National and Regional Climate Adaptation Science Centers
Active
- Assistance listing
- 15.820
- Agency
-
US Geological Survey
Department of the Interior
- Grant awards
- 530 $225,273,735 in federal obligations
Program facts
- Also known as
- NRCASC
- Assistance types
-
- Cooperative Agreement
- Project Grant
- Formula Grant
- Block Grant
- 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, National Climate Adaptation Science Centers division, funds applied research on climate change impacts to fish, wildlife, water, land, and communities through Assistance Listing 15.820, with the most recent grant award disbursed on September 11, 2025.
The program delivers climate adaptation science to federal, state, tribal, and private sector partners managing natural resources across the United States, U.S.-Affiliated Pacific Islands, and U.S. Caribbean. Eight regional Climate Adaptation Science Centers (CASCs) hosted by universities serve geographic consortia of universities, conservation nonprofits, and tribal organizations. Recent awards fund concrete applied research: habitat evaluation frameworks for aquatic species recovery post-hurricane, glacier lake outburst flood forecasting and early-warning systems for Alaskan communities, forest restoration strategies for hemlock woolly adelgid impacts in the Northeast, sea-level rise modeling for coastal habitats in Oregon and Washington, invasive species management under climate change in Hawaii and the Mariana Islands, and integration of Indigenous knowledge into climate adaptation for culturally significant species and agroecosystems. Other projects address stormwater adaptation for urban resilience, wetland and wildlife conservation under changing precipitation, and wildfire risk forecasting linked to extreme heat and drought.
The program obligated $225.3 million in combined federal and non-federal dollars across 530 awards since 2010. Funding concentration is extreme: the USGS Office of Acquisitions and Grants delivered 390 awards totaling $189.9 million (84 percent of federal dollars), while the broader USGS organization delivered 138 awards totaling $35.1 million. Award activity has declined from 79 awards in 2021 to 17 in 2025, suggesting a tightening funding cadence. Recent individual awards range from $15 thousand to $2.95 million, with multi-year cooperative agreements predominating (80 percent of the portfolio); typical annual project budgets fall between $100 thousand and $500 thousand.
The assistance-type mix is predominantly Cooperative Agreements (80 percent, 423 awards) with smaller Project Grant (18 percent, 93 awards) and Formula Grant (2 percent, 13 awards) components. A single Block Grant appears in the portfolio.
An active grant solicitation (G25AS00457, due February 3, 2025) seeks Host Institutions to establish regional CASCs for the Northeast, Pacific Islands, and South Central United States. Host eligibility is restricted to a single institution per region, which then becomes the sole recipient for subsequent project funding within that CASC. The opportunity attracts state and local governments, public and private universities, 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3) nonprofits, and special district governments. Previous solicitations for North Central and Southwest CASC hosts (due February 1, 2024, and March 14, 2023, respectively) have closed.
Objective and description
- Objective
To enable the National and Regional Climate Adaptation Science Centers (NRCASC) to be responsive to the research and management needs of Federal and State agencies.
- Description
The USGS Climate Adaptation Science Centers (CASCs) provide data and information to support cost-effective resource management, hazard risk mitigation, and community resilience across the United States, U.S.-Affiliated Pacific Islands, and U.S. Caribbean. The CASCs work directly with federal, state, tribal, and private sector partners to identify science needs and deliver science products that support strategic resource management decisions that strengthen the nation's public lands and waters, infrastructure, and economy. The CASCs help resource managers anticipate how future conditions could impact the resources they manage and evaluate the effectiveness of potential management actions, enabling them to make informed, cost-effective decisions.
Eligibility
- Applicant eligibility
There are eight (8) DOI Regional Climate Adaptation Science Centers (RCASC); each CASC has a single "Host Institution" that is eligible to apply on behalf of themselves and members of the CASC university consortium: Alaska CASC: University of Alaska, Fairbanks; Southeast CASC: North Carolina State University, Raleigh; Northwest CASC: University of Washington, Seattle; Southwest CASC: University of Arizona, Tucson; North Central CASC: University of Colorado, Boulder; South Central CASC: Oklahoma University, Norman; Northeast CASC: University of Massachusetts, Amherst; Pacific Islands CASC: University of Hawaii, Manoa.
- Beneficiary eligibility
Research scientists, policy makers, natural resource managers, educators, and the general public will benefit from the program.
- Uses of assistance
The Department of the Interior (DOI) Regional Climate Adaptation Science Centers were developed according to a consistent national strategy and are managed at the national level by the National Climate Adaptation Science Center (NCASC). NCASC will develop cooperative agreements and/or grants with the DOI CSCs at the primary hosting Universities to conduct specific research, data gathering, data management and similar scientific activities. For further information, please contact the NCASC or Regional DOI CASC office.
- 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
- Criteria for selecting proposals
Application proposals will be reviewed by the appropriate geographical DOI CASC Center Director and/or the headquarters NCASC Chief to ensure projects fall within the authorized program purpose. Criteria for judging applications will include scientific excellence and relevance to the solution of important problems within the mission of the Department of the Interior. Applications will be funded only to the extent permitted by available funds.
- Award procedure
Notification of an award is by receipt of a grant or cooperative agreement from a U.S. Geological Survey contracting officer.
- Deadlines
Contact the headquarters (or regional office, as appropriate) for application deadlines.
- Time to approval or disapproval
Four to six months after submittal of proposal or Bureau receipt of appropriations, whichever is later.
- Renewals
Awards for specific scientific activities and research may be from one to several years depending upon the subject matter. Renewals will be subject to adequate reporting and performance and are also subject to the availability of funds.
Grant opportunities
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Latest 50 listed here. See the rest on GovTribe.
Grant awards
Latest 10 of 530 listed here. See the rest on GovTribe.
Top recipients by federal obligations
| Rank | Recipient | Federal obligations | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University Of Alaska Fairbanks | $30,242,519 | 13% |
| 2 | University Of Massachusetts | $27,295,746 | 12% |
| 3 | University Of Oklahoma | $27,139,472 | 12% |
| 4 | University Of Arizona | $27,068,348 | 12% |
| 5 | North Carolina State University | $23,581,267 | 10% |
| 6 | University Of Hawaii | $22,166,167 | 10% |
| 7 | University Of Washington | $16,482,630 | 7% |
| 8 | The Regents Of The University Of Colorado | $15,266,467 | 7% |
| 9 | Regents Of The University Of Minnesota | $10,731,132 | 5% |
| 10 | Colorado State University | $8,209,017 | 4% |
10 of 45 recipients listed here. See the rest on GovTribe.
Federal obligations by fiscal year
| Fiscal year | Federal obligations |
|---|---|
| FY2025 | $16,500,044 |
| FY2024 | $30,389,478 |
| FY2023 | $24,969,035 |
| FY2022 | $20,397,668 |
| FY2021 | $22,875,209 |
| FY2020 | $14,510,491 |
| FY2019 | $12,573,405 |
| FY2018 | $11,615,695 |
| FY2017 | $6,341,301 |
| FY2016 | $12,301,778 |
| FY2015 | $16,819,482 |
| FY2014 | $9,163,704 |
| FY2013 | $13,717,307 |
| FY2012 | $6,255,425 |
| FY2011 | $1,005,002 |
Show all 15
Quick answers
What is Assistance Listing 15.820?
Assistance Listing 15.820 is National and Regional Climate Adaptation Science Centers, a federal grant program run by US Geological Survey (Department of the Interior).
What is the CFDA number for National and Regional Climate Adaptation Science Centers?
Its CFDA number is 15.820: Assistance Listing numbers were called CFDA numbers before 2018.
How much funding has Assistance Listing 15.820 awarded?
530 grant awards under 15.820 have obligated $225,273,735 in federal funds to 45 recipients.
Who receives the most funding from 15.820?
The recipients obligated the most under National and Regional Climate Adaptation Science Centers are University Of Alaska Fairbanks ($30,242,519), University Of Massachusetts ($27,295,746) and University Of Oklahoma ($27,139,472).
How much did 15.820 obligate in fiscal year 2025?
Grants under 15.820 obligated $16,500,044 in federal funds in fiscal year 2025.
Are there open grant opportunities under 15.820?
None of the latest 50 opportunities under 15.820 is open now. The latest, National Climate Adaptation Science Center Program (NCASC), was posted on September 27, 2024.
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