Water Resources Research Act Program National Competitive Grants FY2025 Program Announcement for Per and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS)

The United States Geological Survey (USGS), under the authority of the Water Resources Research Act of 1984 as amended, has released the fiscal year 2025 program announcement for the Water Resources Research Act Program National Competitive Grants. This program specifically addresses the growing challenges posed by per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in water resources. PFAS are a group of man-made compounds of increasing concern due to their persistence in the environment and potential risks to water quality, ecosystems, and human health. The program is administered by USGS in collaboration with the National Institutes for Water Resources, a consortium of 54 state and territorial Water Resources Research Institutes established under the Act. The purpose of this competitive funding opportunity is to advance scientific understanding of PFAS fate, transport, effects, and mitigation strategies. Proposals are sought that investigate methods for detecting PFAS across different environmental media, such as tissues, sediments, air, and water. Priority areas include enhancing detection methodologies, improving understanding of atmospheric exchange and transport, exploring molecular-level processes such as precursor transformation and bioaccumulation, and identifying viable mitigation methods. The program emphasizes projects that inform regional or national management decisions and complement ongoing USGS research efforts. Approximately $2,775,000 in total funding is anticipated, with an expected nine awards to be issued. Individual awards are capped at $309,000, and the program requires cost-sharing: each applicant must match every federal dollar with at least one dollar from non-federal sources. Exemptions from the matching requirement are available for Guam, the Federated States of Micronesia, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and American Samoa. Matching contributions may include indirect costs, non-federal salaries, and benefits, but federal funds may not be used to pay indirect costs. The anticipated project start date is February 1, 2026, and projects may extend up to three years, concluding no later than January 31, 2029. Eligibility is restricted to Water Resources Research Institutes established under section 104 of the Water Resources Research Act, but investigators from any U.S. institution of higher education may apply through their state’s Institute. Applications not eligible for funding include research involving human health subjects, oceanography, or projects not aligned with program objectives. Federal employees may collaborate but cannot serve as principal investigators, receive federal funds under this award, or provide matching funds. Applications must be submitted through Grants.gov by the universities that house the Institutes and must include the full proposal, SF-424 forms, budget materials, matching commitment letters, and disclosures of conflicts of interest. Proposals will be reviewed for eligibility, completeness, and merit. Evaluation criteria include relevance to research priorities, integration with USGS science, scientific value, potential benefits, information transfer, training potential, and budget adequacy. Each proposal is peer-reviewed by Institute directors, university scientists, and USGS staff. Notices of award will be issued electronically through GrantSolutions or email, and recipients will be subject to federal reporting requirements including annual performance and financial reports, as well as adherence to standards for geospatial data and conflict of interest disclosures. Applications are due by 5:00 PM Eastern Time on September 30, 2025. Early coordination with Institutes is strongly recommended to ensure adequate preparation and compliance with requirements. For programmatic questions, applicants may contact Christian Schmidt, Program Coordinator at USGS, by email at cgschmidt@usgs.gov or phone at 208-861-2866. For administrative questions, Sara Roser, Grants Specialist, can be reached at sroser@usgs.gov or 703-648-7357. Technical support for Grants.gov submissions is available at support@grants.gov or 1-800-518-4726.

Submit complete package via Institute, include matching letter, follow strict page and budget rules.