Opportunity Information: Apply for F19AS00039
The Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Units (CESU) grant notice (Funding Opportunity Number F19AS00039) is a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Department of the Interior) Notice of Intent describing plans to make a single-source cooperative agreement award to Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU). The purpose of the project is to support conservation work in the Upper Tennessee River Basin by improving understanding of aquatic microbial communities, especially the possibility that previously undescribed microbial pathogens may be contributing to declines in sensitive aquatic species. The work is framed as applied research and development with clear management relevance, aimed at helping protect and recover multiple federally listed endangered and threatened fish and freshwater mussel species in the region.
The core effort centers on building a partnership between the Service's Southwestern Virginia Field Office and MTSU to collect and analyze microbiome samples from Copper Creek, a tributary of the Clinch River. Copper Creek is highlighted because it has experienced notable, recent declines in several fish and mussel populations, and the causes of these declines are not yet fully understood. By characterizing the microbial community structure present in the aquatic environment and in relevant biological or environmental samples, the project seeks to identify patterns that may indicate disease pressure, emerging infections, or other microbial factors that could be stressing populations. In practical terms, the grant supports cooperative field and laboratory work designed to move beyond general observations of decline and toward testable evidence about whether pathogens or shifts in microbial communities are part of the underlying drivers.
Administratively, this opportunity is categorized as a discretionary award and uses a cooperative agreement as the funding instrument, signaling substantial involvement and collaboration between the federal agency and the recipient during project implementation. It falls under the broad activity areas of education, environment, and science and technology, consistent with a university-agency research partnership that also informs conservation decision-making. The notice lists an award ceiling of $50,000, and while eligibility is described as unrestricted in general, the specific notice makes clear that the Service intends to award without competition to MTSU, meaning it is not open for applications. The posting date is November 5, 2018, and the closing language explicitly states that applications are not being accepted because this is a Notice of Intent rather than a competitive solicitation.
Overall, the grant notice describes a targeted, place-based conservation research collaboration designed to generate actionable information about microbial and pathogen-related risks in Copper Creek and the broader Upper Tennessee River Basin. The expected benefit is a stronger scientific basis for understanding unexplained declines in imperiled aquatic species and, ultimately, better-informed management responses to protect federally listed fish and mussels.Apply for F19AS00039
- The Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service in the education, environment, science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Units (CESU)" 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 Nov 05, 2018.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Applications are not being accepted. This is a Notice of Intent.. (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 $50,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the name and Funding Opportunity Number (FON) for this grant notice?
This notice is for the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Units (CESU) opportunity with Funding Opportunity Number F19AS00039.
Which federal agency is associated with this funding opportunity?
The opportunity is issued by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), within the Department of the Interior.
What type of announcement is this (competitive solicitation or something else)?
This is a Notice of Intent. It describes the agency's plan to make an award, rather than inviting proposals through a competition.
Are applications being accepted for this opportunity?
No. The notice explicitly states that applications are not being accepted because it is a Notice of Intent rather than a competitive solicitation.
Is this opportunity open to other applicants besides the named recipient?
No. Although eligibility is described broadly as unrestricted in general, this specific notice states the Service intends to make a single-source (non-competitive) award to Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU).
Who is the intended recipient of the award?
The Service intends to make a single-source cooperative agreement award to Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU).
What is the funding instrument for this award?
The funding instrument is a cooperative agreement.
What does it mean that the award is a cooperative agreement?
Based on the notice, a cooperative agreement indicates substantial involvement and collaboration between the federal agency and the recipient during project implementation.
How is this opportunity categorized in terms of award type?
The notice categorizes this as a discretionary award.
What is the award ceiling (maximum amount) listed in the notice?
The award ceiling listed is $50,000.
When was this opportunity posted?
The posting date listed is November 5, 2018.
What is the main purpose of the project described in the notice?
The project is intended to support conservation work in the Upper Tennessee River Basin by improving understanding of aquatic microbial communities, including whether previously undescribed microbial pathogens may be contributing to declines in sensitive aquatic species.
What geographic area and specific site are the focus of the work?
The work is framed within the Upper Tennessee River Basin, with the core sampling and analysis effort centered on Copper Creek, a tributary of the Clinch River.
Why is Copper Creek highlighted in this grant notice?
Copper Creek is highlighted because it has experienced notable, recent declines in several fish and mussel populations, and the causes of these declines are not yet fully understood.
What types of species are intended to benefit from this work?
The project is aimed at helping protect and recover multiple federally listed endangered and threatened fish and freshwater mussel species in the region.
What is the scientific focus of the project?
The focus is on collecting and analyzing microbiome samples and characterizing microbial community structure in aquatic environments and relevant biological or environmental samples, looking for patterns that may indicate disease pressure, emerging infections, or other microbial factors affecting populations.
What kinds of conservation questions is the project trying to answer?
The work is designed to move beyond general observations of species decline and toward testable evidence about whether pathogens or shifts in microbial communities could be contributing to the underlying drivers of those declines.
How is the work described in terms of research type and practical use?
The notice frames the effort as applied research and development with clear management relevance, intended to inform conservation decision-making and management responses.
Which organizations are partnering under this effort?
The core effort centers on building a partnership between the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Southwestern Virginia Field Office and Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU).
What broad activity areas does the notice associate with this opportunity?
The opportunity falls under activity areas described as education, environment, and science and technology.
What is the expected outcome or benefit described by the notice?
The expected benefit is a stronger scientific basis for understanding unexplained declines in imperiled aquatic species in the area and better-informed management responses to protect federally listed fish and mussels.
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