Cooperative Agreement for Affiliated Partner with the North Atlantic Coast Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) | G27AS00077

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the main purpose of this USGS funding opportunity?

This opportunity supports applied research that helps invasive plant managers in the Northeastern United States keep control efforts effective under warming conditions. The emphasis is on producing practical, usable guidance (not just academic findings) by synthesizing practitioner experience with the best available scientific literature on invasive plant treatments and temperature-driven changes in plant growth.

What problem is this project trying to solve?

The opportunity is driven by the concern that invasive plants may respond more strongly than native species to rising temperatures, which can act like a fertilization effect and accelerate invasive plant growth. If invasive plants grow faster under warming, standard management approaches (such as typical herbicide rates, treatment intervals, and mowing/mechanical controls) may become less effective, requiring updated strategies so managers do not fall behind expanding infestations.

What geographic area is the project focused on?

The focus is invasive plant management in the Northeastern United States.

What type of work is USGS looking to fund?

The notice emphasizes synthesis and translation of knowledge into guidance that practitioners can use. It calls for integrating two evidence sources: (1) practitioner knowledge based on real-world treatment experience (what worked, what failed, for which species, and under which site conditions) and (2) the best available scientific literature on invasive plant treatments, including evidence relevant to changing temperature regimes.

Does the opportunity prioritize practical deliverables over purely academic outputs?

Yes. The intended outcome is a practical, science-grounded synthesis that provides clearer decision support for treatment design and implementation. The framing highlights operational urgency and actionable recommendations for managers rather than results that are only theoretical or academic.

What kinds of management recommendations might be examined or updated?

Based on the notice, the synthesis may evaluate whether treatment approaches should be adjusted to keep pace with warming-driven invasive plant growth. Examples mentioned include changes to dose, timing, frequency, method combinations, and follow-up strategies.

Why is warming expected to affect invasive plant control effectiveness?

The opportunity states that invasive plants often respond more strongly than native species to rising temperatures. Faster or more vigorous growth can reduce the effectiveness of conventional prescriptions that assume historical growth rates and seasonal timing, potentially requiring changes in application rates, scheduling, or integrated approaches to maintain control.

How does practitioner experience factor into the proposed work?

Practitioner knowledge is a required component of the evidence base. The notice specifically calls for capturing and synthesizing real-world treatment experience, including what has worked and failed, under what site conditions, and with which species, and then integrating those insights with peer-reviewed research.

How does scientific literature factor into the proposed work?

The project is expected to incorporate the best available scientific literature on invasive plant treatments, including research that is relevant to changing temperature regimes. The goal is to ensure recommendations are grounded in rigorous science while still being usable for day-to-day management decisions.

What makes this an urgent operational need?

The notice explains that practitioners in the region report spending most of their time treating established infestations rather than preventing new ones. Because of that, improvements in efficiency and effectiveness are positioned as having immediate practical value for ongoing operations.

What funding mechanism is being used?

The award is a discretionary cooperative agreement issued through the North Atlantic Coast Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU).

What does it mean that this is a cooperative agreement?

A cooperative agreement indicates USGS expects to have substantial involvement during the project, rather than acting only as a pass-through funder. In other words, the relationship is described as collaborative, with USGS engagement during the work.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is limited to organizations that are already participating partners of the North Atlantic Coast CESU.

Is this opportunity open to organizations that are not part of the North Atlantic Coast CESU?

No. The notice states eligibility is limited to applicants that are already a participating partner of the North Atlantic Coast CESU.

What is the CFDA number listed for this opportunity?

The opportunity is listed under CFDA 15.808.

What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?

The award ceiling is $350,000.

How many awards does USGS expect to make?

USGS anticipates making one award.

What is the funding opportunity number?

The funding opportunity number is G27AS00077.

When was the opportunity created and when is the original application closing date?

The posting indicates the opportunity was created on 2026-10-14, and the original application closing date is 2026-11-14.

How does the opportunity relate to federal priorities or directives mentioned in the notice?

The notice frames the work as aligned with federal direction emphasizing preparedness, usable science, and rigorous scientific standards. It cites Executive Order (EO) 14239 (efficiency through state and local preparedness) as relevant to reducing hazards that state and local entities must address. It also cites EO 14303 and Secretarial Order (SO) 3441, which emphasize "gold standard" science, as a rationale for strengthening the scientific foundation of climate adaptation and management recommendations.

Are there broader Administration priorities this project is expected to advance?

The notice signals that projects supported under this agreement should advance broader Administration priorities where applicable, including American energy dominance, critical mineral development, water security, infrastructure resilience, and natural hazard preparedness.

Does the notice indicate relevant scientific disciplines or hazard topics that could be involved?

Yes. The notice states that research and activities may draw on expertise such as hydrology, geology, geospatial science, biosecurity, and near-earth space science. It also notes potential relevance to extreme events and hazards including drought, flooding, wildland fire, coastal erosion, severe storms, and geologic hazards, with an overall expectation of producing actionable science, data, and tools for resource managers and stakeholders.

What is the intended end result for invasive plant managers?

The intended outcome is clearer decision support for treatment design and implementation under warming conditions, informed by both practitioner experience and the strongest available research, delivered through a CESU partnership with USGS involvement.

Is the project specifically about invasive plants (not invasive animals or pathogens)?

The described applied research focus is invasive plant management in the Northeastern United States under warming conditions.

What does the North Atlantic Coast CESU role imply for how the work will be carried out?

The opportunity is issued under the CESU Program, described as a network of partnerships designed to deliver research, technical assistance, and education capacity to federal agencies. This suggests the work is intended to be conducted through an established partnership structure rather than as a standalone, unaffiliated grant.