Cooperative Agreement for CESU-affiliated Partner with Great Lakes Northern Forest Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit | G22AS00423

Opportunity Information: Apply for G22AS00423

This funding opportunity is a US Geological Survey (USGS) cooperative agreement intended for a partner institution that is formally affiliated with the Great Lakes Northern Forest Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU). The project focus is applied research and development of point-of-use environmental DNA (eDNA) tools that can be used directly at points of entry, such as ports, border inspection stations, or other locations where shipments and transported goods are screened. The work is framed as part of invasive species prevention and early detection efforts supported by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act), Public Law 117-58, reflecting a broader federal priority to stop invasive organisms before they establish and spread.

The core problem the grant is trying to address is that invasive species surveillance at points of entry is difficult with traditional approaches. Many invasive organisms are hard to see in a shipment, may be present only as fragments or early life stages, or may require specialized taxonomic expertise to identify. Even when inspectors know what to look for, visual inspection can miss low-abundance organisms, and the time and logistics required to send samples to a lab can delay action. eDNA offers a way to detect organisms based on genetic material left behind in environmental samples (for example, water from bait tanks, rinse water from shipments, residues on plants, or material from soil and packaging). In theory, eDNA can make screening faster and more sensitive, but only if the tools are practical for real-world inspection settings.

The opportunity emphasizes that point-of-entry eDNA tools need to meet several demanding operational requirements. They must be deployable in the field rather than requiring a laboratory, they must produce rapid results that fit within inspection timelines, and they must be simple and consistent enough that personnel without laboratory training can use them reliably. The notice highlights that rapid eDNA assays are not yet widely implemented at federal and state points of entry, which is why this work is positioned as filling a key gap between promising research methods and routine operational use.

A major technical theme in the description is the use of isothermal amplification methods, particularly lyophilized LAMP (loop-mediated isothermal amplification) assays. LAMP is attractive for field use because it can amplify DNA at a constant temperature, reducing the need for complex thermal cycling equipment. Lyophilized (freeze-dried) reagents can improve portability and shelf life, which matters for deployment outside a lab. The grant points to existing proof-of-concept work where LAMP assays were developed for high-priority invasive taxa such as invasive carp and dreissenid mussels, and then used in practical contexts like testing bait tank water and screening imported moss balls. That prior work is presented as evidence that point-of-entry, fully on-site detection is feasible.

At the same time, the USGS is clear that important questions remain before these approaches can be optimized and adopted broadly. One unresolved issue is determining the most efficient and sensitive ways to isolate and amplify eDNA from different sample types. The best workflow likely varies depending on whether the sample is water, plant material, soil, or other templates associated with shipments and transport pathways. Another practical issue is that even if a method avoids specialized laboratory equipment, it still might be too slow, too complex, or too finicky to meet inspectors standards for ease of use and acceptable sample preparation time. Because inspection environments can be high-throughput and time-constrained, the grant is aiming toward workflows that reduce steps and minimize the chances of contamination or user error.

The stated end goal is a highly sensitive, one-tube approach that integrates collection and amplification as much as possible, since that kind of streamlined workflow would have the greatest utility at ports of entry. In addition to developing or refining methods, any proposed approach is expected to be validated using known isothermal assays that have already been developed for invasive species. In other words, the project is not just about inventing a new protocol on paper; it is about demonstrating that the approach works reliably with existing assays relevant to real invasive species threats, and that it can function under field-like constraints.

Administratively, this is a discretionary funding opportunity issued under the CESU Program, which is designed to connect federal agencies with partner institutions for research, technical assistance, and education. Eligibility is restricted to organizations that are official partners within the Great Lakes Northern Forest CESU. The award mechanism is a cooperative agreement, which typically indicates substantial federal involvement or collaboration during the project compared to a standard grant.

Key opportunity details provided include the funding opportunity number G22AS00423, CFDA number 15.808, an award ceiling of $200,000, and an original closing date of August 30, 2022. The sponsoring agency is the USGS, and the activity category is listed as science and technology and other research and development. The expected number of awards is not clearly specified in the provided text, but the ceiling and the targeted, partner-restricted nature of the solicitation suggest a focused, mission-driven project intended to produce practical outcomes for invasive species screening at points of entry.

• The Geological Survey in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Cooperative Agreement for CESU-affiliated Partner with 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 2022-07-28.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2022-08-30. (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 $200,000.00 in funding.
• Eligible applicants include: Others.

Apply for G22AS00423

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