Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Southern Appalachian CESU | Apply Online

Opportunity Summary:

This grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number 09HQPA0028) is a small, targeted cooperative agreement offered through the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) under the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) network, specifically the Southern Appalachian CESU. It falls under the Science and Technology/Research and Development category (CFDA 15.808, USGS Research and Data Collection) and is intended to support applied research and technical assistance that aligns with CESU goals of providing research, technical assistance, and education to federal land management, environmental, and research agencies. USGS expects to make one award, with an estimated total funding amount of $6,500, and there is no cost-sharing or matching requirement listed.

The project itself is focused on microbial water quality and fecal source tracking in Tennessee streams. USGS will collect and provide water samples, and the selected university partner will perform laboratory testing using real time PCR (quantitative PCR) methods. The core requirement is to run a set of established Bacteroides-based fecal source tracking assays, which rely on amplification of a region of the 16S rRNA gene from Bacteroides species. For each sample batch, the university is expected to conduct three Bacteroides assays: an assay for total Bacteroides (AllBac) and at least two host-associated markers to help distinguish sources of fecal contamination, explicitly including human-associated (HuBac) and bovine-associated (BoBac) indicators as the standard example.

In addition to source tracking markers, the university partner must also test for common human pathogens in the same water samples using real time PCR assays. The exact pathogen panel is partly flexible and will be negotiated with USGS on a case-by-case basis, but the announcement specifies a minimum structure for the pathogen testing: each pathogen analysis must include at least two assays, including Salmonella and at least one pathogenic E. coli marker. In practical terms, this means the award supports both identifying likely fecal sources (human vs. animal contributions) and screening for organisms or genetic markers associated with human health risk.

A key expectation is active scientific collaboration rather than a simple fee-for-service laboratory arrangement. The selected university must work with USGS scientists to analyze the resulting qPCR data, interpret findings in the context of watershed conditions, and participate in publishing the results and interpretations. That collaborative element is central to the CESU model, where federal scientists and academic partners jointly develop and communicate the science.

Eligibility is restricted to institutions that are already participants in the Southern Appalachian CESU program. Beyond formal eligibility, the technical qualifications are explicit: the university must demonstrate in-house real time PCR capability (meaning the instrumentation, methods, and quality control procedures are already established), familiarity with Tennessee streams and regional water quality and bacterial source dynamics, and a proven track record applying real time PCR to bacteria source tracking, evidenced through peer-reviewed publications. The combination of those requirements signals that USGS is looking for a partner that can immediately execute specialized molecular assays reliably and interpret results within the ecological and hydrological realities of the region.

Administratively, the opportunity was posted on April 2, 2009, with an original and final closing date of April 13, 2009, and it was archived on May 13, 2009. The funding instrument is a cooperative agreement, which typically indicates substantial involvement by the federal agency during performance, consistent with the stated collaboration on analysis and publication. The listed contact for access issues is Faith Graves, Contract Specialist, at 703-648-7356.

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