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Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance

Program Descriptions

15.808:  U.S. Geological Survey: Research and Data Acquisition

Objectives:  To support research in any field of study that helps fulfill the U.S. Geological Survey's mission. The mission of the U.S. Geological Survey is to collect, organize, interpret, and publish geological, topographic, biologic, and hydrologic information. This information consists of maps, databases, images, and descriptions and analyses of water, energy, and mineral resources, land use, and land cover, underlying geologic structure, and the dynamic processes of the earth.

PROGRAM AND AWARD	FINANCIAL AND INFORMATION CONTACTS
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS	FINANCIAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFO.
APPLICATION AND AWARD PROCESS	INFORMATION CONTACTS
RELATED PROGRAMS	ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS
PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS	POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS

15.808 ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

Applicant Eligibility:  Colleges, universities, profit-making and nonprofit organizations, and State and local governments may make applications for support by a named principal investigator.

Beneficiary Eligibility:  Research scientists, engineers, and the general public will ultimately benefit from the program.

Credentials/Documentation:  Proposals must furnish evidence of the applicant's qualifications for performance of the proposed research. Costs will be determined in accordance with OMB Circular No. A-87 for State and local governments; OMB Circular No. A-21 for educational institutions; OMB Circular No. A-122 for nonprofit organizations; and Federal Acquisition Regulation Subpart 31.2 for private firms, individuals, and other nonprofits excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-122.

15.808 APPLICATION AND AWARD PROCESS:

Preapplication Coordination:  Limited discussions regarding funding availability and program interest are permitted. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.

Application Procedure:  The standard application forms required by OMB Circular Nos. A-102 and A-110, or their successor(s), and the Department of the Interior regulation at 43 CFR Part 12, Subparts C and D, or its revisions, must be used. USGS program announcements are published in the Federal Register and on the internet through www.usgs.gov/contracts/.

Award Procedure:  Notification of an award is by a grant or cooperative agreement document signed by a contracting officer.

Deadlines:  None.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time:  From 3 to 6 months.

Appeals:  Not applicable except that application may be revised and resubmitted.

Renewals:  Not applicable.

Criteria for Selecting Proposals:  Scientists within the Geological Survey will review and evaluate all applications submitted. Criteria for judging applications will include scientific excellence and relevance to the solution of important problems within the mission of the Geological Survey. Generally, applications will be funded only to the extent permitted by available funds.

Examples of Funded Projects:  Cooperative mapping projects with States; support for various boards and committees of the National Academy of Science; and various earth science research projects.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance:  $4,000 to $300,000; $50,000.

15.808 RELATED PROGRAMS:

• 47.050 Geosciences.

15.808 PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

In fiscal year 1999 for this category about 231 grants and cooperative agreements were made to support the Geological Survey's earth science research mission. A similar number is projected for fiscal years 2000 and 2001.

15.808 FINANCIAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFO:

Federal Agency:  U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Type of Assistance:  Project Grants (Cooperative Agreements).

Obligations:  (Grants) FY 99 $38,336,889; FY 2000 est $37,000,000; and FY 2001 est $62,000,000.

Budget Account Number:  14-0804-0-1-300.

Authorization:  Organic Act of 1879, 43 U.S.C. 31, 43 U.S.C. 36c.

Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature:  None.

15.808 INFO CONTACTS:

Regional or Local Office:  Persons in Eastern Region, write: Regional Director for Eastern Region, 12201 Sunrise Valley Drive, MS 150, Reston, VA 20192, Phone: (703) 648-4538; persons in Pacific Coast area write: Regional Director for Western Region, U.S. Geological Survey, 345 Middlefield Road, Menlo Park, CA 94025, Phone: (415) 329-4002; persons in Rocky Mountain area write: Regional Director for Central Region, U.S. Geological Survey, Denver Federal Center, Denver, CO 80225, Phone: (303) 236-5900 (Ext. 303). Persons in all other States write to the Office of Outreach, U.S. Geological Survey, 119 National Center, Reston, VA 20192, Phone: (703) 648-4460.

Headquarters Office:  Assistant Director for Programs, U.S. Geological Survey, 12201 Sunrise Valley Drive, Mail Stop-101, Reston, VA 20192. Phone: (703) 648-4460. Use the same number for FTS.

(See Appendix IV for more contact info.)

15.808 ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS:

Formula and Matching Requirements:  Generally, no statutory requirement. Recipients are encouraged to share in the cost of each research project. Appropriations language requires cooperating State and local governments to contribute at least one-half the cost of certain cooperative water resources investigation and cooperative mapping projects.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance:  Grants and cooperative agreements will normally be awarded in 12 month budget periods.

Uses and Use Restrictions:  Applications must be for scientific research projects which are within the Survey's area of responsibility. Conferences and symposia will be supported only if it is clear that equivalent results cannot be obtained at regular meetings of professional societies. Office furniture, office equipment, and foreign travel are not normally considered for support. Cost-sharing is encouraged.

15.808 POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:

Reports:  Annual and final technical and financial reports are required.

Audits:  Applicants agree to give the sponsoring agency, the Comptroller General or other authorized audit agency access to and the right to examine records related to the award. Awards to educational institutions and nonprofit organizations are subject to the audit requirements of OMB Circular No. A-110, or superseding regulations. In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 24, 1997), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations", nonfederal entities that receive financial assistance of $300,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $300,000 or more in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133.

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