Assistance to State Water Resources Research Institutes (15.805)
Program
15.805 Assistance to State Water Resources Research Institutes
Federal Agency
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Authorization
Water Resources Research Act of 1984, Section 104, Public Law 98-242 as amended, 42 U.S.C. 10301 et seq.
Program Number
15.805
Last Known Status
Active
Objectives
To provide financial support to Water Resources Research Institutes located at designated State universities in each of the 50 States, Puerto Rico, the District of Columbia, Guam, the Virgin Islands, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and the Federated States of Micronesia for research, information transfer and student training on one or more aspects of priority water problems.
Types of Assistance
Formula Grants; Project Grants.
Uses and Use Restrictions
To provide the State institutes with funds to support a State and regional program of water resources research and information transfer. This may include basic or applied research, setting up conferences to discuss research needs or results, conduct of research, information dissemination, and training of students as a byproduct of research. In general the funds are used to study regional, State, or local water problems, but the results may often have national significance. Federal funds cannot be used for formal instructional activities and general education, and the cost of permanent buildings, either directly or indirectly.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicant Eligibility
One University Water Research Institute is authorized in each State and other jurisdictions specified in Section 104. Other colleges and universities within a State are encouraged to participate in the program in cooperation with the designated institute.
Beneficiary Eligibility
Researchers at qualified universities and colleges in the State through the designated institute for the State.
Credentials/Documentation
Proposed Research and Information Transfer Program application responsive to instructions issued by the U.S. Geological Survey.
Application and Award Process
Preapplication Coordination
Requires each Institute to collaborate with State interests in defining research priorities and to coordinate with other institutes in region to avoid duplication of effort. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.
Application Procedure
This program is subject to the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-110, or its successor, and the Department of the Interior regulations at 43 CFR Part 401, Subpart C. State institutes must submit proposed annual programs on the Internet at http://www.niwr.org/NIWR, as required by the individual program announcement.
Award Procedure
Geological Survey approves or rejects, in part or as a whole, the program submitted by each State institute. The State institutes are notified of any amendments necessary to obtain Geological Survey approval.
Deadlines
For fiscal year 2002, applications under the formula grant portion must be filed on the Internet at http://www.niwr.org/NIWR not later than January 15, 2002. Applications under the competitive grant portion of the program must be filed on the Internet at http://www.niwr.org/NIWR/ not later than March 15, 2002.
Range of Approval/Disapproval Time
Appeals
Deficiencies noted by the U.S. Geological Survey can normally be corrected by the State institutes.
Renewals
Not Applicable.
Assistance Considerations
Formula and Matching Requirements
Amount to each State Water Research Institute under the formula grant is on a basis of one Federal share to not less than two nonfederal shares for fiscal year 2002. Competitive matching grants are on the basis of one federal share to not less than one nonfederal share for fiscal year 2002. Of the total, $4.75 million will be awarded on a noncompetitive basis under an existing formula grant portion of the program. The remaining $1.0 million will be awarded on a competitive basis.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
Assistance is on fiscal year basis. Payments are advanced at least quarterly upon application and consistent with Financial Plan submitted previously by institute for use of grant.
Post Assistance Requirements
Reports
Each State institute makes a final report on accomplishments with grant, including synopses of research projects.
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
Directors of the State institutes are responsible for conduct of programs and maintaining books and records reflecting financial and technical transactions of the program. Records shall be retained and made available for audit for three years after allottee's last disbursement of funds.
Program Accomplishments
In fiscal years 2001 and 2002, 54 applications were received and approved under the formula grant portion of the program. In fiscal year 2001, approximately 80 applications were received under the competitive grant portion of the program and 9 grants were awarded; it is estimated that approximately the same number of applications will be received and awards issued in fiscal year 2002.
Financial Information
Account Identification
14-0804-0-1-300.
Obligations
(Grants) FY 02 $5,748,000; FY 03 est $5,710,000; and FY 04 est $0.
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
$75,320 to $283,780.
Regulations, Guidelines and Literature
Rule, 30 CFR Part 401, 50 FR 27203, June 7, 1993; U.S. Geological Survey Request for Applications under the Water Resources Research Institute Grant Program (Section 104), Announcement 01HQPA0010, October 2001, and Competitive Grant Program (Section 104g) Announcement 02HQPA0006, November 2001, at http://www.niwr.org/NIWR/.
Related Programs
None.
Information Contacts
Regional or Local Office
None.
Headquarters Office
Department of the Interior, Geological Survey, MS 424 National Center, Reston, VA 20192. Contact: John Schefter, Chief, Office of External Research. Telephone: (703) 648- 6800. Fax: (703) 648-5070. Email: schefter@usgs.gov.
Web Site Address
Examples of Funded Projects
Examples include: Incorporation of Salinity in Evaluating Water Availability; Non-point Source Runoff and Water Quality in a Rapidly Growing Urban Watershed; Impacts of Flow Regime on Ecosystem Processes in the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint River Basin; Effects of Grazing Management on Sediment and Phosphorus Losses from Pastures; Phosphorus Source/Sink Dynamics in a Flood- Irrigated Agricultural System; and Fecal Coliform Concentrations in Runoff from Fields with Applied Dairy Manure. Descriptions of projects funded recently are provided on the Internet at http://water.usgs.gov/wrri/.
Criteria for Selecting Proposals
Relevance to announced priorities, technical merit, prospect of attaining objectives in period specified and potential for student training.
