Opportunity Information: Apply for G16AS00016
Apply for G16AS00016
- The DOI-USGS1 in the other (see text field entitled explanation of other category of funding activity for clarification) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Water Resources Research National Competitive Grants Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.805.
- This funding opportunity was created on Dec 10, 2015 and posted on Dec 10, 2015.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Mar 17, 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 $250,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 4 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Opportunity Summary:
The Water Resources Research National Competitive Grants Program is a discretionary federal grant opportunity administered by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) within the Department of the Interior under the authority of Section 104(g) of the Water Resources Research Act of 1984. The program is designed to fund research that tackles water problems that are regional or interstate in scope, meaning the work should go beyond issues affecting only a single state. Projects are expected to align with program priorities identified jointly by the Secretary of the Interior and the national network of water resources research institutes, with an emphasis on producing knowledge and tools that can be applied across broader geographic areas and shared water systems.
A central goal of the program is to strengthen collaboration between university researchers and USGS scientists on significant national and regional water challenges. Proposals that demonstrate substantial, well-structured collaboration are explicitly encouraged and receive extra weight during review and selection. Applicants are expected to clearly explain what each partner will do, how the partnership improves the science and outcomes, and how responsibilities are shared across the project. The opportunity also anticipates that USGS may provide modest internal support for USGS staff participating on selected projects, and it encourages prospective applicants to reach out directly to USGS scientists or Water Science Center Directors to identify partnership opportunities.
Beyond research generation, the program places clear emphasis on making research results usable. A stated objective is to promote dissemination and application of findings, which typically means producing outputs that can inform management, policy, engineering practice, planning, or public understanding, rather than limiting outcomes to academic publications alone. Another major objective is workforce development: the program aims to help train scientists in water resource fields. Proposals with a strong educational component, including meaningful student support, are encouraged, and early-career faculty are specifically welcomed, signaling that the program is also intended to build long-term capacity in water research and practice.
The research topics sought revolve around improving and enhancing the nation’s water supply and availability, while encouraging new ideas that expand understanding of persistent and emerging water problems. The solicitation lists several example areas of inquiry without assigning priority rankings. These include evaluating innovative approaches to water treatment and to water infrastructure across its lifecycle, such as new design concepts as well as retrofitting, maintenance, management, and replacement strategies. Another focus area is improving understanding of how water quantity and quality may change due to climate change, population shifts, and land-use change, including attention to the economic, environmental, social, and infrastructure costs associated with those shifts. The program also invites work on better methods for estimating water supply in both surface water and groundwater systems, including not only the physical availability of water but also the economic supply, reflecting interest in how markets, costs, and constraints shape what water is effectively available for use. Additional areas include developing and evaluating governance processes for integrated surface water and groundwater management, and assessing water conservation practices with attention to real-world performance factors such as adoption rates, how widely practices penetrate across users, and whether conservation gains persist over time.
From an administrative standpoint, this opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number G16AS00016; CFDA 15.805) was posted on December 10, 2015, with a closing date of March 17, 2016. The award ceiling is $250,000, and the program expected to make about four awards under this competition. Eligible applicants include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, along with other entities as specified in the full eligibility guidance. Overall, the program is structured to fund competitively selected, regionally relevant water research that is collaborative with USGS, produces actionable outputs, and supports training of the next generation of water scientists and professionals.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the Water Resources Research National Competitive Grants Program?
The Water Resources Research National Competitive Grants Program is a discretionary federal grant opportunity administered by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) within the Department of the Interior. It funds research intended to address significant water problems that are regional or interstate in scope.
Which federal agency administers this grant opportunity?
This program is administered by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) in the Department of the Interior.
What is the legal authority for this program?
The program is authorized under Section 104(g) of the Water Resources Research Act of 1984.
What kinds of water problems is the program designed to address?
The program is designed to fund research that tackles water problems that are regional or interstate in scope, meaning the work should extend beyond issues affecting only a single state.
Does my project need to have regional or interstate relevance?
Yes. The opportunity is specifically aimed at research addressing water problems that go beyond a single state and have regional or interstate importance.
What are the program priorities based on?
Projects are expected to align with program priorities identified jointly by the Secretary of the Interior and the national network of water resources research institutes.
What types of outcomes does the program emphasize?
The program emphasizes producing knowledge and tools that can be applied across broader geographic areas and shared water systems, with an objective of promoting dissemination and application of findings.
Is collaboration with USGS required or encouraged?
Collaboration between university researchers and USGS scientists is a central goal of the program. Proposals demonstrating substantial, well-structured collaboration are explicitly encouraged and receive extra weight during review and selection.
How should a proposal describe collaboration with USGS scientists?
Applicants are expected to clearly explain what each partner will do, how the partnership improves the science and outcomes, and how responsibilities are shared across the project.
Can USGS staff receive support to participate in a project?
The opportunity anticipates that USGS may provide modest internal support for USGS staff participating on selected projects.
Should applicants contact USGS before applying?
Prospective applicants are encouraged to reach out directly to USGS scientists or Water Science Center Directors to identify partnership opportunities.
Does the program value research dissemination and practical use of results?
Yes. A stated objective is to promote dissemination and application of findings, typically meaning outputs that can inform management, policy, engineering practice, planning, or public understanding, rather than limiting outcomes to academic publications alone.
Does the program support student training or workforce development?
Yes. Workforce development is a major objective. Proposals with a strong educational component, including meaningful student support, are encouraged to help train scientists in water resource fields.
Are early-career faculty encouraged to apply?
Yes. Early-career faculty are specifically welcomed, reflecting an intent to build long-term capacity in water research and practice.
What general research theme does the solicitation focus on?
The topics sought revolve around improving and enhancing the nation’s water supply and availability, while encouraging new ideas that expand understanding of persistent and emerging water problems.
Are the listed research areas ranked by priority?
No. The solicitation provides several example areas of inquiry without assigning priority rankings.
What are example research topics related to water treatment and infrastructure?
Example areas include evaluating innovative approaches to water treatment and to water infrastructure across its lifecycle, such as new design concepts as well as retrofitting, maintenance, management, and replacement strategies.
What topics are encouraged related to climate change and other drivers of change?
The solicitation invites research improving understanding of how water quantity and quality may change due to climate change, population shifts, and land-use change, including attention to economic, environmental, social, and infrastructure costs associated with those shifts.
Does the program fund work on estimating surface water and groundwater supplies?
Yes. It invites work on better methods for estimating water supply in both surface water and groundwater systems.
Does "water supply" include economic considerations in this program?
Yes. The solicitation notes interest in estimating not only physical availability but also economic supply, reflecting how markets, costs, and constraints shape what water is effectively available for use.
Are governance and integrated management topics eligible?
Yes. The program invites work on developing and evaluating governance processes for integrated surface water and groundwater management.
Are water conservation practices within scope?
Yes. The solicitation includes assessing water conservation practices, including real-world performance factors such as adoption rates, penetration across users, and whether conservation gains persist over time.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this competition?
The Funding Opportunity Number is G16AS00016.
What is the CFDA number for this program?
The CFDA number listed is 15.805.
When was this opportunity posted?
The opportunity was posted on December 10, 2015.
What was the application closing date?
The closing date listed for this competition was March 17, 2016.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling is $250,000.
How many awards were expected under this competition?
The program expected to make about four awards under this competition.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, along with other entities as specified in the full eligibility guidance.
What is the overall purpose of this funding opportunity?
Overall, the program is structured to fund competitively selected, regionally relevant water research that is collaborative with USGS, produces actionable outputs, and supports training of the next generation of water scientists and professionals.
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