Cooperative Agreement for Affiliated Partner with the Great Rivers Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) | G26AS00065

Opportunity Information: Apply for G26AS00065

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is soliciting a single cooperative agreement proposal from an affiliated partner of the Great Rivers Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) to conduct applied research on how to get more value from natural resource monitoring programs that target invasive aquatic species. The central idea is that a lot of monitoring efforts are built to track invasive species presence, abundance, or spread over time, but managers often make control decisions based on the economic and ecological damage those species cause. Because of that mismatch, the data being collected frequently does not line up with what decision-makers actually need to evaluate whether management actions are working, improve strategies over time, or justify investments. This opportunity is focused on designing more efficient, decision-relevant monitoring approaches that directly support management and improve outcomes.

The project emphasizes that monitoring should do more than document invasive species dynamics in isolation. It should also capture the related ecological and economic impacts that trigger management responses in the first place. When monitoring is not explicitly designed to connect species dynamics to impacts and management results, agencies lose the ability to rigorously assess effectiveness, refine actions, and build evidence-based strategies. The USGS is looking for work that helps bridge that gap by integrating monitoring of invasive species populations with concurrent monitoring of ecological conditions and economic consequences, so that the overall monitoring investment produces information that can guide real-world decisions.

A key feature of the opportunity is the use of formal, iterative learning frameworks to improve management over time. The description highlights analytical approaches such as Bayesian belief networks and Bayesian learning, which can be used to update understanding as new monitoring data accumulate. In practice, this means developing methods that treat monitoring as part of an adaptive cycle: agencies monitor, implement control actions, evaluate outcomes, update models and expectations, and then adjust monitoring and management in the next round. The goal is to move away from static protocols that continue unchanged after an invasion occurs, even when those protocols are not well suited to evaluating the effectiveness of control measures.

Geographically and programmatically, the work is intended to support fishery and aquatic resource managers in the Mississippi River Basin, where invasive aquatic species management can have significant ecological and economic implications. The project aims to fill a knowledge gap around monitoring designs that are not only scientifically sound, but also efficient and cost-conscious, with clear links to evaluating management actions intended to control invasive species and reduce economic harm. The end result the USGS is aiming for is a practical framework or set of tools that help managers allocate monitoring resources where they yield the greatest decision value, thereby maximizing return on investment and improving the effectiveness of control programs.

Administratively, this is a discretionary funding opportunity issued under the CESU Program, which is designed to support partnerships that provide research, technical assistance, and education. The funding instrument is a cooperative agreement, meaning the USGS expects substantial involvement or collaboration during the project rather than a hands-off grant relationship. Eligibility is limited to organizations that are participating partners within the Great Rivers CESU network.

Key details from the posting include the opportunity number G26AS00065, CFDA number 15.808, and the activity category of Science and Technology and other Research and Development. USGS expects to make one award, with an award ceiling of $48,500. The original closing date for applications is February 15, 2026, and the opportunity was created on December 17, 2025.

• The Geological Survey in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Cooperative Agreement for Affiliated Partner with the Great Rivers Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU)" 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 2025-12-17.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-02-15. (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 $48,500.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others.

Apply for G26AS00065

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