PKG00256402-instructions.docx

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

NATIONAL GEOLOGICAL AND GEOPHYSICAL

DATA PRESERVATION PROGRAM

(NGGDPP)

Authorized by The Energy Policy Act of 2005 (Public Law 109-58, Sec. 351)

PROGRAM ANNOUNCEMENT No. G20AS00008

For Fiscal Year 2020

ISSUE DATE: November 4, 2019

CLOSING DATE & TIME:

January 6, 2020, 6:00PM Eastern Daylight Time (EDT)

PLEASE READ THE ENTIRE ANNOUNCEMENT CAREFULLY

Paperwork Reduction Act Approval — OMB Control No. 1028-0087 Expiration Date: 09/30/2021 PAPERWORK REDUCTION ACT STATEMENT: The Paperwork Reduction Act states that the agency must disclose why information is being collected, how it will be used, and whether you have to provide it. The National Geological and Geophysical Data Preservation Program is collecting this information to evaluate submitted proposals seeking funding for data preservation-related activities. Your response is required to receive funding. A Federal agency cannot conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number (1028-0087). The average burden associated with this collection is estimated to average 36 hours per response, including the time for reviewing instructions and completing the required information. If you have comments about this form, please e-mail gs-info_collections@usgs.gov.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Attachment E – Mineral Resource Data Form…………………………………………...

PROGRAM ANNOUNCEMENT CHANGES

Changes have been implemented in the 2020 Program Announcement. Please thoroughly review all sections to ensure compliance with the Program Announcement requirements.

In FY2020, states may request funding for 2 Priorities: Priority 1) preservation activities associated with the rescue, inventory, digitization, modernization and public dissemination of geoscience data and physical collections; and Priority 2) inventory and preservation of critical mineral resources data and assets and travel to a Critical Mineral Resources Workshop. If applicable, states must submit two separate budget sheets for: 1) budget for Priority 1, and ancillary costs for these activities (fringe rates, direct and indirect costs); and/or 2) budget for Priority 2, including travel to a Critical Mineral Resources Workshop, and ancillary costs for these activities – total federal share for Priority 2 cannot exceed $35,000.

In addition to preserving data and collections for Priority 1, states may upload and store data and/or image files with metadata records in the National Digital Catalog (NDC), to enhance direct access by users. States proposing to digitize or update geologic maps for use in GIS environments, must adhere to the National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program (NCGMP)-compliant standard (GeMS), and these final map products must be submitted to The National Geologic Map Database. Requested funds for Priority 1 must be matched at 100% or greater by the recipient.

For Priority 2, state surveys may request up to $35,000 for identifying critical mineral resources and preserving related data and assets and attending a regional Critical Mineral Resources Workshop (see FY2020 Priority 2 on page 3). Requested funds for Priority 2 must be matched at 100% or greater by the recipient. Additional details on acceptable Priority 2 projects are included (page 3).

States may request funding for either or both priorities.

Page limit requirements have changed (see details in Part II., Section C. page 5).

Several significant changes were implemented in recent program announcements, and these changes remain in this 2020 Program Announcement. Proposals submitted to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) must include a Data Management Plan (DMP) to conform with Executive Order of February 22, 2013, “Increasing Access to the Results of Federally Funded Scientific Research”. Instructions for writing a DMP are explained in Part II. C.9. State applicants are required to provide curricula vitae (CV) for primary project personnel.

All proposals must explicitly state how the proposed work addresses at least one of the U.S. Department of the Interior priorities (found here: https://www.doi.gov/ourpriorities).

IMPORTANT GUIDELINES AND REQUIREMENTS

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

· Provide a clear justification for preserving the selected data and materials. Explain how the results of the project meet the priorities of your organization and benefit your stakeholders and society, and explicitly state how the proposed work addresses at least one of the U.S. Department of the Interior priorities (found here: https://www.doi.gov/ourpriorities). Please be specific and provide examples.

· The Program places high value on increasing access to preserved materials. Ideally, digital data should be made readily available 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.

· Describe the project and the process you expect to follow (workflows, including methods) 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.

· 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).

· Verify the federal share of the cost of the proposed activities is no more than 50 percent of the total cost. 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. 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 as long as 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 products; duplicate digitization/conversion of artifacts produced and preserved by other agencies; travel to any other conference or workshop except regional Critical Mineral Resources Workshop; tuition; and computer maintenance.

· 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.

iv

PART I: Public Law, Program Priorities, Program Outreach A. Public Law 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), which recognizes the need for the preservation and cataloging of and access to geological and geophysical data for research availability. To read Section 351 or the entire Act, visit: https://www.usgs.gov/core-science-systems/national-geological-and-geophysical-data-preservation-program/energy-policy-act.

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-preservation-program/implementation.

B. Program Priorities PLEASE NOTE: Proposals that do not specifically address NGGDPP fiscal year (FY) 2020 priorities will NOT be considered for an award.

The NGGDPP FY 2020 priorities include: 1) preservation of geoscience materials and data including submission of scanned geologic maps (including resource, hazard, and engineering maps) and/or digitized geologic maps and associated geodatabases converted to the NCGMP09 (GeMS) format to The National Geologic Map Database (NGMDB, https://ngmdb.usgs.gov), and submission to National Digital Catalog (NDC) of metadata records describing preserved resources in conformance with NGGDPP metadata schema, to increase access by researchers, resource managers, decision-makers, and the public, for the benefit of society; and 2) identification of data and materials related to critical mineral resources.

The proposal must describe projects that address the FY 2020 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 majoring in science, technology, engineering, and mathematical fields is strongly encouraged to educate the next generation of geoscientists.

FY 2020 Priority 1 – Preserve Geoscience Data and Materials

In FY 2020, 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. 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;

updating geologic maps to the Geologic Mapping Schema (GeMS) format (see https://ngmdb.usgs.gov/Info/standards/GeMS/) focusing on "born digital" geologic maps that were previously published in a GIS format;

utilizing the NDC as an accessible trusted digital repository for file resources;

describing geoscience assets to increase use and understanding, including creating metadata records for submission to the NDC;

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

NGGDPP’s intention is to 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 preserved data and materials sponsored by NGGDPP grants, avoiding copyrights and restrictions.

Collection level metadata records describing the preserved materials must be submitted to the NDC. 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 March 1, 2020.

To enhance dissemination and availability of geoscience data and documents (e.g., images; digital scans of field notebooks, geophysical logs, and other historic documents; data tables) to researchers and the public, states geological surveys may upload to the NDC geoscience images, tables, and documents for long-term access and use by researchers and the public. Use of the NDC as a repository for the storage and dissemination of data and image files is available to all state geological surveys participating in the NGGDPP. The NDC should serve as the primary access and distribution point for the stored digital files. These files should not be made available elsewhere on the Web to avoid duplication and versioning issues. The files may not be copyrighted or restricted from public distribution. Metadata on collections and items in the NDC may also exist in other catalogs.

FY 2020 Priority 2 – Identify Critical Mineral Resources

In FY 2019, the NGGDPP established a new program priority, 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)[footnoteRef:1] published a list of 35 critical minerals that are the focus of the USGS component of the Critical Minerals Mapping Initiative. NGGDPP is supporting states to preserve and make publicly available online, mineral deposit, drill core, geochemical, geophysical and other relevant data, in support of Earth MRI initiative. In addition, USGS anticipates hosting regional workshops during FY2020, 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. [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.

State representatives may participate in one workshop in their respective geographic area 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 $1,000 in direct costs per participant in federal funds to attend the workshops. All requests for workshop travel funds will be granted up to a total of $2,000 (for two travelers), regardless of whether other proposed activities are funded. The workshops will be held in late FY2020, at designated USGS facilities. Part (g) 2 of Section 351 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (Public Law 109-58, Sec. 351) authorizes the NGGDPP to provide financial assistance to state geological surveys for studies and activities that enhance understanding, interpretation, and use of materials archived by the state geological surveys. Funds will only be provided to those applicants that requests funding to attend a workshop.

In FY2020, state geological surveys may request funds, up to $35,000 of federal match, 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:

compiling a map for the state that outlines the location of critical and other nonfuel mineral deposits and mineral districts with the eventual goal of publishing or updating existing maps for critical mineral deposits and districts. The map data should be in a common geospatial digital data format employing the GeMS format (see https://ngmdb.usgs.gov/Info/standards/GeMS/);

· providing geospatial representation(s) of areas that delineate prospective areas or geologic belts with the potential for hosting critical mineral resources together with supporting datasets. The geospatial map data should be in a common geospatial digital data format employing the GeMS format (see https://ngmdb.usgs.gov/Info/standards/GeMS/);

· describing the relevant mineral information for mineral deposits and occurrences that host critical minerals, using nonproprietary data and assembled digitally in the template provided in Attachment E, that includes name, location, geology, resource information on contained commodities, production information, resource or reserve estimations, ore grade, deposit type, mining history, reference citations, and other relevant information or in digital format in existing state survey-hosted online database(s);

· 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 may include: lithology, geophysical data, analytical results. Metadata describing this data will be uploaded into the National Data Catalog;

· providing maps of depth to bedrock relevant to the particular terrane, including depth to Precambrian basement, depth to consolidated rock beneath Quaternary deposits, or depth to consolidated rock beneath coastal plain deposits in a common geospatial digital data format employing the NCGMP09 (a.k.a. "GeMS") format using available seismic and/or drill core data. These data allow determination on the depth to potentially concealed mineral resources as well as provide critical information for groundwater studies;

· participating in a ~2-day Critical Mineral Resources Workshop, anticipated to be held in late FY2020, with the USGS to develop geospatial data sets to be used in identifying and prioritizing focus areas that are known or have the potential to host critical minerals (travel to the workshops to be paid by the state geological survey using federal funds up to $1,000 per participant, travel for up to 2 state participants may be requested, $2,000 maximum federal travel costs for Priority 2, which does not include indirect costs). All requests for workshop travel funds will be granted up to a total of $2,000 in direct costs (for two travelers), regardless of whether other proposed activities are funded. Total for Priority 2 including travel to critical mineral workshop shall not exceed $35,000, including indirect costs.

All awarded Priority 2 funds must be matched with state funds.

NGGDPP’s intention is to 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.

PART II. Timetables, Eligibility, Format Instructions, and Proposal Evaluation A. Timetables Proposal Announcement Date: November 4, 2019 Closing Date and Time for Proposal Submission: January 6, 2020, 6:00 p.m. EDT

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 2020 appropriation, notice of full-year continuing resolution, or May 1, 2020, whichever is later. The latest start date is September 14, 2020.

For applications that include Priority 2 projects, the start date will be after USGS receives its final FY 2020 appropriation. For Priority 2 projects, spatial information for focus areas with the potential to host critical mineral resources must be submitted to NGGDPP by November 15, 2020. 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.

B. Eligibility – Who May Submit a Proposal 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.

C. Proposal Format Instructions 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, budget tables (Attachment B), negotiated rate and cost agreements, and equipment quotes do not count toward the 8-page limit.

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).

4. Negotiated Rate Agreement/Indirect Cost Rate Agreement. Most states and universities have a rate agreement with the Federal Government, which may be titled “State and Local Rate Agreement” or “Colleges and Universities Rate Agreement”. This agreement provides the rates approved for use in grants, contracts, and other agreements with the Federal Government. If you request fringe benefits or indirect costs, the indirect cost rate agreement is requested to verify rates requested. In the absence of an indirect rate agreement, applicants may charge no more than 10% indirect costs.

5. FY 2020 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.

6. 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.

7. 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. 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. Explicitly state how the proposed work addresses at least one of the U.S. Department of the Interior priorities (found here: https://www.doi.gov/ourpriorities). 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 on pages iii – v of this program announcement. Describe the procedures and workflows that will be carried out to preserve materials and data. Include descriptions of the separate activities for the designated processes, including the quality assurance and control methods to ensure accuracy and quality of products. 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). 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.

8. 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 no smaller than 11-point font size, and 1-inch margins. 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:

Project narrative: Follow the guidelines and requirements listed on pages iii – v of this program announcement. Describe the procedures and workflows that will be carried out to achieve the listed activities under Priority 2 and how they will result in the products for Priority 2. Provide a table or list that includes the roles and responsibilities of the Principal Investigator, staff, and support positions (such as geologist, information technologist, or database developer). Briefly discuss each person’s role on the project so that it links to the budget.

9. Data Management Plan (DMP). To conform with Executive Order of February 22, 2013, Increasing Access to the Results of Federally Funded Scientific Research, proposals submitted to the USGS seeking funding for Priorities 1, and 2 must include a DMP, which explains how data and metadata generated by the proposed project will be disseminated and shared with other researchers and the public. The DMP should include:

a. Description of the types of collections, materials, and data that are expected to be preserved and made publicly accessible by the proposed project.

b. Standards that will be used for the data and metadata formats, including justifications for deviations from the prescribed standards. As described in Part III, D. NGGDPP Products and Reports, metadata describing rescued and preserved data and materials must conform to the NGGDPP metadata schema (https://www.usgs.gov/core-science-systems/national-geological-and-geophysical-data-preservation-program/prepare-metadata).

c. Policies for access and sharing, including provision for appropriate protection of privacy, confidentiality, security, intellectual property, and other rights or requirements. If your state is preserving data and materials with restricted access rights, explain these limitations.

d. Provisions for re-use, re-distribution, and production of derivatives from your preserved data and artifacts.

e. Plans for archiving and maintaining free public access to preserved data, samples, and other research products in your state facilities and on the Web. Please describe how the materials and data will be made available. If materials will not be made publicly available, provide a clear justification. The metadata records you submit to the NDC will be archived by the USGS and remain freely and publicly accessible.

The DMP does not count against the page limit.

10. Detailed Budget. Your proposal must include completed detailed budget sheets (Attachment B). If applicable, one budget sheet must include expenses for Priority 1 preservation activities, and ancillary costs (fringe rates, direct and indirect costs). If applicable, a separate budget sheet must include expenses for Priority 2, including approximate travel costs to a Critical Mineral Resources Workshop and ancillary costs. Federal funds requested for Priority 2 cannot exceed $35,000, including travel to Critical Mineral Resources Workshop and must be matched with state funds. The detailed proposed budget(s) must be summarized and provided in the “Amount Requested” on the NGGDPP Proposal Information Summary Sheet (Attachment A). Attachments A and B provide format guidance. You may create your own budget sheet with the same format including additional rows for needed itemization. In the budget sheet, individual federal expenditures do not have to be matched by state funds, line by line. However, the total funding contributed by a state geological survey shall be equal to or greater than the amount requested from the NGGDPP and shall be derived from non-federal sources (direct and indirect costs). Failure to provide a detailed budget itemizing state expenditures may result in rejection of the proposal.

Please read each category description below and provide the detailed breakdown for each cost. This information will help avoid delays processing a funded proposal, as an award will not be issued until all required information is provided. Please be scrupulous in your calculations as they will be meticulously analyzed for consistency and accuracy.

The detailed budget shall include the amount proposed for each of the following:

(a) 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 the Program. 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-state survey staff working on the project should also be included if they are being supported by other state funding. 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.

(b) Fringe benefits. 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. Include a copy of the Negotiated Rate Agreement or internal memo supporting the proposed rates. The Negotiated Rate Agreement and internal memo do not count toward the 8-page limit.

(c) Travel expenses. State the purpose of the trip(s) and itemize estimated travel costs (including reason for travel, number of people, number of travel days, per diem rate, mileage rate, airfare, or other travel costs) necessary to perform the activities in your proposal. Travel expenses for the following workshops are also allowable.

i. Regional Critical Mineral Resources Workshop in Reston, Virginia; Denver, Colorado; Reno, Nevada; or Spokane, Washington; Dates TBD, Late FY2020

In the Priority 2 budget sheet, states may request funding for travel for up to 2 participants, $1,000 in direct costs per participant, not to exceed $2,000 of federal share, to a regional 2-day Critical Mineral Resources Workshop (see Part I, Section B, Priority 2). If travel funds are requested to attend the workshop, funding should be requested for at least one staff member responsible for identifying mineral resource data and assets and developing geospatial data sets to be used in identifying and prioritizing focus areas that are known or have the potential to host critical minerals. Critical Mineral Resources Workshop travel expenses are itemized in the Priority 2 proposal budget, in which total federal NGGDPP funds cannot exceed $35,000 in direct and indirect costs and must be equal to or less than 50-percent of total Priority 2 project cost.

(d) Other direct costs.

· Supplies. List costs for office and laboratory/facility supplies. Itemize by including the number and cost for each item.

Equipment. NGGDPP funds may be used to purchase computer hardware, GPS, or other nonexpendable property required for the project. Non-expendable equipment has a useful life of more than one (1) year and an acquisition cost of $5,000 or more per item. If necessary, NGGDPP funds may be used to purchase software site licenses needed to complete data preservation projects. Show the cost of all proposed equipment/software site licenses necessary for achieving project goals. Each item should be itemized and include a full justification and a dealer or manufacturer quote. If full justification for equipment is not provided, equipment costs will not be supported.

Generalpurpose equipment must be purchased from the applicant's operating funds. Routine computer maintenance contracts and charges for computer time are not acceptable direct costs under this program. Explain and justify any extraordinary items included in the proposed project budget.

· Contractual services. Identify the activities for which such services would be used. Identify proposed contractors (individual or corporate) and provide criteria by which contractors will be, or have been, selected. For each individual, include their job title, total labor hours, and rate of compensation.

(e) Total direct costs. Total items (a) through (d).

(f) Indirect charges. Show the proposed rate, cost base, and proposed amount for allowable indirect costs based on the cost principles applicable to the applicant's organization. If applicant has separate rates for recovery of labor overhead and general and administrative costs, each charge should be shown. Explain the distinction between items included in the two cost pools. Applicant should propose rates for evaluation purposes, which they are also willing to establish as fixed or ceiling rates in any resulting award. A copy of the indirect negotiated cost agreement with the Federal Government must be included. If one is not established, applicants may charge 10% indirect costs. A copy of the Indirect Negotiated Cost Agreement does not count against the 8-page limit.

(f) Total charges. Total items (a) through (f). The total budget proposed must show that the federal share of the cost of the activity does not exceed 50 percent of the total cost of the activity as required by Public Law 109-58, Energy Policy Act of 2005. The non-federal share may be more than the federal contribution.

D. Proposal Evaluation NGGDPP proposals for Priority 1 and Priority 2 projects will be reviewed by a seven-member peer panel, consisting of three state geological survey representatives, three USGS representatives, and one non-USGS representative. These panel members represent the professional areas of science, data management, and preservation.

Evaluation Criteria. All proposals for Priority 1 and Priority 2 projects will be evaluated in accordance with the criteria listed below and the Important Guidelines and Requirements listed on pages iv – v (italicized). NOTE: To avoid conflict of interest, no panelist may vote on a proposal from his or her state geological survey or state agency, nor may any panelist discuss with other panel members his or her state’s proposal. This does not prohibit collaboration between USGS and state scientists once a grant is in place.

Priority 1 and Priority 2 projects will be evaluated separately according to the following criteria with each criterion having equal weight:

· Technical merit. This factor assesses the technical approach of the proposed work and the probability of achieving positive results within the designated period. Assessment includes analysis of methodologies, technology, and workflows.

· Societal Benefits. This factor assesses the value of the proposed preservation products to advancing scientific understanding, enhancing environmental health, increasing economic growth and/or public safety.

· Knowledge, performance, and experience. This factor considers knowledge, performance, and experience of the principal investigator and coworkers, including demonstrating the ability to successfully complete data preservation tasks, and satisfying NGGDPP reporting requirements. This factor includes the capability to provide necessary facilities and support to ensure satisfactory completion of the proposed work.

· Appropriateness and reasonableness of the budget. This factor considers whether the proposed budget is commensurate with the level of effort needed to accomplish the project and reasonable relative to the value of the anticipated results.

PART III: Proposal Guidelines A. Electronic Proposal Submission Requirement Applicants are responsible for electronically submitting the proposal to www.grants.gov by 6:00pm, EDT, January 6, 2020. Be sure to read the instructions carefully. Paper copies will NOT be accepted.

Please be aware the electronic submission process requires first-time users to register using e-Authentication process. This registration process can be complex and take up to 3 weeks to complete. Be advised that you may not be successful completing electronic submission for the first time if you begin the process only a few days before the due date. If your organization is affiliated with a university, contact the Office of Sponsored Programs, which may be familiar with the federal grant process and can work with you to submit the proposal.

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.

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

1. Confirmation screen

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

3. Submission Validation (or Rejection with Errors)

4. Agency Retrieval

1. CONFIRMATION: Submission Confirmation Screen After a grant application package is submitted, a confirmation message will appear on the computer screen. This screen confirms that an application has been submitted to Grants.gov. This page contains a tracking number and a “Track My Application” link for monitoring the progress of the submission.

2. NOTIFICATION 1: Submission Receipt Email Within two business days after the application package has been received by the Grants.gov system, a submission receipt email will be sent that indicates the submission has entered the Grants.gov system and is ready for validation. This email contains the same tracking number and a “Track My Application” link that is shown in submission confirmation screen for monitoring the progress of the submission.

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

This second email will include a message validating or rejecting the submitted application package due to errors. The Grants.gov system is designed to check for technical errors within the submitted application package. Grants.gov does not review application content for award determination.

4. NOTIFICATION 3: Grantor Agency Retrieval Email Once the application package has passed validation, it is delivered to the grantor for award determination and further approval. After the grantor has confirmed receipt of the application, a third and final email will be sent from Grants.gov. The grantor may also assign the application package an agency-specific tracking number for use within their internal system. IF THIS E-MAIL HAS NOT BEEN RECEIVED WITHIN FOUR DAYS OF THE CLOSING DATE, PLEASE CONTACT THE CONTRACTING OFFICER, Margaret Eastman, (703) 648-7366, mrussell@usgs.gov.

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

When contacting the Grants.gov Contact Center, please have the following information available to help expedite the inquiry:

· Funding Opportunity Number (FON)

· Name of Agency You Are Applying To

· Specific Area of Concern The electronic submission will consist of required forms SF-424, SF-424a, and SF-424b, plus the additional items described in Section C of this Announcement.

During the application period an applicant may submit a revised or corrected proposal through grants.gov. Include a cover letter as the first page of the proposal stating that the proposal is revised and the previous submittal is to be withdrawn from consideration. Revised submissions must be completed by January 6, 2020, at 6:00 pm EDT.

Please allow sufficient time for the proposal to be submitted electronically through Grants.gov and allow time for possible computer delays. Applicants are strongly advised not to wait until the last minute for submission. A proposal received after the closing date and time will NOT be considered for award. If the USGS determines that a proposal will not be considered for award due to lateness, the applicant will be notified immediately.

B. Involvement of Federal Employees Federal employees, including USGS employees, are prohibited from assisting in any capacity (paid or unpaid) with preparation of any proposal submitted under this Announcement. Proposals that have a real, or apparent, conflict of interest related to federal employees will not be processed for evaluation.

C. Rejection of Proposals after Initial Review If the proposal does not meet all requirements specified in the Program Announcement, as determined by the Contracting Officer in consultation with the NGGDPP management, the applicant will be promptly notified in writing of the rejection along with the reason for the rejection. If the federal share of the cost of the proposed activities is more than 50 percent of the total cost, the proposal shall be rejected.

D. NGGDPP Products and Reports The following products will be required as a condition of receiving federal funds:

1) Metadata submitted to National Digital Catalog (NDC)

a) Collection level metadata records describing the preserved materials must be submitted to the NDC. 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 website no later than May 1, 2020. Metadata describing digitized geologic maps submitted to the NGMDB shall also be cataloged in the NDC.

2) If applicable, data and image files, with accompanying metadata, are uploaded to NDC.

3) If applicable, preserved digital map files are submitted to the NGMDB (ngmdb.usgs.gov).

4) If applicable, funded recipients for Priority 2 projects shall submit the following types of products:

· Contact information for the technical lead(s) at the state geological survey for mineral resource matters.

· Summary description and links to published online databases that contain credible critical mineral deposit information that would include name, location, geology, resource information on contained commodities, production information, resource or reserve estimations, ore grade, deposit type, mining history, reference citations, and other relevant information. A template for database descriptions is provided in Attachment E to provide a common format usable for ongoing USGS mineral database development through the USMIN Project.

· Summary description and digital access to publicly available drill core data containing relevant information to helping identify for priority areas hosting critical mineral resources. Such data would include drill core location, footage intervals with stratigraphic intercepts, depth to Precambrian basement, identification of the Precambrian basement rock, total depth.

· Report that includes publicly available information on current mineral resource exploration activity in the state.

· Geospatial outlines of prospective areas or geologic belts with known or suspected critical mineral resource potential along with supporting metadata information that describes the methodology used to outline the areas, and the supporting data in ArcGIS format.

· Compilation of comprehensive metadata describing all reports, datasets, maps and other resources identified or used in the development of this critical mineral evaluation and prioritization of areas with critical mineral potential. The metadata records will be entered into the NDC.

· Participation in a workshop with the USGS and other state geological surveys to identify and prioritize focus areas with known or suspected critical mineral resource potential in their states. Travel costs associated with workshop participation are to be paid using this grant.

· For the state geological surveys to participate in this funding opportunity, metadata records, including resource access information, describing Priority 2 preserved products (reports, documents, databases, data files, website addresses) must be provided to the NGGDPP by November 15, 2020, using the template provided in Attachment E.

5) Final Technical Report Following project completion, all awards made under the NGGDPP will require submittal of a final technical report that must document and summarize the results of the work. The final technical report must contain:

· Cover page

· Award Number

· Title

· Author and affiliation with address and zip code

· Author's telephone number and e-mail address

· Term covered by the award (start and end dates)

· Submittal date of final technical report

· Abstract

· Main body

· Comparison of actual accomplishments to the goals established for the period.

· If established goals were not met, explanation of circumstances and impediments.

· Specific examples of user success stories and/or other societal benefits that highlight accomplishments in this project.

The final technical report is limited to no more than five pages. A final technical report must be submitted within 90 days after the end of the grant performance period. Failure to submit a final technical report may hinder receipt of future NGGDPP funds. Final technical reports shall be submitted electronically to the general NGGDPP email box, nggdpp@usgs.gov. A courtesy copy shall be submitted to Margaret Eastman, USGS Contract Specialist, mrussell@usgs.gov.

PART IV. General Provisions A. Funding The total amount of NGGDPP FY 2020 funding available for state efforts is expected to be up to approximately $2,425,000. In FY 2020, the NGGDPP anticipates awarding successful proposals that propose diverse projects of variable funding levels under this Program Announcement. Each state geological organization is allowed to submit one proposal that addresses the FY 2020 program priorities to preserve geoscience materials and describe them using NGGDPP metadata format in the NDC.

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