USGS Earthquake Hazards Program External Research Support Announcement for Fiscal Year 2026

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Earthquake Hazards Program (EHP) has announced its annual Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for Fiscal Year 2026, titled the Earthquake Hazards Program External Research Support. This grant opportunity aims to fund research related to earthquake hazards, seismic events, and safety policies, in accordance with the Earthquake Hazards Reduction Act of 1977 and its amendments. The purpose of the program is to enhance understanding of the causes and impacts of earthquakes and support development of methods to reduce associated risks. Total funding is estimated at $5 million, with between 50 and 70 awards expected. The program is open to nearly all applicants, with several exceptions. Proposals from U.S. Government agencies, federal employees, Federally Funded Research and Development Centers, or those involving conflicts of interest or heavy reliance on subcontracting are not eligible. Proposals must primarily support research aligned with high-priority USGS program elements and regional or topical focus areas as outlined in Attachment A of the NOFO. Projects involving foreign components must directly relate to U.S. seismic zones and comply with relevant U.S. sanctions and approval processes. Applications are to be submitted electronically through Grants.gov by May 28, 2025, at 6:00 PM EDT. The anticipated award notification will be in late November 2025, and funding will begin no earlier than January 1, 2026. All submissions must include standard federal forms (e.g., SF-424, SF-424A), a project abstract summary, a proposal narrative (limited to 15 pages), budget documents, and a Data Management Plan. Collaborative proposals must include signed commitment forms from any involved USGS personnel. The project duration can be either one or two years, and most awards range from $30,000 to $120,000. Proposals are reviewed based on several criteria: relevance and timeliness, technical quality, research team competence, and budget reasonableness. Panels made up of multidisciplinary reviewers assess applications, and final funding decisions are made based on merit and available funds. Applications must specify the most appropriate review panel designation, such as Earthquake Source Processes, Ground Motion Research, or a regional focus like Southern California or Pacific Northwest. Applicants must be registered in SAM.gov and Grants.gov, and foreign applicants must request an ASAP waiver. The program does not permit pre-award costs or typically allow for no-cost extensions or budget increases post-award. Funded projects are required to produce a final technical report, with data and outcomes publicly accessible. Principal Investigators are encouraged to publish results in peer-reviewed journals and comply with all reporting and policy standards outlined by USGS and the Department of the Interior.