Templates for both types of contracts are available below: The USGS is working with the Federal Advisory Committee on Water Information (ACWI) Subcommittee on Groundwater (SOGW) to develop and manage the NGWMN. The NGWMN is designed as a collaborative groundwater data collection-, – management and reporting system that aggregates data from selected wells and sources into existing federal, state, tribal and local groundwater monitoring networks. The network is designed as a long-term collaborative partnership between federal and non-federal data providers that will help address current and future groundwater management issues facing the country. We have older wells that need to be replaced. Could the current co-op funding opportunity help with that? A CRADA is a written agreement under which the federal government provides experts, services, facilities and equipment, but cannot provide funds to external parties. The CRADA partner can contribute the same resources, including resources, to these efforts. Daryll Pope (804) 261-2630 (Office) (609) 462-7119 (Cellular) dpope@usgs.gov A Facilities Use and Service Agreement (FUSA) is an agreement that allows non-USGS parties to use unique USGS laboratory facilities, specialized equipment, and/or services that are not readily available in the private sector for research or technological development. The USGS is also able to enter into a Material Transfer Agreement (MTA), a short-term agreement that allows the exchange of a quantity of a single material (natural or synthetic) with another party for research purposes only. The MTA allows the USGS or the other party to use the material for research purposes. It does not transfer ownership of the material and at the end of the temporary use, the material will be returned or destroyed as specified in the MTA.
It is USGS policy to perform an MTA for all materials that need to be returned or that have unique handling and/or environmental and safety issues. The MTA requires the recipient to comply with all applicable federal standards for the handling of biological, radiological and other hazardous substances. However, payment for equipment is usually not required; Payment of shipping or preparation costs is allowed. Therefore, the procedures of the USGS Refundable AGREEMENTS do not apply. The USGS National Groundwater Monitoring Network (NGWMN) Co-operative Funding Opportunity for Fiscal Year 2020 will open on Grants.gov from September 28, 2020 to January 21, 2021. The cooperation agreements will support new and existing data providers in the NGWMN. The USGS will fund new data providers to select and classify locations in existing monitoring programs, set up web services that link data to the NGWMN portal, and create a report describing this process. Existing data providers may apply for funding to maintain web services and keep website information up to date.
Data providers may also request funding to collect data to improve location information, maintain wells, and drill new or replacement network wells. No, wells cannot be compensated. We want the exact location. If you can`t do that, that would be a reason not to include the well. This is one of the reasons why some suppliers do not want to use public utility wells. Yes, data collection at ngwmn during the project performance period can be used as an in-kind contribution. You must budget the work for the purpose for which you are applying as part of the agency`s in-kind benefits. Three team meetings are planned to provide information to applicants. If you are working with the local WSC on a cooperative counterpart fund project where the USGS collects data and stores it in NWIS, and as a data provider offers to work on goals 3 to 5, you will need a confirmation letter from the local WSC. They probably need to make updates to their database as part of their job, and we want them to be aware of your planned work.
Unfortunately, no. The licensing legislation was specifically aimed at state or local authorities. We are trying to change that. Can the costs of analyzing water quality samples be considered in the cost sharing? Yes, if the work that the contractor would perform is consistent with the objectives of the NGWMN program announcement. The work should be included in detail in the detailed budget of the objective. A table with the template for detailed budgets can be found here. Can funding go to universities to participate as a data provider? Guidelines for data collection are described in the framework document. No special requirements are specified for device types. Yes. Could help to delineate the usable areas of the aquifer. Would be classified as “Documented Changes” on the Network Don`t need all these details.
At this point, we really need the number of potential wells and an idea of how many might be suitable for the grid. You will choose the wells for the network, not us. You don`t need a table with detailed data. Are you interested in adding inactive wells to the grid or do you only want holes that are currently sampled/measured or in a future cycle? If I am a new data provider, can I apply for other goals such as well maintenance or well drilling? The budget table in Form SF-424A is required for Grants.gov. We also need additional data on the entire project and on each objective to make funding decisions. These data are not available in budget table SF-424A. We only want active wells for the grid. Wells that need to be sampled in the next 5 years or whose water level is measured in the next 3 years could enter a monitoring network.
The USGS National Groundwater Monitoring Network (NGWMN) has been providing funding to agencies to participate in the NGWMN since the 2015 federal fiscal year. Documents describing the projects funded by the GNMM cooperation agreements for each year are listed below: For new data providers: What information is needed in the proposal on existing wells currently monitored next to the site and aquifers (e.g. B well construction protocols, hydrographers or period for recording existing data, monitoring and telemetry equipment currently in use, etc.)? How often, if any, should water level monitoring points be tested for water quality? Yes, if they collect data and store it in an accessible database, it would be eligible. Water-level locations do not necessarily need to be sampled. Would wells in areas where nitrate pollution is known be suitable for this network? Yes, since these organizations provide funds to support data collection, they are considered data providers. However, because the data is provided by the USGS, these organizations are not eligible to apply for employment under Objectives 1 or 2. You can apply for a job under goals 3, 4 or 5. As described in the program announcement, these organizations must attach a letter of support from the local USGS WSC to their project proposal. Can government agencies prove benefits in kind by funding contractors in an amount doubled by the USGS? The most significant changes in the announcement of the 2021 program are listed below. Other changes are included in the introductory material of the program announcement Are you interested in partnering with the USGS? We are interested in cooperation in research and development. The USGS is open to suggestions for work on specific projects or technologies. If you have any questions or suggestions, contact the Office of Policy and Analysis or email Esther Eng, Technology Transfer Officer.
Are spreadsheets used to make sample budgets available? USGS scientists are world-renowned experts in biology and ecosystems; soil resources; coastal changes; natural hazards; the effects of climate change and land use; environmental health; geology; mapping, remote sensing and geospatial data; and much more. Examples of budgets from the 2021 program announcement are available here. CRADA and TAA make full use of the existing resources of all stakeholders and achieve mutually beneficial results. It also protects sensitive information within an agreed time frame. CRADA offers the non-federal partner the opportunity to obtain an exclusive or non-exclusive license to the invention in question through the partnership. TAAs are similar to CRADA. TAAs allow for more targeted technical or research efforts. Partnership must be mutually beneficial.
However, the result of a TAA usually does not lead to the development of intellectual property. Do projects need to work with a local USGS office? Yes, replacement drilling is permitted under Objective 5. Why are federal organizations like usepa not eligible for this funding? Are local water resource associations or watershed associations eligible? A CRADA and TAA were developed to ensure that federal government institutions, intellectual property and expertise were available to interested parties. .
