Cooperative Agreement for CESU-affiliated Partner with Great Rivers Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is offering a Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) funding opportunity for research on floodplain forest canopy loss and regeneration, and the effectiveness of remote versus in-situ vegetation survey methods in the Upper Mississippi River System (UMRS). Since 2019, significant canopy loss has occurred in UMRS floodplain forests, attributed to factors such as invasive species, altered inundation patterns, and climate change. This project seeks to determine whether floodplain forests are regenerating following these losses, the successional pathways they are following, and whether small Uncrewed Aerial Systems (sUAS) can complement or replace traditional on-the-ground vegetation surveys. The USGS will support one award, covering a base year with the possibility of a renewal year, contingent on performance and funding availability. For FY 2025, $35,741 is available, with the recipient required to be a CESU partner within the Great Rivers CESU network. Interested applicants should submit applications through Grants.gov and direct any questions to Faith Graves, the designated USGS Contract Specialist. Applicants must provide contact information for the Principal Investigator and technical staff, along with details on available laboratories, field equipment, and facilities. Proposals should include an introduction to the research problem, project objectives, a detailed methodology section, a list of planned products, and a plan for disseminating findings to key stakeholders, including scientific communities, federal and state agencies, and the public. Budget documentation should cover salaries, fringe benefits, travel, lab analyses, equipment, supplies, publication costs, and other direct costs, following a CESU-negotiated indirect cost rate of 17.5%. Applicants must also submit a Data Management Plan (DMP) outlining data standards, access policies, and archival methods. Proposals will be evaluated based on criteria such as project relevance and objectives, technical approach, budget justification, and the applicant's qualifications and past performance in forest ecology and floodplain management. Evaluations will be scored by USGS technical staff, with results submitted to the contracting officer for final award determination. Award recipients are required to manage day-to-day operations in compliance with federal guidelines, submit annual progress reports, and provide a final technical report within 120 days of project completion. Financial reporting includes annual SF-425 forms, and publications based on project results must acknowledge USGS support and be submitted to the Department of the Interior’s Natural Resources Library. Payment for this award will be managed through the Automated Standard Application for Payments (ASAP) system.