Long Term Resource Monitoring Program FY 2011 | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the LTRMP FY 2011 grant opportunity (G11AS20003)?

The Long Term Resource Monitoring Program (LTRMP) FY 2011 grant opportunity, Funding Opportunity Number G11AS20003, supported ongoing, long-term environmental monitoring and related science activities within the Upper Mississippi River System. It was offered as a discretionary cooperative agreement administered by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).

What is the main purpose of this funding?

The central purpose was to maintain and coordinate long-term monitoring across multiple states and designated field stations. The goal was to ensure consistent methods and comparable datasets that support river management, habitat and resource assessment, and broader scientific understanding of the Upper Mississippi River System.

Which federal agencies were involved, and what roles did they play?

USGS administered the opportunity as a discretionary cooperative agreement and handled the cooperative agreement mechanism. Overall program guidance, funding direction, and responsibility rested with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). The program operated as a multi-agency partnership that included USGS and participating state agencies.

Which states were part of the partnership?

The partnership included five Upper Mississippi River states: Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, and Wisconsin.

What was the formal framework guiding how partners worked together?

The collaboration and division of roles followed a formal operating framework established in a 1988 Memorandum of Agreement. This agreement set out how partners coordinate monitoring work, responsibilities, and decision-making.

What funding category did this opportunity fall under?

This opportunity fell under the Environment, Natural Resources, and Science and Technology research and development category.

What is the CFDA number associated with this program?

The opportunity was tied to CFDA number 15.978, identified as the Upper Mississippi River System Long Term Resource Monitoring Program.

Is cost sharing or matching required?

No. The funding did not require cost sharing or matching. Recipients were not required to provide non-federal matching funds as a condition of the award.

What was the award range for this opportunity?

The stated award range spanned from a minimum (floor) of $1 to a maximum (ceiling) of $4,000,000. The wide range reflected that cooperative agreements could vary substantially depending on the approved work plan and budget needs for specific monitoring stations or program components.

Who was eligible to apply?

Eligibility was highly restricted by statute. Only five state agencies operating six designated LTRMP field stations were allowed to apply, consistent with the Water Resources Development Act of 1986 (Public Law 99-662).

Which specific agencies and field stations were eligible?

The eligible applicants and their designated field stations were:

• Iowa Department of Natural Resources - Mississippi River Monitoring Station
• Illinois Natural History Survey - Pool 26 Field Station and Havana Field Station
• Minnesota Department of Natural Resources - Lake City Field Station
• Missouri Department of Conservation - Open Rivers and Wetlands Field Station
• Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources - Pool 8 Field Station

Was this an open, competitive grant opportunity for the public?

No. In practical terms, the announcement functioned less like an open competition and more like a formal annual or periodic funding action to support established monitoring infrastructure and coordinated long-term data collection across the river system.

What were the key submission deadlines for FY 2011?

There were two submission deadlines depending on the type of proposed update:

• January 15, 2011: Applied to new proposals or any requests involving a change in scope of work or a change to the total estimated cost.
• March 31, 2011: Applied to other adjustments that did not change the scope of work or total estimated cost.

What did the January 15, 2011 deadline cover?

The January 15, 2011 closing date applied to new proposals and to any requests that involved either a change in the scope of work or a change to the total estimated cost.

What did the March 31, 2011 deadline cover?

The March 31, 2011 due date applied to adjustments that did not change the scope of work and did not change the total estimated cost.

When was the opportunity posted, and when was it archived?

The opportunity was posted and created on December 7, 2010, and it was archived on October 31, 2011.

What type of award mechanism was used?

The opportunity was administered as a discretionary cooperative agreement by USGS.

What geographic area did the monitoring focus on?

The monitoring and related science activities focused on the Upper Mississippi River System.

Where could applicants get help or ask questions about the announcement?

The announcement listed a USGS grants contact for assistance, including a named grant specialist and contact details for help accessing the full announcement through Grants.gov.