Fiscal Year 2017: Received 21 proposals. Awards were made to 19 agencies. Six projects were to support new data providers. The remaining projects were to support data connections for existing providers and/or to enhance NGWMN sites. Fiscal Year 2018: Received 24 proposals. Plan on issuing awards to 23 agencies. Five projects will be to support new data providers. The remaining projects will support data connections for existing providers and/or to enhance NGWMN sites. Fiscal Year 2019: Planning is underway for the FY19 funding opportunity. Between 20-30 proposals are expected.

Uses and Use Restrictions

Funding will be used to 1) help new data providers participate in the network, and 2) support existing data providers.

Funding for new providers primarily is intended to support data providers to select and categorize their data in accordance with the Framework document guidelines, and to make data for selected sites available to the NGWMN.

Funding for existing data providers will support work to keep their connections to the NGWMN data portal up to date and to enhance their networks to improve data available to the NGWMN.

This can include updating data on their wells, performing maintenance or repairs on wells to maintain the ability to collect reliable data, drilling new or replacement wells for the NGWMN.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicant Eligibility

Proposals will be accepted from interstate, State, U.S.

territory or possession, local, public nonprofit water-resource agencies/organizations which collect and maintain groundwater-level or groundwater-quality data.

Various elements of the data which are required for the National Ground-Water Monitoring Network are often available from different agencies within a state.

Each agency within a state which wishes to participate in the Network can submit a proposal for their part of the work.

States may also submit a single proposal that covers the work of multiple state agencies.

Coordination of agencies within a state is strongly encouraged.

Beneficiary Eligibility

Federal, State, Federally recognized Indian Tribal, and local governments, public nonprofit institutions/organizations, private nonprofit institutions/organizations, profit organizations, industry and public decision makers, research scientists, engineers, and the general public will ultimately benefit from data made available through the program.

Credentials/Documentation

Proposals must include documentation of the data that are collected by the applicant that would become part of the National Ground-Water Monitoring Network. Proposals that intend to provide data that are collected by other agencies or entities generally will not be considered. 2 CFR 200, Subpart E - Cost Principles applies to this program.

Aplication and Award Process

Preapplication Coordination

Discussions regarding funding availability and program interest are strongly encouraged, as limited funding is available for new projects.

Environmental impact information is not required for this program.

This program is excluded from coverage under E.O.

12372.

Application Procedures

2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards applies to this program. program is subject to the provisions of 2 CFR Part 200 and Department of the Interior regulations 2 CFR Part 1402 and 43 CFR Part 12. Application form Standard Form (SF) 424 must be used. The application requirements as contained in the announcement package and the above regulations must be used for this program. Applications may be made only through the internet site http://www.grants.gov.

Award Procedures

Notification of an award is by receipt of a grant or cooperative agreement from a U.S. Geological Survey contracting officer through FedConnect (https://www.fedconnect.net/FedConnect/).

Deadlines

Nov 30, 2018 January, 2018. See Program Announcement for application due date.

Authorization

Public Law 111-11, Subtitle F?Secure Water: Section 9507 ?Water Data Enhancement by the United States Geological Survey.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time

From 60 to 90 days.

Appeals

Not Applicable.

Renewals

All projects have a limited duration not to exceed two years.

Assistance Considerations

Formula and Matching Requirements

Statutory formulas are not applicable to this program. Matching Requirements: Matching Requirements: Funding is provided as a cost share. Cost share can include in-kind services. The amount of the cost share matching is not specified, but will be considered as part of proposal evaluation. In-kind services can include the costs to collect the data that will be provided to the NGWMN. MOE requirements are not applicable to this program.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance

Program obligates funds and sends a notice of award to successful applicants. Recipients request funds in accordance with 2 CFR 200, Subpart E-Cost Principles, unless otherwise dictated by program-specific legislation or special award terms. Program will include any special payment terms and conditions in the notice of award. See the following for information on how assistance is awarded/released: Funds are released as required. Recipients request payment as needed throughout the award period.

Post Assistance Requirements

Reports

Annual and final technical reports are required and must be submitted as described in the award terms and conditions.

Cash reports are not applicable.

Annual and final technical reports, as well as other products, are required and must be submitted as described in the award terms and conditions.

Recipients must report expenditures using the SF 425, Federal Financial Report form.

Recipients must submit a final report no later than 90 calendar days after the award end date.

Recipients of awards with performance periods longer than 12 months will be required to submit interim annual reports.

Program will detail all financial reporting requirements, including frequency and due dates, in the notice of award letter.

Recipients are responsible for monitoring performance for each award and sub-award under this program in accordance with 2 CFR 200.

Audits

In accordance with the provisions of 2 CFR 200, Subpart F - Audit Requirements, non-Federal entities that expend financial assistance of $750,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Non-Federal entities that expend less than $750,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in 2 CFR 200.503.

Records

All records must be maintained for 3 years after submission of the final financial report.

Financial Information

Account Identification

14-0804-0-1-306.

Obigations

(Cooperative Agreements (Discretionary Grants)) FY 17 $1,150,000; FY 18 est $1,800,000; and FY 19 est $1,800,000 - FY18 amount based on expected funding and submissions of proposals totaling more than $2,200,000. FY19 based on estimated funding.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

$15,000 to $150,000 per year for each of two years; average $55,000 per year.

Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature

Not Applicable.

Information Contacts

Regional or Local Office

None.

Headquarters Office

William Cunningham Department of the Interior, Geological Survey, 411 National Center, 12201 Sunrise Valley Drive, Reston, Virginia 20192 Email: wcunning@usgs.gov Phone: (703)648-5005 Fax: (703)648-6693

Criteria for Selecting Proposals

Each objective applied for within a proposal will be reviewed according to three Criteria: Relevance, Technical Quality, and Budget. A score or 1 to 10 is given for each criterion. Persistent Data Service Proposals are only evaluated using the Budget criteria. Proposals will be reviewed and scored by the NGWMN Program Board. The Program Board is made up of Federal representatives, SOGW members, and State Data provider representatives.