Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Californian CESU | G18AS00063

Opportunity Information: Apply for G18AS00063

The Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Californian CESU funding opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number G18AS00063) is a discretionary research and development award offered by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) within the Department of the Interior. Structured as a cooperative agreement, it is designed to support a single project (one expected award) with a maximum federal funding level (award ceiling) of $117,500. The opportunity was created on June 6, 2018, with an original closing date of June 20, 2018, indicating a short application window typical of targeted, mission-driven research needs.

The purpose of the award is to fund a CESU partner to conduct research that helps the USGS develop a surveillance plan for White-nose syndrome (WNS) in the western United States. White-nose syndrome is a highly destructive fungal disease of bats that has led to severe declines among cave-hibernating bat species, particularly in the Eastern United States. The underlying pathogen has continued moving westward and has reached the central plains, raising concern that western bat populations and hibernation sites may face similar impacts. In response, the USGS National Wildlife Health Center (NWHC) has been tasked with creating an organized, effective surveillance plan for WNS in the West, and this funding opportunity supports that effort.

A central deliverable emphasized in the notice is the development of a practical tool that managers can use to guide and optimize surveillance activities. In other words, the project is not only about studying the disease in an academic sense, but about producing an applied decision-support product that can help agencies and field managers decide where to look, when to sample, and how to allocate limited surveillance resources to get the best possible early detection and situational awareness. The focus on optimization suggests an interest in approaches that improve efficiency and coverage, such as risk-based prioritization, structured decision-making, spatial planning, or other systematic methods that translate available data into actionable surveillance recommendations.

Eligibility is limited to CESU partners, listed under “Others” with additional eligibility details referenced in the full announcement. The activity category is Science and Technology and other Research and Development, and the assistance listing is under CFDA 15.808. Overall, this opportunity is a targeted USGS investment in building a manager-facing surveillance framework for a spreading wildlife disease threat, with the intention of strengthening preparedness and improving coordinated monitoring for White-nose syndrome as it advances toward and across the western United States.

• The Department of the Interior, U. S. Geological Survey in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Californian CESU" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.808.
• This funding opportunity was created on Jun 06, 2018.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 20, 2018. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $117,500.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

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