Cooperative Agreement for affiliated Partner with the Great Plains Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit
🏛 Geological Survey (DOI-USGS1)
✓ Free, no account · Source: Grants.gov · Last verified Nov 13, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for CESU partner organizations participating in the Great Plains Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit. Eligible partners include universities, government agencies, non-profits, and tribal organizations already affiliated with the unit.
The grant supports climate adaptation research advancing Administration priorities like water security, infrastructure resilience, and hazard preparedness. Research may focus on hydrology, geology, geospatial science, biosecurity, and natural hazards including drought, flooding, wildfire, and coastal erosion.
Projects must produce actionable science and tools for resource managers and stakeholders. The grant region covers the Great Plains, with recent emphasis on invasive species management and wildfire hazard mitigation in Oklahoma and related areas.
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Program description
This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) is for a U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) National and Regional Climate Adaptation Science Center (NRCASC) competitive research award to a CESU partner.
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.
Invasive plants harm ecosystems and economies by reducing native biodiversity and altering native communities. However, scientists still do not fully understand why invasive species cause severe impacts in some places but not others. This project examines how drought, temperature, rainfall, wildfire, and land management practices (such as hay harvesting) influence the spread and ecological impacts of two invasive species in Oklahoma –the invasive grass King Ranch bluestem and eastern red cedar. The research will leverage existing long-term field experiments, regional plant distribution data, and environmental scenarios to predict where these invasive species may become most problematic under future conditions. King Ranch bluestem and dense stands of eastern red cedar have been linked to the rapid spread of wildfires.
This work supports the goals of EO 14239 – Achieving Efficiency Through State and Local Preparedness (March 19, 2025); EO 14308 -Empowering Commonsense Wildfire Prevention and Response (June 12, 2025) by improving invasive species hazard mitigation for state and local practitioners, as the work addresses the elevated fire risk posed by these invasive species. This work also supports EO 14313 -Establishing the President’s Make America Beautiful Again Commission (July 3, 2025 ) by advancing science-informed conservation of natural resources and strengthening the capacity of agencies and communities to safeguard vulnerable ecosystems from biological degradation, in addition to EO 14303 -Restoring Gold Standard Science (May 23, 2025) and SO 3441-Implementing the Requirements of Executive Order 14303, Restoring Gold Standard Science (August 29, 2025 ) by contributing to American leadership in adaptation science.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- SF-424 (Application for Federal Assistance)
- Project narrative and objectives
- Budget and budget justification
- Organizational capacity and qualifications
- Letters of support from partner organizations or resource managers
Program contact
- 👤 Geological Survey
- 📧 rachel_miller@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
-
$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 9 awards $247.6M
- CA 24 awards $73.6M
- AK 17 awards $35.1M
- FL 7 awards $23.2M
- 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.
| 2021 | $35,000,000 | |
| 2022 | $157,201,151 | |
| 2023 | $263,107,440 | |
| 2024 | $125,066,719 | |
| 2025 est. | $110,000,000 | |
| 2026 est. | $60,000,000 |
FAQ
Who can apply for this grant?
Only current partners of the Great Plains CESU can apply. Check the CESU partnership list to confirm your organization's eligibility before applying.
What kinds of research does this grant fund?
Climate adaptation research addressing energy, critical minerals, water security, wildfire, invasive species, and natural hazards. Projects must produce actionable science for resource managers.
Is cost sharing required?
No, cost sharing is not required for this cooperative agreement.
When is the deadline?
The deadline is November 30, 2026. This is a fixed deadline, not rolling.
What is the funding range?
Awards typically range from $1 to $370,000 depending on project scope and complexity.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Verify your organization's current CESU partner status before starting. Ineligible organizations will be rejected immediately.
- Align your research directly to Administration priorities: energy, critical minerals, water security, infrastructure, or natural hazard preparedness.
- Emphasize how your science translates into actionable tools and data for decision-makers, not just academic findings.
- Leverage existing field experiments and regional data to strengthen feasibility and reduce costs.
- Connect your work to recent Executive Orders on wildfire prevention, conservation, and science quality for strong priority alignment.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Applying without confirming CESU partner status—this is an automatic disqualifier. Proposing research that lacks connection to climate adaptation or Administration priorities. Focusing on basic research without demonstrating practical application for resource managers.
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