Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Units (CESU) Network

NOTE: A complete study proposal and proposed budget ARE requested at this time.NOTE: For any Cooperative Agreement entered into in response to this Request for Full Proposal (RFP), a maximum 17.5% indirect cost rate will be paid on work covered by such agreement or any modifications thereto. Unless the agreement specifies otherwise, thebasis of direct costs against which the agreement’s indirect cost rate is applied must be either the same base identified in the recipient's federally negotiated indirect cost rate agreement or, if the recipient does not have a federally negotiated indirect cost rate agreement, the Modified Total Direct Cost (MTDC) base.NOTE: This project will be awarded under the authority of 16 USC 670c-1, Sikes Act. For projects for the implementation and enforcement of integrated natural resources management plans, priority shall be given to award to Federal and State agencies havingresponsibility for the conservation or management of fish or wildlife.Project Title: Conservation and Forestry Program Support (2026-2031) for Environmental Natural Resources Management Division, Directorate of Public Works, Joint Readiness Training Center and Fort Polk, Louisiana.Brief Description of Anticipated Work: Refer to attached RFP Statement of Objectives for complete detaiils.Period of Performance: The base period of the agreement will extend approximately 10 months from the date of award. Meaningful work must commence by September 30, 2026.Submission of Full Proposal: Proposals are due by 12:00 P.M. Central Daylight Time, 14 September 2026 via email to: Agreement Specialist, Maria.E.Lopez@usace.army.mil AND Agreement Project Manager, Kathy.S.Mitchell@usace.army.mil.Technical Questions and/or Clarifications: Shall be submitted in writing via email to the Agreement Specialist and Agreement Project Manager no later than 31 August 2026 prior to 12:00 P.M. Central Daylight Time.TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR AWARD, THE RECIPIENT AND ANY PROPOSED SUBRECIPIENTS AND CONTRACT VENDORS MUST HAVE AN ACTIVE NIST SP 800-171 DOD ASSESSEMENT OR HIGHER (PERFORMED WITHIN THE LAST 3 YEARS). Funding Opportunity Number: W9126G262RFP9554. Assistance Listing: 12.005. Funding Instrument: CA. Category: ST. Award Amount: $1.3M – $7.6M per award.

Bio-based chemicals and/or materials from woody residues is sponsored by European Commission — Horizon Europe. Expected Outcome: Successful proposals will contribute to the EU Forest Strategy for 2030, the EU Biodiversity Strategy 2030, the Carbon Removal Certification Framework Regulation, the updated EU Bioeconomy Strategy and the upcoming Circular Economy Act. Projects’ results are expected to contribute to the following expected outcomes: Increased availability of bio-based chemicals and/or bio-based materials from woody residues. Increased sustainability of forest-based value chains in cooperation with local forestry owners/cooperatives. Improved end-of-life (EoL) of bio-based products from woody residues. Scope: Besides thin branches, leaves and needles, which are usually left on the soil to maintain the long-term viability of the forest and soil in good condition, forestry and forest industry operations generate large amounts of woody residues which are typically used for energy or low value applications. Established process technologies for round wood and wood chips are not well suited for other streams from the forest industry which are abundantly available at production sites and could be exploited as a source of feedstock for the bio-based industries. Thus, there is the need to demonstrate techno-economic feasibility of innovative valorisation pathways to increase the value which can be derived from residues from the wood and forest-based industries while also improving sustainability compared to state-of the art valorisation routes. Proposals under this topic should: Demonstrate (TRL 6 and above) innovative technologies to obtain bio-based chemicals and/or materials from woody residues. Feedstock in scope includes woody residues generated at forestry and/or at industrial processing sites, including, but not limited to, bark, sawdust or residues from wood harvesting and processing. Demonstration should cover the optimal combination of innovative and scalable technologies aimed at maximising yield, selectivity and productivity across upstream pretreatment/fractionation, further conversion into chemicals/materials, separation/purification processes. The proposed technologies should address flexibility to feedstock quality variability. Validate (TRL 5 and above) the obtained chemicals/materials into end products. Assess the products’ performance and ensure that they fulfil technical performance requirements according to the end market application(s). Apply the eco-design principles, in line with the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation , to the end-product(s) for sustainable EoL and test it at TRL5 and above. Incineration is not in scope. In addition to the specific requirements applicable for the type of action, as described in section 2.2.3.1 of the CBE JU Annual Work Programme 2026 [1] , proposals under this topic should: As part of the multi-actor approach (MAA), ensure close collaboration with local forest owners and managers, including cooperatives and/or sectorial associations. Optimise biomass supply chain models, including sourcing, storage and/or transport as relevant for selected woody residues. Include a task to apply the SSbD framework, developed by the European Commission for the assessment of targeted chemicals/materials and derived bio-based product(s). For more information on the SSbD framework and criteria, refer to Safe and sustainable by design . Ensure complementarities with past and ongoing R&I projects addressing similar challenges, including projects funded under Horizon 2020/Horizon Europe (under Cluster 6 and other Clusters of Horizon Europe) and BBI JU/CBE JU projects. [1] https://www.cbe.europa.eu/reference-documents Programme areas: Global Challenges and European Industrial Competitiveness, Food, Bioeconomy Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment, Bio-based Innovation Systems in the EU Bioeconomy, Horizon Europe (HORIZON) Keywords: Forest ecosystem services, Forestry, Forestry, biomass production (e.g. for biofuels), Materials engineering, bio-based chemicals, bio-based materials, bio-conversion, biomass logistics, biomass supply, eco-design, forest management, forestry, safe and sustainable by design, woody residues, STEP-Biotech