Cooperative Agreement for Affiliated Partner with the Great Rivers Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU)

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is offering a cooperative agreement to a partner institution affiliated with the Great Rivers Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU). CESUs are collaborative partnerships designed to provide research, technical assistance, and education in support of ecosystem management. This funding opportunity focuses on addressing the growing problem of Black Carp, an invasive molluscivore species that was originally imported to aquaculture facilities in the 1980s for biological control of snails. Since then, Black Carp have escaped into the wild, and reproducing populations are now present in the Mississippi River Basin, where they pose serious ecological threats to native mussels and snails and risk spreading into the Great Lakes. The purpose of this cooperative agreement is to identify and predict habitats of Black Carp in the upper Mississippi River and Illinois River using integrated datasets. The project will combine commercial capture data, biologist-collected specimens below the Mel Price Lock and Dam, and telemetry relocation datasets with geospatial information to create an analytical framework for identifying potential habitats. This work is expected to improve monitoring efficiency and enhance the effectiveness of removal efforts by targeting specific areas where Black Carp are most likely to occur. The total estimated funding available for this project is $48,500, which will be fully obligated at the time of award. The cooperative agreement will be awarded to a single CESU partner, with an anticipated project period of two years. The recipient must structure the proposed budget across this two-year timeline and comply with CESU program requirements, including the negotiated indirect cost rate of 17.5 percent. Allowable costs include personnel, fringe benefits, supplies, equipment, contractual services, travel, and other direct expenses as justified in the budget narrative. Eligibility for this funding opportunity is restricted exclusively to institutional partners of the Great Rivers CESU. Applicants must be officially listed as participating members of this CESU program. The application process requires submission through Grants.gov under the Funding Opportunity Number G25AS00345. Applicants must include a complete technical narrative, a detailed budget narrative, a data management plan, biographical sketches of key personnel, and current and pending support documentation. Required information includes project title, start date, principal investigator details, authorized representative contact, co-principal investigator affiliations, collaborator information, facilities, and staff experience. Applications will be evaluated by USGS technical personnel based on four criteria: purpose and relevance of the objectives, technical approach and methodology, budget clarity and appropriateness, and qualifications and experience of the research team. Proposals must clearly define objectives, describe procedures, identify deliverables, and present a feasible timeline for completion. Applicants are also required to outline dissemination of research results to the scientific community, government agencies, and the public. The primary agency contact for administrative and grant submission questions is Grant Specialist Katie Calder (kcalder@usgs.gov). For technical questions related to project content and objectives, applicants may contact Dr. Michael E. Colvin (mcolvin@usgs.gov, 573-441-2797) or Patrick Kroboth (pkroboth@usgs.gov, 573-875-5399 ext.1548), both based at the USGS Columbia Environmental Research Center in Missouri. An additional administrative point of contact is Chelsea Bertrand (cbertrand@usgs.gov, 573-875-5399). Proposals must be submitted in full compliance with USGS Fundamental Science Practices and relevant data management requirements. Final deliverables will include research analyses, geospatial data products, and a final technical report to be submitted electronically through GrantSolutions within 120 days after the project’s end date. Annual progress reports and financial reports (SF-425) are required throughout the performance period. This cooperative agreement represents an opportunity for CESU-affiliated partners to contribute critical ecological research that directly informs the management and removal strategies for Black Carp, supporting broader USGS goals of protecting native biodiversity and maintaining ecosystem integrity.