Hurricane Sandy Program
This entry covers a variety of USGS assistance awards funded through the Disaster Relief Appropriations Act.
Data, tools, and information
The Department of the Interior protects and provides access to the Nation's natural and cultural heritage, including responsibilities to Indian tribes and island communities. Departmental goals include resource protection and usage, overseeing recreational opportunities, serving communities and excellence in management.
Program Accomplishments
Not Applicable.
Uses and Use Restrictions
Awards support research and information needs related to 1) coastal topography and bathymetry, 2) impacts to coastal beaches and barriers 3) impacts of storm surge and estuarine and bay hydrology 4) impacts on environmental quality and persisting contaminant exposures, and 5) impacts to coastal ecosystems, habitats, and fish and wildlife.
Applications must be for scientific research and data collection projects which complement the Survey s Hurricane Sandy recovery and restoration efforts.
Discretionary funding available.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicant Eligibility
Proposals from State, Local, Interstate, Federally or State recognized Indian Tribal Governments, US Territories and Possessions, Institutions of Higher Education, Private Foundations, and Nonprofit Organizations are invited.
Due to limited availability of funding to support new external projects, consultation with the Geological Survey is strongly recommended prior to submission of applications.
Beneficiary Eligibility
Federal, State and local governments, Federally or State recognized Indian Tribal Governments, industry and public decision makers, research scientists, State institutions of higher education, private firms, private foundations, nonprofit organizations, and the general public will ultimately benefit from the program.
Credentials/Documentation
Proposed research application responsive to the instructions issued by the USGS. OMB Circular No. A-87 applies to this program.
Aplication and Award Process
Preapplication Coordination
Discussions regarding funding availability and program interest are strongly encouraged, as limited funding is available for new projects.
Environmental impact information is not required for this program.
This program is excluded from coverage under E.O.
12372.
Application Procedures
OMB Circular No. A-102 applies to this program. OMB Circular No. A-110 applies to this program. Application form Standard Form (SF) 424 must be used. This program is subject to the provisions of the Department of the Interior regulations at 43 CFR Part 12. The application requirements as contained in the announcement package and the above regulations must be used for this program. Applications may be made only through the internet site http://www.grants.gov.
Award Procedures
Notification of an award is by receipt of a grant or cooperative agreement from a U.S. Geological Survey contracting officer through FedConnect (https://www.fedconnect.net/FedConnect/).
Deadlines
Contact the headquarters or regional office, as appropriate, for application deadlines.
Authorization
Public Law 113-2 (Disaster Relief Act).
Range of Approval/Disapproval Time
Up to 3 months.
Appeals
Not Applicable.
Renewals
All projects have a limited duration not to exceed two years.
Assistance Considerations
Formula and Matching Requirements
Statutory formulas are not applicable to this program.
Matching requirements are not applicable to this program.
MOE requirements are not applicable to this program.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
Project duration may not exceed two years. Funds are released as required. See the following for information on how assistance is awarded/released: Recipients request payment as needed throughout the award period. See the following for information on how assistance is awarded/released: Funds are released as required. Recipients request payment as needed throughout the award period.
Post Assistance Requirements
Reports
Annual and final technical reports, as well as other products, are required and must be submitted as described in the award terms and conditions.
Cash reports are not applicable.
Progress reports are not applicable.
Annual and final financial reports are required and must be submitted as described in the award terms and conditions.
Performance monitoring is not applicable.
Audits
This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-133. In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 27, 2003), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $500,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $500,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133.
Records
All records must be maintained for 3 years after submission of the final financial report.
Financial Information
Account Identification
14-0102-0-1-303.
Obigations
(Cooperative Agreements (Discretionary Grants)) FY 13 Not Available; FY 14 est $500,000; and FY 15 est $500,000
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
$20,000 to $105,000; average $55,000.
Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature
USGS Guide for Submission of Unsolicited Proposals is available at: http://www.usgs.gov/contracts/grants/unsolbk.html.
Information Contacts
Regional or Local Office
See Regional Agency Offices.
Headquarters Office
Sonya Jones Department of the Interior, Geological Survey, 1770 Corporate Drive, Suite 500, Norcross, Georgia 30093 Email: sajones@usgs.gov Phone: (678) 924-6606
Criteria for Selecting Proposals
Proposals must address natural resource and environmental issues related to Hurricane Sandy, and similar events, which significantly impact coastal environments. Proposals will be reviewed by USGS scientists and evaluated for their scientific excellence, relevance to ongoing activities, and contributions to recovery and restoration efforts.
Social Entrepreneurship
Spotlight
Prisons and Social Enterprise
Getting Out and Staying Out, co-founded by Tony Smith of the VSA Consulting Group, works to reduce recidivism rate among men at Rikers Island, New York City. The recidivism rate significantly dropped from 60-plus percent to under 20 percent, with more than a thousand men over a span of eight years.
