Cooperative Agreement for CESU-affiliated Partner with Gulf Coast Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit | G23AS00371

Opportunity Information: Apply for G23AS00371

This funding opportunity is a US Geological Survey (USGS) cooperative agreement aimed at supporting research that strengthens the National Wildlife Health Center (NWHC) capacity to study chronic wasting disease (CWD) in cervids through controlled transmission experiments. The practical focus is on developing dependable cervid research models that can be used in laboratory settings to better understand how CWD spreads, how it affects animals over time, and what biological mechanisms drive disease progression. USGS is looking for applicants who can contribute both animals and the specialized knowledge needed to manage them, since high-quality animal models and sound husbandry are central to producing reliable, ethical, and repeatable research outcomes.

At the core of the project is the delivery of purpose-bred white-tailed deer that are suitable for laboratory research on CWD. Applications are expected to provide at least ten deer that are habituated to human presence, which reduces stress, improves animal welfare, and makes routine handling and study procedures safer and more consistent for both staff and animals. The emphasis on habituation and purpose-breeding signals that the program wants animals with known histories and predictable behavior, rather than wild-caught individuals, so that experimental results are less likely to be confounded by unknown exposures, prior health issues, or extreme stress responses.

This award is being offered under the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) program, meaning it is structured as a cooperative agreement rather than a standard grant. In practice, that typically indicates substantial involvement or collaboration with the federal agency during the period of performance, with coordinated planning and shared responsibility for achieving project goals. The CESU framework is designed to support research, technical assistance, and education through partnerships, and this opportunity is specifically tied to the Gulf Coast Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit. Because of that, eligibility is limited: only organizations that are official, participating partners in the Gulf Coast CESU program can apply. The listing categorizes eligible applicants as "Others," but that is effectively narrowed by the CESU partner requirement.

From an administrative standpoint, the opportunity is listed as a discretionary award with a science and technology/research and development focus. The funding opportunity number is G23AS00371, and it is associated with CFDA number 15.808. The maximum award amount (award ceiling) is $400,000. The notice was created on May 17, 2023, and the original application closing date was June 19, 2023. While the notice references "expected awards," the source text does not provide a specific number of awards to anticipate.

Overall, the opportunity is best understood as targeted support for building the foundational animal-model and husbandry components needed for rigorous CWD research at NWHC. Successful proposals would demonstrate the ability to provide and manage at least ten purpose-bred, human-habituated white-tailed deer suitable for controlled laboratory studies, and to collaborate effectively with USGS/NWHC under a cooperative agreement structure within the Gulf Coast CESU partnership network.

• 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 Gulf Coast 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 2023-05-17.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2023-06-19. (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 $400,000.00 in funding.
• Eligible applicants include: Others.

Apply for G23AS00371

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