FON G23AS00249_Amend 1.pdf

United States Geological Survey

USGS Earthquake Hazards Program External Research Support Announcement for Fiscal Year https://www.usgs.gov/natural-hazards/earthquake-hazards/external-grants

Notice of Funding Opportunity - Fiscal Year 2023 Funding Opportunity Number (FON) G23AS00249

Closing Date: 05/25/2022

Table of Contents A. Program Description

A1. Authority

A2. Background, Purpose and Program Requirements

B. Federal Award Information

B1. Total Funding

B2. Award Amount

B3. Anticipated Award Funding and Dates

B4. Number of Awards

B5. Type of Award

C. Eligibility Information

C1. Eligible Applicants

C2. Cost Sharing or Matching

C3. Other

D. Application and Submission Information

D1. Address to Request Application Package

D2. Content and Form of Application Submission

D3. Unique Entity Identifier and System for Award Management (SAM)

D4. Submission Dates and Times

D5. Intergovernmental Review

D6. Funding Restrictions

D7. Other Submission Requirements

E. Application Review Information

E1. Criteria

E2. Review and Selection Process

E3. CFR – Regulatory Information

E4. Anticipated Announcement and Federal Award Dates

F. Federal Award Administration Information

F1. Federal Award Notices

F2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements

F3. Reporting

G. Federal Awarding Agency Contact(s)

G1. Program Technical Contact

G2. Program Administration Contact

G3. Application System Technical Support

H. Other Information

A. Program Description

A1. Authority The USGS Earthquake Hazards Program (EHP) issues this annual Announcement for assistance to support research in earthquake hazards, the physics of earthquakes, earthquake occurrence, and earthquake safety policy and address the Department of Interior’s Secretarial priorities. 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).

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.

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number 15.807

A2. Background, Purpose and Program Requirements Research Priorities:

The Research Priorities presented in Attachment A reflect the mission of the USGS Earthquake Hazards Program (EHP) and address the Department of Interior’s Secretarial priorities.

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 application is appropriate under this Program Announcement. Proposals should clearly address both applicable program element(s) and priority topic(s).

Application Requirements:

A. 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.

B. 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.

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

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

E. 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.

F. Proposals to fund research in foreign countries must be based on cooperation with scientific groups in the host countries, with host country personnel being used for operational functions, and host countries providing financial support for such personnel. Proposals involving foreign governments or foreign individuals may require additional coordination and approval by the U.S. Department of State.

G. Applications submitted by foreign organizations must be submitted in English and in U.S. dollars.

H. Proposals must include a Data Management Plan. See Section D.2 for instructions.

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. Section A2 describes Collaborative Proposals.

Out-of-Cycle Awards:

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

A. 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.

B. 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.

A. 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.

B. 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.

C. 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.”

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

E. 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, filled out and signed by the relevant internal USGS scientist(s) and their direct supervisor. The collaboration letter template is included in this Announcement as Attachment B, which 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 signed 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 Section D2., Project Narrative 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 (see Attachment E).

B. Federal Award Information

B1. Total Funding Estimated Total Funding $4,000,000

B2. Award Amount Maximum Award $0 Minimum Award $0 It is estimated that a total of $4 million will be awarded in support of competitive research grants in FY2023, with a maximum total of $7 million. Based on awards in recent years, 60 to 80 new awards are funded each fiscal year. In general, grants do not exceed $100,000, with the majority of grants between $30,000 and $85,000. 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.

B3. Anticipated Award Funding and Dates Anticipated Award Date January 01, 2023 All projects must propose start dates between January 1, 2023 and September 1, 2023. 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. Applicants must indicate if the proposed start date is fixed or flexible based on the research activities (field work, etc.) of the proposal. This must be indicated on the Proposal Information Summary Template (Attachment C).

B4. Number of Awards Expected Number of Awards

B5. Type of Award Funding Instrument Type G - Grant

C. Eligibility Information

C1. Eligible Applicants Eligible Applicants 99 – Unrestricted (i.e. open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in the 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.

C2. Cost Sharing or Matching Cost Sharing / Matching Requirement No

C3. Other 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.

D. Application and Submission Information

Grants.gov Application Submission and Receipt Procedures

Grants.gov Application Submission and Receipt Procedures

This section provides the application submission and receipt instructions for U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) program applications. 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

a. Instructions: Read the instructions below about registering to apply for USGS funds.

Applicants should read the registration instructions carefully and prepare the information requested before beginning the registration process. Reviewing and assembling the required information before beginning the registration process will alleviate last-minute searches for required information.

Organizations must have a Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) Number, active System for Award Management (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 3, Create a Grants.gov Account, listed below.

Creating a Grants.gov account can be completed online in minutes, but DUNS and SAM registrations may take several weeks. Therefore, an organization's registration should be done in sufficient time to ensure it does not impact the entity's ability to meet required application submission deadlines.

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

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

1)Obtain a DUNS Number: All entities applying for funding, including renewal funding, must have a DUNS Number from Dun & Bradstreet (D&B). Applicants must enter the DUNS Number in the data entry field labeled\\\\"Organizational DUNS\\\\" on the SF-424 form. For more detailed instructions for obtaining a DUNS Number, refer to:

https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration/step-1-obtain-duns-number.html

2) Register with SAM: All organizations applying online through Grants.gov must register with the System for Award Management (SAM). Failure to register with SAM will prevent your organization from applying through Grants.gov. 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-register-with-sam.html

3) 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 https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration/step-1-obtain-duns-number.html https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration/step-1-obtain-duns-number.html https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration/step-2-register-with-sam.html https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration/step-2-register-with-sam.html https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/registration.html

4) Add a Profile to a Grants.gov Account: A profile in Grants.gov corresponds to a single applicant organization the user represents (i.e., an applicant) or an individual applicant. If you work for or consult with multiple organizations and have a profile for each, you may log in to one Grants.gov account to access all of your grant applications. To add an organizational profile to your Grants.gov account, enter the DUNS Number for the organization in the UEI (Unique Entity Identifier) 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

5) 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

6) Track Role Status: To track your role request, refer to:https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/registration/track-role-status.html

b. 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; 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. For each funding opportunity announcement (FOA), you can create individual instances of a workspace.

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 individual PDF forms in Workspace. The individual PDF forms can be downloaded and https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/registration/add-profile.html https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/registration/authorize-roles.html https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/registration/track-role-status.html https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/workspace-overview.html 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-software-compatibility.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 DUNS 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 due date established for each program. Proof of timely submission is automatically recorded by Grants.gov. An electronic date/time stamp is generated within the system when the application is successfully received by Grants.gov. 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 https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/adobe-software-compatibility.html https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/applicant-training.html mailto:support@grants.gov 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 using slow internet, such as dial-up connections, should be aware that transmission can take some 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.

IMPORTANT NOTE: On April 4, 2022, the Federal government will transition to using the Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) in place of the DUNS number to uniquely identify entities doing business with the government. As of that date, all entities receiving grants or cooperative agreements from the Department of the Interior (DOI) will be required to have a Unique Entity Identifier created in SAM.gov. Information pertaining to this transition, including instructions on how to obtain a Unique Entity Identifier can be located on the SAM.gov UEI webpage.

As a result of this transition, DOI grant and cooperative agreement recipients should be aware of the following information:

• The DUNS number, assigned by Dun and Bradstreet, will remain the official Identifier for all DOI recipients through April 3, 2022.

• The UEI number, assigned by SAM.gov, will become the official identifier for all DOI recipients as of April 4, 2022.

• All active entities with a SAM.gov registration should now have a UEI assigned within SAM.gov.

• Questions and concerns pertaining to an entity’s UEI should be directed to the SAM.gov helpdesk.

For entities that may be submitting an application for a DOI grant or cooperative agreement, please be aware of the following DOI guidance. Please note that the guidance below may be supplemented by additional guidance from DOI programs or Bureaus:

• All grant or cooperative agreement applications submitted to DOI on or after April 1, 2022 must use version 4 of the SF-424 form that contains the UEI number in place of the DUNS. After April 1, the DOI will no longer be able to accept applications submitted using the SF-424 version 3 (or earlier versions) containing a DUNS number.

• For applications submitted on or before March 31, 2022, applications shall be submitted using version 3 of the SF-424 form, unless a different version is specifically identified within the announcement.

• Please note that any applications submitted using the version 3 of the SF-424 form containing a DUNS number must be received and accepted by the DOI no later than March 31, 2022.

https://sam.gov/content/duns-uei https://sam.gov/content/help https://sam.gov/content/help https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms/sf424-fid.html?formId=713 https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms/sf424-fid.html?formId=713

Please direct any questions or concerns to your Bureau Awarding Office.

D1. Address to Request Application Package Electronic Application Requirement:

For the FY2023 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:

May 25, 2022, at 6 pm, Eastern Daylight Time

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.

Briefly, when you submit a grant application package to Grants.gov, you will receive a confirmation screen as well as three additional emails over two business days from Grants.gov informing you of your application processing status:

1. Confirmation screen

2. Submission Receipt (with “Track My Application” link)

3. Submission Validation (or Rejection with Errors)

4. Agency Retrieval

CONFIRMATION: Submission Confirmation Screen.

After you submit your grant application package, a confirmation screen will appear on your computer screen. This screen confirms that you have submitted an application to Grants.gov.

NOTIFICATION 1: Submission Receipt Email Within two business days after your application package has been received by the Grants.gov system, you will receive a submission receipt email which indicates that your submission has entered the Grants.gov system and is ready for validation. This email also contains a tracking number for use while tracking the status of the submission as well as a “Track My Application” link, to use to see the progress of your submission.

NOTIFICATION 2: Submission Validation Receipt Email – This is the important one!

mailto:support@grants.gov

After you receive the submission receipt email, the next email you will receive will be a message validating or rejecting your submitted application package with errors. The Grants.gov system is designed to check for technical errors within the submitted application package. Grants.gov does not review application content for award determination. Grants.gov will not post the application if there are errors. Failure to correct errors and submit by the date and time for closing shall not be a reason for accepting a late application.

NOTIFICATION 3: Grantor Agency Retrieval Email Once your application package has passed validation it is delivered to the grantor for award determination and further approval. After the grantor has confirmed receipt of your application, you will be sent a third and final email from Grants.gov. The grantor may also assign your application package an agency specific tracking number for use within their internal system. IF

YOU HAVE NOT RECEIVED THIS E-MAIL WITHIN FOUR DAYS OF THE CLOSING

DATE, PLEASE CONTACT THE CONTRACTING OFFICER.

If you need help entering your proposal, you can reach the Grants.gov Contact Center at: 1- 800-518-4726. Their hours of operation are Monday-Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., Eastern Time, and they are closed on Federal Holidays.

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 submittal is to be withdrawn from consideration. Such submissions must be completed by May 25, 2022 at 6:00 pm Eastern Daylight Time.

See Section D2., Project Narrative, which 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/natural-hazards/earthquake-hazards/external-grants

D2. Content and Form of Application Submission

1. SF-424, Application for Federal Assistance

Applicants must submit the appropriate Standard Form (SF)-424, Application for Federal Assistance. The required application forms are available with this announcement on Grants.gov. 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).

Application Preparation Instructions:

NEW FOR FY23! Proposal page limit is now *15* pages, maximum. See "IMPORTANT" below for more details.

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 Program Announcement.

In the Grants.gov forms, floating your mouse over a field will provide instructions for completing that field. You can also click on the Check Package for Errors button to check the entire application for validation errors (incomplete fields, etc.)

To view complete forms instructions, please visit the Grants.gov Forms Repository at http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms.html

IMPORTANT: Items A through F as described below shall be combined together into *ONE* (1) 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, references, appendices, curriculum vitae, 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, letters of support from institutions outside the USGS and any USGS scientist letter of 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 The application submitted through grants.gov as the Project Narrative Attachment Form (in MS Word or PDF format) shall be assembled in the following order:

A. Proposal Information Summary. This summary is mandatory for the Grants.gov submittal for each proposal. The same format, with ALL information as shown in Attachment C shall be included in each applicant’s Grants.gov submittal. The two- or three-letter panel designation (also known as Regional or Topical Area), found in Section E2 and 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 include the following information:

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

• Activities to be performed;

http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms.html

• Deliverables and Expected Outcomes;

• Intended beneficiary(ies) as well as

• Subrecipient activities, if known or specified at the 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.

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 majority of salary for students and junior staff. 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 section 4. 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 10% (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. Data Management Plan (DMP). A DMP is required. Instructions for writing an acceptable DMP are found in this Section under "Data Management Plan Requirements". The DMP does not count toward the 15-page limit.

4. 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. Beyond the requirements for a final technical report, the award recipient is also required to include the final data management plan stating where final data and results generated by the project are archived and how data access is publicly available to other researchers. See Attachment E, Section 3.

5. 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.

6. Project Personnel and Bibliography of Directly Related Work. Provide curriculum vitae for all professional staff, summarizing education, experience, and the last five years’ bibliographic information related to the proposed work; a length of one-page is recommended. Curriculum vitae for non-PI researchers who contribute significantly to the project must also be included.

7. 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.

8. Current Support and Pending Applications. List all sources of support (in addition to the proposed effort) to which the senior research members have committed a portion of their time for the period covered by the proposal. The information should account for 100 percent of the work time of each investigator and include titles, annual budget levels, period of the awards, and the person-months committed in each case. This section must also list research being considered by, or that will be submitted to, other possible sponsors. If identical or similar work is also proposed to another institution (e.g., National Science Foundation), an explanation of the relationship of such work to this proposal should be provided.

9. 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.

10. 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.

11. References/Works Cited.

12. Letters of Support/USGS Scientist Signed Statement of 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. These letters do not count toward the 15-page limit. 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 Statement Form" is REQUIRED and MUST be included if a USGS scientist intends to collaborate with the proposal applicant(s). The USGS Scientist Collaboration Statement Form is included in this Announcement as Attachment B. The applicant is responsible for providing the form to the USGS collaborator(s)to fill out and sign along with the USGS scientist's direct supervisor.

13. Broader Impacts (Optional). It is strongly encouraged to include a statement that articulates the PI’s plan for addressing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in specific aspects of the project.

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.

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 or SF424C.

See Attachment D., Budget Summary Template.

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 web site here: https://www.usgs.gov/products/data-and-tools/data-management/data-management-plansSimultaneously 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.

https://www.usgs.gov/products/data-and-tools/data-management/data-management-plans https://www.usgs.gov/products/data-and-tools/data-management/data-management-plans

It is the expectation of the USGS…