# Cooperative Agreement for affiliated Partner with the Gulf Coast Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU)

Source: https://welltoldgrants.com/grants/g25as00321-cooperative-agreement-for-affiliated-partner-with-the-gulf/  
Official notice: https://www.grants.gov/search-results-detail/359813

> Geological Survey offered grants of up to $202,643 (at least $1) to the applicants described in the notice. It expected to make $202,643 in total. Applications closed on July 25, 2025.

| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Opportunity number | G25AS00321 |
| Agency | Geological Survey |
| Status | Forecast |
| Deadline | July 25, 2025 |
| Award ceiling | $202,643 |
| Award floor | $1 |
| Expected awards | not stated |
| Total funding | $202,643 |
| Cost sharing | not required |
| Assistance Listings | 15.808 |

## Who can apply

- Others (see text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility" for clarification)

This financial assistance opportunity is being issued under a Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) Program. CESU"s are partnerships that provide research, technical assistance, and education. Eligible recipients must be a participating partner of the Gulf Coast Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) Program.

## What the grant funds

The USGS is offering a funding opportunity to a CESU partner for state-of-the-art research on husbandry protocol development for mesophotic soft coral holding. The research will examine for a wide variety of understudied soft coral species, their trophic ecology, reproductive output, juvenile settlement and growth rates, and holobiont microbial communities. These soft corals represent the same species that were impacted by the Deepwater Horizon (DWH) oil spill. The USGS Wetland and Aquatic Research Center (WARC, Gainesville, FL) is seeking research and technical assistance relevant to: "DWH Gulf of America Mesophotic and Deep Benthic Community Restoration: husbandry protocol development in support of the Coral Propagation Technique Development Project". The USGS conducts ecological studies to support restoration plans for the Gulf of America, in conjunction and coordination with National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), as well as other state and federal partners. Studies conducted by USGS scientists, and their research partners improves understanding of Gulf benthic communities, continued environmental change, and responses to restoration actions in the Gulf. USGS"s scientific focus provides valuable information, which is used to guide informed decisions during planning, restoration, and adaptive management throughout the duration of long-term restoration projects. The USGS is offering a cooperative-agreement opportunity to CESU partners with the capacity to develop, modify, and enhance husbandry techniques to promote coral holding and juvenile rearing, with scientific expertise in conducting and analyzing data from experiments with live organisms, with the final goal of identifying the best practices for ex-situ soft coral propagation. It is anticipated that there will be one sampling year, followed by one or two years of analysis and synthesis.

## Questions people ask

### Is G25AS00321 still open?

No. It closed on July 25, 2025. A newer notice is open: G27AS00066, closes December 7, 2026 (30 days left).

### Who can apply for Cooperative Agreement for affiliated Partner with the Gulf Coast Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU)?

Geological Survey accepted applications from the applicants described in the notice. The notice adds further conditions, so read its eligibility section.

### What is the deadline for Cooperative Agreement for affiliated Partner with the Gulf Coast Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU)?

Closed July 25, 2025. Applications are no longer accepted; the program's newer notices are on this page when there are any.

### How much funding is available?

Awards of up to $202,643 each. About $202,643 in total.

### Who has won U.S. Geological Survey Research and Data Collection grants before?

The largest recipients over five fiscal years were Trustees of the Colorado School of Mines, University of Alaska Fairbanks, California Institute of Technology. The program made 1,128 awards worth $629 million in that time.