Mod 1 G22AS00033.pdf

United States Geological Survey

2022 National Geological & Geophysical Data Preservation Program

Notice of Funding Opportunity - Fiscal Year 2022 Funding Opportunity Number (FON) G22AS00033

Closing Date: 12/17/2021

Table of Contents A. Program Description

A1. Authority

A2. Background, Purpose and Program Requirements

Guidelines and Requirements

Program Priorities

FY 2022 Priority 1 – Preserve Geoscience Data and Materials

FY 2022 Priority 2 – Identify Critical Mineral Resources

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

NGGDPP Information Products

F3. Reporting

G. Federal Awarding Agency Contact(s)

G1. Program Technical Contact

G2. Program Administration Contact

G3. Application System Technical Support

H. Other Information

A. Program Description

A1. Authority The National Geological and Geophysical Data Preservation Program (NGGDPP) was established and authorized in Section 351 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (Public Law 109-58, Sec. 351) and reauthorized in Section 7002 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (Public Law 116-260), which recognizes the need for the preservation, cataloging of and access to geological and geophysical data and materials for research and education use. To read the authorization, visit:

https://www.usgs.gov/core-science-systems/national-geological-and-geophysical-data-preservation-program/authorizing.

The objectives of the Program as outlined in the Act are to:

1. archive geologic, geophysical, and engineering data, maps, well logs, and samples;

2. provide a national catalog of such archival material; and

3. provide technical and financial assistance related to the archival material.

For more information about the NGGDPP, read the “Implementation Plan for the National Geological and Geophysical Data Preservation Program” (2006) which is available at:

https://www.usgs.gov/core-science-systems/national-geological-and-geophysical-data-preservationprogram/implementation.

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number 15.814

A2. Background, Purpose and Program Requirements Guidelines and Requirements The following guidelines and requirements are provided to help you submit a strong, competitive proposal. The Review Panel membership changes from year to year and you should not assume that reviewers will be fully aware of your previous work. Following these guidelines will allow the Review Panel to assess your proposed project efficiently and effectively.

https://www.usgs.gov/core-science-systems/national-geological-and-geophysical-data-preservation-program/authorizing https://www.usgs.gov/core-science-systems/national-geological-and-geophysical-data-preservation-program/authorizing https://www.usgs.gov/core-science-systems/national-geological-and-geophysical-data-preservationprogram/implementation https://www.usgs.gov/core-science-systems/national-geological-and-geophysical-data-preservationprogram/implementation

• In your proposal, please address feedback received from previous NGGDPP panel reviews, as relevant to the newly proposed project. The feedback provided to you is intended to help improve your proposal and chance of being funded.

• Provide a clear justification for preserving the selected data and/or materials. Explain how the results of the project meet the priorities of your organization and benefit your stakeholders and society. Please be specific and provide examples.

• A primary objective of the Program is to increase public accessibility of geological and geophysical data and samples. Ideally, digital resources should be made readily and publicly available through digital means. Physical resources should be discoverable through digital means. Please describe how the materials and data will be made available.

If materials will not be made publicly available, provide a clear justification.

• Request funding for one or both Priorities: Priority 1) preservation activities associated with the rescue, inventory, digitization, modernization and public dissemination of geoscience data and physical collections, and/or participation in the Data Preservation Workshop; and Priority 2) inventory and preservation of critical mineral resource data and assets and participation in and/or travel to an Earth Mapping Resources Initiative (Earth MRI) Critical Mineral Resources Workshop.

• 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 you will do for each activity. Please note that if reduced funds are awarded, scope of work may require modification.

• Briefly describe previous work or pilot projects that have informed your estimate of the level of effort and/or expertise needed to successfully complete the proposed work.

• A Data Management Plan (DMP) must be provided in the NGGDPP format (provided at the link on page 11) to conform with the Executive Order of February 22, 2013, “Increasing Access to the Results of Federally Funded Scientific Research”.

• Preserving USGS assets (e.g. maps, reports, photos etc.) using NGGDPP funds is not allowed; collections proposed for preservation should be owned by your state geological organization. Strong justification and documentation that the data will be made public (e.g., data sharing agreement or transfer of ownership), is required for preserving collections owned by a private or another state entity (for example, state oil and gas commission).

• Verify the federal share of the cost of the proposed activities is no more than 50 percent of the total cost for each Priority individually. The state portion can be larger than the federal portion; however, if the federal contribution is more than the state portion -regardless of the difference (even 0.01) - the grant proposal shall be disqualified and will not be evaluated by the grant review panel. Priority activities must be budgeted separately and within the itemized budget for that Priority. Review and verify budget numbers prior to proposal submission.

• 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.

Submit curriculum vitae or resumes (2-page maximum) for primary personnel. (CVs do not count toward the proposal page limit.)

• Equipment funding requests including scanners, computers, storage media, and relevant software licenses are acceptable if the equipment is reasonable and necessary for the successful completion of the work funded by the NGGDPP. A full justification and a dealer or manufacturer quote are required for any proposed equipment purchase. If no justification is included the cost will be disallowed. The NGGDPP will not fund general software licenses, database software systems, or equipment required for your organization’s IT infrastructure and operation, regardless of your proposed NGGDPP-related work.

• Non-allowable expenses under the NGGDPP include preservation of USGS assets, duplicate digitization/conversion of artifacts produced and preserved by other agencies, tuition, computer maintenance or travel to any other conference or workshop except the Data Preservation and/or regional Critical Mineral Resources Workshop.

• If collaborating with non-state survey staff, partner agencies (e.g., universities), or contractors please detail their roles and project hours as funded through the proposal or as representing state matching funds.

• Begin submitting your proposal to Grants.gov well in advance of the due date as there is no possibility of late submissions. See Part III, Section A for more information.

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

Program Priorities PLEASE NOTE: Proposals that do not specifically address NGGDPP fiscal year (FY) 2022 priorities will NOT be considered for an award.

The NGGDPP FY 2022 priorities include:

1. preservation of geoscience materials and data, preferentially resources relevant to climate studies, subsurface resources, physical infrastructure development, and/or clean/green energy; and

2. identification of data and materials related to critical mineral resources.

Preservation activities include preservation of geoscience data, samples, and physical materials to support a) the Administration priorities (https://www.whitehouse.gov/priorities) of climate, racial equality, and the economy, and b) to support the Department of the Interior Secretarial Priorities of protection and preservation of public lands, renewable energy development, and climate research.

All funded projects require submission of metadata records describing preserved resources in conformance with the NGGDPP metadata schema to the National Digital Catalog (NDC), to increase discovery, access and reuse by researchers, resource managers, decision-makers, and the public, for the benefit of society.

The proposal must describe projects that address the FY 2022 priorities and requirements to complete comprehensive activities to inventory, describe, and preserve specific collections. It is possible for proposed Priority 1 and/or Priority 2 projects to receive reduced or no funding. Cohesive and related activities adhering to a holistic data preservation strategy are favored by the NGGDPP. If applicable, hiring students from underrepresented sectors, majoring in science, technology, engineering, and mathematical fields, is strongly encouraged to educate and diversify the next generation of geoscientists.

https://www.whitehouse.gov/priorities https://www.doi.gov/ourpriorities https://www.doi.gov/ourpriorities

FY 2022 Priority 1 – Preserve Geoscience Data and Materials In FY 2022, state geological surveys may request funds to inventory, preserve, archive, and/or modernize geologic, geophysical, and engineering data, maps, notebooks, publications, well logs, photographs, and samples. NGGDPP seeks proposals that prioritize the preservation of resources relevant to climate studies, subsurface resources, physical infrastructure development, and/or clean/green energy.

Preservation activities may include but are not limited to the following:

• conversion of paper records and/or analog data to digital formats for preservation and digital access;

• updating digital data to modern and sustainable formats to maintain accessibility and usability, as older digital storage technology becomes obsolete and newer technology becomes available;

• conversion of paper or scanned geologic maps not available in a GIS format to the Geologic Mapping Schema (GeMS) format (see https://ngmdb.usgs.gov/Info/standards/GeMS/);

• preserving subsurface data and sample resources including drill core/borehole information in support of the US GeoFramework Initiative;

• preserving and/or rescuing time-dependent, unique geologic data or collections of significant value in imminent danger of loss from deteriorating physical surroundings, threat of disposal, loss of institutional knowledge, or rapidly deteriorating media on which they reside (e.g., data stored on magnetic tape or aging aerial photos);

• enhancing or developing data archiving systems, databases, and web applications to enhance access, understanding, interpretation, and use of geoscience materials;

• updating NDC metadata records to new NDC metadata conventions to improve discoverability and access to collections. Local tools and applications that had been developed to follow the *csv/*xml NDC metadata convention will need to be revamped to conform to the new NDC metadata convention and controlled vocabularies with guidance for submission to the new NDC provided on the NDDGPP site (https://www.usgs.gov/core-science-systems/national-geological-and-geophysical-data-preservation-program/data-submission);

• support for the enhancement and modernization of repository infrastructure to improve the storage conditions for physical materials; and

• participation in the 2022 Data Preservation Workshop.

All Federal funds requested for Priority 1 must be matched at 100% (minimum) with state funds for Priority 1 activities. The state portion can be larger than the federal portion.

Subsurface data and physical resource inventories e.g., samples, drill core/borehole, etc., should be compiled using prescriptive formats with guidance provided by May 1, 2022 on the NGGDPP website. The current Borehole template for dill hole/core data compilation is available for download (https://www.sciencebase.gov/catalog/file/get/5baa94ade4b08583a5cd878e?name=NGGDPP%2 0borehole%20template.xlsx) on the NGGDPP site, Grants: Proposal Tips and Examples, and will include location (in decimal degrees) and total depth and should include if the information is available: identification of stratigraphic tops, lithology, driller’s logs, construction information, https://ngmdb.usgs.gov/Info/standards/GeMS/ https://ngmdb.usgs.gov/Info/standards/GeMS/ imagery, geophysical data, and analytical results. This template may be updated with minor enhancements as the National Index of Borehole Information (NIBI) develops and will be provided by May 1, 2022. Options will be available for both spreadsheet (*.csv) and restful API products.

FY 2022 Data Preservation Workshop – States may apply for federal NGGDPP funds to support travel to the 2022 NGGDPP Data Preservation Workshop. The funds must be requested and estimated in the proposal. The workshop is scheduled for early fall 2022 in Butte, MT, organized in collaboration with the AASG and hosted by the Montana Bureau of Mining and Geology.

States may request travel funding for up to two participants with data preservation or metadata responsibilities. All states that request funds to attend the 2022 Data Preservation Workshop will receive funds. The limit on the federal funds to be requested for workshop travel is $1,500.00 per workshop attendee (maximum 2 attendees, $3000 max per state); additional state representatives are welcome to the meeting at the state’s expense). A registration fee of $80.00 per attendee must be paid with state funds, which can be part of the match. To obtain NGGDPP funds to support travel to the 2022 Data Preservation Workshop, states must:

1. Request NGGDPP funds,

2. Provide travel estimates in the budget table (Attachment B),

3. Meet the 100% or higher match requirement (failure to include the required match for workshop only proposals will result in the rejection of the proposal). In the event workshops are virtual instead of in-person, the travel funds will not be awarded and a revised budget and workplan will need to be submitted to Margaret Eastman (mrussell@usgs.gov) and Lindsay Powers (lpowers@usgs.gov). If no Priority 1 or 2 projects are funded the award will be canceled.

NOTE: To maximize federal funding, it is recommended that workshop travel funds be included on the federal side or matched with state funds equally in the budget table. If a preservation project is not funded, the state will receive the workshop travel funds that are requested or if requested federal travel funds exceed state match, the state will be asked to reformulate the budget to comply with the 1:1 state to federal match. If most of the travel funds are assigned to the state, the required match will be considered met (state funds exceed federal funds) with no budget modification required, and the state will receive only the funds requested (potentially, with a minimal federal match).

NGGDPP’s aim is to facilitate and promote the availability of preserved data and materials to further geoscientific research and societal understanding. Therefore, all attempts should be made to publicly expose the data and materials preserved through funding from NGGDPP grants, avoiding copyrights and restrictions.

Collection level metadata records describing the preserved materials must be submitted to the NDC using the updated NDC metadata template/convention. If applicable to the proposed activity, metadata for individual collection items should also be submitted. NGGDPP will provide required metadata attributes for collection level metadata, as well as upload and/or access protocols, by email and website no later than May 1, 2022.

mailto:mrussell@usgs.gov mailto:lpowers@usgs.gov

FY 2022 Priority 2 – Identify Critical Mineral Resources In FY 2019, the USGS established an initiative, known as Earth MRI (Mapping Resources Initiative), with a goal of identifying national priority areas with the potential for hosting critical minerals, and to develop a plan to improve the Nation’s understanding of domestic critical mineral resources. Fortier and others (2018)[1] published a list of 35 critical minerals that are the focus of the USGS component of Earth MRI. In FY 2019 the NGGDPP established a new program priority, critical mineral resources, supporting states to preserve and make publicly available online, mineral deposit, drill core, geochemical, geophysical and other relevant data, in support of the Earth MRI effort. In addition to the critical mineral resources preservation activities, USGS will host regional critical mineral resources workshops during FY 2022, to bring together technical experts from across the USGS and state geological surveys, to assess and discuss data and information relevant to the identification of focus areas across the Nation with potential for hosting critical mineral deposits. The workshops will address subsurface critical mineral resources and initiate an evaluation of mine waste surface deposits that have potential for containing recoverable critical mineral resources.

State representatives may participate in the workshop to help Earth MRI understand the mineral deposits and help delineate the focus areas. The USGS will support travel for up to two participants per state, up to $1,500 in direct costs per participant in federal funds to attend the workshop. All requests for workshop travel funds will be granted up to a total of $3,000 (for two travelers), regardless of whether other proposed activities are funded. The workshops will be held in late FY 2022, at designated USGS facilities. Funds will only be provided to those applicants that requests funding to attend a workshop. In the event workshops are virtual instead of in-person, the travel funds will not be awarded.

In FY 2022, state geological surveys may request funds, up to $35,000 of federal match including workshop travel funding, to support the process of preserving and making publicly available data and information on critical minerals in the United States through the following types of activities that meet the intent of Priority 2.

Priority 2 focuses on 5 main themes: (1) compiling or enhancing a state published map of critical and other mineral resources; (2) providing geospatial data and critical mineral resource information to the national-level Earth MRI effort for a USGS publication synthesizing the focus areas with potential for critical mineral resources; (3) making publicly available drill hole/core data through the National Digital Catalog, (4) support for the upcoming Earth MRI workshops, and (5) development of a preservation plan for critical minerals. The FY2022 Priority 2 efforts are defined as:

• State compilation of mineral deposits/districts - compiling and publishing geospatial data for the state that outlines the location of known critical and other nonfuel mineral deposits and mineral districts with the goal of using existing data preserved in state-held records and in the available literature. Publishing options for the compiled, geospatial product include, but are not limited to a mapping service hosted by the state or as an ArcGIS Online (AGOL) web service. The goal of this effort is a new compilation map or an update of existing maps depicting the location and type of critical mineral deposits and districts in the state. The map data must also be submitted in a common geospatial digital data format employing the Mineral Deposits/Districts templates (this a zip file that will need to be downloaded and saved) with the included files made available to the National Digital Catalog available at:

https://www.sciencebase.gov/catalog/file/get/5baa94ade4b08583a5cd878e?name=Attach mentD_MineralDeposits_Districts_Templates.zip. If compiling mineral districts (polygons) the districts data will be compiled as a set; shapefile (Districts_EarthMRI_shapefile_template.zip) and excel file

(Districts_EarthMRI.xlsx). Guidance is provided within the excel file. If compiling mineral deposits (points) these will be provided in the deposits excel file, Mineral Deposit Info_Attachment D.xlsx. The compiled data files will be submitted to the NGGDPP (nggdpp@usgs.gov) with a copy to the USGS Mineral Resources Program project Mineral Deposit Database (USMIN) (nkarl@usgs.gov). The inventory should be documented and submitted to the NDC with metadata and if applicable, be made public by the State via the proposed method.

• Contribute state data to USGS map compilation of focus areas - supporting the Earth MRI’s effort to define focus areas permissive for hosting critical mineral resources, by providing geospatial representation(s) of areas that delineate prospective areas or geologic belts (polygons and/or points) with the potential for hosting critical mineral resources together with supporting datasets. The focus areas will be developed in preparation for and revised following the Earth MRI Critical Minerals Workshop in collaboration and consultation with the USGS Earth MRI team. The resulting geospatial and mineral resource information will be incorporated into a USGS product for a national compilation of areas containing minerals systems that host critical minerals (e.g., https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr20191023Ahttps://doi.org/10.3133/ofr20191023Aand https://doi.org/10.5066/P95CHIL0).

• State compilation of borehole data with metadata to the National Digital Catalog -identifying and providing digital access to publicly available drill hole/core data and information for areas with the potential for hosting critical mineral resources. Drill hole/core data will be compiled in the Borehole template and will include location (in decimal degrees) and total depth and should include, if the information is available, identification of stratigraphic tops, lithology, driller’s logs, construction information, imagery, geophysical data, and analytical results available at:

https://www.sciencebase.gov/catalog/file/get/5baa94ade4b08583a5cd878e?name=NGGD PP%20borehole%20template.xlsx. If applicable, depth to bedrock and identification of basement rock relevant to the terrane, including depth to Precambrian basement, depth to consolidated rock beneath Quaternary deposits, or depth to consolidated rock beneath coastal plain deposits should be documented. Metadata describing this collection will be uploaded into the National Digital Catalog; metadata requirements will be provided. The data will be made public by the State via the proposed method and be submitted to the National Digital Catalog (NDC) for repositing.

• Support to States to prepare for and attend a USGS Earth MRI Critical Minerals workshop - preparing for and participating in a ~4-day Earth MRI Critical Mineral Resources Workshop, anticipated to be held in late FY 2022. Participants will work with the USGS to identify and compile geospatial data sets to be used in identifying and prioritizing focus areas that are known to, or have the potential to, host critical minerals.

Salary costs for preparation for the workshops are supported and activities must be https://www.sciencebase.gov/catalog/file/get/5baa94ade4b08583a5cd878e?name=AttachmentD_MineralDeposits_Districts_Templates.zip https://www.sciencebase.gov/catalog/file/get/5baa94ade4b08583a5cd878e?name=AttachmentD_MineralDeposits_Districts_Templates.zip mailto:nggdpp@usgs.gov mailto:nkarl@usgs.gov https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr20191023A https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr20191023A https://doi.org/10.5066/P95CHIL0 https://doi.org/10.5066/P95CHIL0 https://www.sciencebase.gov/catalog/file/get/5baa94ade4b08583a5cd878e?name=NGGDPP%20borehole%20template.xlsx https://www.sciencebase.gov/catalog/file/get/5baa94ade4b08583a5cd878e?name=NGGDPP%20borehole%20template.xlsx described. States may request federal funding for direct costs up to $1,500 per person for up to 2 state participants with a maximum of $3,000 for workshop attendance (does not include indirect costs). All states that request travel funds to attend the 2022 Earth MRI Critical Mineral Resources Workshop(s) will receive funds, regardless of whether other proposed activities are funded. The federal funds must be matched at 100% or greater in state funds with travel estimates documented in the Priority 2 budget table (Attachment B). The format of the 2022 workshops (face-to-face or virtual) will be determined as soon as possible in FY2022. The total for Priority 2 including potential travel to critical minerals workshop shall not exceed $35,000, including indirect costs. To obtain funds to support travel to the Earth MRI Critical Mineral Resources Workshops, states must:

1. Request NGGDPP funds,

2. Provide travel estimates in the budget table (Attachment B),

3. Meet the 100% or higher match requirement (failure to include the required match for workshop only proposals will result in the rejection of the proposal). In the event workshops are virtual instead of in-person, the travel funds will not be awarded and a revised budget and workplan will need to be submitted to Margaret Eastman (mrussell@usgs.gov) and Lindsay Powers (lpowers@usgs.gov). If no Priority 1 or 2 projects are funded the award will be canceled.

• Preservation Plan for Critical Minerals – All states may request up to $3,000 to develop a long-range science plan for critical minerals relevant data preservation for their state. All states requesting these funds will receive them. The preservation plan for critical minerals is part of the Priority 2 activities including potential travel to Earth MRI Critical Mineral Resources Workshops and shall not exceed $35,000.

All Federal funds requested for Priority 2 must be matched at 100% (minimum) with state funds for Priority 2 activities. The state portion can be larger than the federal portion.

NGGDPP’s aim is to facilitate and promote the availability of preserved data and materials to further geoscientific research. Therefore, all attempts should be made to publicly expose the preserved data and materials sponsored by NGGDPP grants, avoiding copyrights and restrictions.

[1] Fortier, S.M., Nassar, N.T., Lederer, G.W., Brainard, Jamie, Gambogi, Joseph, and McCullough, E.A., 2018, Draft critical mineral list—Summary of methodology and background information—U.S. Geological Survey technical input document in response to Secretarial Order No. 3359: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2018–1021, 15 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr20181021.

B. Federal Award Information

B1. Total Funding Estimated Total Funding $2,650,000 mailto:mrussell@usgs.gov mailto:lpowers@usgs.gov

B2. Award Amount Maximum Award $0 Minimum Award $0 The approximate range for an individual award is a minimum of $5,000 up to a maximum of $100,000.

B3. Anticipated Award Funding and Dates Anticipated Award Date April 01, 2022 Proposal Announcement Date: October 15, 2022 Closing Date and Time for Proposal Submission: January 27, 2022, 6:00 p.m. ET

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

For applications that only include Priority 1 projects, the earliest start date will be after the USGS receives its final FY 2022 appropriation, notice of full-year continuing resolution, or May 3, 2022, whichever is later. The latest start date is September 13, 2022.

For applications that include Priority 2 projects, the start date will be after USGS receives its final FY 2022 appropriation. For Priority 2 projects, spatial information for focus areas with the potential to host critical mineral resources will be developed during the Critical Mineral Resources (Earth MRI) workshops and due thereafter by December 1, 2022. Other Priority 2 products (mineral reports, documents, databases, data files, website addresses) and products for Priority 1 activities are due 90 days following end of grant performance period.

Awards will be made for a 12-month period only.

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 00 – State governments Additional Information on Eligibility Only state geological surveys are eligible to apply to this Program Announcement under the National Geological and Geophysical Data Preservation Program pursuant to the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (Public Law 105-58, Sec. 351). A university may submit a proposal on behalf of a state geological survey if the state geological survey is organized under a state university system.

C2. Cost Sharing or Matching Cost Sharing / Matching Requirement Yes This program has a match requirement.

All Federal funds requested for Priority 1 must be matched at 100% (minimum) with state funds for Priority 1 activities.

All Federal funds requested for Priority 2 must be matched at 100% (minimum) with state funds for Priority 2 activities.

Verify the federal share of the cost of the proposed activities is no more than 50 percent of the total cost for each Priority individually. The state portion can be larger than the federal portion. Priority activities must be budgeted separately and within the itemized budget for that Priority. Review and verify budget numbers prior to proposal submission.

C3. Other Preserving USGS assets (e.g. maps, reports, photos etc.) using NGGDPP funds is not allowed;

collections proposed for preservation should be owned by your state geological organization.

Strong justification and documentation that the data will be made public (e.g., data sharing agreement or transfer of ownership), is required for preserving collections owned by a private or another state entity (for example, state oil and gas commission).

Non-allowable expenses under the NGGDPP include preservation of USGS assets, duplicate digitization/conversion of artifacts produced and preserved by other agencies, tuition, computer maintenance or travel to any other conference or workshop except the Data Preservation and/or regional Critical Mineral Resources Workshop.

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

D. Application and Submission Information Grants.gov Application Submission and Receipt Procedures

Grants.gov Application Submission and Receipt Procedures

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

1. Electronic Delivery

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

2. How to Register to Apply through Grants.gov

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

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

Organizations must have a Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) Number, active System for Award Management (SAM) registration, and Grants.gov account to apply for grants. If individual applicants are eligible to apply for this funding opportunity, then you may begin with step 3, Create a Grants.gov Account, listed below.

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

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

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

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

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

2) Register with SAM: All organizations applying online through Grants.gov must register with the System for Award Management (SAM). Failure to register with SAM will prevent your organization from applying through Grants.gov. SAM registration must be renewed annually. For more detailed instructions for registering with SAM, refer to: https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration/step-2-register-with-sam.html https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration/step-1-obtain-duns-number.html https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration/step-1-obtain-duns-number.html https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration/step-2-register-with-sam.html https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/organization-registration/step-2-register-with-sam.html

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

Follow the on-screen instructions or refer to the detailed instructions here: https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/registration.html

4) Add a Profile to a Grants.gov Account: A profile in Grants.gov corresponds to a single applicant organization the user represents (i.e., an applicant) or an individual applicant. If you work for or consult with multiple organizations and have a profile for each, you may log in to one Grants.gov account to access all of your grant applications. To add an organizational profile to your Grants.gov account, enter the DUNS Number for the organization in the UEI (Unique Entity Identifier) field while adding a profile. For more detailed instructions about creating a profile on Grants.gov, refer to: https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/registration/add-profile.html

5) EBiz POC Authorized Profile Roles: After you register with Grants.gov and create an Organization Applicant Profile, the organization applicant's request for Grants.gov roles and access is sent to the EBiz POC. The EBiz POC will then log in to Grants.gov and authorize the appropriate roles, which may include the AOR role, thereby giving you permission to complete and submit applications on behalf of the organization. You will be able to submit your application online any time after you have been assigned the AOR role. For more detailed instructions about creating a profile on Grants.gov, refer to: https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/registration/authorize-roles.html

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

b. Electronic Signature: When applications are submitted through Grants.gov, the name of the organization applicant with the AOR role that submitted the application is inserted into the signature line of the application, serving as the electronic signature. The EBiz POC must authorize people who are able to make legally binding commitments on behalf of the organization as a user with the AOR role; this step is often missed and it is crucial for valid and timely submissions.

3. How to Submit an Application to USGS via Grants.gov

Grants.gov applicants can apply online using Workspace. Workspace is a shared, online environment where members of a grant team may simultaneously access and edit different webforms within an application. For each funding opportunity announcement (FOA), you can create individual instances of a workspace.

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

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

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

2) Complete a Workspace: Add participants to the workspace to work on the application together, complete all the required forms online or by downloading PDF versions, and check for errors before submission. The Workspace progress bar will display the state of your 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 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 DUNS Number. Once it is completed, the information will transfer to the other forms.

3) Submit a Workspace: An application may be submitted through workspace by clicking the Sign and Submit button on the Manage Workspace page, under the Forms tab. Grants.gov recommends submitting your application package at least 24-48 hours prior to the close date to provide you with time to correct any potential technical issues that may disrupt the application submission.

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

For additional training resources, including video tutorials, refer to: https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/applicant-training.html

Applicant Support: Grants.gov provides applicants 24/7 support via the toll-free number 1-800- 518-4726 and email at support@grants.gov. For questions related to the specific grant opportunity, contact the number listed in the application package of the grant you are applying for.

If you are experiencing difficulties with your submission, it is best to call the Grants.gov Support Center and get a ticket number. The Support Center ticket number will assist the USGS with tracking your issue and understanding background information on the issue.

4. Timely Receipt Requirements and Proof of Timely Submission

a. Online Submission. All applications must be received by the due date established for each program. Proof of timely submission is automatically recorded by Grants.gov. An electronic date/time stamp is generated within the system when the application is successfully received by Grants.gov. The applicant with the AOR role who submitted the application will receive an acknowledgement of receipt and a tracking number (GRANTXXXXXXXX) from Grants.gov with the successful transmission of their application. This applicant with the AOR role will also 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 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 Program Website Link

D2. Content and Form of Application Submission

1. SF-424, Application for Federal Assistance

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

All proposals must include the following documents:

1. Standard Form 424. Application for Federal Assistance (mandatory form provided in grants.gov). The person who electronically submits the SF-424 must have the authority to bind the state to the terms of the assistance award.

2. Standard Form 424A. Budget Information – Non-Construction Programs (mandatory form provided in grants.gov).

3. Standard Form 424B. Assurances – Non-Construction Programs (mandatory form provided in grants.gov).

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

Project Narrative

Proposals must be arranged according to the format provided below. Following this format ensures that every proposal contains all essential information and is evaluated equitably. The proposal may be in PDF or MS Word format. The proposal and associated forms shall be submitted to www.grants.gov. Provide requested information in the correct locations within the proposal template. Failure to do so may result in disqualification of the proposal.

Proposals are limited to 8-pages, which include 1) Project Summary, and 2) Project Description, provided separately for Priority 1 and 2, and limited to 4 pages for each priority. Each priority proposal section is limited to 4 pages. Other forms and documents, including: Standard Forms 424s, project summary sheet (Attachment A), project personnel justification and expertise table or list, CVs (max 2 pages per CV), letters from stakeholders, DMP (https://www.sciencebase.gov/catalog/file/get/5baa94ade4b08583a5cd878e?name=StateSurveyA bbrev-NGGDPP-FY21-DMPForm.docx), budget tables (Attachment B), negotiated rate and cost agreements, and equipment quotes do not count toward the 8-page limit.

1. FY 2022 NGGDPP Proposal Information Sheet. (Attachment A). Summary sheet shall clearly list project and budget summary for all priorities. Please include e-mail addresses for the Principal Investigator and authorized institution representative. Outcome notifications will be sent via e-mail to the authorized institution representative and the Principal Investigator. The Proposal Information Sheet is NOT included in the page limit.

2. Summary for Priority 1 and 2 projects. The project summary shall provide a high-level overview of project goals and scope, summary of the approach, societal benefits, and anticipated results. This summary shall not exceed 1,000 total characters and may be used in public outreach communications to advertise preservation activities funded by the NGGDPP. The Project Summary is included in the 4-page limit per priority.

3. Project Description for Priority 1 projects only. The project description (with project summary) of the proposal is limited to 4 single-space pages (including figures, tables), with no smaller than 11-point font size, and 1-inch margins. The font size in figures and tables is limited to no smaller than 8-point font size. All text, figures, and tables shall be sized to fit on 8½” x 11” paper. The project description section of your proposal should include the following:

a. Introduction: The introduction should provide a brief overview of the project activities, methods, and goals. Provide background information about the preserved artifacts, primary users, and frequency of use of the preserved materials and data. Preserving USGS assets using NGGDPP funds is not allowed;

collections proposed for preservation should be owned by your state geological organization. Strong justification is required for preserving collections owned by a private or another state entity (for example, state oil and gas commission).

Explain the societal and scientific benefits and the importance of the proposed preservation activities to your state. A statement of use or a letter of support from a stakeholder may be included. Letters of support from stakeholders do not count against the page limit.

b. Project narrative: Follow the guidelines and requirements listed in section A2 of this program announcement. Describe the procedures and workflows that will be carried out to preserve materials and data. Include descriptions of the separate https://www.sciencebase.gov/catalog/file/get/5baa94ade4b08583a5cd878e?name=StateSurveyAbbrev-NGGDPP-FY21-DMPForm.docx https://www.sciencebase.gov/catalog/file/get/5baa94ade4b08583a5cd878e?name=StateSurveyAbbrev-NGGDPP-FY21-DMPForm.docx https://www.sciencebase.gov/catalog/file/get/5baa94ade4b08583a5cd878e?name=StateSurveyAbbrev-NGGDPP-FY21-DMPForm.docx activities for the designated processes, including the quality assurance and control methods to ensure accuracy and quality of products. Guidance and best practices for managing data quality can be found on the USGS Data Management site:

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

Discuss the generated products (other than the final technical report), such as metadata for specific collection and items or an improved database. Provide a table or list that includes information about the Principal Investigator, staff, and support positions (such as geologist, information technologist, or database developer) and detail the estimated time by objective by person. Briefly discuss each person’s role on the project so that it links to the budget. For each person, provide a brief statement of their background, define their roles and responsibilities, and provide a CV for primary personnel (no more than two pages) that includes skills and expertise relevant to the proposed activities, and indicate whether the person works for your organization or elsewhere (contractor or volunteer). If the contractor has not yet been hired, describe experience and skills necessary for completing the work. CVs do not count against the page limit.

4. Project Description for Priority 2 projects only. The project description (with project summary) of the proposal is limited to 4 single-spaced pages (including figures, tables), with…