Cooperative Agreement for CESU-affiliated Partner with Chesapeake Watershed Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit | G24AS00388

Opportunity Information: Apply for G24AS00388

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), through its MD-DE-DC Water Science Center, is offering a discretionary funding opportunity in the form of a cooperative agreement to support research focused on contaminants in water and related environments. The project emphasis is on providing chemical analyses for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and selected wastewater-related constituents in environmental and experimental samples. In addition to generating laboratory data, the award is intended to support close collaboration with USGS scientists to improve understanding of how these contaminants occur, move, and change over time across different settings.

The scientific scope is broad and tied to real-world hydrogeologic and infrastructure contexts. The opportunity calls for work that helps characterize the occurrence, fate, and transport of PFAS and wastewater constituents in diverse environments, including coastal watersheds, shallow soils and sediments, groundwater systems, and wastewater treatment facilities. In practice, this suggests activities such as analyzing samples from multiple media (for example, surface water, porewater, sediment, soil, groundwater, influent/effluent, or biosolids as applicable), supporting method selection and quality assurance/quality control, and integrating analytical results with field investigations or experiments designed to explain pathways and drivers of contamination. Because this is a cooperative agreement rather than a standard grant, substantial involvement from USGS is implied, meaning the recipient should expect active coordination and shared responsibilities in technical planning, data interpretation, and delivering usable results.

This opportunity is issued under the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) Program, which is structured around partnerships that provide research, technical assistance, and education capacity to federal agencies. Eligibility is limited to organizations that are already participating partners within the Chesapeake Watershed Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU). In other words, an applicant must be affiliated with and recognized as a partner in that specific CESU network to be considered eligible.

Key administrative details include the funding opportunity title, "Cooperative Agreement for CESU-affiliated Partner with Chesapeake Watershed Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit," and opportunity number G24AS00388. The funding instrument type is a cooperative agreement, and the activity category falls under science and technology and other research and development. The associated CFDA number is 15.808, and the issuing agency is the Geological Survey (USGS). The notice was created on 2024-06-06, with an original closing date of 2024-07-15. The posted award ceiling is $245,000. The announcement lists "ExpectedAwards:" but does not provide a number in the source text, so the anticipated count of awards is not specified here.

Overall, the opportunity is aimed at leveraging CESU partner expertise, particularly analytical and research capability, to strengthen USGS efforts to understand PFAS and wastewater-related contaminants across interconnected natural systems and built infrastructure in the Chesapeake watershed region and similar settings. The deliverable value is both high-quality chemical analysis and the collaborative scientific interpretation needed to inform future monitoring, assessment, and management decisions.

• 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 Chesapeake Watershed 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 2024-06-06.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-07-15. (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 $245,000.00 in funding.
• Eligible applicants include: Others.

Apply for G24AS00388

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