Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Colorado Plateau CESU | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1) What is the name of this grant opportunity?

This opportunity is titled the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Colorado Plateau CESU grant opportunity. The Funding Opportunity Number (FON) is G14AS00018.

2) Which federal agency offered this opportunity?

The opportunity was offered by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), specifically through the Fort Collins Science Center.

3) What type of award was anticipated?

It was structured as a discretionary cooperative agreement to support science and technology research and development.

4) What was the main purpose of the project described in the announcement?

The central purpose was to strengthen and extend the North American paleoclimate record back roughly 2,000 years by building a new, more integrated compilation of paleoclimate evidence drawn from multiple natural archives.

5) What does "paleoclimate record" mean in the context of this opportunity?

In this announcement, it refers to evidence of past climate and environmental conditions preserved in natural archives (proxies). The aim was to use these records to reconstruct climate variability over approximately the last two millennia across North America.

6) What is meant by a "novel compilation" approach?

The opportunity emphasized combining diverse proxy datasets into a more integrated synthesis, rather than focusing on a single type of record. The goal was a longer, more complete, and more robust reconstruction of climate variability over the last ~2,000 years.

7) What kinds of proxy records were included in the described work?

The announcement referenced assembling and synthesizing information from a wide range of proxies, including pollen records, tree-ring records, speleothems (cave deposits such as stalagmites and stalactites), ice cores, coral, marine sediments, and glacial landforms.

8) Why combine multiple proxy records instead of using just one?

The announcement notes that different archives capture different aspects of past climate and environmental conditions, and each has its own strengths and uncertainties. By combining them, the compilation can support a more complete and robust reconstruction.

9) What kinds of climate patterns could this synthesis help researchers understand?

As described, the synthesis could help researchers better understand patterns such as long-term drought frequency, temperature variability, shifts in moisture balance, and the timing and magnitude of notable climate events across North America.

10) How many awards was USGS expecting to make?

The opportunity anticipated making a single award.

11) What was the estimated total funding amount?

The estimated total funding amount listed in the synopsis was $45,368.

12) Was cost sharing or matching required?

No. The announcement listed no cost-sharing or matching requirement, meaning applicants generally were not required to provide non-federal funds or in-kind contributions as a condition of receiving the award.

13) Was there a published award ceiling or award floor?

The listing did not specify an award ceiling or floor; both were shown as $0. This typically indicates the agency did not publish a formal maximum or minimum award amount in the synopsis, even though an estimated total funding amount was provided.

14) Who was eligible to apply?

Eligibility was limited under the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) framework. To apply, an organization had to be an active participating partner of the Colorado Plateau CESU.

15) Was this an open competition to the general public or all universities?

No. Based on the synopsis, it was not open to the general public or to all universities by default. Only entities already within the Colorado Plateau CESU partnership were eligible under the program rules.

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

The CESU Program was described as a partnership-based network designed to facilitate research, technical assistance, and education that support federal land and resource management needs.

17) When was the opportunity posted?

The opportunity was posted (and created) on December 9, 2013.

18) What was the application closing date?

The original and current closing date listed was December 20, 2013.

19) When was the opportunity archived?

It was later archived on March 9, 2014.

20) What CFDA number was associated with this opportunity?

The CFDA number associated with the opportunity was 15.808, corresponding to USGS Research and Data Collection.

21) Where could applicants find the general grants portal referenced in the notice?

The general portal link provided in the notice was the Grants.gov homepage.

22) Who was the point of contact for access issues related to the full announcement?

The point of contact listed was Faith Graves. Phone: 703-648-7356. Email: fgraves@usgs.gov.

23) What kind of work was this funding intended to support?

The announcement framed the work as science and technology research and development focused on assembling and synthesizing paleoclimate proxy records into an integrated compilation for North America spanning roughly the last 2,000 years.

24) What geographic scope was emphasized?

The focus described was North America, with the intent to improve understanding of climate variability across the continent over the past two millennia.

25) What does the involvement of the Fort Collins Science Center indicate about administration of the opportunity?

Based on the synopsis, USGS administered the opportunity through the Fort Collins Science Center, which was specifically named as the originating USGS unit in the notice.