Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Great Basin CESU | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the title and funding opportunity number for this grant?

The opportunity is titled "Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Great Basin CESU" and the Funding Opportunity Number is 09HQPA0046.

Which federal agency is sponsoring this opportunity?

The sponsoring agency is the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).

What is the overall purpose of this funding opportunity?

The purpose is to add analytical and technical capacity to ongoing USGS research in the Yukon River Basin (Alaska and Canada). This particular award focuses on paleolimnological research intended to strengthen reconstructions of past hydroclimate and environmental change using lake and wetland sediment records.

What geographic area does the project focus on?

The work is situated in the Yukon River Basin spanning Alaska and Canada, with specific emphasis on paleolimnological research in and around the Yukon Flats National Wildlife Refuge (YFNWR).

What scientific topic is being targeted within the broader Yukon River Basin research portfolio?

The award targets paleolimnological research, specifically improving how lake and wetland sediment records are processed, analyzed, and interpreted to better understand long-term ecosystem dynamics and past environmental change.

How does this project relate to ongoing USGS research in the region?

USGS scientists across many disciplines are already conducting climate, ecosystem, remote sensing, hydrology, and terrestrial studies in the region. This opportunity supports a subset of that work by strengthening the analytical and interpretive components of USGS-led paleolimnological studies.

What type of funding instrument is this (contract vs cooperative agreement)?

Although the header lists the instrument type as a procurement contract, the opportunity narrative describes the project as a cooperative agreement under the CESU framework and emphasizes substantive federal involvement and collaboration typical of financial assistance through CESU.

What does it mean that this is a CESU cooperative agreement?

Under the CESU framework, the work is expected to be hands-on and collaborative rather than a standalone academic study. University and federal scientists are expected to jointly plan and execute the work, and the project is intended to support federal land management needs through interdisciplinary problem-solving and graduate research education.

Who is expected to lead the university side of the project?

A university principal investigator (PI) is expected to coordinate closely with USGS and YFNWR scientists to shape research objectives and sampling strategies for USGS-led paleolimnological studies.

What kind of coordination and collaboration is expected from the university PI?

The university PI is expected to coordinate with both USGS and YFNWR scientists, collaborate with additional USGS staff working in related areas (such as limnology, wetlands, and soils), and participate directly in the scientific workflow from fieldwork through publication.

What are the major workplan responsibilities described in the opportunity?

Responsibilities and contributions include: participating in planning for lake and wetland survey fieldwork; collaborating on analysis and interpretation of limnological survey data and field observations; recruiting or employing a postdoctoral researcher or graduate student who will be co-advised by USGS personnel and the university PI; and conducting laboratory preparation and analysis of sediment materials.

Is fieldwork involvement part of the expected scope?

Yes. The opportunity explicitly includes participating in planning for lake and wetland survey fieldwork and using field observations as part of analysis and interpretation.

What types of laboratory analyses are specifically mentioned?

The notice specifies laboratory preparation and analysis of sediment materials, including bulk sediment carbon and nitrogen content (C/N), stable isotope ratios for carbon and nitrogen (analyses noted as #6154013C and #6154015N), and preparation and measurement of biogenic silica (bSiO2) concentrations.

Why are C/N, stable isotopes, and biogenic silica measurements important to this project?

The intent is for these measurements to provide stronger geochemical and productivity-related indicators, sharpening reconstructions of past lake and wetland conditions and improving ecological interpretations derived from sediment archives.

What kinds of data interpretation activities are expected?

The work includes collaborating on analysis and interpretation of limnological survey data and field observations, and improving interpretation of sediment core records to support reconstructions of hydroclimate and environmental change.

Is there an expectation to include trainees such as graduate students or postdoctoral researchers?

Yes. The opportunity states that the PI will recruit or employ a postdoctoral researcher or graduate student who will be co-advised by USGS personnel and the university PI, supporting graduate research education within the cooperative partnership.

Who will co-advise the recruited postdoctoral researcher or graduate student?

The trainee is expected to be co-advised by USGS personnel and the university PI.

Does the opportunity describe deliverables in terms of publication or dissemination?

It states that the university PI is expected to participate directly in the core scientific workflow from fieldwork through publication, indicating publication is part of the anticipated end-to-end effort.

What is the activity category associated with this opportunity?

The activity category is "Science and Technology and other Research and Development."

What CFDA number is associated with this opportunity?

The opportunity is associated with CFDA 15.808, titled "U.S. Geological Survey Research and Data Collection."

When was this opportunity posted and when did it close?

The opportunity was posted on July 1, 2009. The original and current closing date is July 15, 2009. The archive date is August 14, 2009.

How many awards are expected to be made?

The program lists an expected number of awards as one.

What is the estimated total funding amount?

The estimated total funding amount shown is $30,000.

Why do the award ceiling and award floor appear as $0?

The listing shows an award ceiling and floor of $0, which typically indicates the specific funding level is handled through the agreement process rather than published as fixed limits in the notice.

Who is eligible to apply for this opportunity?

Eligibility is restricted to partners in the Great Basin CESU Program, consistent with CESU opportunities operating as member-based partnerships for research, technical assistance, and education.

Is cost sharing or matching required?

The notice indicates applicants will provide cost sharing toward laboratory analyses and postdoctoral researcher or graduate student training/participation, even though the general field for cost sharing or matching requirement is marked as "No." Applicants should be prepared to contribute resources to support at least part of the analytical work and trainee participation as part of the cooperative partnership model.

What role does the Yukon Flats National Wildlife Refuge (YFNWR) play in the project?

YFNWR is part of the collaboration context for the paleolimnological work. The university PI is expected to coordinate closely with YFNWR scientists (along with USGS scientists) to shape research objectives and sampling strategies.

Who is the contact for access issues or administrative questions?

The listed contact is Faith Graves, Contract Specialist. Phone: 703-648-7356.

What kind of collaboration is emphasized by the opportunity?

The opportunity emphasizes substantive federal involvement and close collaboration between university and federal scientists, including joint planning, shared execution of the work, and direct involvement from fieldwork through publication.