Cooperative Agreement for CESU-affiliated Partner with Colorado Plateau Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit | G25AS00067

Opportunity Information: Apply for G25AS00067

This funding opportunity (G25AS00067) is a US Geological Survey (USGS) Water Mission Area (WMA) Next Generation Water Observing System (NGWOS) cooperative agreement focused on advancing camera-based water monitoring technology. The central problem the program is trying to solve is practical and specific: the water monitoring community needs an integrated, coordinated setup of hardware and software for camera-based monitoring, but there is currently no commercial, off-the-shelf system that meets those needs. The intent is to support research and development that moves beyond one-off prototypes toward something that can function as a repeatable, scalable system suitable for wide deployment.

The work is framed around building a camera-based water monitoring system that can scale to a national monitoring network. In other words, the project is not just about improving a single site installation, but about developing approaches and tools that can be standardized, replicated, maintained, and expanded across many locations. This aligns with NGWOS goals of implementing innovative monitoring technologies and methods across the broader water monitoring community, helping modernize how water conditions are observed and measured.

The award is issued as a cooperative agreement, which typically indicates substantial involvement by the federal agency during the project rather than a hands-off grant. The activity area is classified under Science and Technology and other Research and Development, and it is listed under CFDA number 15.808. The opportunity is discretionary, meaning it is competed or otherwise awarded based on program priorities and applicant merit rather than a formula distribution.

Eligibility is limited to organizations that are participating partners of the Colorado Plateau Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) Network. CESUs are partnership networks designed to support research, technical assistance, and education, and this opportunity is being offered specifically through that CESU mechanism. In practical terms, applicants must already be part of the Colorado Plateau CESU to be considered eligible.

Key logistics and funding details include an application closing date of December 4, 2024, and an award ceiling of $250,000. The opportunity was created on November 4, 2024. While the listing notes “ExpectedAwards:” without a specific number provided, the ceiling suggests a moderate-sized applied research and development effort aimed at producing usable technology or a clear pathway to an operational system. The sponsoring agency is the USGS within the Department of the Interior, reflecting a mission-driven emphasis on improving national water observing capabilities through new technology development.

• 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 Colorado Plateau 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 2024-11-04.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-12-04. (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 $250,000.00 in funding.
• Eligible applicants include: Others.

Apply for G25AS00067

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