding molecular-scale impacts as part of filling a gap in knowledge about how emerging contaminants affect wildlife, including identifying early indicators that could connect contamination to broader health and population consequences.
What is the second major contaminant-related focus besides neonicotinoids?
A second major focus is the shift away from older flame retardant compounds (polybrominated diphenyl ethers, PBDEs) toward newer non-PBDE alternative flame retardants, and the concern that some replacements may behave similarly to PBDEs in the environment.
What concern is raised about non-PBDE alternative flame retardants?
The grant notes concern that many replacement flame retardants appear to have comparable persistence and environmental fate to PBDEs, meaning they can remain in ecosystems, move through food webs, and bioaccumulate in wildlife tissues. It also anticipates rising use of these alternatives and therefore increased environmental loading and exposure.
Has contamination in the Chesapeake Bay area already been documented?
Yes. The opportunity states that multiple agencies, including the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), USGS, and the US Fish and Wildlife Service, have documented widespread occurrence of toxic contaminants in water and in the tissues of local wildlife.
If contamination is already established, why is more research needed?
Because the announcement emphasizes that hazards and sub-lethal impacts are still not well understood, especially in real-world wildlife exposure contexts. The grant is intended to generate clearer understanding of extent, mechanisms, and ecological significance of effects.
What type of award mechanism is used?
The opportunity is described as a discretionary funding opportunity offered as a cooperative agreement.
What is the CFDA number listed for this opportunity?
The CFDA number listed is 15.808.
How is the opportunity categorized?
It is categorized under Science and Technology and other Research and Development.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is limited to partners within the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) network, specifically those affiliated with the Chesapeake Watershed CESU. The listing indicates "Others" and points to additional eligibility language.
How many awards did USGS anticipate making?
USGS anticipated making one award.
What was the award ceiling?
The award ceiling was $43,400.
When was the opportunity created and what was the application deadline?
The opportunity was created on June 22, 2016, with an original closing date of July 8, 2016.
What does the timeline suggest about the scope of the opportunity?
The short application window and the expectation of a single award suggest a targeted, single-project scope.
What kinds of outcomes was this grant designed to support?
Based on the announcement description, the grant was designed to fund a CESU partner to generate actionable scientific understanding of how emerging contaminants are affecting Chesapeake Bay wildlife at the molecular scale, helping address gaps that limit risk assessment, management decisions, and future conservation strategies.
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Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (G16AS00100) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, South Florida Caribbean CESU Apply for G16AS00107 Funding Number: G16AS00107 Agency: Department of the Interior, Geological Survey Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $100,000 |
| Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Rocky Mountain CESU Apply for G16AS00096 Funding Number: G16AS00096 Agency: Department of the Interior, Geological Survey Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $9,100 |
| Smallpox Research Oversight Activities: WHO Advisory Committee on Variola Virus Research Apply for EP IDS 16 007 Funding Number: EP IDS 16 007 Agency: Department of Health and Human Services, Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $300,000 |
| DoD Prostate Cancer Clinical Consortium Research Site Award Apply for W81XWH 16 PCRP CCRSA Funding Number: W81XWH 16 PCRP CCRSA Agency: Department of Defense, Dept. of the Army -- USAMRAA Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Pacific Northwest CESU Apply for G16AS00104 Funding Number: G16AS00104 Agency: Department of the Interior, Geological Survey Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $137,400 |
| Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Desert Southwest CESU Apply for G16AS00110 Funding Number: G16AS00110 Agency: Department of the Interior, Geological Survey Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $113,000 |
| Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Rocky Mountain CESU Apply for G16AS00109 Funding Number: G16AS00109 Agency: Department of the Interior, Geological Survey Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $499,999 |
| Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, North Atlantic Coast CESU Apply for G16AS00102 Funding Number: G16AS00102 Agency: Department of the Interior, Geological Survey Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $93,389 |
| Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Chesapeake Watershed CESU Apply for G16AS00097 Funding Number: G16AS00097 Agency: Department of the Interior, Geological Survey Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $113,170 |
| Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Californian CESU Apply for G16AS00111 Funding Number: G16AS00111 Agency: Department of the Interior, Geological Survey Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $28,000 |
| Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Hawaii-Pacific Islands CESU Apply for G16AS00103 Funding Number: G16AS00103 Agency: Department of the Interior, Geological Survey Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $26,000 |
| Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Gulf Coast CESU Apply for G16AS00106 Funding Number: G16AS00106 Agency: Department of the Interior, Geological Survey Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $35,250 |
| Fiscal Year 2017 DoD Research and Education Program for Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Minority-Serving Institutions (HBCU/MI) Equipment/Instrumentation Apply for W911NF 16 R 0024 Funding Number: W911NF 16 R 0024 Agency: Department of Defense, Dept of the Army -- Materiel Command Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $600,000 |
| Focused Research Groups in the Mathematical Sciences Apply for 16 577 Funding Number: 16 577 Agency: National Science Foundation Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $1,500,000 |
| Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Rocky Mountain CESU Apply for G16AS00112 Funding Number: G16AS00112 Agency: Department of the Interior, Geological Survey Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $144,878 |
| Collaborative Sagebrush Conservation fot the Future: Science-Based Evaluations Apply for F16AS00319 Funding Number: F16AS00319 Agency: Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $2,000,000 |
| Computing and Communication Foundations (CCF): Core Programs Apply for 16 578 Funding Number: 16 578 Agency: National Science Foundation Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $3,000,000 |
| Computer and Network Systems (CNS): Core Programs Apply for 16 579 Funding Number: 16 579 Agency: National Science Foundation Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $3,000,000 |
| Information and Intelligent Systems (IIS): Core Programs Apply for 16 581 Funding Number: 16 581 Agency: National Science Foundation Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $3,000,000 |
| Rural Emergency Medical Communications Demonstration Project Apply for DHS 16 PD 120 001 Funding Number: DHS 16 PD 120 001 Agency: Department of Homeland Security, Office of Procurement Operations - Grants Division Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $2,000,000 |
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