Cooperative Agreement for Affiliated Partner with the Californian Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU)

The U.S. Geological Survey, through its Western Fisheries Research Center in partnership with the Grand Canyon Science Center and Wetland and Aquatic Research Center, is seeking technical assistance from an eligible Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit partner. The project focuses on invasive mussel risk assessment and mitigation in Washington State and California. The work builds on a collaborative multi-year effort that developed standardized risk assessment models in the Missouri and Columbia river basins. USGS staff will provide model development guidance, assist with gathering needed datasets, and help facilitate relationships with state and federal resource management partners. The project has two central objectives. The selected CESU partner will integrate a novel road network model into the existing invasive quagga and zebra mussel risk assessment model for Washington State and then develop a comparable risk assessment model, including road networks, for golden mussels in California. The resulting optimization framework is intended to identify ideal locations for mitigation interventions such as watercraft inspection and decontamination stations and clean-drain-dry information campaigns. Requested products include a manuscript addressing the novel application of the road network model to invasive mussel control, a map-based decision-support tool that allows resource managers to visualize how changes in model assumptions affect relative local risk, and static maps identifying ideal locations for risk mitigation efforts. The award instrument is a cooperative agreement. USGS anticipates making one award for a two-year budget period, with total estimated program funding of 250000 dollars. Funds will be fully obligated at the time of award, and the proposal must show the breakdown for the two-year project period. The announcement specifies a CESU negotiated indirect cost rate of 17.5 percent. USGS will not support costs incurred before the start date established on the award by the Contracting Officer. No required recipient cost share or matching contribution is identified in the announcement. Eligibility is limited to participating partners of the Californian Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit Program. The announcement does not separately enumerate eligible organizational categories, so applicants must verify that they are participating partners of that CESU rather than relying solely on general organizational status. Applications must be submitted through Grants.gov using Funding Opportunity Number G26AS00159. The required application materials include a cover page, technical proposal, detailed budget narrative corresponding to the SF-424A, Data Management Plan, biographical sketches for senior or key personnel, current and pending other support disclosures, and a Project Abstract Summary. The technical proposal addresses the introduction and statement of problem, objectives and geographic scope, procedures and methods, planned products and dissemination, schedule and reporting timeline, references, applicable legal or policy-sensitive matters, and applicable animal use or human subjects considerations. Applications are considered for documentation completeness, basic eligibility, applicable category requirements, and budget reasonableness. USGS technical personnel score proposals and submit evaluations and scores to the Contracting Officer for the final award determination. Purpose, Objectives, and Relevance account for 30 points, Technical Approach for 25 points, Budget Justification and Clarity for 20 points, and Qualifications, Experience, and Past Performance for 25 points. Applicants should therefore clearly connect their work to the requested Washington and California modeling objectives, provide measurable and realistic objectives, demonstrate that tasks can be completed during the performance period, establish capability with the required data compilation and model modification, present sufficient and appropriately qualified staff, and provide a reasonable and clearly justified budget. The announcement does not provide an application opening date or final application closing date, so those dates cannot be established from the supplied source. It also does not state that the opportunity is rolling or recurring. The anticipated project period is two years. During the award, annual progress reports and annual SF-425 financial reports are generally due within 90 calendar days after the applicable annual period. The final technical report and final financial report are due within 120 calendar days after the period of performance or agreement completion date, as applicable. Questions concerning grant administration may be directed to Grant Specialist Katie Calder at katherine_calder@ios.doi.gov. Technical questions concerning project content, goals, and objectives may be directed to Michael Schmidt at mwschmidt@usgs.gov. The announcement also identifies USGS contact Nikolas Lushenko at nikolas_lushenko@ios.doi.gov and provides the Grants.gov Help Desk at support@grants.gov, 1-800-518-4726 in the United States, or 1-606-545-5035 internationally.

Directly address both requested invasive mussel modeling objectives and explain alignment with the stated federal priorities; define measurable and realistic objectives; provide clear tasks and a schedule achievable within the performance period; demonstrate capability in data compilation and model modification using existing software and methodologies; document relevant qualifications and past application of comparable risk assessment methods; provide sufficient staffing and a reasonable, clearly justified budget; include complete budget details because omissions may delay the award process.