Idaho Water Resources Research Institute

Transcription

1 Idaho Water Resources Research Institute Moscow Coeur d Alene Boise UI Morrill Hall N. Academic Way 322 Front Street 875 Perimeter Dr. Coeur d Alene, ID Suite 242 MS 3002 Boise, ID Moscow, ID Phone: (208) iwrri@uidaho.edu October 1, 2017 To: Water Resources Research Faculty From: Alan Kolok, IWRRI Director Re: Request for Proposals for the FY 2018 USGS Section 104(b) Program The Idaho Water Resources Research Institute requests proposals to support water resources research and outreach activities on topics of importance to the State of Idaho through the United States Geological Survey s Section 104(b) grant program. These are one-year seed grants that are expected to lead to larger, extramurally funded grants. Research and outreach proposals submitted under this RFP are intended to address water resources problems of significance to Idaho, with the principal objectives of this program being to: (1) Conduct novel, water-related research; (2) Conduct innovative outreach activities to inform key stakeholders as well as the general public about water-related issues; (3) Serve as seed funding for subsequent research proposal development; (4) Foster graduate student involvement in water research; and (5) Encourage innovative, statewide collaboration. For this RFP, proposals are solicited that generally address the issue of meeting future water information needs for Idaho. Proposals that focus on water availability, water quality and community outreach and education will all be given equal consideration. Areas of particular interest include, but are not limited to: Changes in water use and availability attributable to urbanization Hydrologic, economic and social impacts of drought Crowd sourcing collection of water data

2 We anticipate that we will be able to fund three seed projects at a funding level of $15,000 for each project for Idaho s Section 104(b) program this year, dependent on Congressional appropriation. Applicants must match each federal dollar requested with not less than two (2) non-federal dollars. Proposals that can demonstrate the leveraging of existing research activities or identify a non-university match (i.e. through state agencies, local governments or private entities) will be given the highest priority for funding. Successful applicants will be required to submit a quarterly progress report and a final report including any publications or conference presentations that are a product of the award. No indirect costs may be charged to the federal portion of the project funds, but federal and non-federal indirect costs may be included as part of the matching funds requirement. Applicants should work with their college budget officer to determine appropriate cost share budget and sources prior to submission to IWRRI. The award can begin on March 1, 2018 and the award period may run for up to one year. Full proposals must be submitted to the Idaho Water Resources Research Institute in electronic format by 5:00 PM (Pacific), December 5, The proposal submittal form is given in Attachment A to this announcement and proposals should be submitted using this form. Proposals must be submitted in electronic form (WORD files) to: Alan Kolok, Director Idaho Water Resources Research Institute University of Idaho akolok@uidaho.edu The principal investigators for successful proposals will be notified by January 9, All letters identifying cost share commitments for successful proposals must be delivered to IWRRI by January 16, In addition, faculty with successful proposals from ISU and BSU will need to work with their sponsored project s office to submit forms SF 424, SF 424a and SF 424b electronically as a pdf file to IWRRI by January 16, If you are not submitting a proposal and are willing to serve on a review panel for this year s proposals, or have any questions regarding this solicitation, please contact me. Thank you, Alan Kolok Director Idaho Water Resources Research Institute (208) akolok@uidaho.edu 2

3 Attachment A 104(b) Application Instructions Applications must contain the following sections and adhere to the following guidelines: Matching Funds Commitment. The applicant must identify the source of non-federal funds that will be used as matching funds that are identified in the Project Budget Breakdown (Table 2). The applicant does not need to provide an official match commitment letter for submittal of their proposal. However, if your proposal is selected for funding, an institutional cost-sharing agreement (letter) will be required prior to submission of the final project description. This letter must be signed by an official authorized to commit the applicant to all or part of the matching share or a third party, inkind contribution signed by an official authorized to commit the third party. Project Proposals Each proposal shall consist of the following 20 elements. On the first page of your proposal, please enter the following elements: 1. Title. Concise but descriptive. 2. Project Type. Choose from the following: Research, Information Transfer, Information Management System Education, or Other (please specify). 3. Focus Categories. Choose a maximum of three focus categories from the list provided in Table 1, with the most preferred focus category first. 4. Research Category. Choose from the following the one category that most closely applies: Social Sciences, Ground-water Flow and Transport, Water Quality, Biological Sciences, Engineering, or Climate and Hydrologic Processes. 5. Keywords. Enter keywords of your choice descriptive of the work. 6. Start Date. Enter the actual beginning date for the project. 7. End Date. Enter the estimated end date for the project. 8. Principal investigator(s). Provide name, academic rank, university, address and phone number of the principal investigators. 9. Congressional District of the university where the work is to be conducted. On the second page of your proposal please enter the following element. 10. Abstract. Provide a one-page description of the problem, methods and objectives of the project. Enter the following elements starting on the third page of your proposal. 11. Title. Same as item 1 above. 12. Budget Breakdown using Table Budget Justification using Table Statement of regional or State water problem. Include an explanation of the need for the project, who wants and why. 15. Statement of results or benefits. Specify the type of information that is to be gained and how it will be used.

4 16. Nature, scope, and objectives of the project, including a timeline of activities. 17. Methods, procedures and facilities. Provide enough information to permit evaluation of the technical adequacy of the approach to satisfy the objectives. 18. Related research. Show by literature and communication citations the similarities and dissimilarities of the proposed project to completed or on-going work on the same topic. 19. Training potential. Estimate the number of graduate and undergraduate student, by degree level, who are expected to receive training in the project. 20. Investigator s qualifications. Include resume(s) of the principal investigator(s). Limit each resume to two pages and less than 15 pertinent publications. 21. Leveraging of On-going Research Activities. If these funds will be used to leverage an on-going research activity, please provide a single paragraph statement summarizing: the existing project title; amount of funding for the existing project; the agency funding the existing project; and a brief narrative of how this research activity links to the existing project. Table 1. Focus Categories ACID DEPOSITION AGRICULTURE CLIMATOLOGICAL PROCESSES CONSERVATION DROUGHT ECOLOGY ECONOMICS EDUCATION FLOODS GEOMORPHOLOGICAL PROCESSES GEOCHEMICAL PROCESSES GROUNDWATER HYDROLOGY IRRIGAITON LAW, INSTITUTIONS AND POLICY MANAGEMENT AND PLANNING METHODS MODELS NITRATE CONATMINATION NON POINT POLLUTION NUTRIENTS RADIOACTIVE SUBSTANCES RECREATION SEDIMENTS SOLUTE TRANSPORT SURFACE WATER WASTEWATER WATER QUALITY ACD AG CP COV DROU ECL ECON EDU FL GEOMOR GEOCHE GW HYDROL IG LIP M&P MET MOD NC NPP NU RAD REC SED ST SW WW WQL

5 WATER QUANTITY WQN WATER SUPPLY WS WATER USE WU WETLANDS WL

6 Table 2. Budget Breakdown Project Title: Cost Category Federal Non-Federal Total 1. Salaries and Wages Principal Investigator 2. Fringe Benefits 3. Supplies 4. Equipment 5. Services or Consultants 6. Travel 7. Other direct costs 8. Total direct costs 9a. Indirect costs on federal share 9b. Indirect costs on non-federal share 10. Total estimated costs

7 Table 3. Budget Justification Project Title: Salaries and Wages. Provide estimated hours and the rate of compensation proposed for each individual. (Tuition remission and other forms of compensation paid as or in lieu of waters to students performing necessary work are allowable provided that the tuition or other payments are reasonable compensation for the work performed and are conditional upon the performance of necessary work.) Fringe Benefits. Provide the overall fringe benefit rate applicable to each category of employee proposed in the project. Supplies. Indicate separately the amounts proposed for office, laboratory, computing, and field supplies. Equipment. Identify non-expendable personal property having a useful life of more than one (1) year and an acquisition cost of more than $5,000 per unit. If fabrication of equipment is proposed, list parts and materials required for each, and show costs separately from the other items. Services or Consultants. Identify the specific tasks for which service, consultants, or subcontracts would be used. Estimate the amount of time required and the hourly or daily rate. Travel. Provide purpose and estimated costs for all travel. Other Direct Costs. Itemize costs not included elsewhere, including publication costs. Indirect Costs. Provide negotiated indirect ( Facilities and Administration ) cost rate.