Opportunity Information: Apply for G14AS00049
Apply for G14AS00049
- 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, Rocky Mountain 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 2, 2014 and posted on Apr 2, 2014.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Apr 11, 2014. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $12,840.00 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 Rocky Mountain Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) Program.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Rocky Mountain CESU grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number G14AS00049) was a US Geological Survey (USGS) discretionary funding call issued as a cooperative agreement under CFDA 15.808 (U.S. Geological Survey Research and Data Collection). It was posted on April 2, 2014, with an application closing date of April 11, 2014, and anticipated making a single award. The estimated total funding available was $12,840, with no stated award ceiling or floor, and no cost sharing or matching requirement.
The core purpose of the award was to support field and laboratory work that extracts and analyzes genetic information from environmental samples collected in Lake Powell, tied directly to a broader USGS-funded research effort focused on mercury cycling in the reservoir. The funded partner would contribute to two synoptic sampling cruises in calendar years 2014 and 2015, covering roughly 12 sites on Lake Powell. During these cruises, sediment and water column samples were to be collected at the same time as samples taken for geochemical measurements, but using sterile methods specifically appropriate for molecular biology so that downstream DNA/RNA-based analyses would be reliable.
On the lab side, the work emphasized total nucleic acid extraction from both sediments and water column material, using a combined physical and chemical lysis approach (a common strategy for tough environmental matrices where cells may be difficult to break open). After extraction, the project called for using both broad (community-wide) and targeted molecular assays to characterize microbial biodiversity, with particular attention to microorganisms thought to be involved in mercury methylation. For general community profiling, genomic DNA was to be amplified via PCR using universal primers aimed at the V8 hypervariable region of the 16S rRNA gene, which is widely used to survey bacterial and archaeal community composition.
In addition to general biodiversity profiling, the opportunity specifically targeted the detection and assessment of organisms with the genetic potential to methylate inorganic mercury Hg(II) into methylmercury, a form that is more bioavailable and toxic. The announcement highlights functional gene targeting of the hgcAB region, whose gene products (HgcA and HgcB) had been recently demonstrated to be required for mercury methylation. The project scope included developing a forward primer specific to the conserved corrinoid-binding domain of HgcA and a reverse primer specific to the unique ferredoxin-binding domain of HgcB, along with developing primers for amplification of other target functional genes as needed. This indicates the work was not only routine sequencing, but also included assay development and refinement to better capture methylation-relevant taxa in Lake Powell samples.
For sequencing, the grant specified that PCR amplicons would be barcoded (to allow many samples to be pooled while still being distinguishable during bioinformatics processing) and then sequenced using multiplex pyrosequencing on the GS FLX Titanium platform. While newer sequencing platforms are common today, at the time this platform was a standard approach for amplicon-based community surveys, especially for 16S rRNA profiling and targeted functional gene sequencing. The recipient was expected to provide not just raw sequence output, but also analysis and interpretation, meaning deliverables likely included processed sequence data, diversity summaries, and conclusions about which microbial groups and mercury-methylation-associated genes were present across sites and between the two sampling years.
Eligibility was limited to organizations that were already participating partners in the Rocky Mountain Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) Program. CESUs are structured partnerships designed to connect federal agencies with universities and other research organizations to deliver research, technical assistance, and education. In practical terms, this meant the competition was not open to all applicants; only entities within the Rocky Mountain CESU network could receive the award.
The awarding agency was the USGS, with the program administered through the Wyoming Montana Water Science Center (WY MT WSC). The public listing referenced Grants.gov for the full announcement and provided a USGS contact for access issues: Faith Graves (703-648-7356, fgraves@usgs.gov).
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the name of this grant opportunity?
This opportunity is the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Rocky Mountain CESU grant opportunity.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON)?
The Funding Opportunity Number is G14AS00049.
Which federal agency offered this funding opportunity?
The awarding agency was the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).
What type of funding instrument was used?
The call was issued as a cooperative agreement.
What CFDA program is associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity was issued under CFDA 15.808, titled "U.S. Geological Survey Research and Data Collection."
When was the opportunity posted?
It was posted on April 2, 2014.
What was the application closing date?
The application closing date was April 11, 2014.
How many awards were anticipated?
The announcement anticipated making a single award.
How much total funding was estimated to be available?
The estimated total funding available was $12,840.
Was there an award ceiling or floor?
No award ceiling or floor was stated in the information provided.
Was cost sharing or matching required?
No. There was no cost sharing or matching requirement stated.
What was the main purpose of the award?
The core purpose was to support field and laboratory work to extract and analyze genetic information from environmental samples collected in Lake Powell, tied directly to a broader USGS-funded research effort focused on mercury cycling in the reservoir.
Where would the environmental sampling take place?
Sampling would take place in Lake Powell.
What kinds of samples were involved?
The work involved collecting sediment samples and water column samples.
How many sampling events were expected?
The funded partner was expected to contribute to two synoptic sampling cruises.
Which years were the sampling cruises planned for?
The cruises were planned for calendar years 2014 and 2015.
About how many sites were to be covered during sampling?
The cruises were expected to cover roughly 12 sites on Lake Powell.
How was sample collection coordinated with other measurements?
Sediment and water column samples for molecular work were to be collected at the same time as samples taken for geochemical measurements.
Were there special requirements for how samples were collected for molecular analysis?
Yes. Samples intended for DNA/RNA-based analyses were to be collected using sterile methods appropriate for molecular biology to ensure downstream analyses would be reliable.
What kind of laboratory extraction work was emphasized?
The lab work emphasized total nucleic acid extraction from both sediments and water column material.
What extraction approach was described for difficult environmental matrices?
The extraction approach combined physical and chemical lysis, which is commonly used when cells in environmental samples can be difficult to break open.
What kinds of molecular assays were planned?
The project called for both broad (community-wide) and targeted molecular assays to characterize microbial biodiversity, with particular attention to microorganisms thought to be involved in mercury methylation.
How was general microbial community profiling to be performed?
General community profiling was to be done by amplifying genomic DNA via PCR using universal primers targeting the V8 hypervariable region of the 16S rRNA gene.
What is the specific mercury-related biological process addressed by the targeted assays?
The targeted assays focused on organisms with the genetic potential to methylate inorganic mercury (Hg(II)) into methylmercury.
Which functional gene region was specifically highlighted for mercury methylation potential?
The announcement specifically highlighted functional gene targeting of the hgcAB region, associated with mercury methylation.
What primer development work was included for hgcAB?
The scope included developing a forward primer specific to the conserved corrinoid-binding domain of HgcA and a reverse primer specific to the unique ferredoxin-binding domain of HgcB.
Were additional functional gene targets allowed or expected?
Yes. The scope also included developing primers for amplification of other target functional genes as needed.
What sequencing method and platform were specified?
PCR amplicons were to be barcoded and sequenced using multiplex pyrosequencing on the GS FLX Titanium platform.
Why were amplicons barcoded?
Barcoding was used so many samples could be pooled for sequencing while still being distinguishable during bioinformatics processing.
What kinds of deliverables were expected beyond raw sequencing data?
The recipient was expected to provide analysis and interpretation in addition to raw sequence output, implying processed sequence data and summaries and conclusions about microbial groups and mercury-methylation-associated genes across sites and between the two sampling years.
Who was eligible to apply for this opportunity?
Eligibility was limited to organizations that were already participating partners in the Rocky Mountain Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) Program.
Was this opportunity open to all applicants?
No. Based on the eligibility limitation to Rocky Mountain CESU partners, the competition was not open to all applicants.
What is the Rocky Mountain CESU program in general terms?
CESUs are structured partnerships designed to connect federal agencies with universities and other research organizations to deliver research, technical assistance, and education. This opportunity was limited to entities within the Rocky Mountain CESU network.
Which USGS office administered the program for this opportunity?
The program was administered through the Wyoming Montana Water Science Center (WY MT WSC).
Where was the full announcement referenced as being available?
The public listing referenced Grants.gov for the full announcement.
Who was the USGS contact for access issues, and how can they be reached?
The contact listed for access issues was Faith Graves, reachable at (703) 648-7356 and fgraves@usgs.gov.
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