Groundwater and Streamflow Information Program National Ground-Water Monitoring Network Round II | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is this USGS funding opportunity?

This is a discretionary, two-year cooperative agreement opportunity offered by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) within the Department of the Interior. It is provided through the USGS Groundwater and Streamflow Information Program to support participation in the National Ground-Water Monitoring Network (NGWMN).

What is the main purpose of the award?

The main purpose is to help state or local water-resources agencies that already collect groundwater data serve as data providers to the NGWMN. The funding is intended to strengthen the flow of groundwater monitoring information into a coordinated nationwide framework so groundwater conditions can be tracked more consistently and used more effectively by water managers, scientists, and decision-makers.

What program within USGS is associated with this opportunity?

The opportunity is offered through the USGS Groundwater and Streamflow Information Program.

What is the National Ground-Water Monitoring Network (NGWMN) in the context of this award?

In the context of this opportunity, the NGWMN is the national network that receives groundwater monitoring data from contributing organizations. The award supports participation by enabling agencies that already collect groundwater data to provide that information into a coordinated nationwide system.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligible applicants are state governments. The narrative also describes the intended recipients as state or local water-resources agencies that already collect groundwater data and would participate as data providers to the NGWMN.

Is this a grant or a cooperative agreement?

The award is structured as a cooperative agreement.

What does it mean that this is a cooperative agreement?

Based on the description provided, a cooperative agreement typically indicates substantial involvement by USGS during the project period. This may include collaboration on technical approaches, data integration, or network participation requirements related to providing groundwater monitoring information to the NGWMN.

How long is the project period?

The opportunity is described as a two-year cooperative agreement.

How much funding is available per award?

Individual awards could be as large as $105,000.

How many awards does USGS expect to make?

USGS anticipated making about 35 awards.

When was the opportunity posted and when did applications close?

The opportunity was posted on March 30, 2016. The application closing date was May 31, 2016.

What type of activities is the funding meant to support?

The funding is meant to support participation in the NGWMN by strengthening the delivery of groundwater monitoring data into a coordinated national framework. It is positioned as targeted support for agencies contributing groundwater monitoring data, with an emphasis on coordinated data provision and collaboration with USGS and advisory committee partners.

What are the intended outcomes of supporting data providers to the NGWMN?

The stated intent is to expand and improve national groundwater monitoring capability by making groundwater condition information more consistent and more usable for water managers, scientists, and decision-makers through coordinated data provision into the NGWMN.

How does this opportunity relate to standards, interoperability, or coordination across organizations?

The effort is being developed and administered in coordination with the Federal Advisory Committee on Water Information (ACWI) and its Subcommittee on Ground Water (SOGW). This partnership is described as signaling alignment between federal and non-federal groundwater monitoring activities, improved interoperability of datasets, and support for shared standards and practices for groundwater data contributed to the NGWMN.

Which organizations are involved in administering or coordinating this effort?

The opportunity is offered by USGS (Department of the Interior) and is being developed and administered in coordination with the Federal Advisory Committee on Water Information (ACWI) and its Subcommittee on Ground Water (SOGW).

What is the funding activity category for this opportunity?

The program falls under the Natural Resources funding activity category.

What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?

The opportunity is associated with CFDA number 15.980.

Is the program focused on agencies that already collect groundwater data, or on starting new monitoring programs?

The description emphasizes supporting state or local water-resources agencies that already collect groundwater data, specifically to help them serve as data providers to the NGWMN and integrate their information into the national framework.

What role does USGS involvement play during the project?

Because this is described as a cooperative agreement, the opportunity notes that USGS typically has substantial involvement during the project period, such as collaborating on technical approaches, data integration, or participation requirements tied to contributing data to the NGWMN.

How does this opportunity benefit water managers and decision-makers?

By strengthening the flow of groundwater monitoring information into a coordinated nationwide framework, the opportunity is intended to make groundwater conditions easier to track consistently and to make monitoring information more effective for use by water managers, scientists, and decision-makers.