Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, South Florida Caribbean CESU | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the title of this grant opportunity?

The opportunity is titled "Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, South Florida Caribbean CESU" (Funding Opportunity Number G11AS20022).

Which agency issued this funding opportunity?

The funding announcement was issued by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).

What type of funding mechanism is being used?

This opportunity was issued as a cooperative agreement (not a standard grant). A cooperative agreement typically means the federal agency expects substantial involvement in the project, such as collaboration on study design, data standards, analysis methods, and/or integration of results into USGS tools and models.

What is the CFDA program associated with this opportunity?

The opportunity falls under CFDA 15.808, "U.S. Geological Survey Research and Data Collection."

How is the activity category described?

The work is categorized under Science and Technology and other Research and Development, and it is framed as applied research intended to support USGS science needs through the CESU network.

What is a CESU, and why does it matter for eligibility?

CESUs (Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Units) are formal partnerships that connect federal agencies with universities, nonprofits, and other partners to deliver research, technical assistance, and education. This matters because this specific opportunity was limited to organizations that are already participating partners in the South Florida/Caribbean CESU Program.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility was restricted to CESU partners within the South Florida/Caribbean CESU. The eligible applicant category was summarized as "Others," with the eligibility limitation clarified in the opportunity text.

Are organizations outside the South Florida/Caribbean CESU eligible?

No. The opportunity explicitly states it was limited to organizations that are already participating partners in the South Florida/Caribbean CESU Program.

How many awards were expected?

The announcement anticipated a single award (Expected Awards: 1).

What was the estimated total funding amount?

The estimated total funding amount was $10,000.

Was there an award ceiling or award floor?

The listing did not specify an award ceiling or floor (both were shown as 0). This commonly indicates the detailed budget parameters were either flexible within the total available amount or addressed in the full announcement rather than the summary fields.

Is cost sharing or matching required?

No. The opportunity stated there was no cost sharing or matching requirement.

What scientific topic or problem area does this funding support?

The project focus is on resolving questions central to building and improving dynamic flow models for coastal wetland systems, specifically related to heat transport.

What does "heat transport" mean in the context of this opportunity?

In this context, heat transport refers to understanding and characterizing how heat moves through water and wetland environments, especially where flow conditions can change quickly and where temperature strongly affects physical and ecological processes.

What are "dynamic flow models" in this opportunity?

The opportunity describes dynamic flow models as modeling approaches for coastal wetland systems where flow conditions can change quickly. The intended research outputs are expected to inform and improve these models for critical coastal wetland areas.

Why is heat transport important for coastal wetlands modeling?

The opportunity notes that heat transport can influence water density and circulation, habitat suitability, biogeochemical reaction rates, and the interpretation of monitoring data. Because of those connections, heat transport information can be important for wetland management and restoration modeling.

What types of outputs were expected from the funded work?

The announcement emphasizes outputs that directly inform dynamic flow modeling of critical coastal wetland areas. This includes research results, datasets, or methods that can be incorporated into hydrodynamic and related modeling frameworks used by USGS and its partners.

Is this opportunity described as basic research or applied research?

It is framed as applied research intended to support USGS science needs through the CESU network.

When was the opportunity posted and when did it close?

The opportunity was posted/created on March 31, 2011. The original and current closing date was April 11, 2011.

Was this a short-fuse application window?

Yes. Based on the listed dates, the posting date (March 31, 2011) and closing date (April 11, 2011) indicate a short application window.

When was the opportunity archived?

The opportunity was archived on June 30, 2011.

Where were additional details provided?

Additional details were referenced through Grants.gov.

Who is the contact person for questions or access issues?

The contact listed is Faith Graves at USGS. Phone: 703-648-7356. Email: fgraves@usgs.gov.

What is the funding opportunity number (FON)?

The Funding Opportunity Number is G11AS20022.

Does the opportunity indicate that USGS will be involved during the project?

Yes. Because it is a cooperative agreement, the description indicates USGS would generally expect substantial involvement, such as collaboration on design, standards, analysis approaches, or integration into USGS models and tools.

What geographic or program scope is implied by the CESU name?

The opportunity is tied to the South Florida/Caribbean CESU Program, and eligibility was limited to participating partners in that CESU.