Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Colorado Plateau CESU | G20AS00062

Opportunity Information: Apply for G20AS00062

The Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Colorado Plateau CESU grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number G20AS00062) is a discretionary funding announcement issued by the U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). It is administered through the USGS Southwest Biological Science Center and uses a cooperative agreement as the funding instrument, which typically means the project is expected to involve substantial collaboration between the federal scientists and the recipient organization rather than operating as a more hands-off grant. The activity category is listed as Science and Technology and other Research and Development under CFDA 15.808, signaling that the work is research-oriented and tied to USGS science priorities.

The central purpose of the project is to maintain and strengthen ongoing cooperation between USGS and a partner institution within the Colorado Plateau Cooperative Ecosystems Studies Unit (CESU) network. CESUs are partnership-based frameworks designed to connect federal agencies with universities, nonprofits, and other research organizations to support applied science, technical assistance, and education that benefit public land and resource management. In this case, eligibility is limited to one member organization of the Colorado Plateau CESU Program (the listing notes "Others" with additional eligibility details referenced in the full announcement), meaning it is not broadly open to the general public or all institutions; it is specifically intended for an established CESU partner.

Technically, the work focuses on supporting the development of physical models of sandbar dynamics along the Colorado River in Arizona. Sandbars are critical geomorphic features that can influence habitat, recreation, and river corridor management, and their formation and persistence are strongly shaped by sediment supply and river flow operations. A physical model of sandbar dynamics generally refers to a mechanistic or process-based representation of how sand is transported and deposited under varying flow conditions, potentially informing how different flow regimes might build, erode, or maintain sandbars over time. The project description emphasizes "support the development" of these models, which suggests activities may include integrating field measurements, refining conceptual and quantitative representations of sediment movement, and working closely with USGS researchers to ensure the modeling approach aligns with management-relevant questions in the Colorado River system.

From an administrative standpoint, the opportunity was created on May 6, 2020, with an original closing date of May 22, 2020, indicating a short application window consistent with targeted or partner-limited opportunities. The award ceiling is $47,520, and USGS expected to make one award, reinforcing that this was a single-project, single-recipient effort rather than a multi-award competition. In practical terms, applicants would be expected to propose a focused scope of work that fits within that budget and timeframe assumptions typical for modest, collaborative research support, while demonstrating the capacity to work within the CESU partnership model and coordinate closely with USGS scientists on deliverables tied to sandbar dynamics modeling for the Colorado River in Arizona.

• The Department of the Interior, U. S. Geological Survey in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Colorado Plateau CESU" 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 May 06, 2020.
• Applicants must submit their applications by May 22, 2020. (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 $47,520.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

Apply for G20AS00062

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