Opportunity Information: Apply for G21AS00450
This grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number G21AS00450) is a discretionary cooperative agreement offered by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) under the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) Program, specifically through the Chesapeake Watershed CESU. It is designed to support science and technology research and development focused on climate change impacts on biodiversity, with the central goal of creating, testing, and validating an indicator that measures species vulnerability to climate change in a way that can be applied consistently across many different species throughout the United States.
The core work funded through this opportunity revolves around developing a research approach that results in a practical, repeatable climate vulnerability indicator. Rather than producing a one-off assessment for a single species or a single region, the intent is to build something that can be used broadly and comparatively across taxa and geographies. USGS emphasizes that a well-constructed vulnerability indicator can help clarify which aspects of biodiversity matter most for climate risk, including functional traits (how species live and interact with their environments), taxonomic patterns (which groups may be more at risk), and geographic dimensions (where vulnerability is concentrated or changing). In management terms, the indicator is meant to support more informed decisions about conservation priorities, monitoring strategies, and adaptation responses.
A major emphasis of the opportunity is not just creating a metric, but testing it rigorously. Projects supported under this award are expected to evaluate and validate the proposed climate change vulnerability indicators and to compare the results against previous vulnerability assessments. That comparison element matters because it helps determine whether the new indicator aligns with, improves upon, or meaningfully differs from earlier approaches, and whether it provides clearer or more actionable signals for managers and scientists working across different species and landscapes.
The funding instrument is a cooperative agreement, which generally indicates substantial involvement by the federal agency during the project, such as collaboration on project direction, methods, or deliverables, rather than a more hands-off grant structure. The opportunity is tied to CFDA number 15.808 and is administered by the Geological Survey within the Department of the Interior. The listed award ceiling is $300,000, and the posting was created on April 7, 2021, with an original closing date of May 28, 2021.
Eligibility is limited: applicants must be participating partners in the Chesapeake Watershed CESU Program. CESUs are structured partnerships intended to connect federal agencies with universities, nonprofits, and other qualified research organizations to deliver research, technical assistance, and education in support of public resource management. In this case, only entities already affiliated with the Chesapeake Watershed CESU are eligible to apply, reflecting the program’s goal of leveraging established collaborative networks to produce credible, management-relevant science.Apply for G21AS00450
- 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 Chesapeake Watershed 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 2021-04-07.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2021-05-28. (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 $300,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Others.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the funding opportunity number for this grant?
The Funding Opportunity Number is G21AS00450.
Which federal agency is offering this opportunity?
This opportunity is offered by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), within the Department of the Interior.
What type of funding instrument is being used?
The funding instrument is a discretionary cooperative agreement.
What does it mean that this award is a cooperative agreement?
A cooperative agreement typically means there is substantial involvement by USGS during the project, such as collaboration on project direction, methods, or deliverables, rather than a more hands-off grant relationship.
What program is this opportunity associated with?
This opportunity is offered under the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) Program, specifically through the Chesapeake Watershed CESU.
What is the CFDA number tied to this opportunity?
The CFDA number listed for this opportunity is 15.808.
What is the main purpose of this grant?
The purpose is to support science and technology research and development focused on climate change impacts on biodiversity, with a central goal of creating, testing, and validating an indicator that measures species vulnerability to climate change in a way that can be applied consistently across many species throughout the United States.
What is meant by an “indicator” in this opportunity?
In this context, an indicator is a practical and repeatable measure designed to capture species vulnerability to climate change so results can be compared consistently across different species, taxonomic groups, and regions.
Is the goal to assess one species or one location?
No. The intent is to avoid a one-off assessment for a single species or region and instead develop an approach that can be used broadly across taxa and geographies throughout the United States.
What kinds of biodiversity dimensions does USGS expect the indicator to help clarify?
USGS highlights that a strong indicator can help clarify which aspects of biodiversity matter most for climate risk, including:
- Functional traits (how species live and interact with their environments)
- Taxonomic patterns (which groups may be more at risk)
- Geographic dimensions (where vulnerability is concentrated or changing)
How is this work expected to support management and decision-making?
The indicator is intended to support more informed decisions related to conservation priorities, monitoring strategies, and adaptation responses by providing clearer, comparable signals of climate vulnerability across species and landscapes.
What is the emphasis on testing and validation?
This opportunity emphasizes not only developing an indicator, but also testing it rigorously. Projects are expected to evaluate and validate the proposed climate vulnerability indicators.
Are applicants expected to compare the new indicator to earlier work?
Yes. Projects are expected to compare results against previous vulnerability assessments to determine whether the new indicator aligns with, improves upon, or meaningfully differs from earlier approaches and whether it provides clearer or more actionable information.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The listed award ceiling is $300,000.
When was this opportunity posted?
The posting was created on April 7, 2021.
What was the original closing date?
The original closing date was May 28, 2021.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is limited to participating partners in the Chesapeake Watershed CESU Program. Only entities already affiliated with the Chesapeake Watershed CESU are eligible to apply.
What is a CESU and why does eligibility depend on it?
CESUs are structured partnerships designed to connect federal agencies with universities, nonprofits, and other qualified research organizations to deliver research, technical assistance, and education supporting public resource management. For this opportunity, limiting eligibility to Chesapeake Watershed CESU partners reflects the program goal of leveraging an established collaborative network to produce credible, management-relevant science.
Is this opportunity open to any university or nonprofit organization?
No. Based on the eligibility restriction provided, it is only open to organizations that are participating partners in the Chesapeake Watershed CESU.
What geographic scope is the indicator intended to cover?
The indicator is intended to be applicable throughout the United States, allowing consistent use and comparison across many different species and locations.
What makes this opportunity different from a typical climate vulnerability assessment project?
The focus is on building a repeatable, broadly applicable indicator and then testing and validating it, including direct comparisons to prior vulnerability assessments, rather than producing a single standalone assessment for one species or one area.
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