Opportunity Information: Apply for FWS CESU 2
Apply for FWS CESU 2
- The Fisheries Habitat Conservation in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Fish and Wildlife Service, CESU Sole Source Task Agreements under 505 DM 2.14(2) Continuation" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.649 Service Training and Technical Assistance (Generic Training).
- This funding opportunity was created on May 9, 2008 and posted on May 9, 2008.
- Applicants must submit their applications by May 22, 2008. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- For this announcement of Intent to Award discretionary financial assistance to single sources without competition beginning in Fiscal Year (FY) 2008 for the duration of Service participation in the CESU cooperative agreements (renewable every five years), the justification for award without competition is Department of the Interior s 505 DM 2.14 (2) Continuation the activity to be funded is necessary to the satisfactory completion of, or is a continuation of an activity presently being funded, and for which competition would have a significant adverse effect on the continuity or completion of the activity. Financial assistance recipients include any university or institution that is a member of a CESU to which the Service is a cooperating partner in the cooperative agreement, and which can satisfy the Service s needs relative to a specific biogeographic area of concentration, a particular ecosystem type, a particular management regime, a combination of these themes, a special expertise, or a required timeframe to meet regional or program needs.
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Opportunity Summary:
This grant opportunity is a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) notice of intent to make discretionary financial assistance awards through Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Units (CESUs) using sole-source task agreements justified under the Department of the Interior (DOI) policy at 505 DM 2.14(2), labeled as a "Continuation." In practical terms, it is not a typical open, competitive grant where any eligible applicant can submit a proposal and be ranked against others. Instead, it supports ongoing or continuing work already underway within the CESU framework, where introducing competition would likely disrupt progress, delay deliverables, or otherwise harm continuity. The awards are issued as cooperative agreements, meaning the Service expects substantial federal involvement in planning, execution, oversight, or collaboration throughout the project.
The program is rooted in the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act (16 U.S.C. 661-666C) along with other FWS-specific legal authorities. The central purpose is to provide research, technical assistance, and education that help resource and environmental managers address real-world conservation and management challenges. CESUs are a formal nationwide network created with congressional authorization and coordinated through DOI. They function as partnerships among federal agencies, universities, and other institutions. Most CESUs are hosted at universities, which typically provide facilities and administrative support (such as accounting, office infrastructure, and access to faculty, staff, and students), while federal agencies contribute scientists, specialists, and program staff. The model is designed to make it easier to execute interdisciplinary work that blends biological, physical, social, and cultural sciences, especially when issues cross agency boundaries or require ecosystem-scale thinking.
A key feature of CESUs is that each unit is organized around a biogeographic region (for example, the Colorado Plateau or Southern Appalachian Mountains) and may also emphasize certain ecosystem types (like high deserts or urban ecosystems) or management contexts (such as wilderness or multiple-use lands). Some units develop specialized expertise that can benefit projects beyond their immediate region. Under this opportunity, FWS uses CESU task agreements to obtain targeted support aligned with regional or program needs, including situations where a specific partner is best positioned due to location, specialized capabilities, or the need to meet a tight timeframe.
Eligibility is limited to universities or institutions that are members of a CESU in which the Fish and Wildlife Service is an official cooperating partner under the relevant cooperative agreement. The notice indicates these awards begin in FY 2008 and can continue for the duration of FWS participation in CESU agreements, which are renewable every five years. There is no cost sharing or matching requirement stated in the notice. The activity category is Natural Resources, and one cited CFDA number is 15.649 (Service Training and Technical Assistance, Generic Training), though the announcement notes that other CFDA numbers might be used if they better match a particular task agreement.
Because these are cooperative agreements, each individual task agreement must explicitly document two things: first, the planned substantial involvement by the federal government, and second, a justification for using a sole-source award without competition under the DOI continuation authority in 505 DM 2.14(2). The notice also stresses a procedural detail: a copy of the Grants.gov notice should be attached to the task agreement package submitted to an authorized FWS financial officer. Importantly, the federal government is not legally committed to fund any task agreement until that authorized financial officer approves the award, which is a standard control point for federal assistance actions.
The announcement also clarifies that Executive Order 12372 (Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs) does not apply, meaning projects under this notice are not subject to that particular state-level coordination process. The opportunity was posted May 9, 2008, with an original and current closing date of May 22, 2008, and an archive date of June 21, 2008. The funding opportunity number is FWS CESU 2, the agency area is listed as Fisheries / Habitat Conservation, and the funding instrument is a cooperative agreement.
For coordination and next steps, the main operational contacts are the Science Support Partnership points of contact for each FWS region, reflecting that CESU work is often regionally driven. Regional contacts listed include: Region 1 Northwest (Paul Heimowitz, 503-872-2763), Region 2 Southwest (Charles Ault, 505-248-6281), Region 3 Midwest (Sean Kelly, 612-713-5470), Region 4 Southeast (Bill Starkel, 404-679-7127), Region 5 Northeast (Richard Bennett, 413-253-8273), Region 6 Mountain-Prairie (Greg Watson, 303-236-4514), Region 7 Alaska (Janet Hohn, 907-786-3850), Region 8 California/Nevada Operations (Diane Elam, 916-414-6453), and Region 9 Headquarters (Bill Knapp, 703-358-2188). A separate assistance contact is Jo Ann Mills, Program Analyst (703-358-2430), for help accessing the full announcement electronically.
Overall, this opportunity is best understood as an administrative vehicle FWS uses to continue and expand existing CESU-based collaborations that provide applied science, technical support, and education tied to ecosystem management needs, rather than a one-time competitive grant solicitation.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - FWS CESU Continuation Cooperative Agreements (FWS CESU 2)
1) What is this grant opportunity, in plain terms?
This is a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) notice of intent to make discretionary financial assistance awards through the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Units (CESUs). It is structured as a continuation-style, sole-source approach within the CESU framework rather than an open, competitive grant program.
2) Is this an open, competitive funding opportunity where anyone can apply?
No. The notice describes a continuation-based, sole-source process under Department of the Interior (DOI) policy (505 DM 2.14(2)). It is intended to support ongoing or continuing work already underway within CESUs, where introducing competition could disrupt progress or delay deliverables.
3) What is the funding instrument used for these awards?
The funding instrument is a cooperative agreement. That means FWS expects substantial federal involvement in planning, execution, oversight, and/or collaboration throughout the project.
4) What does "substantial federal involvement" mean here?
Because these awards are cooperative agreements, each task agreement must document planned substantial involvement by the federal government. The notice frames this as active participation by FWS in the project (for example, collaboration on planning, execution, and oversight), rather than a hands-off grant where the recipient works independently.
5) What is a CESU?
CESUs are a nationwide network of partnerships, created with congressional authorization and coordinated through DOI. They connect federal agencies with universities and other institutions to support research, technical assistance, and education for real-world conservation and management needs.
6) Why does this opportunity use a sole-source "continuation" approach?
The notice explains that the purpose is to maintain continuity for ongoing work within the CESU framework. Competition could disrupt progress, delay deliverables, or otherwise harm continuity. The sole-source approach is justified under DOI continuation authority at 505 DM 2.14(2).
7) Who is eligible to receive an award under this notice?
Eligibility is limited to universities or institutions that are members of a CESU in which FWS is an official cooperating partner under the relevant cooperative agreement.
8) Are non-CESU members eligible to apply?
Not under this notice. The eligibility statement limits awards to institutions that are members of a CESU where FWS is an official cooperating partner.
9) Does the notice require cost sharing or a match?
No. The notice states there is no cost sharing or matching requirement.
10) What types of projects does this support?
The central purpose is to provide research, technical assistance, and education that help resource and environmental managers address conservation and management challenges. The activity category is Natural Resources, and the agency area is listed as Fisheries / Habitat Conservation.
11) How do CESUs organize their work?
Each CESU is organized around a biogeographic region (for example, the Colorado Plateau or Southern Appalachian Mountains). Units may also emphasize certain ecosystem types (like high deserts or urban ecosystems) or specific management contexts (such as wilderness or multiple-use lands). Some units develop specialized expertise that can support projects beyond their immediate region.
12) Why would FWS choose a specific CESU partner for a task agreement?
The notice indicates FWS may use CESU task agreements when a specific partner is best positioned due to location, specialized capabilities, or the need to meet a tight timeframe, and when the work aligns with regional or program needs.
13) What legal authorities support this program?
The program is rooted in the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act (16 U.S.C. 661-666C), along with other FWS-specific legal authorities referenced by the agency.
14) What is the CFDA number for this opportunity?
One cited CFDA number is 15.649 (Service Training and Technical Assistance, Generic Training). The notice also states that other CFDA numbers may be used if they better match a particular task agreement.
15) What is required in each individual task agreement package?
Each task agreement must explicitly document (1) the planned substantial involvement by the federal government, and (2) a justification for using a sole-source award without competition under the DOI continuation authority in 505 DM 2.14(2).
16) Is there any special procedural attachment requirement mentioned?
Yes. The notice states that a copy of the Grants.gov notice should be attached to the task agreement package submitted to an authorized FWS financial officer.
17) When is the federal government legally committed to fund a task agreement?
The notice states that the federal government is not legally committed to fund any task agreement until an authorized FWS financial officer approves the award.
18) Does Executive Order 12372 (Intergovernmental Review) apply?
No. The announcement clarifies that Executive Order 12372 does not apply to projects under this notice.
19) When was this opportunity posted and what were the closing dates?
The opportunity was posted May 9, 2008. The original and current closing date is May 22, 2008. The archive date is June 21, 2008.
20) What is the funding opportunity number?
The funding opportunity number is FWS CESU 2.
21) When do these awards begin and how long can they continue?
The notice indicates these awards begin in FY 2008 and can continue for the duration of FWS participation in CESU agreements, which are renewable every five years.
22) Who should be contacted for coordination or next steps?
The notice points to Science Support Partnership points of contact for each FWS region as the main operational contacts, reflecting that CESU work is often regionally driven.
23) Who are the regional points of contact listed in the notice?
- Region 1 Northwest: Paul Heimowitz, 503-872-2763
- Region 2 Southwest: Charles Ault, 505-248-6281
- Region 3 Midwest: Sean Kelly, 612-713-5470
- Region 4 Southeast: Bill Starkel, 404-679-7127
- Region 5 Northeast: Richard Bennett, 413-253-8273
- Region 6 Mountain-Prairie: Greg Watson, 303-236-4514
- Region 7 Alaska: Janet Hohn, 907-786-3850
- Region 8 California/Nevada Operations: Diane Elam, 916-414-6453
- Region 9 Headquarters: Bill Knapp, 703-358-2188
24) Who can help with accessing the full announcement electronically?
The notice lists Jo Ann Mills, Program Analyst (703-358-2430), as an assistance contact for help accessing the full announcement electronically.
25) What is the overall intent of this notice compared to a typical one-time grant competition?
The notice is best understood as an administrative vehicle FWS uses to continue and expand existing CESU-based collaborations that provide applied science, technical support, and education tied to ecosystem management needs. It is not presented as a one-time competitive solicitation where proposals are ranked against each other.
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