Cooperative Agreement for affiliated Partner with the Rocky Mountain Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit | G26AS00135

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the funding opportunity number for this program?

The Funding Opportunity Number is G26AS00135.

Which federal agency is offering this opportunity?

This opportunity is offered by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).

What type of funding instrument is this?

This is a cooperative agreement issued as a discretionary financial assistance opportunity under the CESU Program.

How is a cooperative agreement different from a typical grant in this opportunity?

The description indicates that substantial involvement and close collaboration with USGS is expected throughout the project. This likely includes coordinated scientific analysis and shared planning, interpretation of data, and delivery of management-relevant outputs.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is limited to organizations that are active partners in the Rocky Mountain Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU). The opportunity is aimed specifically at an affiliated partner within that CESU.

Is this opportunity open to applicants outside the Rocky Mountain CESU?

Based on the opportunity description, no. It states eligibility is limited to active partners in the Rocky Mountain CESU.

How many awards does USGS expect to make?

The opportunity anticipates a single award.

What is the maximum award amount?

The award ceiling is $48,941.

When was the opportunity posted?

The posting date is June 5, 2026.

What is the application deadline?

The original application closing date is July 5, 2026.

What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?

The opportunity is listed under CFDA 15.808 (USGS).

What is the main scientific focus of the project?

The project focuses on the ecology and resource selection of free-ranging bison across the western United States, using applied, management-relevant science to support public land stewardship.

Where will the research take place?

The work spans three wild bison populations located across the Rocky Mountain region and Great Plains ecosystems, with an emphasis on park-related settings.

Is the work connected to National Parks?

Yes. The opportunity highlights that the work is meant to directly support public land stewardship, particularly within National Park settings where managers need defensible evidence about habitat use and potential resource impacts.

What management need is specifically mentioned for the Great Sand Dunes ecosystem?

A specific driver is the need to confirm that bison within the Great Sand Dunes (GRSA) ecosystem are not causing damage to park resources. This implies monitoring and field checks designed to detect or rule out impacts to natural and cultural assets.

What kinds of project activities are included in the research scope?

The scope combines several complementary components, including:

• Data-driven modeling
• Field-based data collection
• Integrated approaches that pair on-the-ground observations with analytical modeling of accelerometer data collected from GPS collars

What is the role of accelerometers in this project?

A central technical emphasis is using extremely large datasets generated by accelerometers (from GPS collars) to capture fine-scale animal behavior and movement patterns beyond what location-only GPS data typically provides.

Why does the opportunity emphasize large sensor datasets?

The description notes that accelerometers can generate very large datasets and that the project is intended to fill key data gaps by leveraging teams with proven capability in handling large sensor datasets and developing robust ecological models.

How will field observations be used alongside collar data?

The project describes integrated approaches that pair on-the-ground observations with analytical modeling of accelerometer data, helping link behavior and movement patterns to specific places, seasons, and habitat types.

What will the two-year dataset be used for?

The two-year dataset across three park-related bison populations will be used to model resource selection and ecological relationships, producing results that land managers can use to improve bison management strategies and habitat management decisions.

What is meant by "applied, management-relevant science" in this opportunity?

The project is positioned to generate defensible evidence that directly supports land management decisions, including how bison use habitats and whether their presence is affecting sensitive resources in public land and park contexts.

What kind of partnership structure does this opportunity rely on?

This opportunity is issued under the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) Program, which is built around partnerships that provide research, technical assistance, and education, with close collaboration expected between USGS scientists and university-based partners.

Does the opportunity indicate who will conduct the work?

It indicates the work will leverage joint expertise from USGS scientists and university-based partners, particularly teams capable of working with large accelerometer datasets and robust ecological modeling.

What policy or science-quality framework is this work aligned with?

The work is described as aligned with Executive Order 14303, titled "Restoring Gold Standard Science" (May 23, 2025), signaling an emphasis on rigorous, transparent, and high-quality scientific methods and products.