Opportunity Information: Apply for USGS FA 16 0348
Apply for USGS FA 16 0348
- The Department of the Interior, Geological Survey in the other (see text field entitled explanation of other category of funding activity for clarification) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Notice of Intent - Implementation and Development of US West Coast ShakeAlert" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.807.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jul 14, 2016.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 28, 2016. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $3,076,399.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education.
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Opportunity Summary:
This funding opportunity is a Notice of Intent from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), within the Department of the Interior, to make a cooperative agreement award supporting the ongoing implementation and development of ShakeAlert, the earthquake early warning (EEW) system for the U.S. West Coast. Rather than soliciting open competition from new applicants, the notice signals the government s intent to fund a specific collaborative team made up of four major research universities: the University of California Berkeley, the University of Washington, the University of Oregon, and the California Institute of Technology. The aim is to keep advancing a prototype EEW capability and move it closer to a reliable, operational system that can deliver usable warnings to people, infrastructure operators, and automated systems when earthquakes occur.
The core purpose of the project is to continue operating the existing ShakeAlert prototype while improving both the technical performance of the warning algorithms and the supporting monitoring infrastructure needed to detect earthquakes quickly and accurately. This includes work to improve the quality, timeliness, and availability of alerts, which in an EEW context typically means better estimates of an earthquake s location, magnitude, and expected shaking intensity, delivered in seconds. The opportunity also emphasizes expansion and improvement of the West Coast seismic and geodetic networks, reflecting the need for dense, well maintained sensor coverage. Seismic instruments measure ground motion, while geodetic instruments such as high rate GPS can capture larger, slower ground displacements and help constrain large event characteristics that traditional seismic-only approaches may saturate on. Strengthening these networks directly supports faster detection, more stable system uptime, and better warning accuracy across California, Oregon, and Washington.
In addition to operations and infrastructure, the work includes evaluation and research designed to help transition ShakeAlert from a prototype to a system that produces actionable warnings. Actionable in this setting means alerts that are sufficiently reliable, well characterized, and timely that users can confidently take predefined protective actions. Those actions can range from personal protective behavior such as drop cover hold on, to automated or institutional responses like slowing trains, opening firehouse doors, pausing surgeries, shutting valves, or triggering industrial safety controls. Achieving that transition typically requires careful performance testing, validation against real earthquakes, refinement of alert thresholds and messaging, and ongoing study of how alerts should be issued to minimize false alarms while still providing meaningful warning lead time.
Administratively, this is a discretionary funding opportunity using the cooperative agreement instrument, which usually indicates substantial involvement by the federal agency in coordinating or participating in the supported work, as opposed to a more hands off grant. The funding activity category is listed as Other, suggesting the work spans multiple functions that do not fit neatly into a single standard category. Eligible applicant types are public and state controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education, matching the academic profile of the intended awardees. The notice lists one expected award with an award ceiling of 3,076,399, and it was created on July 14, 2016 with an original closing date of July 28, 2016. The opportunity is identified as Funding Opportunity Number USGS FA 16 0348, with CFDA number 15.807.
Overall, the notice describes continued federal support for a coordinated, multi institution effort to harden and scale an earthquake early warning capability on the West Coast by combining ongoing system operations, sensor network expansion and modernization, and research and evaluation activities that improve reliability and move the system toward broad, practical use.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is this funding opportunity?
This is a Notice of Intent from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), within the Department of the Interior, to make a cooperative agreement award to support the ongoing implementation and development of ShakeAlert, the earthquake early warning (EEW) system for the U.S. West Coast.
Is this an open competitive grant where new applicants can apply?
No. The Notice of Intent indicates the government intends to fund a specific collaborative team rather than solicit open competition from new applicants.
Who is the intended recipient team for this award?
The intended team consists of four major research universities: the University of California Berkeley, the University of Washington, the University of Oregon, and the California Institute of Technology.
What is ShakeAlert?
ShakeAlert is an earthquake early warning (EEW) system for the U.S. West Coast. The goal is to detect earthquakes quickly and deliver usable warnings within seconds to people, infrastructure operators, and automated systems.
What is the main purpose of the project described in the notice?
The core purpose is to continue operating the existing ShakeAlert prototype while improving the technical performance of the warning algorithms and the monitoring infrastructure needed to detect earthquakes quickly and accurately.
What does it mean that ShakeAlert is a "prototype" in this notice?
In this context, "prototype" means the system is being operated and improved as it moves closer to a reliable, operational capability. The work includes operations, improvements, and evaluation needed to transition from prototype performance to actionable, operational warnings.
What kinds of improvements are being targeted for the warning system?
The notice emphasizes improving the quality, timeliness, and availability of alerts. In an EEW context, this typically means better estimates of an earthquake's location, magnitude, and expected shaking intensity, delivered in seconds.
Why does the opportunity emphasize monitoring infrastructure?
Earthquake early warning depends on fast, accurate detection. The opportunity highlights expansion and improvement of West Coast seismic and geodetic networks to support faster detection, stable system uptime, and better warning accuracy across the region.
What are seismic networks, and what do seismic instruments measure?
Seismic networks are collections of sensors distributed across a region. Seismic instruments measure ground motion caused by earthquakes, which helps the system rapidly detect events and estimate shaking.
What are geodetic networks, and why are they important for EEW?
Geodetic networks include instruments such as high-rate GPS. They can capture larger, slower ground displacements and help constrain characteristics of large earthquakes that traditional seismic-only approaches may saturate on.
Which geographic area is the focus of this work?
The work focuses on the U.S. West Coast, specifically supporting earthquake early warning capabilities across California, Oregon, and Washington.
What does "actionable warnings" mean in this notice?
"Actionable" means alerts that are sufficiently reliable, well characterized, and timely so users can confidently take predefined protective actions based on the warning.
What kinds of protective actions are referenced as examples?
The notice mentions actions ranging from personal protective behavior (such as "drop, cover, hold on") to automated or institutional responses like slowing trains, opening firehouse doors, pausing surgeries, shutting valves, or triggering industrial safety controls.
What kinds of activities are included beyond operations and infrastructure?
In addition to operating the prototype and improving networks, the work includes evaluation and research to help transition ShakeAlert toward a system that produces actionable warnings. This includes performance testing, validation against real earthquakes, refinement of alert thresholds and messaging, and study of how alerts should be issued to minimize false alarms while still providing meaningful warning lead time.
What is the funding instrument for this opportunity?
The notice specifies a cooperative agreement. This typically indicates substantial involvement by the federal agency in coordinating or participating in the supported work, rather than a more hands-off grant.
What does it mean that the funding opportunity is "discretionary"?
The notice describes this as a discretionary funding opportunity, meaning the award is made at the agency's discretion under the terms and conditions of the program and the cooperative agreement approach described.
What is the funding activity category?
The funding activity category is listed as "Other," suggesting the supported work spans multiple functions that do not fit neatly into a single standard category.
Who is eligible to receive this funding (eligible applicant types)?
Eligible applicant types are listed as public and state controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education, consistent with the academic profile of the intended awardees.
How many awards are expected?
The notice lists one expected award.
What is the maximum funding amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling is 3,076,399.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this notice?
The Funding Opportunity Number is USGS FA 16 0348.
What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The CFDA number is 15.807.
When was this opportunity created, and what was the original closing date?
The notice was created on July 14, 2016, and it lists an original closing date of July 28, 2016.
What is the overall goal of the federal support described in this notice?
The overall goal is continued federal support for a coordinated, multi-institution effort to harden and scale an earthquake early warning capability on the West Coast by combining ongoing system operations, sensor network expansion and modernization, and research and evaluation activities that improve reliability and move the system toward broad, practical use.
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