Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Great Lakes Northern Forests CESU | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the funding opportunity number for this grant?

The funding opportunity number is G14AS00017.

Which federal agency is offering this opportunity?

This opportunity was issued by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), specifically the Great Lakes Science Center (GLSC).

What type of funding instrument is being used?

The award is described as a discretionary research award using a cooperative agreement.

What program category does this opportunity fall under?

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

What is the CFDA number and program name associated with this opportunity?

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

What is the overall purpose of the project?

The purpose is to improve and refine field and laboratory methods used in Great Lakes fisheries science, with an emphasis on producing more consistent, reliable, and useful data for understanding fish production and supporting food-web dynamics.

What geographic area is the work focused on?

The work has a targeted emphasis on the Maumee River and western Lake Erie.

Why is there an emphasis on the Maumee River and western Lake Erie?

The emphasis reflects the ecological and management importance of that system, including its strong influence on lake productivity, fish recruitment, and overall food-web dynamics.

What research areas are specifically highlighted in the project description?

The opportunity focuses on three connected areas: (1) collection and processing approaches related to fish spawning and larval fish production, (2) analysis of lower-trophic-level food webs (such as zooplankton and other prey resources), and (3) fish diet analyses for Great Lakes species.

What does “lower-trophic-level food webs” mean in this context?

It refers to the base of the food chain that supports fish production, including organisms such as zooplankton and other prey resources.

What kinds of activities does the project anticipate supporting?

Developing, testing, or improving standardized methods to gather and handle samples and then analyze them, so that resulting data are more consistent and reliable for studying Great Lakes ecosystems.

Is this opportunity open to the general public?

No. Eligibility is limited to partners within the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) network, specifically the Great Lakes Northern Forests CESU.

Which CESU is eligible for this opportunity?

The eligible partnership network is the Great Lakes Northern Forests CESU.

What are CESUs, as described in the announcement?

CESUs are formal research partnerships that connect federal agencies with universities, tribes, and other organizations to deliver research, technical assistance, and education.

Are applicants required to provide cost sharing or matching funds?

No cost sharing or matching requirement is stated; the award does not require non-federal funds as a condition of receiving the grant.

How many awards did USGS anticipate making?

USGS anticipated making a single award.

What was the estimated total funding amount?

The estimated total funding amount was $148,475.

Was an award minimum (floor) or maximum (ceiling) specified?

The announcement lists the award ceiling and floor as $0, which typically indicates no formal minimum or maximum was specified in the public synopsis. The expected total funding amount provides the practical scale of the project.

When was the opportunity posted?

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

What was the application closing date?

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

How long was the application window?

Based on the posted date (December 9, 2013) and closing date (December 20, 2013), the application window was short and consistent with a solicitation restricted to a defined partner network.

Is this funding opportunity still active?

No. The archive date was March 9, 2014, indicating the solicitation is no longer active.

Where were applicants directed to find the full announcement and official application details?

Applicants were pointed to Grants.gov for access to the full announcement and official application details.

Who should be contacted for technical difficulties accessing the announcement electronically?

The contact person listed for technical difficulties was Faith Graves at 703-648-7356 or fgraves@usgs.gov.

Does the opportunity description indicate what kind of ecosystem work is being supported?

Yes. It is structured to support applied research that strengthens how USGS and its partners study Great Lakes ecosystems, with methods focused on fisheries-related sampling and analysis tied to spawning, larval production, food webs, and diets.