Cooperative Agreement for CESU-affiliated Partner with the South-Florida Caribbean Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit | G23AS00412

Opportunity Information: Apply for G23AS00412

This opportunity is a US Geological Survey (USGS) cooperative agreement aimed specifically at organizations that are already participating partners in the South-Florida Caribbean Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) network. The core purpose is to support research and development work that uses modern "omics" and computational approaches to better understand why, when, and how cyanobacteria and other algae produce toxins. In practical terms, the USGS is looking to fund science that clarifies the mechanisms and environmental or biological processes that drive cyanotoxin production, with the broader national goal of improving mitigation and prevention strategies for Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs).

The scientific focus centers on phylogenetics, metagenomics, proteomics, and bioinformatics. Phylogenetics can help map evolutionary relationships among cyanobacteria and algae, which may reveal how toxin-producing traits emerged and spread. Metagenomics allows researchers to analyze genetic material directly from environmental samples, making it possible to detect and characterize toxin-related genes and the wider microbial community context without needing to culture organisms in the lab. Proteomics adds another layer by examining expressed proteins, offering insight into what biological pathways are actually active under bloom or pre-bloom conditions. Bioinformatics ties these data streams together, enabling researchers to assemble genomes, annotate toxin biosynthesis pathways, compare strains or communities across locations and time, and connect molecular signals with observed toxin levels.

The problem the project is trying to address is straightforward but difficult: toxin production is not always predictable from the mere presence of cyanobacteria, and blooms vary widely in toxicity across regions, seasons, and conditions. The USGS frames this as a need to understand both the drivers (the conditions and triggers that increase toxin production) and the control mechanisms (the genetic, metabolic, and ecological processes that regulate toxin expression). By improving that understanding, the research is expected to contribute to more effective monitoring, forecasting, and management actions, such as earlier warning indicators, better targeting of interventions, and improved strategies to reduce the health, ecological, and economic impacts associated with HABs.

Administratively, this is a discretionary funding opportunity issued under the CESU Program, which is designed to foster collaborative research, technical assistance, and education partnerships. The funding instrument is a cooperative agreement rather than a standard grant, which typically signals substantial involvement by the federal agency during the project, such as coordination on study design, data integration, or shared research activities. The opportunity is cataloged under CFDA number 15.808 and is classified under the funding activity category of Science and Technology and other Research and Development. The opportunity number is G23AS00412, and it was created on June 13, 2023, with an original closing date of July 21, 2023.

Eligibility is narrow: applicants must be "others" that qualify specifically as participating partners of the South-Florida Caribbean CESU. In other words, it is not open to the general public or to organizations outside that CESU partnership network. The award ceiling listed is $100,000, indicating the maximum expected federal funding level for an individual award under this announcement. The listing indicates expected awards, but the number is not specified in the provided source text. Overall, the opportunity is best understood as targeted support for a CESU partner capable of applying advanced molecular and computational tools to generate actionable knowledge about cyanotoxin production and HAB dynamics.

• The Geological Survey in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Cooperative Agreement for CESU-affiliated Partner with the South-Florida Caribbean Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.808.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2023-06-13.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2023-07-21. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $100,000.00 in funding.
• Eligible applicants include: Others.

Apply for G23AS00412

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