FY25_RecompeteAnnouncement_PI_SC_NE.pdf

United States Geological Survey

National and Regional Climate Adaptation Science Centers Program (NRCASC) https://www.usgs.gov/casc

Northeast, Pacific Islands, and South Central Climate Adaptation Science Centers

Notice of Funding Opportunity - Fiscal Year 2025 Funding Opportunity Number (FON) G25AS00457

Closing Date: 02/03/2025

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

Attachment A: Pacific Islands, Northeast, and South Central CASC Recompetition Map Attachment B: Terms and Conditions Attachment C: Pacific Islands, Northeast, and South Central CASC Science Priorities

A. Program Description

A1. Authority

Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2008, Div. F, Title I, P.L. 110-161 and 43 USC 36d

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number 15.820

A2. Background, Purpose and Program Requirements

Program Description, Background, and Overview

A. Purpose of this Announcement

1. This Announcement seeks to identify applicant organizations that propose to host and, as applicable, serve as consortium partners for a U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Climate Adaptation Science Center (CASC) in the regions indicated below, and to determine if their proposed science, partnership, and program support activities and strategies are appropriate to serve in the following roles:

• Northeast, Pacific Islands, and South Central Climate Adaptation Science Centers. The geographic footprints for potential hosts of these CASCs are indicated in the map below (see Attachment A). The high-level climate science focus areas anticipated for these CASCs are described in Attachment C.

2. Once selected, the recipient will be established as the Host Institution for the respective regional CASC. As a Host, an institution will be the sole entity eligible to receive funding to conduct follow-on research/science projects anticipated as a part of this Program Announcement. Host Institutions may engage with other institutions, including by subaward, as part of these projects.

B. Program Description - The USGS Climate Adaptation Science Center Network

1. USGS has established a network of geographically dispersed Climate Adaptation Science Centers (CASC) (see Learn About the Regional CASCs | U.S. Geological Survey (usgs.gov)). The USGS, through the National Climate Adaptation Science Center (NCASC), manages the CASCs (see Climate Adaptation Science Centers | U.S.

Geological Survey (usgs.gov)). CASCs are based at organizations (hereafter termed Hosts or Host Institutions) that provide suitable facilities, partnerships, science, capacity building, communications, and programmatic capabilities, either alone or in combination with other partners (“consortium partners”). At the national level, USGS (through the National CASC) provides executive staffing and administrative support, conducts a program to link and synthesize CASC research activities, and provides communication data management, and information technology strategy coordination.

https://sam.gov/fal/83a8eb5acf8240be84e7d867b3302c64/view https://www.usgs.gov/programs/climate-adaptation-science-centers/learn-about-regional-cascs?qt-science_support_page_related_con=0#qt-science_support_page_related_con https://www.usgs.gov/programs/climate-adaptation-science-centers/learn-about-regional-cascs?qt-science_support_page_related_con=0#qt-science_support_page_related_con https://www.usgs.gov/programs/climate-adaptation-science-centers https://www.usgs.gov/programs/climate-adaptation-science-centers

2. The goal of each CASC is to work with regional managers of land, water, fish and wildlife, as well as nearshore, coastal, and cultural heritage resources in order to identify high priority resource management and decision needs for which information on climate change, impacts, and adaptation is needed. As an objective, each CASC works to deliver scientific information and tools that can help resource managers develop strategies, policies, programs, and activities for responding to climate change.

3. Each regional CASC has a Host institution component and a federal component. They have distinct funding, personnel, and work plans but work together with a collaborative approach towards a common mission. In general, the federal component’s focus is on developing science priorities and a science agenda, as well as longer-term research and synthesis activities – especially when these span multiple funding cycles. The Host institution component’s focus is generally on science implementation, communications, and outreach. Specifically, the primary functions of CASCs – including the Host institutions and the federal component together – are to:

a. Identify priority management needs through ongoing interactions with resource management entities within the region and identify scientific information and tools that may inform these management challenges. Wherever possible, this should involve an appropriate level of co-development, which entails processes and relationship-building to frame management questions, understand the objectives of managers and other key stakeholders, develop science/research plans to address management questions, and ensure the appropriate transfer and use of information to improve management of natural and cultural resources in a changing climate.[1]

b. Identify impacts of climate change and current management strategies on priority species, habitats/ecosystems, ecosystem goods and services, and other natural and cultural resources within the region, as guided by the management priorities identified above.

c. Translate, integrate, aggregate, and synthesize existing or new scientific information to meet key information needs identified in conjunction with natural and cultural resource managers.

d. Work with partners to identify, evaluate, and provide science to design, implement, and evaluate adaptation strategies to address identified climate impacts (along with other stressors such as land use or land cover change) on priority resources.

e. Provide student researchers or post-doctoral researchers at each CASC experiences that help them understand high-priority resource management challenges, the management objectives of key stakeholders, how science can provide information about the impacts of potential policies on these management challenges and objectives, and how to interface with a broad variety of community and resource related groups.

f. Foster development and use of research products by conducting capacity-building activities.

g. Provide science translation, leading communities of practice, holding scientific workshops and forums, and developing scientific outreach materials for or with resource managers and relevant partners in the region.

h. Provide information management capacity and infrastructure for the Center’s research activities. This does not include the development of regionally specific data portals, repositories, or online data management systems. CASCs should leverage the infrastructure developed and supported by NCASC (See Section D2.2.B. Proposal Contents – Technical Proposal Narrative, for details).

4. CASCs operate in a highly partnership-oriented governance environment, including the following critical partnerships:

a. The USGS Director for each CASC convenes an “Advisory Committee” that includes representatives of government entities (state, Federal, tribal, sovereign) from the region, who provide input on regional management and science priorities, as well as outreach and partnership activities. In addition to the USGS-led Advisory Committee process, engagement of CASC Host Institutions (and, where applicable, consortium partners) and USGS regional science assets is also a crucial component of the science-management dialogue.

b. Research and other activities undertaken by CASC Hosts/partners and Federal staff are parts of, and should be managed as, a coherent response to information needs identified by stakeholders. Close partnership between CASC Hosts/partners and USGS CASC leadership is required in designing a scientific program and ensuring effective implementation and communication.

c. CASC scientific needs require expertise and perspective from across the CASC, whether this occurs at one institution or amongst several consortium partners, and USGS Centers.

Each CASC serves as a part of a national network and is expected to contribute meaningfully to network-wide efforts. Network-wide activities currently include working groups on various topics (Climate information to support State Partnerships, Communications, Program Management, etc.), an annual in person meeting, and an annual cooperators meeting.

Information and data management are crucial elements in enabling seamless interactions across the CASC Network. CASC research activities funded through this agreement or through related agreements must comply with USGS Public Access Plan and Data Management Policies ( Public Access to Results of Federally Funded Research at the U.S.

Geological Survey | U.S. Geological Survey (usgs.gov)) and NCASC Data Policies (Data Policy and Guidance | U.S. Geological Survey (usgs.gov)). Requirements include completion of project metadata and data management plans for CASC research projects. Research data management plans, research data products, associated metadata, and other products developed with CASC funds must be submitted to the CASC Data Steward when projects are complete. Host Institutions should work with NCASC on this function.

5. CASCs include USGS employees and Host Institution employees. CASCs may also include staff from other public or private organizations. Several CASCs have staff supported by the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA tribal climate resilience liaisons). Other https://www.usgs.gov/office-of-science-quality-and-integrity/public-access-results-federally-funded-research-us https://www.usgs.gov/office-of-science-quality-and-integrity/public-access-results-federally-funded-research-us https://www.usgs.gov/programs/climate-adaptation-science-centers/data-policy-and-guidance https://www.usgs.gov/programs/climate-adaptation-science-centers/data-policy-and-guidance

DOI bureaus may provide resources (including staff) for CASC operations over time. The specific staffing and expertise at each CASC will be defined by the scientific priorities and focus of that Center and by available partnerships that facilitate access to external scientific assets. USGS/DOI staffing at CASCs may include the CASC Federal Regional Administrator and Federal Deputy Director, Science/Research Coordinator, researchers, tribal liaisons, administrative personnel, etc. Student researchers and post-doctoral researchers may also be located at the CASC. USGS staff may work onsite at CASC host institutions or may work at other locations.

[1] Based on the 2015 report of the Advisory Committee on Climate Change and Natural Resource Science, available at https://www.sciencebase.gov/catalog/item/5c1d05d3e4b0708288c9bc2a.

Program Website Link https://www.usgs.gov/ecosystems/climate-adaptation-science-centers

B. Federal Award Information

B1. Total Funding

Estimated Total Funding

Northeast CASC base funding amount: $7,400,000

Pacific Islands CASC base funding amount: $9,250,000

South Central CASC base funding amount: $7,400,000

It is anticipated that for the Northeast and South Central CACSs, a base funding amount of $1,480,000 will be provided each year for 5 years, and that for the Pacific Islands CASC, a base funding amount of $1,850,000 will be provided each year for 5 years.

Annually, an additional amount that is up to 20% of the overall CASC program budget for that year, may also be available for each regional CASC depending on availability of appropriated funds.

https://www.sciencebase.gov/catalog/item/5c1d05d3e4b0708288c9bc2a https://www.usgs.gov/ecosystems/climate-adaptation-science-centers https://www.sciencebase.gov/catalog/file/get/5e430a8be4b0edb47be845ca?f=__disk__58%2F89%2Fa7%2F5889a7e7d56ed407066eb1d1b4a6a20b75761d1f https://www.sciencebase.gov/catalog/file/get/5e430a8be4b0edb47be845ca?f=__disk__58%2F89%2Fa7%2F5889a7e7d56ed407066eb1d1b4a6a20b75761d1f

B2. Award Amount

Maximum Award See B.1 above. For host institutions based outside of the CONUS, the addition to the base funding amount could be up to 25% to accommodate higher cost of doing business in those regions.

For all regions, supplemental funding that is up to 20% of the overall CASC program budget that year may also be available annually for each regional CASC subject to (1) availability of funds and their obligation in accordance with applicable law, (2) the Recipient showing satisfactory progress and the USGS’ determination that continuation of the program would be in the best interest of the Government, (3) the submission of a SF 424 “Application for Federal Assistance” with a technical proposal describing the award objectives for the requested supplemental funding, (4) submission of a detailed budget for the requested supplemental funding; and, (5) strict adherence to the terms and conditions of the Agreement.

Minimum Award $ 0

Proposal Funding, Cost Sharing or Matching, and Other Requirements

1. Number of awards anticipated from this announcement: 3 (three)

a. Each non-Federal entity applicant may submit one proposal as a prospective Host.

Candidate Host applicants may be included as consortium partners on proposals for which others have a Host role. Candidate consortium partners may be listed on multiple Host proposals.

The proposal should address the base amount above. Any additional funds over the base and proposed activities associated with those funds will be negotiated every year between CASC program leadership and the Host Institution (subject to the availability of funds appropriated by Congress and the conditions cited in B.2 above). A supplemental proposal and budget will be requested each year if additional funds are made available.

Estimated additional funding amounts for year 2026-2029 are 20% of the projected appropriation amount included in the CASC Act divided by each CASC (for host institutions based outside of the CONUS, the addition to the base funding amount could be up to 25%).

2. Cost sharing is not required in this program and will not be considered in the evaluation of applications. In the past, however, many CASC Host Institutions have provided in-kind and financial resources that augment these Federal funds.

3. It is anticipated that the CASC Hosting Agreement will be funded for one base year, with the four additional project years subject to availability of funds. Beyond the base year, each subsequent year of funding will also be contingent upon satisfactory performance (including both substantive and financial), satisfactory submission of required reporting, and the Host institution conducting an annual cooperator meeting to discuss progress during the preceding year. All renewals are at the discretion of USGS. All awards and funding under this announcement are subject to the availability of funds. “Required reporting” includes financial and annual progress reports included as standard requirements under the Terms and Conditions of USGS cooperative agreements, and any reporting required under associated grants or cooperative agreements issued non-competitively under the CASC hosting cooperative agreement to support scientific and related activities. See Attachment B: General Terms and Conditions for detailed reporting requirements

4. USGS will enter into a cooperative agreement with a single institution. This Host Institution will be responsible, where applicable, for managing subawards to consortium partners. Separately, it will also, as applicable, be the recipient of research project funding for all partner institutions and will be responsible for appropriately transferring such sub-award funds as well as providing appropriate subaward oversight (see 5 below).

Proposals including consortium partners must be submitted as a single integrated proposal by the lead Host Institution.

5. Host Institutions will be eligible for separate research project funding as a component of this agreement. Research or other project activities must address the goals of the Center as described in the Centers’ Science Agenda or Strategic Plan. They must also comply with NCASC and USGS data management policies, including the preparation of Data Management Plans (see Project Tracking Policy and Guidance | U.S. Geological Survey (usgs.gov)). As noted above, research financial assistance agreements will be awarded only to the Host Institution, with subawards to consortium partners or others administered by the Host. The annual magnitude of federal funding anticipated to flow through the Host institution for research is estimated at approximately $1-2 million, subject to the availability of funds. All funded research intended for publication must provide attribution of the USGS and CASC funding as specified in the guidance provided. See Project Tracking Policy and Guidance | U.S. Geological Survey (usgs.gov) as well as the USGS General Terms and Conditions in Attachment B.

6. In order to facilitate national recognition and consistency, NCASC developed high-level communication guidance that should be implemented on websites and other public products. The CASC communications guidelines can be found here: CASC Communications Guidelines - ScienceBase-Catalog

Funding Restrictions The reimbursement of pre-award costs is not authorized under this announcement.

https://www.usgs.gov/programs/climate-adaptation-science-centers/project-tracking-policy-and-guidance https://www.usgs.gov/programs/climate-adaptation-science-centers/project-tracking-policy-and-guidance https://www.usgs.gov/programs/climate-adaptation-science-centers/project-tracking-policy-and-guidance https://www.sciencebase.gov/catalog/item/5f5fb12482ce3550e3bff2d7 https://www.sciencebase.gov/catalog/item/5f5fb12482ce3550e3bff2d7 https://www.sciencebase.gov/catalog/item/5f5fb12482ce3550e3bff2d7

Annual progress reporting that supports increased communication about non-federal entity activities and enables greater oversight of specific commitments is required. (Project Tracking Policy and Guidance | U.S. Geological Survey (usgs.gov)).

Also reference section D.6 Funding Restrictions.

B3. Anticipated Award Funding and Dates

Anticipated Award Date June 30, 2025

B4. Number of Awards

Expected Number of Awards

B5. Type of Award Funding Instrument Type CA - Cooperative Agreement Financial assistance instrument: Cooperative Agreement.

Substantial involvement on the part of USGS is anticipated for the successful completion of the objectives to be funded. In particular, it is anticipated that USGS will: Regularly review progress under the award and provide project guidance as appropriate; direct and/or redirect work because of interrelationships with other related CASC projects; provide guidance for communications with project stakeholders; provide guidance regarding project staffing needs and host institution capacities (e.g. sufficient support staff and resources to accomplish planned objectives); and support compliance with USGS and CASC data management requirements. This includes identifying points of contact and designing appropriate communication methods with Tribal, Federal, and state agencies, and providing guidance in ensuring that the communication activities follow regional, national, and network communication guidance and priorities.

Announcement Type

Initial https://www.usgs.gov/programs/climate-adaptation-science-centers/project-tracking-policy-and-guidance https://www.usgs.gov/programs/climate-adaptation-science-centers/project-tracking-policy-and-guidance

C. Eligibility Information

C1. Eligible Applicants Eligible Applicants 00 – State governments 12 – Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education 13 – Nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education 01 – County governments 02 – City or township governments 05 – Independent school districts 06 – Public and State controlled institutions of higher education 04 – Special district governments 20 – Private institutions of higher education

Additional Information on Eligibility

Eligible Applicants

1. Non-Federal entities eligible to submit proposals under this Announcement include state, not-for-profit, local government, and academic institutions. USGS entities may not submit proposals and may not be listed as formal partners on proposals. Federal agencies may collaborate in the execution of research projects, but should not be a Host or a consortium partner; Federal partners must receive money through other methods as appropriate and not through Federal financial assistance (i.e., the CASC hosting cooperative agreement).

2. Any eligible non-Federal entity, organization, or consortium interested in hosting a Center in the identified CASC region may apply; consortium partners are not required to be physically located within their corresponding CASC region. However, proposals involving institutions located outside the focal region should provide strong evidence of experience and capability to conduct research and maintain active partnerships with resource management stakeholders within the focal region, either directly or through other consortium members.

3. Proposals may be submitted for a single institution or by one institution serving as the CASC Host, along with additional consortium partners. Consortium partners should only be included if they will play a clear and substantive role in CASC strategy and operations. Examples include the provision of cooperative agreement funding for faculty and students or post-doctoral researchers for research activities related to the CASC science agenda.

C2. Cost Sharing or Matching

Cost Sharing / Matching Requirement No

C3. Other

General Expectations, Requirements, and Conditions

1. The USGS will only enter into a Hosting Agreements with an applicant that meets the following criteria and standards:

a. Provide appropriate regionally relevant expertise responsive to the science priorities identified by regional stakeholders in the science plan and experience to achieve the CASC mission, with the goal of fostering collaborative activities and engaging expertise from across the Host and partner institutions. Science needs for each region are described in Attachment C. Ensure the CASC Host Institution and consortium partners (where applicable) are able to support the science needs of the entire CASC region.

b. Demonstrate institutional commitment to a multi-disciplinary and organizationally effective science and management support program, through the direct involvement of senior representatives of multiple departments, colleges, etc. or higher-level institutional sponsorship and engagement (e.g., Dean, Vice President of Research, etc.)

c. Demonstrate commitment to the actionable science/co-development model and make available relevant science capabilities that complement and enhance USGS and DOI scientific computing and data visualization capacity and that of other science partners.

2. Demonstrate a willingness to engage as partners with the CASC Federal Regional Administrator and other USGS staff in implementing a research portfolio that meets high-priority regional needs.

3. Clearly outline in the proposal the core staff and their activities that assist with the implementation of the cooperative agreement. Core staff should include the following:

a. Principal Investigator* – month(s) of salary

b. Deputy Host Institution Director or Program Manager – Full Time

c. Communications – 75% or More Time

* USGS awards identify the primary individual responsible for a project as the “Principal Investigator”. However, in the CASC operations, this individual is usually referred to as the “Host Institution Director.”

Network-Wide Activities and Meetings: The Climate Adaptation Science Center (CASC) Host Institutions will be required to participate in and assist with the planning and coordination of cooperator meetings annually and external reviews every five years. These meetings will focus on the CASC hosting cooperative agreement activities, help ensure appropriate oversight of public resources, and support USGS decisions regarding annual funding for and selection of new host institutions. CASC Consortia staff also participate in a variety of CASC-wide activities including (but not limited to): partnership and science meetings, working groups (communications, project coordination, etc.), an annual in person meeting, and an annual cooperators meeting.

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.

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility: Proposals should consider incorporating the principles of justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion and demonstrate a plan to carry out work in ways that acknowledge existing legacies of social and environmental inequities and support actions that address them, including but not limited to the inclusion of frontline community members in setting project priorities. Ensuring justice and equity means paying particular attention to populations most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, which are often low-income communities, communities of color, indigenous and tribal communities, those already overburdened by pollution, those who lack economic or social opportunity, and people facing disenfranchisement.

Executive Order 14008 Sec. 219: To secure an equitable economic future, the United States must ensure that environmental and economic justice are key considerations in how we govern. That means investing and building a clean energy economy that creates well-paying union jobs, turning disadvantaged communities—historically marginalized and overburdened—into healthy, thriving communities, and undertaking robust actions to mitigate climate change while preparing for the impacts of climate change across rural, urban, and Tribal areas. Agencies shall make achieving environmental justice part of their missions by developing programs, policies, and activities to address the disproportionately high and adverse human health, environmental, climate-related and other cumulative impacts on disadvantaged communities, as well as the accompanying economic challenges of such impacts. It is therefore the policy of my Administration to secure environmental justice and spur economic opportunity for disadvantaged communities that have been historically marginalized and overburdened by pollution and underinvestment in housing, transportation, water and wastewater infrastructure, and health care.

https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2021/01/27/executive-order-on-tackling-the-climate-crisis-at-home-and-abroad/

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 an 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 2, Create a Grants.gov Account, listed below.

Creating a Grants.gov account can be completed online in minutes, however to apply for federal funding, your SAM registration must be fully processed, which can take an average of 7-10 business days after all information has been entered in SAM. Please make sure to begin the process early. 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) 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. Access https://www.sam.gov and complete the online SAM registration process to obtain a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI/SAM) or verify if your organization already has one.

If your organization already has a UEI/SAM, you may move to step 2 to register with Grants.gov. It takes 7-10 business days to receive a UEI after all information has been entered in SAM. Ensure you enter your EBiz POC name and EBiz POC email in SAM and your organization/entity registration process is complete in SAM, this will allow you to register with Grants.gov. For more detailed instructions for registering with SAM, refer to: https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration.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. Note: It takes one day (after you enter the EBiz POC name and EBiz POC email in SAM) to receive a UEI (SAM), which will allow you to register with Grants.gov and apply for federal funding.

3) 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 UEI Number for the organization in the UEI (Unique Entity Identifier) field if you selected the Organization Applicant Profile option. 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

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 notice of funding opportunity, 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 https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/registration.html 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 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 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 Unique Entity Identifier (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 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 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

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 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.

D1. Address to Request Application Package

1. Requirements for application documents can be found in this announcement and on

Grants.gov.

2. Preapplications will not be accepted nor reviewed.

3. Electronic Application Requirement – Final applications must be submitted electronically via Grants.gov (http://www.grants.gov) by the due date indicated in this announcement. Hard copy/paper submissions will NOT be accepted. Electronic copies submitted via email will NOT be accepted under any circumstances.

4. All proposals must be submitted electronically through Grants.gov on or before: Monday, February 3, 2025 at 4:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time

5. Throughout 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 Monday, February 3, 2025 at 4:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time.

D2. Content and Form of Application Submission 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 http://www.grants.gov/ only the amount requested from this Federal program in the “Federal” funding box on the SF- 424 Application form. Applicants may include funding from other federal sources in the “Other” box.

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.

Project Abstract Summary In accordance with the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Memoranda M-21-20 and M- 22-02, Federal agencies are now required to provide complete and accurate financial assistance award descriptions within USAspending.gov. As such, the Department of the Interior is requiring its bureaus and offices to provide a Project Abstract Summary for all financial assistance awards to include the below bulleted information. Include this Project Abstract Summary alongside your proposal submitted via Grants.gov. Project Abstract Summary character limitation as 1 page or less (no more than ~4000 characters) and use of 12 pt. font and Times New Roman is recommended. All of the below bullets need to be listed and addressed.

Upon issuance of the cooperative agreement, this Project Abstract Summary will be publicly available at USAspending.gov.

• Project title

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

• Activities to be performed;

• Deliverables and Expected Outcomes;

• Intended beneficiary(ies) as well as

• Subrecipient activities, if known or specified at the time of award

Additional Forms Project Narrative

A. Proposal Preparation

1. Proposal Components: Each proposal must include separate components, preceded by a title page that provides basic information regarding the submitting organization, including name, physical address, and contact information for a single primary point of contact for the proposal:

a. Summary of Deliverables and Key Outcomes (in addition to the Project Abstract Summary mentioned above)

b. Technical Proposal Narrative

c. Budget Tables

d. Budget Justification text

e. Letters of support

2. Proposal Format: The proposal summary of deliverables and key outcomes, technical narrative, budget tables, budget justification, and letters of support must be combined together into one PDF document, in the order noted above, and submitted through Grants.gov. Applications must be not more than 20 pages, (including figures and tables, but NOT including the budget narrative and supporting budget documents such as an applicant’s official indirect cost rate agreement and documentation of fringe benefit rates, and a data management plan), using Times New Roman not smaller than 12-point font, single-spaced, with one-inch page margins. Excess pages will not be evaluated. All pages of the application shall be numbered. All text, figures, and tables shall be sized to fit on 8½" by 11" paper. The standard forms noted above, budget documents, and letters of support do not count toward the 20-page limit. Budget items and narratives may be included within the 20-page limit or attached to the 20-page narrative and still be accepted. The application shall be in color as needed for review by peer review panel members.

B. Proposal Contents – Summary of Deliverables and Key Outcomes and Technical Proposal Narrative Provide a summary of your proposal’s deliverables and key outcomes and provide detailed information to describe your organization’s ability to host a CASC. Include section titles at the beginning of each section. If additional information about your natural resource and climate change research program and partnerships can be found online, refer to the appropriate links. Exceeding the page limit provides no benefit, as the excess pages will not be evaluated.

These narratives should address the following elements:

1. Consortium Skills and Interactions: NCASC seeks consortia in which all members will play an active and direct role in conducting and overseeing research projects and related CASC activities undertaken by the consortium. Proposals that include multi-institution consortia should address the role/skill set of each partner institution and how the proposal principals will interact.

a. Identify the individual at the Host Institution who will serve as Principal Investigator. Describe this person’s role and what funding (for the Principal Investigator or other staff) is requested to support this requirement. Describe why this department/center as a host “home” and individual as university leader are best suited to addressing the science challenges facing the CASC.

b. As appropriate, identify the proposal principals (Leadership Team), who should include, at a minimum, one senior investigator from each consortium partner. Identify each principal’s individual strengths and how their expertise complements, supplements, or amplifies that of the other leadership team members. Describe how the Leadership Team members will coordinate and interact with one another. Provide brief descriptions of the current research activities (e.g., awards, projects) of each consortium partner principal.

c. Describe institutional-level commitment to the CASC, including how the institution will coordinate and work across Departments, Colleges and other administrative units within the institution.

d. Describe the governance strategy and activities for the consortium team, including proposed modes of interaction between Host and consortium partners and between all partners and the CASC Federal Regional Administrator and staff.

e. Describe the institutional context in which the CASC would be located; that is, list other departments and programs that would be closely associated, including other Federal or non-Federal partners (e.g., NOAA Cooperative Institutes or USDA Forest Service labs), etc. Describe any anticipated activities or strategies to maximize the benefits from and leveraging of these assets. The roles of all partners (Federal and non-Federal) must be clearly identified.

f. Describe how proposal principals would enable and encourage other faculty, staff, and students to participate in research activities. Describe how the consortium leadership would facilitate awareness of and potential engagement in responding to requests for research proposals issued by a CASC.

g. Identify any involvement of proposal principals in activities or projects of:

i. The National Climate Adaptation Science Center (NCASC)

ii. Regional Climate Adaptation Science Centers (CASC)

iii. USDA Regional Climate Hubs (Hubs)

iv. NOAA Regional Integrated Science and Assessment (RISA) center(s)

v. Other entities whose mission reflects similar goals, providing information for adaptation planning and decision making for natural and/or cultural resources

2. Science: Explain how the team will address the science priorities and align with the strategic goals of the CASC as well as the nature of the science required for climate change related adaptation or resource management decision-making in the region, including items described in Section C.C3.1.b, and the most effective approaches for meeting those needs. Identify how specific university or consortium skills match up with needs and complement USGS resources. Describe how the proposal, with details provided for individual members of the team, will effectively support research and related activities across the relevant CASC region. Identify new capabilities that need to be developed regionally, as appropriate. Provide at least one case example for each of the proposal principals that involves identification of climate impacts or adaptation strategies for natural or cultural resources.

a. Explain the proposal team’s understanding of actionable science” or “usable science.”

Describe how the consortium would facilitate and foster actionable science approaches in CASC-funded activities. Provide at least one case example for each of the proposal principals that illustrates actionable science principles.

b. Describe any proposed activities to generate and foster regional dialogue and information sharing with cultural or natural resource managers on climate impacts and adaptation science.

c. Describe the involvement of consortium partners, and especially the proposal principals, in activities related to American Indians, Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians, Pacific Islanders, or other indigenous peoples.

d. As part of being included in the CASC Network, CASC Consortia staff also participate in a variety of CASC-wide activities including (but not limited to):

partnership and science meetings, working groups (communications, project coordination, inclusive mentoring), an annual in person meeting, and an annual cooperators meeting. Please budget accordingly.

a. List and describe the broad research areas in which capacity building activities are proposed (e.g., ecological modeling, vulnerability assessment). Identify the intended physical location(s) and institutional affiliation(s) for the proposed researchers.

b. Describe the…