Cooperative Agreement for affiliated Partner with the Great Lakes-Northern Forest Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit | G26AS00132

Opportunity Information: Apply for G26AS00132

This opportunity is a discretionary U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) cooperative agreement intended for an affiliated partner of the Great Lakes-Northern Forest Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU). The project focus is research and development work that helps build "authoritative knowledge infrastructure" for a GeoAI Application. In practical terms, the funded work is meant to strengthen the underlying knowledge, data organization, and supporting structures that a GeoAI system would rely on, specifically one that uses agentic technology (software agents that can plan, reason, and take actions in a semi-autonomous way) to support the Intelligent National Map (INM). The INM is positioned as the target operational context, so the expected outputs should be geared toward improving how the National Map can be supported or enhanced through GeoAI-driven workflows.

The award is being issued under the CESU Program, which is a partnership model used by federal agencies to access research, technical assistance, and education capacity through established cooperative networks. The key eligibility constraint is that applicants must already be a participating partner in the Great Lakes-Northern Forest CESU; this is not open to the general public or organizations outside that specific CESU partnership. The assistance mechanism is a cooperative agreement, which typically signals that USGS expects substantial involvement during the project (for example, collaboration, coordination, iterative review, or shared development activities) rather than a hands-off grant.

From an administrative standpoint, the funding opportunity is labeled "Cooperative Agreement for affiliated Partner with the Great Lakes-Northern Forest Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit" with opportunity number G26AS00132. It falls under the Science and Technology and other Research and Development activity category and is associated with CFDA number 15.808. USGS expects to make one award, with a maximum (ceiling) amount of $49,995. The opportunity was created on 2026-06-05 and has an original closing date of 2026-07-09, indicating a relatively short application window. The eligible applicant category is listed as "Others," but the narrative eligibility requirement clarifies that this is specifically limited to Great Lakes-Northern Forest CESU partners.

Overall, the opportunity is a small, single-award R and D cooperative agreement aimed at advancing the foundational knowledge systems needed for a GeoAI application that uses agentic capabilities to support the Intelligent National Map, and it is restricted to organizations already participating in the Great Lakes-Northern Forest CESU network.

• The Geological Survey in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Cooperative Agreement for affiliated Partner with the Great Lakes-Northern Forest Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.808.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2026-06-05.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-07-09. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $49,995.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others.

Apply for G26AS00132

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