ATTACHMENT_C_-_Project_Abstract_Summary_Requirement..docx

This is a Project Abstract Summary Requirement document from the Department of the Interior establishing mandatory submission standards for financial assistance awards under the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Research and Data Collection program (CFDA 15.808). All applicants must submit a Project Abstract Summary alongside their proposal via Grants.gov to comply with Office of Management and Budget Memoranda M-21-20 and M-22-02, which require complete and accurate award descriptions for USAspending.gov transparency. The abstract must be organized into sections addressing project title, award purpose in plain language (avoiding acronyms and agency-specific terminology), activities to be performed, deliverables and expected outcomes, intended beneficiaries, and any subrecipient activities known at the time of award. The summary is limited to one page or fewer (~4,000 characters maximum) and must use 12-point Times New Roman font. Upon award issuance of the cooperative agreement, the Project Abstract Summary becomes publicly available on USAspending.gov.

The underlying funding opportunity is a competitive research award for CESU (Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Units) partners affiliated with the California Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, administered by the USGS National and Regional Climate Adaptation Science Center. Projects should advance priority areas including water security, infrastructure resilience, natural hazard preparedness, and research on invasive species management at national scales. Eligible applicants must be participating partners of the Californian CESU. Applications route through Grants.gov using Standard Form 424, with preapplication coordination required. Review criteria emphasize scientific excellence and relevance to USGS mission priorities. Award processing typically requires 3 to 6 months, and notification occurs via receipt of a grant or cooperative agreement from a USGS contracting officer. Recipients are subject to audit requirements under 2 CFR Part 200.