The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is offering a funding opportunity for a Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) partner affiliated with the Great Rivers CESU. The initiative aims to develop a long-term floodplain vegetation monitoring program for the Upper Mississippi River System (UMRS). The research addresses the need for improved methods to monitor floodplain forests and herbaceous communities across this region, focusing on evaluating existing data, addressing knowledge gaps, and designing a sustainable monitoring framework.

Eligible applicants must be CESU-affiliated partners of the Great Rivers CESU program. The project will engage a working group comprising representatives from the US Army Corps of Engineers, the US Fish and Wildlife Service, and the USGS Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center. This group will provide substantial input into the project’s planning and implementation.

One award will be made for a base year and two renewal years, with a total funding estimate of $248,648. For FY 2025, $77,578 is available, increasing to $82,761 and $88,308 for FY 2026 and FY 2027, respectively, subject to satisfactory progress and funding availability.

Applications must be submitted electronically via Grants.gov and include detailed information on the project’s goals, technical methods, planned products, and dissemination strategies. Required documentation includes a project narrative, budget justification, Data Management Plan (DMP), and biographical sketches for key personnel. The DMP must address data collection, access, sharing, and preservation, adhering to USGS data management policies. Budget details must outline salaries, travel expenses, equipment, and other costs, with CESU’s negotiated indirect cost rate of 17.5%.

Evaluation criteria include the clarity of the purpose and objectives (25 points), technical approach (25 points), budget clarity (25 points), and qualifications and past performance (25 points). Proposals are reviewed by USGS technical personnel, with final award decisions made by the contracting officer. Progress reports are required annually, with a final report summarizing the project’s outcomes, including analysis and recommendations.

The award is subject to standard USGS terms and conditions, and recipients must comply with reporting and data dissemination requirements. Payments will be managed through the Treasury’s Automated Standard Application for Payments (ASAP) system. Interested applicants can contact Faith Graves, the CESU Contract Specialist, for additional information.