Cooperative Agreement for affiliated Partner with the Southern Appalachian Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU)

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is offering a cooperative agreement opportunity through the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) program. This particular funding opportunity is limited to partners of the Southern Appalachian CESU. The project is focused on research and evaluation of Open Evapotranspiration (OpenET) capabilities with the goal of improving hydrological and agricultural assessments in the southeastern United States. OpenET is a remote sensing evapotranspiration data product that can provide critical insights into irrigation demand, water allocation, and drought response strategies. The funded research will independently evaluate OpenET’s accuracy across diverse land-use conditions and support its integration into water resource management frameworks. The project objectives include evaluating the accuracy of OpenET data under cloud-affected conditions using model intercomparison, in situ validation, and uncertainty analysis. It also seeks to assess OpenET’s potential for real-time irrigation monitoring by comparing estimates with soil water balance-derived ET and modeled irrigation demand. Furthermore, it will enhance drought monitoring by incorporating OpenET into Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI) calculations and developing applied science tools, such as high-resolution irrigation maps and advanced flash drought detection methods. Another key component of the project is expanding data-sharing and stakeholder collaboration, integrating OpenET into the Southeast Drought Early Warning System (SE DEWS). The cooperative agreement will provide an estimated $495,000 in total funding, fully obligated at the time of award, for a two-year project period. Only one award is anticipated under this funding announcement. Funds may cover personnel, fringe benefits, supplies, equipment, contractual services, travel, publication costs, and indirect costs, with the CESU-negotiated indirect cost rate capped at 17.5 percent. The recipient must prepare a detailed budget narrative aligned with SF-424A categories, and expenditures incurred prior to the official award start date will not be supported. USGS requires submission of a Data Management Plan describing how research data and results will be disseminated, in compliance with USGS data policies. Eligibility for this funding is restricted to official partners of the Southern Appalachian CESU Program. Applications must be submitted through Grants.gov using the Funding Opportunity Number G25AS00344. Applicants are expected to submit a technical narrative including a project introduction, objectives, methods, anticipated products, dissemination plans, reporting schedules, and references. Biographical sketches and current and pending support disclosures for all senior project staff are also required. The application package should additionally include a Project Abstract Summary with clear, plain-language description of purpose, activities, deliverables, and beneficiaries. Applications will be reviewed and evaluated by USGS technical staff based on four weighted criteria: purpose, objectives, and relevance (25 points); technical approach (25 points); budget justification and clarity (25 points); and qualifications, experience, and past performance (25 points). Scores will be submitted to a USGS Contracting Officer for final award determination. Progress reports will be required annually, with a final technical report due 120 days after the period of performance ends. Financial reporting will be handled through annual and final Federal Financial Reports (SF-425), submitted via GrantSolutions. Publications resulting from the award must acknowledge USGS support, include a disclaimer, and comply with USGS visual identity requirements if using the agency logo. The grant’s agency contacts include Katie Calder, Grant Specialist at kcalder@usgs.gov, and Jack Eggleston, Chief of the Hydrologic Remote Sensing Branch, for technical inquiries at jegglest@usgs.gov. General assistance with submission is available from the Grants.gov Help Desk. Applicants are strongly encouraged to reach out with questions via email. This opportunity represents a targeted investment in improving drought monitoring and irrigation management capabilities, enhancing resilience in the southeastern United States through science-based water resource management.