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National Water Census


Focus Area Study Proposal Submission

The National Water Census is accepting proposals for the FY16-FY18 Focus Area Studies.

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Under continuing implementation of the Federal SECURE Water Act, the Department of Interior's WaterSMART Funding initiative, and the USGS National Water Census Program, the National Water Census (NWC) leadership would like to solicit proposals for selecting the next round of Geographic Focus-Area Studies for assessing "water availability and use" for the Nation. The Geographic Focus-Area Studies are one component of the USGS National Water Census designed to address the need for scientific understanding regarding water availability and use in areas of the country with known conflicts over, or shortages of, water.

The process for selecting the next three Focus-Area Studies will include requesting a prioritized set of 2-page Statement of Interest submissions (not including maps and figures) from each of the 7 USGS Regional Offices. Please recognize that only 3 new Focus-Areas will be funded nationwide during the next cycle of studies (FY16-FY18). For more information, please review the Request for Proposals (PDF).

Focus Area Study Request for Proposal Timelines
  1. Question and Answer Conference Session for Interested Parties — June 10, 2014, 11:00am EDT. 1-703-648-4848, x51857
  2. Deadline for submission of Statements of Interest (SOI) — June 20, 2014
  3. Applicants Notified and Full Proposals Requested — June 30, 2014
  4. Deadline for Invited Full Proposals — August 29, 2014
  5. Applicants Notified of Intent to Award — September 30, 2014

Note: Submission deadlines for Statements of Interest and Proposals are 5:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time. "Intent to Award" means the NWC has selected the project for funding, pending completion of all administrative reviews and processing to complete formal awards.



Criteria to be used for Evaluating Focus Area Study Proposal:
  1. Does the proposed study fulfill the requirements of the SECURE Water Act to report on significant water use conflicts or shortages that have occurred or are occurring; and explain the factors that has caused, or are causing, said conflict or shortage?
  2. Can the focus area study act as a test-bed to test and advance Water Census tools, methods and models?
  3. Will the focus areas study serve as a means of relating water availability science to the actual needs of area stakeholders. This maintains and “ground-truths” the relevance of the Water Census. Are stakeholders supportive of this study, will they participate in the development of the workplan and will they use the products that come from the study?
  4. Does the focus area study provide the opportunity to look at a new facet or theme about water availability? Different types of water use to be explored, different reasons for the competition over the water resource?
  5. Does the focus area study provide the opportunity to carry forward the goal of watershed-based water use reporting and definition?
  6. What are the opportunities to partner with or gain synergy from other USGS programs and studies?
  7. Can the preliminary goals of the study be accomplished in three years with approximately $1.5M of funding?

Note: Submission deadlines for Statements of Interest and Proposals are 5:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time. "Intent to Award" means the NWC has selected the project for funding, pending completion of all administrative reviews and processing to complete formal awards.

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