Notice of Intent - Ohio’s Contribution to the Great Lakes Geologic Mapping Coalition 2016 | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is this federal funding opportunity?

This is a federal discretionary funding opportunity from the U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). It is issued as a Notice of Intent to make a single cooperative agreement award focused on geologic mapping work in Ohio that supports broader Great Lakes regional mapping priorities.

Which agency is offering the funding?

The offering agency is the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), within the U.S. Department of the Interior.

What type of notice is this?

It is a Notice of Intent to make a single cooperative agreement award. Based on the information provided, it is not framed as a broad, open competition, but as a formal public notice tied to an intended award.

What is the Funding Opportunity Number?

The Funding Opportunity Number is USGS FA 16 0315.

What assistance listing (CFDA) is associated with this opportunity?

The assistance listing is CFDA 15.808 (noted as being commonly referred to under federal assistance listings).

Who is eligible to apply?

The eligible applicant category is state governments. However, the notice explicitly indicates an intent to make the award to a named state partner: the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR).

Is this a competitive opportunity open to multiple applicants?

The notice indicates an expected award count of 1 and states an intent to award to ODNR. This suggests it is not a broad, competitive solicitation in practice, but an intended cooperative agreement with a specific partner.

Who is the intended recipient of the award?

The intended recipient is the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR).

How many awards are expected?

One (1) award is expected.

What is the maximum federal funding amount available?

The award ceiling is $90,000, which sets the maximum anticipated federal funding level for the agreement.

What is the funding instrument type?

The funding instrument type is a cooperative agreement.

What does a cooperative agreement imply for this project?

In this context, a cooperative agreement typically means USGS expects substantial involvement in the work compared with a standard grant. That involvement may include coordination on technical approaches, mapping standards, deliverables, data management, and integration with coalition-wide Great Lakes mapping objectives.

What is the purpose of this project?

The project is designed to produce targeted geologic mapping products in Ohio that contribute to a larger Great Lakes region mapping effort. The work supports broader regional mapping priorities by improving the resolution and consistency of geologic information in specific mapped areas.

How is this opportunity tied to the Great Lakes Geologic Mapping Coalition?

The opportunity is tied to Ohio's 2016 contribution to the Great Lakes Geologic Mapping Coalition and is focused on producing specific mapping outputs that support regional mapping priorities around the Great Lakes.

What are the core technical objectives of the work?

The core objective is twofold and geographically specific: (1) map karst features within the Sinking Springs 7.5-minute quadrangle, and (2) map the surficial geology of five additional 7.5-minute quadrangles: Hallsville, Kingston, Londonderry, Richmond Dale, and Waverly North.

What is meant by "karst mapping" in this project?

Karst mapping typically involves documenting terrain and subsurface conditions associated with soluble bedrock (often limestone or dolomite). The notice describes features such as sinkholes, sinking streams, springs, fractures, and solution-enlarged conduits.

Why is mapping karst features important?

Karst landscapes can strongly influence groundwater flow and vulnerability to contamination, surface stability, and land-use planning. Mapping these features helps improve understanding and decision-making related to those issues.

Where will the karst features be mapped?

Karst features will be mapped within the Sinking Springs 7.5-minute quadrangle.

What is meant by "surficial geology" in this project?

Surficial geology generally refers to unconsolidated materials at or near the land surface, such as glacial deposits, alluvium, colluvium, and other sediments, including how these materials are distributed and related to landforms.

Which areas will receive surficial geology mapping?

Surficial geology mapping will cover five 7.5-minute quadrangles: Hallsville, Kingston, Londonderry, Richmond Dale, and Waverly North.

How does the work fit into a broader mapping framework?

The work is located in the western part of the Wellsville 1:100,000-scale quadrangle. The outputs are meant to fit into a larger regional mapping framework while still being detailed at the 7.5-minute quadrangle level.

What kinds of products or deliverables are expected?

The notice emphasizes producing specific, targeted geologic mapping products. While it does not list deliverables in a formal checklist, it implies actionable mapping outputs that document karst-related features in one quadrangle and detailed surficial geology in five quadrangles, consistent with regional Great Lakes mapping priorities.

What practical uses are implied for the mapping outputs?

The description indicates the outputs would likely support groundwater and environmental assessments, infrastructure and hazard planning, and updates to the regional geologic framework by improving the resolution and consistency of mapped geologic information in the targeted areas.

When was this opportunity posted and when did it close?

The opportunity was created on July 7, 2016, and had an original closing date of July 21, 2016.

Why is the posting window so short?

In the context of a Notice of Intent, the short window typically functions as a formal public posting step before or alongside finalizing an agreement, rather than a lengthy open competition.