Cooperative AgreementPostedDiscretionary

Groundwater and Streamflow Information Program, National Ground-Water Monitoring Network

Geological Survey
G26AS00002
Application Deadline
Mar 26, 2026
15 days left
Days Remaining
15
Until deadline
Award Ceiling
$300,000
Total Program Funding
$900,000

Grant Opportunity Analysis

The Geological Survey is offering a cooperative agreement funding opportunity for the Groundwater and Streamflow Information Program, specifically aimed at supporting the National Ground-Water Monitoring Network (NGWMN). Eligible applicants include federally recognized Native American Tribal governments, state agencies, and local water-resource agencies that collect groundwater data, with the goal of enhancing data collection and service within the NGWMN. This initiative is crucial for improving groundwater monitoring and management across the United States, ensuring sustainable water resources. The total estimated funding for this program is $900,000 for Federal FY2026, with individual awards ranging from $5,000 to $300,000, and applications must be submitted by 4:00 p.m. ET on March 26, 2026. For further inquiries, interested parties can contact Sara Roser at sroser@usgs.gov.

Eligible Applicants

Federally Recognized Native American Tribal Governments
Additional Eligibility Information

Applicant eligibility:Applicants can be State, federally recognized Native American Tribal governments, or local water-resource agencies which collect groundwater data. State government agencies that are part of a public university system are eligible to apply under the University authority. Federal agencies are not eligible to apply for NGWMN Cooperative Agreements funding. Funds from the projects cannot be distributed to Federal agencies to act as a contractor. Agencies that are partnering with the local USGS Water Science Center to collect water-level or water-quality data as part of a Cooperative Matching Funds project are considered current data providers and are eligible for funding under Objectives 3-6 to enhance the NGWMN. Discussion and coordination with USGS NGWMN staff are encouraged; however, USGS personnel are prohibited from helping an organization directly prepare its application for competitive funding.Agencies cannot propose work under Objectives 4, 5, or 6 in a proposal to become a new data provider (Objective 1).Proposal eligibility:The following items will result in a proposal or work under the related objective being deemed ineligible:Objectives that are missing detailed budgetsProposals from data providers working with a local USGS Cooperative Matching Funds project to collect groundwater data that are missing a letter of support from the local USGS Water Science CenterProposals with a funding request that exceeds award limitsObjectives that contract with U.S. Government agencies to perform workExcluded Parties: USGS conducts a review of the SAM.gov Exclusions database for all applicant entities and their key project personnel prior to award. USGS cannot award funds to entities or their key project personnel identified in the SAM.gov Exclusions database as ineligible, prohibited/restricted or otherwise excluded from receiving Federal contracts, certain subcontracts, and certain Federal assistance and benefits, as their ineligibility condition applies to this Federal program.The following proposals are ineligible for consideration under this Announcement:Proposals from U.S. Government agencies or U.S. Government employeesProposals from Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDC)Proposals principally involving the direct procurement of a product, equipment, or service not used for data collection

Grant Documents

19 Files
Foa_Content_of_G26AS00002.pdf
PDF284 KB2/5/2026
AI Summary
This document outlines the terms and conditions for Federal Financial Assistance awards from the Department of the Interior (DOI) for the National Ground-Water Monitoring Network (NGWMN). It details the substantial involvement expected from the USGS across various objectives, including well selection, web service setup, data flow monitoring, gap filling, well maintenance, drilling, and equipment installation. The agreement also specifies funding clauses, pre-agreement cost restrictions, and comprehensive reporting requirements for annual progress and final technical and financial reports. Crucially, it includes provisions for publications, payment via the ASAP system, and procedures for revisions and prior approvals. General provisions cover adherence to DOI's standard terms, research integrity, data availability, conflict of interest, lobbying restrictions, program income, government-furnished equipment, and patent rights. Special provisions address geospatial data requirements and the order of precedence for incorporated documents.
Example1_Objective_1_2026.xlsx
Excel62 KB2/5/2026
AI Summary
The provided document outlines a comprehensive budget spreadsheet template designed for federal government RFPs, grants, and state/local RFPs. This template facilitates the creation of detailed budgets for each project objective, with dedicated tabs for categories such as Salary, Supplies, Equipment, Travel, and Contracts. Key features include automated calculations for indirect costs based on a user-defined rate, and a system for tracking USGS and agency in-kind funding, including a percent match calculation. The spreadsheet emphasizes clear allocation of funds between federal and in-kind sources, with visual indicators to ensure accurate summation. The contracts section is further subdivided to detail costs like salary, supplies, equipment, travel, and specialized well drilling expenses. The document also includes an example of an 'Objective Summary' tab with a detailed breakdown of costs for a specific objective, demonstrating how various budget categories contribute to the overall project funding.
Example1_Objective_2A_2026.xlsx
Excel62 KB2/5/2026
AI Summary
This document outlines a budget spreadsheet template designed for federal government RFPs, grants, and state/local RFPs. The template requires applicants to create a separate spreadsheet for each objective, with tabs for various budget categories (Salary, Supplies, Equipment, Travel, and Contracts). It emphasizes populating tan cells, avoiding hidden cells, and not editing grey formula cells. Applicants must enter the project's indirect rate in the 'Objective Summary' tab, which affects all calculations. The template also details how to allocate funds from USGS and agency in-kind services, with a built-in check for accurate fund distribution, indicated by green or red totals. The contracts worksheet further breaks down expenses into subcategories, including a specialized section for well drilling costs. The document includes an example budget for Objective 2, demonstrating how salary costs, indirect costs, and funding sources are calculated and summarized.
Example2_OverallBudget_2026.xlsx
Excel23 KB2/5/2026
AI Summary
This government file details a budget summary broken down by category and objective, likely for a grant proposal or RFP. It itemizes costs for salary, fringe benefits, supplies, equipment, travel, contracts, and indirect costs. The budget differentiates between 'Federal funds' and 'Agency in-kind funds' for each category and objective. It presents an overall budget summary, followed by a detailed breakdown for various objectives, including 'Objective 1 totals,' 'Objective 2A totals,' 'Objective 2B totals,' 'Objective 3 totals,' 'Objective 4 totals,' 'Objective 5 totals,' and 'Objective 6 totals.' The document also includes instructions for entering data from a 'Summary for Overall Budget' spreadsheet, emphasizing that the 'Overall Budget Summary' table should not be modified. The total cost, summing direct and indirect costs, is also provided.
ExampleBudget2_Objective_2A_2026.xlsx
Excel62 KB2/5/2026
AI Summary
This document outlines a budget template for federal government RFPs and grants, providing detailed spreadsheets for various budget categories such as salary, supplies, equipment, travel, and contracts. It emphasizes creating separate spreadsheets for each objective and includes tabs for different expenditure types. Key features include hidden cells for an 'Overall Budget Summary,' a field for inserting indirect cost rates that apply across all objective worksheets, and a breakdown of USGS and agency in-kind funding. The template guides users to populate tan cells and avoid editing grey formula cells, with provisions for adding rows. It also details how to track federal and in-kind funds, ensuring they correctly sum up to total costs, indicated by color-coded cells. The contracts worksheet further subdivides into categories like salary, supplies, equipment, travel, and well drilling, with specific considerations for each, including options for per-foot or one-time costs for well drilling. An example budget for Objective 2,
ExampleBudget2_Objective_2B_2026.xlsx
Excel62 KB2/5/2026
AI Summary
This document outlines a budget spreadsheet template for federal government RFPs and grants, specifically designed for creating example budgets in a Program Announcement. It details how to create separate spreadsheets for each objective, with tabs for various budget categories like Salary, Supplies, Equipment, Travel, and Contracts. The template includes fields for indirect costs and provides guidance on populating federal and agency in-kind funding. It also features mechanisms to check if the source of funds correctly adds up to the total cost. A specific example for Objective 2,
ExampleBudget2_Objective_3_2026.xlsx
Excel59 KB2/5/2026
AI Summary
This document outlines a budget spreadsheet template for government proposals, likely for federal grants or RFPs. It details the creation of separate spreadsheets for each objective, with tabs for various budget categories like Salary, Supplies, Equipment, Travel, and Contracts. The template automates calculations for indirect costs, which are applied universally based on a rate entered in the 'Objective Summary' tab. This tab also provides a breakdown of USGS and agency in-kind funding, including a percent match calculation. Applicants are instructed to populate tan cells and avoid editing grey formula cells or hidden cells. The 'Source of Funds' columns require manual entry to differentiate between Federal and agency in-kind contributions, with a built-in check to ensure these sum to the total cost. The contracts section is further broken down into sub-categories, including a specialized 'Well Drilling' section. An example budget for Objective 3, 'Filling gaps in information at NGWMN sites,' is provided, showing detailed breakdowns for salary, supplies, equipment, and travel, along with overall objective totals, demonstrating the application of the template.
ExampleBudget2_Objective_4_2026.xlsx
Excel63 KB2/5/2026
AI Summary
The provided document outlines a comprehensive budget spreadsheet template for federal government RFPs and grants, specifically for Objective 4, 'Well maintenance,' with an indirect rate of 31.3%. The template includes separate tabs for budget categories such as Salary, Supplies, Equipment, Travel, and Contracts, each with detailed tables for cost breakdowns and source of funds (Federal and Agency In-kind). It emphasizes the importance of populating the 'Objective Summary' tab for indirect cost calculations and provides a breakdown of USGS and agency in-kind funding with a 50.5% match calculation. The document details specific costs for salary, supplies, equipment, and travel under Objective 4, totaling $44,266.16, with $21,915.61 from Federal funds and $22,350.55 from agency in-kind services. It also includes instructions for users on editable and formula-driven cells, hidden cells for overall budget summary creation, and a mechanism to check if federal and in-kind funds correctly add up to the total cost.
ExampleBudget2_Objective_5_2026.xlsx
Excel61 KB2/5/2026
AI Summary
The document provides detailed instructions and examples for creating budgets for federal grant proposals, specifically for an objective focused on 'Well drilling.' It outlines the structure of the budget spreadsheets, which include tabs for salary, supplies, equipment, travel, and contracts. Applicants must create a separate spreadsheet for each objective and input an indirect cost rate, which is applied across all calculations. The document emphasizes not editing hidden cells used for the 'Overall Budget Summary' and details how to populate tan cells, leaving gray cells (formulas) untouched. It explains the 'Source of Funds' columns for Federal and Agency in-kind contributions, including a system to verify if these funds correctly total the overall cost. The 'Contracts' section further breaks down into salary, supplies, equipment, travel, and well drilling, with specific considerations for well drilling costs. The provided example budget for Objective 5, 'Well drilling,' illustrates a total cost of $29,923.98, with 40.8% ($12,223.70) from agency in-kind services, exceeding the 25% match requirement, and $17,700.28 in federal funds.
ExampleBudget2_Objective_6_2026.xlsx
Excel60 KB2/5/2026
AI Summary
The provided document outlines a budget spreadsheet template for federal government RFPs and grants, specifically for Objective 6: 'Purchase equipment to support continuous water-level data collection.' It details the structure for creating objective-specific budgets, with tabs for categories like Salary, Supplies, Equipment, Travel, and Contracts. Key features include hidden cells for an 'Overall Budget Summary,' a field for entering the indirect rate (31.3% for this objective), and calculations for USGS and agency in-kind funding, including a percent match (15.6% for Objective 6, which is below the 25% match threshold and will result in a lower score). The document emphasizes proper population of tan cells by the applicant, while grey cells contain formulas and should not be edited. It also clarifies that indirect costs are not included for contracts in this template. The 'Source of Funds' columns require applicants to specify Federal and Agency in-kind contributions, with a built-in check to ensure these totals match the overall cost. The contracts worksheet is further broken down into subcategories such as Salary, Supplies, Equipment, Travel, and Well Drilling (which can be renamed 'Well Rehabilitation' for Objective 4). The example provided details equipment purchases totaling $12,013.95, with $10,135.95 from Federal funds and $1,878.00 from agency in-kind services.
NGWMN_FY26_Attachment D_Terms_and_Conditions.pdf
PDF346 KB2/5/2026
AI Summary
The Attachment D outlines the terms and conditions for Federal Financial Assistance awards from the Department of the Interior (DOI) related to the National Ground-Water Monitoring Network (NGWMN). It details USGS involvement across six objectives, including well selection, web service setup, data flow maintenance, gap filling, well maintenance, well drilling, and equipment installation for continuous water-level monitoring. The document also specifies funding, pre-agreement costs, and comprehensive reporting requirements, including annual progress reports, final technical reports, and financial reports. Additionally, it addresses publication guidelines, payment procedures via the ASAP system, revision protocols, and general provisions covering research integrity, data availability, conflict of interest, lobbying restrictions, program income, government-furnished equipment, patent rights, and special geospatial data requirements. All recipients must comply with DOI Standard Terms and Conditions and adhere to specific policies regarding scientific integrity and data sharing.
NGWMN_FY26_Attachment_A_Proposal_Information_Summary_2026.pdf
PDF194 KB2/5/2026
AI Summary
This document outlines the terms and conditions for Federal Financial Assistance awards from the Department of the Interior (DOI) for the National Ground-Water Monitoring Network (NGWMN). It details the substantial involvement of the USGS NGWMN staff across six objectives, including well selection, web service setup, data flow maintenance, gap filling, well maintenance, drilling guidance, and equipment installation. The document also specifies funding, pre-agreement cost restrictions, and comprehensive reporting requirements for progress, final technical reports, and financial reports. It includes provisions for publications, payment via the ASAP system, and procedures for revisions and prior approvals. Key general provisions cover research integrity, data availability, conflict of interest, lobbying restrictions, program income, government-furnished equipment, and patent rights. Special provisions address geospatial data requirements, emphasizing the use of existing data, production of new data according to FGDC standards, and submission in open formats with metadata. The document concludes with incorporated documents and an order of precedence for inconsistencies.
NGWMN_FY26_Attachment_B_Example_Budgets_2026.pdf
PDF1110 KB2/5/2026
AI Summary
Attachment D outlines the terms and conditions for Federal Financial Assistance awards from the Department of the Interior (DOI) for the National Ground-Water Monitoring Network (NGWMN). It details the substantial involvement of the USGS across six objectives, including well selection, web service guidance, data flow monitoring, site information collection, well maintenance, well drilling, and equipment installation. The document specifies funding obligations, prohibits pre-agreement costs, and mandates comprehensive reporting requirements, including annual progress reports, final technical reports, and financial reports. It also covers publication guidelines, payment procedures via ASAP, revision protocols for agreements, and general provisions such as research integrity, data availability, conflict of interest, program income, and patent rights. Special provisions address geospatial data requirements and the order of precedence for incorporated documents.
NGWMN_FY26_Attachment_C_Proposal Checklist_2026.pdf
PDF162 KB2/5/2026
AI Summary
This document outlines the terms and conditions for Federal Financial Assistance awards from the Department of the Interior (DOI) for the National Ground-Water Monitoring Network (NGWMN). It details the substantial involvement expected from the USGS across six objectives, including well selection, web service guidance, data flow monitoring, gap filling, well maintenance, well drilling, and equipment installation. The document also specifies funding, pre-agreement costs, and comprehensive reporting requirements, including annual progress reports, final technical reports, annual financial reports, and final financial reports. Additionally, it addresses publication guidelines, payment procedures via the ASAP system, revision and prior approval processes, and general provisions covering research integrity, data availability, conflict of interest, program income, patent rights, and geospatial data requirements. The document emphasizes adherence to federal regulations and standard terms and conditions.
NGWMN_FY26_Attachment_C_Proposal Checklist_2026.xlsx
Excel27 KB2/5/2026
AI Summary
This document outlines the terms and conditions for Federal Financial Assistance awards from the Department of the Interior (DOI) for the National Ground-Water Monitoring Network (NGWMN). It details the substantial involvement expected from the USGS across six objectives, including well selection, web service guidance, data flow monitoring, gap filling, well maintenance, well drilling, and equipment installation. The document also specifies funding, pre-agreement costs, and comprehensive reporting requirements, including annual progress reports, final technical reports, annual financial reports, and final financial reports. Additionally, it addresses publication guidelines, payment procedures via the ASAP system, revision and prior approval processes, and general provisions covering research integrity, data availability, conflict of interest, program income, patent rights, and geospatial data requirements. The document emphasizes adherence to federal regulations and standard terms and conditions.
NGWMN_FY26_Attachment_C_Proposal Checklist_Header_2026.pdf
PDF127 KB2/5/2026
AI Summary
This document outlines the terms and conditions for Federal Financial Assistance awards from the Department of the Interior (DOI) for the National Ground-Water Monitoring Network (NGWMN). It details the responsibilities of recipients, emphasizing compliance with award terms upon acceptance. Substantial involvement from the USGS is expected across various objectives, including well selection, web service setup, data flow maintenance, gap filling, well maintenance, well drilling, and equipment installation for continuous monitoring. The document specifies funding obligations, prohibits pre-agreement costs, and outlines comprehensive reporting requirements, including annual progress reports and a final technical report, along with annual and final financial reports (SF 425). It also covers publication guidelines, requiring acknowledgment of USGS support, disclaimers, and adherence to USGS logo usage. Payment procedures are handled via the ASAP system. Provisions for revisions and prior approvals, such as extensions and fund transfers, are detailed. General provisions incorporate DOI Standard Terms and Conditions, additional terms on research integrity, data availability, conflict of interest, lobbying restrictions, program income, government-furnished equipment, and patent rights. Special provisions address geospatial data requirements and the order of precedence for incorporated documents.
OverallBudget_2026.xlsx
Excel25 KB2/5/2026
AI Summary
The provided document outlines an overall budget summary template for government RFPs, federal grants, or state and local RFPs. It details various cost categories, including salary, fringe, supplies, equipment, travel, contracts, and indirect costs, with placeholders for monetary values. The template is structured to capture both Federal funds and Agency in-kind funds across multiple objectives (Objective 1 through Objective 6). Instructions emphasize entering data from a separate 'Summary for Overall Budget' spreadsheet into the corresponding objective sections and explicitly state that the 'Overall Budget Summary' table should not be directly modified. The document serves as a guide for organizing and presenting a comprehensive budget breakdown within government proposals.
Budget_Template_2026.xlsx
Excel57 KB2/5/2026
AI Summary
This document outlines a budget spreadsheet template for government proposals, likely for federal or state grants and RFPs. It details how applicants should create separate spreadsheets for each objective, with tabs for budget categories like Salary, Supplies, Equipment, Travel, and Contracts. Key instructions include populating tan cells, avoiding editing grey formula cells and hidden cells, and entering the indirect rate on the 'Objective Summary' tab for calculation across all worksheets. The template also provides for tracking USGS and agency in-kind funding, with a color-coded system to verify if federal and in-kind funds correctly match total costs. The contracts section includes specific subsections, such as 'Well Drilling,' which can be renamed for relevance to particular objectives.
Instructions.docx
Word23 KB2/5/2026
AI Summary
This document outlines the process for completing budget worksheets for government proposals, likely federal grants or RFPs. It details how to set up, complete, and review individual Objective budgets and an overall project budget using interconnected Excel spreadsheets. Key steps include copying budget templates for each objective, entering data into specific tan cells across various categories (salary, supplies, equipment, travel, contracts), and ensuring accurate calculations for costs and funding sources. The document highlights built-in error checks for fund allocation, indirect cost rates, and match percentages, which impact scoring. Finally, it describes how to consolidate individual objective summaries into an overall project budget spreadsheet, emphasizing the importance of pasting values to prevent data corruption and to finalize the budget summary for the program announcement.

Related Grant Opportunities

Project Timeline

postedOriginal Opportunity PostedJan 30, 2026
deadlineApplication DeadlineMar 26, 2026
expiryArchive DateApr 25, 2026

Funding Details

Award Ceiling
$300,000
Award Floor
$5,000
Est. Total Program Funding
$900,000
Expected Awards
20
No cost sharing required

Agency & Classification

Agency
Geological Survey(DOI-USGS1)
Funding Category
Natural Resources
Funding Instrument
Cooperative Agreement

Grantor Contact

CFDA Numbers

15.980

Official Sources