Evaluating Snow Water Equivalent and Soil Moisture in a Complex Wildfire-Impacted Area of the Rocky Mountains using a Mobile Cosmic Ray Neutron Sensor

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) through its Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) has issued a funding opportunity announcement (FOA) titled "Evaluating Snow Water Equivalent and Soil Moisture in a Complex Wildfire-Impacted Area of the Rocky Mountains using a Mobile Cosmic Ray Neutron Sensor." This initiative aims to address critical data and modeling gaps related to snow water equivalent (SWE) and soil moisture dynamics in high-elevation areas affected by wildfires. The program, announced on June 25, 2025, supports advanced research focused on comparing SWE and soil moisture in burned and unburned terrains through repeated mobile data collection using a cosmic ray neutron sensor. The goal of this project is to generate and analyze high-resolution SWE and soil moisture datasets to enhance the accuracy of watershed-scale hydrologic models. It specifically seeks to inform model parameterization and calibration by collecting SWE and soil moisture data during five to six field surveys throughout the water year. These surveys must span a range of snowpack and moisture conditions, allowing researchers to observe how fire impacts snowmelt processes and water infiltration versus direct runoff. This data is expected to contribute significantly to hydrological modeling used for flood risk management and water resource planning in the Rocky Mountains and similar environments. The opportunity is available exclusively to non-federal partners of the Rocky Mountains Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU). Applications must follow a two-phase submission process. In Phase I, applicants must submit a Statement of Interest (SOI) by July 25, 2025, at 12:00 p.m. Central Time. Selected applicants will be invited to submit a full application under Phase II by August 25, 2025, also due by 12:00 p.m. Central Time. The SOI must include organizational details, relevant experience, biographical sketches, and available facilities but should not include a proposed budget. Full proposals must include technical and budget narratives, required forms (e.g., SF-424, R&R Budget, Biographical Sketches, Data Management Plan), and documentation of current and pending support. The maximum and expected award amount is $248,000, with funding provided through a cooperative agreement. Only one award is anticipated, and the period of performance is expected to span three years. The USACE will be actively involved in the project, offering coordination, validation, and integration with existing data collection efforts. The funding is fully supported by the USACE, and no matching funds are required. However, awardees are expected to adhere to federal grant administration requirements including 2 CFR 200 and 2 CFR 1100. Applications are to be submitted either by email to the administrative contact or through Grants.gov. Email submissions should ensure all documents are printable on standard U.S. letter-sized paper. Organizations applying must be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) and meet all applicable certifications. Selected grantees will receive monthly progress report obligations, annual research performance reports, biannual financial reporting, and a closeout report at the end of the project. For questions regarding the program or submission process, prospective applicants may contact Kisha M. Craig (Grants Specialist) at Kisha.M.Craig@usace.army.mil or Zavien T. Beal (Grants Officer) at Zavien.T.Beal@usace.army.mil. This opportunity represents a one-time funding initiative with no rolling basis or stated recurring schedule. Interested institutions must meet all eligibility and submission criteria by the specified deadlines to be considered.