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

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), under the U.S. Department of the Interior, is offering cooperative agreement funding through the Groundwater and Streamflow Information Program for eligible entities to participate in the National Ground-Water Monitoring Network (NGWMN). This federal initiative supports the development, enhancement, and integration of groundwater monitoring systems that provide consistent and reliable data on groundwater availability across the United States. Legal authority for this opportunity is drawn from Public Law 111-11, Section 9507, as amended in 2024, which authorizes the USGS to support nationwide water data enhancement. The primary goal of the NGWMN is to establish a comprehensive and cohesive monitoring network focused on water-level and water-quality data from wells and springs, with a particular emphasis on long-term trends in the nation’s most productive aquifers. The program encourages integration of existing state, tribal, and local monitoring efforts, ensuring that data collection and delivery adhere to national standards. Through this funding, the USGS aims to onboard new data providers and assist existing participants in maintaining and improving their data services and infrastructure. Key activities supported under this funding opportunity include web service development, metadata standardization, site selection and classification, well maintenance, equipment upgrades, and gap filling for critical site data. A total of up to $900,000 is available for FY2026, with awards ranging between $5,000 and $300,000. Applicants may request up to $150,000 for a one-year project or $300,000 for a two-year project. Funding under Objective 2A, which supports maintenance of persistent data services, is capped at $20,000 annually, or $40,000 annually for agencies managing more than 500 sites. Awards will be issued as cooperative agreements, reflecting substantial federal involvement, particularly in tasks such as site classification and data portal integration. All projects must propose a start date between September 1 and September 30, 2026. Projects are expected to be completed within two years of initiation, and actual award timing is contingent on Congressional appropriation of FY2026 funds. Eligible applicants include state, county, city, and township governments; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; and special district governments. Entities must be water-resource agencies that collect groundwater data. State agencies affiliated with public universities may apply under university authority. Federal agencies and Federally Funded Research and Development Centers are ineligible. Furthermore, projects involving direct procurement of services unrelated to data collection or those contracting with U.S. government agencies are disqualified. Applicants partnering with a USGS Water Science Center must include a letter of support to be eligible for funding under Objectives 3–6. Applications missing detailed budgets or proposing costs above the award ceiling will also be deemed ineligible. The application process requires registration in SAM.gov and Grants.gov. Required documents include the SF-424, detailed project narrative, timelines, budget breakdowns for each objective, a data management plan, staff qualifications, and letters of support where applicable. Applications must be submitted electronically via Grants.gov by 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time on March 26, 2026. No pre-application or concept paper is required. Awards will be determined through a merit-based review process that evaluates proposal quality, relevance to NGWMN goals, technical feasibility, and budget justification. Applications with at least a 25% in-kind match for Objectives 4–6 will be scored more favorably, though no match is required for Objectives 1–3. Substantial USGS involvement is anticipated, especially in the development of web services, classification of monitoring sites, and technical guidance on data management. Grantees must adhere to USGS standards for geospatial data and metadata and must include a plan for public dissemination of any collected data. Final project reports and financial documentation must be submitted within 90 days of project end. The program encourages applicants to use established XML data standards (e.g., WaterML2, GWML2, WQX) for interoperability with the NGWMN Data Portal. The USGS expects to notify successful applicants by August 2026 and issue awards between September 1–30, 2026.

Use provided tip sheets for classification and data standards. Strictly match budget and tasks. Adhere to page limits and required formats to avoid disqualification.