Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Great Lakes Northern Forests CESU | G20AS00125

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1) What is this funding opportunity?

This is the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) Great Lakes Northern Forests CESU funding opportunity (Opportunity Number G20AS00125). It is a discretionary research grant offered by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) within the Department of the Interior.

2) What type of award is it?

The opportunity is structured as a cooperative agreement. That generally means the project is expected to involve substantial collaboration and involvement from the federal agency during the period of performance, rather than operating as a hands-off grant.

3) Which federal agency is offering the award?

The award is offered by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), which is part of the Department of the Interior.

4) What is the main purpose of the project being funded?

The core purpose is to fund a CESU partner to carry out research that strengthens the ability of USGS and the broader wildlife health community to analyze and interpret wildlife health study data in a rigorous, defensible way.

5) What does "improving analytic capacity" mean in this context?

Based on the announcement description, improving analytic capacity can include better statistical approaches, improved study design and interpretation practices, and stronger data analysis workflows so that results are more reliable and useful for decision-making.

6) Is the focus on collecting new wildlife health data?

The emphasis is not simply on collecting more data. The opportunity stresses making sure data gathered during wildlife health studies can be turned into high-quality evidence that supports clearer conclusions.

7) What research topics or themes are emphasized?

The research focus is framed around understanding and assessing risk drivers that affect health at multiple levels: individual organisms, populations, and ecosystems.

8) Does the opportunity include a One Health perspective?

Yes. The description explicitly connects wildlife health to broader health concerns by including humans and domestic animals alongside wildlife, reflecting a One Health-style perspective where diseases and environmental stressors can move across species and sectors.

9) What kinds of outcomes or outputs are expected from the research?

The expected outputs should help clarify both current and future risks. The intent is for the work to be relevant for present-day management challenges as well as emerging or changing threats tied to environmental conditions, disease dynamics, and other drivers.

10) How is this work intended to support management and decision-making?

A major goal is to support evaluation of potential management actions that could protect and improve health outcomes. This includes building the analytic foundation needed to compare interventions, anticipate ecosystem-level effects, and understand tradeoffs or unintended consequences.

11) What activity category does this opportunity fall under?

The opportunity falls under the Science and Technology and other Research and Development activity category.

12) What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?

The opportunity is associated with CFDA 15.808.

13) Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is limited to CESU partners under the Great Lakes Northern Forests CESU. The official listing indicates "Others" and points applicants to the additional eligibility details in the full announcement.

14) How many awards are anticipated?

The funding parameters indicate a single anticipated award.

15) What is the maximum funding amount (award ceiling)?

The award ceiling is $235,000.

16) When was this opportunity created?

The opportunity was created on June 30, 2020.

17) What was the original application closing date?

The original application closing date was July 22, 2020.

18) Is this opportunity competitive or discretionary?

It is described as a discretionary research grant.

19) What is the key benefit the funder is looking for from this research?

The key benefit described is stronger, more defensible analysis and interpretation of wildlife health study data, resulting in a stronger evidence base for policies and management strategies.

20) What kinds of risks is the research expected to address?

The work is intended to help clarify current and future risks linked to environmental conditions, disease dynamics, and other risk drivers that affect health across individuals, populations, and ecosystems.