EARTH MRI | USGS 19 FA 00255

EARTH MRI (USGS 19 FA 00255) - Frequently Asked Questions

1) What is the EARTH MRI grant opportunity?

EARTH MRI (Funding Opportunity Number USGS 19 FA 00255) is a discretionary funding opportunity administered by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) within the Department of the Interior. It supports work aligned with the Earth Mapping Resources Initiative (Earth MRI), which focuses on gathering scientific data to improve understanding of critical mineral potential across the United States.

2) Which federal agency runs this program?

The program is run by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), an agency within the Department of the Interior.

3) Is this funding competitive or automatic?

Based on the information provided, this is a discretionary funding program, which typically means awards are made competitively at the agency's discretion rather than through an automatic entitlement process.

4) What is the funding instrument used for this opportunity?

The funding instrument is a Cooperative Agreement.

5) What does it mean that the award is a Cooperative Agreement?

A Cooperative Agreement generally indicates that USGS expects to have an active role in the project. That can include coordinating activities, providing guidance, or collaborating during the work, rather than simply issuing funds and remaining hands-off.

6) What is the program's main purpose or mission?

The core mission is to gather key scientific data that supports identifying and understanding critical mineral potential in the United States, especially in areas where improved data would meaningfully advance mineral-resource understanding and related decision-making.

7) What types of data does Earth MRI focus on collecting?

The opportunity highlights three major data types:

• Geophysical data: measurements used to infer subsurface conditions, such as rock types and geologic structures.
• Geologic data: mapping and characterization of surface and near-surface geology to establish a reliable geologic framework.
• Topographic data: detailed elevation and landform information that supports mapping and interpretation.

8) What does "areas of critical mineral potential" mean in this context?

It means the data collection is targeted toward regions where there is a reasonable expectation that critical minerals could occur, and where new or improved datasets would substantially strengthen scientific understanding and support planning or decision-making.

9) How is this opportunity intended to operate: as a single research project or a collaborative effort?

The opportunity is described as a collaborative, multi-agency effort rather than a standalone project. USGS is positioned as the lead for program management and coordination so the resulting datasets support the broader community, not only the immediate project team.

10) What is the Earth MRI Geologic Mapping Awards (GMA) model?

Earth MRI Geologic Mapping Awards (GMA) are described as an implementation model that is built around partnerships. In this model, State Geological Surveys are highlighted as key actors for collecting geologic framework data, with USGS facilitating planning and acquisition to help ensure the resulting datasets can be broadly used.

11) What role do State Geological Surveys play in this effort?

State Geological Surveys are described as key actors for geologic framework data collection under the Earth MRI GMA partnership approach, reflecting their statewide and regional expertise.

12) What role does USGS play beyond providing funding?

USGS serves as the lead in program management and facilitates planning and acquisition. The emphasis on coordination and integration suggests USGS helps ensure outputs are consistent and broadly usable.

13) What is the funding category and CFDA number for this opportunity?

The opportunity is in the Natural Resources funding category and is identified as CFDA 15.808.

14) Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is limited to public and state-controlled institutions of higher education.

15) Are private universities eligible?

The eligibility statement provided only includes public and state-controlled institutions of higher education. No other institution types (including private institutions) are listed as eligible in the information provided.

16) How many awards were anticipated?

The opportunity anticipated a single award.

17) What is the maximum funding amount available?

The award ceiling is $100,000.

18) When was this funding opportunity created?

The opportunity was created on July 11, 2019.

19) What was the original application deadline?

The original application deadline was July 24, 2019.

20) What kind of work is this award most likely intended to support?

Based on the details provided (single award, $100,000 ceiling, Earth MRI mapping mission, and emphasis on geologic framework datasets), the award appears intended to support a focused, defined data-collection or geologic framework deliverable that fits into the larger national Earth MRI effort coordinated by USGS.

21) What is meant by "geologic framework" in this opportunity?

In the information provided, geologic framework refers to mapping and characterization of surface and near-surface geology to create a reliable foundation for understanding mineral potential and integrating other datasets (such as geophysical and topographic information).

22) Why does the opportunity emphasize that datasets should support the broader community?

The description indicates USGS facilitates planning and acquisition so that resulting datasets are useful beyond the immediate project team. This reflects a program goal of producing consistent, broadly usable data products that can inform multiple scientific, planning, or decision-making needs.