Notice of Intent | USGS 20 FA G0006

Opportunity Information: Apply for USGS 20 FA G0006

This Notice of Intent from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), within the Department of the Interior, announces an upcoming discretionary grant opportunity focused on building or improving a subsidence monitoring network in the Chesapeake Bay region. The project is framed around a specific technical and management need: improving the quality and reliability of elevation datum information so researchers and coastal managers can better analyze how land motion (especially subsidence, or gradual sinking of the ground) affects marsh migration. In practical terms, the work supports clearer understanding of how tidal marshes shift landward or change position over time as sea level rises and as local ground elevation changes, which is critical for planning conservation actions, evaluating habitat resilience, and projecting future coastal landscape change.

The opportunity is categorized under Natural Resources and is associated with CFDA 15.808. It is structured as a grant (Funding Instrument Type: Grant) and is limited in eligibility to state governments, meaning applicants are expected to be state-level agencies or entities that can apply on behalf of state government programs. The USGS indicates it expects to make one award under this notice, with an award ceiling of $117,500. The posting lists a creation date of November 22, 2019, and an original closing date of December 7, 2019, signaling a short window typical of notices that either precede a more detailed solicitation or are used to indicate an intended award approach.

From a programmatic standpoint, the core aim is to strengthen the measurement foundation behind coastal elevation and land-motion assessments. Elevation datums are the reference surfaces used to define heights and elevations; if those references are uncertain or inconsistent across space and time, it becomes difficult to compare marsh elevations, detect subtle changes, or accurately attribute observed changes to sea-level rise versus local land subsidence. A subsidence monitoring network typically involves continuous or repeated measurements using geodetic tools such as GNSS/GPS stations and related surveying methods, often tied to established vertical datums, to quantify how the land surface is moving. By improving the underlying elevation reference and monitoring, the resulting analyses of marsh migration can become more defensible and actionable for Chesapeake Bay coastal science and management.

Key administrative details include the Funding Opportunity Number (USGS 20 FA G0006), Opportunity Category (Discretionary), and the stated expectation of a single funded project. The limited funding level and single award suggest the work is likely targeted, scoped to a defined geographic and scientific objective, and intended to produce a specific set of monitoring or data-quality improvements rather than a broad multi-site program. Overall, the notice signals USGS interest in supporting a state-led effort that improves subsidence and elevation datum data quality to enable comprehensive evaluation of land motion impacts on marsh movement in the Chesapeake Bay.

• The Department of the Interior, U. S. Geological Survey in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Notice of Intent" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.808.
• This funding opportunity was created on Nov 22, 2019.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Dec 07, 2019. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $117,500.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: State governments.

Apply for USGS 20 FA G0006

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