Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Hawaii-Pacific Islands CESU | G20AS00034

Opportunity Information: Apply for G20AS00034

The Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Hawaii-Pacific Islands CESU opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number G20AS00034) is a discretionary federal funding opportunity from the Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). It is offered as a cooperative agreement, which generally means the awardee should expect substantial involvement from the federal agency during the project, such as coordination on work plans, methods, reporting, and oversight. The program sits in the Science and Technology and other Research and Development activity category and is associated with CFDA 15.808. The opportunity was posted on March 16, 2020, with an original application deadline of April 3, 2020.

The project focus is applied research and operational support related to the invasive Brown Treesnake on Guam. The intent is to generate field- and lab-based information that supports management of this invasive species, which is widely known for its major ecological impacts on island ecosystems, including predation on native wildlife and broader disruptions to biodiversity. The scope described is hands-on and includes routine wildlife work in challenging environments, emphasizing both data collection and the practical handling of animals.

Fieldwork under this award is expected to include active searches during both daytime and nighttime hours, as well as trapping efforts designed to detect and capture Brown Treesnakes. The work explicitly involves capturing and handling animals, which implies the awardee must have appropriate technical capacity for safe wildlife handling, established protocols, and compliance with relevant permits and animal care standards. Night work and trapping on Guam also suggests logistical planning for staff safety, site access, and consistent sampling methods to support reliable research outcomes.

Laboratory activities are also a core part of the project. These include humane euthanasia and necropsy, indicating that post-capture processing and biological examination are anticipated components of the research. The lab scope also includes captive animal husbandry, meaning the recipient may need facilities and expertise to maintain live animals under controlled conditions for study or other research-related purposes. Because the description highlights humane euthanasia and husbandry, applicants would typically need to demonstrate strong animal welfare practices, institutional oversight capacity, and adherence to accepted ethical standards for vertebrate research.

In addition to field and lab work, the opportunity places clear emphasis on data management and project oversight. Required tasks include data entry and proofing, database management, and production of basic data summaries and reporting. This signals that the project is not only about collecting information, but also about maintaining data quality and producing organized outputs that USGS and partners can use for decision-making. The work likely involves maintaining structured datasets, ensuring accuracy through validation and review processes, and delivering routine reporting products that summarize results and progress.

The listed award ceiling is $744,807, and the funding announcement anticipates a single award (Expected Awards: 1). Eligibility is listed as "Others," with additional eligibility details referenced in the full announcement text, which typically points to a defined set of eligible partner organizations under the CESU framework or other specified categories. Overall, this opportunity supports a comprehensive set of activities, from on-the-ground invasive species detection and capture, to laboratory processing and animal care, to disciplined data stewardship and reporting, all centered on improving understanding and management of the Brown Treesnake problem on Guam.

• The Department of the Interior, U. S. Geological Survey in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Hawaii-Pacific Islands 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 Mar 16, 2020.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Apr 03, 2020. (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 $744,807.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

Apply for G20AS00034

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