Opportunity Information: Apply for G18AS00098
The Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Gulf Coast CESU opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number G18AS00098) is a U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), Department of the Interior discretionary funding announcement aimed at improving how bat species are identified from acoustic recordings. The award is structured as a cooperative agreement, which typically means USGS expects to be substantially involved in the project through collaboration, coordination, and shared technical input rather than simply issuing a hands-off grant. The activity falls under Science and Technology and other Research and Development (CFDA 15.808) and is intended for an eligible partner within the Gulf Coast Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) network, with eligibility described as “Others” and further clarified in the full eligibility text of the announcement.
The core purpose of the project is to develop open source standards that can unify automated approaches used to classify bat echolocation calls. In practice, many agencies, researchers, consultants, and conservation groups collect bat acoustic data, but they often rely on different software tools, different parameter settings, and different decision rules for turning a recording into a species (or species group) label. That variability makes it difficult to compare results across studies or regions, and it can introduce bias or inconsistent error rates. USGS is seeking research that produces standardized, openly available methods or guidance that helps different automated “autoID” solutions produce more consistent and defensible species classifications.
The objectives are explicitly quality- and consistency-focused. First, the standards should maximize the chance that each individual recording is assigned to the correct species (or species group) while simultaneously minimizing false positives, meaning cases where a species is reported as present when it is not. Second, the work should aim to eliminate the need for manual vetting of automated classification results. Manual review is time-consuming, costly, and itself can vary between reviewers, so a key goal is to make automated outputs reliable enough to stand on their own under defined conditions. Third, the standards should reduce variation, bias, and uncertainty in classification outcomes so data from many contributors and wide geographic areas can be integrated seamlessly, interpreted reliably, and used with greater confidence in broader analyses or management decisions.
Administratively, the opportunity was created July 31, 2018, with an original closing date of August 14, 2018. USGS anticipated making a single award with a maximum (award ceiling) of $49,000. In short, it is a targeted, modest-sized research award intended to produce practical, open source standardization that improves accuracy, reduces false detections, and supports consistent bat acoustic species identification across tools, projects, and regions.Apply for G18AS00098
- 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, Gulf Coast 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 Jul 31, 2018.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 14, 2018. (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 $49,000.00 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).
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is this funding opportunity?
This opportunity is the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Gulf Coast CESU announcement (Funding Opportunity Number G18AS00098) issued by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), Department of the Interior. It is a discretionary funding announcement focused on research and development work to improve how bat species are identified from acoustic recordings.
Which agency is offering the award?
The award is offered by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) within the U.S. Department of the Interior.
What is the funding instrument (grant vs. cooperative agreement)?
The award is structured as a cooperative agreement. In this context, that typically means USGS expects substantial involvement in the project through collaboration, coordination, and shared technical input, rather than a purely hands-off grant.
What is the main goal of the project?
The project aims to develop open source standards that unify automated approaches used to classify bat echolocation calls from acoustic recordings, helping different automated "autoID" methods produce more consistent and defensible species (or species group) classifications.
Why are open source standards needed for bat acoustic auto-identification?
Many groups collect bat acoustic data but use different software tools, parameter settings, and decision rules to convert recordings into species labels. That variability can make results hard to compare across studies or regions and can introduce bias or inconsistent error rates. The requested standards are meant to reduce those inconsistencies and improve comparability.
What kinds of bat data does the project focus on?
The focus is on bat acoustic recordings, specifically the automated classification of bat echolocation calls into species or species groups.
What does "autoID" mean in this announcement?
"AutoID" refers to automated approaches or software-based methods used to classify bat echolocation call recordings into species or species group identifications.
What outcomes is USGS trying to improve with these standards?
The standards are intended to improve accuracy and consistency of classifications across tools and projects, reduce bias and uncertainty, and enable more reliable integration of data across many contributors and geographic areas.
What is meant by maximizing correct identification while minimizing false positives?
The work should increase the chance that each recording is assigned to the correct species (or species group) and reduce false positives, where a species is reported as present even though it is not.
Does the opportunity aim to reduce or eliminate manual review of automated results?
Yes. A stated objective is to eliminate the need for manual vetting of automated classification results, since manual review can be time-consuming, costly, and variable between reviewers.
How will the project help with comparing results across studies or regions?
By producing standardized, openly available methods or guidance, the project is intended to reduce variation in how autoID outputs are generated and interpreted. This helps make results more comparable and easier to combine across different studies, contributors, software tools, and geographic areas.
What program area or category does this opportunity fall under?
The activity falls under Science and Technology and other Research and Development, with CFDA 15.808.
Who is eligible to apply?
The opportunity is intended for an eligible partner within the Gulf Coast Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) network. Eligibility is described as "Others" and is further clarified in the full eligibility text of the announcement.
Is this opportunity limited to the Gulf Coast CESU network?
Based on the announcement summary provided, it is intended for an eligible partner within the Gulf Coast CESU network.
How many awards did USGS anticipate making?
USGS anticipated making a single award.
What is the maximum funding amount available?
The award ceiling (maximum) is $49,000.
When was the opportunity posted and when did it close?
The opportunity was created on July 31, 2018, and the original closing date was August 14, 2018.
What is the overall scope of the work (high-level)?
The work is targeted research and development intended to produce practical, open source standardization for automated bat acoustic species identification, improving accuracy, reducing false detections, and supporting consistent classification across tools, projects, and regions.
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| Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Cheasapeake Watershed CESU Apply for G18AS00097 Funding Number: G18AS00097 Agency: Department of the Interior, U. S. Geological Survey Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $150,000 |
| Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, North and West Alaska CESU Apply for G18AS00081 Funding Number: G18AS00081 Agency: Department of the Interior, U. S. Geological Survey Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $124,876 |
| Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Great Lakes Northern Forests CESU Apply for G18AS00091 Funding Number: G18AS00091 Agency: Department of the Interior, U. S. Geological Survey Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $150,000 |
| Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Pacific Northwest CESU Apply for G18AS00085 Funding Number: G18AS00085 Agency: Department of the Interior, U. S. Geological Survey Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $102,586 |
| Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Great Lakes Northern Forests CESU Apply for G18AS00083 Funding Number: G18AS00083 Agency: Department of the Interior, U. S. Geological Survey Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $30,000 |
| Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Hawaii Pacific Islands CESU Apply for G18AS00082 Funding Number: G18AS00082 Agency: Department of the Interior, U. S. Geological Survey Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $98,957 |
| Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Rocky Mountain CESU Apply for G18AS00092 Funding Number: G18AS00092 Agency: Department of the Interior, U. S. Geological Survey Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $113,648 |
| Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Gulf Coast CESU Apply for G18AS00090 Funding Number: G18AS00090 Agency: Department of the Interior, U. S. Geological Survey Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $54,844 |
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