Cooperative Agreement for CESU-affiliated Partner with South Atlantic Coast Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) | G23AS00349

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What agency is offering this funding opportunity?

This opportunity is offered by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).

What program is this opportunity associated with?

The award is being solicited under the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) Program, specifically through the South Atlantic Coast CESU.

What type of award is being offered (grant, contract, or cooperative agreement)?

The opportunity is offered as a cooperative agreement. This generally means USGS expects to be substantially involved in the work while it is being carried out, such as collaborating on study design, interpreting data, and coordinating with Department of the Interior (DOI) partners.

What is the main purpose of the project?

The purpose is to support research that helps DOI management agencies build a practical, science-based monitoring framework that uses Motus wildlife tracking data, with an emphasis on birds fitted with Motus tags.

What are the core technical objectives of the work?

There are two closely related technical objectives:

• Develop a statistical analysis framework tailored to individual-based encounter data generated by Motus-tagged birds.
• Produce a generalizable framework for evaluating trade-offs in spatial sampling design (for example, receiver placement and network density decisions).

What kind of data is the project focused on?

The project focuses on Motus wildlife tracking detections (and non-detections) for birds fitted with Motus tags. These data are individual-based encounters recorded as tagged birds move through landscapes and are detected by receiver stations.

Why does Motus encounter data require a specialized statistical framework?

Motus detections reflect both animal movement and the structure of the receiver network, so the analysis needs to address issues such as uneven detection probability across space, repeated encounters of the same individual, and the fact that the data are tied to where and when receivers detect tagged animals rather than being simple count data.

What is the intended end use of the statistical analysis framework?

The aim is to provide an analysis structure that DOI resource managers can use to interpret Motus encounter data reliably for monitoring, decision-making, and assessing conservation actions.

What does "spatial sampling design trade-offs" mean in this opportunity?

It refers to evaluating practical choices in how a receiver network is designed and deployed, such as where to place receivers, how dense the network needs to be, what coverage changes when stations are moved, and how alternative designs affect what can be inferred about bird movement, habitat use, or passage through management units.

What does it mean that the sampling design framework should be "generalizable"?

It means USGS is looking for methods or decision-support approaches that are not limited to a single refuge or a single species, but can be adapted across multiple settings where Motus data are used.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is restricted to organizations that are official partners in the USGS South Atlantic Coast CESU Program. Applicants that are not part of that specific CESU partnership are not eligible, even if they have relevant expertise.

The listing says the eligible applicant category is "Others." Does that mean any organization can apply?

No. While the listing identifies the eligible applicant category as "Others," the controlling requirement stated is that applicants must be active partners in the USGS South Atlantic Coast CESU.

What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this solicitation?

The Funding Opportunity Number is G23AS00349.

What is the Assistance Listing (CFDA) number for this opportunity?

The opportunity is listed under CFDA (now commonly referred to as Assistance Listing) 15.808.

What activity category does this funding fall under?

The activity category is Science and Technology and other Research and Development.

What is the maximum federal funding available?

The award ceiling is $68,000, which indicates the maximum anticipated federal funding for a single award.

How many awards does USGS expect to make?

The number of expected awards is not specified in the information provided.

When was the opportunity posted and when was it due?

The creation date is April 24, 2023, and the original closing date is May 24, 2023.

How does USGS expect to be involved during the project?

Because this is a cooperative agreement, USGS anticipates substantial involvement during performance. Examples given include collaboration on study design, data interpretation, and coordination with DOI partners.

What kinds of deliverables are implied by the opportunity description?

Based on the description, deliverables are expected to be methodological and planning-oriented outputs that DOI partners can use, such as a statistical analysis framework for Motus encounter data and broadly applicable guidance or tools to compare alternative receiver network designs under realistic constraints.

Is the work limited to one refuge, unit, or species?

The description emphasizes generalizable approaches, indicating the work should be adaptable beyond a single refuge or species, across multiple settings where Motus data are used.

What conservation and management questions is this project meant to support?

The work is intended to improve the interpretability and management value of Motus-based data for monitoring and decision-making, including assessing conservation actions and detecting management-relevant changes over time through a defensible monitoring framework.