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

The Cooperative Agreement for affiliated Partner with the Great Lakes-Northern Forest Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit is offered by the U.S. Geological Survey within the Department of the Interior. The USGS is a federal scientific agency focused on providing reliable data and research related to natural resources, ecosystems, and environmental hazards. This funding opportunity is issued under the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Units program, which is designed to foster collaboration between federal agencies and academic or research institutions to conduct applied research, technical assistance, and education initiatives. The program emphasizes partnership-based research where the federal agency maintains substantial involvement throughout the project lifecycle. The primary purpose of this funding opportunity is to evaluate the operational readiness of low-cost autonomous underwater vehicle technology equipped with in-situ water quality sensors. Specifically, the project will focus on the JaiaBot BIO system, which is designed to rapidly assess the spatial distribution and severity of episodic water quality degradation events. These events include high-flow riverine plume conditions and cyanobacteria blooms, which are difficult to monitor due to their transient and dynamic nature. The selected recipient will conduct research activities in Lake Champlain, which serves as an ideal test environment due to its sensitivity to watershed disturbances and the presence of existing monitoring infrastructure. Funding for this opportunity totals approximately 299971 dollars, with a single award expected. The award will be issued as a cooperative agreement, meaning the USGS will have substantial involvement in project execution, including collaboration on research design, data analysis, and dissemination of findings. The period of performance is 24 months from receipt of funds, with anticipated project dates running from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2028. Funds will support activities such as deployment of autonomous vehicles, data collection, comparative analysis with existing monitoring systems, and preparation of final reports and datasets. Four JaiaBot BIO units will be purchased during the project and transferred to the recipient at its conclusion. Eligibility for this funding opportunity is limited to organizations that are already participating partners in the Great Lakes-Northern Forest Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit. These partnerships typically include universities, research institutions, and other organizations with demonstrated capacity for scientific research and collaboration. Applicants must also meet federal requirements such as registration in SAM.gov and Grants.gov, and must demonstrate technical expertise, access to appropriate facilities, and the ability to conduct field-based environmental research. The application process requires submission through Grants.gov and includes a comprehensive set of documents. Required components include standard federal forms such as SF-424 and SF-424A, a detailed project narrative outlining objectives, methods, and expected outcomes, a budget narrative with justification of costs, and supporting documentation such as biographical sketches and current and pending support disclosures. Applicants must also provide a data management plan describing how research data will be handled, shared, and preserved. The proposal must clearly articulate the research problem, methodology, timeline, and dissemination strategy. Applications will be evaluated through a structured review process conducted by USGS technical personnel. Evaluation criteria include the relevance and clarity of project objectives, the strength of the technical approach, the reasonableness of the budget, and the qualifications and past performance of the applicant. Additional considerations include alignment with federal priorities such as modernization of environmental monitoring systems and integration of advanced technologies. Proposals must demonstrate the ability to generate high-quality data and contribute to improved understanding of water quality dynamics. The application deadline for this opportunity is June 29, 2026, with submissions required by 11:59 PM Eastern Time. There are no pre-application requirements such as letters of intent. The opportunity is not recurring and represents a single funding cycle. Questions regarding the opportunity may be directed to the listed grant specialist via email. Applicants should ensure all registrations and documentation are completed well in advance of the deadline to avoid disqualification.

Align proposal clearly with USGS research objectives; demonstrate strong technical methodology and field capacity; ensure budget is justified and aligned with project scope; highlight prior experience with water monitoring and data integration