Cooperative Agreement for CESU-affiliated Partner with Gulf Coast Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit | G23AS00473

Opportunity Information: Apply for G23AS00473

This funding opportunity (G23AS00473) is a US Geological Survey (USGS) cooperative agreement aimed at advancing how environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding results are standardized and ultimately displayed in the Nonindigenous Aquatic Species (NAS) Database. The central idea is to support research that helps turn rapidly growing eDNA metabarcoding data into information that can be consistently interpreted, compared, and integrated into a national invasive species data system. Because the award is issued through the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) network, the work is expected to be collaborative and closely coordinated with USGS rather than operating as an arms-length grant.

The project focus is on eDNA, which is genetic material shed by organisms into their environment through sources like skin cells, mucus, feces, and other biological material. Since eDNA can be collected from environmental samples (most often water for aquatic applications, but also soil, air, or organic material), it offers a non-destructive way to detect organisms without capturing them. The opportunity highlights two common eDNA approaches: targeted eDNA, which looks for one species or a narrow group, and metabarcoding, which uses high-throughput sequencing to detect a broad assemblage of taxa from a single sample. Metabarcoding is particularly valuable for invasive species work because it can detect multiple species at once, characterize community composition, and potentially flag unexpected or previously undetected non-native organisms.

The main deliverable implied by the announcement is the development of metabarcoding eDNA standards suitable for integrating results into the NAS Database. In practical terms, that means building shared expectations for how metabarcoding detections should be represented, what minimum metadata should accompany a record, how confidence or uncertainty should be described, and how results from different labs, platforms, and pipelines can be made comparable enough to display in a public-facing database. The notice emphasizes a broad community consensus process, suggesting the effort is not just technical work done in isolation, but also includes coordination with a wider set of practitioners and stakeholders to agree on standard practices for data formatting, validation, interpretation, and database display.

Eligibility is limited to organizations that are already participating partners in the Gulf Coast Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) Program. CESUs are partnership-based frameworks that connect federal agencies with universities, nonprofits, and other research organizations to provide research, technical assistance, and education in support of resource management needs. Because the award instrument is a cooperative agreement, applicants should expect substantial involvement from USGS staff during the project, such as joint planning, iterative review of methods and proposed standards, coordination on database integration needs, and shared decision-making as the consensus process moves forward.

Administratively, the opportunity is listed as a discretionary award in the Science and Technology and other Research and Development category (CFDA 15.808). The posting shows an award ceiling of $650,000 and an original closing date of September 14, 2023, with the funding opportunity created on August 14, 2023. While the listing does not specify the number of expected awards in the provided text, the structure and eligibility restrictions suggest a focused effort intended for a qualified CESU partner capable of convening expertise across eDNA metabarcoding, bioinformatics, data standards, and invasive species information management.

Overall, the opportunity is best understood as an applied research and standards-development project designed to bridge the gap between cutting-edge eDNA metabarcoding science and the practical needs of a national invasive species database. The end goal is to make metabarcoding-derived detections more usable for managers and decision-makers by ensuring the data are reported consistently, transparently, and in a way that the NAS Database can display and maintain over time.

• 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 Gulf Coast 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 2023-08-14.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2023-09-14. (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 $650,000.00 in funding.
• Eligible applicants include: Others.

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