Opportunity Information: Apply for USGS FA 19 0355
This Notice of Intent describes the U.S. Geological Survey's plan to make a single cooperative agreement award to Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) for a project titled "Using Ground Based Lidar to Monitor Accretion Rate and Biomass in Coastal Wetlands." The opportunity is categorized as a discretionary federal funding action under the Department of the Interior (USGS) and is tied to natural resources work (CFDA 15.808). In practical terms, it is not a broad, open competition; it is an announcement that USGS intends to fund a specific partner for a specific piece of work based on an established collaboration and specialized capability.
The core goal of the project is to test and demonstrate a new way of collecting field measurements in mangrove forests and other coastal wetland settings. The focus is on capturing highly accurate data about two things that matter for understanding wetland response to sea level rise: accretion rates (how the wetland surface builds up over time through sediment and organic matter accumulation, which affects elevation change) and biomass (a proxy for vegetation structure and ecosystem condition). By improving how these measurements are collected on the ground, the project aims to strengthen the data that scientists use to interpret whether wetlands are keeping pace with rising sea levels and how vegetation structure is changing as conditions shift.
The approach emphasized in the notice is the use of terrestrial, ground-based LiDAR. Terrestrial LiDAR is a laser scanning method that can produce dense, three-dimensional point clouds of the environment, allowing researchers to quantify subtle differences in land surface elevation and detailed vegetation structure with high precision. USGS highlights that the specific terrestrial LiDAR instrument to be used is described as both cost-effective and highly accurate for the intended measurements, suggesting the project is designed to deliver strong measurement quality without excessive field costs. The expectation is that these scanning-based field methods can improve repeatability and measurement resolution compared to some traditional approaches, especially in complex environments like mangrove forests where access is difficult and vegetation is dense.
RIT is named as the intended recipient because of its recognized leadership in developing advanced measurement technologies relevant to elevation change and vegetation structure monitoring. USGS explicitly notes a long-term collaborative relationship with RIT, implying that the planned work builds on prior joint efforts, shared expertise, and proven instrumentation performance. The justification centers on RIT's international-level expertise in field instrumentation and measurement methods, which USGS views as necessary to produce the most accurate data products supporting sea level rise science and coastal wetland monitoring.
From an administrative standpoint, the funding opportunity number is USGS FA 19 0355. The award instrument is a cooperative agreement, which typically means USGS expects to have substantial involvement in the project beyond simply providing funds, such as participating in technical direction, coordination, field planning, data standards, or integration with USGS monitoring programs. The eligibility category listed is private institutions of higher education, aligning with RIT as the partner institution. The notice lists an award ceiling of $60,000, with one expected award, reinforcing that this is a single, targeted project rather than a multi-award competition. The opportunity was created on August 12, 2019, with an original closing date of August 26, 2019.Apply for USGS FA 19 0355
- The Department of the Interior, U. S. Geological Survey in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Notice of Intent: Using ground based LIDAR to monitor accretion rates and biomass in coastal wetlands" 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 Aug 12, 2019.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 26, 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 $60,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Private institutions of higher education.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is this funding opportunity?
This is a Notice of Intent from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) describing plans to make a single cooperative agreement award for a specific project titled "Using Ground Based Lidar to Monitor Accretion Rate and Biomass in Coastal Wetlands."
Is this an open, competitive grant opportunity?
No. Based on the notice, it is not a broad or open competition. It is a targeted discretionary funding action where USGS states its intent to fund a specific partner for a defined scope of work due to an established collaboration and specialized capability.
Who is the intended recipient of the award?
The intended recipient named in the notice is Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT).
Why is USGS planning to fund Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) specifically?
USGS cites RIT's recognized leadership in developing advanced measurement technologies related to elevation change and vegetation structure monitoring, along with a long-term collaborative relationship. The justification emphasizes RIT's high-level expertise in field instrumentation and measurement methods needed to produce accurate data products for sea level rise science and coastal wetland monitoring.
What is the project title?
The project is titled "Using Ground Based Lidar to Monitor Accretion Rate and Biomass in Coastal Wetlands."
What is the main goal of the project?
The main goal is to test and demonstrate a new approach for collecting field measurements in mangrove forests and other coastal wetland environments, with an emphasis on improving the accuracy and quality of data used to understand wetland responses to sea level rise and changes in vegetation structure.
What types of wetlands are referenced in the notice?
The notice specifically mentions mangrove forests and refers more broadly to coastal wetlands.
What key measurements does the project focus on?
The project focuses on two measurement areas that are important for understanding wetland response to sea level rise: accretion rates and biomass.
What are "accretion rates" in the context of this project?
Accretion rates refer to how the wetland surface builds up over time through the accumulation of sediment and organic matter, which affects elevation change and is relevant to whether wetlands can keep pace with rising sea levels.
What does "biomass" mean here, and why does it matter?
In this notice, biomass is described as a proxy for vegetation structure and ecosystem condition. Tracking biomass helps scientists interpret how vegetation structure is changing as environmental conditions shift.
What method will be used to collect the field measurements?
The project emphasizes terrestrial (ground-based) LiDAR as the primary field measurement method.
What is terrestrial (ground-based) LiDAR?
Terrestrial LiDAR is a laser scanning approach that produces dense, three-dimensional point clouds of the environment. These point clouds can be used to quantify subtle differences in land surface elevation and detailed vegetation structure with high precision.
Why is terrestrial LiDAR being emphasized for mangroves and coastal wetlands?
The notice suggests that scanning-based methods can improve repeatability and measurement resolution compared to some traditional approaches, especially in complex environments like mangrove forests where access can be difficult and vegetation can be dense.
Does the notice describe the LiDAR instrument being used?
Yes, at a high level. USGS indicates the specific terrestrial LiDAR instrument is considered cost-effective and highly accurate for the intended measurements, but the notice does not provide detailed technical specifications in the information provided.
How does this project relate to sea level rise science?
The improved field measurements of accretion rates and biomass are intended to strengthen the data used to evaluate whether wetlands are keeping pace with rising sea levels and to interpret how vegetation structure is changing as conditions shift.
Which federal agency is sponsoring this award?
The sponsoring agency is the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), within the Department of the Interior.
What is the funding opportunity number?
The funding opportunity number listed is USGS FA 19 0355.
What is the CFDA number associated with this work?
The notice ties the opportunity to CFDA 15.808 and describes it as natural resources work.
What type of award instrument will be used?
The notice states the award instrument is a cooperative agreement.
What does it mean that the award is a cooperative agreement?
In general terms as described in the notice, a cooperative agreement typically indicates USGS expects substantial involvement in the project beyond providing funding. This may include participation in technical direction, coordination, field planning, data standards, or integration with USGS monitoring programs.
Who is eligible to receive this award?
The eligibility category listed is private institutions of higher education. The intended recipient (RIT) fits this category.
How many awards does USGS expect to make?
The notice indicates one expected award, reinforcing that this is a single, targeted project rather than a multi-award opportunity.
What is the maximum funding amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling listed in the notice is $60,000.
When was the opportunity created?
The notice states the opportunity was created on August 12, 2019.
What was the original closing date?
The notice lists an original closing date of August 26, 2019.
What kind of work area does this opportunity fall under?
It is categorized as a discretionary federal funding action under the Department of the Interior (USGS) and is tied to natural resources monitoring and science.
What is the practical significance of this notice for other potential applicants?
Based on the information provided, the notice communicates an intent to fund a specific partner for a specific project due to established collaboration and specialized capability, rather than inviting proposals from a broad pool of applicants.
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