Opportunity Information: Apply for USGS FA 20 0036
This funding opportunity is a Notice of Intent from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), within the Department of the Interior, to make a single cooperative agreement award to the University of Utah under the Advanced National Seismic System (ANSS). The project is titled "Regional and Urban Seismic Monitoring: Wasatch Front, Utah, and Neighboring Intermountain West Region" and is focused on sustaining and strengthening earthquake monitoring capabilities across Utah and the broader Intermountain West, with particular attention to high-risk, population-centered areas near the Wasatch Fault. It also explicitly includes continued monitoring of the Yellowstone volcanic region through a separate but related network.
At its core, the award supports the ongoing operation and maintenance of the University of Utah Seismograph Stations (UUSS) network. That includes keeping seismic stations running reliably, maintaining and curating the station metadata that describes each instrument and site, and ensuring all stations and practices meet ANSS technical and performance standards. A major emphasis is on data stewardship: the University of Utah is expected to deliver continuous waveform data (the raw ground motion recordings) and accurate, up-to-date station metadata to other ANSS networks and to ANSS-designated archives. This matters because earthquake monitoring is only as useful as the quality, completeness, and interoperability of the data flowing into regional and national systems that support public safety, research, and emergency response.
Another key objective is standardization and interoperability. The project calls for implementing ANSS-approved software standards so data and information move efficiently through the broader ANSS ecosystem, enabling consistent products and services across participating networks. In practical terms, this means aligning data pipelines, formats, and processing methods so that earthquake detections, locations, magnitudes, and related information can be integrated, compared, and distributed without avoidable delays or incompatibilities.
The agreement also requires the production of authoritative earthquake catalogs and related ANSS products. These catalogs contain earthquake source parameters such as origin time, location, depth, magnitude, and other characterization outputs that are foundational for hazard assessment, situational awareness during earthquake sequences, and long-term scientific understanding of regional seismicity and crustal deformation. By specifying that these products must meet ANSS standards, the opportunity is reinforcing that the outputs should be consistent, traceable, and dependable for downstream users ranging from scientists to emergency managers.
A substantial portion of the work also involves the Station Information System (SIS), which is ANSS infrastructure for station inventory control and metadata management. The University of Utah is expected to contribute to the operation and development of SIS and coordinate with ANSS and the National Information Center (NIC) to use SIS for station descriptions, inventory tracking, and the ongoing maintenance of metadata. This is an important operational detail because station metadata (sensor type, calibration, location coordinates, telemetry, installation history, and more) directly affects data quality and the accuracy of derived earthquake products. When metadata is wrong or outdated, it can distort analyses, complicate network coordination, and reduce confidence in automated and human-reviewed results.
Coordination is a formal expectation of the award. The recipient is expected to coordinate seismic monitoring activities with ANSS management and other ANSS participants, reflecting that the system is national in scope even though monitoring is performed regionally. The cooperative agreement mechanism also signals a relationship where USGS likely maintains substantial involvement in technical direction, integration requirements, and performance expectations, rather than functioning as a hands-off pass-through of funds.
This Notice of Intent is also explicit about why the University of Utah is the designated recipient. The justification centers on unique qualifications and practical constraints: the University already operates the relevant monitoring networks; the principal investigators and staff have established expertise in the seismicity and deformation of the Intermountain West and Yellowstone; and the organization has a mature operational workforce experienced in seismic network operations. The notice highlights that specialized monitoring equipment has already been deployed by the University, and that some sensors and central recording/computing infrastructure are university-owned and not readily available to another organization. It also points out that telemetry and data reception are already built around the Universitys facilities, and that relocating receiving points and associated communications equipment would be expensive and time-consuming, creating unnecessary disruption to continuous monitoring.
Administratively, the opportunity is identified as USGS FA 20 0036 and falls under CFDA 15.808. It is categorized as discretionary funding and uses a cooperative agreement as the funding instrument. Eligible applicants are listed as public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, though the notice is written as an intent to award to a single entity, with one expected award. The award ceiling is $8,112,000. The opportunity was created on December 11, 2019, with an original closing date of December 25, 2019, reflecting the time window associated with the notice and its internal award planning.
Overall, the opportunity is best understood as continued investment in a critical piece of national earthquake monitoring infrastructure: keeping dense, urban-relevant seismic monitoring operating near the Wasatch Front, maintaining integrated data and metadata flows into ANSS, producing standardized and authoritative earthquake information products, and supporting shared systems like SIS so the broader ANSS enterprise can deliver consistent, reliable services for hazard monitoring and public safety across the Intermountain West.Apply for USGS FA 20 0036
- The Department of the Interior, U. S. Geological Survey in the other (see text field entitled explanation of other category of funding activity for clarification) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Notice of Intent: Regional and Urban Seismic Monitoring: Wasatch Front, Utah, and Neighboring Intermountain West Region" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.808.
- This funding opportunity was created on Dec 11, 2019.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Dec 25, 2019. (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 $8,112,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is this funding opportunity?
This is a Notice of Intent from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), within the Department of the Interior, to make a single cooperative agreement award under the Advanced National Seismic System (ANSS) for regional and urban seismic monitoring in Utah and the neighboring Intermountain West.
What is the project title?
The project is titled "Regional and Urban Seismic Monitoring: Wasatch Front, Utah, and Neighboring Intermountain West Region."
Which federal agency is offering the award?
The awarding agency is the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), part of the U.S. Department of the Interior.
What program is this associated with?
The opportunity is associated with the Advanced National Seismic System (ANSS).
Who is the intended recipient of this award?
The Notice of Intent specifies a single intended recipient: the University of Utah.
Is this a competitive solicitation?
Based on the information provided, this is a Notice of Intent to make a single award to a designated entity (the University of Utah), rather than an open competitive solicitation.
What is the funding instrument?
The funding instrument is a cooperative agreement.
What does a cooperative agreement imply for this project?
The cooperative agreement mechanism indicates that USGS is expected to have substantial involvement in the project, particularly around technical direction, integration requirements, and performance expectations, rather than operating as a hands-off funder.
How many awards are expected?
One award is expected.
What is the maximum award amount (ceiling)?
The award ceiling is $8,112,000.
What is the opportunity number/identifier?
The opportunity is identified as USGS FA 20 0036.
What CFDA number is associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is listed under CFDA 15.808.
How is the funding categorized?
The opportunity is categorized as discretionary funding.
When was the opportunity created, and what was the closing date?
The opportunity was created on December 11, 2019, with an original closing date of December 25, 2019.
What geographic area does the project focus on?
The project focuses on Utah and the broader Intermountain West, with particular emphasis on high-risk, population-centered areas near the Wasatch Fault (the Wasatch Front). It also explicitly includes continued monitoring of the Yellowstone volcanic region through a separate but related network.
What is the main purpose of the project?
The main purpose is to sustain and strengthen earthquake monitoring capabilities across Utah and the Intermountain West by supporting ongoing operation, maintenance, data stewardship, standardization, and production of ANSS-compliant earthquake information products.
What network operations are being supported?
The award supports the ongoing operation and maintenance of the University of Utah Seismograph Stations (UUSS) network, including keeping seismic stations reliably operating and ensuring network practices meet ANSS technical and performance standards.
What does "operation and maintenance" include in this opportunity?
Operation and maintenance include keeping seismic stations running reliably, maintaining and curating station metadata describing each instrument and site, and meeting ANSS technical and performance standards across the network.
What is meant by "data stewardship" in this project?
Data stewardship refers to delivering continuous waveform data (raw ground motion recordings) and accurate, up-to-date station metadata to other ANSS networks and to ANSS-designated archives, supporting interoperable and dependable monitoring and downstream use.
What types of data are expected to be delivered?
The University of Utah is expected to deliver continuous waveform data and accurate station metadata to other ANSS networks and ANSS-designated archives.
Why is station metadata emphasized?
Station metadata (such as sensor type, calibration, coordinates, telemetry, and installation history) directly affects data quality and the accuracy of derived earthquake products. Incorrect or outdated metadata can distort analyses and reduce confidence in both automated and reviewed results.
What are ANSS technical and performance standards, and how do they relate to this award?
The project requires that stations, operating practices, data flows, and resulting products meet ANSS technical and performance standards to ensure consistency, reliability, and interoperability across the broader ANSS ecosystem.
What is meant by standardization and interoperability in the scope of work?
Standardization and interoperability refer to implementing ANSS-approved software standards so data and information move efficiently through the ANSS ecosystem, enabling consistent products and services across participating networks and reducing delays or incompatibilities.
What kinds of earthquake information products must be produced?
The agreement requires production of authoritative earthquake catalogs and related ANSS products that meet ANSS standards.
What information is included in the earthquake catalogs?
These catalogs include earthquake source parameters such as origin time, location, depth, magnitude, and other characterization outputs used for hazard assessment, situational awareness during sequences, and long-term scientific understanding of regional seismicity and crustal deformation.
What is the Station Information System (SIS), and what role does it play?
SIS is ANSS infrastructure for station inventory control and metadata management. The University of Utah is expected to contribute to SIS operations and development and coordinate with ANSS and the National Information Center (NIC) to use SIS for station descriptions, inventory tracking, and ongoing metadata maintenance.
Who must the recipient coordinate with as part of the award?
The recipient is expected to coordinate seismic monitoring activities with ANSS management and other ANSS participants. The award also specifies coordination with ANSS and the National Information Center (NIC) related to use of SIS.
Why is the University of Utah identified as the designated recipient?
The justification provided is that the University of Utah already operates the relevant monitoring networks, has established expertise and a mature operational workforce, and has specialized monitoring equipment deployed. Some sensors and central recording/computing infrastructure are university-owned and not readily available to other organizations.
What practical constraints are mentioned that support a single intended recipient?
The notice explains that telemetry and data reception are already built around the University of Utah facilities, and that relocating receiving points and communications equipment would be expensive and time-consuming, potentially disrupting continuous monitoring.
Does the scope include monitoring of Yellowstone?
Yes. The opportunity explicitly includes continued monitoring of the Yellowstone volcanic region through a separate but related network.
Who is listed as eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants are listed as public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, though the notice describes an intent to make a single award to a single entity (the University of Utah).
What is the broader value of this project to ANSS and public safety?
The project is described as continued investment in critical earthquake monitoring infrastructure: sustaining dense, urban-relevant monitoring near the Wasatch Front, maintaining integrated data and metadata flows into ANSS, producing standardized and authoritative earthquake products, and supporting shared systems like SIS to enable consistent, reliable services for hazard monitoring and public safety across the Intermountain West.
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