Cooperative Agreement for affiliated Partner with the Californian Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit | G26AS00070

Opportunity Information: Apply for G26AS00070

This funding opportunity (G26AS00070) is a discretionary Cooperative Agreement issued by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), specifically the Western Ecological Research Center, to support work on coastal wetland and seagrass ecology with direct relevance to natural resource management and national security needs. The award is being offered through the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Units (CESU) framework, meaning it is intended to be carried out in close collaboration with USGS and aligned with the CESU mission of providing research, technical assistance, and education that help public agencies manage natural and cultural resources.

The core focus of the project is analysis and writing related to coastal wetlands and seagrass ecosystems in the Pacific region, with particular attention to Pacific Coast wetlands and Department of Defense (DoD) installations in the Mariana Archipelago. The Mariana Archipelago area highlighted in the notice includes Guam and Tinian, though the work is framed broadly around Pacific Region needs. The practical goal is to generate usable science products that land and resource managers can apply when making decisions about conservation, management, and restoration of these ecosystems. Coastal wetlands and seagrass beds are emphasized because they provide a wide range of ecosystem services, and agencies responsible for these lands need up-to-date research and synthesized information to guide best practices.

A major applied component of the work is to help agencies develop and implement planning documents and management strategies. The notice specifically points to support for plans such as watershed plans, wildfire plans, and restoration plans, with the intention that these plans will help DoD and other partners move from planning to on-the-ground project implementation. In other words, the funded effort is not just about academic understanding; it is about translating existing knowledge and analyses into written products, guidance, and decision-support materials that agencies can use to design, prioritize, and carry out management and restoration actions in coastal wetland and seagrass environments.

Eligibility is limited to a member university that is a participating partner in the Californian CESU. This is not an open competition to all organizations; applicants must be within that established CESU partnership network. The listing identifies the agency as the U.S. Geological Survey, the CFDA number as 15.808, and the activity category as Science and Technology and other Research and Development, which reinforces that the work is expected to be research-oriented but strongly mission-driven and tied to management outcomes.

The opportunity anticipates a single award (ExpectedAwards: 1) with an award ceiling of $495,000. The posting indicates an original closing date of 2026-02-13 and a creation date of 2026-01-12. Overall, the grant is best understood as a targeted, collaborative agreement intended to produce management-relevant analyses and written deliverables that improve how coastal wetlands and seagrass systems are managed and restored, especially where those ecosystems intersect with DoD operational landscapes and planning needs in the Pacific and the Mariana Archipelago.

• The Geological Survey in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Cooperative Agreement for affiliated Partner with the Californian Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.808.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2026-01-12.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-02-13. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $495,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others.

Apply for G26AS00070

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