Cooperative Research Units
Active
- Assistance listing
- 15.812
- Agency
-
US Geological Survey
Department of the Interior
- Grant awards
- 2,049 $298,336,958 in federal obligations
Program facts
- Also known as
- CRU
- Assistance type
-
- Cooperative Agreement
- Treasury account
-
- 14-0804-0-1-306
- More information
Program details come from SAM.gov Assistance Listings. Updated . Grant award figures come from USAspending.gov.
About this program
The U.S. Geological Survey administers the Cooperative Research Units program (CFDA 15.812) to fund applied research, graduate education, and technical assistance addressing fish, wildlife, and natural resource management needs through partnerships with state agencies and universities; the most recent award was issued October 1, 2025.
The program funds research across a broad landscape of fish and wildlife challenges: habitat suitability modeling for threatened freshwater species, invasive species dynamics and control (nutria, Burmese pythons, invasive carps), population genetics and demographic analysis for listed species (bull trout, Atlantic salmon, sea turtles, monarchs, bats), dam and water operations' effects on aquatic communities, climate-change impacts on wildlife distributions and movement corridors, chronic wasting disease transmission mechanisms, and decision-support tools for ecosystem management. Recent awards support graduate thesis research, postdoctoral fellowships, and field monitoring across diverse geographies—from Alaska National Parks to the Everglades to the Chesapeake Bay watershed—with deliverables typically including peer-reviewed publications, technical reports, and management-ready data products.
The portfolio consists entirely of Cooperative Agreements. Funding is concentrated within the U.S. Geological Survey: the main USGS office obligated $161.1 million across 1,375 awards, while the Office of Acquisitions and Grants obligated $131.2 million across 640 awards, and Administrative Policy and Services obligated $6.1 million across 34 awards. Combined federal dollars obligated total $298.3 million with a non-federal cost-share of $2.7 million. Award volume has declined: 113 awards in 2021, declining to 27 in 2025 through October. Individual awards range from $11 thousand to $401 thousand, with many in the $30–200 thousand range. All projects have a maximum five-year duration.
Recent opportunities closed: the most recent solicitation (G24AS00500) posted October 4, 2023, with a due date of July 31, 2024. The program operates on an incremental funding cycle; contact the headquarters office for current application deadlines. Proposals must address natural resource information needs of federal and state cooperator agencies and include graduate education or post-doctoral training components. Eligible applicants are universities hosting established Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Units; Unit Leaders and host institutions must determine project appropriateness before submission.
Objective and description
- Objective
To work in partnership with States and universities to address the information needs of local, State, and Federal fish, wildlife, and natural resource agencies through research, technical assistance, and education.
- Description
This listing supports research efforts conducted through the U.S. Geological Survey's Cooperative Research Units Program to inform management and stewardship of fish and wildlife resources for the benefit and enjoyment of all U.S. citizens. The Cooperative Research Units were established with a trifold mission that is codified in the program's authorizing legislation: • Graduate Education - Provide advance training in fish, wildlife, and natural resource sciences, assuring a continuing supply of quality natural resource professionals for state and federal agencies. • Applied Research - Provide federal and state agencies access to the expertise, and facilities at leading universities around the country, to address the natural resource information needs expressed by Unit cooperators and partners. • Technical Assistance - Provide technical assistance in the understanding and use of science and research findings to State and Federal personnel and other natural resource managers.
Eligibility
- Applicant eligibility
Universities hosting Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Units established under authority of the Cooperative Research Units Act of 1960.
- Beneficiary eligibility
Federal, State and local governments, industry and public decision makers, research scientists, State institutions of higher education, and the general public will ultimately benefit from the program.
- Uses of assistance
Authority is limited to research with an educational component conducted through one of 40 Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Units and their host universities. Awards are limited to information needs related to fish, wildlife, ecology, and natural resources of interest to program cooperators and partners.
- Length and time phasing of assistance
Program obligates funds and sends a notice of award to successful applicants. Recipients request funds in accordance with 2 CFR 200, Subpart E-Cost Principles, unless otherwise dictated by program-specific legislation or special award terms. Program will include any special payment terms and conditions in the notice of award.
How to apply
- Preapplication coordination
Requires each research project to be conducted in collaboration and cooperation with USGS personnel stationed at Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Units, and cooperating agency representatives. Discussions to determine interest and appropriateness of research projects for a Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit are required before proposals are submitted.
- Criteria for selecting proposals
Proposals must address natural resource and environmental issues of concern to federal agencies and be acceptable to local program cooperators and universities hosting Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Units. The Unit Leader of each Unit must determine this before the Unit and its host university submits a proposal to USGS. Projects must be for research and have educational components for graduate training, including post-doctoral fellows.
- Award procedure
Notification of an award is by receipt of a Research Work Order document from a U.S. Geological Survey contracting officer.
- Deadlines
Contact the headquarters office for application deadlines.
- Time to approval or disapproval
Up to 3 months.
- Renewals
All projects have a limited duration not to exceed 5 years.
Grant opportunities
Grant awards
Latest 10 of 2,049 listed here. See the rest on GovTribe.
Top recipients by federal obligations
| Rank | Recipient | Federal obligations | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oregon State University | $26,100,422 | 9% |
| 2 | University Of Alaska Fairbanks | $19,033,411 | 6% |
| 3 | North Carolina State University | $15,468,795 | 5% |
| 4 | University Of Florida | $11,716,663 | 4% |
| 5 | Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University | $10,962,655 | 4% |
| 6 | Regents Of The University Of Idaho | $9,230,930 | 3% |
| 7 | University Of Wyoming | $8,834,262 | 3% |
| 8 | University Of Washington | $8,087,236 | 3% |
| 9 | New Mexico State University | $6,039,636 | 2% |
| 10 | The Pennsylvania State University | $5,788,603 | 2% |
10 of 64 recipients listed here. See the rest on GovTribe.
Federal obligations by fiscal year
| Fiscal year | Federal obligations |
|---|---|
| FY2026 | -$63,276 |
| FY2025 | $4,916,531 |
| FY2024 | $15,239,391 |
| FY2023 | $14,175,468 |
| FY2022 | $15,300,137 |
| FY2021 | $22,118,769 |
| FY2020 | $13,838,805 |
| FY2019 | $12,394,263 |
| FY2018 | $13,464,071 |
| FY2017 | $11,534,756 |
| FY2016 | $10,543,562 |
| FY2015 | $11,753,201 |
| FY2014 | $13,039,047 |
| FY2013 | $15,251,828 |
| FY2012 | $16,532,467 |
| FY2011 | $20,100,237 |
| FY2010 | $4,764,975 |
| FY2009 | $13,254,593 |
| FY2008 | $15,798,810 |
| FY2007 | $14,970,855 |
| FY2006 | $12,471,569 |
| FY2005 | $10,036,371 |
| FY2004 | $11,595,529 |
| FY2003 | $7,756,517 |
| FY2002 | $211,660 |
| FY2001 | $1,440,843 |
Show all 26
Quick answers
What is Assistance Listing 15.812?
Assistance Listing 15.812 is Cooperative Research Units, a federal grant program run by US Geological Survey (Department of the Interior).
What is the CFDA number for Cooperative Research Units?
Its CFDA number is 15.812: Assistance Listing numbers were called CFDA numbers before 2018.
How much funding has Assistance Listing 15.812 awarded?
2,049 grant awards under 15.812 have obligated $298,336,958 in federal funds to 64 recipients.
Who receives the most funding from 15.812?
The recipients obligated the most under Cooperative Research Units are Oregon State University ($26,100,422), University Of Alaska Fairbanks ($19,033,411) and North Carolina State University ($15,468,795).
How much did 15.812 obligate in fiscal year 2025?
Grants under 15.812 obligated $4,916,531 in federal funds in fiscal year 2025.
Are there open grant opportunities under 15.812?
No opportunity listed under 15.812 is open now. The latest, Cooperative Research Units Program Department of the Interior Geological Survey, was posted on October 4, 2023.
On GovTribe
See this program's full record
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