NPS Cooperative Ecosystems Studies Units (CESU) Master Cooperative Agreements
The NPS seeks applications from CESU network participants for Master Cooperative Agreements to support research, technical assistance, and education related to national park resources.
Funder: National Park Service
Due Dates: December 31, 2027 (5pm ET, rolling review until deadline)
Funding Amounts: Master Cooperative Agreements are unfunded; individual task agreements typically $50,000–$70,000 each, with NPS obligating $30M–$40M annually across CESU projects; project durations up to 5 years.
Summary: Supports CESU network partners in collaborative research, technical assistance, and education to address natural and cultural resource issues in the National Park System.
Key Information: Applicants must be CESU network partners; Master Cooperative Agreements are required for future task funding but do not guarantee funding.
Description
The National Park Service (NPS) invites applications from Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Units (CESU) network participants for Master Cooperative Agreements. These agreements establish a framework for future, funded task agreements supporting research, technical assistance, education, and capacity building related to the stewardship of natural and cultural resources in the National Park System. The CESU network is a national consortium of federal agencies, tribes, academic institutions, state and local governments, and conservation organizations, designed to foster interdisciplinary, collaborative projects that address resource management priorities at multiple scales.
Master Cooperative Agreements are not themselves funded, but are a prerequisite for receiving subsequent, funded task agreements. Projects may span a wide range of disciplines, including biological, physical, social, cultural, and engineering sciences, and are intended to provide actionable knowledge, foster partnerships, and support professional development in resource management.
