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

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the name of this grant opportunity?

This is the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU), Great Lakes Northern Forests CESU grant opportunity, Funding Opportunity Number 10HQPA0021.

Which agency is offering this opportunity?

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

What type of funding is this (grant, contract, etc.)?

It is a discretionary USGS research grant under the activity category "Science and Technology and other Research and Development."

What is the main goal of the project?

The project aims to improve how the United States evaluates and predicts climate- and land use-driven risks to fish habitat, and to translate those risks into practical indicators of habitat vulnerability and expected biological responses of fish.

What problem is USGS trying to solve with this funding?

USGS is working to move from broad global climate projections to actionable national, regional, and local insights by downscaling Atmospheric Ocean General Circulation Models (AOGCMs) and integrating them with fish habitat assessment data and predicted land use change.

What are AOGCMs and how are they used in this project?

AOGCMs (Atmospheric Ocean General Circulation Models) produce large-scale climate projections. In this effort, USGS describes downscaling AOGCM outputs so they can be applied at meaningful geographic scales and then used to help evaluate fish habitat vulnerability under future conditions.

Is the purpose simply to create climate projections?

No. USGS specifically describes the purpose as translating climate projections into practical indicators of fish habitat vulnerability and, ultimately, expected biological responses of fish to changing environmental conditions.

What work is expected to be integrated in the funded project?

The funded work is intended to connect three components into a cohesive national-scale product: (1) existing national fish habitat assessment information, (2) downscaled climate projections derived from AOGCMs, and (3) anticipated land use change patterns.

How does this relate to the National Fish Habitat Action Plan (NFHAP)?

USGS intends to build on the national fish habitat assessment work underway as part of NFHAP and incorporate downscaled climate model outputs and predicted land use change into that national assessment framework.

What is the expected end result or deliverable?

The expected end result is a national-scale product that supports decision-making by showing where aquatic systems and fish habitats are most vulnerable under future scenarios and by helping infer how fish populations may respond as conditions change.

What geographic area is referenced for the national fish habitat assessment capability?

The opportunity states that applicants must already have access to, or be able to provide, capabilities comparable to performing a national fish habitat assessment for the lower 48 states.

Will the grant fund the underlying national fish habitat assessment itself?

No. USGS states that no funding will be provided for conducting the underlying national fish habitat assessment itself, so the applicant must already have access to that capability (or comparable capability).

What technical expertise is emphasized for applicants?

The opportunity emphasizes expertise in fish habitat assessment and modeling, strong GIS capacity, and project management expertise to coordinate and deliver a national-scale integration effort.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is limited to organizations that are already partners in the Great Lakes Northern Forests CESU Program.

What is the CESU partnership requirement?

The opportunity is tied to the CESU model and indicates applicants must already be partners in the Great Lakes Northern Forests CESU Program, which is described as a partnership-based entity supporting research, technical assistance, and education.

How much funding is expected to be available?

The announcement lists an estimated total funding level of $900,000.

How many awards does USGS expect to make?

The opportunity indicates an expectation of one award.

Is there a required cost share or match?

No cost sharing or matching requirement is listed as a formal condition in the synopsis.

Are there minimum or maximum award amounts (floor/ceiling)?

The award ceiling and floor are both shown as $0, which typically means the agency did not specify fixed minimum or maximum award amounts in the public synopsis, even though an overall estimated total funding level is provided.

What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?

The opportunity is associated with CFDA 15.808 (U.S. Geological Survey Research and Data Collection).

When was the opportunity posted and when did it close?

It was posted on January 5, 2010. The original and current closing date shown is January 15, 2010.

Is this opportunity still active?

No. The notice indicates it was archived on February 14, 2010.

Who is the point of contact for questions about the announcement?

The listed point of contact is Faith Graves, Contract Specialist.

How can applicants get help accessing the full announcement?

The synopsis indicates that Faith Graves can be contacted for assistance accessing the full announcement or for related questions.

What phone number is provided for the point of contact?

The phone number listed is 703-648-7356.

How should this opportunity be understood at a high level?

It is described as a targeted investment in national-scale synthesis and modeling infrastructure: combining established fish habitat assessment data with downscaled climate projections and land use change predictions to map vulnerability and anticipate fish responses across the contiguous United States using robust GIS and modeling approaches under the CESU partnership framework.