Cooperative Agreement for affiliated Partner with the Gulf Coast Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), within the U.S. Department of the Interior, is offering a cooperative agreement funding opportunity titled “Quantifying restoration impacts on wetland ecosystem health.” This opportunity is issued under the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) Program, specifically for partners affiliated with the Gulf Coast CESU. The program is rooted in federal mandates to restore and assess ecosystems impacted by environmental disasters, particularly the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. The funding aligns with statutory authorities including the Oil Pollution Act of 1990, the RESTORE Act, CERCLA, and the Clean Water Act, all of which collectively support scientific research, environmental restoration, and long-term ecological resilience. The primary purpose of this funding opportunity is to support research that characterizes tidal creek water chemistry in both freshwater and salt marsh ecosystems within the Barataria Basin, Louisiana. The project aims to improve understanding of wetland ecosystem recovery by quantifying the movement and exchange of dissolved organic and inorganic carbon, as well as total alkalinity, between marsh systems and adjacent tidal creeks. This research will directly contribute to the development and refinement of decision support tools used to evaluate restoration outcomes and inform future restoration planning efforts across the Louisiana Restoration Area. Funding for this project is structured as a cooperative agreement, with USGS involvement anticipated throughout the research process. The total estimated funding for the full project period is 400000 dollars, with approximately 73322 dollars available for the first budget year. The project is expected to span five years, consisting of one base year and four additional budget periods contingent on satisfactory progress and availability of funds. Applicants are required to propose a comprehensive five-year research plan that clearly outlines objectives, methodologies, milestones, and deliverables aligned with USGS restoration priorities. Eligibility for this opportunity is limited to organizations that are active partners within the Gulf Coast CESU network. CESUs are collaborative partnerships that facilitate research, technical assistance, and education among federal agencies, universities, and other institutions. As such, eligible applicants are typically higher education institutions or affiliated research organizations that have established partnerships within the CESU framework. Applicants must demonstrate the technical expertise, institutional capacity, and prior experience necessary to successfully carry out the proposed research objectives. Applications must be submitted electronically through Grants.gov using the specified funding opportunity number. The application package requires a detailed technical narrative, including sections on the research problem, objectives, methodology, anticipated products, and dissemination plans. Additional required components include a budget narrative aligned with SF-424A categories, a data management plan, and supporting documentation such as biographical sketches and current and pending support disclosures for key personnel. The proposal must also include a project timeline, references, and descriptions of available facilities and equipment. Proposals will be evaluated by USGS technical personnel based on criteria including relevance and clarity of objectives, strength of the technical approach, budget justification, and qualifications of the research team. Awards will be administered in accordance with federal grant regulations, and recipients will be responsible for submitting annual progress reports, financial reports, and a final technical report. The opportunity does not specify a fixed application deadline within the provided material, but applicants are encouraged to coordinate closely with USGS contacts for any clarifications. Key contacts include Grant Specialist Rachel Miller and technical lead Dr. Camille Stagg.

Ensure objectives are clearly defined and aligned with USGS restoration priorities; provide detailed methodology and demonstrate prior experience with similar research; ensure budget justification is precise and aligned with project scope