Opportunity Information: Apply for G15AS00123
Apply for G15AS00123
- The Geological Survey in the environment natural resources science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "3D Elevation Program (3DEP)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.817 National Geospatial Program Building The National Map.
- This funding opportunity was created on Aug 19, 2015 and posted on Jul 17, 2015.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Sep 30, 2016 Pre proposals are due by 100PM ET on 25 August 2015.Full Proposals are due by 100PM ET on 23 October 2015.The BAA will remain open and proposals received after the initial due date will be considered for review until 30 September 2016 or until such time as the BAA is cancelled through an amendment or another BAA is issued additional selections will be made depending on availability of funding and evaluation of proposals consistent with the evaluation criteria provided herein.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Eligible applicants include: County governments State governments City or township governments Public and State controlled institutions of higher education Individuals Private institutions of higher education Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments) Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Independent school districts Small businesses Special district governments For profit organizations other than small businesses Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education.
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Opportunity Summary:
The 3D Elevation Program (3DEP) grant opportunity is a U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) funding and partnership mechanism aimed at expanding the availability of high-quality, consistent topographic and elevation information across the United States. The program exists because many public and private users need accurate three-dimensional data to better understand both natural landscapes and built environments. At its core, this opportunity supports the collection of lidar data (light detection and ranging) and the creation of derived elevation products that can be used for mapping and analysis. The overarching idea is to help build and refresh authoritative elevation datasets that feed national mapping efforts and support a wide range of practical applications, from environmental management to infrastructure planning.
The opportunity is issued as a Broad Agency Announcement (BAA), which signals that USGS is seeking proposals that contribute to a broad program goal rather than buying a single, narrowly defined deliverable. The BAA is specifically intended to facilitate lidar acquisitions and elevation data production for 3DEP through two established pathways: acquisitions performed through USGS contracting vehicles, particularly the USGS Geospatial Products and Services Contracts (GPSC), and acquisitions led by partners that coordinate with USGS so the resulting data meet program requirements and can be integrated into national holdings. A key purpose of the BAA is visibility and access. USGS has long used these contracting and partnership approaches, and the announcement is meant to make these processes clearer and more discoverable to a broad range of stakeholders who might benefit from, contribute to, or help fund elevation data acquisition.
From an administrative standpoint, this is a discretionary federal opportunity associated with CFDA number 15.817, listed under the National Geospatial Program and connected to “Building The National Map.” The funding activity categories include environment, natural resources, science and technology, and other research and development. The announcement is flexible in terms of funding instruments, indicating that awards could be made as cooperative agreements, grants, procurement contracts, or related mechanisms depending on the nature of the proposed work and the relationship required between USGS and the recipient. The notice also indicates that cost sharing or matching is required, meaning applicants should be prepared to contribute funds or other allowable resources toward the total project cost, consistent with program rules and the specific proposal arrangement.
Eligibility is broad and spans much of the stakeholder community that typically uses or produces geospatial data. Eligible applicants include state, county, and local governments; federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations; public and private institutions of higher education; nonprofits (including both 501(c)(3) and certain non-501(c)(3) entities); independent school districts; special district governments; individuals; small businesses; and other for-profit organizations. This wide eligibility aligns with 3DEP’s practical structure, which often relies on partnerships where multiple parties benefit from the same elevation data acquisition and jointly support the cost.
The timeline provided in the announcement reflects an initial round of due dates plus an extended window for submission. Pre-proposals were due by 1:00 PM Eastern Time on August 25, 2015, and full proposals were due by 1:00 PM Eastern Time on October 23, 2015. However, the BAA was designed to remain open for additional submissions and review through September 30, 2016 (unless cancelled or replaced), allowing USGS to make additional selections based on the availability of funds and how well proposals met the published evaluation criteria. This rolling consideration approach is typical when an agency expects varying opportunities for partnership-driven projects over time rather than one single annual award cycle.
The listing shows “EstimatedTotalFunding,” “AwardCeiling,” and “AwardFloor” as 0, which generally indicates that specific funding levels were not committed in the public synopsis and that actual award amounts would depend on available appropriations, partner contributions, and the scope of individual projects. In practice, that means applicants would need to propose a budget and scope that make sense for the geographic area, the data quality requirements, and the partnership structure, with the understanding that final funding decisions and amounts would be determined during review and negotiation.
For applicants and partners, the practical value of this opportunity is that it supports acquiring lidar and producing elevation datasets that can be reused many times over for different missions. Elevation data collected once can support flood risk mapping, watershed and stormwater modeling, wildfire planning, landslide and coastal erosion assessment, transportation and utility corridor planning, precision agriculture, habitat and forestry management, and general cartographic base mapping. By coordinating acquisitions through 3DEP and aligning them to common standards, the program reduces duplication and helps ensure that data collected for one local or regional need can also fit into statewide and national mapping layers.
The opportunity was posted on July 17, 2015, created in the system on August 19, 2015, and later archived on October 31, 2016. The funding opportunity number is G15AS00123, and the title is “3D Elevation Program (3DEP).” Additional details were made available through Grants.gov, and the point of contact listed for access issues was Vickie Floyd (USGS Contract Officer), reachable at 703-648-7341 or via email at gsbaa@usgs.gov.
3D Elevation Program (3DEP) Grant Opportunity FAQs
What is the 3D Elevation Program (3DEP) grant opportunity?
The 3D Elevation Program (3DEP) opportunity is a U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) funding and partnership mechanism designed to expand the availability of high-quality, consistent topographic and elevation information across the United States. It supports efforts that build and refresh authoritative elevation datasets that feed national mapping and related uses.
Which federal agency is offering this opportunity?
This opportunity is offered by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).
What is the main purpose of this opportunity?
The main purpose is to support lidar (light detection and ranging) data acquisition and the creation of derived elevation products so that consistent, authoritative elevation information can be integrated into national holdings and reused for many mapping and analysis needs.
What kinds of projects or activities does 3DEP support?
Based on the description provided, 3DEP supports (1) collecting lidar elevation data and (2) producing derived elevation products that can be used for mapping and analysis, with the intent that the resulting data meet program requirements and can be incorporated into national datasets.
What is lidar in the context of this opportunity?
Lidar (light detection and ranging) is the type of data collection emphasized in this opportunity. It is used to create three-dimensional elevation information to better represent natural landscapes and built environments.
How does USGS describe this announcement type (BAA)?
The opportunity is issued as a Broad Agency Announcement (BAA), which indicates USGS is seeking proposals that contribute to broad program goals rather than purchasing a single narrowly defined deliverable.
How can lidar acquisitions be carried out under this BAA?
The BAA is intended to facilitate lidar acquisitions and elevation data production for 3DEP through two pathways: (1) acquisitions performed through USGS contracting vehicles, particularly the USGS Geospatial Products and Services Contracts (GPSC), and (2) acquisitions led by partners that coordinate with USGS so the resulting data meet 3DEP requirements and can be integrated into national holdings.
Why does this BAA emphasize visibility and access?
A key stated purpose is to make USGS processes for contracting and partnerships clearer and more discoverable to a wide range of stakeholders who might benefit from, contribute to, or help fund elevation data acquisition.
What is the funding opportunity number and title?
The funding opportunity number is G15AS00123, and the title is "3D Elevation Program (3DEP)."
Is this a discretionary federal opportunity?
Yes. The information provided describes it as a discretionary federal opportunity.
What CFDA number is associated with this opportunity?
The CFDA number listed is 15.817.
What program area is this opportunity connected to?
It is listed under the National Geospatial Program and is connected to "Building The National Map."
What funding activity categories are associated with this opportunity?
The categories listed include environment, natural resources, science and technology, and other research and development.
What types of award instruments may be used?
The notice indicates flexibility in award instruments and states that awards could be made as cooperative agreements, grants, procurement contracts, or related mechanisms depending on the proposed work and the relationship required between USGS and the recipient.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
Yes. The notice states that cost sharing or matching is required, meaning applicants should be prepared to contribute funds or other allowable resources toward the total project cost, consistent with program rules and the specific proposal arrangement.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad. Eligible applicants include state, county, and local governments; federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations; public and private institutions of higher education; nonprofits (including 501(c)(3) and certain non-501(c)(3) entities); independent school districts; special district governments; individuals; small businesses; and other for-profit organizations.
Why is eligibility so broad for 3DEP?
The description explains that 3DEP often relies on partnerships where multiple parties benefit from the same elevation data acquisition and jointly support the cost, so eligibility spans much of the stakeholder community that uses or produces geospatial data.
What were the key due dates listed for pre-proposals and full proposals?
Pre-proposals were due by 1:00 PM Eastern Time on August 25, 2015. Full proposals were due by 1:00 PM Eastern Time on October 23, 2015.
Did the BAA allow submissions after the initial due dates?
Yes. The information indicates the BAA was designed to remain open for additional submissions and review through September 30, 2016 (unless cancelled or replaced), allowing additional selections based on available funds and alignment with the evaluation criteria.
What does "rolling consideration" mean in this context?
As described, it means USGS could continue accepting and reviewing submissions over an extended period (through September 30, 2016, unless cancelled or replaced) rather than making awards only in a single fixed cycle.
What were the listed funding amounts (estimated total, ceiling, and floor)?
The listing shows EstimatedTotalFunding, AwardCeiling, and AwardFloor as 0.
Does a listed value of 0 mean there is no funding?
Not necessarily. The description explains that a value of 0 generally indicates specific funding levels were not committed in the public synopsis and that actual award amounts would depend on available appropriations, partner contributions, and the scope of individual projects.
How are actual award amounts expected to be determined?
According to the description, applicants would propose a budget and scope appropriate to the geographic area, data quality requirements, and partnership structure, with final funding decisions and amounts determined during review and negotiation and influenced by available funds and partner contributions.
What kinds of real-world applications can the resulting elevation data support?
The description lists many practical uses, including flood risk mapping, watershed and stormwater modeling, wildfire planning, landslide and coastal erosion assessment, transportation and utility corridor planning, precision agriculture, habitat and forestry management, and general cartographic base mapping.
Why does 3DEP emphasize common standards and coordination?
The program aims to reduce duplication and help ensure that data collected for local or regional needs can also fit into statewide and national mapping layers by aligning acquisitions to common standards.
When was this opportunity posted, created, and archived?
It was posted on July 17, 2015, created in the system on August 19, 2015, and archived on October 31, 2016.
Where were additional details made available?
Additional details were made available through Grants.gov.
Who is the listed point of contact for access issues?
The point of contact listed for access issues is Vickie Floyd (USGS Contract Officer).
How can the point of contact be reached?
Vickie Floyd can be reached at 703-648-7341 or by email at gsbaa@usgs.gov.
What contracting vehicle is specifically mentioned for acquisitions?
The USGS Geospatial Products and Services Contracts (GPSC) is specifically mentioned as a contracting vehicle used for acquisitions.
What is the relationship between partner-led acquisitions and USGS requirements?
Partner-led acquisitions are expected to be coordinated with USGS so the resulting data meet program requirements and can be integrated into national holdings.
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