Foa_Content_of_G25AS00485 Aug 18.pdf

Notice of Funding Opportunity

United States Geological Survey

WATER RESOURCES RESEARCH ACT PROGRAM NATIONAL COMPETITIVE GRANTS

FY2025 (104g General) https://water.usgs.gov/wrri/

Notice of Funding Opportunity - Fiscal Year 2025 Funding Opportunity Number (FON) G25AS00485

Closing Date: 09/30/2025

Table of Contents

BASIC INFORMATION

ELIGIBILITY

Cost Sharing Requirement

GET READY TO APPLY

Required System Registrations

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

Program Goals

Program Description

Legislative Authority

Type of Award

PREPARE YOUR APPLICATION

Application Content and Format

Application Documents

SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS AND DEADLINES

Address to Request Application Package

Submission Dates and Times

Submission Instructions

APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION

Eligibility Review

Merit Review

Review and Selection Process

Risk Review

AWARD NOTICES

POST AWARD REQUIREMENTS AND ADMINISTRATION

Administration and National Policy Requirements

Reporting

BASIC INFORMATION

Announcement Type: Notice of Funding Opportunity

Funding Opportunity Number: G25AS00485

Assistance Listing Number(s): 15.805

Estimated Total Program Funding: $1,850,000

Expected Number of Awards: 6

Award Ceiling: $310,000

Award Floor: $0

The Government's obligation under this program is contingent upon the availability of appropriated funds.

Cost Sharing Required?

Yes

Closing Date Explanation Applications, including the full proposal, must be submitted to grants.gov by the State Water Resources Research Institute prior to the 5:00 PM Eastern Time, September 30, 2025 closing date. Proposals must be submitted as a complete application package (full proposal, SF-424 and SF-424B, matching commitment letter, budget breakdown, budget justification and budget summary, PI’s conflict disclosures) to grants.gov by the university that houses the Institute. PI’s must coordinate with their respective Institutes prior to submission to allow time for the Institute to meet the deadlines of this program announcement.

Executive Summary This Program Announcement is issued under the provisions of section 104 of the Water Resources Research Act of 1984 (Public Law 98-242), as amended by Public Laws 101-397, 104-147, 106-374, 109-471, and 117–58. Section 104 of the Water Resources Research Act directs the Secretary of the Interior to administer program grants to Institutes established under the provisions of section 104(a) of the Act. Water Resources Research Institutes have been established in each of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Guam. The Institute in Guam also serves the Federated States of Micronesia and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. The Institute in Hawaii also serves American Samoa. The addresses of the 54 Institutes are available at https://water.usgs.gov/wrri/index.php.

Responsibility for administration of the Water Resources Research Act Program has been delegated to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).

ELIGIBILITY

Eligible Applicants 25 – Others (see text field entitled “Additional Information on Eligibility” for clarification)

Additional Information on Eligibility Awards are available only to Water Resources Research Institutes established pursuant to the provisions of section 104 of the Water Resources Research Act and listed at http://water.usgs.gov/wrri/index.php. However, any investigator at an institution of higher learning in the United States is eligible to apply for an award through a Water Resources Research Institute. The application, with full proposal along with the SF-424 and SF-424B and budget forms, must be submitted through grants.gov (http://www.grants.gov) by the university at which the Institute is located. Proposals requesting matching funds from an Institute are authorized at the discretion of the Institute Director.

APPLICATIONS not eligible for funding

A. Applications for research on health effects involving human subjects.

B. Applications for research involving oceanography (estuarine research applications are acceptable).

C. Applications for research that do not meet program objectives as outlined.

D. Applications submitted by an Institute or Center that has not met reporting requirements on a previous award by the USGS.

E. Federal employees may, and are encouraged to, collaborate with college or university investigators in this program.

F. Federal employees may not serve as a principal investigator (PI) but may serve as a Co-

PI.

G. Federal employees and agencies may not receive federal funds for any purpose under these awards.

H. Federal employees and agencies may not serve as a source of matching funds under these awards.

Excluded Parties: USGS conducts a review of the System for Award Management (SAM) Exclusions database (SAM.gov) 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.

Cost Sharing Requirement Cost Sharing Required?

Yes This program has a match requirement.

A. Each applicant must match each Federal dollar provided with not less than one dollar from non-federal sources.

Note: Guam, the Federated States of Micronesia, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and American Samoa are exempt from the matching requirement.

B. The matching requirement applies to the overall application, not the individual projects within the application.

C. The matching requirement should be met during each 12-month budget period.

D. Matching funds obligated shall be reflected on line 10.i. of each Federal Financial Report, Standard Form 425.

E. Matching funds may contain indirect costs and non-federal salaries and benefits. The applicant’s negotiated indirect cost rate (NICR) may be applied to both qualifying federal and non-federal direct costs, and the result used to satisfy part of the matching requirement under the non-federal share. The NICR shall not be applied to tuition and equipment costs. Federal funds shall not be used to pay indirect costs. Regulations pertaining to allowable matching funds are provided in the Code of Federal Regulations at 2 CFR 200.306.

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.

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

Program Goals

Research for water resources in each State or Territory served by the Water Resources Research Institutes under the Water Resources Research Act.

Program Description Water Resources Institutes have been established in each of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Guam. The Institute in Guam also serves the Federated States of Micronesia and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

The Institute in Hawaii also serves American Samoa. Responsibility for administration of the

State Water Resources Research Institute program has been delegated to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).

The 54 Institutes are organized as the National Institutes for Water Resources (NIWR). NIWR cooperates with the USGS in the administration of the Water Resources Research Act Program.

Research Priorities Priority 1: Economic value of Information of the USGS streamgage network and associated National Water Information System (NWIS). Applicants should review the National Hydrologic Warning Council 2006 report for a listing of benefits categories. For this proposal, USGS is most interested in categories (1) through (3) in the 2006 report; categories (4) and (5) are of significant but lesser interest. USGS appreciates that proposals may seek a tradeoff between examining multiple benefit categories at a reduced geographic scale versus a limited number of benefits categories at a national scale. While preference will be given to those proposals that provide a Nation-wide assessment, please consider the minimum geographic scope to be Hydrologic Unit Code 12 (Hydrologic Unit Maps | U.S. Geological Survey).

An economic valuation should include the following items:

Define the program: objective identification and scope Identify Costs and Benefits

Direct Costs: Include expenses such as funding, resources, labor, and implementation costs

Benefits: Identify direct market and non-market benefits Quantify Costs and Benefits

Monetary Valuation: Assign a monetary value to both costs and benefits where possible. This may include:

Market prices for goods and services Willingness to pay for non-market benefits Cost savings or increased productivity.

Analyze timeframe and discounting Time horizon: Determine the timeframe over which the costs and benefits will be evaluated.

Discount rate: Apply a discount rate to account for the time value of money, ensuring future benefits and costs are appropriately valued in present terms.

Stakeholder Analysis

Identify Affected Parties: Understand who will benefit from or bear the costs of the program

Report Findings Documentation: Present the methodology, assumptions, and results clearly.

Recommendations: Provide actionable insights based on the analyses, discussing implications for policy and practice.

Available resources for USGS Streamgage Network:

Congressional Research Service Report – USGS Streamgaging Network: Overview and Issues for Congress

National Water Monitoring Network | U.S. Geological Survey Federal Priority Streamgages (FPS) and Re-Prioritization of the U.S. Geological Survey

Federal Priority Streamgage Network Previous, similar work

Flood_Management_benefits_FinalDraft.indd nhwc report final 030806.pub

National Water Information System (NWIS) Water Data for the Nation National Water Dashboard Explore USGS Water Data

Priority 2: Model Advancement and Machine Learning Integration Explore methods to develop new hydrologic models in large, regional areas or, where possible, at the national level to enhance understanding of water availability. Provide information on promising modeling approaches to inform science questions specific to a region. Examples include:

Machine Learning Techniques for Water Quality Data: Apply AI and machine learning methods to harmonize water quality data across different sources, improving integration and accessibility for hydrologic modeling.

Groundwater and Base Flow Predictions: Specifically apply machine learning techniques to predict transient groundwater levels or base flow to streams, enhancing the understanding of these critical hydrologic processes.

Causal Machine Learning Exploration: Investigate the use of causal machine learning to evaluate current or ongoing studies impacted by non-causal modeling. This approach should help quantify the extent of the problem associated with non-causal machine learning modeling and inform the development of more robust, process-based modeling frameworks

Legislative Authority This Program Announcement is issued under the provisions of section 104 of the Water Resources Research Act of 1984 (codified at 42 USC 10301 et seq.) and amended by Public Laws 101-397, 104-147, 106-374, 109-471, and 117-58. The Water Resources Research Act directs the Secretary of the Interior to administer program grants to Institutes established under the provisions of section (a) of the Act.

Type of Award Projects will be funded through a Grant.

PREPARE YOUR APPLICATION

Application Content and Format

1. SF-424, Application for Federal Assistance Available with this announcement, applicants must submit the appropriate Standard Form (SF)-

424, Application for Federal Assistance. The SF-424, Application for Federal Assistance must be complete, signed, and dated. Do not include any proprietary or personally identifiable information. Please note: Enter only the amount requested from this Federal program in the “Federal” funding box on the SF-424 Application form. Include any other Federal sources of funding in the “Other” box and provide details on those Federal source(s) and funding amount(s) in the required Budget Narrative (see the “Budget Narrative” section below).

Any applicant organization that has not completed the financial assistance certifications and representations within their SAM.gov registration must submit the appropriate signed and dated Assurances form. All required application forms are available with this announcement on Grants.gov. Any applicant organization that has not completed the financial assistance certifications and representations within their SAM.gov registration must submit the appropriate signed and dated Assurances form. All of the required application forms are available with this announcement on Grants.gov.

2. Project Narrative All proposal documents (elements 1-15) must be submitted as one file in PDF format. Each element has a maximum potential point value and these elements will be combined in order to rank the proposals; proposals without required elements will not be considered. Elements 3-8 shall not exceed 10 single-spaced pages, with 12-point font and at least 1-inch margins, including tables, pictures, graphs, figures, and appendices. Proposals exceeding the page limit for elements 3-8 will not be considered. The supplemental information (elements 1,2,14, and 15) does not count towards the page limit but includes required parts of the proposal. Please include page numbers and short title in either header or footer, but nothing else.

Proposal element Description Points

1. Title Page Must include full and short title, lead PI name and contact information (email and telephone number), collaborator and co-PI names, federal funds requested, matching fund contribution, abstract (300 words), plain-word summary (150 words), keywords, and project abstract summary (description follows).

2. Project Abstract Summary

Include a plain language description of the following (use bulleted terms to highlight portions of the summary):

a. Award purpose (avoid acronyms or Federal or agency specific terminology) [purpose];

b. Activities to be performed [activities];

c. Deliverables and Expected Outcomes [outcomes];

d. Intended beneficiary(ies) [beneficiaries]; and

e. Subrecipient activities, if known or specified at the time of award [sub-recipient].

Project Abstract Summary character limitation is one page (no more than 4000 characters). Use of Times New Roman and 12-point font is recommended. This is required by Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Memoranda M-21-20 and M-22-02 and will be publicly posted on USAspending.gov for selected proposals.

3. Address specific priority

Repeat Title Only Describe the problem/issue and directly address a research priority described in Section III.

Document the magnitude of the situation and relevance to state, regional and national issues.

Why is this project/topic innovative, important, and timely?

15 points

4. Integration with USGS science:

How does the proposed work initiate or further collaboration with the USGS?

How does it supplement recent or ongoing work by the USGS?

5 points

5. Scientific value of proposed work

What are the goals and objectives of the research?

What is the potential to expand fundamental knowledge through the stated goals and objectives?

Describe the methods, field area, and facilities as a function of these objectives.

20 points

6. Anticipated Benefits to Scientific Community and General Public

Specify the type of information that is to be gained and how it will be used.

Describe the potential outcomes and the potential, realistic impacts of the proposed work.

How does the proposed research build on previous research or lay the groundwork for future research?

What tangible products are expected? These might include data, methods, workflows, manuscripts, and(or) new communication strategies.

20 points

7. Products and Information Transfer

Provide a timeline of key activities, including field seasons, data collection, and lab analyses, as appropriate.

Explain the planned transfer of results to user groups.

10 points

How will new information be made available to the scientific community and general public?

Identify stakeholders and planned communication strategies (e.g., workshops, publications, extension).

8. Training Potential Detail the educational component, including student support and engagement of early-career researchers.

10 points

9. Government Involvement

A letter of support from a supervisor or Center Director (not the federal co-PI) is required and must acknowledge commitment of personnel and other resources.

If a USGS employee will collaborate on the project and is requesting USGS funds, provide a detailed description of the role and responsibilities of the Federal collaborator in the proposed research project.

This should be in the context of the already explained collaboration, objectives, and methods (Elements 3 and 4) and must include an explanation of personnel, expenses, and timeline. Examples have been provided as Attachment C.

5 points (104g general only)

10. Budget A budget table, including all categories, must be included in the proposal. If budget includes a sub-award or contract, the same level of detail must be provided.

A budget justification, including details, must be provided for all costs. Federal expenses must be separated from matching expenses.

Federal employees may NOT be paid with project funds.

Use the budget templates to provide the required detail and justification. Costs that are not described in adequate detail may not be funded.

Travel must be specific as to location(s) and specific meeting(s)/conference(s).

The PI’s salary is an acceptable budget item, but the federal share of the salary should not exceed two months per year. Document salary for other staff and researchers, including any overhead expenses at institutions beyond that of the PI.

https://water.usgs.gov/wrri/files/wrra-104g-budget-files.zip

10 points

11. Data Management Should be in the context of products and information transfer (Element 7). Please use the template at https://www.usgs.gov/media/files/usgs-data-management-plan-checklist.

3 points

12. Cited Literature Should include only those referenced in proposal.

13. Qualifications of Research Team

Provide a brief biographical sketch, no more than 3 pages, for the PI and any co-PIs.

2 points

14. Matching Commitment Letter

Institutional cost-sharing agreement (letter) signed by an official authorized to commit the applicant to all or part of the matching share or a third party, in-kind contribution signed by an official authorized to commit the third party. Scanned legible PDF documents should be uploaded as part of the proposal. The USGS does not need the originals.

15. Letters of Support Proposals with a federal collaborator must be accompanied by a letter of support that is signed by someone in leadership at the designated center; this cannot be the collaborator. Additional letters of support are optional. Scanned legible PDF documents should be uploaded as part of the proposal.

3. Collaboration By Federal Employees Federal employees may, and are encouraged to, collaborate with college or university investigators in this program. Federal employees may not serve as a principal investigator (PI), but may serve as a co-PI. Federal employees and agencies may not receive federal funds for any purpose under these awards. Federal employees and agencies may not serve as a source of matching funds under these awards.

Federal employees must prepare a Statement of Government Involvement (Element 9), which is to be included with collaborative proposals. US Geological Survey scientists may receive funding up to $40,000 per proposal from internal US Geological Survey appropriations.

Consequently, this statement must include a workplan, budget (salary, travel, lab expenses, etc.), and explanation of personnel. This must be separate from the rest of the proposal budget because the funding is from a non-WRRA source and is not included in the budget for the award. An example is provided as an attachment.

Proposals with a federal collaborator must be accompanied by a letter of support that is signed by someone in leadership at the designated center; this cannot be the collaborator.

Applicants must submit the appropriate SF-424 Budget Information form and Budget Narrative.

For non-construction programs or projects, applicants must complete and submit the SF-424A, “Budget Information for Non-Construction Programs” form. All of the required application forms are available with this announcement on Grants.gov. Federal award recipients and subrecipients are subject to Federal award cost principles in 2 CFR 200.

4. Detailed Budget Narrative 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 (reference section C of this announcement). Cost categories can include, but are not limited to, those costs items included on the SF424A.

5. Data Management Plan Requirements Data Management Plan - a supplementary document of no more than two pages labeled "Data Management Plan" (DMP) that addresses the elements outlined in the USGS DMP template (https://www.usgs.gov/media/files/usgs-data-management-plan-checklist)

DMP Requirements: The supplementary document(s), labeled "Data Management Plan", 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:

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

b. 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);

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

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

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

f. If the project(s) will create geospatial data as a deliverable, the applicant must provide evidence that the product does not already exist. The applicant will need to query their proposed geospatial product(s) at geoplatform.gov, a federal website, and provide a screenshot capture of their quer(ies).

Additional guidance on data management plans is available from the USGS Data Management web site here: Data Management Plans | U.S. Geological Survey. 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.

6. Conflict of Interest Disclosure Per the Financial Assistance Interior Regulation (FAIR), 2 CFR §1402.112, applicants must state in their application if any actual or potential conflict of interest exists at the time of submission.

(a) Applicability.

(1) This section intends to ensure that non-Federal entities and their employees take appropriate steps to avoid conflicts of interest in their responsibilities under or with respect to Federal financial assistance agreements.

(2) In the procurement of supplies, equipment, construction, and services by recipients and by subrecipients, the conflict of interest provisions in 2 CFR 200.318 apply.

(b) Notification.

(1) Non-Federal entities, including applicants for financial assistance awards, must disclose in writing any conflict of interest to the DOI awarding agency or pass-through entity in accordance with 2 CFR 200.112.

(2) Recipients must establish internal controls that include, at a minimum, procedures to identify, disclose, and mitigate or eliminate identified conflicts of interest. The recipient is responsible for notifying the Financial Assistance Officer in writing of any conflicts of interest that may arise during the life of the award, including those that have been reported by subrecipients.

(c) Restrictions on lobbying. Non-Federal entities are strictly prohibited from using funds under a grant or cooperative agreement for lobbying activities and must provide the required certifications and disclosures pursuant to 43 CFR part 18 and 31 U.S.C. 135.

(d) Review procedures. The Financial Assistance Officer will examine each conflict of interest disclosure on the basis of its particular facts and the nature of the proposed grant or cooperative agreement, and will determine whether a significant potential conflict exists and, if it does, develop an appropriate means for resolving it.

(e) Enforcement. Failure to resolve conflicts of interest in a manner that satisfies the government may be cause for termination of the award. Failure to make required disclosures may result in any of the remedies described in 2 CFR 200.338, Remedies for noncompliance, including suspension or debarment (see also 2 CFR part 180).

7. Single Audit Reporting Statement All U.S. states, local governments, federally recognized Indian tribal governments, and nonprofit organizations expending $750,000 USD or more in Federal award funds in the applicant’s fiscal year must submit a Single Audit report for that year through the Federal Audit Clearinghouse’s Internet Data Entry System. U.S. state, local government, federally recognized Indian tribal government, and non-profit applicants must state if your organization was or was not required to submit a Single Audit report for the most recently closed fiscal year. If your organization was required to submit a Single Audit report for the most recently closed fiscal year, provide the EIN associated with that report and state if it is available through the Federal Audit Clearinghouse website.

8. Certification Regarding Lobbying

Applicants requesting more than $100,000 in Federal funding must certify to the statements in 43 CFR Part 18, Appendix A-Certification Regarding Lobbying. If this application requests more than $100,000 in Federal funds, the Authorized Official’s signature on the appropriate SF-424, Application for Federal Assistance form also represents the entity’s certification of the statements in 43 CFR Part 18, Appendix A.

9. Disclosure of Lobbying Activities Applicants and recipients must not use any federally appropriated funds (annually appropriated or continuing appropriations) or matching funds under a Federal award to pay any person for lobbying in connection with the award. Lobbying is influencing or attempting to influence an officer or employee of any U.S. agency, a Member of the U.S. Congress, an officer or employee of the U.S. Congress, or an employee of a Member of the U.S. Congress connection with the award. Applicants and recipients must complete and submit the SF-LLL, “Disclosure of Lobbying Activities” form if the Federal share of the proposal or award is more than $100,000 and the applicant or recipient has made or has agreed to make any payment using non-appropriated funds for lobbying in connection with the application or award. The SF-LLL form is available with this Funding Opportunity on Grants.gov. See 43 CFR, Subpart 18.100 and 31 USC 1352 for more information on when additional submission of this form is required.

10. Overlap or Duplication of Effort State Applicants must provide a statement indicating if there is any overlap between this Federal application and any other Federal application, or funded project, in regard to activities, costs, or time commitment of key personnel. If no such overlap or duplication exists, state, “There are no overlaps or duplication between this application and any of our other Federal applications or funded projects, including in regard to activities, costs, or time commitment of key personnel”. If any such overlap exists, provide a complete description of overlaps or duplications between this proposal and any other federally funded project or application in regard to activities, costs, and time commitment of key personnel, as applicable. Provide a copy of any overlapping or duplicative proposal submitted to any other potential funding entity and identify when that proposal was submitted, to whom (entity name and program), and when you anticipate being notified of their funding decision. The statement and the description of overlap or duplication, when applicable, may be provided within the proposal or as a separate attachment to the application. If at any time a proposal is awarded funds that would be overlapping or duplicative of the funding requested from USGS, the applicant must immediately notify the USGS point of contact. Any overlap or duplication of funding between the proposed project and other active or anticipated projects may impact selection and/or funding amount.

11. Biographical Sketch Common Form for Biographical Sketch (OMB 3145-0279). A template is provided in the application materials. For this application, this form must be filled out by the Principal Investigator.

12. Current or Pending Support Common Form for Current or Pending Support (OMB 3145-0279). A template is provided in the application materials. For this application, this form must be filled out the by the Principal Investigator.

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.

Forms/Assurances/Certifications Submission Requirement

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-424A, Budget Information – Non-Construction Programs

Required for non-construction projects

SF-LLL, Disclosure of Lobbying Activities

Required if requesting more than $100,000 in Federal funds and the applicant has used or plans to use funds other than Federal appropriated funds for lobbying related to the proposed project.

Common Form for Biographical Sketch (OMB 3145-0279) Required from only the Principal Investigator

Common Form for Current or Pending Support (OMB 3145-0279)

Required from only the Principal Investigator

SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS AND DEADLINES

Address to Request Application Package Applications must be filed at https://www.grants.gov prior to 5:00 PM Eastern Standard Time, September 30, 2025.

Program Website Link: https://water.usgs.gov/wrri/

Submission Dates and Times Closing Date for Applications: 09/30/2025

Closing Date Explanation

Applications, including the full proposal, must be submitted to grants.gov by the State Water Resources Research Institute prior to the 5:00 PM Eastern Time, September 30, 2025 closing date. Proposals must be submitted as a complete application package (full proposal, SF-424 and

SF-424B, matching commitment letter, budget breakdown, budget justification and budget summary) to grants.gov by the university that houses the Institute. PI’s must coordinate with their respective Institutes prior to submission to allow time for the Institute to meet the deadlines of this program announcement.

Submission Instructions Grants.gov Application Submission and Receipt Procedures Please read the following instructions carefully and completely.

1. Electronic Delivery USGS is participating in the Grants.gov initiative to provide the grant community with a single site to find and apply for grant funding opportunities. USGS encourages applicants to submit their applications online through Grants.gov.

2. How to Register to Apply through Grants.gov Instructions: Applicants should read the registration instructions carefully and prepare the information requested before beginning the registration process. Organizations must have an active SAM registration, and Grants.gov account to apply for grants.

If individual applicants are eligible to apply for this funding opportunity, then you may begin with step 2, Create a Grants.gov Account, listed below. Creating a Grants.gov account can be completed online in minutes, but SAM registration may take several weeks. Registration should be done in sufficient time to ensure it does not impact the entity's ability to meet required application submission deadlines.

Note: An entity will be assigned a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) by SAM.

Complete organization instructions can be found on Grants.gov here:

https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration.html

1. Register with SAM: All organizations applying online through Grants.gov must register with the SAM. Failure to register with SAM will prevent your organization from applying through Grants.gov, and SAM registration must be renewed annually. For more detailed instructions for registering with SAM, refer to:

https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration/step-2-registerwith-sam.html

2. Create a Grants.gov Account: The next step is to register an account with Grants.gov.

Follow the on-screen instructions or refer to the detailed instructions here:

https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/registration.html

3. Add a Profile to a Grants.gov Account: A profile in Grants.gov corresponds to a single applicant organization the user represents or an individual applicant. If you work for or consult with multiple organizations and have a profile for each, you may log into one Grants.gov account to access all your grant applications. To add an organizational profile to your Grants.gov account, enter a UEI assigned by SAM in the UEI field while adding a profile. For more detailed instructions about creating a profile on Grants.gov, refer to:

https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/registration/add- profile.html

4. EBiz POC Authorized Profile Roles: After you register with Grants.gov and create an

Organization Applicant Profile, the organization applicant's request for Grants.gov roles and access is sent to the EBiz POC. The EBiz POC will then log in to Grants.gov and authorize the appropriate roles, which may include the AOR role, thereby giving you permission to complete and submit applications on behalf of the organization. You will be able to submit your application online any time after you have been assigned the AOR role. For more detailed instructions about creating a profile on Grants.gov, refer to:

https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/registration/authorize-roles.html

5. Track Role Status: To track your role request, refer to: https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/registration/track-role-status.html Electronic Signature: When applications are submitted through Grants.gov, the name of the organization applicant with the AOR role that submitted the application is inserted into the signature line of the application, serving as the electronic signature. The EBiz POC must authorize people who are able to make legally binding commitments on behalf of the organization as a user with the AOR role. Note: This step is often missed, and it is crucial for valid and timely submissions.

3. How to Submit an Application to USGS via Grants.gov Grants.gov applicants can apply online using Workspace. Workspace is a shared, online environment where members of a grant team may simultaneously access and edit different webforms within an application. A separate Workspace can be created for each Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA).

Below is an overview of applying on Grants.gov. For access to complete instructions on how to apply for opportunities, refer to:

https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/workspace-overview.html

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

2. Complete a Workspace: Add participants to the Workspace to work on the application together, complete all the required forms online or by downloading PDF versions, and check for errors before submission. The Workspace progress bar will display the state of your application process as you apply. As you apply using Workspace, you may click the blue question mark icon near the upper-right corner of each page to access context sensitive help.

a. Adobe Reader: If you decide not to apply by filling out webforms you can download ndividual PDF forms in Workspace. The individual PDF forms can be downloaded and saved to your local device storage, network drive(s), or external drives, then accessed through Adobe Reader.

NOTE: Visit the Adobe Software Compatibility page on Grants.gov to download the appropriate version of the software at: https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/adobe-softwarecompatibility.html

b. Mandatory Fields in Forms: In the forms, you will note fields marked with an asterisk and a different background color. These fields are mandatory fields that must be completed to successfully submit your application.

c. Complete SF-424 Fields First: The forms are designed to fill in common required fields across other forms, such as the applicant name, address, and UEI Number. Once it is completed, the information will transfer to the other forms.

3. 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.

Grants.gov recommends submitting your application package at least 24-48 hours prior to the close date to provide you with time to correct any potential technical issues that may disrupt the application submission.

4. Track a Workspace Submission: After successfully submitting a workspace application, a Grants.gov Tracking Number (GRANTXXXXXXXX) is automatically assigned to the application. The number will be listed on the Confirmation page that is generated after submission. Using the tracking number, access the Track My Application page under the Applicants tab or the Details tab in the submitted workspace.

For additional training resources, including video tutorials, refer to:

https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/applicant-training.html Applicant Support: Grants.gov provides applicants 24/7 support via the toll-free number 1-800-518-4726 and email at support@grants.gov. For questions related to the specific grant opportunity, contact the number listed in the application package of the grant you are applying for. If you are experiencing difficulties with your submission, it is best to call the Grants.gov Support Center and get a ticket number. The Support Center ticket number will assist the USGS with tracking your issue and understanding background information on the issue.

4. Timely Receipt Requirements and Proof of Timely Submission

a. Online Submission. All applications must be received by the established due date. The applicant with the AOR role who submitted the application will receive an acknowledgement of receipt and a tracking number (GRANTXXXXXXXX) from Grants.gov with the successful transmission of their application. This applicant with the AOR role will also receive the official date/time stamp and Grants.gov Tracking number in an email serving as proof of their timely submission.

When USGS successfully retrieves the application from Grants.gov, and acknowledges the download of submissions, Grants.gov will provide an electronic acknowledgment of receipt of the application to the email address of the applicant with the AOR role who submitted the application. Again, proof of timely submission shall be the official date and time that Grants.gov receives your application. Applications received by Grants.gov after the established due date for the program will be considered late and will not be considered for funding by USGS.

Applicants with a slow internet connection should be aware that transmission can take time before Grants.gov receives your application. Again, Grants.gov will provide either an error or a successfully received transmission in the form of an email sent to the applicant with the AOR role attempting to submit the application. The Grants.gov Support Center reports that some applicants end the transmission because they think that nothing is occurring during the transmission process. Please be patient and give the system time to process the application.

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.

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 The evaluation of applications submitted by the Institutes, including proposals, is the responsibility of the USGS Water Resources Research Act (WRRA) program staff with budgetary reviews by the Grants Specialist of the USGS Office of Acquisition and Grants.

Proposals submitted by the Institutes are evaluated for completeness after the closing date by OAG in consultation with the USGS WRRA Program staff. The WRRA Program staff notifies Institutes submitting unacceptable proposals that their proposals will not be further reviewed.

Only proposals submitted to grants.gov that meet the requirements of this announcement will be considered and evaluated by a peer-review panel composed of Institute directors, university scientists, and USGS staff experienced in water-resources research. After conflicts of interest have been considered, each proposal will be reviewed by at least three assigned reviewers. Each proposal will be discussed by the panel and scored according to the listed criteria (see table in Project Narrative section). Each proposal will be assigned a panel member responsible for writing up the panel summary of the proposal evaluation. Panel summaries will be sent to the submitting Institute.

Review and Selection Process This program reviews proposed budgets to ensure:

figures are correct estimated costs are necessary and reasonable and clearly linked to project narratives avoid obviously unallowable costs identify costs requiring prior approval ensure indirect cost rates are applied correctly confirm cost sharing requirements are reflected in the budget.

This program reviews applications for potential overlap or duplication between the proposed project and any other funded or proposed project. Depending on the circumstances, DOI may choose to not make an award.

Risk Review Prior to making an award, the program assesses the risk posed by the applicant per 2 CFR

200.206. If an award will be made, the program may apply special conditions corresponding to the risk assessed. For awards over the simplified acquisition threshold (currently $250,000), the program reviews eligibility and financial integrity information in the applicant’s SAM.gov records per 2 CFR 200.206(a). The program also assesses financial management capabilities, project delivery experience, staffing resources, past performance, administration and reporting compliance records, and overall project complexity and potential challenges.

AWARD NOTICES

Notices of Federal Award are sent electronically via GrantSolutions or e-mail. These notices outline the terms, conditions, and payment instructions per 2 CFR 200.211. The Notice of Federal Award signed by an authorized Grants Officer is the legal instrument obligating financial assistance to a recipient. Any other prior notice is not an authorization to begin work. If the program allows pre-award costs per 2 CFR 200.458, beginning performance before receiving a Notice of Federal Award is at the applicant’s own risk.

Anticipated Project Start Date: 02/01/2026

Anticipated Project End Date: 01/31/2029

POST AWARD REQUIREMENTS AND ADMINISTRATION

Administration and National Policy Requirements For award administration and national policy requirements, see the DOI General Terms and Conditions. Infrastructure projects require the use of American iron, steel, manufacture products, and construction materials per 2 CFR 184.

Geospatial Data

If you receive financial assistance from the Department of the Interior (DOI), recipient must follow these rules for geospatial data:

Follow Federal Standards: All geospatial data you collect or create must meet the standards set by the Federal Geospatial Data Committee (FGDC) or the Department of the Interior. This is required by the Geospatial Data Act of 2018, which is part of Public Law 115-254, specifically in Subtitle F (Geospatial Data), sections 751-759C (codified at 43 U.S.C. §§ 2801–2811).

Include Metadata: Your Geographic Information Systems (GIS) files must include complete metadata. Metadata is information that describes the data, such as where it came from, how accurate it is, and how it should be used. This is to ensure that anyone using the data understands its context and quality.

Check for Existing Data: Before you start collecting new geospatial data, you need to check GeoPlatform.gov. This is to see if there is already existing geospatial data from federal, state, local, or private sources that can meet your needs and is available for free. If such data is available, you should use it instead of gathering new data.

These rules help ensure that geospatial data is reliable, high-quality, and that resources are used efficiently.

Reporting The recipient’s Notice of Award will detail all reporting requirements, including frequency, due dates, and instructions for requesting extensions. In general, but not limited to, recipients must:

Submit Federal Financial reports and Program Performance reports.

Use the Federal Financial Report (SF-425) form for financial reporting, Monitor award activities and report on program performance per 2 CFR 200.329, Promptly notify the awarding program in writing of any issues, delays, or conditions impairing award objectives per 2 CFR 200.329(e), Disclose any conflicts of interest related to their award that arise during the award period per 2 CFR 1402.112, Report on the status of real property acquired under the award in which the Federal government retains an interest per 2 CFR 200.330, and Report all violations of Federal criminal law involving fraud, bribery, or gratuity violations potentially affecting the Federal award per 2 CFR 200.113.

Report any matters related to recipient integrity and performance to SAM.gov per

Appendix XII to 2 CFR 200.

If the Federal share of the award is more than $100,000 and the recipient makes or agrees to make any payment using non-appropriated funds for lobbying in connection to the award, disclose those activities using the Disclosure of Lobbying (SF-LLL) form per

43 CFR 18.100.

Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006 (FFATA) requires certain recipients to report information on executive compensation through SAM.gov and information on all sub-awards, subcontracts, and consortiums over $30,000 to the FFATA Subaward Reporting System (FSRS).

Other Information Performance Reports Performance reports must contain a comparison of actual accomplishments with the established goals and objectives of the award; a description of reasons why established goals were not met, if…