Cooperative Agreement for CESU-affiliated with Rocky Mountain Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit | G23AS00111

Opportunity Information: Apply for G23AS00111

This funding opportunity is a discretionary cooperative agreement offered by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), specifically through the Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center (NoROCK). The main goal is to strengthen how long-term natural resource monitoring programs draw conclusions from the data they collect, with a focus on improving both model-based and design-based statistical inferences. In practical terms, the project is meant to help Department of the Interior monitoring efforts produce clearer, more reliable estimates of status and trends that managers can actually use when making decisions.

A central theme of the opportunity is that even well-established monitoring programs need regular checkups. Over time, original objectives can drift, conditions change, and methods evolve, so the monitoring design and analysis approach may no longer match what decision-makers need. The work described here emphasizes evaluating whether key elements of a monitoring program are still aligned with its goals, including the spatial sampling design (where data are collected), the temporal structure (how often surveys happen within a year and across years), the field methods (how measurements are taken), and the analytical methods used to estimate trends or conditions. The intent is to identify whether the existing approach delivers management-relevant information with sufficient accuracy and precision, or whether adjustments are needed.

The cooperative agreement will support collaborative statistical work involving NoROCK statisticians and an eligible CESU partner. The collaborators will work with Everglades National Park and partners in the North American Bat Monitoring Program to better understand the decisions that monitoring data are supposed to inform and to connect those needs to appropriate survey designs and statistical methods. Rather than being purely theoretical, the research is framed around real monitoring datasets and real management questions, aiming to improve how long-term data streams are analyzed and interpreted so they can more effectively guide resource stewardship.

The opportunity also highlights specific kinds of statistical assessments that may be part of the work. These include organizing and summarizing existing monitoring data, producing exploratory graphics and tables to understand patterns and potential issues, conducting preliminary analyses to evaluate current performance, and running sample size or power analyses to determine whether the monitoring program can detect changes of interest. These kinds of evaluations can reveal whether current sampling intensity is sufficient, whether the timing of surveys is appropriate, and whether analytical approaches are well matched to the structure and limitations of the data.

This award is issued under the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) Program, which is designed to support partnerships that provide research, technical assistance, and education. Eligibility is limited to entities that are official participating partners of the Rocky Mountain CESU. The listing identifies the opportunity as USGS funding opportunity number G23AS00111 under CFDA 15.808, using a cooperative agreement instrument, and categorized under science and technology and other research and development. The maximum award amount is listed as 499,999, the opportunity was created on 2022-12-13, and the original closing date was 2023-01-13.

• 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 with Rocky Mountain 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 2022-12-13.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2023-01-13. (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 $499,999.00 in funding.
• Eligible applicants include: Others.

Apply for G23AS00111

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