Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Gulf Coast CESU | G18AS00040

Opportunity Information: Apply for G18AS00040

The Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Gulf Coast CESU grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number G18AS00040) is a U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) funding call under the Department of the Interior (DOI) intended to support a single CESU partner through a cooperative agreement. The project focus is technical assistance to DOI on wildlife disease surveillance and disease investigations that affect both native and invasive wildlife species, with an emphasis on making the resulting information usable for real-world wildlife management decisions and for accurate public communication.

The work centers on helping federal partners detect, track, and investigate priority wildlife diseases. The listed investigation priorities are avian influenza, white-nose syndrome (a major disease affecting bats), and cervid health (deer-family health issues, which can include high-concern conditions in wild and managed populations). The expectation is that the awardee will contribute practical surveillance and investigative support rather than purely academic research, meaning the outputs should directly strengthen DOI and USGS capacity to understand where disease is occurring, how it is spreading, and what it may mean for wildlife populations and management actions.

A major deliverable area is information sharing and dissemination through established federal channels, especially by integrating surveillance and investigation findings into WHISPers, the USGS National Wildlife Health Center's Wildlife Health Information Sharing Partnership - Event Reporting System (https://www.nwhc.usgs.gov/whispers/). In other words, the project is not only about collecting or analyzing disease information, but also about getting that information into a national reporting system so it can be accessed, compared, and used consistently by wildlife health professionals and decision-makers.

Beyond database reporting, the opportunity also highlights communication and collaboration as explicit goals. The awardee is expected to participate in meetings with federal scientists and give presentations that help spread findings and encourage stronger academic-federal partnerships in wildlife disease surveillance and investigations. This indicates an intent to build longer-term coordination between universities or other CESU-affiliated entities and federal agencies, improving how quickly and effectively wildlife health information moves between field surveillance, federal science teams, and management or public-facing offices.

Administratively, the opportunity is categorized as discretionary funding and falls under Science and Technology and other Research and Development (CFDA 15.808). It was created May 15, 2018, with an original closing date of May 29, 2018. The anticipated funding level is relatively modest and targeted, with one expected award and an award ceiling of $99,950. Eligibility is limited to CESU partners (the listing notes "Others" and refers applicants to the eligibility clarification in the full announcement), which typically means institutions already participating in the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit network and aligned with its mission of supporting federal research and technical assistance needs.

Overall, this grant is designed to fund a focused, partner-supported effort that strengthens DOI wildlife disease surveillance and investigative response, prioritizes a few high-impact disease topics, and ensures that results are systematically reported and actively communicated to support management decisions and public relations needs.

• 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 May 15, 2018.
• Applicants must submit their applications by May 29, 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 $99,950.00 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).

Apply for G18AS00040

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