Opportunity Information: Apply for G19AS00094
The Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Great Basin CESU funding opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number G19AS00094) is a U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) discretionary research award offered under the Department of the Interior. It is structured as a cooperative agreement, meaning the work is expected to involve substantial involvement by the USGS in addition to the recipient carrying out the project. The opportunity falls under the Science and Technology and other Research and Development activity category and is associated with CFDA (now Assistance Listing) 15.808. The USGS planned to make a single award, with an estimated maximum funding amount (award ceiling) of $10,105.
The purpose of the project is to explore whether metagenomic methods can be used to identify desert biological soil crusts (biocrusts) on disturbed lands. Biocrusts are communities of organisms such as cyanobacteria, algae, fungi, lichens, and mosses that live on or near the soil surface in arid environments and play an outsized role in ecosystem function, including soil stabilization, nutrient cycling, and influencing water infiltration. Because these communities can be difficult to detect and differentiate visually, especially after disturbance, they are often described as cryptic. The USGS is essentially seeking research that tests whether DNA-based tools can provide a more reliable, accurate way to detect and characterize biocrust presence and composition in impacted soils.
A central early step described in the opportunity is building a reference library of known DNA "fingerprints" that can be extracted from soils. In practice, this implies assembling validated genetic signatures for biocrust-associated taxa or community profiles, so that soil samples collected from disturbed sites can be compared against a dependable baseline. Without that reference library, metagenomic sequencing results can be hard to interpret, since the technique produces large volumes of DNA data that require trusted reference sequences for identification and classification. If the library-building step is successful, it sets the foundation for applying metagenomic techniques as a monitoring and assessment tool across disturbed desert landscapes, potentially improving how land managers and scientists measure biocrust condition, recovery, or loss following activities like grazing, recreation, fire, energy development, or other surface disturbances.
Eligibility is limited to CESU partners under the Great Basin Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, with the listing indicating "Others" and directing applicants to additional eligibility language for clarification. In other words, this is not an open competition to all organizations; it is intended for entities that are already part of the CESU network (commonly universities, tribes, nonprofit organizations, and certain state or federal partners, depending on the specific CESU). The original posting date was July 9, 2019, with an original closing date of July 26, 2019, reflecting a short application window typical of targeted CESU competitions.
In summary, this small, single-award USGS cooperative agreement supports applied research to determine whether metagenomics can be turned into a practical identification and assessment approach for desert biocrusts on disturbed lands, beginning with the development of a usable soil-derived DNA reference library that can anchor future monitoring and management decisions.Apply for G19AS00094
- 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 "Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Great Basin CESU" 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 Jul 09, 2019.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 26, 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 $10,105.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is this funding opportunity?
This is a U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) discretionary research funding opportunity offered under the U.S. Department of the Interior through the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) network. It is specifically associated with the Great Basin CESU.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number?
The Funding Opportunity Number is G19AS00094.
What type of award is being offered?
The opportunity is structured as a cooperative agreement. That means the recipient conducts the project work, but the USGS is expected to have substantial involvement during the project rather than simply providing funds with minimal agency interaction.
Which federal agency is offering the award?
The award is offered by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) under the Department of the Interior.
What is the activity category for this opportunity?
The opportunity falls under the Science and Technology and other Research and Development activity category.
What is the CFDA/Assistance Listing number associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is associated with CFDA (now called Assistance Listing) 15.808.
How many awards does USGS plan to make?
USGS planned to make a single award.
What is the maximum funding amount (award ceiling)?
The estimated maximum funding amount (award ceiling) is $10,105.
What is the main purpose of the project being funded?
The project aims to explore whether metagenomic methods (DNA-based approaches applied to environmental samples like soil) can be used to identify desert biological soil crusts (biocrusts) on disturbed lands.
What are biological soil crusts (biocrusts)?
Biocrusts are communities of organisms living on or near the soil surface in arid environments. They can include cyanobacteria, algae, fungi, lichens, and mosses.
Why are biocrusts important in desert ecosystems?
Biocrusts play an outsized role in ecosystem function. The opportunity description highlights their roles in soil stabilization, nutrient cycling, and influencing water infiltration.
Why does the opportunity describe biocrusts as "cryptic"?
They are often difficult to detect and differentiate visually, especially after disturbance. Because of this, they may be present but not obvious from appearance alone.
What problem is USGS trying to solve with metagenomic methods?
The USGS is seeking research that tests whether DNA-based tools can provide a more reliable and accurate way to detect and characterize biocrust presence and composition in impacted soils, where visual assessment may be unreliable.
What is metagenomics in the context of this project?
In this context, metagenomics refers to analyzing DNA extracted from soil samples to identify and characterize the organisms present, potentially enabling detection of biocrust-associated communities from genetic data.
What is a key early step described in the opportunity?
A central early step is building a reference library of known DNA "fingerprints" that can be extracted from soils. This reference baseline is intended to support interpretation of sequencing results from disturbed sites.
Why is building a DNA reference library important for this work?
Metagenomic sequencing can produce large volumes of DNA data, and interpreting that data depends on trusted reference sequences for identification and classification. The reference library is described as the dependable baseline against which disturbed-site samples can be compared.
How would the reference library be used once developed?
If successful, it would help anchor the application of metagenomic techniques as a monitoring and assessment tool by enabling soil samples from disturbed sites to be compared against validated genetic signatures or community profiles.
What kinds of land disturbances are relevant to this research?
The opportunity description lists examples such as grazing, recreation, fire, energy development, and other surface disturbances that can impact desert landscapes and potentially affect biocrust condition.
What is the longer-term potential application of this research?
If the library-building step works and metagenomics proves effective, the approach could improve monitoring and assessment of biocrust condition, recovery, or loss across disturbed desert landscapes, supporting future land management and scientific decision-making.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is limited to CESU partners under the Great Basin Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit. The listing indicates "Others" and directs applicants to additional eligibility language for clarification, but the key point provided is that it is not an open competition to all organizations.
Is this an open competition for any organization?
No. Based on the provided description, it is intended for entities that are already part of the Great Basin CESU network rather than the general public or all organizations.
What kinds of organizations are commonly part of the CESU network?
The description notes that CESU partners commonly include universities, tribes, nonprofit organizations, and certain state or federal partners, depending on the specific CESU.
When was the opportunity originally posted?
The original posting date was July 9, 2019.
What was the original closing date?
The original closing date was July 26, 2019.
How long was the application window?
Based on the dates provided (July 9, 2019 to July 26, 2019), the application window was short, consistent with what the description characterizes as typical of targeted CESU competitions.
What does "substantial involvement by the USGS" mean for applicants?
The opportunity states that the award is a cooperative agreement and that the work is expected to involve substantial involvement by the USGS in addition to the recipient carrying out the project. This signals an active federal role during project execution rather than a hands-off grant relationship.
What is the central research question emphasized in the opportunity?
Whether DNA-based metagenomic tools can be developed into a practical and reliable method to identify and characterize desert biocrusts in disturbed soils, starting with a usable soil-derived DNA reference library.
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| Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Rocky Mountain CESU Apply for G19AS00097 Funding Number: G19AS00097 Agency: Department of the Interior, U. S. Geological Survey Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $47,000 |
| Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Great Basin CESU Apply for G19AS00103 Funding Number: G19AS00103 Agency: Department of the Interior, U. S. Geological Survey Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $32,979 |
| Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Great Lakes Northern Forests CESU Apply for G19AS00104 Funding Number: G19AS00104 Agency: Department of the Interior, U. S. Geological Survey Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $70,000 |
| Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Colorado Plateau CESU Apply for G19AS00105 Funding Number: G19AS00105 Agency: Department of the Interior, U. S. Geological Survey Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $71,535 |
| Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Great Lakes Northern Forests CESU Apply for G19AS00107 Funding Number: G19AS00107 Agency: Department of the Interior, U. S. Geological Survey Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $44,000 |
| Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Colorado Plateau CESU Apply for G19AS00108 Funding Number: G19AS00108 Agency: Department of the Interior, U. S. Geological Survey Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $190,000 |
| Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Great Lakes Northern Forests Apply for G19AS00110 Funding Number: G19AS00110 Agency: Department of the Interior, U. S. Geological Survey Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $300,000 |
| Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Rocky Mountain CESU Apply for G19AS00086 Funding Number: G19AS00086 Agency: Department of the Interior, U. S. Geological Survey Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $30,000 |
| Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Rocky Mountain CESU Apply for G19AS00109 Funding Number: G19AS00109 Agency: Department of the Interior, U. S. Geological Survey Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $48,000 |
| Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Colorado Plateau CESU Apply for G19AS00106 Funding Number: G19AS00106 Agency: Department of the Interior, U. S. Geological Survey Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $50,000 |
| Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, South Florida Caribbean CESU Apply for G19AS00116 Funding Number: G19AS00116 Agency: Department of the Interior, U. S. Geological Survey Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $400,000 |
| Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, South Florida Caribbean CESU Apply for G19AS00117 Funding Number: G19AS00117 Agency: Department of the Interior, U. S. Geological Survey Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Cooperaive Ecosystem Studies Unit, Piedmont ¿ South Atlantic Coast (CESU) Apply for G19AS00113 Funding Number: G19AS00113 Agency: Department of the Interior, U. S. Geological Survey Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $24,517 |
| Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, South Florida Caribbean CESU Apply for G19AS00114 Funding Number: G19AS00114 Agency: Department of the Interior, U. S. Geological Survey Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $120,000 |
| Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Great Lakes Northern Forests CESU Apply for G19AS00115 Funding Number: G19AS00115 Agency: Department of the Interior, U. S. Geological Survey Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $75,742 |
| Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Rocky Mountain CESU Apply for G19AS00118 Funding Number: G19AS00118 Agency: Department of the Interior, U. S. Geological Survey Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $55,704 |
| Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Colorado Plateau CESu Apply for G19AS00120 Funding Number: G19AS00120 Agency: Department of the Interior, U. S. Geological Survey Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $50,000 |
| Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Colorado Plateau CESU Apply for G19AS00119 Funding Number: G19AS00119 Agency: Department of the Interior, U. S. Geological Survey Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $50,000 |
| Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Colorado Plateau CESU Apply for G19AS00121 Funding Number: G19AS00121 Agency: Department of the Interior, U. S. Geological Survey Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $35,000 |
| DHS S&T Terrorism Prevention and Counterterrorism Research (TPCR) Center of Excellence (COE) - Lead Apply for ST TPC 19 001 Funding Number: ST TPC 19 001 Agency: Department of Homeland Security, Office of Procurement Operations - Grants Division Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $3,650,000 |
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