Opportunity Information: Apply for G26AS00116
This funding opportunity (G26AS00116) is a U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) cooperative agreement intended to support a single research project that helps build a broader program centered on next-generation remote sensing for dryland ecosystems in the southwestern United States. The work is being led through the USGS Southwest Biological Science Center (SBSC) and is framed as both a science and applied management effort: improving how these ecosystems are measured and understood at scale, and turning that improved understanding into practical options for land managers trying to sustain ecosystem services in harsh, variable arid and semiarid landscapes.
A major focus is advancing remote sensing approaches that actually work well in drylands, where traditional landscape-scale mapping can be difficult and where remote sensing has historically lagged behind its effectiveness in wetter (more mesic) ecosystems. The project is expected to emphasize platforms and data streams such as drones (UAS), satellites, and ground-based sensors, and to integrate those technologies with field ecology and experimental dryland research. The goal is not only better maps, but better, management-relevant inference across space and time for large, complex landscapes that are hard to survey by conventional field methods alone.
Biological soil crusts (often called biocrusts) are highlighted as a core target for innovation. These soil-surface communities can be a dominant cover type across many U.S. drylands, yet they are challenging to detect and quantify consistently over broad areas. The opportunity explicitly calls for developing and improving remote sensing options for mapping, assessing, and managing biocrusts, indicating an applied interest in translating detection and monitoring into decision support. In practical terms, better biocrust information can feed into assessments of soil stability, dust generation risk, recovery after disturbance, and restoration priorities.
Another key theme is using artificial intelligence, machine learning, and other advanced analytical methods to handle data volumes and combinations that were previously too large or too complex to analyze effectively. This suggests the project may involve multi-sensor data fusion (for example, combining imagery, spectral information, terrain, and field observations), predictive modeling, automated classification or change detection, and scalable workflows that can be repeated across different sites and years. The intent is to expand what can be learned from remote sensing in drylands, moving from small-area studies toward broader operational or programmatic capability.
From a management and stakeholder perspective, the opportunity stresses outcomes that directly inform resource managers and decision makers. It specifically points to improving the ability to predict biocrust abundance, rangeland productivity, and exotic grass invasion. These outputs have downstream value for multiple user groups, including land management agencies, ranchers, and others who need early and reliable information tied to forage conditions for livestock and wildlife, anticipated fire regimes, dust production potential, and where restoration actions are likely to be most effective.
Administratively, this is a discretionary award under CFDA 15.808 in the category of science and technology and other research and development. The funding instrument is a cooperative agreement, meaning substantial involvement by the federal agency is typically expected compared with a standard grant. The award ceiling is $499,550, and USGS anticipates making one award. The opportunity was created on 2026-05-14, and the original application closing date is 2026-06-14.
Eligibility is limited to organizations that are participating partners of the Desert Southwest Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU). CESUs are structured partnerships designed to facilitate research, technical assistance, and education, often linking federal agencies with universities and other qualified partners. In short, only an affiliated Desert Southwest CESU partner can apply, and the funded project is expected to contribute to a longer-term, collaborative capacity for remote sensing and advanced analytics tailored to southwestern drylands and their management needs.Apply for G26AS00116
- The Geological Survey in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Cooperative Agreement for affiliated Partner with the Desert Southwest 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 2026-05-14.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-06-14. (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 $499,550.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the funding opportunity number for this award?
The funding opportunity number is G26AS00116.
Which federal agency is offering this opportunity?
This opportunity is offered by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).
Which USGS center is leading the work?
The work is being led through the USGS Southwest Biological Science Center (SBSC).
What is the main purpose of this cooperative agreement?
The purpose is to support a single research project that helps build a broader program focused on next-generation remote sensing for dryland ecosystems in the southwestern United States, combining both scientific advancement and applied management outcomes.
What geographic area is the project focused on?
The focus is on dryland ecosystems in the southwestern United States, specifically arid and semiarid landscapes.
What kinds of ecosystems are emphasized?
The opportunity emphasizes harsh, variable arid and semiarid (dryland) ecosystems, where measuring and mapping conditions at scale is difficult using conventional field methods alone.
What makes this opportunity different from typical remote sensing work?
A major emphasis is advancing remote sensing approaches that work well in drylands, where landscape-scale mapping can be difficult and where remote sensing has historically lagged behind performance in wetter (more mesic) ecosystems. The goal is not only better maps, but stronger, management-relevant inference across space and time.
What technologies or data sources are expected to be part of the project?
The project is expected to emphasize platforms and data streams such as drones (UAS), satellites, and ground-based sensors, and to integrate those technologies with field ecology and experimental dryland research.
Is the goal just to create maps?
No. The opportunity describes a goal of moving beyond maps toward improved, management-relevant inference across space and time for large, complex landscapes that are hard to survey with field methods alone.
What is a core ecological target highlighted in the opportunity?
Biological soil crusts (biocrusts) are highlighted as a core target for innovation.
Why are biocrusts a focus?
Biocrusts can be a dominant cover type across many U.S. drylands, but they are challenging to detect and quantify consistently over broad areas. The opportunity explicitly calls for developing and improving remote sensing options for mapping, assessing, and managing biocrusts.
What kinds of management questions could improved biocrust information support?
Better biocrust information can support assessments of soil stability, dust generation risk, recovery after disturbance, and restoration priorities.
Does the opportunity encourage the use of AI or machine learning?
Yes. The opportunity calls out artificial intelligence, machine learning, and other advanced analytical methods as important tools for handling large data volumes and complex combinations of data that were previously difficult to analyze effectively.
What types of analytics are implied by the description?
The description suggests potential use of multi-sensor data fusion (such as combining imagery, spectral information, terrain, and field observations), predictive modeling, automated classification or change detection, and scalable workflows that can be repeated across different sites and years.
What is the broader programmatic intent of the project?
The intent is to expand what can be learned from remote sensing in drylands and move from small-area studies toward broader operational or programmatic capability for southwestern dryland ecosystems.
What management-relevant outcomes are specifically mentioned?
The opportunity specifically points to improving the ability to predict biocrust abundance, rangeland productivity, and exotic grass invasion.
Who are the intended users of the project outputs?
Outputs are intended to directly inform resource managers and decision makers, with downstream value for land management agencies, ranchers, and others who need timely information tied to forage conditions and related risks.
What types of downstream decisions could this work inform?
The description links outputs to forage conditions for livestock and wildlife, anticipated fire regimes, dust production potential, and identifying where restoration actions are likely to be most effective.
What is the funding instrument type?
The funding instrument is a cooperative agreement.
What does it mean that this is a cooperative agreement?
A cooperative agreement generally indicates substantial involvement by the federal agency compared with a standard grant, and this opportunity notes that such involvement is typically expected.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling is $499,550.
How many awards does USGS expect to make?
USGS anticipates making one award.
Is this a discretionary award?
Yes. It is described as a discretionary award.
What is the CFDA number and program category?
The CFDA number is 15.808, and the category is science and technology and other research and development.
When was the opportunity created?
The opportunity was created on 2026-05-14.
What is the original application closing date?
The original application closing date is 2026-06-14.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is limited to organizations that are participating partners of the Desert Southwest Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU).
What is a CESU in the context of this opportunity?
CESUs are structured partnerships designed to facilitate research, technical assistance, and education, often linking federal agencies with universities and other qualified partners.
Can an organization apply if it is not a Desert Southwest CESU partner?
No. The opportunity states that only an affiliated Desert Southwest CESU partner can apply.
How does this project relate to longer-term collaboration?
The funded project is expected to contribute to a longer-term, collaborative capacity for remote sensing and advanced analytics tailored to southwestern drylands and their management needs.
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