CASC Host Recompetition

By Climate Adaptation Science Centers

Each CASC is a collaborative arrangement between the USGS National CASC and a regional host institution. Host institutions are selected through a competitive request for proposal (RFP) process and are funded through multi-year cooperative agreements awarded by the USGS.

Recompetition Schedule

Each regional CASC is recompeted approximately every five to seven years.

Current Recompetitions:

2023-2024: North Central and Southwest CASCs. View details>>

Past & Scheduled Recompetitions

CASC	Cycle 1 host awarded	Cycle 2 host awarded	Cycle 3 host awarded
Alaska CASC	2010 – University of Alaska Fairbanks	2017 – University of Alaska Fairbanks	2023 – University of Alaska Fairbanks
Northwest CASC	2010 – Oregon State University	2017 – University of Washington	2023 – University of Washington
Southeast CASC	2010 – North Carolina State University	2017 – North Carolina State University	2023 – North Carolina State University
North Central CASC	2011 – Colorado State University	2018 – University of Colorado at Boulder	2024 - TBD (Recompete in progress)
Southwest CASC	2011 – University of Arizona	2018 – University of Arizona	2024 - TBD (Recompete in progress)
Pacific Islands CASC	2012 – University of Hawai'i at Mānoa	2019 – University of Hawai'i at Mānoa	Recompete forthcoming
South Central CASC	2012 – University of Oklahoma	2019 – University of Oklahoma	Recompete forthcoming
Northeast CASC	2012 – University of Massachusetts Amherst	2019 – University of Massachusetts Amherst	Recompete forthcoming
Midwest CASC	2021 – University of Minnesota Twin Cities

What is a CASC Host?

Each regional CASC is based at an organization (hereafter termed Hosts or Host Institutions) that provides suitable facilities, partnerships, science, capacity building, communications, and programmatic capabilities, either alone or in combination with other partners (“consortium partners”).

In addition to a Host institution component, each CASC also has a federal component. The Host and federal components have distinct funding, personnel, and work plans but work together with a collaborative approach towards a common mission. In general, the federal component’s focus is on developing science priorities and a science agenda, as well as longer-term research and synthesis activities – especially when these span multiple funding cycles. The Host institution component’s focus is generally on science implementation, communications, and outreach.

View proposal evaluation criteria>>

Who is Eligible?

Eligible Applicants

State governments
Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
Nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
County governments
City or township governments
Independent school districts
Public and State controlled institutions of higher education
Special district governments
Private institutions of higher education

Additional Information on Eligibility

Non-Federal entities eligible to submit proposals under this Announcement include state, not-for-profit, local government, and academic institutions. USGS entities may not submit proposals and may not be listed as formal partners on proposals. Federal agencies may collaborate in the execution of research projects, but should not be a Host or a consortium partner; Federal partners must receive money through other methods as appropriate and not through Federal financial assistance (i.e., the CASC hosting cooperative agreement).

Any eligible non-Federal entity, organization, or consortium interested in hosting a Center in the identified CASC region may apply; consortium partners are not required to be physically located within their corresponding CASC region. However, proposals involving institutions located outside the focal region should provide strong evidence of experience and capability to conduct research and maintain active partnerships with resource management stakeholders within the focal region, either directly or through other consortium members.

Proposals may be submitted for a single institution or by one institution serving as the CASC Host, along with additional consortium partners. Consortium partners should only be included if they will play a clear and substantive role in CASC strategy and operations. Examples include the provision of cooperative agreement funding for faculty and students or post-doctoral researchers for research activities related to the CASC science agenda.

Relevant Materials

The following materials should be referenced when submitting a proposal:

Information on each regional CASC
CASC Program Vision (FY2023 – 2028)
CASC 5-Year Review Reports (Cycle 1 & 2)
CASC Annual Reports
CASC Project Tracking Policy and Guidance
Proposal Evaluation Criteria
CASC Communications Guidelines (download)
Usable Square Footage (USF) Guidance for Determining the USGS Office Utilization Rate (download)

Questions?

Contact casc@usgs.gov