Water Resources Research Act Program Annual Base Grants Fiscal Year 2025

The United States Geological Survey (USGS), under the U.S. Department of the Interior, administers the Water Resources Research Act Program Annual Base Grants for Fiscal Year 2025. This program operates under the legislative authority of Section 104 of the Water Resources Research Act of 1984, as amended by various public laws. It is part of a national network of Water Resources Research Institutes or Centers established in each U.S. state, the District of Columbia, and select territories. The overarching goal of the program is to promote applied, peer-reviewed research that enhances water supply reliability, deepens understanding of water-related phenomena, supports the development of future water scientists and technicians, and ensures effective dissemination of water research to managers and the public. The program offers competitive base funding to these state and territorial Institutes or Centers to address local, regional, and national water resource concerns. Specific emphasis areas for research and outreach are determined by the individual Institute Directors, but must align with USGS priorities such as water quality, quantity, climate impact, and emerging water challenges. The opportunity also emphasizes regional and institutional collaboration to support a comprehensive statewide and regional response to water and land-related issues. Applicants must be Institutes or Centers authorized under Section 104 of the Water Resources Research Act. These institutions may submit project proposals from affiliated faculty at institutions of higher education within their state. Federal employees may collaborate as Co-PIs but cannot receive funds or serve as the principal investigator. Territories including Guam, the Federated States of Micronesia, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa, and the U.S. Virgin Islands are exempt from the matching requirement imposed on other applicants. Each Institute will receive a base amount of $146,052 for FY 2025. Special funding provisions exist for regional Institutes: $438,156 is allocated to the Guam Institute, and $292,104 to the Hawaii Institute. In total, $8,325,000 is expected to be distributed across 54 awards. This funding requires a one-to-one non-federal match unless exempted. Matching can include indirect costs, non-federal salaries, and in-kind support. Applications are due by September 16, 2025, at 5:00 PM ET and must be submitted via Grants.gov. The application must include several mandatory documents such as the SF-424 and SF-424A forms, a matching funds commitment letter, budget summaries in a USGS-provided Excel format, a Data Management Plan, and a statement disclosing conflicts of interest. The proposal components must include detailed descriptions of program management, individual project abstracts, budget justifications, and summaries of educational and outreach initiatives, if applicable. Awards will be announced via electronic Notices of Federal Award, with the anticipated project start date being December 1, 2025, and an end date of November 30, 2026. Applications will be evaluated through an eligibility review, a merit review conducted by WRRA program staff, and a risk review process. Key considerations include technical merit, alignment with program objectives, reasonableness of costs, and potential for duplication or conflict of interest. For technical inquiries, Christian Schmidt (cgschmidt@usgs.gov, 208-861-2866) serves as the program contact, and Sara Roser (sroser@usgs.gov, 703-648-7357) handles administrative support.

Register early with SAM.gov and use the required Excel budget template