Cooperative Agreement for CESU-affiliated Partner with North Atlantic Coast Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit | G22AS00122

Opportunity Information: Apply for G22AS00122

The grant opportunity titled "Cooperative Agreement for CESU-affiliated Partner with North Atlantic Coast Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit" (Funding Opportunity Number G22AS00122) is a discretionary funding program offered by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) through its National and Regional Climate Adaptation Science Centers (NRCASC). It is structured as a cooperative agreement, which generally means the USGS expects to have substantial involvement in the project as it is carried out (for example, coordination, shared planning, or active technical collaboration), rather than simply issuing a hands-off grant.

The focus of the work is research and applied science that fits within translational ecology and coastal ecosystem topics. Translational ecology, as framed here, points to research designed to move knowledge into practical decision-making, so the emphasis is not just on producing findings but on making them usable for managers, communities, and other end users. The opportunity explicitly includes areas like invasive species ecology and wildlife ecology, signaling interest in projects that address real-world ecological pressures affecting coastal landscapes and species, particularly under changing climate conditions. Because it is tied to coastal ecosystems, strong proposals would likely connect ecological questions to coastal adaptation challenges such as shoreline change, habitat shifts, saltwater intrusion, storm impacts, and related management decisions.

A central priority of the opportunity is advancing the inclusion of historically underrepresented voices in climate adaptation science. In practical terms, this suggests the USGS is looking for projects that do more than standard stakeholder outreach. Competitive work under this theme often builds meaningful participation into the research process itself, such as co-developing research questions with communities or practitioners, improving access to climate adaptation information, supporting capacity building, and ensuring that the benefits of the research and its products are shared in ways that reach groups that have traditionally been left out of climate science and adaptation planning.

This funding is issued under the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) Program. CESUs are formal partnerships that connect federal agencies with universities, tribes, nonprofits, and other organizations to support research, technical assistance, and education. Because the award is made through the North Atlantic Coast CESU, eligibility is limited: applicants must already be participating partners in the North Atlantic Coast Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit. The eligible applicant category is listed as "Others," but that does not mean open eligibility; it is restricted to that CESU partnership roster.

Administratively, the award falls under the Science and Technology and other Research and Development activity category and is associated with CFDA (now commonly referred to as Assistance Listing) number 15.808. The opportunity was created on January 7, 2022, with an original closing date of February 7, 2022. The posted award ceiling is $179,149. The listing indicates "Expected Awards:" but does not provide a number in the source information you shared, so the total number of awards anticipated is not specified here.

In short, this opportunity supports a CESU-based cooperative research project led by an eligible North Atlantic Coast CESU partner, centered on actionable ecology and coastal ecosystem science, with a clear expectation that the work will help broaden participation and representation in climate adaptation science and its practical applications.

• The Geological Survey in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Cooperative Agreement for CESU-affiliated Partner with North Atlantic Coast 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 2022-01-07.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2022-02-07. (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 $179,149.00 in funding.
• Eligible applicants include: Others.

Apply for G22AS00122

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