Cooperative Agreement for affiliated Partner with the Gulf Coast Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU)

The U.S. Geological Survey’s Great Lakes Science Center has announced a cooperative agreement funding opportunity under the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) program. This opportunity, titled “Targeted Genomic Approaches for the Control of Invasive Plants in Terrestrial and Aquatic Ecosystems,” focuses on developing RNAi-based treatments for invasive species. The project targets Phragmites australis (common reed) and Hydrocharis morsus-ranae (European frog-bit), both of which pose significant ecological threats. This builds on ongoing investments and prior genomic and transcriptomic research, with the ultimate aim of providing resource managers with new, species-specific control methods. The research is structured around three primary objectives. The first is to develop and test RNAi-based constructs for targeted control of invasive Phragmites australis ssp. australis. The second is to select suitable gene targets for Hydrocharis morsus-ranae, and the third is to assess suppression of growth and lifecycle impacts of Hydrocharis morsus-ranae when exposed to RNAi constructs. This project is expected to produce species-specific and transient treatment options, potentially impacting only one generation of plants, thereby offering a new ecological management tool. The funding instrument will be a cooperative agreement, with an anticipated single award. The total estimated funding is $484,138 over a five-year period, beginning with $124,108 available for the first year. Continuation funding for subsequent years is contingent on satisfactory progress and the availability of funds. The program requires detailed budget narratives, covering categories such as personnel, supplies, equipment, contractual services, travel, and indirect costs, which must align with CESU’s negotiated indirect cost rate of 17.5 percent. Eligibility for this program is restricted to partners of the Gulf Coast Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU). Applicants must demonstrate capacity to meet project objectives and must submit applications through Grants.gov using the opportunity number G25AS00354. Applications must include a technical narrative with a cover page, project objectives, methods, dissemination plans, schedule, and references. Proposals should also include a detailed budget narrative, biographical sketches, and a data management plan outlining standards for data use, dissemination, and archiving. Applications will be evaluated by USGS technical personnel using a 100-point scoring system. Review criteria include purpose, objectives, and relevance (25 points); technical approach (25 points); budget justification and clarity (25 points); and qualifications and past performance (25 points). Applicants are strongly encouraged to disseminate results broadly through scientific and technical publications as well as through appropriate agencies and the public. Progress reports and financial reports are required annually, with a final technical and financial report due after project completion. For assistance, applicants may contact Grant Specialist Katie Calder at kcalder@usgs.gov. Technical inquiries may be directed to Dr. Kurt Kowalski, Research Ecologist, at kkowalski@usgs.gov or 734-214-9308. The cooperative agreement will be managed under USGS and Department of the Interior terms and conditions, including requirements for data availability, geospatial standards, publication acknowledgments, and compliance with confidentiality provisions. Payments will be managed through the Department of the Treasury’s ASAP system. This program represents an opportunity for qualified CESU partners to advance invasive species control through cutting-edge genomic research.