Cooperative Agreement for CESU-affiliated Partner with Great Lakes – Northern Forest CESU Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit | G23AS00385

Opportunity Information: Apply for G23AS00385

The US Geological Survey (USGS) is offering a discretionary funding opportunity through a cooperative agreement to support applied research and technical assistance focused on ticks and tick-borne diseases in wildlife across northern New England. The award is being issued under the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) Program, specifically the Great Lakes - Northern Forest CESU, which means only organizations that are official participating partners in that CESU network are eligible to apply. The project is positioned as actionable, management-oriented science that helps agencies respond to changing tick dynamics affecting wildlife, domestic animals, and human health.

A central purpose of the opportunity is to develop and test integrated tick management approaches that combine multiple levers rather than relying on a single intervention. The work is expected to weave together tick biocontrol options, wildlife species management considerations, and wildlife habitat management strategies, with the intent of producing practical guidance that agencies can use. The broader framing is explicitly interjurisdictional, meaning the research should be coordinated across boundaries and aligned with the needs of multiple decision-makers (federal, state, and tribal natural resource management agencies) operating in the region.

In terms of biological focus, the opportunity emphasizes several tick species of high concern. Winter ticks are highlighted because of their severe impacts on moose populations, including the potential to influence survival and overall herd health. The invasive Asian longhorned tick is another priority due to its implications for domestic animals and its expanding range in parts of the United States. The work also covers ticks of public health importance, including species such as the blacklegged tick and lone star tick, particularly when they are detected on wildlife hosts or depend on wildlife as a bloodmeal source. This reflects an ecological approach that treats wildlife as part of the broader tick system, where changes in host communities, habitats, and climate can reshape tick distribution and disease risk.

A major expected outcome is the co-production of a regional tick surveillance sampling strategy. Rather than a one-off sampling effort, the project is intended to help build a coordinated surveillance approach that can be shared and implemented across agencies, reducing duplicative work and ensuring that monitoring data are comparable and useful for management decisions. Coordination is described as critical, implying that the CESU partner will be working closely with USGS and with federal, state, and tribal partners to align objectives, methods, and timelines, and to ensure the outputs are directly relevant to on-the-ground management.

The cooperative agreement also calls for field evaluation of tick biocontrol methods after consultation with federal and state agencies. This indicates the project is expected to move beyond theory or lab-only testing and into real-world trials where efficacy can be measured under field conditions. Alongside efficacy, the CESU partner is specifically tasked with assessing potential non-target effects of the biocontrol methods on wildlife and the environment. That requirement signals an emphasis on responsible deployment, making sure interventions do not create unintended ecological impacts while attempting to reduce tick burdens.

Capacity-building is another core component. USGS and the CESU partner are expected to collaborate on training workshops aimed at biologists and technicians working in natural resource management agencies, with the goal of strengthening long-term, interjurisdictional capability to monitor ticks and tick-borne diseases. This suggests the project is meant to leave behind durable skills, protocols, and networks, not just produce reports. The partner is also expected to actively participate in multi-sectoral and interjurisdictional workshops and meetings on regional tick-borne disease management, particularly those facilitated by USGS, reinforcing that ongoing coordination and stakeholder engagement are built into the scope of work.

Public communication and education are included as well. The CESU partner and USGS will collaborate on outreach during Vector Week and develop educational resources for teachers, indicating that part of the deliverables should translate technical information into accessible materials for broader audiences. Dissemination expectations are wide-ranging and include federal reports, peer-reviewed manuscripts, presentations, and participation in meetings with federal, state, and tribal natural resource management agencies. Overall, the opportunity is designed to generate credible science while ensuring the results are actively shared in ways that can shape real management actions.

Key administrative details from the notice include the funding opportunity title "Cooperative Agreement for CESU-affiliated Partner with Great Lakes - Northern Forest CESU Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit," funding opportunity number G23AS00385, and CFDA number 15.808. The funding instrument is a cooperative agreement, which typically implies substantial involvement and collaboration with USGS during project planning and execution rather than a hands-off grant. The opportunity lists an award ceiling of $333,333, was created on 2023-06-07, and had an original closing date of 2023-07-07.

• 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 Great Lakes – Northern Forest CESU 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 2023-06-07.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2023-07-07. (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 $333,333.00 in funding.
• Eligible applicants include: Others.

Apply for G23AS00385

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