Opportunity Information: Apply for G27AS00042
This funding opportunity is a discretionary cooperative agreement offered by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) through its Powell Center, focused on building "a spatially explicit framework to assess the risk of aquatic contaminants to insectivorous birds." The core idea is to synthesize existing science and data to better predict where aquatic contaminants and nutrients move through ecosystems in ways that ultimately affect aerial insectivorous birds (birds that feed on flying insects). A central mechanism in the project is the role of adult aquatic insects, which develop in water but emerge and disperse onto land; these insects can carry contaminants and nutrients from aquatic systems into surrounding terrestrial food webs. By understanding and modeling those fluxes, the project aims to translate complex contaminant fate and transport dynamics into practical, map-based risk information for wildlife.
The project is explicitly framed as a research synthesis effort, with deliverables that include mapping areas of elevated risk for aerial insectivorous birds across broad geographies, specifically across the United States and Europe. The planned framework is meant to identify spatial patterns of risk driven by two main pathways: prey loss (where contaminants reduce the abundance or availability of aquatic insect prey that birds rely on) and dietary exposure (where birds ingest contaminated prey and experience toxic effects). In other words, the work is not only about where contaminants exist, but also about how those contaminants affect insect emergence, insect availability as prey, and the resulting exposure and ecological consequences for birds. The emphasis on a spatially explicit approach suggests that outputs will likely integrate geospatial data layers and modeling to show how risk varies from place to place, potentially at multiple scales ranging from local landscapes to regional and continental extents.
From a management perspective, the purpose is to improve decision-making for species and habitat management by providing tools that help anticipate where aquatic-borne contaminants, and their redistribution via emerging insects, may pose environmental health risks. The resulting maps and framework are intended to help agencies and partners identify hotspots, understand the potential footprint of aquatic contamination beyond water bodies themselves, and consider how contaminant movement through food webs could influence bird populations. The opportunity highlights that the work will strengthen understanding of the spatial extent of contaminant fates and their impacts on aerial insectivores, which can support more proactive monitoring, conservation planning, and prioritization of interventions.
Administratively, the award is issued under the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Units (CESU) Program, which is designed to support collaborative research, technical assistance, and education through partnerships. Eligibility is restricted: applicants must be participating partners of the Rocky Mountain Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (RM-CESU). The funding instrument is a cooperative agreement, which typically indicates substantial involvement by the federal agency in the project compared to a standard grant, often through collaboration on scope, coordination, data sharing, or joint scientific input.
Key opportunity details include the funding opportunity number G27AS00042, CFDA number 15.808, and an anticipated single award. The award ceiling is $100,000, and the original closing date is November 14, 2026. The opportunity was created on October 14, 2026, and it is categorized under Science and Technology and other Research and Development. The sponsoring agency is the U.S. Geological Survey within the Department of the Interior.Apply for G27AS00042
- 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 Rocky Mountain 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 2026-10-14.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-11-14. (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 $100,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is this funding opportunity about?
This opportunity supports a research synthesis project to build a spatially explicit framework for assessing the risk of aquatic contaminants to insectivorous birds (specifically, aerial insectivorous birds that feed on flying insects). The emphasis is on using existing science and data to produce practical, map-based information that shows where risk is elevated.
Which agency is offering this award?
The sponsoring agency is the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) within the Department of the Interior, through the USGS Powell Center.
What type of funding instrument is being used?
The funding instrument is a discretionary cooperative agreement. A cooperative agreement typically involves substantial federal involvement in the project compared with a standard grant (for example, collaboration on scope, coordination, data sharing, or joint scientific input).
What is the main scientific focus of the project?
The project focuses on understanding and modeling how aquatic contaminants and nutrients move through ecosystems in ways that affect aerial insectivorous birds. A central mechanism is the role of adult aquatic insects: they develop in aquatic habitats, then emerge and disperse onto land, potentially carrying contaminants and nutrients into surrounding terrestrial food webs.
Why are emerging aquatic insects important in this framework?
Emerging aquatic insects can act as a pathway that transfers aquatic-borne contaminants and nutrients from water bodies into terrestrial ecosystems. Because aerial insectivorous birds rely on flying insects as prey, this pathway can influence both prey availability and contaminant exposure through diet.
What does "spatially explicit framework" mean in the context of this project?
It means the project is expected to produce outputs that are explicitly map-based and location-specific, integrating geospatial data layers and modeling to show how risk varies across landscapes and regions rather than providing only general or non-spatial conclusions.
What are the main risk pathways the framework is intended to map?
The framework is intended to identify spatial patterns of risk driven by two main pathways: (1) prey loss, where contaminants reduce the abundance or availability of aquatic insect prey needed by birds, and (2) dietary exposure, where birds ingest contaminated prey and experience toxic effects.
Is the work about contaminants only in water, or beyond water bodies too?
It includes the footprint of aquatic contamination beyond water bodies themselves, especially where contaminants are redistributed through food webs via emerging aquatic insects that disperse into surrounding terrestrial habitats.
What kinds of deliverables are expected?
The opportunity describes deliverables centered on a research synthesis and mapping effort, including maps that identify areas of elevated risk for aerial insectivorous birds across broad geographies, along with a framework that translates contaminant fate and transport dynamics into practical, spatial risk information.
What geographic scope is highlighted for the mapping and synthesis?
The project is described as spanning broad geographies, specifically across the United States and Europe.
How is this work intended to support management and decision-making?
The purpose is to improve decision-making for species and habitat management by providing tools to anticipate where aquatic-borne contaminants, and their redistribution via emerging insects, may pose environmental health risks. The outputs are intended to help identify hotspots, understand risk patterns, and support proactive monitoring, conservation planning, and prioritization of interventions.
Is this a new data collection project or a synthesis of existing information?
It is explicitly framed as a research synthesis effort, focused on synthesizing existing science and data to build the risk assessment framework and associated spatial products.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is restricted to participating partners of the Rocky Mountain Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (RM-CESU).
What program is this award issued under?
The award is issued under the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Units (CESU) Program, which supports collaborative research, technical assistance, and education through partnerships.
How many awards are anticipated?
The opportunity indicates an anticipated single award.
What is the maximum funding amount available?
The award ceiling is $100,000.
What is the funding opportunity number?
The funding opportunity number is G27AS00042.
What is the CFDA number listed for this opportunity?
The CFDA number is 15.808.
What is the application closing date?
The original closing date is November 14, 2026.
When was this opportunity created?
The opportunity was created on October 14, 2026.
How is this opportunity categorized?
It is categorized under Science and Technology and other Research and Development.
Browse more opportunities from the same category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development
Previous opportunity: The Science, Mathematics and Research for Transformation (SMART) Scholarship for Service Program Cooperative Agreement
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Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (G27AS00042) also looked into and applied for these:
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| Cooperative Agreement for affiliated Partner with Northern Great Plains Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit Apply for G27AS00052 Funding Number: G27AS00052 Agency: Geological Survey Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $450,000 |
| Cooperative Agreement for Affiliated Partner with the Great Lakes-Northern Forest Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) Apply for G27AS00079 Funding Number: G27AS00079 Agency: Geological Survey Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $150,000 |
| Cooperative Agreement for affiliated Partner with Californian Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit Apply for G27AS00037 Funding Number: G27AS00037 Agency: Geological Survey Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $35,000 |
| Cooperative Agreement for Affiliated Partner with the North Atlantic Coast Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) Apply for G27AS00077 Funding Number: G27AS00077 Agency: Geological Survey Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $350,000 |
| Cooperative Agreement for Affiliated Partner with the Pacific Northwest Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) Apply for G27AS00074 Funding Number: G27AS00074 Agency: Geological Survey Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $360,000 |
| Cooperative Agreement for Affiliated Partner with the Pacific Northwest Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) Apply for G27AS00078 Funding Number: G27AS00078 Agency: Geological Survey Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Cooperative Agreement for Affiliated Partner with the Colorado Plateau Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) Apply for G27AS00080 Funding Number: G27AS00080 Agency: Geological Survey Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $90,000 |
| Cooperative Agreement for Affiliated Partner with the Hawaiʻi-Pacific Islands Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) Apply for G27AS00073 Funding Number: G27AS00073 Agency: Geological Survey Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $435,000 |
| Cooperative Agreement for Affiliated Partner with the Rocky Mountains Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) Apply for G27AS00072 Funding Number: G27AS00072 Agency: Geological Survey Category: Science and Technology and other Research and Development Funding Amount: $375,000 |
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