Modification 0001 2027 EHP NOFO G27AS00075.docx

U.S. Geological Survey Notice of Funding Opportunity USGS Earthquake Hazards Program External Research Support Announcement for Fiscal Year 2027 Funding Opportunity Number

G27AS00075

Table of Contents

BASIC INFORMATION

Announcement Type: Initial Funding Opportunity Number: G27AS00075 Assistance Listing Number(s): 15.807 Estimated Total Program Funding: $4,000,000 Expected Number of Awards: 60 Award Ceiling: $0 Award Floor: $0 Cost Sharing Required?

No Closing Date Explanation All proposals must be submitted electronically through Grants.gov on or before: June 4, 2026, at 6 pm, Eastern Daylight Time.

OMB Control Number:

Have Questions?

For programmatic technical assistance, contact:

Jill Franks, Associate Program Coordinator for Earthquake Hazards External Research, U.S. Geological Survey Telephone: 571-294-1718 (mobile) Email: jfranks@usgs.gov For program administration assistance, contact:

Margaret Eastman, Contracting Officer, Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey Telephone: 703-648-7366; 703-283-9642 (Mobile) Email: Margaret_eastman@ios.doi.gov Relevant Executive and Secretarial Orders EO 14303 - Restoring Gold Standard Science: EO 14303 supports Earthquake Hazards External Research Grants by reaffirming the Department’s commitment to rigorous, transparent, and independently validated scientific practices, ensuring that funded earthquake research adheres to the highest standards of scientific integrity and produces reliable hazard information for public and intergovernmental decision-making.

EO 14239 - Achieving Efficiency Through State and Local Preparedness: EO 14239 aligns with Earthquake Hazards External Research Grants by strengthening coordinated preparedness across state and local governments, directly supporting the program’s role in generating actionable earthquake science that enhances community readiness, improves intergovernmental information sharing, and supports efficient emergency planning and response activities.

Executive Summary The USGS Earthquake Hazards Program (EHP) issues this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for assistance to support research in earthquake hazards, the physics of earthquakes, earthquake occurrence, and earthquake safety policy. This activity is authorized by the Earthquake Hazards Reduction Act of 1977 (Public Law 95-124, 42 U.S.C. 7701 et. seq.), and as amended by the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program Reauthorization Act of 2018 (Public Law 115-307).

It is estimated that a total of $4 million will be awarded in support of competitive research grants in FY2027, with a maximum total of $7 million. Based on awards in recent years, approximately 50 to 70 new awards are funded each fiscal year. There is no maximum award amount (i.e., any amount may be proposed if it can be justified appropriately), however, the majority of grants range between $30,000 and $120,000. This estimate does not bind the USGS to a specified number of awards or to the amount of any award unless that amount is specified by statute or regulation.

This U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) competitive grants solicitation supports external research partnerships that are essential to the Earthquake Hazards Program (EHP) mission. The goal is to generate scientific information and situational awareness products that help the program reduce deaths, injuries, and economic losses from earthquakes, and improve public safety and resilience nationwide. External grants with university, state, regional and local government agencies, and private industry partners support science that cannot be conducted within the USGS because of a lack of sufficient in-house expertise.

Grants.gov Subscription:

Principal Investigators (PIs) are urged to sign up for Grants.gov’s subscription service to receive notices about the Earthquake Hazards Program grant funding opportunities and possible updates during the application period. Sign up is through the Grants.gov website; our CFDA number is 15.807.

Anticipated Award Date:

January 01, 2027 All projects must propose start dates between January 1, 2027 and September 1, 2027. The start date requested in the applicant’s submitted proposal is considered the applicant's official start date and may not be changed by the applicant. If funding delays do not allow for a project to be funded by the applicant's requested start date, the award will be issued as soon as funds become available, and the applicant will be notified of the new start date by the USGS Contracting Officer.

During the application period an applicant may submit a revised or corrected proposal through grants.gov. Include a cover letter as the first page of the proposal stating that the proposal is revised and indicating that the previous submission is to be withdrawn from consideration. Such submissions must be completed by June 4, 2026, at 6:00 pm Eastern Daylight Time. The Project Narrative instructions, found in the “Prepare Your Application” Section of this NOFO, describes requirements for the proposal and other application components.

Please allow sufficient time for the proposal to be submitted electronically through Grants.gov and allow time for possible computer delays. Applicants are strongly advised not to wait until the last minute for submission. A proposal received after the closing date and time will NOT be considered for award. If the USGS determines that a proposal will not be considered for award due to lateness, the applicant will be notified immediately.

Program Website Link:

https://www.usgs.gov/programs/earthquake-hazards/science/external-grants

ELIGIBILITY

Eligible Applicants State governments County governments City or township governments Special district governments Independent school districts Public and State controlled institutions of higher education Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal 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 Private institutions of higher education Individuals Small businesses Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility" Additional Information on Eligibility This Announcement is open to all individuals and entities EXCEPT for the ineligible categories listed below.

The following proposals are NOT eligible for consideration under this Announcement:

A. Proposals for regional seismic monitoring or establishing Data Centers.

B. Proposals for long-term operation of geodetic networks or instruments.

C. Proposals from U.S. Government agencies or U.S. Government employees.

D. Proposals from Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDC).

E. Proposals in which there is a real or apparent conflict of interest.

F. Proposals principally involving the direct procurement of a product, equipment, or service.

G. Proposals having subcontracts for 50 percent or greater of total direct costs.

Excluded Parties:

USGS conducts a review of the SAM.gov Exclusions database for all applicant entities and their key project personnel prior to award. USGS cannot award funds to entities or their key project personnel identified in the SAM.gov Exclusions database as ineligible, prohibited/restricted or otherwise excluded from receiving Federal contracts, certain subcontracts, and certain Federal assistance and benefits, as their ineligibility condition applies to this Federal program.

Involvement of Federal Employees:

Federal employees, including USGS employees, are prohibited from serving in any capacity (paid or unpaid) on any application submitted under this Announcement; federal employees may not assist in the development of proposals. Proposals that have a real or apparent conflict of interest related to Federal employees will not be processed for evaluation. This does not prohibit cooperation or collaboration between USGS and non-USGS scientists once a grant or cooperative agreement is in place. The Program Description, found in the “Program Overview” Section of this NOFO, describes Collaborative Proposals.

Restrictions and Requirements for Non-U.S. Entities or Projects

· We do not fund countries supporting terrorism subject to U.S. sanctions.

· We do not fund countries under U.S. Treasury sanctions without licenses.

· You must get all required approvals for work outside the U.S. We are not responsible for your compliance with local rules.

· For projects over $500,000, you may need to comply with 2 CFR 175.105(b) before we make an award.

Cost Sharing Requirement Cost Sharing Required?

No

GET READY TO APPLY

Required System Registrations Unique Entity Identifier and SAM.gov Registration Before applying, all applicants except individuals applying as a natural person must be registered in SAM.gov. During the SAM.gov registration the entity will obtain their Unique Entity Identifier (UEI).

The SAM.gov registration process can take several months. If your organization is not already registered in SAM.gov, begin the registration process as soon as possible.

To register in SAM.gov, go to the SAM.gov website and use the available resources to complete registration.

· Financial assistance registrants must review and certify compliance with the SAM.gov “Financial Assistance General Representations and Certifications”.

· Already registered? You already have a Unique Entity ID. Before applying, check that your “Financial Assistance General Representations and Certifications” on SAM.gov is complete. Remember to renew your registration every year to keep it active while you have an award or application in progress. You can update your registration whenever you need, including during renewal.

· Need help? For additional information and contact information on the SAM.gov Help page.

GRANTS.GOV

This program accepts applications through Grants.gov so once you receive your UEI return to Grants.gov to register with Grants.gov. Please allow 30 days to register and set up a Workspace in Grants.gov. See Submission Instructions section below for additional details.

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

Program Goals

· The USGS Earthquake Hazards Program (EHP) External Grants Office strives to advance the science that underlies EHP products by funding research that poses and tests new hypotheses, develops novel data acquisition tools, analysis methods, and products, as well as improves information dissemination and makes research results more effective in mitigating losses from earthquakes. External grants funded by the USGS EHP further our understanding of the genesis, propagation, characterization, and effects of earthquakes and advance our ability to assess and communicate earthquake hazards and risks. Attachment A describes EHP research priority topics for FY2027.

Program Description Recipients are encouraged to prioritize projects in support of the celebration of America’s 250th birthday (America250). This may include, but is not limited to, projects that recognize and honor the nation’s founding, history, and cultural heritage.

Research Priorities:

The Research Priorities presented in Attachment A reflect the mission of the USGS Earthquake Hazards Program (EHP).

Applicants must review the high-priority targets listed in Attachment A for each region and topic in addition to the four major program elements described in Attachment A to determine if an application is appropriate under this Program Announcement. Proposals should clearly address both applicable program element(s) and priority topic(s).

Application Requirements:

1. Proposals must be for a duration of either one or two years with a clearly stated objective for the requested term. For more detail on requirements for 2-year proposals, see Section titled "Two-Year Proposals" below.

2. The majority, greater than 50 percent, of research activities must be conducted by the Applicant. The Applicant must retain administrative and technical control of project activities.

3. Proposals for geologic investigations shall be clearly oriented toward earthquake hazard research and assessment. Research Priorities are described in Attachment A.

4. USGS personnel are prohibited from assisting any organization in preparing its proposal for competitive funding under this Program Announcement.

5. Proposals to fund research in foreign countries will be considered only if the research is clearly oriented toward providing new knowledge or new techniques transferable to a U.S. seismogenic zone.

Out-of-Cycle Awards:

The USGS may accept proposals outside of the normal competitive cycle under very limited circumstances:

1. Research proposals may be accepted and approved out-of-cycle (after the closing date) only in cases where there is compelling circumstance or emergency (e.g., seismic event), which must be acted on before the next competitive review cycle. Proposers should contact the appropriate Regional or Topical Coordinator prior to submitting out-of-cycle proposals.

2. Congress mandates directed awards to support activities that evaluate earthquake hazards and losses. In this case, the USGS will solicit applications.

Collaborative Proposals:

Two types of collaborative proposals are acceptable: 1.) Collaboration between two or more external organizations that are seeking funding from the USGS/EHP External Research Support and 2.) Collaboration between an external organization seeking such funding and a USGS internal project. Collaborative proposals are not instances where persons from a second organization are hired as consultants or other contractual agreements to conduct work on behalf of the grant or cooperative agreement recipient.

Please note that collaborative research between a USGS internal project and external investigator(s) must be structured such that neither project could succeed without the other being funded. While many external research projects either directly or indirectly support or cooperate with ongoing internal USGS projects, these projects are not considered collaborative projects because their research objectives can be pursued with or without the existence of the internal USGS research.

1. For collaborative proposals that propose work by two or more separate institutions or organizations, each individual organization must accept responsibility for specific parts of the work proposed. A separate proposal must be submitted from each external organization involved in collaborative studies. Major sections of each proposal shall be identical, and each proposal must clearly define the objectives to be performed by each organization, and each institution shall submit a separate budget, which clearly reflects their objectives and responsibilities.

2. Each Principal Investigator and his/her institution that is recommended for funding will receive a separate grant or cooperative agreement and shall accept financial responsibility for administering the grant and technical responsibility for submitted required technical reports.

Collaborative proposals must be clearly identified in the proposal title. The application title shall read “Proposal Title: Collaborative Research with First Institution name, and Second Institution name.”

1. Recipient of collaborative awards must submit one Progress Report (for 2 -year awards) and one Final Technical Report, incorporating the efforts of all collaborators.

2. USGS reserves the right to fund only some of the Applicants involved in a collaborative study.

IMPORTANT: In the case of collaborative proposals involving external organizations and USGS scientists, the external proposal MUST include the collaboration letter template (included in this NOFO as Attachment B), filled out and signed by the relevant internal USGS scientist(s) and their direct supervisor. The collaboration letter template states that the scientist(s) will include specific efforts in his/her agreed-upon internal work plan for the period of time of the proposal to EHP. The scientists' supervisor must also sign the form in showing their approval of the work. Any letters provided by USGS scientists that do not use the template provided in Attachment B WILL BE REMOVED from consideration prior to proposal review and your proposal will be at risk for rejection. The letter template may also be used for USGS scientists to confirm their commitment of providing resources (providing datasets, equipment, etc.) instead of a collaborative effort. The signed collaboration/commitment statement will be the last page(s) of the submitted proposal and will not count toward the 15-page limit.

Two-year Proposals:

Most proposals are funded for one year; all work that can be completed in one year should be proposed as a one-year project. However, if the proposed work is such that two years are required to complete the research, then a two-year proposal is appropriate and should be submitted. Applicants should carefully consider their time commitments and request the required grant duration and funding to accomplish the project goals. The peer review panel may recommend funding only the first year of a two-year proposal when the proposed research is easily divided into two, one-year projects or when they feel that results from the first year’s proposed work will need to be evaluated before a second year of research can be considered. Applicants should be sure to address the stipulations for two-year proposals in the “Prepare Your Application” Section of this NOFO, Project Narrative Instructions, Item F.2: Project Plan. The second year of funding of a two-year grant is contingent upon the availability of funds and satisfactory progress by the Recipient. Progress will be determined through technical review of a Progress Report by the External Research Coordinator and his or her agent. The Progress Report shall be submitted by the Recipient, in accordance with grant award Special Terms and Conditions.

Legislative Authority The U.S. Geological Survey’s requirement to provide notifications of earthquakes and monitor earthquakes and their effects is established in the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Act, 42 U.S. Code 7701-7709, as amended through P.L. 115-307.

Type of Award Projects will be funded through G (Grant).

PREPARE YOUR APPLICATION

Application Content and Format Application Documents Applicants must submit the following forms with their application as specified below. Instructions for accessing and submitting application forms are provided in the Submission Instructions section of this document below. For instructions on completing form fields, see the form instructions on the Grants.gov Forms Repository.

SF-424, Application for Federal Assistance Note: For applicants requesting more than $100,000 in Federal funds, the Authorized Representative’s signature (or electronic equivalent) on the Application for Federal Assistance form also represents their certification of the statements in Appendix A to 43 CFR 18-Certification Regarding Lobbying Required from all applicants

SF-429 (Cover Page & Attachment B), Request to Acquire, Improve, or Furnish Real Property Note: The SF-429 forms are only available in the Grants.gov Forms Repository. Applicants must download the form and include the completed form as an application attachment.

Required if requesting to acquire, improve, or furnish real property.

Project Abstract Summary (OMB 4040-0019). Must include, in plain language:

• Award purpose,

• Activities to be performed,

• Expected deliverables or outcomes,

• Intended beneficiaries, Subrecipient activities (if known or specified at time of award) Required from all applicants

DOI Research and Development (R&D) – Current and Pending (Other) Support Note: This form is available on the DOI website. Applicants must download the form and include the completed form as an application attachment.

Required for research projects.

DOI Research and Development (R&D) – Biographical Sketch Note: This form is available on the DOI website. Applicants must download the form and include the completed form as an application attachment.

Required for research projects.

Project Narrative Your electronic submission shall consist of forms SF-424, SF-424A, and SF-424B, plus the items described below. No additional documents or materials may be submitted. Failure to comply with the required application components listed below may result in the proposal being rejected. The USGS cannot request or receive supplemental or replacement application components after the closing date/time under this NOFO. To view complete forms instructions, please visit the Grants.gov Forms Repository at Forms Repository | Grants.gov.

IMPORTANT: Items as described below shall be combined into one single document, in the order noted below, and submitted through Grants.gov in either MS Word or PDF format. The application shall not exceed 15 single-spaced pages (including figures, tables, appendices, etc.), and the type size shall not be smaller than 11 point. All pages of the application shall be numbered. All text, figures, and tables shall be sized to fit on 8½" by 11" paper. The SF forms, data management plan, references, curriculum vitae, letters of support from institutions outside the USGS and any USGS scientist collaboration/commitment statement form do NOT count toward the 15-page limit. The application shall be in color as needed for review by peer review panel members.

PROJECT NARRATIVE INSTRUCTIONS:

The application submitted through grants.gov as the Project Narrative Attachment Form (in MS Word or PDF format) and shall be assembled in the following order and combined in ONE document:

A. Proposal Information Summary. This summary is mandatory for the Grants.gov submission for each proposal. The same format, with ALL information as shown in Attachment C shall be included in each applicant’s Grants.gov submission. The two- or three-letter panel designation (also known as Regional or Topical Area), found in the “Application Review Information” Section of this NOFO and in Attachment A, shall be indicated in Item 1 of Attachment C. Only ONE panel designation may be chosen per proposal. If you do not submit this page, your proposal will be rejected.

B. Project Abstract Summary. The abstract shall be no longer than one single-spaced page. The Project Abstract Summary for all financial assistance awards is required to be submitted in the following format. (DO NOT SUBMIT IN PARAGRAPH FORM. INCLUDE EACH OF THE BULLETED TITLES WITH APPLICABLE TEXT.)

· Include a plain language description Award purpose (avoid acronyms or Federal or agency-specific terminology);

· Activities to be performed;

· Deliverables and Expected Outcomes;

· Intended beneficiary(ies) as well as

· Subrecipient activities, if known or specified at time of award.

NOTE: Upon issuance of the grant, this Project Abstract Summary will be publicly available at USAspending.gov.

C. Table of Contents.

D. Budget Summary. The proposed budget shall be presented in two parts: a one-page summary, which shall be in the format shown in Attachment D. The detailed budget is described below.

E. Detailed Budget. The detailed proposed budget shall be keyed to the Budget Summary. Non-federal funds available to support the project may be reflected in the detailed budget or the SF 424, as appropriate.

The project budget shall include detailed information on all cost categories and must clearly identify all estimated project costs. Unit costs shall be provided for all budget items including the cost of work to be provided by contractors or sub-recipients. In addition, applicants shall include a narrative description of the items included in the project budget, including the value of in-kind contributions of goods and services provided to complete the project when cost share is identified to be included. Cost categories can include, but are not limited to, those costs items included on the SF424A or SF424C. See Attachment D., Budget Summary Template.

For two-year projects: The Applicant shall provide summary information (see Attachment D) as well as a detailed budget for the second year. The SF-424 shall reflect both years.

The detailed budget must include the amount proposed for each of the following items in this order:

1. Salaries and wages. Identify individuals by name and position, estimated hours or percent of time, and the rate of compensation proposed. Include an explanation of the amounts included for projected increases if the rate of pay shown is higher than the current rate of pay. Identify each person with an objective in the project. Principal Investigator and senior staff time should be limited with the majority of salary for students and junior staff.

IMPORTANT: As a general policy (without strong justification), USGS EHP limits the salary compensation requested in the proposal budget (and therefore awarded) for senior personnel to no more than two months of their regular salary in any one year. Additionally, USGS funding in support of salaries under awards made pursuant to this NOFO shall be capped at Executive level II rate (Pay & Leave : Salaries & Wages - OPM.gov), where salary rate is calculated as a full-time calendar year appointment. Any difference between the salary paid to recipient personnel and the salary cap shall be borne by the recipient.

Tuition remission and other forms of compensation paid as, or in lieu of, wages to students performing necessary work are allowable provided that the tuition or other payments are reasonable compensation for the work performed and are conditioned explicitly upon the performance of the work. Tuition and/or tuition remission should be identified in this section of the budget.

2. 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. Indicate whether rates are used for proposal purposes only or whether they are also fixed or provisional rates for billing purposes.

3. 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.

4. 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. If fabrication of equipment is proposed, list parts and materials required for each and show costs separately from the other items.

5. Services or consultants. Identify the objectives 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. If known, state whether the consultant's rate is the same as she/he has received for similar services or under Government contracts or assistance awards. Note the restriction on sub-recipients efforts indicated in the “Program Overview” Section of this NOFO, under Application Requirements.

6. Radiocarbon or other dating. Include the type of analyses, number of samples, cost per sample, and facility likely to perform the analyses. IMPORTANT: If the dating is to be done at a national lab, include the full contact information for the contact at the lab; a separate award will be made to the national lab, however, include the national lab costs within the grant application budget.

7. Travel. State the purpose of the trip and itemize the estimate 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. For travel requested to meetings or conferences, include a description of the benefit to the proposed project. Failure to provide this information may result in a determination of the cost as unallowable. Calculations of other special transportation costs (such as charges for use of applicant-owned vehicles or vehicle rental costs) should also be shown.

8. Publication costs. Show the estimated cost of publishing the results of the research. Include costs of drafting or graphics, reproduction, page or illustration charges.

9. Other direct costs. Itemize the different types of costs not included elsewhere; such as, shipping, telemetry, computing, and equipment-use charges, not specifically identified for other budget sections, above. Provide breakdowns showing how the cost was estimated; for example, computer time should show the type of computer, estimated time of use, and the established rates.

10. Total direct costs. Total items 1 through 9.

11. Indirect cost/general and administrative (G&A) cost. Show the proposed rate, cost base, and proposed amount for allowable indirect costs based on the cost principles applicable to the Applicant's organization. G&A should not be calculated for any tuition remission. If the Applicant has separate rates for recovery of labor overhead and G&A costs, each charge should be shown. Explain the distinction between items included in the two cost pools. The Applicant should propose rates for evaluation purposes, which they are also willing to establish as fixed or ceiling rates in any resulting award. NOTE: A copy of the indirect negotiated cost agreement with the Federal Government will be requested from all applicants recommended for an award. This request will be made at the time of recommendation notification. Please note that in the absence of a negotiated cost agreement, the maximum indirect rate that may be charged is 15% (see Section 200.414(f) of the Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards). This requirement applies to ALL applicants including nonprofits, small businesses, and individuals.

12. Amount proposed. Total items 10 and 11.

13. Applicant’s contribution to Project Cost.

14. Total Project Cost. Total Federal and non-Federal amounts, if any.

F. Proposal: The description of the proposed research shall consist of the following parts:

1. Significance of the Project. In a separate paragraph of the proposal, discuss the specific problem addressed and its importance. Describe the significant contribution the project will make to one or more of the Priority Topics under the 10 Research Areas in Attachment A. This description is required.

2. Project Plan. Discuss the specific hypotheses or research questions, the conceptual framework or model to be used, as well as the data collection and analysis plans, and relationship with past studies. Plans should also include procedures to be used to insure objectivity and balance in the project. Include project milestones and related due dates for the proposed work and required reports (See Attachment E, Sections 3 and 4). Time allocations, responsibilities for the project staff members, and level of effort for personnel must also be described separately for each year of the proposal; this is critical for two-year proposals.

3. Final Technical Report and Dissemination. The USGS considers dissemination of research data and results to potential users of those results to be an integral and crucial aspect of projects it funds. See Attachment E, Section 3: “Dissemination of Results and Reporting Requirements”.

4. Related Efforts. Describe significant, related studies conducted by members of the research team and discuss any planned coordination with other workers in the field. Include descriptions of current and recent USGS/EHP External Research Support grants or cooperative agreements, the relationship of those to this proposal (if any), and relevant results from previous grants or cooperative agreements.

5. Institutional Qualifications. State the resources available at, and the relevant experience of, the institution. Resources include personnel, computer and library facilities, and ties to both sources of data and potential users of the results.

6. Current Support and Pending Applications. See Application Documents Chart for DOI Research and Development - Current & Pending (Other) Support Forms. These forms do not count towards the page limit. The forms must be included at the end of the proposal.

7. Current or Past IPA Appointments. List any Intergovernmental Personnel Act Appointments you or your co-Is or anyone on your Research Team has had or currently has with the USGS in the last 5 years. Include a description of the work completed during the appointment.

8. Past USGS-Supported Projects. List the total amount of funding per year for which support was provided by the USGS for previous work related to the proposed research effort, as well as the duration of each award (including no-cost extensions) and the total number of person-months committed by each Principal Investigator each year.

NOTE: Items 6 above and 9-12 below do not count toward the 15-page limit.

9. Data Management Plan (DMP). A DMP is required. Instructions for writing an acceptable DMP are found in this Section under "Data Management Plan Requirements".

10. References/Works Cited.

11. Project Personnel and Bibliography of Directly Related Work. See Application Documentation Chart for DOI Research and Development - Biographical Sketch.

12. Letters of Support/USGS Scientist Signed Statement of Collaboration/Commitment. Letters of Support are useful for all proposals that include coordination with or participation by researchers at institutions other than those submitting the proposal or from a USGS employee. Such letters are NOT acceptable from USGS scientists and if included, WILL BE REMOVED from consideration prior to proposal review and your proposal will be at risk for rejection. Instead, a signed "USGS Scientist Collaboration/Commitment Statement Form" is REQUIRED and MUST be included if a USGS scientist intends to collaborate with or commit resources to the proposal. The USGS Scientist Collaboration/Commitment Statement Form is included in this NOFO as Attachment B. The Applicant is responsible for providing the form to the USGS scientist to fill out and sign along with the USGS scientist's direct supervisor.

G. Data Management Plan Requirements:

Proposals submitted to USGS must include a supplementary document of no more than four 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 website here: https://www.usgs.gov/products/data-and-tools/data-management/data- management-plans. Simultaneously submitted collaborative proposals and proposals that include sub-awards 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 sub-awards included.

It is the expectation of the USGS that Principal Investigators will publish the results of funded research in peer-reviewed scientific or technical journals. Scientific or technical journals are NOT acceptable to satisfy the requirements of a Data Management Plan. The DMP must be written to follow the guidance above. In addition, all source data and data products and computer codes must be made readily available within the public domain upon completion of the project. If you do not include a data management plan or a statement with justification that no plan is needed, your proposal will be rejected.

Budget Narrative Applicants must describe and justify items and costs listed in their budget. The budget narrative must identify the following cost items: total estimated costs, non-Federal cost share, third-party contributions, and any pre-award costs. Total project cost is the sum of all allowable costs, including required and voluntary cost share and third-party contributions.

Budget items must be:

· Reasonable, allowable, allocable, and necessary

· Compliant with 2 CFR §200 Subpart E cost principles Indirect Costs: Applicants must indicate in their budget narrative how they will charge indirect costs, including the rate to be applied:

· De Minimis Rate: If eligible, state if your organization is opting to use the de minimis rate of up to 15% of total modified direct costs. Entities that do not have a current Federal negotiated indirect cost rate (including provisional rate) may propose to use the de minimis rate. For more information, refer to 2 CFR 200.414(f).

· Negotiated Rate: State if you will negotiate with your cognizant agency. If your organization has previously negotiated a rate, attach a copy of the most recently negotiated rate agreement (active or expired).

Conflict of Interest and Unresolved Matters Disclosures:

If any actual or potential conflict of interest exists related to this project at the time of application, the applicant must provide sufficient information to support a program determination of significance per 2 CFR 1402.112. Refer to 2 CFR 200.112 Conflict of Interest and 2 CFR 200.113.

Overlap or Duplication of Effort Statement:

Applicants must state in their application if the activities, costs, or time commitment of key personnel proposed in this application overlap with those in any other Federal proposal or award or not. If no overlap exists, include a statement to that effect. If any overlap exists, provide:

· Activities: Description any overlapping activities.

· Costs: Description of any overlapping costs.

· Time: Description of any overlapping key personnel time.

· A copy of any overlapping or duplicative proposal submitted to any other potential funding entity.

· Details on when any overlapping proposal was submitted, to whom, and the expected date of the funding decision.

SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS AND DEADLINES

Address to Request Application Package Electronic Application Requirement: For the FY2027 funding cycle all proposals shall be submitted electronically via Grants.gov (http://www.grants.gov). Hard/paper submissions will NOT be accepted. Electronic copies submitted via e-mail will NOT be accepted under any circumstances. All proposals must be submitted electronically through Grants.gov on or before: June 4, 2026, at 6 pm, Eastern Daylight Time.

SAM REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED FOR ALL APPLICANTS TO INCLUDE FOREIGN RECIPIENTS AS WELL AS INDIVIDUALS. FAILURE TO REGISTER AT SAM.GOV MAY AFFECT THE USGS'S ABILITY TO ISSUE AN AWARD.

Please be aware that the electronic submission process requires first time users to register using an e- Authentication process. This registration process can be somewhat complex and can take up to 3 weeks to complete. Be advised that it is virtually impossible to begin the process of electronic submission for the first time if you start just a few days before the due date. If you are from a university, contact your Office of Sponsored Programs. They may already have completed the registration process and should work with you to submit the application. If you have any questions or problems with the registration process, or the completion of the application package, please contact the grants.gov help desk at 1-800-518-4726 or support@grants.gov.

Submission Dates and Times Closing Date for Applications: 06/04/2026 Closing Date Explanation All proposals must be submitted electronically through Grants.gov on or before: June 4, 2026, at 6 pm, Eastern Daylight Time.

Submission Instructions

Apply Through Grants.gov To apply through Grants.gov, please follow the instructions in the Quick Start Guide for Applicants. Before applying, ensure that at least one person at your organization is registered and has the Authorized Organization Representative (AOR). Only the AOR can submit the application. If you need more users, they must create their own Grants.gov account. Follow these steps below to apply:

· Create a Workspace: Creating a workspace allows you to complete it online and route it through your organization for review before submitting.

· Complete a Workspace: Invite participants to the workspace so you can collaborate on the application. Required applications forms are included in the Grants.gov Funding Opportunity Package and can be completed in the Workspace, unless noted otherwise in the Required Forms table above. Check for errors before submission.

· Submit a Workspace: An application may be submitted through workspace by clicking the Sign and Submit button on the Manage Workspace page, under the Forms tab

· Track a Workspace Submission: After successfully submitting a workspace application, a Grants.gov Tracking Number (GRANTXXXXXXXX) is automatically assigned to the application.

The system generates a date and time stamp and sends it to the applicant’s AOR via email as proof of submission. Make sure your application passes the Grants.gov validation checks. Do not encrypt, zip, or password-protect any files. Only registered individuals in SAM as both a user and an AOR can submit applications. Please allow 30 days to register in Grants.gov.

Application System Technical Support: For Grants.gov technical registration and submission, downloading forms, and application packages, contact Grants.gov Customer Support at 1-800-518-4726 or by email at Support@grants.gov.

APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION

Eligibility Review During the eligibility review, the application is checked for timely submission, completed packages (see Application Documents above) and alignment with the requirements of this announcement. The Federal agency may remove an application if it does not pass the eligibility review.

Review and Selection Process.

A. Proposals pertinent to one of the ten research areas (listed in Attachment A and below) will be evaluated by multidisciplinary peer review panels. The panel members read all the proposals assigned to their panel prior to their meeting and at the panel meeting discuss each proposal according to the evaluation criteria. The four to seven panel members are scientists and engineers drawn from academia, Federal, State , local, and regional agencies, non-profit organizations, and private industry. In addition, one USGS member is often chosen for each panel. The panels will evaluate the technical merit of the proposals especially in the context of development of an integrated program of investigations for that region with attention to the research priorities (see Attachment A).

B. The peer review panel makes recommendations and provides advice on each proposal based on the merit criteria in the section below. The panel ranks proposals into priority groupings based on their scores in accordance with the criteria. The panel rankings are the principal determination of proposal success pending available funds; the Earthquake Hazards Program Office makes final funding decisions based on the panel's recommendations and the EHP Science Priorities for the Fiscal Year. The results of the peer review will assist the USGS in making final award determinations under this Announcement. The panels include five regional panels, and five topical panels for earthquake hazards, impacts and risk, earthquake source processes, earthquake rupture forecasting, ground motion research, and earthquake early warning research. Applicants must indicate in the Proposal Information Summary (Attachment C) the panel that is most appropriate for their proposal. Although it is required to indicate the panel when submitting a proposal, the USGS Regional or Topical coordinator reserves the right to reassign proposals to a more appropriate panel as necessary.

The panels and their designations are as follows:

Designation Panel Name CEUS Central and Eastern United States EEW Earthquake Early Warning Research HIR Hazards, Impacts, and Risk ESP Earthquake Source Processes ERF Earthquake Rupture Forecasting IMW Inter-mountain West GM Ground Motion Research NC Northern California PNA Pacific Northwest and Alaska SC Southern California Applications can be directed to only ONE panel. If unsure of which panel is most appropriate, contact the applicable Regional or Topical Coordinator (see Attachment A for contact information).

Rejection of Applications after Initial Review:

If an application does not meet all requirements specified in the Announcement, as determined by the Contracting Officer in consultation with the External Research Coordinator, the institution and Principal Investigator will be promptly notified that the proposal will not be reviewed indicating the reason for its rejection.

If an applicant selected for funding hasn't finished their SAM.gov registration (see 2 CFR 25.200 and 2 CFR 25.110) when the federal agency is ready to make an award, we may decide that the applicant is ineligible for the award and choose to grant it to someone else. Please refer 2 CFR 25.205 for more information.

Prior to making an award, the DOI checks the anticipated recipient and their key project personnel against the current list of prohibited or restricted persons or entities in the System for Award Management (SAM.gov) Exclusions database. We are prohibited from making an award if a recipient or any key personnel are found ineligible, prohibited, restricted, or otherwise excluded from receiving or participating in an award, as their ineligibility condition applies to this program.

If removed from consideration for ineligibility, the Federal agency will notify the applicant in writing.

Merit Review All proposals are considered in accordance with the criteria set forth below. All criteria are to be weighed equally by the panel reviewers when deriving their overall score.

1. EHP Research Priorities. The Research Priorities presented in Attachment A reflect the mission of the USGS Earthquake Hazards Program (EHP). Applicants must review the high-priority targets listed in Attachment A for each region and topic in additional to the four major program elements described in Attachment A to determine if application is appropriate under this Program Announcement. Proposals should clearly address both applicable program element(s) and priority topic(s).

2. Relevance and Timeliness. This factor considers the relevance and timeliness of the proposed research activities as they relate to the USGS Earthquake Hazards Program goals and address the Department of Interior’s Secretarial priorities, including regional emphasis where appropriate (see Attachment A).

3. Technical Quality of the Proposal. This factor considers the scientific merit of the proposed approach and the probability of achieving positive results within the designated period.

4. Competence and Recent Research Performance of Principal Investigator (PI) and Research Team. This factor considers the scientific and technical competence of the PI and coworkers and promptness of disseminating completed research results to the scientific community. This factor includes performance records and capability of providing required facilities and support needed to assure satisfactory completion of the proposed work. The competence of new applicants or early career scientists should be weighed equally to seasoned applicants or senior level scientists.