ATTACHMENT C - Project Abstract Summary Requirement.docx

This is a Project Abstract Summary Requirement document that establishes the submission requirements for proposals under the Colorado Plateau Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Geological Survey Southwest Biological Science Center. The cooperative agreement funds research to develop multi-month ecological drought forecasts and establish a delivery platform for rangeland managers across western U.S. dryland ecosystems. The project addresses wildfire and invasive species impacts through two primary objectives: creating gridded, continuously-updated monthly drought and soil moisture forecasts using National Weather Service real-time data to identify optimal timing and locations for restoration investments, and synthesizing establishment requirements for critical restoration species to guide species-specific implementation decisions.

Applicants must submit a project abstract summary as part of their proposal package, with deliverables including synthesized peer-reviewed literature on establishment requirements for restoration species and continuously-updated forecast maps showing ecological drought and establishment probabilities for the western United States. This funding opportunity is restricted to CESU partner organizations and falls under CFDA 15.808 (U.S. Geological Survey Research and Data Collection). Applications must be submitted through grants.gov using Standard Form 424, with typical award processing timelines of three to six months from submission. Preapplication coordination is required, and successful applicants will be subject to audit requirements under 2 CFR Part 200.