2011 National Geological Geophysical Data Preservation Program | Apply Online

FAQs: 2011 National Geological and Geophysical Data Preservation Program (NGGDPP) - USGS (Funding Opportunity Number 11HQPA0014)

What is the NGGDPP grant opportunity?

The National Geological and Geophysical Data Preservation Program (NGGDPP) is a discretionary federal grant program run by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). This specific opportunity is the 2011 NGGDPP cycle under Funding Opportunity Number 11HQPA0014 and CFDA 15.814.

What law created or authorizes NGGDPP?

NGGDPP was established under Section 351 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (Public Law 109-58).

What is the main purpose of this program?

The program is designed to help protect valuable geoscience information that could otherwise be lost due to aging media, deteriorating physical samples, storage limitations, or organizational transitions. It supports practical preservation work that strengthens long-term public access to geologic and geophysical records.

What activity category is this funding opportunity associated with?

The opportunity is listed under the Science and Technology and other Research and Development activity category.

What are the program objectives for NGGDPP?

The statutory objectives described for NGGDPP include: (1) archiving and preserving geologic, geophysical, and engineering data and related products; (2) improving national discoverability by contributing to a national catalog of preserved geoscience materials; and (3) providing technical and financial assistance tied to preservation and cataloging activities.

What kinds of materials and data does NGGDPP aim to preserve?

The opportunity highlights geologic, geophysical, and engineering data and associated products such as maps, well logs, and physical samples. Examples mentioned include legacy seismic data, subsurface logs, core and cuttings, field records, and historical interpretive maps, especially where materials are expensive or impossible to reproduce.

Why does the program emphasize preservation of legacy or at-risk materials?

The program focuses on materials that may be lost due to aging media and deterioration, and on items that may be difficult, costly, or impossible to recreate (for example, certain legacy datasets and physical samples).

What does it mean that the program supports a national catalog?

One objective is to improve national discoverability by contributing preserved geoscience materials to a national catalog so researchers, governments, and industry can identify what exists and where it is held.

Who is eligible to apply for this 2011 opportunity?

Eligibility is limited to state governments, specifically State Geological Surveys. The primary applicants are state survey agencies that steward geologic information and sample repositories within their states.

Are entities other than State Geological Surveys eligible?

Based on the information provided, eligibility is limited to state governments and specifically State Geological Surveys.

How many awards does the opportunity expect to make?

The opportunity anticipates making about 35 awards.

What is the estimated total funding available for this competition?

The estimated total funding level is $550,000 for the competition.

Is there a minimum or maximum award size listed?

No. The notice shows no formal award ceiling or floor (both are listed as 0). This typically means award sizes can vary depending on scope, merit, and available funds rather than a fixed per-project range.

Is cost sharing or matching required?

Yes. Cost sharing or matching is required, so applicants should expect to contribute non-federal resources as part of the overall project budget.

What types of non-federal match are implied by the notice?

The description indicates applicants should expect to contribute non-federal resources and notes that this may include cash and/or allowable in-kind contributions, depending on the program rules.

What are the key dates for the 2011 NGGDPP cycle?

The opportunity was posted and created on November 8, 2010. The application deadline was December 17, 2010. The archive date is January 16, 2011.

Which federal agency administers this opportunity?

The administering agency is the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) (listed as "Geological Survey" in the source data).

Where can applicants find additional guidance, priorities, or the implementation approach?

Additional program guidance is referenced through the NGGDPP Implementation Plan website: http://datapreservation.usgs.gov/. The description notes that this is where applicants would typically find details on priorities, recommended practices, and expectations for how project outputs align with national preservation and cataloging goals.

What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this grant?

The Funding Opportunity Number is 11HQPA0014.

What CFDA number is associated with NGGDPP?

The CFDA number listed for NGGDPP is 15.814.

Who is the point of contact for help accessing the full announcement?

The contact listed is Margaret Eastman, Contract Specialist, who is identified as the contracting officer point of contact.

How can the point of contact be reached?

Margaret Eastman can be reached by phone at 703-648-7366.