Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Californian CESU | G20AS00070

Opportunity Information: Apply for G20AS00070

The Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Californian CESU funding opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number G20AS00070) is a discretionary research and development award offered by the U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). It is structured as a cooperative agreement, which typically means the federal agency expects to have substantial involvement in the technical direction or execution of the work, rather than simply issuing a grant with minimal interaction. The opportunity was created on October 5, 2020, with an original application closing date of October 19, 2020, indicating a relatively short submission window.

The purpose of the award is to support a CESU partner in conducting research that advances applied forecasting and decision-support capabilities at the intersection of climate science, agriculture, and predictive analytics. The work is organized around two main research themes. First, the USGS is seeking machine learning applications that can link climatological outlooks or forecasts to quantitative projections of crop yield. In practical terms, this points to building or improving models that take climate indicators and forecast products (such as temperature and precipitation outlooks, drought indices, or other climate signals) and translate them into measurable, forward-looking estimates of agricultural productivity. The emphasis on quantitative projected estimates suggests deliverables that are not just qualitative assessments, but numerical yield projections that can be evaluated, compared, and potentially operationalized.

Second, the opportunity calls for development of extended seasonal forecast outlooks that begin several months prior to the start of a season and extend 18 to 24 months into the future. This implies a focus on longer lead-time forecasting than is typical for many seasonal outlook products, with the goal of generating predictions that remain useful across multiple seasons. The wording suggests research into methods, modeling approaches, and possibly forecast system design that can produce extended-horizon guidance, which could support longer-term planning for resource management, agricultural strategy, or risk mitigation. It also implies attention to how forecasts perform and remain credible when pushed further into the future, where uncertainty increases and model skill can degrade without careful methodology.

The award has an advertised ceiling of $1,098,920, and USGS anticipated making one award, so this appears to be a single-project competition rather than a multi-award program. The activity category is listed as Science and Technology and other Research and Development under CFDA 15.808, which is associated with USGS research assistance. Eligibility is limited to CESU partners, with the eligible applicant category noted as "Others" and clarified in the full posting under additional eligibility information. In effect, the competition is restricted to organizations that are already part of the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit network, specifically the Californian CESU, which typically includes universities, nonprofit institutions, and other qualified partners who collaborate with federal agencies on research, technical assistance, and education connected to natural and cultural resource stewardship.

Overall, this opportunity is aimed at producing applied, research-based forecasting tools and methodologies that connect climate outlook information to agricultural outcomes and extend the usable time horizon of seasonal forecasts. The combination of machine learning for yield projection and extended seasonal forecasting indicates a strong interest in modern predictive methods, integration of climate datasets, and development of forward-looking products that can inform decisions well beyond the immediate season.

• The Department of the Interior, U. S. Geological Survey in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Californian CESU" 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 Oct 05, 2020.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Oct 19, 2020. (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 $1,098,920.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

Apply for G20AS00070

[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal: