Cooperative Agreement for CESU-affiliated Partner with Great Basin Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit | G24AS00259

Opportunity Information: Apply for G24AS00259

This opportunity is a discretionary federal funding announcement from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) under its Next Generation Water Observing System (NGWOS) Program. It will be awarded as a cooperative agreement, which generally means USGS expects to have substantial involvement in the work as it proceeds (for example, collaboration on technical direction, data needs, review of interim results, or integration with related USGS efforts). The project sits in the Science and Technology / Research and Development category (CFDA 15.808) and is focused on applied research that supports improved groundwater monitoring technology.

The core purpose is to fund research to build a numerical model that can simulate both fluid flow and heat transfer processes within a borehole environment. That modeling capability is intended to directly improve the design of a three-dimensional groundwater flowmeter. In practical terms, the model would be used as a design and testing tool to explore how a flowmeter performs under different conditions before committing time and money to building and iterating on physical prototypes. By simulating key design variables and environmental factors ahead of fabrication and field deployment, the project aims to reduce trial-and-error development cycles, lower prototyping costs, and help focus field testing on the most promising configurations.

A major theme of the work is sensitivity to real-world borehole and groundwater conditions that affect flow and temperature signals. The model is expected to represent the coupled behavior of groundwater movement and thermal processes in and around the borehole, which can influence how an instrument senses and interprets three-dimensional flow. Because the modeling is framed around enhancing a specific measurement tool, the deliverables are likely to include not just a research-grade model, but outputs that meaningfully inform engineering decisions such as geometry choices, sensor placement concepts, expected measurement biases under certain conditions, and performance tradeoffs across scenarios.

Eligibility is limited to organizations that are participating partners in the Great Basin Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU). CESUs are structured partnerships designed to facilitate collaborative research, technical assistance, and education between federal agencies and eligible partner institutions. This opportunity is explicitly issued under the CESU framework, so applicants must already be within that network for the Great Basin CESU to be considered eligible.

Key administrative details include the funding opportunity number G24AS00259, an application closing date of March 8, 2024, and an award ceiling of $125,000. The announcement indicates it is an expected single-award type of effort (the listing shows "ExpectedAwards" without a number, but the structure and ceiling suggest a small, targeted R&D award). The opportunity was created on February 8, 2024. Overall, it is a focused, instrument-enabling modeling project intended to strengthen groundwater observation capabilities by improving flowmeter design through advanced simulation before extensive prototype manufacturing and field testing.

• The Geological Survey in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Cooperative Agreement for CESU-affiliated Partner with Great Basin Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit" 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 2024-02-08.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-03-08. (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 $125,000.00 in funding.
• Eligible applicants include: Others.

Apply for G24AS00259

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