Landslide Program Announcement Final.pdf

OMB Control Number: 1028-0142 Expiration Date: 04/30/2027

Program Announcement

United States Geological Survey

USGS Cooperative Landslide Hazard Mapping and Assessment Program Announcement for Fiscal Year 2024 https://www.usgs.gov/programs/landslide-hazards/science/external-grants-overview

Notice of Funding Opportunity - Fiscal Year 2024 Funding Opportunity Number (FON) G24AS00345

Closing Date: 06/17/2024

This application is for the U.S. Geological Survey – Cooperative Landslide Hazard Mapping and Assessment Program. Thank you for participating in this grant application process. Your participation in the grant application process is voluntary. The entire grant application process should take about 46 hours. Your responses will provide important information to assess you and your co-PIs scientific and technical backgrounds to determine eligibility and ability to complete the proposed grant activities.

The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501), states that an agency may not conduct or sponsor, and you are not required to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number and expiration date. You may submit comments on any aspect of this collection. Please note that comments submitted in response to this collection are public record.

Comments on this collection should be sent to the Clearance Office at gs-info_collections@usgs.gov.

Privacy Act Statement: You are not required to provide your contact information in order to submit your survey response. However, if you do not provide contact information, the USGS may not be able to contact you for additional information to verify your responses. If you do provide contact information, this information will not be shared with any other organization and will only be used to initiate follow-up communication about this project if needed. The records for this collection will be maintained in the appropriate Privacy Act System of Records identified as [DOI Social Networks (Interior/USGS-8) published at 76 FR 44033, 7/22/2011].

mailto:gs-info_collections@usgs.gov

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

Grants.gov Application Submission and Receipt Procedures

D1. Address to Request Application Package

Electronic Application Requirement

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. USGS Project Officer

G2. USGS Grant Specialist

G3. USGS Contracting Officer

G4. Application System Technical Support

H. Other information

I. Attachments

Attachment A. Priorities for FY2024

Attachment B. Proposal Template - USGS Scientist Collaboration Statement Form

Attachment C. Proposal Information Summary Template

Attachment D. Budget Summary

Attachment E. Special Terms and Conditions

Attachment F. Public Law 115-323

Attachment G. Landslide National Strategy for Landslide Loss Reduction

Attachment H. Final Technical Report Template

Attachment I. Progress Report Template

A. Program Description A1. Authority The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Landslide Hazards Program (LHP) issues this Program Announcement for assistance to support communication, planning, coordination, mapping, assessments, and data collection of landslide hazards. The program announcement for the Cooperative Landslide Hazard Mapping and Assessment Program is authorized by the National Landslide Preparedness Act (P.L. 116-

323) and appropriations to the USGS.

A main objective of this Program, as outlined in the National Landslide Preparedness Act, is to provide grants, on a competitive basis, to state, territorial, local, and Tribal governments to research, map, assess, and collect data on landslide hazards within the jurisdictions of those governments. This funding opportunity, USGS Cooperative Landslide Hazard Mapping and Assessment Program, solicits Risk Reduction Proposals as described in this document.

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number 15.821

A2. Background, Purpose, and Program Requirements The following guidelines are included to assist the applicant in preparing a thorough and competitive Risk Reduction Proposal that supports the mission of the Landslide Hazards Program. Reflecting the National Landslide Preparedness Act (Attachment F) and the National Strategy for Landslide Loss Reduction (Attachment G), Risk Reduction Priority Areas (Attachment A) have been identified as a scaffold for this grant opportunity. Applicants must review the Risk Reduction Priority Areas described in Attachment A to determine if their application is appropriate under this Program Announcement.

Application Guidelines and Requirements

• This Announcement is open to state, Tribal, territorial, and local governments. A university may submit a proposal on behalf of a state geological survey or other state office if they are organized under a university system.

• Proposals must outline a period of performance 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 "Period of Performance" below.

• Proposals will include descriptions of project personnel and their experience and skills relevant to completing the proposed tasks. Extended supervisory hours performed by senior staff or other management activities for which funding is requested must be well justified. Curriculum vitae or resumes (2-page maximum) for primary personnel are required and do not count toward the proposal page limit.

• Proposals must align with the National Landslide Preparedness Act (Attachment F) and the National Strategy for Landslide Loss Reduction (Attachment G), as described in Attachment A.

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

• Describe the project and the process you expect to follow (workflows, including methods and level of effort) to complete the required work. If you are proposing multiple activities to complete the project, clearly state the work associated with each activity and who will do the work. Please note that if reduced funds are awarded, the scope of work may require modification.

• All supplies and equipment must be itemized and provided with a dealer or manufacturer quote.

See D2: Detailed Budget Narrative: Other Direct Costs.

• Equipment funding requests of $5,000 or more per item must be supported by a full justification and a dealer or manufacturer quote. Equipment justification and quotes are not included in the Project Narrative page limit and should be included with the Detailed Budget Narrative.

• Proposals must include a Data Management Plan (DMP) to conform with the Executive Order of February 22, 2013, "Increasing Access to the Results of Federally Funded Scientific Research".

See Section D2: Data Management Plan Requirements for instructions.

• Begin submitting your proposal to Grants.gov well in advance of the due date as there is no possibility of late submissions.

Please contact the USGS Project Officer if you have questions. However, questions specific to your proposal as to what will or will not be funded cannot be addressed.

Changes to Proposal Requirements and Conditions This is a new grant program in FY2024 and in future Program Announcements, any implemented changes to the funding opportunity will be listed below.

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. 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. Collaborative Proposals are described below.

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

• 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., significant landslide event), which must be acted on before the next competitive review cycle. Proposers should contact the USGS Project Officer prior to submitting out-of-cycle proposals.

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

Collaborative Proposals Two types of collaborative proposals are acceptable:

• Type A: Collaboration between two or more external organizations that are seeking funding from the USGS Cooperative Landslide Hazard Mapping and Assessment Program

• Type B: 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. Recipients of 1-year collaborative awards must submit one Final Technical Report

(Attachment H), incorporating the efforts of all collaborators. For 2-year collaborative awards, recipients must submit one Progress Report (Attachment I) at the end of the first year incorporating the efforts of all collaborators.

Collaborative proposals must be clearly identified in the proposal title. The application title shall read “Proposal Title: Collaborative Risk Reduction Project with First Institution name, and Second Institution name.” All collaborative proposal start and end dates must match.

Specific guidelines for each type of collaborative proposal are provided below:

Type 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.

• Each Principal Investigator and their institution that is recommended for funding will receive a separate grant and shall accept financial responsibility for administering the grant and technical responsibility for submitted required reports.

Type B

• Collaborative projects 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 projects either directly or indirectly support or cooperate with ongoing internal USGS projects, these projects are not considered collaborative projects because their objectives can be pursued with or without the existence of the internal USGS project(s).

• 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 USGS Scientist Collaboration Statement Form (Attachment B), filled out and signed by the relevant internal USGS scientist(s) and their direct supervisor. This letter states that the scientist(s) will include specific efforts in their agreed-upon internal work plan for the period of time of the proposal to LHP. 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 Collaboration Statement Form will not count toward the 15- page limit.

Period of Performance Projects must have a performance period of either 12 or 24 months.

The USGS anticipates that projects submitted for funding under this opportunity will have a period of performance of one year. However, if the proposed work is such that two years are required to complete the project, then a two-year proposal is appropriate and can be submitted. Applicants should carefully consider their time commitments and request the required grant duration and funding to accomplish their project goals. The peer review panel may recommend funding only the first year of a two-year proposal when the proposed project is easily divided into two, one-year projects or when the panel feels that results from the first year’s proposed work will need to be evaluated before a second year can be considered. Applicants should be sure to address the stipulations for two-year proposals in Section D2., Project Narrative item E., Project Description item 2, Project Plan.

Two-year projects require an Annual Progress Report (Attachment I) due at the end of the first year in addition to the Final Technical Report (Attachment H) due at the end of the performance period.

Two-year projects will be funded for the entire period of performance at the beginning of the award, not in one-year increments.

Applicants may submit new proposals in subsequent years within the period of performance of an existing grant BUT the proposed work cannot duplicate the effort or be a continuation of objectives of a currently funded, active grant.

B. Federal Award Information

B1. Total Funding Estimated Total Funding $1,000,000

B2. Award Amount Maximum Award $300,000

Minimum Award $10,000

It is estimated that a total of $1 million will be awarded to fund competitive Risk Reduction Proposals in FY 2024. The maximum award amount is $300,000.00. Because this is a new grant program, there is no history of past awards funded each fiscal year; however, the anticipated range of funding for an individual award is $10,000 - $300,000.

B3. Anticipated Award Funding and Dates Anticipated Award Date 07/15/2024

Proposal Announcement Date: 04/17/2024 Closing date and time for proposal submission: 06/17/2024, 5 p.m. E.T.

Proposals received after the deadline will NOT be considered for an award.

All projects must propose start dates between 07/15/2024 and 09/30/2024. 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 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 State, Tribal, territorial, and local governments

Additional Information on Eligibility This Announcement is open to state, Tribal, territorial, and local governments. A university may submit a proposal on behalf of a state geological survey or other state office if they are organized under a university system. The following are ineligible categories and listed below. Direct any questions about eligibility to the USGS Project Officer.

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

• Proposals for long-term operation of landslide monitoring networks or instruments.

• Proposals from U.S. Government agencies or U.S. Government employees, unless part of a collaborative proposal.

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

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

• Proposals principally involving the direct procurement of a product or equipment.

C2. Cost Sharing or Matching

Cost Sharing / Matching Requirement No. This program does not have a match requirement.

The National Landslide Preparedness Act (Public Law 116-323) states that funding prioritization shall be given to projects for which at least 50 percent of the total cost of the project is matched by non-Federal sources (i.e., state, local, non-governmental, Tribal, territorial, or private). More information about what qualifies for this non-Federal support, termed “match”, is discussed below. Report non-federal matching funds in the Detailed Budget Narrative below.

In some cases, the required match is waived:

• 48 U.S.C. 1469a(d) mandates that the Department of the Interior waive any cost-sharing requirement for the jurisdictions of American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. In addition, CA-23-04 directs all federal agencies and departments to waive local cost share requirements under $200,000 for grants for these four U.S. territories.

• The non-Federal cost-share requirement is waived for Tribes as described in Public Law 93-638 Sec 103 (c), which states: “the provision of any other Act notwithstanding, any funds made available to a tribal organization under grant pursuant to this section may be used as matching share for any other Federal grant programs which contribute to the purposes for which grants and this section are made.”

If using any of the above exceptions or other unlisted exceptions, please note that in your application.

As part of the non-Federal entity's cost sharing or matching, shared costs or matching funds and all contributions, including cash and third-party in-kind contributions, are acceptable following 2 CFR

200.3061. The contributions must be verifiable in the entity’s records, not included as contributions on any other Federal award, necessary for the project work, not paid by the Federal Government through another award (except where authorized), are documented in the Detailed Budget Narrative, and conform to the provisions described in 2 CFR 200.306.

C3. Other Availability of Data All data, methodology, factual inputs, models, analyses, technical information, reports, conclusions, valuation products or other scientific assessments in any medium or form, including textual, numerical, graphic, cartographic, narrative, or audiovisual, resulting from a financial assistance agreement is available for use by the Department of the Interior, including being available in a manner that is sufficient for independent verification (2 CFR 1402.315).

The Federal Government has the right to:

(1) Obtain, reproduce, publish, or otherwise use the data, methodology, factual inputs, models, analyses, technical information, reports, conclusions, or other scientific assessments, produced under a Federal award; and

(2) Authorize others to receive, reproduce, publish, or otherwise use such data, methodology, factual inputs, models, analyses, technical information, reports, conclusions, or other scientific assessments, for Federal purposes, including to allow for meaningful third-party evaluation.

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.

1 See eCFR :: 2 CFR Part 200 -- Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards or https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200?toc=1 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200?toc=1 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200?toc=1 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200?toc=1

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. Applicants are required 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 which provides a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI), and Grants.gov account to apply for grants. If individual applicants (those submitting on their own behalf) are eligible to apply for this funding opportunity, they need only refer to steps 2 and 3 below.

Creating a Grants.gov account can be completed online in minutes, but SAM registration 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.

Organization registration instructions can be found on Grants.gov here: https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration.html

1) Register with SAM: All organizations (entities) 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.html

2) Create a Grants.gov Account: The next step is to register an account with Grants.gov. Follow the on-screen instructions provided on the registration page.

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 submitting on their own behalf. If you work for or consult with multiple organizations, you can have a profile for each organization under one Grants.gov account. In such cases, you may log in to one Grants.gov account to access all your grant profiles. To add an organizational profile to your Grants.gov account, enter the UEI (Unique Entity Identifier) for the organization in the UEI field. If you are an individual applicant submitting on your own behalf, you do not need a UEI to add the 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 https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration.html https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration.html 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 applicant's request for Grants.gov roles and access is sent to the EBiz POC. The EBiz POC is then expected to 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 of the organization 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.

For an overview of applying on Grants.gov using Workspaces, 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 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.

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 https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/adobe-software-compatibility.html

c. Complete SF-424 Fields First: These forms are designed to fill in common required fields across other forms, such as the applicant name, address, and SAM UEI. 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 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 6pm Eastern time on 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 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 unreliable internet connections should be aware that the process of completing the Workspace can take some time. Therefore, applicants should allow enough time to prepare and submit the application before the package closing date.

Grants.gov will provide either an error or a successfully received submission message in the form of an email sent to the applicant with the AOR role attempting to submit the application. The Grants.gov https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/applicant-training.html mailto:support@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 The application package is available from Grants.gov. General information on the grant process is available on the Landslide Hazards Program External Grants website.

Program Website Link: https://www.usgs.gov/programs/landslide-hazards/science/external-grants-overview

Electronic Application Requirement For the FY 2024 funding cycle all proposals must 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: 06/17/2024, at 5 pm, Eastern Daylight Time

Please be aware that the electronic submission process requires first time users to register using an e- Authentication process (SAM described above). 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 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.

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 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).

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

Application Preparation Instructions Your electronic submission will include a 15-page (maximum) Project Narrative, that includes a Budget Narrative, and various additional forms that are not included in the 15-page limit. The Project Narrative and additional forms shall be submitted to www.grants.gov. Provide the requested information in the https://www.usgs.gov/programs/landslide-hazards/science/external-grants-overview https://www.usgs.gov/programs/landslide-hazards/science/external-grants-overview http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/forms.html correct locations within the proposal template. Failure to do so may result in disqualification of the proposal.

Your submission must include the following components (A-E) of a Project Narrative not to exceed 15 pages. Each component is described in detail below:

A. Proposal Information Summary (Attachment C) B. Project Abstract Summary C. Table of Contents D. Budget Summary (Attachment D) E. Project Description

Your electronic submission must also include these additional forms, which DO NOT count towards the page limit:

• Standard Form 424 (SF-424) - Application for Federal Assistance (available at grants.gov)

• Standard Form 424A (SF-424A) - Budget Information: Non-Construction Programs (available at grants.gov)

• Standard Form 424B (SF-424B) - Assurances: Non-Construction Programs (available at grants.gov)

• Detailed Budget Narrative

• Data Management Plan

• Curriculum Vita

• Letters of Support from institutions outside USGS

• USGS Scientist Collaboration Statement Forms (Attachment B; if applicable)

No additional documents or materials may be submitted. Following this format ensures that every proposal contains all essential information and is evaluated equitably. Failure to comply with the required application components may result in rejection of the proposal. The USGS cannot request or receive supplemental or replacement application components after the closing date under this Program Announcement.

Project Narrative The Project Narrative must be arranged according to the format described here. Following this format ensures that submitted proposals contains all essential information and are evaluated equitably. All pages of the Project Narrative shall be numbered and in color. All text, figures, and tables shall be sized to fit on 8½" by 11" paper, however, font size shall not be smaller than 11 point. Components A through E, described below, shall be combined into a single PDF or Microsoft Word document, in the order noted below. The Project Narrative may not exceed 15 single-spaced pages (including supplemental figures, tables, references, appendices, etc.)

The format of the Project Narrative is as follows:

A. Proposal Information Summary. This summary is mandatory for Grants.gov submitted proposals. The same format, with ALL information as shown in Attachment C, shall be included in each applicant’s Grants.gov submittal. If you do not submit this page, your proposal will be rejected.

B. Project Abstract Summary. The Project Abstract Summary is required to include the following information and shall be no longer than 400 characters including spaces:

1. A plain language description;

2. Award purpose (avoid acronyms or Federal or agency-specific terminology) and clearly stated objective;

3. Activities to be performed;

4. Deliverables and expected outcomes;

5. Intended beneficiary(ies);

6. Sub-recipient 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 budget summary is a one-page document formatted as shown in

Attachment D. The elements on the budget summary will be described more fully in the Detailed Budget Narrative (below).

E. Project Description The description of the proposed project shall consist of the following parts:

1. Significance of the Project. In a dedicated paragraph of the proposal, discuss the specific problem addressed and its importance. Describe the contribution the project will make to one or more of the Risk Reduction Priority Areas articulated (P1, P2, and P3) in Attachment A. This description is required.

2. Project Plan. In the context of the Risk Reduction Priority Areas and the problem to be addressed by this proposed work, discuss:

i. specific activities to be undertaken ,

ii. the conceptual framework or model to be used,

iii. the data collection and analysis plans, and

iv. the relationship of this proposed study to past studies.

Include project milestones and related due dates for the proposed work and required reports. Clearly connect anticipated findings, products, or other deliverables to the activities, models and data collection proposed. Briefly articulate how these results will address the goals and strategic activities associated with the Risk Reduction Priority Areas. 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. Broader Impacts (optional). It is strongly encouraged to include a statement that articulates the PI’s plan for ongoing synergistic work to address diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA), STEM education, and workforce resiliency efforts in specific aspects of the project.

4. Data Management Plan (DMP). The required DMP will indicate where final data and results generated by the project will be archived and how the data will be made publicly available to other scientists and users. Instructions for writing an acceptable DMP are found below in the Section: “Data Management Plan Requirements” The DMP does not count toward the 15-page limit.

5. Related Efforts. Describe significant, related studies conducted by members of the project team and discuss any planned coordination with other workers in the field.

Include descriptions of current and recent USGS/LHP External 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 (2-page maximum) 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 staff who contribute significantly to the project must also be included. Curriculum vitae do not count toward the 15-page limit.

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 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 projects/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. 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 this Risk Reduction Proposal, 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.

10. Current or Past IPA Work. In this section, please list any Intergovernmental Personnel Act Appointments you, your co-PIs, or anyone on your Project Team has had or currently has with the USGS in the last 5 years. Include a description of the work completed during the appointment.

11. References/Works Cited.

12. Conflicts of Interest. Regarding senior personnel, please state if any actual or potential conflict of interest exists at the time of submission (2 CFR §1402.112). More information on this topic can be found in the “Conflicts of Interest Disclosure” section below.

13. Letters of Support/Signed USGS Scientist Collaboration Statement Form (optional).

Letters of Support are useful for all proposals that include coordination with or participation by landslide scientists/researchers at institutions other than those submitting the proposal. However, 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 of a Letter of Support, a signed “USGS Scientist Collaboration Statement Form”, Attachment B, is REQUIRED and MUST be included if a USGS scientist intends to collaborate with the proposal applicant(s). 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. Letters of Support/Signed USGS Scientist Collaboration Statement Form do not count toward the 15-page limit.

Geospatial Requirements All geospatial data collected for or produced through the use of the Department of the Interior financial assistance funds are required to meet all relevant standards established by the Federal Geospatial Data Committee (FGDC) as authorized by Geospatial Data Act of 2018, Pub. L. 115-254, Subtitle F – Geospatial Data, §§ 751-759C, codified at 43 U.S.C. §§ 2801– 2811. Interior requires fully compliant metadata on all Geographic Information Systems files developed for financial assistance projects. If a funded financial assistance project involves acquiring or collecting geospatial data, the recipient is required to search

GeoPlatform.gov to determine that no existing Federal, State, local or private data meet the Government’s needs and are available at no cost before acquiring or collecting additional geospatial data.

SF-424C, Budget Information for Construction Programs Applicants must submit the appropriate SF-424 Budget Information form and Detailed Budget Narrative.

For non-construction programs or projects, applicants must complete and submit the SF-424A, “Budget Information for Non-Construction Programs” form. All 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 SF-424A or SF-424C.

The proposed Detailed Budget Narrative shall be keyed to the Budget Summary (Attachment D). Non-federal funds available to support the project as “match” should be reflected in the Detailed Budget Narrative. The Detailed Budget Narrative must include the amounts proposed for each of the following items in this order:

1. Salaries and wages. List names, positions, number of hours individuals will spend on various activities, their rates of compensation, and project roles. Salaries or wages for student assistants (undergraduate and/or graduate students) working on the project are an acceptable cost to this Risk Reduction Grants Program. 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. If a position is vacant, indicate the position title. Include only personnel actively involved in the project. If senior management salary/time is covered by the overhead (indirect cost) portion of the budget, senior management salary/time should not be included. If senior management personnel participate in project work, include an explanation of their roles. Non-government/non-Tribal staff working on the project should also be included if they are being supported by other funding. Salary for services or consultants should be reported in section 5 below. The detailed proposed budget shall include the total time worked on the project (in units of hours), rate-of-compensation (hourly, monthly, or annually), and job title or role of each person.

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. State 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.

General-purpose equipment must be purchased from the applicant’s operating funds (see 2 CFR 300.206(g) for match details). 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.

Note that the purchase of Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS or drones) must follow prohibitive Department of Interior policies, which are found here: https://www.doi.gov/aviation/uas/policy

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 they have received for similar services or under Government contracts or assistance awards.

6. Travel. State the purpose of the trip and itemize the estimated travel costs to show the number of trips required, the destinations, the number of people traveling, the per diem rates, the cost of transportation, and any miscellaneous expenses for each trip. 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 articulated. Travel expenses not to exceed $6,000 are allowable for staff to attend scientific conferences/workshops or relevant training. The staff member(s) should be identified, and a detailed breakdown for all costs related to conference/workshop travel needs to be provided. Conference travel fund requests for contractors are prohibited.

7. Publication costs. Provide the estimated cost of publishing the anticipated results of your Risk Reduction Proposal. Include costs of drafting or graphics, reproduction, and page or illustration charges.

8. Other direct costs.