Groundwater and Streamflow Information Program, National Ground-Water Monitoring Network

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), through its Groundwater and Streamflow Information Program, has announced a funding opportunity for participation in the National Ground-Water Monitoring Network (NGWMN). This initiative seeks to support State governments, federally recognized Native American Tribal governments, and local water-resources agencies that collect groundwater data. The program promotes the development, maintenance, and enhancement of the NGWMN, a nationwide effort designed to track long-term trends in groundwater levels and quality across major aquifers. The funding opportunity is provided under Public Law 111-11, as amended in 2024, and administered as a Cooperative Agreement, meaning the USGS will maintain substantial involvement with awardees in technical execution, data sharing, and integration with national data platforms. The NGWMN is a collaborative national network that consolidates groundwater monitoring data from various local and regional efforts into a consistent, standardized framework. Its goal is to provide high-quality, long-term water-level and water-quality data to inform water management decisions. Funding under this opportunity is focused on six objectives, ranging from onboarding new data providers and supporting persistent data service, to enhancing data coverage through gap-filling, site maintenance, drilling new wells, and purchasing monitoring equipment. Only State, Tribal, or local agencies collecting groundwater data are eligible, and Federal agencies, FFRDCs, or entities outsourcing work to Federal agencies are specifically excluded. Applicants may propose single- or two-year projects, with maximum funding of $150,000 for one-year and $300,000 for two-year projects. Routine persistent data service (Objective 2A) is capped at $20,000 per year or $40,000 for providers managing more than 500 sites. While cost sharing is not mandatory, in-kind match—especially under Objectives 4, 5, and 6—is encouraged and proposals offering at least 25% in-kind contributions will receive favorable evaluation. Acceptable in-kind contributions include salaries, equipment, contracts, and travel costs associated with NGWMN site operations. All work must occur within the performance period, which begins between September 1–30, 2026, and spans two years from the start date. The application package must include several detailed components, including an SF-424 form, project narrative (maximum 20 pages), separate budgets and timelines per objective, a Data Management Plan, and letters of support if another agency or a USGS Water Science Center is involved. Proposals must describe objectives clearly and align with NGWMN Framework guidance and tip sheets. Specific elements such as well classification, metadata standards, web service implementation, and data quality assurance are key evaluation criteria. Proposals must demonstrate how their work will enhance the NGWMN by improving data quality, coverage, or accessibility. Applications are due electronically via Grants.gov by 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time on March 26, 2026. There is no pre-application requirement, but all applicants must be registered with SAM.gov and possess a Unique Entity Identifier. Following the submission, proposals undergo a multi-layered review including eligibility screening, merit review based on proposal quality, relevance, technical soundness, and budget alignment, and a risk assessment of the applicant. Selections are anticipated by July–August 2026, with award notifications issued between September 1 and 30, 2026. Post-award, recipients are subject to standard DOI and USGS administrative and reporting requirements, including the timely submission of financial and performance reports. All collected data must be publicly accessible and conform to federal geospatial data standards. Equipment purchases, data management, and dissemination activities must follow strict guidance. Awards under this program directly support the strategic national need for accurate, accessible groundwater data to guide environmental protection, water security, and land use policy.

Provide at least 25% in-kind match for Objectives 4–6 to improve proposal score; Follow NGWMN Framework and tip sheets strictly; Missing budgets per objective will result in ineligibility.