Opportunity Information: Apply for G21AS00565
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), through its Southwest Biological Science Center (SBSC), is offering a discretionary research funding opportunity in the form of a cooperative agreement. The project is aimed at building a focused research and restoration program around biological soil crusts (often called biocrusts) on National Park Service lands in Arizona. Biocrusts are living surface communities typically made up of organisms like cyanobacteria, lichens, and mosses, and they can play major roles in soil stability, nutrient cycling, and overall ecosystem function in dryland environments.
The work has two core goals. First, the awardee will assess what biocrust communities are currently present at Casa Grande Ruins National Monument and document what functions those communities are providing. In practical terms, this means establishing a baseline understanding of the types, condition, distribution, and ecological roles of biocrusts at the site so land managers can understand what is there now and what may be missing or degraded. Second, the project will identify which restoration tools and approaches are most effective for rapidly re-establishing biocrust communities and the functions they support across Arizona National Park Service units, specifically including Casa Grande Ruins National Monument, Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, and Tonto National Monument. The emphasis on speed suggests the agency is looking for approaches that can return biocrust benefits on management-relevant timelines, not just long-term recovery.
Because this is issued under the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) program, it is structured as a partnership-based award rather than a simple grant with minimal agency involvement. CESUs are designed to connect federal agencies with academic and other qualified partners to deliver applied research, technical assistance, and education that supports natural and cultural resource management. As a result, the cooperative agreement format typically implies active collaboration with USGS and potentially other participating agencies or land managers during project planning, implementation, and delivery of results.
Eligibility is limited to organizations that are already participating partners of the Colorado Plateau CESU. In other words, an applicant must be an official member of that CESU network to apply under this opportunity. The listing identifies the awarding agency as the Geological Survey and places the effort in the "Science and Technology and other Research and Development" activity category, with CFDA number 15.808.
Key administrative details include the funding opportunity number G21AS00565 and an original closing date of July 23, 2021. The stated award ceiling is $47,940, indicating the maximum expected federal amount for an award under this announcement. The opportunity was created on June 23, 2021. Overall, the funding supports applied field and program-development work that helps park managers understand existing biocrust resources and select restoration methods that can efficiently restore biocrust structure and function across multiple Arizona park units.Apply for G21AS00565
- The Geological Survey in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Cooperative Agreement with Partner of the Colorado Plateau Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (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 2021-06-23.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2021-07-23. (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 $47,940.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Others.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is this funding opportunity?
This is a discretionary research funding opportunity from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), through its Southwest Biological Science Center (SBSC), offered as a cooperative agreement under the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) program.
What is the project about?
The project is focused on building a targeted research and restoration program around biological soil crusts (biocrusts) on National Park Service (NPS) lands in Arizona. It includes assessing existing biocrust communities at a specific park unit and identifying restoration tools and approaches that can rapidly re-establish biocrust communities and their functions across multiple Arizona NPS units.
What are biological soil crusts (biocrusts)?
Biocrusts are living surface communities commonly made up of organisms such as cyanobacteria, lichens, and mosses. In dryland environments, they can play major roles in soil stability, nutrient cycling, and overall ecosystem function.
What are the two main goals of the project?
The work has two core goals: (1) assess which biocrust communities are currently present at Casa Grande Ruins National Monument and document what functions those communities are providing; and (2) determine which restoration tools and approaches are most effective for rapidly re-establishing biocrust communities and the functions they support across Arizona NPS units, specifically including Casa Grande Ruins National Monument, Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, and Tonto National Monument.
Which site is being assessed for current biocrust communities?
Casa Grande Ruins National Monument is the site where the awardee will assess which biocrust communities are currently present and document the functions those communities provide.
Which National Park Service units are included in the restoration-focused portion of the work?
The restoration-focused work specifically includes Casa Grande Ruins National Monument, Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, and Tonto National Monument.
What does it mean to establish a baseline understanding of biocrusts at Casa Grande Ruins National Monument?
Establishing a baseline means documenting what biocrust types are present, their condition and distribution, and the ecological roles they are currently providing. This helps land managers understand what exists now and what may be missing or degraded.
What is meant by "rapidly re-establishing" biocrust communities?
The opportunity emphasizes approaches that can return biocrust benefits on management-relevant timelines, rather than relying only on long-term natural recovery. The intent is to identify tools and methods that can efficiently restore biocrust structure and function.
What kind of award mechanism is being used?
The opportunity is offered as a cooperative agreement, not a standard grant with minimal agency involvement.
What does a cooperative agreement imply for this project?
Because it is a cooperative agreement under the CESU program, it is structured as a partnership-based award. This typically implies active collaboration with USGS and potentially other participating agencies or land managers during project planning, implementation, and delivery of results.
What is the CESU program and why does it matter here?
CESUs are designed to connect federal agencies with academic and other qualified partners to deliver applied research, technical assistance, and education that supports natural and cultural resource management. In this opportunity, CESU participation is also tied to eligibility requirements.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is limited to organizations that are already participating partners of the Colorado Plateau CESU. An applicant must be an official member of that CESU network to apply under this opportunity.
Is eligibility open to any organization interested in biocrust research?
No. Based on the listing, applicants must already be participating partners in the Colorado Plateau CESU to be eligible.
What is the awarding agency?
The awarding agency is the Geological Survey (USGS), with the work being offered through the USGS Southwest Biological Science Center (SBSC).
What is the activity category for this opportunity?
The opportunity is categorized under "Science and Technology and other Research and Development."
What is the CFDA number for this opportunity?
The CFDA number listed for this opportunity is 15.808.
What is the funding opportunity number?
The funding opportunity number is G21AS00565.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The stated award ceiling is $47,940, which indicates the maximum expected federal amount for an award under this announcement.
When was the opportunity created?
The opportunity was created on June 23, 2021.
What was the original closing date?
The original closing date listed for the opportunity was July 23, 2021.
What types of outcomes is this funding intended to support?
The funding supports applied field and program-development work to help park managers (1) understand existing biocrust resources at Casa Grande Ruins National Monument and (2) select restoration methods that can efficiently restore biocrust structure and function across multiple Arizona NPS units.
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