To
support research in any field of study that helps fulfill the U.S.
Geological Survey's mission, to collect, organize, interpret, and
publish geological, topographic, biologic, and hydrologic information.
This information consists of maps, databases, images, and descriptions
and analyses of water, energy, and mineral resources, land use,
and land cover, underlying geologic structure, and the dynamic processes
of the earth.
TYPES
OF ASSISTANCE:
Project Grants. Place Cursor Here for Definition
USES
AND USE RESTRICTIONS:
Applications
must be for scientific research projects which are within the Survey's
area of responsibility. Conferences and symposia will be supported
only if it is clear that equivalent results cannot be obtained at
regular meetings of professional societies. Office furniture, office
equipment, and foreign travel are not normally considered for support.
ELIGIBILITY
REQUIREMENTS:
Applicant
Eligibility: Colleges, universities, profit-making
and nonprofit organizations, and State and local governments may
make applications for support by a named principal investigator.
Beneficiary
Eligibility: Research scientists, engineers,
and the general public will ultimately benefit from the program.
Credentials/Documentation:
Proposals must furnish evidence of the applicant's qualifications
for performance of the proposed research.
Pre-application
Coordination: Limited discussions regarding
funding availability and program interest are permitted. This program
is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.
Application
Procedure: The standard application forms
required by OMB Circular Nos. A-102 and A-110, or their successor(s),
and the Department of the Interior regulation at 43 CFR Part 12,
Subparts C and D, or its revisions, must be used. These are typically
individually evaluated and funded projects; there is no annual
program announcement, prospectus or other public notice.
Award
Procedure: Notification of an award is by
a grant or cooperative agreement document signed by a contracting
officer.
Deadlines:
None.
Range
of Approval/Disapproval Time: From 3 to 6
months.
Appeals:
Not applicable. Applications may be revised and resubmitted.
Renewals:
Not applicable.
ASSISTANCE
CONSIDERATIONS:
Formula
and Matching Requirements: Generally, no statutory
requirement. Recipients are encouraged to share in the cost of each
research project. Appropriations language requires cooperating State
and local governments to contribute at least one-half the cost of
certain cooperative water resources investigation and cooperative
mapping projects.
Length
and Time Phasing of Assistance: Grants and
cooperative agreements will normally be awarded in 12 month budget
periods.
POST
ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:
Reports:
Annual and final technical and financial reports are required.
Audits:
Applicants agree to give the sponsoring agency, the Comptroller
General or other authorized audit agency access to and the right
to examine records related to the award. Awards to educational
institutions and nonprofit organizations are subject to the audit
requirements of OMB Circular No. A-110, or superseding regulations.
In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised,
June 24, 1997), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit
Organizations", nonfederal entities that receive financial assistance
of $300,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a
program- specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities
that expend less than $300,000 or more in Federal awards are exempt
from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted
in Circular No. A-133.
Records:
All records must be maintained for 3 years after submission of
the final financial report.
FINANCIAL
INFORMATION:
Account
Identification: 14-0804-0-1-300.
Obligations:
(Grants) FY 01 $47,700,000; FY 02 est $46,500,000; and FY 03 est
$46,000,000.
Range
and Average of Financial Assistance:
$4,000 to $300,000; Average: $50,000.
In fiscal year 2001 for this category about 269 grants and cooperative
agreements were made to support the Geological Survey's earth science
research mission. A similar number is projected for fiscal years
2002 and 2003.
REGULATIONS,
GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE:
None.
INFORMATION
CONTACTS:
Regional
or Local Office: Contact the appropriate regional
office, depending on the location of the study. For Alabama, Connecticut,
District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky,
Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, New Hampshire,
New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Puerto
Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia,
West Virginia, and Wisconsin, write: Regional Director for Eastern
Region, U.S. Geological Survey, 12201 Sunrise Valley Drive, MS 150,
Reston, VA 20192. Telephone (703) 648-4582. For Arkansas, Colorado,
Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska,
New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas and Wyoming,
write: Regional Director for Central Region, U.S. Geological Survey,
Denver Federal Center, Denver, CO 80225. Telephone: (303) 202-4740.
For Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon,
Utah, and Washington, write: Regional Director for Western Region,
U.S. Geological Survey, 345 Middlefield Road, Menlo Park, CA 94025.
Telephone: (650) 329-4011.
Headquarters
Office: Not applicable.
Web
Site Address: http://www.usgs.gov/contracts
and
http://www.usgs.gov/contracts/grants/unsolbk.html
EXAMPLES
OF FUNDED PROJECTS:
Support for various boards and committees of the National Academy
of Science; and various natural science research projects.
CRITERIA
FOR SELECTING PROPOSALS:
Scientists within the Geological Survey will review and evaluate
all applications submitted. Criteria for judging applications will
include scientific excellence and relevance to the solution of important
problems within the mission of the Geological Survey. Generally,
applications will be funded only to the extent permitted by available
funds.
