Cooperative Agreement for Affiliated Partner with the Alaska Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) | G26AS00156

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is this funding opportunity?

This is a U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) funding opportunity for a competitive research award issued through the National and Regional Climate Adaptation Science Center (NRCASC) program. The award will be made as a cooperative agreement for an Affiliated Partner with the Alaska Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU).

What is the Funding Opportunity Number?

The Funding Opportunity Number is G26AS00156.

Which federal agency is offering the award?

The awarding agency is the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), listed as "Geological Survey."

What is the assistance listing (CFDA) number for this opportunity?

The assistance listing/CFDA number is 15.808.

What type of award instrument will be used?

The instrument type is a Cooperative Agreement.

What does it mean that this is a cooperative agreement?

A cooperative agreement means USGS is expected to have substantial involvement in the funded work. In other words, the agency will be involved in the project beyond simply providing funds, consistent with how cooperative agreements are typically structured.

What is the main purpose of this award?

The core purpose is to produce actionable science, data, and decision-support tools that help resource managers and stakeholders respond to climate-related risks and other environmental challenges, while aligning with current Administration and Department of the Interior priorities.

What kinds of outputs are expected from the funded work?

The notice emphasizes management-ready outputs, including actionable science, datasets, and decision-support tools intended to directly inform real-world public land and resource management decisions.

What scientific disciplines or capabilities does the notice say are relevant?

The notice highlights a broad range of scientific capabilities, including hydrology, geology, geospatial science, biosecurity, and near-earth space science.

What hazards and extreme events are mentioned as relevant to the management context?

The announcement references extreme events and hazards such as drought, flooding, wildland fire, coastal erosion, severe storms, and geologic hazards.

What is the Alaska CESU and why is it part of this opportunity?

This opportunity is part of the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) network, which is designed to connect federal agencies with partner institutions to deliver applied research, technical assistance, and education that directly support public land and resource management needs. This specific award is associated with the Alaska CESU.

Is this opportunity national in scope or focused on a specific place?

While the notice references wide-ranging national priorities, the specific project focus described centers on Alaska's boreal forest ecosystems.

What is the specific research focus described in the notice?

The notice focuses on the interaction between insect-driven disturbance and biological invasion in Alaska's boreal forest ecosystems, particularly how spruce beetle outbreaks may create conditions that enable invasive plants to establish and spread.

Which insect disturbance is highlighted?

The notice highlights spruce beetle outbreaks, noting that they have been expanding northward in Alaska as temperatures change and can cause large-scale spruce mortality.

Which invasive plant is specifically mentioned?

The invasive plant specifically mentioned is European bird cherry.

Why is European bird cherry a concern in the context of spruce beetle outbreaks?

The opportunity frames spruce mortality events as creating openings for invasive plants, particularly European bird cherry, to establish, spread, and potentially alter post-disturbance forest trajectories.

What research questions is the proposed work expected to examine?

The notice describes three linked questions the research is expected to examine:

• How spruce beetle disturbance influences the establishment and spread of European bird cherry
• How European bird cherry invasion affects the regeneration of spruce and other native plants after outbreaks
• How climate stressors such as warming, drought, and weather extremes modify the disturbance-invasion relationship

How does climate change factor into the project described?

The notice links changing temperatures to the northward expansion of spruce beetle outbreaks and calls for examining how ongoing climate stressors (including warming, drought, and weather extremes) influence the relationship between beetle-driven disturbance and invasive plant spread.

Who are the intended end users of the project results?

The announcement indicates the work is meant to be directly useful to on-the-ground decision-makers and names likely end users such as the U.S. Forest Service and the Alaska Division of Forestry and Fire Protection.

What management decisions could this research support?

By improving understanding of how invasive species capitalize on disturbance under changing climate conditions, the project is positioned to support practical actions such as targeted invasive control, restoration planning, prioritization of treatment areas, and post-disturbance monitoring strategies.

Does the notice mention expectations around scientific integrity or communication?

Yes. In addition to rigorous research, the NRCASC program stresses transparent communication and "gold standard" scientific practices consistent with the executive and secretarial directives cited in the announcement.

How many awards does the agency expect to make?

The expected number of awards is 1.

What is the maximum (ceiling) award amount?

The award ceiling is $453,203.

What is the activity category for this funding opportunity?

The activity category is Science and Technology and other Research and Development.

What is the application deadline?

The application deadline is September 11, 2026.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is limited to participating partners of the Alaska CESU Program. The eligibility field is listed as "Others," but it is constrained to Alaska CESU partners.

Can an organization apply if it is not an Alaska CESU partner?

No. The notice indicates that only organizations that are formally part of the Alaska CESU partnership can apply and receive the award under this opportunity.

How does this opportunity relate to broader federal priorities mentioned in the notice?

The NOFO references broad national priorities such as energy dominance, critical minerals, water security, infrastructure resilience, hazard preparedness, and the strategic use of artificial intelligence. However, the project focus described in the notice is specifically centered on Alaska boreal forests, spruce beetle disturbance, and European bird cherry invasion under changing climate conditions.

What is the intended outcome of the described Alaska-focused research?

The intended outcome is management-ready information that agencies can use to reduce invasive species impacts and improve forest recovery following beetle-driven disturbances.

Does the notice connect this work to any stewardship or conservation directives?

Yes. The notice ties the work to broader stewardship goals and references conservation-oriented directives, including the executive order establishing the "Make America Beautiful Again Commission," emphasizing science-based protection of vulnerable ecosystems from biological degradation.