Cooperative Agreement for affiliated Partner with Great Basin 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 conducting aquatic species research. Applicants must be current partners of the Great Basin Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU). The focus is on environmental DNA (eDNA) and metabarcoding projects in the Rocky Mountain region.
Eligible activities include developing species barcode libraries, conducting field sampling, and creating machine-learning models for aquatic ecosystem monitoring. This supports research that fills gaps in existing genetic reference databases and enhances assessment capabilities.
Geographic scope centers on Rocky Mountain aquatic ecosystems. Partners typically include universities, nonprofits, and government agencies already integrated into the CESU network.
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Program description
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is offering a funding opportunity to a CESU partner for research in species barcoding. Environmental DNA (eDNA) is potentially a powerful new tool to monitor and assess the status of aquatic ecosystems and the societal values they support such as recreational fishing and species protection. Assessments based on metabarcoding can detect a wide array of species from microbes to fish, providing more comprehensive and cost-effect assessments than existing techniques. However, one pressing need in developing metabarcoding assessment tools is to enhance existing libraries of aquatic species barcodes.
The USGS Water Resources Mission Area is leading a pilot project in the Rocky Mountains to evaluate metagenomics as a means of monitoring and assessing aquatic species. Metagenomics data from field samples will be combined with large geospatial datasets to develop artificial intelligence and machine-learning models that predict community composition. The project is more likely to succeed if current gaps in species barcode libraries are filled.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
How to apply
Application links
Required documents
- CESU Partner Affiliation Documentation
- Project Narrative/Proposal
- Budget and Budget Justification
- Organizational Capacity Statement
- CV or Biosketch (for key personnel)
- Letters of Commitment (if collaborators involved)
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 existing partners of the Great Basin Ecosystem Studies Unit can apply. You must already be formally affiliated with the CESU network.
What types of research projects are funded?
Projects focused on environmental DNA and species barcoding for aquatic ecosystems. Priority goes to work that fills gaps in genetic reference libraries used for metabarcoding.
What is the typical funding amount?
Awards range from $1 to $250,000. Actual amounts depend on project scope and available pool funding.
Does this require cost-sharing from my organization?
No cost-sharing is required for this cooperative agreement. However, in-kind contributions may strengthen competitiveness.
When is the deadline?
The fixed deadline is November 30, 2026. Submit early to allow time for any technical issues.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Emphasize how your project fills specific gaps in existing species barcode libraries. Reviewers prioritize work addressing documented deficiencies.
- Connect your research to real-world monitoring applications like recreational fisheries or ecosystem health assessments. Show practical impact beyond academic value.
- Include clear methodology for field sampling and DNA analysis. Describe how results will integrate with geospatial datasets and machine-learning models.
- Highlight your institution's capacity and experience with eDNA or metabarcoding techniques. Include relevant publications or prior successful projects.
- Clarify your formal affiliation with the Great Basin CESU. Provide documentation of partnership status or contact your CESU coordinator early in planning.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Applications lack specificity about which barcode library gaps they address. Reviewers cannot assess relevance without clear identification of missing species or genetic sequences. Weak proposals skip methodological detail on DNA extraction, sequencing platforms, and bioinformatic analysis. Failing to demonstrate integration with existing USGS metagenomics datasets or AI/ML models reduces competitiveness.
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