Cooperative Agreement for Affiliated Partner with the Rocky Mountains Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU)
🏛 Geological Survey (DOI-USGS1)
✓ Free, no account · Source: Grants.gov · Last verified Oct 20, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for research on invasive grasses and wildfire management in the sagebrush biome. Eligible recipients must be participating partners of the Rocky Mountains Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) Program. Projects should focus on the eastern sagebrush biome, particularly the Northern Great Plains. Activities include mapping invasive grass extent, identifying management strategies, and collaborating with USDA and state agencies.
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Program description
The spread of invasive grasses, such as cheatgrass, adds fine fuels to the landscape that increase wildfire occurrence and frequency. Following a fire, invasive grasses regrow quickly, typically outcompeting native plants and perpetuating what is known as the invasive grass-fire cycle. This cycle has been well documented in western portions of the sagebrush biome, such as the Great Basin, but there are only limited studies within the eastern portion of the biome. Some of these studies have shown that native grasslands in eastern portions of the Northern Great Plains may be more fire-adapted and less prone to this cycle. This means that management practices used in the Great Basin may be ineffective, or even determinantal, in the Great Plains. Focusing on the eastern portion of the sagebrush biome, this project will collaborate with resource managers from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Wyoming Department of Agriculture to map the presence and extent of the invasive grass-fire cycle in native grasslands and identify effective management strategies. Improved understanding of the invasive grass-fire cycle in the region will enable managers to determine where to target post-fire interventions to limit the spread of invasive grasses, and where interventions are not needed.
By supporting risk-informed approaches for the management of invasive grasses that contribute to wildfires, this work enhances community resilience to wildfires, consistent with the goals of EO 14308 Empowering Commonsense Wildfire Prevention and Response (June 12, 2025) and EO 14239 -Achieving Efficiency Through State and Local Preparedness (March 19, 2025).
Projects supported under this cooperative agreement should advance Administration priorities, including, but not limited to, American energy dominance, critical mineral development, water security, infrastructure resilience, and natural hazard preparedness. Research and activities may incorporate scientific expertise in areas such as hydrology, geology, geospatial science, biosecurity, and near-earth space science, including extreme events such as drought, flooding, wildland fire, coastal erosion, severe storms, and geologic hazards, to develop actionable science, data, and tools that support informed decision-making by resource managers and stakeholders.
How to apply
Application links
Required documents
- Cooperative Agreement application (CESU-specific form)
- Project narrative and management plan
- Budget and budget justification
- Letters of collaboration from partner agencies
- Organization's DUNS number and SAM registration
Program contact
- 👤 Geological Survey
- 📧 katherine_calder@ios.doi.gov
- 📞 916-278-9331
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 15.808 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
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$240,000,000
-
$11,148,115
-
$10,533,234
-
$10,055,533
-
$8,476,627
-
$8,454,102
-
$7,659,261
-
$6,894,612
-
$6,800,079
-
$6,644,228
Top States by Funding
- CO 8 awards $247.1M
- CA 23 awards $73.1M
- AK 15 awards $34.2M
- FL 6 awards $22.8M
- WA 4 awards $16.6M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 15.808). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2024 | $125,066,719 | |
| 2025 | $54,713,074 | |
| 2026 est. | $60,000,000 |
FAQ
Who can apply for this grant?
Only organizations that are participating partners of the Rocky Mountains CESU Program are eligible. Contact the CESU to confirm partner status before applying.
What is the funding range?
Awards range from $1 to $375,000. Total program funding is $375,000.
What types of projects are supported?
Projects addressing invasive grass-fire cycles, post-fire management, native grassland restoration, and wildfire preparedness in the eastern sagebrush biome are prioritized.
Is cost sharing required?
No cost sharing is required for this cooperative agreement.
When is the deadline?
The deadline is November 14, 2026. This is a fixed deadline, not rolling.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Confirm your organization is an active Rocky Mountains CESU partner before investing application effort.
- Focus your proposal on the eastern sagebrush biome and Northern Great Plains region specifically.
- Include collaboration letters from USDA or Wyoming Department of Agriculture to strengthen competitiveness.
- Emphasize how your work supports wildfire resilience and natural hazard preparedness priorities.
- Develop clear management recommendations that resource managers can immediately implement.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Applying without confirmed partner status in the Rocky Mountains CESU. Focusing on Great Basin management strategies rather than eastern grassland-specific approaches. Failing to demonstrate collaboration with state or federal resource management agencies.
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