Assistance to State Water Resources Research Institutes

 

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.

General information about this opportunity
Last Known Status
Active
Program Number
15.805
Federal Agency/Office
U.S. Geological Survey, Department of The Interior
Type(s) of Assistance Offered
A - Formula Grants; B - Project Grants
Program Accomplishments
Fiscal Year 2017 For the Annual Base Grants the program anticipates receiving 54 applications and issuing 54 awards. For the National Competitive Grants the program anticipates receiving 154 pre-proprosals of those inviting 30 to submit full proposals and issuing 5 awards. For the Annual Base Grants the program received 54 applications and issued 54 awards. For the National Competitive Grants the program received 158 pre-proposals, invited 30 pre-proposals to submit full proposals and issued 3 awards.
Fiscal Year 2018 For the Annual Base Grants the program received 54 applications and issued 54 awards. For the National Competitive Grants the program received 161 pre-proposals, invited 30 pre-proposals to submit full proposals and issued 4 awards.
Fiscal Year 2019 For the Annual Base Grants the program received 54 applications and issued 54 awards. For the National Competitive Grants the program received 158 pre-proposals, invited 30 pre-proposals to submit full proposals and expects to issue 4-6 awards.
Fiscal Year 2020 For the Annual Base Grants the program expects to receive 54 applications and expects to issue 54 awards. For the National Competitive Grants the program expects to receive 160 pre-proposals, expects to invite 30 pre-proposals to submit full proposals and issue 4-6 awards.
Authorization
Water Resources Research Act of 1984, Section 104, Public Law 98-242 as amended, 42 U.S.C. 10301 et seq.
Who is eligible to apply/benefit from this assistance?
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.
What is the process for applying and being award this assistance?
Pre-Application Procedure
Preapplication coordination is required. Formula Grant Program: Requires each Institute to collaborate with State interests in defining research priorities and to coordinate with other Institutes in the region to avoid duplication of effort. Competitive Grant Program: Requires that the Institutes collectively collaborate with the Geological Survey in setting research priorities.
Application Procedure
2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards applies to this program. This program is subject to the provisions of 2 CFR Part 200 and Department of the Interior regulations 2 CFR Part 1402 and 43 CFR Part 12. Application form Standard Form (SF) 424 must be used. The application requirements as contained in the announcement package and the above regulations must be used for this program. Applications may be made only through the internet site http://www.grants.gov.
Award Procedure
Formula Grant Program: 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. Competitive Grant Program: Geological Survey conducts a formal review and selection procedure and approves or reject applications as a whole. Notification of an award is by receipt of a grant or cooperative agreement from a U.S. Geological Survey contracting officer through FedConnect (https://www.fedconnect.net/FedConnect/).
Deadlines
June 1, 2019 National Competitive Grants (104g) January 18, 2019 Annual Base Grants (104b) [January 18, 2019 for the Annual Base Grants (104b) and June 1, 2019 for the National Competitive Grants (104g)]
Approval/Disapproval Decision Time
90 days.
Appeals
Formula Grant Program: Deficiencies noted by the Geological Survey can normally be corrected by the State Institutes. Competitive Grant Program: None.
Renewals
None.
How are proposals selected?
Competitive Grant Program: Relevance to announced priorities, technical merit, prospects of attaining objectives in period specified and potential for student training.
How may assistance be used?
This program has two parts: a mandatory formula grant program and a competitive project grant program. The mandatory grant program provides 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. The competitive project grant program supports research focused on water problems of a regional or interstate nature and which relate to program priorities identified jointly by the State Institutes and the Geological Survey. Federal funds cannot be used for (1) formal instructional activities and general education, and (2) the cost of permanent buildings, either directly or indirectly.
What are the requirements after being awarded this opportunity?
Reporting
Performance Reports: Recipients are responsible for monitoring performance for each award and sub-award under this program in accordance with 2 CFR 200.
Auditing
Recipients are subject to the audit requirements of 2 CFR Part 200 Subpart F.
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 submission of final financial report.
Other Assistance Considerations
Formula and Matching Requirements
Statutory Formula: Title 42 U.S.C. 10303(c) and (g) 42 U.S.C. 10303(c) and (g)

Matching requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.

MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
Program obligates funds and sends a notice of award to successful applicants. Recipients request funds in accordance with 2 CFR 200, Subpart E-Cost Principles, unless otherwise dictated by program-specific legislation or special award terms. Program will include any special payment terms and conditions in the notice of award.
Who do I contact about this opportunity?
Regional or Local Office
None/Not specified.
Headquarters Office
Earl Greene
Department of the Interior, Geological Survey, Office of External Research, 5522 Research Park Drive,
Baltimore, MD 21228 US
eagreene@usgs.gov
Phone: (443) 498-5505
Website Address
http://water.usgs.gov/wrri/.
Financial Information
Account Identification
14-0804-0-1-306
Obligations
(Cooperative Agreements (Discretionary Grants)) FY 18$1,000,000.00; FY 19 est $1,000,000.00; FY 20 est $1,000,000.00; FY 17$6,200,000.00; - National Competitive GRANTS (Discretionary): FY18 $1,000,000; FY19 $1,000,000; FY20 $1,000,000, est. FY20 amounts are estimates based on prior year funding levels only.(Formula Grants) FY 18$5,200,000.00; FY 19 est $5,200,000.00; FY 20 est $5,200,000.00; - Annual Base GRANTS (Formula Based): FY18 $5,200,000; FY19 $5,200,000; FY20 $5,200,000. FY20 amounts are estimates based on prior year funding levels only.
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
(Formula Grants) $92,335 to $277,005; average $95,755. (Competitive Grants) $140,162 to $249,949; average $212,950.
Regulations, Guidelines and Literature
Rule, 30 CFR Part 401, 50 FR 27203, June 7, 1993; Geological Survey Request for Applications under the Water Resources Research Institute Grant Program (Section 104), Announcement G17AS00017, December 2015 at https://niwr.net. Applications under the Water Resources Research National Competitive Grant Program, Announcement No. G16AS200017, December, 2015 at https://niwr.net and http://water.usgs.gov/wrri/index.php
Examples of Funded Projects
Fiscal Year 2017 Program has not yet selected projects for funding. Program anticipates funding projects that focus on water problems and issues of a State or are a regional or interstate concern. Program funded water research on topics of water quality: 1) Fate and Ecological Impacts of Pharmaceuticals in a Temperate Stream Dominated by Wastewater Effluent; water availability: 2) The use of NMR Logging Measurements to Estimate Hydraulic Conductivity in Glacial Aquifers; and water treatment: 3) Hydrodynamic-Enhancement of Nitrate Attenuation by Integrating Reactive Biobarriers into Shallow, Open Water Treatment Wetlands.
Fiscal Year 2018 Selected projects for funding included: 1) Assessing Microplastic Pollution in the Mississippi River System and at Oyster Reefs in the Mississippi Sound Estuary; 2) Importance of Bioavailability of Multiple Mercury Sources for Environmental Applications of Stable Isotopes; 3) Fate and Impacts of Silver Nanoparticles in Treatment Wetlands; 4) Measurements and Modeling to Improve Prediction of Vulnerability of Coastal Water Resources and Ecosystems to Salinization by Storm Surges and Sea-Level Rise
Fiscal Year 2019 Program has not yet selected projects for funding. Program anticipates funding projects that advance our understanding of changes in the quantity and quality of water resources, development of methods for better estimation of water supply, both surface and groundwater, including estimation of the physical and/or economic supply of water.
Fiscal Year 2020 Program has not yet selected projects for funding. Program anticipates funding projects that advance our understanding of changes in the quantity and quality of water resources, development of methods for better estimation of water supply, both surface and groundwater, including estimation of the physical and/or economic supply of water.

 



Federal Grants Resources