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

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the funding opportunity number and title?

The funding opportunity is G13AS00074, titled "Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, South Florida Caribbean CESU".

Which federal agency is offering this opportunity?

This is a discretionary funding opportunity offered by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).

What program is this opportunity associated with?

The opportunity is issued under the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) Program, a framework designed to support partnerships that deliver research, technical assistance, and education connected to public land and resource stewardship.

What type of award mechanism will be used?

The award mechanism is a cooperative agreement. This means USGS expects meaningful involvement in the project that goes beyond what is typical for a standard grant.

How is a cooperative agreement different from a contract or a traditional grant in this announcement?

The announcement explicitly describes the mechanism as neither a contract nor a traditional grant. It signals that the project is expected to involve collaboration and coordination with USGS during the period of performance, rather than a hands-off grant relationship or a procurement-style contract.

What is the overall purpose of this funding opportunity?

The purpose is to establish a new five-year project that advances the original objectives of the Florida/Caribbean CESU, with a strong emphasis on science needs tied to the South Florida Everglades Restoration Initiative.

How long is the project period described in the opportunity?

The opportunity states the intent to establish a five-year project.

What major restoration initiative is emphasized?

The opportunity strongly emphasizes work tied to the South Florida Everglades Restoration Initiative.

What large-scale restoration goals are referenced in the announcement?

The restoration initiative is described as driven by goals such as restoring and maintaining native biological diversity across South Florida and supporting recovery efforts for threatened and endangered species.

What does the announcement mean by focusing on "ecological integrity"?

A central theme is that protecting an ecosystem effectively requires being able to define and measure ecological integrity in practical ways, and to evaluate and monitor how restoration actions influence ecosystem conditions over time. The project is intended to strengthen the science used to judge whether restoration is working and what the ecological consequences are.

What kinds of scientific outputs or assessments are highlighted?

The objectives focus on producing scientifically grounded assessments of: (1) how Greater Everglades restoration alternatives influence modeling initiatives, and (2) how Greater Everglades restoration affects rare, threatened, and endangered species (including examples such as sea turtles).

What is meant by "restoration alternatives" in the context provided?

Based on the description, the project is expected to help evaluate how different restoration alternatives compare, including their influence on modeling initiatives and their ecological consequences over time. The announcement frames this as part of building the scientific foundation for restoration decision-making.

Does the opportunity indicate a focus on threatened and endangered species?

Yes. One of the stated objectives is to assess how restoration affects rare, threatened, and endangered species. The announcement includes sea turtles as an example.

What general field or activity category does this opportunity fall under?

The activity category is listed as Science and Technology and other Research and Development.

What is the CFDA number and program name associated with this opportunity?

The opportunity is listed under CFDA 15.808, described as U.S. Geological Survey Research and Data Collection.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is limited to participating partners of the South Florida Caribbean CESU Program. The opportunity lists eligible applicants as "Others" and clarifies that only organizations already within the CESU partnership network for this specific region can apply.

Can organizations outside the South Florida Caribbean CESU partnership apply?

No. The announcement specifies that only organizations that are participating partners in the South Florida Caribbean CESU are eligible.

Is cost sharing or matching required?

No cost sharing or matching requirement is stated in the provided information.

What is the estimated total funding amount?

The estimated total funding amount is $150,000.

Is there a stated minimum or maximum award amount?

The award ceiling and award floor are both listed as zero in the summary. This typically indicates that fixed per-award minimums or maximums were not specified in the summary and that applicants would need to consult the full announcement for budgeting expectations and scope alignment.

When was this opportunity posted?

The posted date and creation date are both listed as July 29, 2013.

What was the application closing date?

The original and current closing date are both listed as August 19, 2013.

Is the opportunity archived, and if so, when?

Yes. The archive date is listed as October 29, 2013.

Where was the full announcement made available?

Additional information and the full announcement were made available through Grants.gov.

Who is the point of contact listed for questions or access issues?

The listed point of contact is Faith Graves, reachable at 703-648-7356 or fgraves@usgs.gov.

What kinds of partnership activities does the CESU framework support (as described here)?

As described in the provided information, the CESU framework supports partnerships delivering research, technical assistance, and education related to public land and resource stewardship.