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USGS Water Use Data and Research Program Q&A Session

Join the USGS Water Availability and Use Science Program's Q&A session to learn about the Water Use Data and Research Program, highlights of the 2019 program announcement, and common questions.

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USGS Water Use Data and Research Program Q&A Session

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  1. USGS Water Availability and Use Science Program FY19 Water Use Data and Research Program Q & A Session Tuesday, April 2, 2019 Thursday, April 4, 2019 2:00 PM EDT 1:00 PM EDT 703-648-4848 or toll free 1-855-547-8255 Access code:  912971#        Webinar link: https://gstalk.usgs.gov/912971

  2. Agenda • Brief overview of the USGS Water Use Data and Research Program (WUDR) • Highlights of the 2019 Program Announcement • Common questions • Questions and answers

  3. WUDR Overview The USGS Water Use Data and Research Program (WUDR) is authorized under the SECURE Water Act Section 9508. • $12,500,000 authorized for Grants Program in 2009. • Each State can receive a maximum of $250,000, cumulatively, in grant funding. • Workplans must be approved. • The USGS received the first appropriation of $1,500,000 in federal FY15. • Non-competitive awards of $26K were made available to each State to write a “Workplan” to document current water-use data collection and research in each state.

  4. WUDR Overview Goals: • Improve the availability, quality, compatibility, and delivery of water use data that is collected and/or estimated by States. • Integrate State water resource agency water-use or water-availability datasets into USGS databases.

  5. Figure A. Map Showing states that received $26,000 Water Use Data and Research Program funds to describe current water use, and priorities for improving water-use data in their state. EXPLANATION States that received $26,000 funding 2015 (41 States) 2016 (4 States) 2017 (American Samoa & Virgin Islands) 2018 (South Carolina and Guam)

  6. Figure D. Map Showing states that were awarded cooperative agreements to improve water use data and research in their state through the Water-Use Data and Research Program’s 2018 Competitive Program Announcement. EXPLANATION Competitive Award Recipients, FY2018 2018 (7 States)

  7. FY19 Program Announcement • Funding Opportunity G19AS00008 • Applications must be submitted via grants.gov by 4 pm EDT on Thursday May 31, 2019. • Program announcement is available @ http://www.grants.gov

  8. Important Program Announcement Topics • Priority topics • Technical evaluation criteria • Required information in the Project Narrative • Attachments: • Example data management plans • Department of Interior Secretarial Priorities

  9. Funding • Expect funding will be the same as FY18 • Applications are restricted to a minimum of $24,000 and a maximum of $125,000 federal funding. • Proposed projects can be for 12 to 24 months. • Project start dates must be between September 1, 2019 and September 30, 2019.

  10. Applicant Eligibility • State water resource agencies which collect water use data. • Applicants must have submitted a FINAL “Workplan” document as outlined by the WUDR FY15 Guidance in order to be eligible to receive an FY19 award. • USGS personnel cannot prepare an application for an organization. • USGS personnel cannot receive WUDR funds.

  11. Application Instructions • Forms SF-424, SF-424a, SF-424b and the Project Narrative Attachment • The Project Narrative Attachment: • 15 single-spaced pages (maximum) for items A-D • Font size no smaller than 12 point • Number pages • Resumes (do not include personal contact information), Data Management Plan, SF Forms, and negotiated rate agreement do NOT count toward the 15-page limit.

  12. Application Instructions • The Project Narrative Attachment must include: • Proposal Information Summary • Proposal • Budget Summary • Detailed Budget (please separate different tasks) • Principal Investigator Resume (no personal contact information) • Data Management Plan • Specifics are on pages 10-15 of the program announcement.

  13. Priority Topics Priority topics (in no particular order) : • IMPROVE THE COLLECTION PROCESS OR QUALITY ASSURANCE OF WATER USE DATA, OR IMPROVE THE TRANSFER OF WATER USE DATA TO THE USGS and other data users. Improving the transfer of water use data to the USGS and other data users includes making data and metadata available in a machine readable open format. • IMPROVE water-use data for IRRIGATION, PUBLIC SUPPLY, OR INDUSTRIAL use categories. This should be accomplished by increasing the “TIER LEVEL” for a category of use (see Attachment A, Data Goals for Major Water-Use Categories).

  14. Priority Topics (cont.) • Conduct studies that DEVELOP METHODS AND/OR COEFFICIENTS to improve water use estimates for categories of use where measured or reported data are not available. Proposals will be considered that address additional topics, but may be given a lower funding preference than proposals that address the three priority topics listed above.

  15. Data Management Plan • See page 14 for details • No more than 2 pages • Include as part F of the Project Narrative Attachment form • Two templates are included on pages 24-25.

  16. Data Management Plan (cont.) Include: • Types of data, software and materials to be produced in the course of the project • The standards to be used for data and metadata format and content. If you are making GIS coverages, please include FGDC (Federal Geographic Data Committee) standard metadata. • Policies for access and sharing • Provisions for re-use, re-distribution • Plans for archiving data, and for preservation of free public access to the data

  17. Evaluation Criteria • Technical quality of the proposal (40%) • Transfer of water use data to the USGS (20%) • Relevance to State priorities (10%) • Science and Technology Transferability (10%) • Collaboration (10%) • Previous Performance and Experience of Principal Investigator and Members of State Team (10%) See pages 15-17 for additional details.

  18. Reporting Requirements • Progress Reports • Details on pages 28-32. • Due every 6 months for the duration of the project. • Final Technical Report • Describe in detail the work performed and results obtained during the grant period referencing back to the proposal. (pages 29-30) • Due 90 days after the project end date. • Annual Financial Reports (page 30-31) • Final Financial Report (page 31-32)

  19. Commonly Asked Questions Q: We currently have an active award/agreement, can we still apply for this Program Announcement? A: Yes! You can apply for a second award. However, please make sure that each project has different/separate/distinguishable tasks. We cannot fund the same work twice, and if work proposed in the new application seems similar to the current award, then the application or that part of the application will be rejected.

  20. Commonly Asked Questions Q: We don’t have enough staff to work on a project and have hiring constraints, can we contract with another group to do the work? A: Yes! Many agencies have been working with universities, other state or local agencies, or contractors to work on the tasks.

  21. Commonly Asked Questions Q: We are going to need a no cost extension (NCE). What do we have to do to extend to the length of the award? A: Good question! Please send a no cost extension request (email) to Sara Roser sroser@usgs.gov and the wudr-coordinator@usgs.govas soon as possible, and no later than one month before the project end date. The request should include the reason for the NCE request, a new project end date, and a current summary of your budget (expenditures) for this project. It is important that the final product is delivered by the new completion date without further extensions.  As per the contract details, we will need timely progress reports up to the new end date, on 6-month increments. 

  22. Reminders • Please be aware that the electronic submission process requires first-time users to register using an e-Authentication process.  This registration process can be somewhat complex and can take up to 3 weeks to complete. Be advised that it is virtually impossible to begin the process of electronic submission for the first time if you start just a few days before the due date. • Please use the e-mail address wudr-coordinator@usgs.gov to send questions, progress reports, and final reports.

  23. Questions? U.S. Geological Survey Water-Use Data and Research Program wudr-coordinator@usgs.gov http://water.usgs.gov/wausp/wudr/

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