PKG00264418-instructions.pdf

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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. G21AS00007

For Fiscal Year 2021

ISSUE DATE: November 6, 2020

CLOSING DATE & TIME:

January 8, 2021, 6:00PM

Eastern Time (ET)

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.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

TABLE OF CONTENTS ................................................................................................ iii

PROGRAM ANNOUNCEMENT CHANGES ................................................................. iv

IMPORTANT GUIDELINES AND REQUIREMENTS .................................................. vi

PART I: Public Law, Program Priorities, Program Outreach

A. Public Law

B. Program Priorities

FY 2021 Priority 1 – Preserve Geoscience Data and Materials

FY 2021 Priority 2 – Identify Critical Mineral Resources

A. Timetables

B. Eligibility – Who May Submit a Proposal

C. Proposal Format Instructions

D. Proposal Evaluation

PART III: Proposal Guidelines

A. Electronic Proposal Submission Requirement

B. Involvement of Federal Employees

C. Rejection of Proposals after Initial Review

D. NGGDPP Products and Reports

PART IV. General Provisions

A. Funding

B. Outcome Notification

C. Award Terms and Conditions

D. Contacts

Attachment A – Proposal Information Summary

Attachment B – Priority 1 Budget

Attachment B – Priority 2 Budget

Attachment C - Special Terms and Conditions iv

PROGRAM ANNOUNCEMENT CHANGES

Changes have been implemented in the 2021 Program Announcement. Please thoroughly review all sections to ensure compliance with the Program Announcement requirements.

Over the past 3 years, NGGDPP has been supporting the conversion of GIS databases to modern GIS formats in the GeMS standard in regular data preservation activities (Priority

1). This support was intended to promote the adoption of GeMS and provide funding to support the educational and tool development to advance the modernization and standardization of older digital geologic maps. Priority 2 will continue to support conversion of digital geologic data to GEMS format relevant to prioritized Critical

Minerals (Earth Mapping Resources Initiative (Earth MRI)) areas. The support for conversion of digital geologic data to GEMS format outside of Earth MRI focus areas will now be provided by the National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program

(NCGMP) through the State Map Program. NGGDPP regular data preservation activities will only support the digitization of paper maps, including scanning and vectorizing into a GeMS compliant GIS database.

The NGGDPP coordinates with Earth MRI to support data preservation activities related to critical minerals. In this program announcement where Earth MRI (Priority 2) activities are mentioned these are NGGDPP-Earth MRI activities. This is separate funding and cannot be combined with related NCGMP activities that receive Earth MRI funding.

In addition to proposing Priority 1 and/or 2 projects, states may apply for federal funds to support travel to a 2021 Data Rescue and Preservation Workshop hosted by the Montana

Bureau of Mining and Geology held in early fall of 2021 in Butte, MT, co-sponsored by the NGGDPP and the Association of American State Geologists (AASG). States may request funding up to $1500 per person for up to two participants for workshop attendance (i.e., data preservation projects are not required). All states that request travel funds to attend the 2021 Data Rescue and Preservation Workshop will receive funds. To obtain NGGDPP funds to support travel to the 2021 Data Rescue and Preservation

Workshop, states must:

1) Request NGGDPP funds, explained in Part II. Section C. 10

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.

In FY2021, states may request funding for one or both of two 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 v mineral resources data and assets and participation in and/or travel to a Critical Mineral

Resources Workshop. If applicable, states must submit two separate budget sheets for: 1) budget for Priority 1, including travel to a Data Rescue and Preservation Workshop, 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. Please note: there is no workshop registration fee associated with the Critical Mineral

Workshop. In the event workshops are virtual instead of in-person, the travel funds will not be awarded.

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. Proposals should follow NGGDPP Recommended

Practices for preservation methods, for example, scanning resolution and file formats.

Deviations from the recommended practices should be well-justified. States proposing to digitize 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

(ngmdb@usgs.gov). 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 FY2021 Priority 2 on page 3). All states may request up to

$3,000 to develop a long-range strategy for critical minerals relevant data preservation for their state. All states requesting these funds will receive them. If requesting funds for the long-range strategy this would require a separate budget item within the Priority 2 budget (see FY2021 Priority 2 on page 5). 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).

Proposals submitted to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) must include a Data

Management Plan (DMP) to conform with the Executive Order of February 22, 2013, “Increasing Access to the Results of Federally Funded Scientific Research”. All proposals must use the provided NGGDPP DMP template provided at the following link:

https://www.sciencebase.gov/catalog/file/get/5baa94ade4b08583a5cd878e?name=Sta teSurveyAbbrev-NGGDPP-FY21-DMPForm.docx

Instructions for writing a DMP using the NGGDPP template are explained in Part II. C.9.

State applicants are required to provide curricula vitae (CV) for primary project personnel.

The minimum font size allowed in tables and figures within the Priority 1 and Priority 2

Project Descriptions is 8-point font as described in Part II C.7&8.

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Managing the quality of data (QA/QC) throughout the preservation process must be addressed in the proposal. Additional resources and guidance are provided in Part II.

C.7&8.

A recommended, but not required Final Technical Report template is available on the

NGGDPP site with guidance within the document.

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

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 efficiently and effectively assess your proposed project.

• 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.

• Briefly 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).

• 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.

• 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.

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

• The proposal Data Management Plan (DMP) must be provided in the

NGGDPP format provided at the link on page v with the minimum requirements documented as described in Part II. C.9.

• 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 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. 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, tuition, computer maintenance or travel to any other conference or workshop except the Data Preservation and/or regional Critical Mineral Resources Workshop.

• 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.

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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.

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) 2021 priorities will NOT be considered for an award.

The NGGDPP FY 2021 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 resulting geodatabases converted to the GeMS format to

The National Geologic Map Database (NGMDB, https://ngmdb.usgs.gov), and submission of metadata records describing preserved resources in conformance with the NGGDPP metadata schema to the National Digital Catalog (NDC), 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 2021 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.

FY 2021 Priority 1 – Preserve Geoscience Data and Materials

In FY 2021, 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;

• conversion of paper geologic maps not available in a GIS format to the Geologic Mapping

Schema (GeMS) format (see https://ngmdb.usgs.gov/Info/standards/GeMS/);

• utilizing the National Digital Catalog (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);

• 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 convention to improve discoverability and access to collections. Local tools and applications that had been developed to the follow the

*csv/*xml NDC metadata convention will need to be revamped to conform to the new NDC metadata convention and controlled vocabularies; and

• participation in the 2021 Data Rescue and Preservation Workshop.

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 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, 2021.

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, state 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 2021 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 the Earth Mapping Resources Initiative (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 anticipates hosting regional critical mineral resources workshops during FY 2021, 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 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 FY2021, 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 the event workshops are virtual instead of in-person, the travel funds will not be awarded.

In FY2021, 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. All

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

Priority 2 focuses on 4 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

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.

the National Digital Catalog, and (4) support for the upcoming Earth MRI workshops. The FY2021

Priority2 efforts are:

• State compilation of mineral deposits/districts - compiling and publishing a map for the state that outlines the location of 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. The effort will result in a new compilation map or updating existing maps depicting the location and type of critical mineral deposits and districts in the state.

The map data should be in a common geospatial digital data format employing the Mineral

Deposits/Districts templates located at the below link:

https://www.sciencebase.gov/catalog/file/get/5baa94ade4b08583a5cd878e?name=Attachme ntD_MineralDeposits_Districts_Templates.zip (this a zip file that will need to be downloaded and saved) with the included files made available to the National Digital

Catalog. 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 NDC with metadata and if applicable, be made public by the State via the proposed method. The

NGGDPP will forward to the USGS Mineral Resources Program project Mineral Deposit

Database (USMIN) (nkarl@usgs.gov).

• 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 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/ofr20191023A and 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 (see link below – https://www.sciencebase.gov/catalog/file/get/5baa94ade4b08583a5cd878e?name=NGGDP

P%20borehole%20template.xlsx) and will minimally 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. If applicable, depth to bedrock and identification of basement rock 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 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 also be submitted to the

National Digital Catalog (NDC) for repositing.

• Updating geologic maps - 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. The geologic maps proposed for update to

GeMS format should be relevant to prioritized Critical Minerals (Earth Mapping Resources

Initiative (Earth MRI)) focus areas.

• Support to States to prepare for and attend a USGS Critical Minerals workshop -preparing for and participating in a ~2-day Critical Mineral Resources (Earth MRI)

Workshop, anticipated to be held in late FY 2021. 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. States may request federal funding for direct costs up to $1000 per person for up to 2 state participants with a maximum of $2,000 for workshop attendance (does not include indirect costs). All states that request travel funds to attend the 2021 Critical Mineral Resources (Earth MRI) Workshops 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). In 2020, the Critical Mineral Resources (Earth MRI)

Workshops were held virtually and required no travel. The format of the 2021 workshops

(face-to-face or virtual) will be determined as soon as possible in 2021. The total for

Priority 2 including potential travel to critical minerals workshop shall not exceed $35,000, including indirect costs. In the event the workshop is 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 2 projects are funded the award will be canceled.

• Strategic Plan for Critical Minerals – All states may request up to $3,000 to develop a long-range strategy for critical minerals relevant data preservation for their state. All states requesting these funds will receive them.

All awarded Priority 2 funds must be matched at 100% or greater 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 6, 2020

Closing Date and Time for Proposal Submission: January 8, 2021, 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 2021 appropriation, notice of full-year continuing resolution, or May 1, 2021, whichever is later. The latest start date is September 13, 2021.

For applications that include Priority 2 projects, the start date will be after USGS receives its final

FY 2021 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, 2021. 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 2021 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. 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. 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. Guidance and best practices for managing data quality can be found on the USGS Data Management site: 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.

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. 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:

Project narrative: Follow the guidelines and requirements listed on pages iv–vii 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, 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: Manage Quality. 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) 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. The FY21 project narrative may also propose to develop a long-range plan for data preservation activities related to critical mineral resources.

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. A DMP should document data handling throughout the lifecycle of the project from planning through publication and archive. A data management plan also describes roles and responsibilities. These can be formalized through data sharing agreements. When there are questions regarding data access or copyright issues these should be addressed and documented in the DMP. Beginning FY21 all proposals must use the NGGDPP template. The DMP includes:

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 and best practices 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. Data Rescue and Preservation Workshop – Request must be made in the proposal for

NGGDPP funds to support travel to the 2021 Data Rescue and Preservation Workshop, scheduled for early fall 2021 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 two people with data preservation or metadata responsibilities. Workshop travel expenses are itemized in the proposal budget (Attachment B), in which federal NGGDPP funds cannot exceed 50-percent of total project cost. Maximum USGS funds to be provided for workshop travel: $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. States that only propose workshop travel expenses must still meet the 50% or higher match requirement for workshop travel. Provide cost estimates for workshop attendance for 1 to 2 people in the budget table (Attachment B). If the contiguous proposed data preservation project is declined, the state will receive matching funds to sponsor travel to the workshop if the request for these funds is made in the proposal. 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). In the event workshops are virtual instead of in-person, the travel funds will not be awarded.

11. 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, including travel to 2021 Data Rescue and Preservation Workshop and ancillary costs (fringe rates, direct and indirect costs). Federal funds requested for

Priority 1 must be matched with state funds. If applicable, a separate budget sheet must include expenses for Priority 2, including approximate travel costs to a Critical Mineral

Resources (Earth MRI) Workshop and ancillary costs. Federal funds for development of a strategic plan for critical minerals under Priority 2 must be documented separately within the Priority 2 budget and matched with state funds. Federal funds requested for Priority 2 cannot exceed $35,000, including travel to Critical Mineral Resources (Earth MRI)

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 for each Priority and shall be derived from non-federal sources

(direct and indirect costs). Failure to provide a detailed budget itemizing state expenditures will 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. Data Preservation Workshop to be held in Butte, MT; dates TBD, early fall 2021;

States may request funding for travel to the 3-day 2021 Data Rescue and

Preservation Workshop in Butte, MT (see Part I, Section B). A registration fee of

$80.00 for each participant must be paid for with state funds which can be part of the match. (Information about the registration will be provided at a later date.)

States may request funding to send two people with data preservation or metadata responsibilities to the workshop. Maximum USGS funds to be provided: $1,500.00 per workshop attendee (maximum 2 attendees; $3000 max per state). Additional state attendees are welcome to the workshop, but federal funding will only be provided for 2 state participants. States that only apply for workshop travel expenses must match federal funds with state funds; failure to include the required state match for workshop travel will result in rejection of the proposal. Airfare estimates should be based on travel to Butte or Bozeman Airport. In the event workshops are virtual instead of in-person, the travel funds will not be awarded.

ii. Regional Critical Mineral Resources Workshop in Reston, Virginia;

Denver, Colorado; Reno, Nevada; or Spokane, Washington; Dates TBD, Late FY2021

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. In the event workshops are virtual instead of in-person, the travel funds will not be awarded.

(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.

General-purpose equipment must be purchased from the applicant's operating funds.