Cooperative Agreement for CESU-affiliated Partner with Great Lakes-Northern Forest Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit | G23AS00187

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What agency is offering this grant opportunity?

This opportunity is issued by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) within the Department of the Interior (DOI).

What is the Funding Opportunity Number?

The Funding Opportunity Number is G23AS00187.

What is the Assistance Listing (CFDA) number for this opportunity?

The Assistance Listing (formerly CFDA) number is 15.808.

What type of award is being offered?

The award is a discretionary cooperative agreement. A cooperative agreement typically means the federal agency expects to be substantially involved during the project (for example, collaborating on scope, methods, milestones, and integration with ongoing USGS/DOI efforts).

What program is this opportunity associated with?

This solicitation is under the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) Program, specifically through the Great Lakes-Northern Forest CESU.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is limited to participating partners of the USGS Great Lakes-Northern Forest CESU Program. Applicants must be CESU-affiliated partners within that CESU network.

What is the focus of the work to be funded?

The funded project is intended to support applied research and decision-support related to chronic wasting disease (CWD) and other wildlife diseases that are affecting, or could affect, DOI trust resources.

What are DOI "trust resources" in the context of this opportunity?

The opportunity states that the work should focus on diseases affecting, or potentially affecting, DOI trust resources. The notice does not provide a further definition beyond that phrasing.

What is the overall purpose of the project?

The purpose is to help DOI land and wildlife managers make better, more defensible decisions in complex wildlife disease management situations where science is uncertain, consequences may be high, and tradeoffs are difficult.

What does "decision-support" mean here?

In this opportunity, decision-support centers on helping managers structure (frame) their disease-related decision problems and make decisions under uncertainty in a transparent, defensible way rather than relying on ad hoc approaches.

What is meant by "decision framing" in this solicitation?

Decision framing is described as working with DOI management agencies to clearly define the decision problem by: identifying management objectives, clarifying available choices, identifying constraints (legal, operational, ecological), and laying out key uncertainties and tradeoffs that complicate action.

What types of management choices might the decision framing cover?

The notice lists examples of options that managers may need to weigh, such as surveillance strategies, movement restrictions, population management actions, or other interventions.

Is the project limited to chronic wasting disease (CWD) only?

No. While chronic wasting disease (CWD) is a central emphasis, the opportunity also covers other wildlife diseases affecting, or that could affect, DOI trust resources.

What are the two main expected outcomes described in the opportunity?

The solicitation describes a two-part purpose: (1) direct work with DOI management agencies to frame disease-related decisions and strengthen decision-making under uncertainty, and (2) development of a generalizable framework for CWD and other wildlife disease decisions that can be reused beyond the immediate DOI context.

What does it mean that the framework should be "generalizable" and "reusable"?

The notice emphasizes that outputs should not be a one-off analysis for a single site. Instead, deliverables should be transferable and adaptable across jurisdictions and management settings, with documentation and structure that allow others to apply the framework when confronting similar disease threats.

Is this intended to support work only within DOI lands and agencies?

The project is designed to support DOI land and wildlife managers, but the opportunity also stresses that the framework should be applicable beyond the immediate DOI context and adaptable to other management areas.

What is the funding activity category for this opportunity?

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

What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?

The award ceiling is $350,000.

When was the opportunity created and what was the original closing date?

The creation date is January 25, 2023. The posting indicates an original closing date of February 27, 2023.

Does the notice describe how USGS/DOI will be involved during the project?

Yes in general terms. Because this is a cooperative agreement, the notice indicates substantial involvement by the federal agency is expected, such as collaboration on scope, methods, milestones, or integration with ongoing USGS/DOI efforts.

What kinds of challenges is this project meant to address for managers?

The solicitation highlights situations where science is uncertain, consequences can be high, and tradeoffs are difficult. The intent is to strengthen transparent decision-making under uncertainty so choices can be weighed more defensibly.

Are the deliverables required to be applicable across different jurisdictions?

Yes. The description explicitly calls for a framework that can be adapted across different jurisdictions and management settings, not only within a single DOI site or scenario.

Is this opportunity competitive for organizations outside the CESU network?

No. Based on the eligibility statement provided, only participating partners of the USGS Great Lakes-Northern Forest CESU Program are eligible to apply.