Opportunity Information: Apply for USGS FA 20 0046
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), within the Department of the Interior, issued a Notice of Intent to make a single cooperative agreement award to the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR) for work under the Advanced National Seismic System (ANSS). The project is titled "Western Great Basin Geodetic Network Operations: MAGNET 2020-2025" and focuses on operating and sustaining the MAGNET geodetic network across the Great Basin. The funding opportunity is listed as USGS FA 20 0046 under CFDA 15.808, categorized as a discretionary opportunity using a cooperative agreement as the funding instrument. The opportunity was created on December 17, 2019, with an original closing date of December 31, 2019, and it anticipates one award with a maximum federal amount (award ceiling) of $722,390. Eligible applicants are limited to public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, though the notice makes clear the intended recipient is UNR.
The core purpose of the award is to support long-term geodetic monitoring of crustal deformation in the Western Great Basin, with emphasis on the interseismic period (the time between earthquakes). By tracking how the ground slowly moves and strains over time, the network provides data that can be used for dynamic seismic hazard assessment, meaning hazard models that can be updated and improved as new deformation patterns emerge. The work also targets detection and analysis of fault creep (slow, aseismic slip on faults) and transient deformation phenomena, which can include short-lived episodes of movement that may signal changing stress conditions on faults. In practical terms, these measurements help scientists understand where strain is accumulating, how faults behave between major earthquakes, and how deformation evolves following seismic events.
A major feature of the project is the operational use of real-time and near-real-time geodetic data. The notice emphasizes that MAGNET data are intended to contribute directly to applications that depend on rapid information flow, including earthquake likelihood forecasting, earthquake early warning, and rapid response efforts immediately after an event. Real-time positioning and deformation signals can improve situational awareness during earthquakes by helping characterize the evolving ground motion and permanent displacement, while near-real-time analysis supports timely post-event assessments. The project also specifically mentions the assessment of immediate postseismic motion, the deformation that occurs right after an earthquake as the crust relaxes and faults and surrounding materials adjust. Capturing this early postseismic phase is important because it can inform models of stress transfer and ongoing hazard in the days to months after a significant event.
The notice explains why UNR is being singled out for this cooperative agreement rather than competing the award broadly. According to the USGS, UNR is uniquely qualified because it operates the only USGS-supported geodetic network in the Great Basin region, and it already has an experienced network staff capable of carrying out continuous operations, maintenance, data management, and troubleshooting. The principal investigator is described as having extensive direct involvement in operating the MAGNET network, which supports continuity of expertise and institutional knowledge. The justification also rests on the practical reality that the project depends on specialized, already-deployed monitoring equipment in the field, along with central recording and computing systems that are owned by the university and would not be available from another source. Finally, the data transmission architecture is already tied to UNR facilities, and relocating telemetry systems and data receiving infrastructure would be expensive and time-consuming, potentially disrupting data continuity and undermining the monitoring mission.
Overall, the opportunity is best understood as an operations-and-sustainment award designed to keep a critical regional geodetic monitoring capability running over the 2020-2025 period. The intent is to preserve continuous, high-value deformation observations for the Great Basin and to ensure those observations feed both long-term seismic hazard science and time-sensitive operational needs such as early warning and rapid post-earthquake assessment.Apply for USGS FA 20 0046
- The Department of the Interior, U. S. Geological Survey in the other (see text field entitled explanation of other category of funding activity for clarification) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Notice of Intent: Western Great Basin Geodetic Network Operations: MAGNET 2020-2025" 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 Dec 17, 2019.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Dec 31, 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 $722,390.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is this funding opportunity?
This is a U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Notice of Intent to make a single cooperative agreement award under the Advanced National Seismic System (ANSS) for the project titled "Western Great Basin Geodetic Network Operations: MAGNET 2020-2025."
Which federal agency is issuing the award?
The award is issued by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), within the Department of the Interior.
What is the opportunity number and program listing information?
The funding opportunity is listed as USGS FA 20 0046 under CFDA 15.808.
What type of funding instrument will be used?
The funding instrument is a cooperative agreement.
How is this opportunity categorized?
It is categorized as a discretionary opportunity.
How many awards does USGS anticipate making?
The notice anticipates one award.
What is the maximum federal funding amount (award ceiling)?
The maximum federal amount (award ceiling) is $722,390.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants are limited to public and state-controlled institutions of higher education.
Is this a competitive opportunity?
No. The notice states USGS intends to make a single award and identifies an intended recipient, rather than conducting a broad competition.
Who is the intended recipient?
The intended recipient is the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR).
Why is UNR being singled out for this cooperative agreement?
USGS states UNR is uniquely qualified because it operates the only USGS-supported geodetic network in the Great Basin region, has experienced staff to maintain and manage continuous operations, and has institutional expertise through the principal investigator's direct involvement. The notice also cites reliance on already-deployed field equipment and UNR-owned central recording and computing systems, plus a telemetry and data transmission architecture tied to UNR facilities that would be costly and disruptive to relocate.
What is the project title?
The project is titled "Western Great Basin Geodetic Network Operations: MAGNET 2020-2025."
What does MAGNET refer to in this context?
MAGNET refers to the geodetic network being operated and sustained across the Great Basin for crustal deformation monitoring.
What is the primary focus of the project?
The project focuses on operating and sustaining the MAGNET geodetic network across the Great Basin to support long-term geodetic monitoring of crustal deformation, particularly during the interseismic period (the time between earthquakes).
What is meant by "interseismic" monitoring?
"Interseismic" refers to the time between earthquakes. In this period, ground movement and strain can accumulate slowly. The project emphasizes measuring this slow deformation to better understand how and where strain builds over time.
What kinds of geologic or tectonic behaviors does the project aim to detect?
The project targets detection and analysis of fault creep (slow, aseismic slip on faults) and transient deformation phenomena (short-lived episodes of movement that may reflect changing stress conditions on faults).
How will MAGNET data be used for seismic hazard work?
The notice states the data support dynamic seismic hazard assessment, meaning hazard models can be updated and improved as new deformation patterns are observed.
What is meant by "dynamic seismic hazard assessment" in the notice?
It refers to hazard assessments that can be updated as new crustal deformation measurements become available, rather than relying only on static or infrequently updated deformation inputs.
Does the project involve real-time data?
Yes. A major feature is operational use of real-time and near-real-time geodetic data.
What applications are mentioned as benefiting from real-time or near-real-time geodetic data?
The notice identifies earthquake likelihood forecasting, earthquake early warning, and rapid response immediately after an event as applications that depend on rapid information flow and are intended to benefit from MAGNET data.
How can real-time geodetic data help during an earthquake?
The notice explains that real-time positioning and deformation signals can improve situational awareness by helping characterize evolving ground motion and permanent displacement during earthquakes.
What is "postseismic motion," and does the project address it?
Postseismic motion is deformation that occurs right after an earthquake as the crust relaxes and faults and surrounding materials adjust. The project specifically mentions assessing immediate postseismic motion, including capturing the early postseismic phase.
Why is capturing the early postseismic phase considered important in the notice?
The notice states it can inform models of stress transfer and ongoing hazard in the days to months after a significant event.
What kinds of activities does this award primarily support?
This opportunity is described as an operations-and-sustainment award intended to keep a critical regional geodetic monitoring capability running over the 2020-2025 period, including continuous operations, maintenance, data management, and troubleshooting.
What region does the project cover?
The project focuses on the Western Great Basin and operates the MAGNET geodetic network across the Great Basin region.
When was the opportunity created and what was the original closing date?
The opportunity was created on December 17, 2019, with an original closing date of December 31, 2019.
How does the notice describe the overall intent of this award?
The intent is to preserve continuous, high-value deformation observations for the Great Basin and ensure those observations feed both long-term seismic hazard science and time-sensitive operational needs such as early warning and rapid post-earthquake assessment.
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