USGS Cooperative Landslide Hazard Mapping and Assessment Program

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Landslide Hazards Program (LHP) issues this Program Announcement for assistance to support communication, planning, coordination, mapping, assessments, and data collection of landslide hazards. The Program Announcement for the Cooperative Landslide Hazard Mapping and Assessment Program is authorized by the National Landslide Preparedness Act (P.L. 116- 323) and appropriations to the USGS. A main objective of this Program, as outlined in the National Landslide Preparedness Act, is to provide grants, on a competitive basis, to state, territorial, local, and Tribal governments to research, map, assess, and collect data on landslide hazards within the jurisdictions of those governments. This funding opportunity, the USGS Cooperative Landslide Hazard Mapping and Assessment Program, solicits Risk Reduction Proposals as described in this document. a) Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number 15.821 A2. Background, Purpose, and Program Requirements The USGS Cooperative Landslide Hazard Mapping and Assessment Program requests applicants address risk reduction activities that aim to advance landslide science and communication that underlie the priorities of the National Landslide Preparedness Act (Attachment C) by focusing on landslide hazard planning, coordination, education, outreach, mapping, and assessments. These risk reduction activities, called Guidance Criteria, reflect the National Landslide Preparedness Act and the National Strategy for Landslide Loss Reduction (Attachment D), which support the mission of the LHP to reduce loss of lives and property from landslides and improve public safety and community resilience of the Nation. Applicants must review the Guidance Criteria described in Attachment A to determine if their application is appropriate under this Program Announcement. a) Application Guidelines and Requirements • This Program Announcement is open to state, Tribal, territorial, and local governments. A university may submit a proposal on behalf of a state geological survey or other state office if that office is organized under a university system. The use of a sub-award or contract should not be used to circumvent the eligibility requirements of the law governing this Grant Program (National Landslide Preparedness Act (P.L. 116-323)) which states, “the Secretary may provide grants, on a competitive basis, to State, territorial, local, and Tribal governments...”. • If proposing any type of mapping project, you are required to include a map in your proposal showing the proposed mapping area and the square miles to be mapped. If possible, please include a breakdown of the area (acres or square miles) of private, state, Tribal, and federal lands within the proposed mapping area. • If proposing a mapping project such as inventory, susceptibility, risk, or runout, you must indicate which protocol you plan to use to complete the work. If you are using an unpublished protocol that may be internal to your organization, please describe that process including the methods and data to be collected and reference any previous studies using the protocol. If proposing to use an experimental process for mapping, please describe how and why that process was selected, especially if established processes already exist. • If you are proposing multiple activities to complete the project, clearly state the work associated with each activity and who will do the work. Please note that if the peer Review Panel doesn’t FY 2025 - USGS Cooperative Landslide Hazard Mapping and Assessment Program Announcement OMB Control Number: 1028-0142 Expiration Date: 04/30/2027 6 recommend all the actives in one proposal, a portion or the entire proposal may be denied funding. If a portion is denied funding, the scope of work, budget, and other areas of the proposal must be modified according to recommendations by OAG and LHPO to receive funds. • USGS personnel are prohibited from assisting any organization in the preparation of its proposal for competitive funding under this Program Announcement. • Proposed projects should be self-sustaining. If you proposed to collect data, also build in time for data analysis and interpretation. • Project leaders should not be overcommitted in their estimated workload – this poses a risk to the proposed work. • Articulate how potential new hires that will play a major role in the project work will be hired, trained, and ready to work at the start of the project period. • If communication, stakeholder engagement, or product assessment is involved, appropriate expertise is expected on the project team (e.g., social scientist, communication specialist) • Funds will not cover lobbying efforts. • Proposals must provide a clear articulation of all protocols or methods to be followed. If a new protocol is proposed, situated it in the context of existing methods and previous studies. • For projects where data is collected from human subjects (e.g., surveys) with plans for publication or public dissemination, the proposal must include a commentary indicating whether an Institutional Review Board (IRB) process is needed. If an IRB process is needed, describe the timeline and outcome of the process. • Sustainability and Transferability: Proposal should articulate how the work will be sustained and built upon beyond the project period and how transferrable the outcomes will be. • Begin submitting your proposal to Grants.gov well in advance of the due date as there is no possibility of late submissions.