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

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What agency is offering this funding opportunity?

This is a discretionary federal funding opportunity from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) under its Next Generation Water Observing System (NGWOS) Program.

What is the funding opportunity number?

The funding opportunity number is G24AS00259.

What type of award will be used?

The award will be made as a cooperative agreement. This generally means USGS expects substantial involvement during the project, such as collaborating on technical direction, defining data needs, reviewing interim results, and integrating the work with related USGS efforts.

What is the main purpose of this project?

The project is intended to fund applied research to develop a numerical model that simulates coupled fluid flow and heat transfer processes in a borehole environment. The model is meant to improve the design of a three-dimensional groundwater flowmeter.

What does the research focus on, in practical terms?

The model is intended to function as a design and testing tool so that flowmeter performance can be explored under different design choices and environmental conditions before investing heavily in physical prototypes and field deployments.

What processes must the numerical model simulate?

The model is expected to simulate both fluid flow and heat transfer within and around a borehole, representing the coupled behavior of groundwater movement and thermal processes that influence flow and temperature signals.

Why is heat transfer included in a groundwater flowmeter modeling effort?

The opportunity description emphasizes that thermal processes in and around the borehole can affect temperature signals and how an instrument senses and interprets three-dimensional groundwater flow. Including heat transfer supports a more realistic representation of conditions that may impact measurements.

How will the model support flowmeter design improvements?

By simulating key design variables and environmental factors ahead of fabrication, the model can help identify promising configurations, anticipate performance tradeoffs, and reduce trial-and-error iteration. This can lower prototyping costs and help prioritize what to test in the field.

What kinds of outputs or deliverables are expected?

While specific deliverables are not enumerated, the description indicates outputs should go beyond a research-grade model and meaningfully inform engineering decisions. Examples mentioned or implied include guidance on geometry choices, sensor placement concepts, expected measurement biases under certain conditions, and performance tradeoffs across scenarios.

What program is this opportunity associated with?

This opportunity is under the USGS Next Generation Water Observing System (NGWOS) Program.

What category and CFDA number apply to this opportunity?

The opportunity is in the Science and Technology / Research and Development category, with CFDA 15.808.

Is the work considered applied research or basic research?

The announcement frames the work as applied research intended to directly enable and improve a specific groundwater monitoring technology (a three-dimensional groundwater flowmeter) through simulation-based design support.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is limited to organizations that are participating partners in the Great Basin Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU). Applicants must already be within the Great Basin CESU network to be considered eligible.

What is a CESU and why does it matter here?

CESUs are structured partnerships that facilitate collaborative research, technical assistance, and education between federal agencies and eligible partner institutions. This opportunity is explicitly issued under the CESU framework, so CESU participation (specifically Great Basin CESU partnership) is a requirement for eligibility.

How much funding is available?

The award ceiling listed for this opportunity is $125,000.

How many awards are expected?

The announcement suggests a single, targeted effort. The listing shows "ExpectedAwards" without a number, and the structure and ceiling are consistent with a small R&D award that is likely to be made as a single award.

When is the application due?

The application closing date is March 8, 2024.

When was this opportunity created?

The opportunity was created on February 8, 2024.

What role will USGS likely play during the project?

Because this is a cooperative agreement, USGS is expected to be substantially involved as the work proceeds. The description provides examples such as collaboration on technical direction, alignment on data needs, review of interim results, and integration with related USGS activities.

What environmental and field conditions should the model be sensitive to?

The description emphasizes sensitivity to real-world borehole and groundwater conditions that affect flow and temperature signals. The model should represent conditions in and around the borehole that influence how the instrument senses and interprets three-dimensional flow.

What is the intended benefit of doing simulation before building prototypes?

The intent is to reduce trial-and-error development cycles, lower prototyping costs, and focus physical prototype development and field testing on the most promising configurations identified through modeling.

Is this opportunity focused on groundwater observation capabilities?

Yes. The overall framing is that the project strengthens groundwater observation capabilities by improving the design of a three-dimensional groundwater flowmeter using advanced simulation methods before extensive manufacturing and field testing.