Cooperative Agreement for Affiliated Partner with the Hawaiʻi-Pacific Islands Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU)
🏛 Geological Survey (DOI-USGS1)
✓ Free, no account · Source: Grants.gov · Last verified Oct 18, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for affiliated partners of the Hawai'i-Pacific Islands Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) Program. Applicants must be existing CESU partners or organizations that have joined the partnership. The cooperative agreement supports research and technical assistance focused on invasive species management, ecosystem studies, and natural hazard preparedness in Hawai'i and the Pacific Islands region.
Work must address invasive species threats and support Administration priorities. Research may include hydrology, geology, geospatial science, biosecurity, and extreme events management. Projects should provide actionable science and data to inform resource management decisions by federal and state partners.
Not the right fit? Find grants for your organization in 5 questions →
Program description
Invasive species are one of the greatest threats to biodiversity, biosecurity, ecosystem functioning, and human well-being in Hawaiʻi. Managers are increasingly concerned about the horticultural trade because it is the predominant pathway for non-native plant introduction in the state. However, they currently lack information about which species pose the greatest risk now and in the future. By analyzing invasion records and ornamental trade data for approximately 19,000 plant taxa, this project will identify horticultural species likely to establish in Hawaiʻi based on local conditions. In doing so, the project will identify geographic areas with the highest invasion risk and highlight species of concern, taking into account invasion history, weed risk scores, nursery locations, and their overlap with human infrastructure and conservation areas.
Findings will inform risk-based screening, early detection priorities, and management planning for federal and state partners including the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Park Service, and Hawaiʻi Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Forestry and Wildlife. By improving invasive species management, this project will support the mitigation of hazards like wildfires and erosion that can be exacerbated by invasive plants, improving state and local preparedness in line with the goals of EO 14239 -Achieving Efficiency Through State and Local Preparedness (March 19, 2025). This work also supports the goals of 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 advancing American leadership in adaptation science and providing credible, reliable, and impartial scientific evidence to reduce the harm caused by invasive species.
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.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- Proposal narrative describing research objectives and methods
- Budget and budget justification
- Letters of support from CESU partners and federal/state agencies
- Project timeline and deliverables
- Organizational capacity documentation
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
-
$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 is eligible to apply for this cooperative agreement?
Only current or newly affiliated partners of the Hawai'i-Pacific Islands CESU can apply. Organizations must formally join or maintain partnership status with the CESU program.
What geographic area does this grant cover?
The program focuses on research addressing invasive species and ecosystem challenges in Hawai'i and the Pacific Islands region.
What types of research does this grant support?
Projects addressing invasive species management, biosecurity, hydrology, geology, geospatial science, and natural hazard preparedness are eligible.
When is the application deadline?
The deadline is November 14, 2026. This is a fixed deadline, not rolling.
What is the funding range for this opportunity?
Awards typically range from $1 to $435,000 depending on project scope and partnerships.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Verify CESU partnership status before investing effort. Contact the Hawai'i-Pacific Islands CESU to confirm your organization's eligibility as a partner.
- Align your research directly with invasive species management or ecosystem priorities. Generic environmental projects won't be competitive.
- Emphasize partnerships with federal agencies like USFWS, NPS, or state partners. The program prioritizes collaborative, actionable science.
- Include clear deliverables and timeline. Specify how your findings will inform risk assessment, management planning, or policy decisions.
- Connect to broader Administration priorities where possible. Highlight links to water security, infrastructure resilience, or natural hazard preparedness.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Applications from non-CESU partners are automatically ineligible. Verify partnership status before applying. Projects without clear partnership engagement or federal/state manager involvement appear disconnected from program goals. Generic ecosystem research unrelated to invasive species or administration priorities will not be competitive.
Similar grants
- OPEN Cooperative Agreement for Affiliated Partner with the North Atlantic Coast Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) — Geological Survey
- OPEN Cooperative Agreement for affiliated Partner with Californian Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit — Geological Survey
- OPEN Cooperative Agreement for Affiliated Partner with the Pacific Northwest Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) — Geological Survey
- OPEN Cooperative Agreement for Affiliated Partner with the Great Lakes-Northern Forest Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) — Geological Survey
- OPEN Cooperative Agreement for affiliated Partner with Chesapeake Watershed Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit — Geological Survey