Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, North Atlantic Coast CESU | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the funding opportunity number for this grant?

This solicitation is identified as Funding Opportunity Number (FON) 10HQPA00097.

Which federal agency is offering this opportunity?

The awarding agency is the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), within the Department of the Interior.

What program is this solicitation associated with?

This opportunity is issued under the USGS Cooperative Research Units (CRU) Program and will be made as a single cooperative agreement award through the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) network, specifically the North Atlantic Coast (NAC) CESU.

What is the CFDA number and program category for this opportunity?

The CFDA listing is 15.808 (USGS Research and Data Collection). The opportunity is categorized under Science and Technology/Research and Development.

How much funding is available?

The estimated total funding available is $53,000.

How many awards are expected?

The solicitation anticipates one (1) award.

Is cost sharing or matching required?

No. The announcement indicates there is no cost sharing or matching requirement.

What is the main purpose of the project?

The project is intended to determine what makes a research-focused website feel credible, trustworthy, and easy to use when presenting complex ecological and natural resource science. The emphasis is on improving how project-level research information is presented online so that internal audiences and external partners can quickly understand, trust, and use it for decision-making.

Is this funding meant to support a new field study?

No. The opportunity explicitly emphasizes that the purpose is not to fund a new field study. Instead, it focuses on understanding website credibility and usability for ecological and natural resource research information.

Why is CRU focusing on website credibility and usability?

CRU manages a very large portfolio of active research (hundreds to around a thousand projects per year) and produces diverse outputs such as technical reports, peer-reviewed publications, and presentations. Because these products can be technical and varied, CRU is seeking practical, evidence-based ways to present research information online so users can find it, understand it, trust it, and apply it.

What is driving this effort within CRU?

A major driver referenced in the announcement is CRU's Five Year Strategic Plan, which includes web-related objectives and commitments to state and federal cooperators, including making project information readily accessible to users and supporters.

What gap in existing research does this project aim to address?

The solicitation notes that much prior research on web credibility and usability has centered on ecommerce websites, which may not translate well to scientists and natural resource managers seeking defensible information for management decisions. This project aims to produce guidance tailored to ecological research and natural resource decision contexts.

What kinds of outcomes or deliverables are expected?

The expected outcome is actionable, evidence-based guidance on design and content elements that increase user confidence in an ecological research website, including how those elements shape perceptions of credibility and usefulness. The intent is to generate recommendations that CRU (and others in the CESU network) can incorporate into website design to improve clarity and usability of research communications.

What website elements are mentioned as potentially influencing trust and usability?

The announcement suggests that factors such as organization of project pages, clarity of summaries, traceability to primary sources, metadata, transparency about methods, timeliness, and cues of institutional authority may influence user trust and usability.

Does the solicitation require a specific research method?

No single methodology is prescribed in the information provided. However, the emphasis points toward user-centered research aimed at understanding how scientists and resource managers search for, evaluate, and use research results online.

Who are the intended users or audiences for the improved website approach?

The focus is on both internal audiences and external partners who need to understand and use project-level research information. The description highlights scientists and natural resource managers as key user groups, particularly those using research to support management decisions.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is limited to organizations that are already participating partners in the North Atlantic Coast (NAC) CESU Program.

Why is the North Atlantic Coast (NAC) CESU considered a strong fit for this work?

The solicitation highlights that the NAC CESU has deep, established partnerships among USGS, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, host universities, and other state and federal partners, including collaborative structures such as the North Atlantic Landscape Conservation Cooperative. It also notes that CRU scientists at host universities in the NAC are engaged in research designed to meet state and federal natural resource agency information needs, supporting rapid adoption of results.

What is the posting date and closing date for this opportunity?

The opportunity was posted on August 12, 2010. The original closing date was August 20, 2010, and it was later extended to August 25, 2010.

When was the opportunity archived?

The opportunity was archived on September 19, 2010.

What type of award mechanism is expected?

The announcement describes a single cooperative agreement award through the CESU network (specifically the NAC CESU).

Who can be contacted for administrative questions?

For administrative questions, the solicitation lists Faith Graves, Contract Specialist, at 703-648-7356.