CESU Funding Opportunity Agreement.doc

Cooperative Agreement for CESU-affiliated Partner with Piedmont - South Atlantic Coast Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit Funding Opportunity Description

The US Geological Survey is offering a funding opportunity to a CESU partner for state-of-the-art research on sediment geochemical analysis in the Gulf of Mexico (GOM). The research will compare sediment environments in zones designated as impacted and reference zones following the Deepwater Horizon (DWH) oil spill. The USGS Wetland and Aquatic Research Center (WARC, Gainesville, FL) is offering a funding opportunity for research and technical assistance relevant to: “DWH Gulf of Mexico Mesophotic and Deep Benthic Community Restoration: sediment geochemical assessment in support of the Habitat Assessment and Evaluation Project”. The USGS conducts ecological studies in support of understanding restoration plans for the GOM, in conjunction and coordination with NOAA, as well as other state and federal partners. Research conducted by USGS scientists, and their research partners improves understanding of GOM sediment environments, continued environmental change, and responses to restoration actions in the deep GOM. USGS’s research provides valuable information, which is used to guide informed decisions during planning, restoration, and adaptive management throughout the duration of long-term restoration projects. The USGS is offering a funding opportunity to CESU partners with the capability to sample, quantify, and synthesize data analysis of sediments collected in regions impacted by the DWH and identify best practices for tracking changes to these constituents. It is anticipated that there will be up to three field sampling years, followed by two years of analysis and synthesis.

Research Objectives:

In collaboration with federal and state partners, The goals of this study are to:

1. Quantify deep-sea sediment biogeochemical attributes, including pore-water chemistry (sulfides, ammonia, Eh, pH, salinity), metals, and sediment properties (e.g., total carbon, total organic carbon, total nitrogen, total inorganic carbon, porosity, stable carbon and nitrogen isotopes, pigments) in impacted and reference soft-sediment environments

2. Quantify deep-sea sediment biogeochemical attributes (as specified in #1 above) in areas adjacent to impacted and reference deep-sea corals

3. Facilitate the downstream analysis of sediments for total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) by collecting and preserving sediments appropriately to enable analysis by partner laboratories.

4. Lead the characterization of sediment radioisotope analysis, including lead-210 (210Pb) and thorium-234 (234Th) on selected sediment core sections where detailed estimates of sediment deposition rates are required

5. Lead the characterization of carbon-14 (14C) analysis to facilitate rapid and cost-effective characterization of the depth of DWH sedimented oil layer within the sediment cores.

6. Assess temporal and spatial variability in measured geochemical parameters, and assist with synthesizing these data in the context of the sediment community (micro, meio, and macro) analysis, with the key goal to identify important environmental drivers through robust statistical approaches

7. Synthesize geochemical datasets in collaboration with USGS WARC and partners to estimate recovery trajectories of the soft sediment environments and associated communities impacted by the DWH oil spill.

8. Closely coordinate with federal partners, DOI- USGS, BOEM and NOAA, to conduct analysis in a manner that informs resource management

Award information

It is anticipated that one award will be made with one base year and four renewal years. The total estimated funding for this project is up to $1,000,000. Funding in the amount of $350,000 is estimated to be available for FY 2022. Additional funding will be based upon satisfactory progress and the availability of funding.

Eligibility Information

This financial assistance opportunity is being issued under a Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) Program. CESU’s are partnerships that provide research, technical assistance, and education. Eligible recipients must be a participating partner of the Piedmont – South Atlantic Coast Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) Program.

Application and Submission Information

Apply electronically through grants.gov. Questions are to be directed to Faith Graves:

fgraves@usgs.gov

Content and Form of Application:

1. Recipient’s Name

2. Principal Investigator (individual who will oversee the cooperative agreement) including address, phone number, fax number, and email address

3. Technical contact (Staff member(s) who will administer the cooperative agreement) including address, phone number, fax number, and email address

4. List laboratories, field equipment, and facilities available for project work.

5. Experience of staff to conduct the stated work objectives of the project.

Proposal Text - Please include the following:

b. Proposal text should include the following a.

Introduction and Statement of Problem. Give a brief introduction to the research problem. Provide a brief summary of findings or outcomes of any prior work that has been completed or is ongoing in this area b.

Objectives. Clearly define goals of project. State how the proposal addresses USGS goals and its relevance and impact. Explain why the work is important.

c.

Methods. This section should include a fairly detailed discussion of the work plan and technical approach to both field and laboratory techniques.

d.

Planned Products and Dissemination of Research Results List product(s) (reports, analyses, digital data, etc.) that will be delivered at the end of the performance period. The USGS considers dissemination of research data and results to potential users of those results to be an integral and crucial aspect of projects funded by this program. Beyond the requirements for a final report, describe your plan for dissemination of project data and results that will result in the greatest possible benefit to customers as defined by your proposal. Applicants are strongly encouraged to disseminate research results to the scientific community and appropriate professional organizations; local, State, regional and Federal agencies; and the general public. The USGS encourages the Recipient to publish project reports in scientific and technical journals.

e.

References Cited. List all references to which you refer in text and references from your past work in the field that the research problem addresses. Be sure to identify references as journal articles, chapters in books, abstracts, maps, digital data, etc.

Budget Sheets - This information will provide more details than what is required under the SF 424A form. Please include the following:

a.

Salaries and Wages. List names, positions, and rate of compensation. include their total time, rate of compensation, job titles, and roles.

b.

Fringe benefits/labor overhead. Indicate the rates/amounts in conformance with normal accounting procedures. Explain what costs are covered in this category and the basis of the rate computations.

c.

Field Expenses. Briefly itemize the estimated travel costs (i.e., number of people, number of travel days, lodging and transportation costs, and other travel costs).

d.

Lab Analyses. Include laboratory analytical costs. Briefly itemize cost of all analytical work (if applicable) e.

Supplies. Enter the cost for all tangible property. Include the cost of office, laboratory, computing, and field supplies separately. Provide detail on any specific item, which represents a significant portion of the proposed amount.

f.

Equipment. Show the cost of all special-purpose equipment necessary for achieving the objectives of the project. "Special-purpose equipment" means scientific equipment having a useful life of more than 1 year and having an acquisition cost of $5,000 or more per item. Each item should be itemized and include a full justification and a dealer or manufacturer quote, if available. General-purpose equipment must be purchased from the applicant's operating funds. Title to non-expendable personal property shall be vested solely with the Recipient. Under no circumstances shall property title be vested in a sub-tier recipient.

g.

Services or consultants. Identify the tasks or problems for which such services would be used. List the contemplated sub-recipients by name (including consultants), the estimated amount of time required, and the quoted rate per day or hour.

h.

Travel. State the purpose of the trip and itemize the estimated travel costs to show the number of trips required, the destinations, the number of people traveling, the per diem rates, the cost of transportation, and any miscellaneous expenses for each trip. Calculations of other special transportation costs (such as charges for use of applicant-owned vehicles or vehicle rental costs) should also be shown.

i.

Publication costs. Show the estimated cost of publishing the results of the research, including the final report. Include costs of drafting or graphics, reproduction, page or illustration charges, and a minimum number of reprints.

j.

Other direct costs. Itemize the different types of costs not included elsewhere, such as, shipping, computing, equipment-use charges, or other services.

k.

Total Direct Charges. Totals for items a - j.

l.

Indirect Charges (Overhead). Indirect cost/general and administrative (G&A) cost. Show the proposed rate, cost base, and proposed amount for indirect costs based on the cost principles applicable to the Applicant's organization. If the Applicant has separate rates for recovery of labor overhead and G&A costs, each charge should be shown. NOTE: CESU IDC IS 17.5% m.

Amount proposed. Total items k and l.

n. Provide copy of recipient’s rate agreement

USGS Data Management Plan Requirements

Proposals submitted to USGS must include a supplementary document of no more than two pages labeled "Data Management Plan" (DMP). This supplementary document should describe how the proposal will conform to USGS policy on the dissemination and sharing of research results and associated data. A valid DMP may include only the statement that no detailed plan is needed (e.g. “No data are expected to be produced from this project”), as long as the statement is accompanied by a clear justification. This supplementary document may include:

· the types of data, samples, physical collections, software, curriculum materials, and other materials to be produced in the course of the project;

· the standards to be used for data and metadata format and content (where existing standards are absent or deemed inadequate, this should be documented along with any proposed solutions or remedies);

· policies for access and sharing including provisions for appropriate protection of privacy, confidentiality, security, intellectual property, or other rights or requirements;

· provisions for re-use, re-distribution, and the production of derivatives; and

· plans for archiving data, samples, and other research products, and for preservation of free public access to them.

Additional guidance on data management plans is available from the USGS Data Management web site here: http://www.usgs.gov/datamanagement/plan/dmplans.php Simultaneously submitted collaborative proposals and proposals that include subawards are a single unified project and should include only one supplemental combined DMP by the lead PI that also addresses all subaward data management needs, regardless of the number of non-lead collaborative proposals or subawards included.

Prohibition on Issuing Financial Assistance Awards to Entities that Require Certain Internal Confidentiality Agreements

Section 743 of Division E, Title VII of the Consolidated and Further Continuing Resolution Appropriations Act of 2015 (Pub. L. 113-235) prohibits the use of funds appropriated or otherwise made available under that or any other Act for grants or cooperative agreements to an entity that requires employees or contractors of such entity seeking to report fraud, waste, or abuse to sign internal confidentiality agreements or statements prohibiting or otherwise restricting such employees or contractors from lawfully reporting such waste, fraud, or abuse to a designated investigative or law enforcement representative of a federal department or agency authorized to receive such information.

Recipients must not require their employees or contractors seeking to report fraud, waste, or abuse to sign internal confidentiality agreements or statements prohibiting or otherwise restricting such employees or contractors from lawfully reporting such waste, fraud, or abuse to a designated investigative or law enforcement representative of a federal department or agency authorized to receive such information.

Recipients must notify their employees or contractors that existing internal confidentiality agreements covered by this condition are no longer in effect.

Application review information Review and Selection Process: Applications are considered based on the completeness of documentation, meeting of stated basic eligibility, and other category requirements. Specific evaluation factors are identified in the proposal narrative. Budget information is evaluated for reasonableness and appropriateness to applicant project goals.

Proposals are reviewed by the U.S. Geological Survey technical personnel. Individual proposals are evaluated and scored. The evaluations and scores will be submitted to the contracting officer for final award Proposals will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

Purpose, Objectives, and Relevance: (25 points)

(a) How well does the proposed research clearly address quantifying and assessing deep-sea sediment geochemistry in DWH impacted and reference soft sediments in the deep Gulf of Mexico?

(b) How well are the objectives defined, measurable, and realistic for the project’s anticipated timeframe.

Technical Approach: (25 points)

(a) How well does the project summary provide a description of the relationship between partners, tasks, milestones, and goals.

(b) How well does the proposal demonstrate the milestones are supported by a schedule that can be accomplished during the period of performance?

(b) How well does the applicant demonstrate can address sample collection, sample processing, and analysis using proven methodologies and software?

(c) How closely do the sampling and processing methods follow established standards for sediment geochemical metrics, including pore-water chemistry, metals, sediment properties, radioisotopes, and hydrocarbons (PAHs, TPHs)?

Budget Justification and Clarity: (25 points)

(a) How well does the proposal demonstrate the staff is sufficient to accomplish proposed goals.

(b) How well does the proposal demonstrate the budget line items are appropriate and reasonable and commensurate with the level of effort needed to accomplish project objectives.

Qualifications, Experience, Past Performance: (25 points)

(a) How well does the proposal demonstrate expertise in deep-sea sediment biogeochemical analyses, including assessing pore-water chemistry, sediment properties, hydrocarbons, and metals, their ability to synthesize and summarize data on complex biogeochemical processes, and their expertise with assessing oil-spill impacts on deep-sea sediment environments?

(b) How well does the proposal demonstrate the depth of experience in such research as demonstrated by scientific publications and completed projects in the research area?

(c) How does the applicant demonstrate the capability of doing the proposed project?

(d) How does the applicant demonstrate have applied these methods to other sediment environments or similar deep-sea ecosystems?

(e) How well does the applicant’s past and current work demonstrate have completed project goals associated with approaches for conducting assessments of deep-sea sediment biogeochemistry within soft sediment environments in the Gulf of Mexico?

Award Administration Information Award recipients are responsible for managing the day-to-day operations of the grant/cooperative agreements and sub-award supported activities to assure compliance with applicable Federal requirements, and that performance goals are being achieved. Recipient monitoring must cover each program, function or activity.

Progress Reports

a) The Recipient shall submit two copies of each Progress Report to the USGS Project Officer and one copy of the transmittal letter to the USGS Contracting Officer. Unless otherwise specified in this Agreement, annual progress reports should be submitted at least sixty (60) days prior to the end of the current budget period to allow adequate time for the designated office to review the report. In the case of multi-year Agreements, failure to submit timely reports may delay processing of funding increments. For Agreements with a total anticipated performance period of twelve months (12) months or less, only a Final Technical Report will be required. A progress report is not required in the final budget year, unless the Recipient requests an extension to the project period.

b) The progress reports shall include the following information:

(i) A comparison of actual accomplishments to the objectives of the Agreement established for the budget period and overall progress in response to the performance metrics.

(ii) The reasons why established goals were not met, if appropriate.

(iii) Additional pertinent information including, when appropriate, analysis and explanation of cost overruns or high unit costs.

(iv) An outline of anticipated activities and adjustments to the program during the next budget period.

c) Between the required reporting dates, events may occur which have significant impact upon the project or program. In such cases, the Recipient shall inform the USGS as soon as the following types of conditions become known:

(i) Problems, delays, or adverse conditions which will materially impair the ability to meet the objective of the Agreement. This disclosure must include a statement of the action taken, or contemplated, and any assistance needed to resolve the situation.

(ii) Favorable developments which enable meeting time schedules and objectives sooner or at less cost than anticipated or producing more or different beneficial results than originally planned.

Final Technical Report a) The Recipient shall submit two copies of the final technical report to the USGS Project Officer and one copy of the transmittal letter to the USGS Contracting Officer. The final performance report will be due 90 calendar days after the period of performance end date.

b) The final technical report shall document and summarize the results of Recipient’s work. The report shall include a quantitative description of activities and overall progress in response to the performance metrics which documents and summarizes the results of the entire Agreement. The final report shall include tables, graphs, diagrams, sketches, etc., as required to explain the results achieved under the Agreement. The report shall also include recommendations and conclusions based upon both the experience and the results obtained.

Annual Financial Reports a) The Recipient will submit an annual SF 425, Federal Financial Report, for each individual USGS award. The SF 425 is available at https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms/post-award-reporting-forms.html The SF 425 will be due in accordance with the following schedule. USGS acknowledges that this annual reporting schedule may not always correspond with a specific budget period.

End Date

(year following start date) Annual Interim Report

Due Date

(90 days after report end date)

b) The SF 425 must be submitted electronically through Grant Solutions or, if GS is not available, by e-mail to SF425@usgs.gov with a cc to the Contracting Officer. Recipient must include the USGS award number in the subject line of all correspondence. If, after 90 days, Recipient has not submitted a report, the Recipient’s account in ASAP will be placed in a manual review status until the report is submitted.

Final Financial Report a) The Recipient will liquidate all obligations incurred under the award and submit a final SF 425, Federal Financial Report in accordance with C.3.b. no later than 90 calendar days after the Agreement completion date.

b) Recipient will promptly return any unexpended federal cash advances or will complete a final draw from ASAP to obtain any remaining amounts due. Once 120 days has passed since the Agreement completion date, USGS shall unilaterally deobligate federal funds as reflected in the Final SF 425.

c) Subsequent revision to the final SF 425 will be considered only as follows:

i.

When the revision results in a balance due to the Government, the Recipient must submit a revised final SF 425, Federal Financial Report, and refund the excess payment whenever the overcharge is discovered, no matter how long the lapse of time since the original due date of the report.

ii.

When the revision represents additional reimbursable costs claimed by the Recipient, a revised final SF 425 may be submitted to the USGS Contracting Officer with an explanation. If approved, the USGS will either request and pay a final invoice or reestablish the ASAP subaccount to permit the Recipient to make a revised final draw. Any revised final report representing additional reimbursable amounts must be submitted no later than 1 year from the due date of the original report, i.e., 15 months following the Agreement completion date. USGS will not accept any revised SF 425 covering additional expenditures after that date and will return any late request for additional payment to the Recipient.

Publications a) Acknowledgment of Support Recipient is responsible for assuring that an acknowledgment of USGS support:

1.

is made in any publication (including World Wide Web pages) of any material based on or developed under this Agreement, in the following terms:

This material is based upon work supported by the U.S. Geological Survey under Grant/Cooperative Agreement No. (insert agreement number).

2.

is orally acknowledged during all news media interviews, including popular media such as radio, television and news magazines.

b) Disclaimer Recipient is responsible for assuring that every publication of material (including World Wide Web pages) based on or developed under this Agreement, contains the following disclaimer:

The views and conclusions contained in this document are those of the authors and should not be interpreted as representing the opinions or policies of the U.S. Geological Survey. Mention of trade names or commercial products does not constitute their endorsement by the U.S. Geological Survey.

c) Publication Publication of the results of any project carried out under this assistance award is authorized in professional journals, trade magazines, or may be made by the USGS. Such manuscripts or publications submitted to journals or professional publications for publication shall be accompanied by the following notation:

This manuscript is submitted for publication with the understanding that the United States Government is authorized to reproduce and distribute reprints for Governmental purposes.

d) Copies for USGS

Recipient is responsible for assuring that the USGS Project Office is provided a digital version, preferably as a MS Word DOCx file, of every accepted manuscript upon acceptance for publication by the journal.

e) Department of the Interior Requirements

Two copies of each publication produced under a Grant or Cooperative Agreement shall be sent to the Natural Resources Library with a transmittal that identifies the sender and the publication. The address of the library is:

U.S. Department of the Interior

Natural Resources Library

Division of Information and Library Services

Gifts and Exchange Section

18th and C Streets, NW

Washington, DC 20240

Payment Payments under financial assistance awards must be made using the Department of the Treasury Automated Standard Application for Payments (ASAP) system (www.asap.gov).

a) The Recipient agrees that it has established or will establish an account with ASAP. USGS will initiate enrollment in ASAP. If the Recipient does not currently have an ASAP account, they must designate an individual (name, title, address, phone and e-mail) who will serve as the Point of Contact (POC).

b) With the award of each grant/cooperative agreement, a sub-account will be set up from which the Recipient can draw down funds. After Recipients complete enrollment in ASAP and link their banking information to the USGS ALC (14080001), it may take up to 10 days for sub-accounts to be activated and for funds to be authorized for drawdown in ASAP.

c) Inquiries regarding payment should be directed to ASAP at 855-868-0151.

d) Payments may be drawn in advance only as needed to meet immediate cash disbursement needs.

Buy America Domestic Procurement Preference:

As required by Section 70914 of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (also known as the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act), P.L. 117-58, on or after May 14, 2022, none of the funds under a federal award that are part of Federal financial assistance program for infrastructure may be obligated for a project unless all of the iron, steel, manufactured products, and construction materials used in the project are produced in the United States, unless subject to an approved waiver. The requirements of this section must be included in all subawards, including all contracts and purchase orders for work or products under this program.

Recipients of an award of Federal financial assistance are hereby notified that none of the funds provided under this award may be used for a project for infrastructure unless:

1. all iron and steel used in the project are produced in the United States--this means all manufacturing processes, from the initial melting stage through the application of coatings, occurred in the United States;

2. all manufactured products used in the project are produced in the United States—this means the manufactured product was manufactured in the United States; and the cost of the components of the manufactured product that are mined, produced, or manufactured in the United States is greater than 55 percent of the total cost of all components of the manufactured product, unless another standard for determining the minimum amount of domestic content of the manufactured product has been established under applicable law or regulation; and

3. all construction materials are manufactured in the United States—this means that all manufacturing processes for the construction material occurred in the United States.

The Buy America preference only applies to articles, materials, and supplies that are consumed in, incorporated into, or affixed to an infrastructure project. As such, it does not apply to tools, equipment, and supplies, such as temporary scaffolding, brought to the construction site and removed at or before the completion of the infrastructure project. Nor does a Buy America preference apply to equipment and furnishings, such as movable chairs, desks, and portable computer equipment, that are used at or within the finished infrastructure project, but are not an integral part of the structure or permanently affixed to the infrastructure project.

For further information on the Buy America preference, please visit www.doi.gov/grants/BuyAmerica. Additional information can also be found at the White House Made in America Office website: www.whitehouse.gov/omb/management/made-in-america/.

Waivers

When necessary, recipients may apply for, and the Department of the Interior (DOI) may grant, a waiver from these requirements, subject to review by the Made in America Office. The DOI may waive the application of the domestic content procurement preference in any case in which it is determined that one of the below circumstances applies:

1. Non-availability Waiver: the types of iron, steel, manufactured products, or construction materials are not produced in the United States in sufficient and reasonably available quantities or of a satisfactory quality;

2. Unreasonable Cost Waiver: the inclusion of iron, steel, manufactured products, or construction materials produced in the United States will increase the cost of the overall project by more than 25 percent; or

3. Public Interest Waiver: applying the domestic content procurement preference would be inconsistent with the public interest.

There may be instances where an award qualifies, in whole or in part, for an existing DOI general applicability waiver as described at: www.doi.gov/grants/BuyAmerica/GeneralApplicabilityWaivers. If the specific financial assistance agreement, infrastructure project, or non-domestic materials meets the criteria of an existing general applicability waiver within the limitations defined within the waiver, the recipient is not required to request a separate waiver for non-domestic materials.

If a general applicability waiver does not already apply, and a recipient believes that one of the above circumstances applies to an award, a request to waive the application of the domestic content procurement preference may be submitted to the financial assistance awarding officer in writing. Waiver requests shall include the below information. The waiver shall not include any Privacy Act information, sensitive data, or proprietary information within their waiver request. Waiver requests will be posted to www.doi.gov/grants/buyamerica and are subject to public comment periods of no less than 15 days. Waiver requests will also be reviewed by the Made in America Office.

1. Type of waiver requested (non-availability, unreasonable cost, or public interest).

2. Requesting entity and Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) submitting the request.

3. Department of Interior Bureau or Office who issued the award.

4. Federal financial assistance listing name and number (reference block 2 on DOI Notice of Award)

5. Financial assistance title of project (reference block 8 on DOI Notice of Award).

6. Federal Award Identification Number (FAIN).

7. Federal funding amount (reference block 11.m. on DO Notice of Award).

8. Total cost of Infrastructure expenditures (includes federal and non-federal funds to the extent known).

9. Infrastructure project description(s) and location(s) (to the extent known).

10. List of iron or steel item(s), manufactured goods, and construction material(s) the recipient seeks to waive from Buy America requirements. Include the name, cost, countries of origin (if known), and relevant PSC or NAICS code for each.

11. A certification that the recipient made a good faith effort to solicit bids for domestic products supported by terms included in requests for proposals, contracts, and nonproprietary communications with the prime contractor.

12. A statement of waiver justification, including a description of efforts made (e.g., market research, industry outreach) by the recipient, in an attempt to avoid the need for a waiver. Such a justification may cite, if applicable, the absence of any Buy America-compliant bids received in response to a solicitation.

13. Anticipated impact if no waiver is issued. Approved waivers will be posted at www.doi.gov/grants/BuyAmerica/ApprovedWaivers; recipients requesting a waiver will be notified of their waiver request determination by an awarding officer.

Questions pertaining to waivers should be directed to the financial assistance awarding officer.

Definitions

“Construction materials” includes an article, material, or supply that is or consists primarily of:

· non-ferrous metals;

· plastic and polymer-based products (including polyvinylchloride, composite building materials, and polymers used in fiber optic cables);

· glass (including optic glass);

· lumber; or

· drywall.

“Construction Materials” does not include cement and cementitious materials, aggregates such as stone, sand, or gravel, or aggregate binding agents or additives.

“Domestic content procurement preference’’ means all iron and steel used in the project are produced in the United States; the manufactured products used in the project are produced in the United States; or the construction materials used in the project are produced in the United States.

“Infrastructure” includes, at a minimum, the structures, facilities, and equipment for, in the United States, roads, highways, and bridges; public transportation; dams, ports, harbors, and other maritime facilities; intercity passenger and freight railroads; freight and intermodal facilities; airports; water systems, including drinking water and wastewater systems; electrical transmission facilities and systems; utilities; broadband infrastructure; and buildings and real property. Infrastructure includes facilities that generate, transport, and distribute energy.

‘‘Project’’ means the construction, alteration, maintenance, or repair of infrastructure in the United States

Use of Geospatial Data:

All geospatial data collected for or produced through the use of the Department of the Interior financial assistance funds are required to meet all relevant standards established by the Federal Geospatial Data Committee (FGDC) as authorized by Geospatial Data Act of 2018, Pub. L. 115-254, Subtitle F – Geospatial Data, §§ 751-759C, codified at 43 U.S.C. §§ 2801– 2811. Interior requires fully compliant metadata on all Geographic Information Systems files developed for financial assistance projects. If a funded financial assistance project involves acquiring or collecting geospatial data, the recipient is Acquisition Operating Procedures U.S. Geological Survey Office of Acquisition and Grants June 14, 2022 Page 2 of 3 Questions to askoag@usgs.gov required to search GeoPlatform.gov to determine that no existing Federal, State, local or private data meet the Government’s needs and are available at no cost before acquiring or collecting additional geospatial data.

Federal Awardee Performance and Integrity Information System FAPIIS Checks (PPIRS)

Funding Opportunity (2 CFR 200 Appendix I) For awards expected to exceed SAT ($150K), This is to inform applicants that, prior to award, agency is required to review and consider any information in FAPIIS about the applicant.

Pre-Award Review of FAPIIS (2 CFR 200.205) Where Federal share is expected to exceed SAT ($150,000) during Period of Performance, Information must demonstrate satisfactory record of executing programs under Federal grants, agreements, or procurements; and integrity and business ethics.

Agency Contacts Contractual Point of Contact:

Faith D. Graves

CESU Contract Specialist

U.S. Geological Survey

Mail Stop 205G

12201 Sunrise Valley Drive

Reston, VA 20192

Phone: (703) 648-7356

Fax: (703) 648-7901

Email: fgraves@usgs.gov