Opportunity Information: Apply for G23AS00486
The WATER RESOURCES RESEARCH ACT PROGRAM ANNUAL BASE GRANTS (FY 2023) Request for Applications is a federal grant opportunity administered by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) under the authority of Section 104 of the Water Resources Research Act of 1984 (42 USC 10301 et seq.), as amended by multiple public laws. The program provides annual base funding to the nationwide network of Water Resources Research Institutes and Centers that were formally established under the Act. These Institutes exist in all 50 states as well as the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Guam, with additional service coverage arrangements in the Pacific (for example, Guam also serves the Federated States of Micronesia and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and Hawaii also serves American Samoa). While the statutory authority sits with the Department of the Interior, responsibility for administering the State Water Resources Research Institute program has been delegated to USGS, which is the agency issuing this funding opportunity.
At its core, this annual base grant program is meant to support applied, peer-reviewed water resources research and the broader infrastructure around that research at the state institute level. The Act lays out several required functions for the Institutes and Centers. First, they must plan, conduct, or otherwise arrange for competent applied and peer-reviewed research that advances practical water management needs and scientific understanding. That research is specifically expected to foster improvements in water supply reliability, encourage exploration of new ideas that either address real-world water problems or expand knowledge of water and related phenomena, support the entry and training of new scientists and technical professionals into water resources fields, and ensure that research results are actively disseminated to water managers and the general public rather than staying only in academic channels. In addition to producing research, Institutes are also expected to build collaboration across their states by working closely with other colleges and universities that can contribute research capability, outreach, information dissemination, and graduate training, with the goal of developing a statewide program that addresses state and regional water and related land issues. They are also expected to cooperate regionally with other institutes and organizations to improve effectiveness and promote coordination across shared water challenges that do not stop at state boundaries.
The USGS frames this opportunity as directly aligned with its national mission and objectives, particularly around generating and delivering information on water quality and water quantity, improving understanding of water availability, evaluating how climate influences water resources, and responding to emerging water-related needs. Importantly, the announcement gives Institutes flexibility in choosing specific topical emphases. Rather than prescribing a single national research theme for all applicants, it leaves the selection of priority areas to the discretion of each Institute or Center Director, reflecting the idea that water issues and management questions vary widely by geography, hydrology, infrastructure, and local and regional pressures.
Eligibility is narrow and institution-based. Applications are accepted only from the Water Resources Research Institutes or Centers that are established pursuant to Section 104 of the Water Resources Research Act, as amended. In practical terms, that means the eligible applicant is the Institute or Center itself, and the application must be submitted by the Institute Director or an authorized designee. While the Institute is the applicant and award recipient, the program also defines how projects should be sourced: the Institute may consider project proposals only from faculty members or affiliates at institutions of higher education within its state. This positions the program as a structured pipeline where state Institutes coordinate and fund competitive, peer-reviewed university-led research and related activities, while also ensuring the outcomes reach practitioners and the public.
From the funding opportunity data provided, this is a discretionary grant (Funding Instrument Type: Grant) in the Natural Resources activity category, listed under CFDA 15.805. The opportunity number is G23AS00486. The application closing date was June 1, 2023, and the opportunity was created on April 4, 2023. The listed award ceiling is $440,520. While the number of expected awards is not specified in the provided source data, the structure of the program (a base grant mechanism tied to the network of authorized Institutes) indicates that funding is intended to sustain and advance the mission of these state and territorial Institutes through coordinated research, training, and dissemination activities consistent with the Act and USGS water mission priorities.Apply for G23AS00486
- The Geological Survey in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "WATER RESOURCES RESEARCH ACT PROGRAM ANNUAL BASE GRANTS FISCAL YEAR 2023 REQUEST FOR APPLICATIONS" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.805.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2023-04-04.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2023-06-01. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $440,520.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Others.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the WATER RESOURCES RESEARCH ACT PROGRAM ANNUAL BASE GRANTS (FY 2023) opportunity?
This is a federal discretionary grant opportunity administered by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). It provides annual base funding to the nationwide network of Water Resources Research Institutes and Centers that were formally established under Section 104 of the Water Resources Research Act of 1984 (42 USC 10301 et seq.), as amended.
Which agency is administering this funding opportunity?
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) administers this program. Although the statutory authority is within the Department of the Interior, responsibility for administering the State Water Resources Research Institute program has been delegated to USGS.
What is the legal authority for this program?
The program is authorized under Section 104 of the Water Resources Research Act of 1984 (42 USC 10301 et seq.), as amended by multiple public laws.
Who is eligible to apply?
Only Water Resources Research Institutes or Centers established pursuant to Section 104 of the Water Resources Research Act (as amended) are eligible to apply. The eligible applicant is the Institute or Center itself.
Who must submit the application?
The application must be submitted by the Institute Director or an authorized designee.
Are individual researchers or universities allowed to apply directly to USGS for this opportunity?
No. Based on the information provided, USGS accepts applications only from the authorized Water Resources Research Institute or Center (not from individual researchers or universities directly).
Where do project proposals funded under this program come from?
The Institute may consider project proposals only from faculty members or affiliates at institutions of higher education within its state. The Institute coordinates and funds competitive, peer-reviewed university-led research and related activities.
What is the main purpose of these annual base grants?
The program is intended to support applied, peer-reviewed water resources research and the broader infrastructure around that research at the state institute level, consistent with the functions required by the Act.
What types of research does the Act expect Institutes and Centers to support?
The Act expects Institutes and Centers to plan, conduct, or otherwise arrange for competent applied and peer-reviewed research that advances practical water management needs and scientific understanding. The research is expected to address real-world water problems and/or expand knowledge of water and related phenomena.
What outcomes is the research expected to foster?
As described in the opportunity summary, research supported by Institutes is expected to foster improvements in water supply reliability, encourage exploration of new ideas, support the entry and training of new scientists and technical professionals, and ensure results are actively disseminated to water managers and the general public.
Is dissemination of research results required or encouraged?
Yes. A stated expectation is that research results are actively disseminated to water managers and the general public, rather than remaining only in academic channels.
Does the program include training or workforce development?
Yes. The Act-related expectations include supporting the entry and training of new scientists and technical professionals into water resources fields, and leveraging graduate training as part of statewide collaboration with colleges and universities.
Are Institutes expected to collaborate with other universities within their state?
Yes. Institutes are expected to work closely with other colleges and universities in their state that can contribute research capability, outreach, information dissemination, and graduate training, with the goal of developing a statewide program addressing state and regional water and related land issues.
Are Institutes expected to collaborate regionally across state boundaries?
Yes. Institutes are expected to cooperate regionally with other institutes and organizations to improve effectiveness and promote coordination on shared water challenges that cross state boundaries.
What geographic areas are covered by the Institute network supported by this program?
The network includes Institutes in all 50 states plus the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, and additional service coverage arrangements in the Pacific. Examples provided include Guam also serving the Federated States of Micronesia and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and Hawaii also serving American Samoa.
Does USGS require a single national research theme for all applicants?
No. The announcement emphasizes flexibility: each Institute or Center Director may choose specific topical emphases and priority areas, recognizing that water issues vary by geography and local or regional conditions.
How does this opportunity align with USGS mission priorities?
The opportunity is described as aligned with USGS national mission and objectives such as generating and delivering information on water quality and water quantity, improving understanding of water availability, evaluating how climate influences water resources, and responding to emerging water-related needs.
What is the funding instrument type?
The funding instrument type is a Grant, and it is described as a discretionary grant opportunity.
What activity category is this opportunity listed under?
It is listed under the Natural Resources activity category.
What is the CFDA number for this program?
The CFDA number provided is 15.805.
What is the opportunity number?
The opportunity number is G23AS00486.
What was the application closing date?
The application closing date listed is June 1, 2023.
When was the opportunity created?
The opportunity was created on April 4, 2023.
What is the award ceiling?
The listed award ceiling is $440,520.
How many awards will be made?
The number of expected awards is not specified in the information provided.
Is this program intended to fund one-off projects, or ongoing Institute capacity?
Based on the description, this is an annual base grant mechanism intended to sustain and advance the ongoing mission of the authorized state and territorial Institutes through coordinated research, training, and dissemination activities consistent with the Act and USGS water mission priorities.
Who ultimately receives and manages the award funds?
The Institute or Center is the applicant and award recipient. The Institute coordinates how projects are sourced and supported, including competitive, peer-reviewed activities involving eligible faculty members or affiliates at in-state institutions of higher education.
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