Cooperative Agreement for affiliated Partner with the Great Lakes-Northern Forest Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), a scientific agency within the U.S. Department of the Interior, is offering a cooperative agreement opportunity under the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Units (CESU) Program. CESU is a collaborative network that brings together federal agencies, universities, and research organizations to provide research, technical assistance, and education services. This specific opportunity is limited to partners affiliated with the Great Lakes-Northern Forest CESU, reflecting a targeted effort to leverage established institutional relationships and scientific expertise within that regional consortium. The program is grounded in longstanding legislative authorities that enable USGS to collaborate with external partners on scientific research and national resource management initiatives. The purpose of this funding opportunity is to support research that advances the development of authoritative knowledge infrastructure for a GeoAI application. This application will deploy agentic technologies to enhance the Intelligent National Map (INM), a core USGS geospatial platform. The funded project is expected to contribute to the development of systems capable of processing natural language queries across diverse geospatial datasets and producing meaningful outputs such as reports, analyses, and visualizations. The research aligns with federal priorities in artificial intelligence, geospatial data modernization, and scientific innovation, as well as multiple executive orders related to AI leadership, natural resource management, and disaster response. Funding for this opportunity is limited, with a total program allocation of $49,995 and a single anticipated award. The cooperative agreement structure indicates substantial involvement from USGS scientists throughout the project lifecycle, including collaborative planning, data sharing, and co-authorship of resulting publications. The period of performance is expected to be one year, with an anticipated start date of October 1, 2026, and an end date of September 30, 2027. Indirect costs are capped at 17.5 percent under CESU guidelines. There is no cost-sharing or matching requirement, which lowers the financial barrier for eligible applicants. Eligibility for this opportunity is restricted to organizations that are active partners within the Great Lakes-Northern Forest CESU. These partnerships typically include academic institutions, nonprofit research organizations, and other entities formally affiliated with the CESU network. Applicants must also complete required federal registrations, including obtaining a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and maintaining an active SAM.gov registration. The application process is conducted through Grants.gov, where applicants must create a workspace, complete required forms, and submit their proposal electronically. The application package requires several standard federal forms, including the SF-424 Application for Federal Assistance and budget-related documents, as well as project-specific components such as a technical narrative, budget justification, and data management plan. The technical narrative must outline the research problem, objectives, methodology, expected outcomes, and dissemination plan. Applicants must also provide information on personnel qualifications, facilities, and prior experience relevant to the proposed work. Proposals are evaluated based on criteria including the clarity and relevance of objectives, technical approach, budget justification, and the applicant’s qualifications and past performance. Applications undergo a multi-stage review process, including eligibility screening, merit review by USGS technical personnel, and final selection by a contracting officer. Evaluation criteria assign weighted scores across categories such as purpose and relevance (30 points), technical approach (25 points), budget justification (20 points), and qualifications (25 points). The agency also conducts risk assessments and verifies applicant eligibility through federal systems before issuing an award. The application deadline is July 9, 2026, with submissions required by 11:59 PM Eastern Time. There are no pre-application requirements such as letters of intent. Questions regarding the opportunity can be directed to Rachel Miller via email at rachel_miller@ios.doi.gov. This is a one-time funding opportunity with no indication of recurring cycles. Award notifications are expected prior to the project start date in October 2026, and recipients will be required to comply with federal reporting, data management, and publication requirements throughout the project period.

Align proposal closely with USGS GeoAI and National Map objectives; clearly define measurable research outcomes; ensure strong technical methodology and data integration capability; justify budget clearly and align with project scope