Cooperative Agreement for CESU-affiliated Partner with Great Lakes-Northern Forest Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit | G23AS00054

Opportunity Information: Apply for G23AS00054

This opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number G23AS00054) is a US Geological Survey (USGS) cooperative agreement aimed at supporting research on the possible role of viruses in stony coral tissue loss disease (SCTLD), a fast-spreading and highly destructive disease affecting reef-building corals along the Florida coral reef tract. SCTLD was first documented in 2013 near the Port of Miami and has since expanded both northward and through the Florida Keys. More than 20 coral species have been impacted, and in the most susceptible species the disease has been associated with mortality exceeding 80 percent. Recent field observations indicate the outbreak is severe enough that it may permanently reshape the species mix and overall structure of Florida's coral reef communities, with long-term ecological and management consequences.

The core purpose of the award is to bring in a partner with strong expertise in genomics, virology, and disease diagnostics to investigate and characterize potential viral agents linked to SCTLD. Because the disease etiology is described as unknown, the work is framed around discovery-oriented and diagnostic-capability approaches that can identify, detect, and evaluate new or previously unrecognized viral diseases. In practical terms, the funded partner would be expected to apply modern molecular and genomic tools and validated diagnostic methods to diseased coral materials in order to better understand whether viruses are involved, how they might be detected reliably, and what their relationship could be to observed disease signs and progression.

A major feature of this funding is the collaborative structure. The USGS National Wildlife Health Center (NWHC) will help connect the selected CESU partner with management partners to facilitate access to diseased coral samples, which is often one of the biggest constraints in outbreak investigations. The award also emphasizes active collaboration with USGS board-certified wildlife pathologists and research virologists, as well as coordination with the NOAA Coral Reef Program and the Florida Coral Reef Tract Disease Advisory Committee. This setup signals that the project is intended to be applied and management-relevant, with results that can inform ongoing response efforts, surveillance, and decision-making for reef resource managers.

Administratively, the opportunity is issued under the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) framework, specifically the Great Lakes-Northern Forests CESU. CESUs are formal partnerships designed to support research, technical assistance, and education tied to natural resource priorities. Eligibility is limited to organizations that are already participating partners in the Great Lakes-Northern Forests CESU Program, and the eligible applicant category is listed as "Others," consistent with CESU partner institutions rather than open competition to the general public.

The award instrument is a cooperative agreement, which typically means substantial involvement by the federal agency during the project, reflecting the hands-on scientific and coordination role described for USGS and its collaborators. The activity category is Science and Technology and other Research and Development, and the CFDA number is 15.808. The funding opportunity was created on 2022-10-13, with an original closing date of 2022-11-14. The listed award ceiling is $495,000, and the notice does not specify the number of expected awards in the provided text.

• 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 Great Lakes-Northern Forest 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 2022-10-13.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2022-11-14. (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 $495,000.00 in funding.
• Eligible applicants include: Others.

Apply for G23AS00054

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