OMB Project Abstract Summary Request.docx

This is a template document requiring applicants to submit a Project Abstract Summary for the FY2026 Water Resources Research Act Non-Competitive Coordination award, a cooperative agreement opportunity administered by the U.S. Geological Survey under the Department of the Interior's Assistance to State Water Resources Research Institutes program (CFDA 15.805). The Project Abstract Summary must be submitted in accordance with OMB Memoranda M-21-20 and M-22-02 to meet USAspending.gov reporting requirements and will be publicly disclosed upon award issuance. The abstract is limited to one page (maximum 3,500 characters) using Times New Roman 12-point font and must include plain language descriptions of the project title, award purpose and objectives, specific activities to be performed, deliverables and expected outcomes, intended beneficiaries (excluding the Federal Government), and any known subrecipient activities. All descriptions must avoid acronyms, federal terminology, technical jargon, and links while maintaining clarity for audiences unfamiliar with the program.

The underlying Water Resources Research Act program provides financial support to Water Resources Research Institutes at designated state universities across the 50 states and U.S. territories to fund applied and peer-reviewed water resources research. Recent competitive grant solicitations announced approximately $5.6 million in total funding with individual award ceilings ranging from $309,000 to $346,875, while annual base grant distributions total approximately $8.3 million across 54 Water Resources Research Institutes. All opportunities require a minimum 1:1 non-federal cost-sharing match and are open to accredited U.S. institutions of higher learning. Research priorities include aquatic invasive species investigation, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances assessment, water budget evaluation, and hydrologic modeling advancement. Applications are subject to 2 CFR Part 200 and Department of the Interior regulations (2 CFR Part 1402 and 43 CFR Part 12), with submission required through Grants.gov using Standard Form 424.