Opportunity Information: Apply for USGS 15 FA 0423
Apply for USGS 15 FA 0423
- The Geological Survey in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Vegetation Plot Data Harvest and Analysis in Support of the U.S. National Vegetation Classification" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.808 U.S. Geological Survey Research and Data Collection.
- This funding opportunity was created on Aug 4, 2015 and posted on Aug 4, 2015.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 18, 2015. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $80,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $80,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education.
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Opportunity Summary:
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) grant opportunity titled "Vegetation Plot Data Harvest and Analysis in Support of the U.S. National Vegetation Classification" is a focused research project aimed at improving the U.S. National Vegetation Classification (USNVC) by using detailed, plot-based vegetation data from longleaf pine woodlands in the Southeastern United States. The core purpose is twofold: first, to conduct an in-depth analysis of an extensive database of vegetation plots from longleaf pine woodland systems, and second, to contribute those plot records to the USNVC vegetation plot archive known as VegBank so the data become more broadly accessible and useful for future classification work, conservation planning, and land management.
A major motivation behind the project is the conservation urgency surrounding longleaf pine ecosystems. Historically, longleaf pine woodlands covered an estimated 90 million acres across the Southeast, but only about 3 percent of that original extent remains intact. Because these woodlands are a major focus of restoration and conservation programs, the government is emphasizing the need for a more complete and scientifically defensible understanding of the distinct plant communities that occur within them. By improving how these communities are described and organized in the national standard, the project supports more consistent mapping, monitoring, management, and restoration decisions across agencies and states.
The work is specifically targeted at reviewing and revising the USNVC Standard at the Alliance and Association levels for Longleaf Pine Woodlands in the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. In practical terms, that means the recipient is expected to analyze the available plot dataset to evaluate how current USNVC vegetation types are defined, determine whether revisions are needed (such as refining concepts, adjusting names or descriptions, clarifying diagnostic species, or reorganizing types where the data support it), and then prepare a formal set of proposed changes. Those proposed revisions are not simply internal edits; they are intended to be submitted for consideration by the Ecological Society of America (ESA) Vegetation Panel, which serves as the scientific advisory body responsible for guiding revisions under the Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC) Vegetation Subcommittee process. In other words, the endpoint is a structured proposal that can move through the national review and approval pathway used for USNVC updates.
Administratively, this opportunity was offered as a discretionary cooperative agreement under the USGS research and data collection assistance listing (CFDA 15.808, U.S. Geological Survey Research and Data Collection). The program area is categorized as science and technology and other research and development. The funding was set up as a single expected award with a total funding amount of $80,000, and the ceiling and floor were both $80,000, indicating a fixed-size award rather than a range. No cost sharing or matching funds were required. Eligibility was limited to public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, meaning the intended applicants were typically state universities or similar public academic entities with the capacity to manage ecological datasets, perform quantitative vegetation analyses, and produce publishable, standards-ready classification revisions.
Timing details show the announcement was posted on August 4, 2015, with an original and current closing date of August 18, 2015, and an archive date of September 17, 2015. The funding opportunity number was USGS 15 FA 0423. For access issues or administrative questions, the listed contact was Tangee Brookie, Contract Specialist, reachable by phone at 303-236-9322 or by email at tbrookie@usgs.gov.
Overall, the grant is best understood as a targeted investment in improving a national ecological classification standard by mobilizing and standardizing high-quality field plot data for a high-priority, highly threatened ecosystem. The expected deliverables emphasize both data stewardship (getting comprehensive longleaf pine woodland plots into VegBank in usable form) and scientific synthesis (using those data to support defensible updates to USNVC alliances and associations, culminating in a formal proposal for ESA panel review).
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the title of this USGS grant opportunity?
The opportunity is titled "Vegetation Plot Data Harvest and Analysis in Support of the U.S. National Vegetation Classification".
What is the main purpose of the project?
The project has two main purposes: (1) to conduct an in-depth analysis of an extensive database of plot-based vegetation data from longleaf pine woodland systems, and (2) to contribute those vegetation plot records to the USNVC vegetation plot archive, VegBank, so the data are broadly accessible for future classification work, conservation planning, and land management.
What ecosystem and region does the project focus on?
The focus is on longleaf pine woodlands in the Southeastern United States, with targeted work on Longleaf Pine Woodlands in the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida.
Why is this project considered urgent or high priority?
The motivation is tied to the conservation urgency of longleaf pine ecosystems. Historically, longleaf pine woodlands covered an estimated 90 million acres across the Southeast, but only about 3 percent of that original extent remains intact. Because these woodlands are a major focus of restoration and conservation programs, the project emphasizes improving the scientific defensibility and completeness of how their plant communities are described in the national standard.
What is the U.S. National Vegetation Classification (USNVC) and how is it used in this project?
In this opportunity, the USNVC is the national standard the project is intended to improve. The recipient is expected to use detailed vegetation plot data to evaluate how current USNVC vegetation types for longleaf pine woodlands are defined and to support potential revisions that strengthen mapping, monitoring, management, and restoration decisions across agencies and states.
Which USNVC classification levels are specifically targeted?
The work is specifically targeted at reviewing and revising the USNVC Standard at the Alliance and Association levels for Longleaf Pine Woodlands.
What kinds of revisions might the project propose to the USNVC?
Based on analysis of the plot dataset, the recipient is expected to evaluate whether revisions are needed, such as refining vegetation type concepts, adjusting names or descriptions, clarifying diagnostic species, or reorganizing types where the data support it.
What is VegBank and what is expected regarding data submission?
VegBank is the USNVC vegetation plot archive referenced in the opportunity. A key deliverable is to contribute longleaf pine woodland plot records to VegBank so they become more accessible and useful for future classification work, conservation planning, and land management.
What are the expected end products or deliverables?
The expected deliverables emphasize both: (1) data stewardship (making comprehensive longleaf pine woodland plot data available in VegBank in usable form), and (2) scientific synthesis (using those data to support defensible updates to USNVC alliances and associations, culminating in a formal set of proposed changes).
Who reviews or considers the proposed USNVC revisions produced by this project?
The proposed revisions are intended to be submitted for consideration by the Ecological Society of America (ESA) Vegetation Panel, described as the scientific advisory body that guides revisions under the Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC) Vegetation Subcommittee process.
Is this opportunity a grant or a cooperative agreement?
It was offered as a discretionary cooperative agreement under USGS research and data collection assistance.
What is the CFDA listing associated with this opportunity?
The listing is CFDA 15.808, titled U.S. Geological Survey Research and Data Collection.
What is the program area category for this funding?
The program area is categorized as science and technology and other research and development.
How much funding is available under this opportunity?
The total funding amount is $80,000.
Is the award amount a range or a fixed amount?
It is a fixed-size award. The ceiling and floor were both $80,000, indicating a single, set award amount rather than a range.
How many awards were expected?
The opportunity anticipated a single expected award.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. The opportunity stated that no cost sharing or matching funds were required.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility was limited to public and state-controlled institutions of higher education (for example, state universities or similar public academic entities).
What kinds of capabilities would an eligible applicant likely need for this project?
Based on the project description, the intended applicants are entities with the capacity to manage ecological datasets, perform quantitative vegetation analyses, and produce classification revisions that are suitable for use in standards and formal review pathways.
What is the funding opportunity number?
The funding opportunity number is USGS 15 FA 0423.
When was the opportunity posted and when did it close?
The announcement was posted on August 4, 2015, and the original and current closing date was August 18, 2015.
When was the opportunity archived?
The archive date was September 17, 2015.
Who is the listed contact for access issues or administrative questions?
The listed contact was Tangee Brookie, Contract Specialist.
How can the contact person be reached?
By phone at 303-236-9322 or by email at tbrookie@usgs.gov.
How does this project support land management and conservation beyond the immediate research?
By improving how longleaf pine plant communities are described and organized in the national vegetation classification standard, the project supports more consistent mapping, monitoring, management, and restoration decisions across agencies and states.
What is the overall goal of combining plot data archiving with classification analysis?
The combined approach is meant to mobilize and standardize high-quality field plot data for a highly threatened ecosystem while also using that evidence base to produce defensible, review-ready updates to the national classification (USNVC) at the alliance and association levels.
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