Opportunity Information: Apply for G24AS00235
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Fort Collins Science Center is offering a cooperative agreement to a partner organization affiliated with the Pacific Northwest Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU). The core purpose of the project is to take a clear, up-to-date look at how federal land and water management agencies currently measure recreation use, especially visitation numbers, and how they collect other visitor-related information such as demographics and satisfaction. The work is meant to summarize and compare existing approaches across agencies and then translate those findings into practical guidance that agencies can use to improve recreation monitoring.
The opportunity is driven by a familiar problem in public lands management: everyone agrees visitor data matters, but the methods and data quality are uneven across agencies and across sites. Estimating visitation on federally managed lands and waters is often difficult because many recreation areas have multiple entry points that are not monitored, and many locations are remote. At the same time, agencies have limited budgets and staffing, which puts pressure on them to pick methods that are efficient and defensible. Another complication is that there is no single best method for all places. Federal recreation settings range from heavily developed sites with clear entrances to dispersed, open-access landscapes and waterways, so the most accurate and cost-effective monitoring approach can vary widely depending on site characteristics and the kinds of recreation occurring there.
A key project element is updating and expanding a prior cross-agency comparison of visitation estimation methods published in 2017 (Leggett et al., 2017). Since recreation monitoring programs, technologies, and agency practices evolve over time, USGS is looking for a partner to build on that earlier work to improve transparency and comparability across federal recreation monitoring efforts. In practical terms, this suggests the selected CESU partner will be expected to inventory and synthesize what agencies are doing now, identify similarities and differences, highlight strengths and gaps, and develop guidance that can support more consistent decision-making without ignoring the reality that different sites require different tools.
The project will be conducted in partnership with the Department of the Interior (DOI) Office of Policy Analysis (PPA) as well as USGS, reflecting a coordination-focused approach rather than a standalone research effort. The intended outcome is increased USGS and interagency understanding of how visitation and other visitor metrics are produced, along with products that federal agencies can use for planning at both the agency-wide level and the individual site level. Better visitation estimates are also framed as useful beyond government, since external service providers that support public lands visitors (for example, concessioners or local tourism-related businesses) can plan more effectively when visitation patterns and visitor characteristics are better understood.
Administratively, this is a discretionary funding opportunity using a cooperative agreement (meaning USGS will likely have substantial involvement during the project). It falls under the Science and Technology and other Research and Development activity category and is listed under CFDA 15.808. Eligibility is limited to participating partners of the Pacific Northwest CESU program. The opportunity number is G24AS00235. The maximum award amount listed is $138,000. The funding opportunity was created on January 22, 2024, and the original closing date for applications was February 22, 2024.Apply for G24AS00235
- 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 Pacific Northwest 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 2024-01-22.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-02-22. (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 $138,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Others.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is this funding opportunity about?
This opportunity is a USGS Fort Collins Science Center cooperative agreement to support a cross-agency review of how federal land and water management agencies measure recreation use (especially visitation) and how they collect other visitor-related information (such as demographics and satisfaction). The work is intended to summarize and compare current approaches and turn the findings into practical guidance agencies can use to improve recreation monitoring.
Which federal office is offering the award?
The award is offered by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), Fort Collins Science Center.
What type of award is it?
It is a cooperative agreement under a discretionary funding opportunity. A cooperative agreement typically indicates substantial involvement by USGS during the project.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is limited to participating partners of the Pacific Northwest Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) program.
Is this a competitive opportunity open to the general public?
Based on the eligibility restriction provided, it is not broadly open to the general public. It is limited to Pacific Northwest CESU participating partners.
What is the opportunity number?
The opportunity number is G24AS00235.
What is the CFDA number listed for this opportunity?
The opportunity is listed under CFDA 15.808.
What is the activity category for this funding?
The activity category is Science and Technology and other Research and Development.
What is the maximum award amount?
The maximum award amount listed is $138,000.
When was the funding opportunity created?
The funding opportunity was created on January 22, 2024.
What was the original application closing date?
The original closing date for applications was February 22, 2024.
What is the main goal of the project?
The main goal is to provide a clear, up-to-date picture of how federal agencies currently estimate visitation and track other visitor metrics, then translate that cross-agency comparison into practical guidance to improve recreation monitoring.
What kinds of visitor information are included besides visitation counts?
In addition to visitation numbers, the opportunity references visitor-related information such as demographics and visitor satisfaction.
Why is estimating visitation on federal lands and waters described as difficult?
The opportunity notes that many recreation areas have multiple entry points that are not monitored, many locations are remote, and agencies often face limited budgets and staffing. These factors make it challenging to produce efficient, defensible visitation estimates.
Does the opportunity expect a single best method for monitoring visitation?
No. The opportunity emphasizes that there is no single best method for all places because federal recreation settings vary widely, from highly developed sites with clear entrances to dispersed, open-access landscapes and waterways.
How will this project relate to prior work?
A key element is updating and expanding a prior cross-agency comparison of visitation estimation methods published in 2017 (Leggett et al., 2017). The project is intended to build on that earlier work to reflect changes in monitoring programs, technologies, and agency practices.
What kinds of outputs or deliverables are implied by the description?
Based on the description, expected outputs include: an inventory and synthesis of current agency practices; a summary and comparison of methods across agencies; identification of similarities and differences; discussion of strengths and gaps; and practical guidance to support more consistent decision-making while recognizing site-to-site differences.
Which organizations will be involved in conducting the work?
The project will be conducted in partnership with the Department of the Interior (DOI) Office of Policy Analysis (PPA) as well as USGS, indicating a coordination-focused effort.
What is the intended impact for federal agencies?
The intended outcome is increased USGS and interagency understanding of how visitation and other visitor metrics are produced, along with products federal agencies can use for planning at both the agency-wide level and the individual site level.
How could improved visitation estimates be useful beyond government?
The opportunity notes that better visitation estimates can help external service providers that support public lands visitors (for example, concessioners or local tourism-related businesses) plan more effectively when visitation patterns and visitor characteristics are better understood.
What does the opportunity suggest the selected partner will do?
The selected Pacific Northwest CESU partner is expected to inventory and synthesize current recreation monitoring practices across agencies, compare approaches, highlight strengths and gaps, and develop practical guidance to improve transparency and comparability across federal recreation monitoring efforts.
Is the project described as a standalone research effort?
No. The description frames it as coordination-focused, conducted in partnership with DOI PPA and USGS, rather than a standalone research effort.
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