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.

  • 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.
Apply for USGS FA 20 0036

[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal:

Browse more opportunities from the same agency: Department of the Interior, U. S. Geological Survey

Browse more opportunities from the same category: Other (see text field entitled Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity for clarification)

Next opportunity: AVIATION-CLASS SYNERGISTICALLY COOLED ELECTRIC-MOTORS WITH INTEGRATED DRIVES (ASCEND) SBIR/STTR

Previous opportunity: Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Californian CESU

Applicant Portal:

Are you interested in learning about about how to apply for this government funding opportunity? You can create a free applicant account and receive instant access to our applicant portal that many business owners like you have benefited from.

Apply for USGS FA 20 0036

 

Applicants also applied for:

Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (USGS FA 20 0036) also looked into and applied for these:

Funding Opportunity
Notice of Intent: Western Great Basin Seismic Network Apply for USGS FA 20 0038

Funding Number: USGS FA 20 0038
Agency: Department of the Interior, U. S. Geological Survey
Category: Other (see text field entitled Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity for clarification)
Funding Amount: $5,252,000
National Nonprofit Organization Recreational Boating Safety (RBS) Grant Program Apply for DHS USCG 2020 001

Funding Number: DHS USCG 2020 001
Agency: Department of Homeland Security, United States Coast Guard
Category: Other (see text field entitled Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity for clarification)
Funding Amount: Case Dependent
DRL FY19 Promoting Religious Freedom in WHA Apply for SFOP0006308

Funding Number: SFOP0006308
Agency: Department of State, Bureau of Democracy Human Rights and Labor
Category: Other (see text field entitled Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity for clarification)
Funding Amount: $750,000
DRL IRF FY19 Promoting Religious Freedom in Uzbekistan Apply for SFOP0006310

Funding Number: SFOP0006310
Agency: Department of State, Bureau of Democracy Human Rights and Labor
Category: Other (see text field entitled Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity for clarification)
Funding Amount: $750,000
DRL IRF FY19 Promoting Religious Freedom and Combatting Anti-Semitism Apply for SFOP0006312

Funding Number: SFOP0006312
Agency: Department of State, Bureau of Democracy Human Rights and Labor
Category: Other (see text field entitled Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity for clarification)
Funding Amount: $1,000,000
OVW FY 2020 Grants to Reduce Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault and Stalking on Campus Program Apply for OVW 2020 17693

Funding Number: OVW 2020 17693
Agency: Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women
Category: Other (see text field entitled Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity for clarification)
Funding Amount: $750,000
Supporting Democratic Elections, Governance, and Political Processes Globally Apply for 7200OAA1500007

Funding Number: 7200OAA1500007
Agency: Agency for International Development
Category: Other (see text field entitled Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity for clarification)
Funding Amount: Case Dependent
U.S. Ambassador’s Special Self-Help FY 2019 Apply for DOS WHK SSH FY19 20

Funding Number: DOS WHK SSH FY19 20
Agency: Department of State, U.S. Mission to Namibia
Category: Other (see text field entitled Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity for clarification)
Funding Amount: $18,000
INTERETHNIC RECONCILIATION AND YOUTH CAMPS PROGRAM Apply for 004 FY2020

Funding Number: 004 FY2020
Agency: Department of State, U.S. Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina
Category: Other (see text field entitled Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity for clarification)
Funding Amount: $50,000
FY 2020 On-Demand Youth Leadership Program Apply for SFOP0006314

Funding Number: SFOP0006314
Agency: Department of State, Bureau Of Educational and Cultural Affairs
Category: Other (see text field entitled Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity for clarification)
Funding Amount: $1,200,000
2020 Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey Concept Notes Apply for SFOP0006317

Funding Number: SFOP0006317
Agency: Department of State, Bureau of Population Refugees and Migration
Category: Other (see text field entitled Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity for clarification)
Funding Amount: $10,000,000
Annual Program Statement Apply for SMK80020PAS02

Funding Number: SMK80020PAS02
Agency: Department of State, U.S. Mission to North Macedonia
Category: Other (see text field entitled Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity for clarification)
Funding Amount: $20,000
Notice of Intent: Assistance in Undertaking a Community Review of Ridgecrest Earthquake Sequence Investigation Apply for USGS FA 20 0042

Funding Number: USGS FA 20 0042
Agency: Department of the Interior, U. S. Geological Survey
Category: Other (see text field entitled Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity for clarification)
Funding Amount: $32,200
Gender-based Violence Prevention through Performing Arts Apply for PAS LIMA FY20 NOFO 001

Funding Number: PAS LIMA FY20 NOFO 001
Agency: Department of State, U.S. Mission to Peru
Category: Other (see text field entitled Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity for clarification)
Funding Amount: $25,000
Notice of Intent: GPS Array for Mid-America - monitoring deformation in the New Madrid seismic zone Apply for USGS FA 20 0043

Funding Number: USGS FA 20 0043
Agency: Department of the Interior, U. S. Geological Survey
Category: Other (see text field entitled Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity for clarification)
Funding Amount: $523,590
Notice of Intent: The BARD Continuous GPS Network: Monitoring Earthquake Hazards in Northern California and the San Francisco Bay Area, 2020 Apply for USGS FA 20 0044

Funding Number: USGS FA 20 0044
Agency: Department of the Interior, U. S. Geological Survey
Category: Other (see text field entitled Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity for clarification)
Funding Amount: $1,263,160
Notice of Intent: Real-time Operations of the Pacific Northwest Geodetic Array Apply for USGS FA 20 0045

Funding Number: USGS FA 20 0045
Agency: Department of the Interior, U. S. Geological Survey
Category: Other (see text field entitled Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity for clarification)
Funding Amount: $957,680
Notice of Intent: Western Great Basin Geodetic Network Operations: MAGNET 2020-2025 Apply for USGS FA 20 0046

Funding Number: USGS FA 20 0046
Agency: Department of the Interior, U. S. Geological Survey
Category: Other (see text field entitled Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity for clarification)
Funding Amount: $722,390
Notice of Intent: Theodolite survey monitoring of fault creep on San Francisco Bay region faults Apply for USGS FA 20 0047

Funding Number: USGS FA 20 0047
Agency: Department of the Interior, U. S. Geological Survey
Category: Other (see text field entitled Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity for clarification)
Funding Amount: $556,060
Youth Preservation Trades Education and Outreach - KEWE Apply for NPS NOIP20AC00051

Funding Number: NPS NOIP20AC00051
Agency: Department of the Interior, National Park Service
Category: Other (see text field entitled Explanation of Other Category of Funding Activity for clarification)
Funding Amount: $87,000

 

Grant application guides and resources

It is always free to apply for government grants. However the process may be very complex depending on the funding opportunity you are applying for. Let us help you!

Apply for Grants

 

Inside Our Applicants Portal

  • Grants Repository - Access current and historic funding opportunities with ease. Thousands of funding opportunities are published every week. We can help you sort through the database and find the eligible ones to apply for.
  • Applicant Video Guides - The grant application process can be challenging to follow. We can help you with intuitive video guides to speed up the process and eliminate errors in submissions.
  • Grant Proposal Wizard - We have developed a network of private funding organizations and investors across the United States. We can reach out and submit your proposal to these contacts to maximize your chances of getting the funding you need.
Access Applicants Portal

 

Premium leads for funding administrators, grant writers, and loan issuers

Thousands of people visit our website for their funding needs every day. When a user creates a grant proposal and files for submission, we pass the information on to funding administrators, grant writers, and government loan issuers.

If you manage government grant programs, provide grant writing services, or issue personal or government loans, we can help you reach your audience.

Learn More

 

 

Request more information:

Would you like to learn more about this funding opportunity, similar opportunities to "USGS FA 20 0036", eligibility, application service, and/or application tips? Submit an inquiry below:

Don't forget to subscribe to our grant alerts mailing list to receive weekly alerts on new and updated grant funding opportunities like this one in your email.

 

Ask a Question: