Opportunity Information: Apply for G14AS00133
Apply for G14AS00133
- 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 Aug 12, 2014 and posted on Aug 12, 2014.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 22, 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 $109,585.00 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 Mountains Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) Program.
[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal:
Opportunity Summary:
The Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Rocky Mountain CESU opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number G14AS00133) was a U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) discretionary funding announcement designed to support scientific research and development focused on the ecology and management-relevant biology of wild horses and burros across the western United States. Issued as a cooperative agreement, the project was intended to be carried out specifically through the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) framework, which is a partnership-based program used by federal agencies to collaborate with participating institutions on research, technical assistance, and education that inform public-land stewardship. The funding was aimed at generating practical, field-ready knowledge that could strengthen how agencies understand wild horse and burro populations and how those populations interact with rangeland ecosystems, particularly in the Rocky Mountain region and the Great Basin.
The research scope described in the announcement was broad and strongly applied, combining population biology, genetics, animal behavior, and habitat and ecosystem modeling. Key study areas included improving methods for estimating population size, a foundational need for any management program because population estimates affect planning, monitoring, and evaluation of interventions. The opportunity also emphasized genetic structure analysis of wild horse populations using fecal DNA, indicating an interest in noninvasive sampling approaches that reduce animal handling risks while still producing reliable data on relatedness, gene flow, and population connectivity. Alongside genetics, the work was expected to include ecological and carrying capacity modeling, which typically involves linking forage, water availability, climate and drought patterns, and landscape conditions to population dynamics in order to better anticipate where and when populations may exceed the capacity of available habitat resources.
A notable component of the described work was the development of a suitable and safe radio collar for wild horses and burros. This signals that the USGS was seeking better telemetry tools tailored to the unique anatomy, behavior, and welfare considerations of these animals, with the aim of improving movement and habitat-use studies without causing injury or long-term negative effects. The opportunity also called for research related to fertility control, suggesting interest in evaluating reproductive management techniques and their ecological or demographic outcomes. Additional topic areas included behavioral ecology (how animals behave in relation to their environment and social structure), habitat selection modeling (predicting or quantifying how animals choose areas based on terrain, vegetation, water, human disturbance, or other variables), and sentinel demography research. Sentinel demography generally refers to intensive monitoring of select populations to detect trends, survival and recruitment patterns, and early-warning signals of change that may be relevant across a broader region.
From an administrative standpoint, the announcement listed one expected award with an estimated total funding amount of $109,585, with no cost sharing or matching required. The award ceiling and floor were both listed as $0, which is sometimes used in older postings when exact caps are not specified in the summary fields even though an estimated total is provided. The program fell under CFDA 15.808 (U.S. Geological Survey Research and Data Collection) and the funding activity category was Science and Technology and other Research and Development. Eligibility was limited to entities that were already participating partners of the Rocky Mountains CESU, meaning applicants needed to be within that established network rather than the general public or all academic institutions. The opportunity was posted on August 12, 2014, with an original and current closing date of August 22, 2014, and an archive date of November 12, 2014, indicating it was a short open window typical of certain CESU announcements that target a defined partner community.
For applicants or interested parties seeking more detail at the time, the listing pointed to Grants.gov for the full announcement and provided a USGS contact for access issues: Faith Graves (703-648-7356, fgraves@usgs.gov). Overall, the grant was structured to fund a focused, collaborative research effort that would deliver methods, tools, and empirical findings to improve understanding and management of wild horses and burros, especially within the Rocky Mountain and Great Basin landscapes where these populations and associated land-use questions are especially prominent.
FAQs - Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Rocky Mountain CESU (Funding Opportunity Number G14AS00133)
What is this funding opportunity?
This was a U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) discretionary funding announcement under the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) program. It was released through the Rocky Mountain CESU and focused on scientific research and development related to wild horses and burros in the western United States.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number?
The Funding Opportunity Number was G14AS00133.
Who issued the opportunity?
The opportunity was issued by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).
What type of award was expected?
The announcement indicated the project would be issued as a cooperative agreement.
What was the purpose of the project?
The purpose was to support applied, management-relevant research on the ecology and biology of wild horses and burros, producing practical knowledge and tools that could improve how agencies understand populations and their interactions with rangeland ecosystems, particularly in the Rocky Mountain region and the Great Basin.
What geographic area did the research emphasize?
The work was focused on wild horses and burros across the western United States, with particular emphasis on the Rocky Mountain region and the Great Basin.
What were the main research topics included in the scope?
The scope was broad and applied, including population biology, genetics, animal behavior, and habitat and ecosystem modeling, with the aim of generating field-ready, management-useful results.
Did the opportunity include work on population size estimation?
Yes. Improving methods for estimating population size was highlighted as a key study area because population estimates affect planning, monitoring, and evaluation of management actions.
Was genetics research part of the announcement?
Yes. The announcement emphasized analyzing genetic structure of wild horse populations, including the use of fecal DNA as a noninvasive sampling approach to study relatedness, gene flow, and population connectivity.
What is meant by noninvasive genetic sampling in this context?
The announcement specifically referenced fecal DNA, which allows genetic analysis without capturing or handling animals, reducing handling risks while still generating genetic and connectivity information.
Did the scope include habitat or carrying capacity modeling?
Yes. The announcement described ecological and carrying capacity modeling, typically linking forage, water availability, climate and drought patterns, and landscape conditions to population dynamics to anticipate when populations may exceed habitat resource capacity.
Was telemetry tool development included?
Yes. A notable component was the development of a suitable and safe radio collar for wild horses and burros, reflecting interest in improving movement and habitat-use studies while accounting for anatomy, behavior, and animal welfare considerations.
Did the opportunity include fertility control research?
Yes. The announcement called for research related to fertility control, indicating interest in reproductive management techniques and their ecological or demographic outcomes.
Was animal behavior part of the research scope?
Yes. Behavioral ecology was included, focusing on how animals behave in relation to their environment and social structure.
Did the scope include habitat selection modeling?
Yes. Habitat selection modeling was included, described as predicting or quantifying how animals choose areas based on factors such as terrain, vegetation, water, and human disturbance.
What is sentinel demography, as referenced in the announcement?
The announcement referenced sentinel demography as intensive monitoring of select populations to detect trends, survival and recruitment patterns, and early-warning signals of change that may be relevant across a broader region.
How much funding was expected?
The announcement listed one expected award with an estimated total funding amount of $109,585.
How many awards were anticipated?
The announcement listed one expected award.
Was cost sharing or matching required?
No. The announcement stated there was no cost sharing or matching requirement.
What were the award ceiling and award floor?
The award ceiling and floor were both listed as $0. The announcement also provided an estimated total funding amount, and the $0 values were noted as sometimes appearing in older postings when exact caps are not specified in summary fields.
What CFDA number was associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity fell under CFDA 15.808, identified as U.S. Geological Survey Research and Data Collection.
What was the funding activity category?
The funding activity category was Science and Technology and other Research and Development.
Who was eligible to apply?
Eligibility was limited to entities that were already participating partners of the Rocky Mountains CESU. It was not open to the general public or to all academic institutions outside that established CESU network.
What is the CESU framework referenced in the announcement?
The CESU framework was described as a partnership-based program used by federal agencies to collaborate with participating institutions on research, technical assistance, and education that inform public-land stewardship.
When was the opportunity posted?
The opportunity was posted on August 12, 2014.
What was the application deadline?
The original and current closing date listed was August 22, 2014.
When was the opportunity archived?
The archive date was November 12, 2014.
Where could applicants find the full announcement?
The listing pointed applicants to Grants.gov for the full announcement.
Who was the contact for access issues, and what were the contact details?
The listing provided a USGS contact for access issues: Faith Graves, phone 703-648-7356, email fgraves@usgs.gov.
What was the overall intended outcome of the funded work?
The opportunity was structured to fund a focused, collaborative research effort that would deliver methods, tools, and empirical findings to improve understanding and management of wild horses and burros, especially in Rocky Mountain and Great Basin landscapes.
Browse more opportunities from the same category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development
Next opportunity: Limited Competition NIGMS National Centers for Systems Biology (P50)
Previous opportunity: RFI Acceleration of Distributed Generation from Wind Energy Systems
USGrants.org Applicant Portal:
Are you interested in learning about about how to apply for this government funding opportunity? You can create a free applicant account and receive instant access to our applicant portal that many business owners like you have benefited from.
Apply for G14AS00133
[Watch] how do funding administrators access proposals?
Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (G14AS00133) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| FAA Center of Excellence (COE) for Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Apply for 14 C UAS 0812AM Funding Number: 14 C UAS 0812AM Agency: DOT FAA Centers of Excellence Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| ROSES 2014 Solar Irradiance Science Team Apply for NNH14ZDA001N SIST Funding Number: NNH14ZDA001N SIST Agency: NASA Headquarters Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| ROSES 2014 Nancy Grace Roman Technology Fellowship Apply for NNH14ZDA001N RTF Funding Number: NNH14ZDA001N RTF Agency: NASA Headquarters Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Curation of Museum property Under Reclamation Jurisdiction and Archaeology Lab and Fieldwork for Unanticipated Discoveries Apply for R14AS00068 Funding Number: R14AS00068 Agency: Bureau of Reclamation Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $25,051 |
| Cultural Resource Surveys, Evaluations, and Excavations on Federal Lands in Nebraska and Kansas Apply for R14AS00067 Funding Number: R14AS00067 Agency: Bureau of Reclamation Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $52,997 |
| Biological Robustness in Complex Settings (BRICS) Apply for DARPA BAA 14 49 Funding Number: DARPA BAA 14 49 Agency: DARPA Biological Technologies Office Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| National Vegetation Classification for Regional Scale Analysis Apply for G14AS00030 Funding Number: G14AS00030 Agency: Geological Survey Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $75,000 |
| Science and Technology Centers Integrative Partnerships Apply for 14 600 Funding Number: 14 600 Agency: National Science Foundation Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $5,000,000 |
| Dynamics of Coupled Natural and Human Systems Apply for 14 601 Funding Number: 14 601 Agency: National Science Foundation Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $1,800,000 |
| ROSES 2014 Planetary Instrument Concepts for the Advancement of Solar System Observations Apply for NNH14ZDA001N PICASSO Funding Number: NNH14ZDA001N PICASSO Agency: NASA Headquarters Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Interpretive Web Media for NPS Climate Change Monitoring Apply for P14AS00260 Funding Number: P14AS00260 Agency: National Park Service Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Night Vision Technologies Apply for W909MY 14 R D010 Funding Number: W909MY 14 R D010 Agency: ACC APG Belvoir Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Piping Plover Adaptive Management Support for Cape Hatteras National Seashore Apply for P14AS00264 Funding Number: P14AS00264 Agency: National Park Service Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Collaborative Development of Southeast Coast Network Database Apply for P14AS00273 Funding Number: P14AS00273 Agency: National Park Service Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Forensic Science Center of Excellence Program Apply for 2014 NIST FS COE 01 Funding Number: 2014 NIST FS COE 01 Agency: National Institute of Standards and Technology Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Mapping, Condition Assessment, and Interpretive Plan for Bear Lake Mounds Archeological District Apply for P14AS00279 Funding Number: P14AS00279 Agency: National Park Service Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Technology Commercialization Assistance Program (TCAP) Apply for 2014 NIST SBIR 02 Funding Number: 2014 NIST SBIR 02 Agency: National Institute of Standards and Technology Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| Mapping and Modeling of Conservation of focus areas for American Woodcock Apply for F14AS00415 Funding Number: F14AS00415 Agency: Fish and Wildlife Service Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $60,000 |
| SOCIOLOGY PROGRAM Doctoral Dissertation Research Improvement Awards Apply for 14 604 Funding Number: 14 604 Agency: National Science Foundation Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: Case Dependent |
| ACCELERATING LOW COST PLASMA HEATING AND ASSEMBLY (ALPHA) Apply for DE FOA 0001184 Funding Number: DE FOA 0001184 Agency: Headquarters Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $10,000,000 |
Grant application guides and resources
It is always free to apply for government grants. However the process may be very complex depending on the funding opportunity you are applying for. Let us help you!
Apply for Grants

Premium leads for funding administrators, grant writers, and loan issuers
Thousands of people visit our website for their funding needs every day. When a user creates a grant proposal and files for submission, we pass the information on to funding administrators, grant writers, and government loan issuers.
If you manage government grant programs, provide grant writing services, or issue personal or government loans, we can help you reach your audience.
Subscribe to Leads
Request more information:
Would you like to learn more about this funding opportunity, similar opportunities to "G14AS00133", eligibility, application service, and/or application tips? Submit an inquiry below:
Don't forget to subscribe to our grant alerts mailing list to receive weekly alerts on new and updated grant funding opportunities like this one in your email.
