Opportunity Information: Apply for G26AS00002
The USGS Groundwater and Streamflow Information Program is offering cooperative agreement funding to help expand and strengthen the National Ground-Water Monitoring Network (NGWMN). The basic purpose is to support organizations that collect groundwater data so their information can be connected to, delivered through, and improved for use in the NGWMN Data Portal. In practice, the opportunity is aimed at two main groups: new data providers that need help getting technically connected to the network, and existing data providers that need support to keep their data services stable over time and to enhance the quality, completeness, and usability of the data they contribute.
This opportunity is authorized under Public Law 111-11 (Secure Water Act), specifically Subtitle F, Section 9507, "Water Data Enhancement by the United States Geological Survey," with updates made by Public Law 118-174 in 2024. The USGS expects up to $900,000 total to be available for FY2026 under this announcement, but that figure is an estimate and does not guarantee a specific number of awards or award sizes. Awards also cannot be finalized until Congress appropriates full-year FY2026 funding for USGS, so the timeline depends on when funding becomes available. Even so, all projects must propose a start date that falls between September 1, 2026, and September 30, 2026, and the work must be completed within a two-year cycle from the award start date.
Individual award requests are capped at $150,000 for a one-year project or $300,000 for a two-year project (the stated award ceiling). There is also a specific limit for routine maintenance work tied to keeping persistent data services running (referred to in the announcement as Objective 2A): that portion is limited to $20,000 per year, with an exception allowing up to $40,000 per year for agencies responsible for more than 500 sites. The overall expectation is that multiple awards will be made (the listing indicates about 20 expected awards), but USGS is not bound to that number.
Eligible applicants are state governments, federally recognized Tribal governments, and local water-resource agencies (including county, city/township, and special district governments) as long as they collect groundwater data. State agencies that sit within a public university system may apply under university authority. Federal agencies are not eligible, and applicants cannot pass funds to federal agencies to act as contractors. Organizations already partnering with a local USGS Water Science Center through the Cooperative Matching Funds program to collect groundwater-level or groundwater-quality data are treated as current data providers for NGWMN purposes and can apply for funding intended to enhance the network (not just connect to it).
Because USGS anticipates being actively involved in technical and implementation support, awards are issued as cooperative agreements rather than standard grants. For new data providers, USGS involvement includes support during site selection and classification and help establishing web services that communicate with the NGWMN Data Portal. For existing providers, USGS will provide guidance on improving site information, well maintenance practices, and well drilling activities that support network development. While coordination with NGWMN staff is encouraged, USGS personnel cannot directly help an applicant write or prepare the competitive application itself.
The announcement also sets clear eligibility and compliance boundaries for proposals. Certain issues make a proposal (or specific proposed objectives) ineligible, including missing detailed budgets, requesting more than the allowed funding caps, or proposing to contract with U.S. government agencies to perform work. If an applicant is collecting groundwater data via a USGS Cooperative Matching Funds partnership, they must include a letter of support from the local USGS Water Science Center or risk being ruled ineligible. In addition, entities and key project personnel are screened against the SAM.gov Exclusions list, and USGS cannot make an award to parties who are excluded or otherwise ineligible under federal assistance rules. Proposals are also ineligible if they come from U.S. government agencies or employees, from Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs), or if they are mainly for purchasing products, equipment, or services that are not used for data collection.
Finally, the opportunity includes a structural limitation on what new providers can propose: agencies applying specifically to become new data providers (Objective 1) are not allowed to include work under certain enhancement objectives (Objectives 4, 5, or 6) in that same proposal. The overall theme is that the program is focused on building a durable national groundwater data network by paying for the practical work of connecting data systems, maintaining reliable data delivery, and improving monitoring information so it is consistent, accessible, and useful at a national scale. Key listing details include Funding Opportunity Number G26AS00002, CFDA 15.980, cooperative agreement instrument type, natural resources activity category, an application deadline of March 26, 2026, and a maximum award of $300,000 per project.Apply for G26AS00002
- The Geological Survey in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Groundwater and Streamflow Information Program, National Ground-Water Monitoring Network" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.980.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2026-01-30.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-03-26. (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 $300,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 20 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized).
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FAQs: USGS Groundwater and Streamflow Information Program (NGWMN Cooperative Agreements)
1) What is this funding opportunity for?
This cooperative agreement funding supports organizations that collect groundwater data so their information can be connected to, delivered through, and improved for use in the National Ground-Water Monitoring Network (NGWMN) Data Portal.
2) What is the main goal of the program?
The goal is to expand and strengthen a durable national groundwater data network by funding practical work that improves technical connectivity, reliable data delivery, and the quality, completeness, and usability of contributed groundwater monitoring information.
3) Who is this opportunity aimed at?
It is aimed at two main groups:
- New data providers that need technical support to connect their groundwater data systems to the NGWMN Data Portal.
- Existing data providers that need support to keep data services stable over time and to enhance the groundwater data they contribute.
4) What type of award is this: grant or cooperative agreement?
Awards are issued as cooperative agreements (not standard grants) because USGS expects to be actively involved in technical and implementation support during the project.
5) What kind of USGS involvement should applicants expect under a cooperative agreement?
USGS anticipates active involvement in technical and implementation support.
- For new data providers, USGS involvement includes support during site selection and classification and help establishing web services that communicate with the NGWMN Data Portal.
- For existing data providers, USGS provides guidance on improving site information, well maintenance practices, and well drilling activities that support network development.
6) Can USGS staff help write or prepare the application?
No. While coordination with NGWMN staff is encouraged, USGS personnel cannot directly help an applicant write or prepare the competitive application.
7) What is the legal authority for this program?
The opportunity is authorized under Public Law 111-11 (Secure Water Act), Subtitle F, Section 9507, "Water Data Enhancement by the United States Geological Survey," with updates made by Public Law 118-174 (2024).
8) How much total funding does USGS expect to make available?
USGS expects up to $900,000 total to be available for FY2026 under this announcement. This is an estimate and does not guarantee a specific number of awards or award sizes.
9) How many awards does USGS expect to make?
The listing indicates about 20 expected awards, but USGS is not bound to that number.
10) What is the maximum amount an applicant can request?
Individual award requests are capped at:
- $150,000 for a one-year project, or
- $300,000 for a two-year project (the award ceiling).
11) Are there special limits for routine maintenance of persistent data services?
Yes. Routine maintenance work tied to keeping persistent data services running (referred to as Objective 2A) is limited to $20,000 per year.
An exception allows up to $40,000 per year for agencies responsible for more than 500 sites.
12) When will projects start?
All projects must propose a start date that falls between September 1, 2026, and September 30, 2026.
13) How long can projects run?
Work must be completed within a two-year cycle from the award start date.
14) Is funding guaranteed for FY2026?
No. Awards cannot be finalized until Congress appropriates full-year FY2026 funding for USGS, so the timing depends on when funding becomes available.
15) Who is eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants include:
- State governments
- Federally recognized Tribal governments
- Local water-resource agencies (including county, city/township, and special district governments)
To be eligible, applicants must collect groundwater data.
16) Can a state agency within a public university system apply?
Yes. State agencies that sit within a public university system may apply under university authority.
17) Are federal agencies eligible to apply?
No. Federal agencies are not eligible to apply.
18) Can applicants pass funds to federal agencies as contractors?
No. Applicants cannot pass funds to federal agencies to act as contractors, and proposals are ineligible if they propose contracting with U.S. government agencies to perform work.
19) Are organizations already partnering with USGS through Cooperative Matching Funds eligible?
Yes. Organizations already partnering with a local USGS Water Science Center through the Cooperative Matching Funds program to collect groundwater-level or groundwater-quality data are treated as current data providers for NGWMN purposes and can apply for funding intended to enhance the network (not just connect to it).
20) Is a letter of support required for applicants in a USGS Cooperative Matching Funds partnership?
Yes. If an applicant is collecting groundwater data via a USGS Cooperative Matching Funds partnership, they must include a letter of support from the local USGS Water Science Center or risk being ruled ineligible.
21) What are examples of issues that can make a proposal ineligible?
The announcement identifies several ineligibility triggers, including:
- Missing detailed budgets
- Requesting more than the allowed funding caps
- Proposing to contract with U.S. government agencies to perform work
- Submitting as a U.S. government agency or employee
- Submitting as a Federally Funded Research and Development Center (FFRDC)
- Proposals mainly for purchasing products, equipment, or services that are not used for data collection
22) Are applicants screened through SAM.gov?
Yes. Entities and key project personnel are screened against the SAM.gov Exclusions list, and USGS cannot make an award to parties who are excluded or otherwise ineligible under federal assistance rules.
23) Are there limitations on what new data providers can include in their proposals?
Yes. Agencies applying specifically to become new data providers (Objective 1) are not allowed to include work under certain enhancement objectives (Objectives 4, 5, or 6) in that same proposal.
24) What is the application deadline?
The application deadline is March 26, 2026.
25) What are the key listing identifiers for this opportunity?
- Funding Opportunity Number: G26AS00002
- CFDA: 15.980
- Instrument type: Cooperative agreement
- Activity category: Natural resources
- Maximum award: $300,000 per project
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