Opportunity Information: Apply for G12AS20028
Apply for G12AS20028
- The Geological Survey in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Great Rivers CESU" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.808 U.S. Geological Survey Research and Data Collection.
- This funding opportunity was created on Apr 23, 2012 and posted on Apr 23, 2012.
- Applicants must submit their applications by May 7, 2012. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $39,950.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- This financial assistance opportunity is being issued under a Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) Program. CESUs are partnerships that provide research, technical assistance, and education. Eligible recipients must be a participating partner of the Great Rivers Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) Program.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Great Rivers CESU grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number G12AS20028) was issued by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) as a discretionary funding announcement using a cooperative agreement instrument. The project focus is applied research and method development: improving and refining laboratory culture techniques for a range of freshwater mussel species, with particular emphasis on producing juvenile mussels that can be reliably used in toxicity testing. In practical terms, the work is meant to expand the toolbox of species that laboratories can culture under controlled conditions, so that toxicity tests are not limited to only a few commonly used mussel species.
The core scientific objective is to develop and fine-tune methods for culturing unique or diverse juvenile freshwater mussel species for standardized toxicity tests involving either water or sediments. These cultured juveniles would then be used as test organisms in controlled laboratory studies to evaluate how contaminants or sediment-associated pollutants affect survival, growth, or other biological endpoints. Because freshwater mussels are often sensitive to pollutants and are ecologically important, improving culture methods helps make toxicity testing more environmentally relevant, especially in river and sediment contexts where mussels naturally live and where contamination can accumulate.
A second major deliverable is method harmonization across laboratories. The announcement explains that results from this work will support inter-laboratory, or "ring," testing of sediments using these mussel species. Ring testing is a common approach for establishing reproducibility and consistency across multiple labs: several laboratories run similar tests using the same or comparable protocols, and the combined results are analyzed to see how well the method performs under different personnel, equipment, and facility conditions. By creating culture and testing approaches that can be transferred and repeated across labs, the project contributes to stronger standardization and comparability of sediment toxicity assessments.
The technical approach is expected to build directly on established procedures rather than starting from scratch. Culture methods and testing protocols are to be adapted from standard methods for conducting water toxicity tests with early life stages of mussels, specifically referencing ASTM guidance (ASTM 2011), along with more recent methods and lessons learned from work already conducted in USGS and university laboratories. This signals that applicants would likely be expected to align their work with recognized test design principles (for example, consistent life stage selection, controlled water quality, feeding and husbandry practices, and clear endpoints) while tailoring the details to species that may have different developmental needs or culture requirements.
From an administrative and funding standpoint, the opportunity was categorized under Science and Technology and other Research and Development. The estimated total funding amount listed is $39,950, with an expectation of one award. The opportunity does not require cost sharing or matching funds. No specific award ceiling or floor was provided in the source data (both are listed as 0), which typically indicates that the total budget and project scope would be defined through the proposal and subsequent negotiation within the available funding amount.
Eligibility is limited and tied to the CESU framework. Applicants must be a participating partner of the Great Rivers Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) Program. CESUs are partnership networks designed to connect federal agencies with universities, nonprofits, and other partners to provide research, technical assistance, and education. Because this is a CESU opportunity, it is not broadly open to all organizations; only entities already within the Great Rivers CESU partnership are eligible to apply.
Key dates show that the opportunity was posted and created on April 23, 2012, with an original and current closing date of May 7, 2012, and an archive date of July 23, 2012. The official listing referenced Grants.gov as the additional information link. For applicants who had trouble accessing the full announcement electronically, the contact provided was Faith Graves at USGS (703-648-7356, fgraves@usgs.gov).
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the name of this grant opportunity?
This opportunity is the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Great Rivers CESU grant opportunity issued by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON)?
The Funding Opportunity Number is G12AS20028.
Which federal agency is offering this opportunity?
The opportunity was issued by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).
What type of award instrument will be used?
USGS issued this as a discretionary funding announcement using a cooperative agreement instrument.
What is the overall project focus?
The focus is applied research and method development to improve and refine laboratory culture techniques for a range of freshwater mussel species, with particular emphasis on producing juvenile mussels that can be reliably used in toxicity testing.
Why is the project emphasizing juvenile freshwater mussels?
The project emphasizes juveniles because the goal is to produce juvenile mussels that can be used as test organisms in controlled laboratory toxicity studies, supporting evaluations of contaminant effects on survival, growth, or other biological endpoints.
What problem is the project trying to solve for toxicity testing?
In practical terms, the work is meant to expand the toolbox of mussel species that laboratories can culture under controlled conditions, so toxicity tests are not limited to only a few commonly used mussel species.
What are the core scientific objectives?
The core objective is to develop and fine-tune methods for culturing unique or diverse juvenile freshwater mussel species for standardized toxicity tests involving either water or sediments.
What types of toxicity tests are included (water, sediment, or both)?
The objective explicitly includes standardized toxicity tests involving either water or sediments.
What kinds of outcomes or endpoints are intended to be measured in the toxicity tests?
The announcement describes evaluating how contaminants or sediment-associated pollutants affect endpoints such as survival, growth, or other biological endpoints in controlled laboratory studies.
Why are freshwater mussels relevant to contaminant and sediment testing?
Freshwater mussels are described as often sensitive to pollutants and ecologically important. Improving culture methods helps make toxicity testing more environmentally relevant, especially in river and sediment contexts where mussels naturally live and where contamination can accumulate.
Is method standardization across laboratories part of the expected work?
Yes. A major deliverable is method harmonization across laboratories, supporting stronger standardization and comparability of sediment toxicity assessments.
What is "ring testing" and how does it relate to this project?
Ring testing (inter-laboratory testing) is described as multiple laboratories running similar tests using the same or comparable protocols, with combined results analyzed to assess reproducibility and consistency across labs. The results from this work are intended to support ring testing of sediments using these mussel species.
Is this project expected to create entirely new methods from scratch?
No. The technical approach is expected to build directly on established procedures and adapt existing culture methods and testing protocols rather than starting from scratch.
What standards or guidance are referenced for adapting the methods?
The announcement references standard methods for conducting water toxicity tests with early life stages of mussels, specifically citing ASTM guidance (ASTM 2011), along with more recent methods and lessons learned from work already conducted in USGS and university laboratories.
What general test design principles does the announcement imply applicants should align with?
It signals alignment with recognized test design principles such as consistent life stage selection, controlled water quality, feeding and husbandry practices, and clear endpoints, while tailoring details to species with different developmental or culture requirements.
How is this opportunity categorized in terms of activity area?
It was categorized under Science and Technology and other Research and Development.
What is the estimated total funding amount?
The estimated total funding amount listed is $39,950.
How many awards does USGS expect to make?
The opportunity indicates an expectation of one award.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. The opportunity does not require cost sharing or matching funds.
Is there an award ceiling or award floor?
No specific award ceiling or floor was provided in the source data (both are listed as 0). The description notes this typically indicates the total budget and project scope would be defined through the proposal and subsequent negotiation within the available funding amount.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is limited to participating partners of the Great Rivers Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) Program. This is not broadly open to all organizations.
What is the Great Rivers CESU and why does it matter for eligibility?
CESUs are partnership networks designed to connect federal agencies with universities, nonprofits, and other partners to provide research, technical assistance, and education. Because this is a CESU opportunity, only entities already within the Great Rivers CESU partnership are eligible to apply.
When was the opportunity posted?
The opportunity was posted and created on April 23, 2012.
What is the application closing date?
The original and current closing date is May 7, 2012.
When was the opportunity archived?
The archive date is July 23, 2012.
Where is the official listing or additional information located?
The official listing referenced Grants.gov as the additional information link.
Who should be contacted if there are issues accessing the full announcement electronically?
The contact listed for trouble accessing the full announcement electronically is Faith Graves at USGS: 703-648-7356, fgraves@usgs.gov.
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