Cooperative Agreement for affiliated Partner with the Pacific Northwest Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit
Closed Posted
- Opportunity number
- G26AS00099
- Agency
-
US Geological Survey
Department of the Interior
- Applications due
- Award size
- Up to $180,000
Opportunity facts
- Assistance listings
- Funding instrument
- Cooperative Agreement
- Category
-
- Science and Technology and other Research and Development
- Eligible applicants
-
- Other
- Points of contact
-
- Rachel Miller rachelmiller@usgs.gov (703) 571-1819
Opportunity details come from Grants.gov. Updated .
About this opportunity
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Alaska Science Center is soliciting a cooperative agreement from a Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) partner to conduct research estimating polar bear abundance for the Southern Beaufort Sea and Northern Beaufort Sea subpopulations and to perform a harvest risk assessment for the Southern Beaufort Sea subpopulation. The project requires applying an integrated population model (IPM) that blends western science with Indigenous Knowledge, utilizing over 20 years of existing USGS polar bear population dynamics data. Eligible applicants must be participating partners of the Pacific Northwest CESU Program with demonstrated experience conducting research on polar bear population dynamics. Proposals will be evaluated on three criteria: Research Topic (40 points), Experience of Researcher (30 points), and Work Plan (30 points). The application deadline is May 20, 2026, with technical inquiries directed to Todd Atwood (tatwood@usgs.gov) and grant-related questions directed to Rachel Miller (rachelmiller@usgs.gov).
The total estimated funding for this cooperative agreement is $180,000, with $84,600 available for Budget Year 1 and additional funding anticipated for Budget Year 2 contingent upon satisfactory progress. The award structure includes one base year and one additional budget year, with an approved indirect cost rate of 17.5% for CESU partners. Recipients must submit annual progress reports within 90 calendar days after each agreement year and a final technical report within 120 calendar days following the performance period. The research will be performed in Alaska, focusing on the Southern and Northern Beaufort Sea regions where polar bear subpopulations require current abundance assessments to support sustainable harvest management by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and co-management entities.
Synopsis
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), Alaska Science Center (ASC), is offering a funding opportunity to a CESU partner for research to support the estimation of polar bear abundance for the Southern Beaufort Sea and Northern Beaufort Sea subpopulations and a harvest risk assessment for the Southern Beaufort Sea subpopulation. The southern Beaufort Sea subpopulation has experienced a declining trend in abundance and the abundance estimate for the Northern Beaufort Sea subpopulation is outdated. Consequently, there is a need for new abundance estimates for both subpopulations. Additionally, the Southern Beaufort Sea subpopulation is exposed to a variety of anthropogenic activities that may present mortality risks for bears and thereby have the potential to affect the sustainability of the subsistence harvest. The goals of this project are to apply a recently developed integrated population model to estimate the abundance of the two subpopulations and to characterize the risk of under- or over-harvesting the Southern Beaufort Sea subpopulation. To facilitate those goals, the ASC will make available 20+ years of data on polar bear population dynamics to be used in the analysis.In support of this project, ASC seeks a CESU partnership that will focus on using an integrated population model (IPM) that blends western science with Indigenous Knowledge to estimate abundances and characterize harvest risk. Additionally, the ASC seeks a partner that has experience conducting research on polar bear population dynamics. The proposed work will help the USGS research team improve assessments of polar bear population vital rates and trends and help the USFWS and co-management entities ensure polar bear harvest is sustainable.
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