Cooperative Agreement for affiliated Partner with the Gulf Coast Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit | G26AS00124

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is this funding opportunity?

This opportunity is a discretionary cooperative agreement offered by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) under the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Units (CESU) Program, specifically through the Gulf Coast CESU.

2. What is the project trying to produce or accomplish?

The project focuses on creating an "Innovation Landscape" for the Southern Great Plains. The practical goal is to speed up how quickly new and effective land management technologies and approaches move from development into real-world use on military installations across the region.

3. What does "Innovation Landscape" mean in this context?

Based on the notice description, an Innovation Landscape is a structured picture of the region that helps (1) map out what innovations are needed, (2) identify which solutions are most likely to work at scale, and (3) connect those solutions to the people and places where they can be adopted and implemented on the ground.

4. What region does the project cover?

The project is centered on the Southern Great Plains.

5. What types of sites are the main focus for implementation?

The work is intended to move land management technologies and approaches into real-world use on military installations across the Southern Great Plains.

6. How does this project relate to military readiness?

The work is positioned at the intersection of military readiness and natural resources management. The intended outcome is to support the military mission by improving land management outcomes and enabling sustained military use of training lands and other installation areas while addressing environmental and resource concerns.

7. What agency is providing the award?

The awarding agency is the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).

8. What program is this opportunity under?

This opportunity is under the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Units (CESU) Program, through the Gulf Coast CESU.

9. What is the CFDA number for this funding activity?

The CFDA number listed for this funding activity is 15.808.

10. What type of award is this (grant vs. cooperative agreement)?

This is a cooperative agreement. That generally indicates USGS expects substantial involvement during the period of performance, such as collaboration on technical direction, coordination, and project execution, rather than a hands-off grant.

11. What does "substantial involvement" from USGS likely imply?

As described in the notice summary, USGS involvement may include collaboration on technical direction, coordination, and project execution throughout the period of performance.

12. What topic area does this funding fall under?

The funding activity falls under science and technology and other research and development.

13. How much funding is available?

The award ceiling is $460,000.

14. How many awards are expected?

Only one award is anticipated, meaning USGS plans a single, focused investment in one partner to lead and coordinate the Innovation Landscape effort.

15. Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is narrow: applicants must already be a participating partner of the Gulf Coast Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (Gulf Coast CESU).

16. If an organization is not a Gulf Coast CESU partner, can it apply?

Based on the eligibility statement provided, no. The notice specifies that applicants must already be a participating partner of the Gulf Coast CESU.

17. What kinds of experience is USGS looking for in the selected partner?

USGS emphasizes that the selected partner should already have strong credentials and experience in both (1) military installation operations and constraints and (2) natural resource science, land management, and related technologies.

18. Are established relationships and networks important for this project?

Yes. The notice highlights that the partner should have established relationships and networks that enable accurate identification of the most pressing innovation needs and help move promising ideas into implementation pathways.

19. Is the goal mainly to produce a research report?

No. The notice indicates the intended outcome is not simply a research report, but a structured innovation picture of the region that helps support the military mission through improved land management outcomes.

20. What kinds of activities does the partner need to be capable of doing?

Based on the summary provided, the partner should be able to map innovation needs, identify solutions likely to work at scale, and help connect solutions to real-world adoption on military installations. The applicant should also be able to operate across agencies and stakeholders, translate innovation into deployable land management practices, and align natural resource solutions with operational realities on military lands in the Southern Great Plains.

21. What is the intended benefit for military land management?

The intended benefits include improving land management outcomes, enabling sustained military use of training lands and other installation areas, and addressing environmental and resource concerns while supporting the military mission.

22. Does the notice mention any regulatory or policy-related outcomes?

Yes. The summary states the work is intended to help create more regulatory flexibility for the Department of War (DoW), as referenced in the notice.

23. When was the opportunity created?

The opportunity was created on May 29, 2026.

24. What is the closing date for this opportunity?

The original closing date is June 29, 2026.

25. Why is the CESU affiliation requirement significant?

The CESU model is built around formal partnerships that provide research, technical assistance, and education services to support federal resource management needs. Requiring Gulf Coast CESU partner status reflects that this project is intended to be carried out within that established partnership framework.