NATIONAL INSTITUTES FOR WATER RESOURCES U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY
WATER RESOURCES RESEARCH NATIONAL COMPETITIVE GRANTS PROGRAM ANNOUNCEMENT FY 2018
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) in cooperation with the National Institutes for Water Resources requests proposals for matching grants to support research on the topic of improving and enhancing the nation’s water supply, including evaluation of innovative approaches to water treatment, infrastructure design, retrofitting, maintenance, management and replacement; exploration and advancement of our understanding of changes in the quantity and quality of water resources in response to a changing climate, population shifts and land use changes; development of methods for better estimation of water supply, both surface and groundwater, including estimation of the physical supply and of the economic supply of water; development and evaluation of processes and governance mechanisms for integrated surface/ground water management; and the evaluation and assessment of conservation practices. Any investigator at an accredited institution of higher learning in the United States is eligible to apply for a grant through a Water Research Institute or Center established under the provisions of the Water Resources Research Act of 1984, as amended (http://water.usgs.gov/wrri/institutes.html). Proposals involving substantial collaboration between the USGS and university scientists are encouraged. Proposals may be for projects of one to three years in duration and may request up to $250,000 in federal funds. Successful applicants must match each dollar of the federal grant with one dollar from non-federal sources. Funds have not yet been appropriated for this program for FY 2018.The Government’s obligation under this program is contingent upon the availability of funds.
For Wisconsin applicants, preproposals must be submitted by email to Terri Liebmann terri@aqua.wisc.edu at the University of Wisconsin Water Resources Institute (WRI) by 4 p.m., Central Standard Time, Thursday, February 15, 2018, and invited full proposals to the National Competitive Grants Program must be submitted to the grants.gov internet site not later than 4 p.m., Central Standard Time, Friday, June 1, 2018, by the WRI. Each preproposal will need to be written following the (Attachment A) template in the FY2018 funding announcement. Preproposals (PDF format) received by 4 p.m., Central Standard Time, Thursday, February 15, 2018, will be transmitted to the National Grants Competition Preproposal Peer Review Panel.
All applicants should note that there is language on the NIWR website and in the RFP on submitting a Federal Form SF-424 via grants.gov. Applicants do NOT need to be concerned with this step. WRI will prepare the SF-424 and submit it on behalf of applicants invited to submit a proposal to grants.gov.
To obtain a copy of the RFP, please go to 104g RFP. You will be taken to the page “State Water Resources Research Act Program.” Under the How to Apply heading part of the page, download the “fiscal year 2018 request for National Competitive Grants (104g) applications.”