Cooperative Ecosytem Studies Unit, North West Alaska CESU | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1) What is the funding opportunity number for this grant?

The Funding Opportunity Number is 10HQPA0055.

2) Which federal agency is offering this opportunity?

This opportunity is offered by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), within the U.S. Department of the Interior (USDI).

3) What type of award mechanism is being used?

The award mechanism is a cooperative agreement, which generally indicates substantial federal involvement and collaboration during the project.

4) What network or program is this award associated with?

The award is offered through the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) network, specifically the North and West Alaska CESU.

5) Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is limited to organizations that are already participating partners in the North and West Alaska CESU Program.

6) Why is eligibility limited to CESU partners?

CESUs are formal partnerships designed to support research, technical assistance, and education tied to federal science and management needs. This opportunity is structured to be carried out within that existing partnership framework.

7) What is the project focus area?

The scientific focus is the Yukon River Basin Project (YRB) within the USDI/USGS Climate Effects Network (CEN).

8) What is the main purpose of the funding?

The purpose is to strengthen and better integrate cooperative research and status-and-trends monitoring into ongoing YRB field data collection and analysis under the YRB Climate Change Science Plan.

9) Is USGS looking for a new standalone project?

No. The opportunity is framed around plugging into an existing, active Yukon River Basin effort and expanding its value through added expertise, new analyses, and improved regional integration.

10) What is the estimated total funding amount?

The estimated total funding amount is $125,000.

11) How many awards does USGS expect to make?

USGS expects to make a single award.

12) Is there a cost sharing or matching requirement?

No. There is no cost sharing or matching requirement.

13) When was the opportunity posted and when did it close?

It was posted on May 4, 2010 and closed on May 14, 2010.

14) What technical capability is described as central to this project?

A central requirement is demonstrated capability in developing and analyzing ground-based forest measurement datasets that connect to broader climate and carbon cycle work.

15) What kinds of linkages is the project expected to make?

The work is intended to link on-the-ground forest monitoring with carbon uptake and storage studies, remote sensing change detection and verification, and other investigations of climate change effects.

16) Is regional-scale work emphasized?

Yes. The opportunity emphasizes approaches that can operate at large regional spatial scales so results can be compared with satellite-derived vegetation indicators such as NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index).

17) What role do satellite indicators like NDVI play in the described work?

NDVI is referenced as a satellite-derived vegetation indicator that regional-scale results should be comparable against, supporting interpretation and validation across broader landscapes.

18) What tree-growth methods are specifically highlighted?

Tree growth reconstruction and interpretation using tree rings and related growth measurements are highlighted as a major emphasis.

19) What forest types or region does the tree-growth work focus on?

The focus is on key boreal forest species in Alaska’s portion of the Yukon River Basin.

20) Are both commercial and non-commercial species expected to be included?

Yes. The announcement explicitly calls for including both commercially important and non-commercial species relevant to carbon dynamics and ecosystem function.

21) Which tree species are explicitly named?

The opportunity explicitly names black spruce and broadleaf species such as Alaska birch and aspen.

22) Why is a broader set of species important for this project?

The intent is to capture a representative picture of how the boreal forest is responding to climate variability and change, rather than focusing on a narrow subset of trees.

23) Does the project involve updating older datasets?

Yes. One stated priority is updating legacy tree-ring datasets to reflect the effects of more recent Alaska climate anomalies.

24) Is there a target time depth for tree-growth perspective?

Yes. The announcement states a goal of roughly a 200-year perspective to evaluate recent growth changes against longer-term natural variability.

25) Is the work expected to address mechanisms behind growth changes?

Yes. The opportunity encourages mechanistic understanding, including approaches such as stable isotope analysis to help explain how climate factors influence tree growth and related carbon dynamics.

26) What climate drivers are mentioned as examples for interpreting growth?

Examples mentioned include temperature, moisture stress, and changing seasonality.

27) What collaboration expectations are described?

The recipient is expected to work closely with USGS and other investigators, including joint interpretation of monitoring results in a broader landscape context.

28) What types of analysis and calibration are anticipated?

The work anticipates calibrating relationships between climate variables (especially temperature and other drivers) and tree growth or carbon uptake, along with producing validation products.

29) Are future climate scenarios part of the expected work?

Yes. The opportunity calls for applying plausible future climate scenarios to project likely ecosystem changes.

30) What kinds of deliverables are implied beyond raw measurements?

Beyond raw measurements, the announcement anticipates calibrated datasets, validation products, and models that translate observations into projections under future climate conditions.

31) Is forest management relevance included in the scope?

Yes. There is explicit interest in understanding how outcomes might differ under various forest management techniques, indicating applied relevance to management decisions.

32) Who are the intended users of the end products?

USGS describes the completed datasets as critical resources for scientists, resource managers, and policy makers.

33) At what spatial scales are the results intended to be useful?

The results are intended to support multiple spatial scales, from individual sites to regional assessments to boreal-forest-wide evaluations.

34) What broader outcomes does USGS want from this work?

The broader aim is to improve understanding of how climate change may influence tree growth, carbon uptake, and tree survival, while strengthening predictions of future forest and ecosystem responses under projected climate scenarios.

35) What category is this opportunity listed under?

It is categorized under Science and Technology and other Research and Development.

36) What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?

The opportunity is associated with CFDA 15.808 (USGS Research and Data Collection).

37) Who is the listed contact for access issues with the full announcement?

The listed contact is Faith Graves, Contract Specialist, at 703-648-7356.