Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) Network | F18AS00220

Opportunity Information: Apply for F18AS00220

The Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) Network grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number F18AS00220) was a discretionary funding announcement from the U.S. Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service. It used a cooperative agreement funding instrument, which typically means the agency expects to have substantial involvement during the project period (for example, coordination, technical input, or joint planning) rather than simply issuing funds and stepping back. The program sits in the Natural Resources funding activity area and is associated with CFDA 15.678, reflecting its alignment with federal natural resource stewardship and related applied science needs.

At its core, the opportunity supported the CESU Network itself, described as a national, collaborative consortium that brings together federal agencies, tribes, universities, state and local governments, and other partners. The purpose of the network is to deliver scientific research, technical assistance, and education focused on natural and cultural resource issues. In practical terms, this kind of funding is designed to strengthen the capacity of partners to respond to real-world management questions faced by federal land management, environmental, and research agencies. The emphasis on both natural and cultural resources signals that eligible work can span ecological science and conservation as well as heritage, archaeology, historic preservation, and other cultural resource management topics, especially where they intersect with public lands and federal responsibilities.

Eligibility for this particular announcement was limited to public and state-controlled institutions of higher education. That points to a university-based applicant serving as the lead recipient, potentially coordinating with other CESU partners or leveraging the broader CESU framework to connect agencies with academic expertise. Although the CESU Network is multi-partner by design, the formal applicant category here indicates that the award was intended to flow through an eligible public institution, which could then collaborate with additional partners as allowed under the cooperative agreement terms.

From an administrative standpoint, the announcement was created on July 30, 2018, with an original application closing date of August 10, 2018, indicating a short application window. The award ceiling was $47,085, and the expected number of awards was one, suggesting a single, modestly sized project or a targeted support activity rather than a broad, multi-year research program with multiple grantees. Overall, this opportunity can be understood as a focused investment to advance the CESU Network mission: connecting federal resource management needs with academic and partner expertise to produce usable science, provide hands-on technical support, and build education and training capacity in service of public land and resource stewardship.

• The Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) Network" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.678.
• This funding opportunity was created on Jul 30, 2018.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 10, 2018. (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 $47,085.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education.

Apply for F18AS00220

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