Opportunity Information: Apply for G27AS00049
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is offering a discretionary funding opportunity through the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Units (CESU) Program titled "Cooperative Agreement for affiliated Partner with Great Lakes-Northern Forest Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit" (Funding Opportunity Number G27AS00049). The award will be made as a cooperative agreement, which generally means USGS expects to have substantial involvement during the project (for example, collaboration on planning, technical direction, or coordination as the work progresses). The opportunity falls under the Science and Technology and other Research and Development activity category (CFDA 15.808), and USGS anticipates making one award with a maximum funding level (award ceiling) of $485,000.
The core purpose of the project is to advance cisco restoration priorities in Lakes Huron and Erie. Cisco are a native Great Lakes coregonine species that many agencies are working to restore as part of broader fish community and ecosystem rehabilitation efforts. This opportunity is structured around two complementary workstreams that together support on-the-ground restoration planning and practical hatchery production improvements for stocking and reintroduction.
First, the project will support the restoration planning process by bringing in a structured decision-making (SDM) expert and convening an SDM workshop. The intent is to help fisheries managers and other decision-makers use a transparent, repeatable framework to clarify objectives, evaluate management alternatives, weigh tradeoffs, and agree on a workable restoration plan. In practice, structured decision-making workshops often include facilitated sessions where participants define measurable goals (such as desired population benchmarks or genetic considerations), identify constraints (budget, policy, capacity, timelines), consider uncertainties (survival, recruitment, habitat suitability), and prioritize actions (stocking strategies, habitat interventions, monitoring designs). The deliverable implied by the description is a clearer, more defensible restoration plan for cisco in Lakes Huron and Erie that is informed by stakeholder/manager input and grounded in an explicit decision framework.
Second, the project will improve the science supporting hatchery-based restoration by hiring a scientist to conduct experiments that identify environmental conditions that produce the highest-quality cisco for reintroduction. While the announcement does not prescribe specific experimental factors, it signals a focus on hatchery production variables that influence fish condition, performance, and post-release survival. This could include testing how rearing temperature, light regime, water quality parameters, density, feeding practices, tank environment, or other controlled conditions affect growth, physiology, stress resilience, morphology, and readiness for stocking. The overall goal is to generate applied results that help hatcheries consistently produce cisco that are better suited for successful reintroduction in Great Lakes environments, thereby strengthening the effectiveness of restoration stocking programs.
Eligibility is limited to organizations that are active participating partners of the Great Lakes-Northern Forest CESU. The CESU model is designed to connect federal agencies with a network of university, nonprofit, tribal, and other partners to deliver research, technical assistance, and education. Because this opportunity is specifically issued under the Great Lakes-Northern Forest CESU, applicants must be affiliated with that CESU partnership to be considered eligible. The listed eligible applicant category is "Others, Unrestricted," but the controlling requirement is CESU partner status within the named unit.
Key administrative details include an original closing date of 2026-11-14 and a creation/posting date of 2026-10-14. USGS expects to make one award under this announcement, up to $485,000, to support the combined planning (structured decision-making facilitation and workshop) and research (hatchery environmental condition experiments) activities aimed at accelerating and strengthening cisco restoration outcomes in Lakes Huron and Erie.Apply for G27AS00049
- The Geological Survey in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Cooperative Agreement for affiliated Partner with Great Lakes-Northern Forest 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 2026-10-14.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-11-14. (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 $485,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others, Unrestricted.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1) What is the name of this funding opportunity?
The opportunity is titled "Cooperative Agreement for affiliated Partner with Great Lakes-Northern Forest Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit" under the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Units (CESU) Program.
2) What is the Funding Opportunity Number?
The Funding Opportunity Number is G27AS00049.
3) Which federal agency is offering this opportunity?
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is offering this discretionary funding opportunity.
4) What type of award will be made?
The award will be made as a cooperative agreement. This generally indicates USGS expects to have substantial involvement during the project, such as collaboration on planning, technical direction, or coordination as work progresses.
5) What is the activity category for this opportunity?
The opportunity falls under the Science and Technology and other Research and Development activity category.
6) What is the CFDA number listed for this opportunity?
The CFDA number provided is 15.808.
7) How many awards does USGS anticipate making?
USGS anticipates making one award under this announcement.
8) What is the maximum funding amount available?
The maximum funding level (award ceiling) is $485,000.
9) What is the main purpose of the project?
The core purpose is to advance cisco restoration priorities in Lakes Huron and Erie by supporting restoration planning and improving hatchery production approaches for stocking and reintroduction.
10) What species is the focus of the project?
The project focuses on cisco, a native Great Lakes coregonine species that multiple agencies are working to restore as part of broader fish community and ecosystem rehabilitation efforts.
11) Which Great Lakes are specifically addressed?
The work is targeted to Lakes Huron and Erie.
12) How is the project structured?
The opportunity is structured around two complementary workstreams: (1) restoration planning support using structured decision-making (SDM) and (2) hatchery-focused research to improve the quality of cisco produced for reintroduction.
13) What does the restoration planning workstream involve?
The planning workstream involves bringing in a structured decision-making (SDM) expert and convening an SDM workshop to support development of a transparent, repeatable decision framework for cisco restoration planning.
14) What is structured decision-making (SDM) in the context of this opportunity?
Based on the description provided, SDM is a facilitated approach intended to help fisheries managers and other decision-makers clarify objectives, evaluate management alternatives, weigh tradeoffs, consider constraints and uncertainties, and prioritize actions within an explicit framework.
15) What kinds of topics might be addressed during the SDM workshop?
The description indicates SDM workshops often include facilitated sessions where participants define measurable goals (for example, desired population benchmarks or genetic considerations), identify constraints (budget, policy, capacity, timelines), consider uncertainties (survival, recruitment, habitat suitability), and prioritize actions (stocking strategies, habitat interventions, monitoring designs).
16) What deliverable is implied for the restoration planning workstream?
The description implies a clearer, more defensible restoration plan for cisco in Lakes Huron and Erie, informed by stakeholder/manager input and grounded in an explicit decision framework.
17) What does the hatchery improvement workstream involve?
The hatchery workstream involves hiring a scientist to conduct experiments aimed at identifying environmental conditions that produce the highest-quality cisco for reintroduction.
18) Does the announcement require specific experimental variables for hatchery studies?
No specific experimental factors are prescribed. The description signals a focus on hatchery production variables that influence fish condition, performance, and post-release survival.
19) What kinds of hatchery conditions could be examined under this opportunity?
The description notes examples that could be tested, such as rearing temperature, light regime, water quality parameters, density, feeding practices, tank environment, or other controlled conditions that may affect growth, physiology, stress resilience, morphology, and readiness for stocking.
20) What is the overall goal of the hatchery research component?
The goal is to generate applied results that help hatcheries consistently produce cisco better suited for successful reintroduction in Great Lakes environments, strengthening the effectiveness of restoration stocking programs.
21) Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is limited to organizations that are active participating partners of the Great Lakes-Northern Forest CESU. Although the listed eligible applicant category is "Others, Unrestricted," the controlling requirement described is partner status within the named CESU unit.
22) What is the CESU program model described here?
The CESU model is described as connecting federal agencies with a network of university, nonprofit, tribal, and other partners to deliver research, technical assistance, and education.
23) Does this opportunity allow non-CESU partners to apply?
Based on the provided information, applicants must be affiliated with the Great Lakes-Northern Forest CESU partnership to be considered eligible.
24) What is the original closing date?
The original closing date is 2026-11-14.
25) When was the opportunity created/posted?
The creation/posting date is 2026-10-14.
26) What work does the single anticipated award need to cover?
The announcement indicates the award will support both the planning work (SDM expert support and an SDM workshop) and the research work (hatchery environmental condition experiments) to accelerate and strengthen cisco restoration outcomes in Lakes Huron and Erie.
27) Why does the award being a cooperative agreement matter for project execution?
Because it is a cooperative agreement, the description indicates USGS expects substantial involvement during the project, such as collaboration on planning, technical direction, or coordination while work is underway.
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| Cooperative Agreement for Affiliated Partner with the Colorado Plateau Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) Apply for G27AS00080 Funding Number: G27AS00080 Agency: Geological Survey Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $90,000 |
| Cooperative Agreement for Affiliated Partner with the Hawaiʻi-Pacific Islands Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) Apply for G27AS00073 Funding Number: G27AS00073 Agency: Geological Survey Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $435,000 |
| Cooperative Agreement for Affiliated Partner with the Rocky Mountains Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) Apply for G27AS00072 Funding Number: G27AS00072 Agency: Geological Survey Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $375,000 |
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