Monitoring, analysis, and research support on the Upper Mississippi River | USGS 19 FA 0201

Opportunity Information: Apply for USGS 19 FA 0201

The Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is offering a discretionary cooperative agreement opportunity titled "Monitoring, analysis, and research support on the Upper Mississippi River" (Funding Opportunity Number: USGS 19 FA 0201; CFDA: 15.808). The opportunity is focused on providing practical monitoring and research support that strengthens USGS work on the Upper Mississippi River, with an emphasis on aquatic ecosystem condition and the factors that influence it.

At its core, the project is designed to supply hands-on assistance in several interconnected areas of scientific support. One major objective is helping with research related to aquatic ecosystem health and aquatic invasive species. This can include supporting field and/or lab efforts that contribute to understanding how the river system is functioning biologically and environmentally, and how invasive organisms may be affecting native communities, habitats, or overall water quality. The work is positioned as support for ongoing scientific investigations rather than a standalone academic study, reflecting the applied, operational nature typical of USGS monitoring and analysis programs.

A second objective is assisting with water sample processing and any other sample preparation tasks as needed. In practice, this often means helping ensure samples collected for monitoring or research are properly handled, processed, and prepared for analysis, which can include organizing, labeling, filtering, preserving, aliquoting, or preparing samples so they are ready for laboratory testing. The emphasis in the description is on the support role: the awardee would help maintain the throughput and quality control necessary for a monitoring program that may generate frequent or high-volume sampling.

Another component is data and records management through digitization. The opportunity specifically calls for scanning existing aerial photographs and maps to create and maintain digital archives. This implies work to preserve and modernize historical spatial information that can be valuable for long-term trend analysis, habitat assessment, and change detection across the river corridor. Building a reliable digital archive can also improve accessibility and usability of legacy datasets, making it easier for scientists to compare current conditions to past conditions and to incorporate older spatial references into current GIS workflows.

The final highlighted objective is the use of ArcGIS and other GIS software to carry out geoprocessing tasks and produce cartographic products. This points to applied geospatial support such as compiling and cleaning spatial datasets, performing spatial analyses, creating map layers, conducting georeferencing, and generating publication-quality or operational maps used in reporting, planning fieldwork, communicating results, or supporting decision-making. The language suggests routine but essential GIS support that helps translate monitoring and research data into usable spatial information and visual products.

In terms of award structure and eligibility, the funding instrument is a cooperative agreement, which generally indicates that USGS expects substantial involvement during the project period, such as collaboration on methods, coordination of tasks, data standards, and deliverables. Eligibility is limited to public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, meaning the intended applicants are typically state universities or similar public academic institutions that can provide personnel, facilities, and technical capabilities aligned with aquatic science and GIS support.

The opportunity was created on June 5, 2019, with an original closing date of June 19, 2019. USGS anticipated making a single award (Expected Awards: 1) with an award ceiling of $266,211, indicating the maximum funding amount available under this announcement. Overall, the grant is best understood as targeted capacity-building support for USGS Upper Mississippi River work, combining aquatic science assistance, sample processing support, digitization of historical spatial materials, and GIS-based analysis and map production.

• The Department of the Interior, U. S. Geological Survey in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Monitoring, analysis, and research support on the Upper Mississippi River" 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 Jun 05, 2019.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 19, 2019. (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 $266,211.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education.

Apply for USGS 19 FA 0201

[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal: