Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Great Basin CESU | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1) What is the funding opportunity number for this grant?

The Funding Opportunity Number is G15AS00043.

2) Who is offering this grant opportunity?

This funding call is offered by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), specifically through the USGS Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center.

3) What program or network is this opportunity administered through?

The opportunity is administered through the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) Network, within the Great Basin CESU.

4) What type of award is this (grant vs. cooperative agreement)?

This opportunity is structured as a cooperative agreement, which means the funded partner should expect active collaboration with USGS scientists rather than a hands-off grant relationship.

5) What is the primary purpose of the project?

The core purpose is to advance the use of cloud computing to make large-scale satellite remote sensing processing more efficient and more operationally useful, with a particular focus on estimating vegetation water use and improving drought monitoring.

6) What specific scientific product or measurement is emphasized?

The announcement emphasizes improving workflows for estimating evapotranspiration (ET), which is a measure of how much water is transferred from land and vegetation to the atmosphere.

7) What satellite data sources are referenced for ET estimation?

The ET workflows described rely on thermal infrared imagery from Landsat and MODIS satellite instruments.

8) What problem is this opportunity trying to solve?

The announcement notes that while the algorithms and data sources exist, the major bottleneck is the computational and data-management burden of processing broad geographic areas over long time periods. The goal is to modernize or scale processing pipelines so ET products can be generated faster, more repeatably, and in a way that better supports ongoing monitoring.

9) What kinds of activities does this opportunity support?

The opportunity is intended to support research, technical assistance, and related activities aligned with CESU partnership goals, particularly as they relate to cloud-based large-scale remote sensing processing for ET and drought applications.

10) What category is this opportunity listed under?

It is listed under the Science and Technology and other Research and Development category.

11) How does this work support drought monitoring?

By improving the ability to generate ET and related products across large areas and long time periods, the work is intended to strengthen drought monitoring and early warning capabilities that depend on consistent, operational remote sensing outputs.

12) Which major programs are identified as beneficiaries of the improved ET and drought products?

The announcement highlights support for several major efforts, including:

• USGS National Water Census (NWC) (water availability and water use accounting)
• National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS) (drought monitoring and early warning)
• USAID Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS NET) (food security and agricultural monitoring)
• USDA Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) (agricultural monitoring needs)

13) Why is the Landsat archive specifically important in this opportunity?

A stated motivation is unlocking the value of the Landsat archive, including the ability to document crop and vegetation water use back to the early 1980s. The announcement identifies processing demands at that scale as the primary obstacle this project is meant to address.

14) How many awards are expected?

The opportunity anticipates a single award.

15) What is the estimated total funding amount?

The estimated total funding amount listed is $269,836.

16) Is cost sharing or matching required?

No. The notice states there is no cost sharing or matching requirement.

17) Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is specifically tied to participation in the CESU Network, and this opportunity is issued within the Great Basin CESU framework. The description also notes the Desert Research Institute as a participating partner of the Great Basin CESU Program, indicating the award is intended for qualified CESU partners consistent with program rules.

18) What does it mean that this is within the Great Basin CESU framework?

Based on the posting, it means applicants generally need to be part of (or otherwise eligible under) the CESU Network and aligned with the Great Basin CESU partnership structure and requirements.

19) The posting shows an award ceiling and floor of 0. What should applicants do with that information?

The summary fields list both the award ceiling and floor as 0. In the context of this posting, that typically means applicants should rely on the stated total estimated funding amount and the full announcement details (as referenced in the notice) for budgeting expectations, rather than treating the summary fields as a strict per-award cap.

20) When was this opportunity posted and when did it close?

The timeline shown in the posting indicates it was posted and created on March 16, 2015, with an original and current closing date of March 30, 2015.

21) Is this opportunity still open?

No. The posting includes an archive date of September 16, 2015, and the closing date listed is March 30, 2015, indicating it was a time-limited call that is now closed.

22) What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?

The CFDA number listed is 15.808, titled U.S. Geological Survey Research and Data Collection.

23) Where is the full announcement referenced as being available?

The general listing references grants.gov as the source for the full announcement.

24) Who is the contact person for questions or access issues?

The listed contact is Faith Graves at USGS. Phone: 703-648-7356. Email: fgraves@usgs.gov.

25) What should an applicant expect in terms of USGS involvement during the project?

Because this is a cooperative agreement, the funded partner should expect active collaboration with USGS scientists, rather than minimal involvement from the agency.